BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Kvitova reigns supreme INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2-8, 24 COMMENT 22, 23 in Qatar REGION 9 BUSINESS 1-7, 14-16 25,236.00 9,079.43 61.68 ARAB WORLD 9 CLASSIFIED 8-13 HIA celebrates its +2.001 +51.72 +0.34 INTERNATIONAL 10-21 SPORTS 1-8 +0.01% +0.57% +0.55% capacity expansion Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

MONDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10734 February 19, 2018 Jumada II 3, 1439 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Emir attends Qatar Open final Strong desire In brief exists to end

QATAR | Offi cial Emir condoles with Iranian president Qatar siege: His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, His Highness the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani and HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh French envoy Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani sent yesterday cables of condolences to Iranian President QNA consistent with his wise 2030 vision Hassan Rouhani, expressing their Doha which aims at providing alternative condolences on the victims of the sources of income for gas and oil in the Iranian plane crash. future. here are signs of peace and a fi rm “Qatar is progressing, thriving, QATAR | Offi cial desire to end the unjust siege on growing stronger, becoming more self- TQatar, the French envoy for the reliant, and creating major interna- Emir congratulates new Gulf countries, Bertrand Besancenot, tional alliances despite the siege,” the South African president has said. French envoy underlined. His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim “This is in line with the will of Ku- At the political level, Besancenot bin Hamad al-Thani, His Highness wait, France and the US to end the cri- said that the Emir of Qatar has always the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin sis,” he told local Arabic daily Al Sharq reiterated his hope of dialogue with his Hamad al-Thani and HE the Prime His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani attended yesterday evening the final of Qatar Total Open for women at in an interview. partners in the GCC, particularly Saudi Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex. The Emir watched the match between Petra Kvitova and Garbine Muguruza “Dialogue is the only solution to end Arabia. Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani which ended in victory for Kvitova 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. A number of sheikhs, ministers, ambassadors and guests watched the match. the crisis that harms everyone,” Be- “The Emir took several important sent yesterday cables of congratulations Sport Page 1 sancenot pointed out, stressing that measures to reassure his partners, espe- to Cyril Ramaphosa on being sworn in France supports the Kuwaiti mediation cially his allies in France and the US, re- as the new president of South Africa. and Qatar’s strong desire to end the garding transparency in the fi eld of pre- crisis. venting the funding of extremist groups.” QATAR | Offi cial French President Emmanuel Macron He highlighted the concrete meas- has given special attention to resolving ures taken by the Qatari authorities by Emir congratulates the Gulf crisis through serious partici- signing treaties, security agreements Gambian president National Museum architect pation in the international mediation and strategic partnership with the US, His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim network to end the unjust siege on Qa- as well as France, to promote co-op- bin Hamad al-Thani, His Highness tar, the envoy said. eration in combating terrorism and its the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin fi nancing. Hamad al-Thani and HE the Prime Besancenot highlighted the “The position of Qatar is very clear. Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Nouvel visits his masterpiece concrete measures taken Qatar is fi ghting terrorism and stresses Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa by the Qatari authorities by its keenness on dialogue. Therefore, al-Thani sent yesterday cables of signing treaties, security France supports the Kuwaiti mediation congratulations to Gambian President ean Nouvel, the world-renowned agreements and strategic and the Qatari desire and its policy. Adama Barrow on the anniversary of French architect who designed the partnership with the US, as Speaking about the relations be- his country’s Independence Day. Jstriking National Museum of Qa- well as France, to promote tween Qatar and France, Besancenot tar, toured his architectural master- co-operation in combating underlined the depth of relations be- QATAR | Aviation piece with Mansoor bin Ebrahim al- terrorism and its fi nancing tween the two countries, in light of Mahmoud, Qatar Museums CEO and the recent visit of President Macron to A350-1000 fi rst special adviser to HE the chairperson “The Gulf crisis has dangerous con- Qatar, as well as the large joint ventures destination London Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin sequences to everybody, undermines between the two countries and the ho- Qatar Airways will operate the Airbus Khalifa al-Thani. the collective image of the Gulf and ob- rizons of future co-operation. A350-1000 to London’s Heathrow On the occasion of his visit, Sheikha structs the security, political and com- “France and Qatar have a similar po- Airport as its first destination, the Al Mayassa tweeted: #JeanNouvel mercial co-operation, and even the re- litical and diplomatic vision on many airline’s senior vice-president (Marketing shares his impression on the progress turn of international investment to the topics. The French-Qatari bilateral re- and Corporate Communications) and of Doha’s most iconic building The region,” he cautioned. lations have been, and will remain, very off icial spokesperson, Salam al-Shawa, National Museum of Qatar #NMoQ @ President Macron has expressed his solid. They are based on ancient histor- said on Twitter yesterday. The state-of- ateliersjnouvel. deep concern over the negative conse- ical roots and the consensus of visions the-art aircraft is set to arrive in Doha on When the museum opens in Decem- quences of the siege at the humanitar- in several fi elds”. Wednesday, February 21. ber 2018, it will off er visitors an op- ian level and called on the siege coun- The French envoy praised the co-op- tries to lift it immediately, Besancenot eration of the two countries even at the REGION | Aviation said. cultural, scientifi c and technical levels “Resolving the crisis may take time, as well as the participation of France Iran postpones hunt for Nouvel interacting with al-Mahmoud during his visit. but France’s ally, the US, is also in- in major projects such as the metro plane lost in blizzard terested in resolving the issue which and the 2022 World Cup projects. The The hunt for a plane that disappeared portunity to explore and learn about locking discs that surround the struc- would contribute to ending the crisis. French institutions in Qatar are invest- with 66 people onboard in Iran’s Zagros the life of the Qatari people between ture, creating a ring of gallery spaces Besancenot praised the policy of ing in infrastructure, energy, environ- mountains was stopped until morning the desert and the sea. The museum circling a central court. The discs are His Highness the Emir of Qatar Sheikh ment and modern technologies. as blizzard conditions made progress will combine historic objects and con- inspired by the desert rose. Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to end the The two countries have signed con- impossible for rescue teams, state temporary infl uences, showcasing the The National Museum of Qatar is Gulf crisis and his proposal for dialogue tracts worth more than 16bn euros in television said yesterday. “With the wind country’s recent history and telling the built around Sheikh Abdullah bin Jas- with leaders of the siege countries. defence, transport, aviation and pol- intensifying, and with snow, rain and entire story of Qatar from its tradition- sim al-Thani’s original palace — his “The Emir of Qatar has taken many lution control, especially during Presi- darkness, it is not possible for rescue al and historical past to the country’s family home and seat of the govern- measures to preserve the unity of the dent Macron’s visit to Qatar. Security and relief teams to reach high altitudes development into a thriving modern ment for 25 years — one of Qatar’s most people and overcome the impact of the and defence co-operation between Qa- and the search operation has been state. recognisable landmarks and a building siege by ensuring food security and the tar and France is also the cornerstone postponed until tomorrow,” broadcaster The design of the museum is an or- that served as a monument to a historic trend towards industrialisation and of bilateral co-operation, the French IRIB announced. Page 9 ganically propagating series of inter- way of life in Qatar. self-suffi ciency, which is excellent and envoy added.

‘Qatar has good competitive HIA plans to add 20 more e-gates indicators in global market’ zThe provision of “The provision of e-gates has been ice was made free and available to most e-gates has been a big a big achievement for the airport and expats in 2017. QNA of Asuncion. He called on Qatari inves- welcomed by both Qataris and expatri- “HIA is a state-of-the-art airport Doha tors to invest in his country in various achievement for the ates,” al-Meer told Gulf Times. with a strong focus on technology- fi elds, especially agriculture and serv- airport and welcomed The airport currently has 40 auto- enabled innovation, as per their ‘Smart ices. by both Qataris and mated border control e-gates that al- Airport’ vision,” al-Meer noted. atar has good competitive in- The minister stressed that Paraguay expatriates, says HIA low enrolled nationals and permanent The Airport Passport Department dicators in the global market, has many investment opportunities, residents to swiftly pass through de- has also opened an offi ce next to the QParaguay’s Minister of Industry especially in the agriculture sector, chief operating off icer parture and arrival immigration proc- e-gates to activate and add the gate and Commerce Gustavo Leite has said. where 95% of the land is fertile and Badr al-Meer ess based on biometric and travel docu- system service by means of a personal The Paraguayan minister, in an in- suitable for farming, which is a low- ment verifi cation, he said. identifi cation card to residents and terview with Lusail newspaper, said cost investment with great advantages. Al-Meer informed that as many as their children of over 18 years of age, he Qatar surprised the world by its smooth The country does not have any trans- By Pratap John 2.46mn passengers used the e-gates at said. handling of the current Gulf crisis and port or logistic problems. Chief Business Reporter HIA last year, including 1.28mn arrivals “Our overarching goal is to provide the opening of the Hamad Port under In this context, the minister pointed to the country and 1.18mn departures innovative passenger processing solu- the siege. He expressed hope that the out that there are eff orts to establish from the country, while in 2016, a total tions at the airport in a fast, secure and Kuwaiti mediation resolves the crisis two food production lines between the amad International Airport of 1.41mn passengers had used the fa- reliable way and e-gate has achieved within the Gulf house. two countries. He said Paraguay con- plans to add 20 more e-gates cility. just that in the short time that it has Leite noted that a high-ranking Qa- siders Qatar a friendly country. Hthis year after an agreement Having introduced the e-gate facil- been operational,” adds al-Meer. tari ministerial delegation is expected The Paraguayan minister highlight- with the Ministry of Interior’s Passport ity in 2014, HIA has seen the number Hamad International Airport is cur- to visit Paraguay soon to strengthen ed his country’s tourism potential and Department to accommodate passen- of e-gate users almost double in 2017 rently one of the best airports in the relations in various fi elds. He said ef- tourist attractions. He said Paraguay is ger demand, said HIA chief operating compared to the preceding year due to world in terms of passenger amenities Hamad International Airport currently has forts are underway to open an air route well known for its landscape, mountain offi cer Badr al-Meer. the increase in demand since the serv- and connectivity. 40 automated border control e-gates. between Doha and the Paraguay capital tourism, nature and cultural tourism. Gulf Times 2 Monday, February 19, 2018 QATAR

Emir receives message from Tajik leader Minister meets Ecuador ambassador Motorist held for running over 9-year-old child

he General Directorate of Traffi c has tracked down Ta motorist who had fatally run over a child and fl ed the spot, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) re- ported yesterday. The motorist has been re- ferred to the competent authori- ties for legal action. Security services had received a report about an accident, in which a pedestrian was hit in the Muraikh area on a road heading east, and that the condition of the victim was critical, the MoI said in a statement. Traffic patrols and an ambu- His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has received a written message from the HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti met Ecuador’s lance were immediately rushed President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, pertaining to bilateral relations and ways of promoting ambassador to Qatar Yvonne Laila Khoies Abdel Baqi, in Doha yesterday. They discussed bilateral to the spot to investigate the them. The message was received by HE the Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad relations between Qatar and Ecuador in the fields of transportation, ports, aviation and accident and rescue the in- al-Muraikhi, when he met the ambassador of Tajikistan to Qatar Khisrav Sohibzoda. communications, and means of further enhancing them. jured. On reaching the site of the incident, the security per- sonnel found that the victim was a nine-year-old child who had died immediately on be- ing hit by a car, the statement noted. The security offi cers then be- Poor visibility due gan asking those present at the spot about the circumstances of the accident and the motor- MoU signed ist involved. They, however, did not get clear answers about the to dust forecast driver who caused the accident and escaped. The traffi c patrols and securi- oor visibility is expected in of rough conditions and high The Met department had said ty personnel then reviewed foot- parts of the country today waves. the northwesterly winds would age from a surveillance camera to help boost Pdue to dust, the Qatar Met Reiterating this, the depart- bring down the temperature to installed in a residential complex department has said. ment said in a tweet yesterday its average levels for this time of overlooking the road where the The weather offi ce has also afternoon that latest satellite the year. Doha and other parts accident occurred. Also, an eye- issued a marine warning for image showed ‘widespread dust’ of the country had witnessed a witness was also able to identify strong winds and high seas, over the northern Arabian Pe- sharp rise in the mercury level – from the CCTV footage – the along with poor visibility in ninsula. Later, in the evening, over the past few days. car that hit the child. some places. the weather offi ce tweeted that Today, the minimum and The motorist was then tracked farm output The wind speed (northwest- strong winds would continue maximum temperatures are ex- down and, on being confronted erly) will be 18-25 knots off shore, blowing off shore until tomorrow pected to be 16C and 24C, re- with witness testimonies and afco, Hassad Food and Badr al-Sadah, chief executive ure to be part of such a great going up to 30 knots towards evening. spectively, in Abu Samra, 17C camera recordings, he confessed Yara International have offi cer, Hassad Food and Svein partnership, Hassad, as Qatar’s the north at times. Inshore, the Today’s detailed forecast says and 27C in both Wakrah and Me- to the authorities that he had Qsigned a memorandum Tore Holsether, president and premier investor in food and wind speed may reach a high of moderate temperature is ex- saieed, 18C and 24C in Al Khor, caused the accident. of understanding (MoU) that is chief executive offi cer, Yara In- agribusiness sectors, aims to 19 knots in some areas. pected during the day and dusty 18C and 25C in Dukhan, 18C and The motorist was then re- aimed at “supporting eff orts to ternational. continuously support the local On Saturday, the Met de- conditions are also likely in some 26C in Doha, and 19C and 23C in ferred to the competent authori- increase food production from agricultural sector. partment had said the coun- places along with clouds. It will Ruwais. ties for further legal procedures, the Qatari agricultural sector.” “Today marks an We are committed to provide try was likely to experience be cold by night. In comparison, the mercury the MoI added. The partnership will focus on important milestone in the the needed support to the two strong winds, dusty condi- Off shore areas, too, are ex- levels recorded yesterday ranged increasing agricultural yields, in history of Qafco, Yara and esteemed entities, to assist in tions and a drop in visibility pected to see dusty conditions from 15-35C in Abu Samra, 21- line with Qatar’s aim to achieve Hassad Food, being part increasing the local production between Sunday evening and at times along with scattered 26C in Wakrah, 21-31C in Me- Arab and German self-suffi ciency in a reliable and of an ambitious initiative from high quality food prod- Monday evening. It had also clouds, with the sea level ris- saieed, 19-27C in Al Khor, 19- sustainable manner. to support Qatar’s food ucts.” urged people to avoid sea ac- ing to 10ft towards the north at 30C in Dukhan, 21-32C in Doha researchers The memorandum formalises security objectives” Holsether said, “Yara is proud tivities due to the possibility times. and 19-30C in Ruwais. attend DI workshop ongoing eff orts by the three en- to have been a partner to the tities to support Qatar’s goal of The ceremony was attended State of Qatar for nearly 50 years Doha Institute for Graduate food security. by Saad Sherida al-Kaabi, presi- through our shareholding in Studies (DI) kicked off yesterday Over the past months, the dent and CEO, Qatar Petroleum. Qafco and today’s signing marks the Critical Concepts in the entities have already engaged Al-Mohannadi said, “Today another important step in our Humanities and Social Sciences in workshops and farm tests to- marks an important milestone continued commitment to this WISH begins study into end-of-life programme, organised by DI and gether with several farmers to lay in the history of Qafco, Yara and collaboration. Freie Universitat Berlin. the foundation for a successful Hassad Food, being part of an “With our vast experience in The three-day workshop outcome. ambitious initiative to support providing balanced crop nutri- care from Islamic perspective includes a number of Arab and Over the coming months, sev- Qatar’s food security objec- tion, we support farmers world- German researchers in the eral test projects will be carried tives. We are confi dent that this wide to increase yields and im- interdisciplinary field. out on several farms to demon- project shall prove to be one of prove the quality of produce. he World Innova- cal aspects of their disease. This This seminar is part of a series strate the yield potential and the contributors towards the We sincerely look forward to tion Summit for Health has signifi cantly contributed to of specialised workshops that create best practices for Qatar’s development of the Qatari ag- contribute with our products, T(WISH), an initiative of bridging the gap between medi- will be held between DI and agricultural sector. ricultural sector and strengthen solutions and knowledge in the Qatar Foundation (QF), has an- cine and ethics and opens up Freie Universitat Berlin as part The MoU was jointly signed existing relations between the Qatari agricultural sector, in col- nounced that ‘Islamic Ethics new frontiers of interdiscipli- of the mission of the institute, by Said Mobarak al-Mohannadi, three entities.” laboration with our two part- and Palliative Care’ will be one nary enquiry. which aims to promote Arab chairman, Qafco, Mohamed bin Al-Sadah said, “It’s our pleas- ners.” of nine research topics that will “Our forum will examine the participation in knowledge form the focus of the WISH 2018 ethical questions within the production both locally and conference. WISH 2018 will take sensitive topic of palliative care, internationally. place at the Qatar National Con- with a focus on insights from an Acting President and Vice- vention Centre (QNCC) from Islamic tradition. The prospec- President for Academic Aff airs November 13-14. tive study will include discus- at DI, Yasir Suleiman Malley, QC rehabilitates Somalia fl ood, cyclone victims In the months leading up to sions surrounding international delivered the welcome address:. WISH 2018, an international deliberations, the regional ex- The opening session spoke about group of experts will investi- perience, and the relevance of concepts in the humanities and he Qatar Charity (QC) three schools by equipping them and 750 goats to 150 families re- gate the ethical challenges and Islamic ethical discourse.” social sciences where two papers offi ce in Somalia has re- with study tools and materials, lying on pastoral activities, aim- questions palliative care gives Sultana Afdhal, CEO, WISH, were discussed. Thabilitated “thousands while it also reconstructed four ing to economically empower rise to. The group’s fi ndings, to Dr Mohamed Ghaly commented, “Every healthcare The first was by Dr Islam Dayeh of fl ood and cyclone victims” health centres and provided the them to lead a decent life. It also be published in a report ahead decision made is infl uenced by of Freie Universitat Berlin named through its early recovery pro- required medical equipment. helped 58 families by providing of WISH 2018, will be discussed The intersection of Islamic eth- a central moral and ethical code. “Travelling Concepts: The grammes. This benefi ted 92,776 people af- them with income-generating in depth during a panel session ics and biomedical sciences is When it comes to healthcare Ethical Dimensions of Scholarly Through this, the organisation fected by fl oods hit the Middle projects, including 20 shops, 20 at the prestigious event. In ad- Dr Ghaly’s main specialisation service provision, physicians, Pursuits”. said it contributed to the restora- Shabelle region in 2013 and 2014. vehicles to transport goods and dition to exploring and analys- and he is the editor-in-chief of patients, and their caregivers all The second was by Dr Ayman tion of basic services, the envi- Aiming to empower agri- water and 18 sesame mills. ing the key ethical challenges of the Journal of Islamic Ethics. Dr need guidance on how to align el-Desouky of DI who discussed ronment and social life, provided culture-dependent families to The QC offi ce in Somalia re- palliative care from an Islamic Ghaly has lectured on the topic their moral compass with the his paper named “The Afterlife livelihood and shelter, and re- permanently benefi t from river habilitated seven artesian wells, perspective, the aim of the of Islamic bioethics at many best course of action. It is for of Concepts: Untranslatables or integrated displaced populations. water, QC provided 10 irriga- increased the depth of wells academic research within this prestigious universities world- that reason that since its incep- Philosophemes”. The offi ce supported vic- tion generators to small-scale and repaired associated facili- forum is to produce policy rec- wide, including Imperial College tion, the WISH summit has fea- tims of fl oods that hit the Mid- farmers in the Middle Shabelle ties such as water supply pipes, ommendations that can have a London and Oxford University tured discussions surrounding Indian embassy dle Shabelle region, as well as region, rehabilitated 10km of ir- generators and electric pumps, positive impact on the manage- and he is a previous fellow of the Islamic ethics and health.” those aff ected by cyclones that rigation canals and supported in addition to aiding the con- ment of palliative care in Qatar, Kenney Institute of Ethics at WISH 2018 will feature nine Open House swept across the Puntland re- 250 such families by giving them struction and rehabilitation of the region, and beyond. Georgetown University, USA. research forums, each led by an on February 22 gion, in order to rehabilitate seeds and manual tillage tools. reservoirs and ponds for water- Dr Mohamed Ghaly, professor Dr Ghaly said, “The emerging internationally renowned expert them through its early recovery This helped them reclaim 250 ing animals. of Islam and Biomedical Eth- fi eld of palliative care demon- in their fi eld. The forums will projects, QC said in a statement. hectares of farmland, the state- Meanwhile, QC implemented ics at the Research Centre for strates the signifi cance of treat- highlight and address some of The Indian ambassador will hold These projects are considered ment added. its early recovery project in the Islamic Legislation and Ethics, ing a person as an indivisible the world’s most pressing chal- an Open House on February 22 in the bridge between emergency The organisation also distrib- Puntland region to benefi t as College of Islamic Studies at Ha- whole, consisting of not only lenges across topics that cover the embassy premises from 3pm relief and sustainable develop- uted 150 heads of dairy cattle to many as 86,275 people aff ected mad Bin Khalifa University leads body but also thoughts, convic- medical, ethical, technological, to 4pm to listen / redress any ment eff orts, it noted. 150 families dependent on agri- by a hurricane and tropical storm the WISH Islamic Ethics and tions, and beliefs, rather than and humanitarian aspects of urgent labour and consular issues Qatar Charity rehabilitated cultural and pastoral activities in the beginning of 2014. Palliative Care research group. only treating the strictly medi- healthcare. of Indians in Qatar. Young Qatari Designers initiative nurtures budding talent

By Joey Aguilar lifa al-Thani, returns to the Doha The Qatari designer will be re- signature piece designed by this my Pipe and Gold collection,” she case their unique jewellery items Staff Reporter Jewellery and Watches Exhibi- vealing a unique collection that re- year’s local designers. said, noting that the story behind mostly inspired by diverse cul- tion (DJWE) 2018 as part of its fl ects Qatar’s rich history and herit- The Education Above All will the piece represents the econom- tural heritage and backgrounds. commitment to nurturing young age, which she designed specifi cally be benefi ting from the proceeds ic state of Qatar before and after Nada al-Sulaiti of Herat, who udding Qatari designers talent and creativity. for this prestigious exhibition. of the charity auction, according the discovery of natural gas. will showcase a pair of drop ear- have been getting a big “The YQD is certainly a great Abu Issa, who is taking part to AlBahie. Al-Buainain will also show- rings dubbed as “Sleeping Beau- Bboost from the Young Qa- privilege and it is extremely a for the fi rst time at DJWE 2018, Another Qatari designer tak- case another collection at DJWE ty” for the charity auction, said tari Designers (YQD) initiative, good support on their part to give will also showcase a few pieces ing part as YQD for the second 2018, which is inspired by elec- the initiative has been fully sup- giving them more exposure and us this opportunity,” Qatari de- from each of her collections, time, Ghada al-Buainain noted trical wires. porting YQDs like her especially opportunities to further show- signer Leila Abu Issa of Leila Is- apart from her collection for the Leila Abu Issa shows her unique that the initiative has been “very Meanwhile, sisters Jawaher at the DJWE. case their designs. sam Fine Jewellery told recently. charity auction. pieces for the charity auction. eff ective in getting the people to and Hissa Mohamed al-Mannai The six-day event will take The initiative, under the pa- “I am so glad that the exhibi- In partnership with AlBahie PICTURE: Jayan Orma know us and to get new clients (Ghand Jewellery) lauded the place from February 21 to 26 at tronage of HE the Prime Minis- tion is taking place at home. I am Auction House, DJWE 2018 aims and to be out there for everyone.” initiative for giving them the Doha Exhibition and Convention ter and Interior Minister Sheikh very happy to be launching my to promote YQD by hosting an fi fth-day of the event (February “For the auction, I will show- opportunity to take part in the Centre, featuring more than 400 Abdullah bin Nasser bin Kha- collection in Qatar,” she stressed. exclusive charity auction on the 25) where buyers can bid on a case a necklace and it is part of exhibition, a platform to show- brands from over 10 countries. Gulf Times Monday, February 19, 2018 3 QATAR Dryland Alliance Bosnian official arrives in Doha session today he Global Dryland Alli- debate over the action plan for current session of the GDA ex- North Africa, Sahel and Arabian ance (GDA) holds the fi rst the upcoming period. ecutive council will draw a road- Gulf, who signed the convention Tordinary session of its Among the key issues to be map for the secretariat eff orts, on establishment. The GDA aims executive council today in Doha raised during the current session through a set of resolutions to fi nd sustainable solutions for in the presence of ministers in are the procedures required to that, once implemented, will the problems of food security charge of environment, agricul- ratify the convention on estab- kick off the actual work of the in its Member States, exchange ture, food security, livestock and lishment and accession to the organisation. knowledge and provide assist- fi sheries, it was announced in a organisation, approve the ad- Ambassador al-Dafa has re- ance in times of food crises. statement. ministrative and organisational vealed that many countries and The alliance also aims to es- The session at Sheraton Doha structure of the Alliance secre- international organisations have tablish innovative methods to will discuss the report of the tariat, and agree on the diversi- expressed their intentions to join develop international co-oper- executive director that includes fi cation of fi nancing sources and the Alliance as members or as ation with partners on the local, the achievement of the forum adopt the innovative fi nancing partners. regional and international levels since its inception last year and mechanism. The GDA had concluded its to explore and disseminate solu- the host agreement of this inter- On the sidelines of the meet- foundation conference on Octo- tions to face agriculture, water national organisation in Doha. ing, GDA executive director, am- ber 15, 2017 in the presence of 11 and energy related challenges in Also the executive council will bassador Bader al-Dafa said the countries from the Middle East, dryland countries. The chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denis Zvizdic, arrived in Doha yesterday, on an off icial visit to the country. Zvizdic and his accompanying delegation were welcomed upon arrival at Hamad International Airport by HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment Mohamed bin Abdullah al-Rumaihi, Qatar’s ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina Rashid bin Mubarak al-Kuwari and Bosnian ambassador to Qatar Tarik Sadovic. HMC to step up awareness on child

With Doha set to host the first ordinary session of the executive council of the Global Dryland Alliance (GDA) today, HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment Mohamed bin Abdullah al-Rumaihi has welcomed delegates from member countries to attend the event. car seat safety

amad Medical Corpo- secure a child into the correct ration (HMC) is work- position. Hing to reduce the risk of “In Qatar, road traffi c in- ACC conducts more than children being injured or killed juries are the leading cause of in motor vehicle accidents by death for all ages, especially the raising awareness of how to young. Almost 200 people in properly fi t and secure the re- Qatar, including children, are straints. killed each year while around In 2012, Hamad Interna- 800 suff er severe injuries that 900 surgeries in two months need hospital admission or tional Training Center (HITC), an initiative of HMC, launched surgery as a result of car crash- By Joseph Varghese surgeries where the patients will as to upgrade their skills. It will Kulluna for Health and Safety es. Every year, HMC’s Trauma Staff Reporter stay less than 23 hours and if impact very much on the entire Campaign. Staff from Kulluna Center, Ambulance Service, more time needed, they will go system on waiting list, reduce the work within the community and Emergency Departments to the inpatient area. The inpa- number of inpatients among oth- and provide advice about se- Dr Khalid Abdulnoor Saifeldeen treat hundreds of children in- he Ambulatory Care tient surgery facility is at present ers,” pointed out the offi cial. lecting appropriate child car jured as a result of being un- Center (ACC) of Hamad available only for ENT and Oph- “The ACC is a new concept seats and correct installation. some parents do use a child car restrained, or improperly re- TMedical Corporation thalmology,” he added. in Qatar as well as in the whole Since launching six years ago, seat, many don’t know how to strained, in motor vehicles,” (HMC) has registered about “There are two areas for the region. It is very rare to have a the Kulluna team, in collabora- use them properly and need highlighted Dr Saifeldeen. 40,000 visits from patients at its patients who undergo the day whole hospital dedicated for day tion with Safe Kids Worldwide, help. A child passenger safe- Dr Aisha Fathi Abeid, the outpatient clinics since its soft care surgery. We have 22 PACU care surgery. It is such a unique USA, has helped install hun- ty technician helps with this Injury Prevention assistant opening in May 2017, disclosed a (post-anaesthesia care unit) fa- facility in the entire Middle East dreds of child car seats. through community presenta- director for the Hamad Injury top offi cial yesterday. cility where the patients stay af- to have a hospital only for day Kulluna has also introduced tions and/or child safety seat Prevention Programme, Ha- ACC has also conducted more ter the surgery for recovery from care surgeries. There are only a child passenger safety tech- checks with hands-on assist- mad Trauma Center, recently than 900 surgeries since De- anaesthesia. We also have 32 two inpatient facilities so far nician’s (CPST) certifi cation ance on their proper use.” completed the CPST certifi - cember 17 last year when the beds at the stage 2 recovery sec- which are ENT and ophthalmol- which teaches participants The most common causes cation course and said she has hospital was formally opened. tion,” highlighted Dr al-Jalham. ogy,” he highlighted. how to correctly install and of improper child car seat use seen fi rst-hand that the im- “ACC has two distinct sectors According to Dr al-Jalham, The offi cial also said that any secure child car restraints. include ignoring the manufac- proper use of car or booster – outpatient clinics and opera- Dr Khalid Mohamed al-Jalham ACC is off ering the patients a new patient can visit the hospital To date, over 120 people have turer’s instructions for instal- seats can be deadly. tion theatres. We have a number and advanced approach to surgi- with a referral from a health fa- completed the certifi cation, lation, not following the cor- “In the CPST course off ered of clinics for various departments soon,” said Dr Khalid Mohamed cal care in Qatar. “This centre is cility. “Any healthcare facility which is led by a team of na- rect directions for the child’s by Kulluna, I found a concrete such as urology, ophthalmology, al-Jalham, director of ACC. specialised for day care opera- – both private and government tionally certifi ed safety techni- age, weight, mental, and physi- way to increase public aware- ENT, gastroenterology, podiatry “We have 14 theatres for the tion where the patient will stay in – can refer the patients to the cians who provide participants cal development, installing the ness, teach families with young and pre-admission anaesthesia. surgeries. We have started sur- the hospital for a short period. It hospital. We off er a very spe- with one-on-one instruction. seat too loosely, not tightening children about the importance All these clinics are open and op- geries for ophthalmology, urol- gives a huge opportunity for the cialised service and therefore we Dr Khalid Abdulnoor Saifel- the harness straps properly, of car seats, and become a more erational except the ophthalmol- ogy, ENT and paediatric dental. physicians to impact the whole need to triage the patients,” he deen, HITC director and Kul- and failing to use all of the har- knowledgeable advocate for ogy clinic which will be opened These surgeries are day care system of the hospital as well added. luna chairman, said, “Although nesses available to properly child passenger safety.”

New system cuts patient’s waiting time at Ambulatory Center

By Joseph Varghese “Before we started the sur- surgery,” explained Dr al-Jalham. doctor. This way, the patient clinics have the advanced and Staff Reporter geries, we initiated a simulation “From the observations, one will meet the anaesthesia de- the most modern equipment and programme for the patients. of the things we tried to tackle partment and give the blood the latest advanced services,” We embedded the programme was to reduce the number of vis- sample and then needs to he told. he Ambulatory Care with the patients’ data for eve- its of the patients to the hospital. come back only for the surgery Dr al-Jalham also noted that Center (ACC) of Hamad ry single fl oor and every clinic We knew that this can cut down on the given day,” added the the hospital is planning to im- TMedical Corporation in the hospital. We observed the waiting period for the pa- offi cial. plement robotic technology (HMC) has chalked out a plan the patient’s life at the hospital tients. The patient had to come The physician also said that navigation system in the ortho- to reduce the waiting time as such as going around the hos- several times before the surgery the entire hospital was mostly paedic department. “We have well as the number of visits of pital, meeting with doctors and for various purposes. We decid- meant for day care surgery and also enough educational facili- patients to hospital. others facilities and attending ed to have a programme to solve inpatient surgery was currently ties for our staff . There is an au- According to Dr Khalid Mo- the services right from the time this problem” he said meant only for ENT and oph- dio and video system with which hamed al-Jalham, director of they entered the hospital until “We worked with the an- thalmology. “We have all the ad- they can take part in any of the ACC, the hospital has made huge they left. We understood some aesthesia department to send vanced machines in the theatres conferences in the hospital as progress in cutting down the of the problems and thought the patient to the department for all of the most complex and well as in other organisations,” One of the operation theatres in the Ambulatory Care Center. waiting time for the patients. of fi xing it before starting the immediately after meeting the complicated surgeries. All the added Dr al-Jalham. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil

Ashghal launches contest for excellence in concrete construction

Ashghal has launched the first authority for the first time, represents of eight photos shall be submitted Diversion on TTR in Al Mazrouah from Feb 21 competition for Excellence in Concrete a platform for the leading concrete with each submission. In addition to Construction in co-operation with the projects of innovation and technology. the photos, the submission may also shghal will implement a traffi c diversion on American Concrete Institute (ACI). The award evaluates projects and include a 90-second time-lapse video. a 4km stretch of Temporary Truck Route Entrepreneurs have been told to submit selects a winner through a jury of a z The competitors should provide A(TTR) on both directions starting from their projects according to the terms of number of industry experts in Qatar. a written text consisting of at least February 21. the ACI listed at The quality and safety department of 500 words on how the concrete was The stretch to be aff ected is located in Al- http://www.concrete.org Ashghal has invited the entrepreneurs featured in the project, indicating its Mazrouah Area, about 2km west of Al Mazourah Applications will be accepted until to participate in this competition in uniqueness. interchange heading towards Salwa Road. March 7, through contacting Ashghal’s order to have a chance to win one of The quality and safety department will The diversion will be in place for a period of two quality and safety department via the the six awards presented by Ashghal receive the project applications that months. During the period, traffi c on the closed e-mail: [email protected] to the winners of the various project meet the specified requirements until stretch will be diverted to two parallel lanes on the Six categories are included to categories in concrete construction March 7. New Orbital Highway on both directions. participate in the Ashghal Award for sector participants shall consider the The award aims to encourage The access to Umm Slal Market will remain open Excellence in Concrete Construction. following requirements: excellence in concrete construction. for traffi c while the access to Al Mazrouah Market They include low-rise buildings, mid- The project submitted for participation The winning projects will also have and the surrounding areas will be provided from the rise buildings, high-rise buildings, in should be completed within 36 months the opportunity to participate in the New Orbital Highway via a new roundabout to the addition to infrastructure projects, prior to the date of submission. international concrete construction south of Umm Slal Market. repair and restoration works and z The innovative use of concrete must competition sponsored by the The diversion is being made to start construction decorative concrete buildings. be highlighted as a key element in American Concrete Institute (ACI) at Jery Al Samour interchange which is part of the Ashghal Award for Excellence in construction. through the Institute’s off ice in New Orbital Highway and Truck Route project. Concrete Construction, launched by the z A minimum of four to a maximum Qatar. Gulf Times 4 Monday, February 19, 2018 QATAR

New CIRS book explores China-Mideast ties

he evolving relations a specialist said CIRS director Mehran ic,” said Reardon-Anderson. between China and in modern Kamrava. “In doing so, we “We hope that readers will Tthe Middle East are Chinese his- were fortunate to have no appreciate this fi rst class the centre of focus of a new tory. From less an authority on the sub- academic research on this book by Georgetown Uni- foreign ject than Prof Reardon-An- signifi cant and understud- versity in Qatar’s Centre for policy to derson provide intellectual ied area.” International and Regional security dy- leadership on the project.” The book is the result of Studies (CIRS). The Red Star namics and Prof James The Red Star and the CIRS initiatives that aims and the Crescent: China and religious, ed- Crescent brings together to foster research on origi- the Middle East brings to- ucational, and cultural con- original research by schol- nal topics related to the Gulf gether multidisciplinary ex- nections, it off ers insight ars from China, the Mid- region, the Middle East, perts from around the world into the contemporary rela- dle East, the United States, and beyond. Established in to explore engagements in tions between China and the and Europe, including a 2005, the research institute areas including security, countries of the Gulf, the contribution by GU-Q is devoted to the academic energy, economics, and in- Levant, and North Africa. alumnus Mohamed Turki A study of regional and in- vestments, as well as social “Consistent with the al-Sudairi (SFS ’11), who is ternational issues through and cultural aspects. mission of CIRS to engage now a Ph.D. candidate at the dialogue and exchange of The book is edited by in path-breaking research, University of Hong Kong. ideas, research and scholar- GU-Q’s founding dean, we launched this research “The relationship be- ship, and engagement with professor James Reardon- initiative in order to fi ll an tween China and the Middle national and international Anderson, who is the author important gap in the schol- East is an increasingly im- scholars, opinion-makers, of fi ve books on China and arly literature on the topic,” portant and neglected top- practitioners, and activists. Gulf Times Monday, February 19, 2018 5 QATAR JRE off ers investment German embassy opens opportunity in Quasar new visa application centre

he German embassy days; visa can be applied for dents in Qatar, and in general Foreign Offi ce to operate Visa yesterday inaugurated up to three months before the will complement the excellent Application Centres in 10 coun- Istanbul project Tits new Visa Application planned date of travel. bilateral relations between the tries across the Middle East and Centre in Qatar which will be The VFS Global German Visa two countries. We encourage North Africa. VFS Global re- operated by VFS Global, a lead- Application Centre in Doha is applying early for visa to avoid ceives the applications whereas ust Real Estate (JRE) has ex- ing outsourcing and technology located at Level 1, Abdul Jaleel any delays during the peak the decision about the appli- panded its overseas portfolio services specialist for diplo- Business Center, Airport Road, season beginning May.” cations is taken by diplomatic Jwith investment opportu- matic missions worldwide. Al Matar Street, Doha. Visa In the Middle East region, staff of the German embassy. nities for clients in the Quasar In a statement, the Ger- applicants can direct their VFS Global will be handling The new German Visa Applica- Istanbul project, a mix-use de- man embassy and VFS Global queries and appointment re- for Germany annually approxi- tion Centre will be run by well velopment in heart of Turkey’s said the new visa centre will quests to the call centre number mately 200,000 visa applica- trained professionals. We make economic and cultural capital, bring, due to the broad open- +97444069001 or commu- tions including collecting bio- sure that the application process and one of the world’s most ing hours, enhanced conven- nicate with the centre at info. metric data across 10 countries in our centre takes maximum iconic and cosmopolitan cities. ience in visa processing serv- [email protected] under the terms of the contract 40 minutes and we are confi - JRE is off ering the prospect of ices and biometric enrolment Commenting on the new visa valid up to 2023. Apart from the dent that Qatari and non-Qatari owning a home within the so- formalities to residents of application centre, German Middle East, the company al- travellers will be delighted at the phisticated Quasar Residences, Qatar applying for Schengen ambassador Hans-Udo Muzel ready operates Visa Application convenience, effi ciency and ease a luxurious, contemporary sky- visa to Germany as well as to said: “Germany is a great busi- Centers for Germany in nine of access VFS Global off ers to its scraper comprising impressive Austria, Finland, Norway and ness and tourist travel destina- countries across the globe. customers.” one, two, and three-bedroom Slovenia. tion for Qatari nationals and Vinay Malhotra, chief oper- The VFS Global Visa Appli- apartments, and home offi ces. The residences off er spectacular views of historic Istanbul and These countries are repre- foreign residents of Qatar. The ating offi cer, Middle East, VFS cation Centre for Germany will Alternatively, investors can sweeping vistas of the famous Bosphorus River. sented by Germany regard- new centre will help enhance Global, said, “The opening of provide secure and time-effi - purchase an ultramodern serv- ing the issuance of Schengen travel preparation to Germany the Qatar Visa Application Cen- cient processing of entry per- iced apartment in Fairmont Res- hotel, right in the heart of a truly beautiful suspended oasis, in the visa. The processing time for as well as to Austria, Finland, tre is based on a contract award- mit requirements in a friendly idences, beautifully-styled one, world city, with great potential form signature Podium Sculp- Schengen visa is maximum 15 Norway and Slovenia for resi- ed to VFS Global by the Federal ambience. two, and three-bedroom apart- for high rent returns.” ture Garden and Podium Infi nity ments, which are located within The residences off er spectacu- Pool deck, both created by the the exquisite Fairmont Istanbul lar views of historic Istanbul and enigmatic Wanders. Hotel tower. sweeping vistas of the famous Fairmont Residences off ers “As a leading property serv- Bosphorus River. The entrance the extra benefi t for investors ice provider, we fully utilise our lobby, designed by renowned seeking to enhance their over- Hyatt Plaza extensive market knowledge and Dutch interior designer and art seas portfolio, with a 5% rent understanding, and wide-rang- director Marcel Wanders, is also guarantee, and the option to stay ing trusted networks, to deliver something to savour. in the property for 28 days per holds NSD unmatched investment The opportunities in Fair- year during a lease period. opportunities to our clients. mont Residences include fully- In addition to the latest in “We are confi dent the Qua- furnished one, two, and three- interior design, amenities and activities sar Istanbul project ticks all the bedroom, serviced apartments 24-hour security, residents in right boxes for investors seeking available in a choice of two styles the Quasar Istanbul will be in yatt Plaza Mall hosted exciting ventures in one of the – New York or Paris – each one proximity to Istanbul’s central sporting activities for world’s most vibrant real estate styled with the authentic look districts, including Mecidiyeköy, Hfamilies and children markets,” said engineer Nasser and feel of the iconic cities they Beiktas, Gayettepe, and Levent, to celebrate National Sport Day al-Ansari, JRE chairman. are named after. the city’s historic architecture (NSD) last week. He added: “Istanbul is a well- Living in Quasar Istanbul gives and landmarks. The project’s The Hyatt Plaza team established property market and you access to the 5-star Fairmont location is off ers easy access to “worked intensively to organise will continue to be a sought- Istanbul Hotel’s high-end facili- Istanbul’s vast public transport a range of unique and thrill- after destination, driven by the ties and amenities, such as the network. ing family-oriented sporting Children taking part in an activity. continuous public and private refi ned Tea Parlour, laid-back For more information on the activities designed to create an sector investment in real estate all-day dining restaurant, state- exclusive Istanbul investment ideal sporting atmosphere in a sessions and others. The day- was handpicked to help demon- The event was part of Hyatt and associated infrastructure. of-the-art meeting facilities opportunities, visit the JRE Sales family-friendly environment”, long event off ered the “perfect strate how even the smallest of Plaza’s eff orts to provide fami- “Real estate trends are shift- and ballroom, the peaceful Gold Centre in Al Shoumoukh Tow- the mall said in a statement. blend of sports and family fun changes could make a positive, lies with the opportunity to in- ing more towards experience, Lounge and the hotel’s spa – a er, ground fl oor, C-Ring Road, Sporting activities included that brought local community long-lasting impact on health teract with each other in an in- destination and lifestyle. This haven of tranquillity in the bus- Doha, or download the JRE App balloon volleyball, mini bas- members of all ages together to and by raising awareness of tegrated sports environment to really is a unique opportunity, tling metropolis of Istanbul. from Apple Store, Android, or ketball, mini golf, bowling, create memorable experiences”, the importance of health and achieve Qatar National Vision the chance to own a home in a Residents also have access to a Google Play Store. CrossFit challenges, zumba the statement noted. “The event fi tness.” 2030 and build a healthy society. Gulf Times 6 Monday, February 19, 2018 QATAR QU co-hosts conference on Law and Digital Age

atar University colleg- cyber threats and data loss, es of Law (LAWC) and and the privacy of sensitive cli- QEngineering (CENG) is ent information.” LAWC dean co-organising an international Dr Mohamed Abdulaziz al- conference on ‘Law and Digital Khulaifi said: “This conference Age’ today and tomorrow. comes at a time when the world Organised under the pa- is undergoing a fast technologi- tronage of HE the Minister of cal and technical development Transport and Communica- in the area of information and tions Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Su- communication technology. laiti and sponsored by Ooredoo “This has resulted in the Qatar, the conference aims to emergence of a new life which highlight the fast development is totally dependent on mod- and legal challenges in the field ern technologies and which re- of digital technology and to quires a legal control. find ways to develop the coun- “This conference will con- try’s legal system. tribute to providing efficient The conference also aims to approaches to face the legal underline the effectiveness of challenges in the digital world legal regulations to solve these and to specify the legislative, issues and challenges and the judicial and administrative necessity to propose legislative needs at the local, regional and and technical approaches that international levels.” keep with the fast technologi- CENG dean Dr Khalifa al- cal and technical development Khalifa said: “Through partici- in the area of information and QU and Ooredoo Qatar off icials after announcing the conference. pating in this conference, we communication technology. strive to add value to the field The event’s programme in- new trends to fight electronic Manar Khalifa al-Muraikhi, cessity for organisations to be- tions and effectiveness, cyber- interest by Qatar’s legal eco- of digital age and cyber security cludes five sessions titled: ‘The terrorism and ensure cyber se- director of PR and Corporate come smarter and meet their security and data protection, system. “Network security is research at a time when we are latest developments in elec- curity’, ‘Data and privacy pro- Communications at Ooredoo, customers’ demands. Ooredoo and support Qatar’s economic an important factor for legal facing huge challenges in this tronic transactions’, ‘The rights tection in the digital age’, and said: “Digital transformation is Qatar’s leader in digitising growth.” She added: “Oore- organisations to consider in field at the governmental, in- of digital world and the fight ‘Electronic means in the reso- for Qatar’s legal profession is the legal field, enhancing legal doo’s industry-leading dig- their digital transformation, to stitutional and individual lev- against cyber terrorism’, ‘The lution of disputes’. no longer an option. It is a ne- organisations’ communica- ital solutions are seeing strong ensure data protection against els.” Falcons to be released to nature

he Qatari Society of Al- tiative, the society registered Gannas has launched a seven falconers, who want Tunique initiative to re- to release their falcons into lease falcons of willing falcon- nature. He expected that the ers in Qatar to nature again. number of participants would The initiative aims at preserv- steadily increase until the ing and enhancing biodiver- handover day on February 25. sity and further boost the pro- The society vice-president tection of the environment. Mohamed Abdulatif al-Mi- The society president Ali snad said the locations where bin Khatam al-Mahshadi Mohamed Abdulatif al-Misnad Ali bin Khatam al-Mahshadi the falcons will be released is pointed out that this ini- not being publicised to avoid tiative is part of the society’s nature helps preserve them social media, as a number them being hunted again by keenness to preserve falcons and guarantee their breeding of falconers showed their amateurs. In addition, a list of and maintain a natural equi- and reproduction. interests in the idea and ex- honour will be launched with librium in this fi eld. He said Al-Mahshadi said that the pressed their willingness to the names of the participating that the initiative was sug- society received a number of make it a success. falconers. The list will be dis- gested by Qatari falconers calls as soon as the campaign He added that on the fi rst played permanently at the so- who saw returning falcons to was announced through the day of launching the ini- ciety headquarters in Katara. Gulf Times Monday, February 19, 2018 7 QATAR

Mwani highlights importance of Al-Mina Market Tamuq camp helps students develop apps for cybersecurity

bout 30 school students Alanounou said she enjoyed the App Camp programme, my from across Qatar de- the programming aspect of the team and I are going to create the Asigned and coded mo- camp. “It’s all about logic. Once fi rst coff ee app that delivers and bile applications as part of a you understand, you’re ready recycles in Qatar.” week-long academic enrichment to create anything. That’s what Ghalya Abdulrahman and workshop on cybersecurity or- coding is!” Noor Abdulrazzaq, part of the ganised by Texas A&M Univer- Participant Mohab Amgad coffee-app team, said: “Being sity at Qatar (Tamuq). said, “In this workshop I have the first young Qatari girls pro- During App Camp: Cyber- learned to program in a new lan- gramming our personal project security Challenge, students guage, with a goal to create a new on coffee transport applica- worked in teams to design and app that involves cyber security tion – in addition to collabo- develop an iOS app. They learned with the purpose to help others.” rating with the recycling com- how to code, prototype, test and Dr Mohamed Gharib, facilita- pany – has never made us feel refi ne their ideas along the way. tor for App Camp, said the pro- this proud of ourselves, as we Apps developed by the students gramme was designed to help are not only contributing to the included a phone-theft app, an students understand fundamen- community and environment Qatar Ports Management Company (Mwani Qatar) has highlighted the benefits and significance of Al-Mina Market in Ruwais, northern app that helps students make tals of programming while high- but to Qatar.” Qatar, through an infographic. “The newly opened market is dedicated to selling a wide spectrum of goods imported via merchant ships to choices that will decide their fu- lighting the critical role of cy- Dr Cesar O Malave, dean of Ta- Al Ruwais Port from diff erent parts of the region,” it tweeted. tures, an app that lets users bor- bersecurity in Qatar’s sustained muq said outreach programmes row specifi c items from others in development. such as App Camp help young the community and an app for “Through this experience, App students understand the impor- delivering coff ee and recycling Camp participants are learning tance of engineering in Qatar and the materials used. that anyone can become a pro- worldwide. “The students have Najah Alnounou was part of grammer,” he said. “These stu- seen how engineering can help the team developing a phone- dents have applied their creativ- solve problems people face every security app called Stranger ity and determination towards day, and I hope they have learned DFI partners with French animation Danger. When installed on an impressive app projects that they a lot and enjoyed their time with iPhone, the app can detect if the should be proud of.” us. Each of our App Camp pro- person holding the phone is the Maha al-Sulaiti said she ap- grammers and inventors has the owner. If the wrong password is plied for the programme to gain potential to be an engineering school to present workshops in Qatar entered, the app takes a photo of experience in programming, and leader in Qatar.” the holder’s face and sounds an Maha al-Suff ar agreed, saying: “I App Camp was presented by alarm to notify others in the area have learned a lot about compu- Tamuq and sponsored by Occi- he Doha Film Insti- of the theft. ter programming and because of dental Petroleum of Qatar Ltd. tute (DFI) has partnered Twith Gobelins, l’ecole de l’imagein Paris, a leading ani- mation school, to off er compre- hensive animation workshops to Qatar-based talents. A global reference in the fi elds of digital communication, inter- active design and entertainment for more than 50 years, Gobelins – one of the schools of the Paris Ile-de-France Regional Cham- ber of Commerce and Industry – is renowned for its exceptional depth of training in photogra- phy, animated fi lmmaking, 3D animation, motion design and video gaming. School students from across Qatar visited Tamuq’s supercomputing facilities as part of the App Camp: In a fi rst-of-its-kind partner- Cybersecurity Challenge. ship with DFI, Gobelins will lead four workshops of two weeks in length from April this year to A participant at a DFI animation workshop. next April. The workshops will off er par- portunities for skills and career with young talents in Qatar,” tion workshop at DFI, held in ticipants in Qatar invaluable development in an industry Blondel said. partnership with the French MBDA gold sponsor of Dimdex hands-on training through the that is undergoing a fascinating The Cinema Department embassy in Doha, will be led by full production cycle of short transformation,” she noted. of Animation at Gobelins was Aida del Solar, pedagogical co- animation, resulting in the “By creating these opportu- founded in 1975 by Pierre Ayma. ordinator and titular teacher ith less than a month es, taking place between March ing missiles and missile systems delivery of a short-animated nities for the Qatari animation Alumni have moved on to con- at the Animation Department to go for the 10th an- 12 and 14 at the Qatar National to meet the complete range of project at the conclusion of the industry in its formative stages, tribute to the world’s leading at Gobelins, and programmer Wniversary edition of Convention Centre. current and future needs of the workshops. we empower local fi lmmakers animation studios, including of Opening Shorts at Annecy Doha International Maritime De- The MBDA has signifi cant pres- three-armed forces. With this Gobelins will also conduct and creators to establish a major Disney, Universal, Hanna Bar- International Animation Fes- fence Exhibition and Conference ence in European countries as well further sponsorship contract an annual one-week youth ani- presence in the global market,” bera, Pixar, DreamWorks and tival. (Dimdex), the organising com- as in the US. Known as a world signed by MBDA for its fi fth year, mation workshop in Doha that al-Remaihi added. Warner Bros. She has a Masters Degree in mittee has announced MBDA as leading missile systems company it will be a pleasure to host them will include placement for one DFI’s guiding principle is to Gobelins was ranked number Filmmaking and Animation in the event’s gold sponsor. with a comprehensive product once again as part the special an- Qatari student at its summer ensure that students, appren- 1 in the list of the Top 100 Inter- ENSad and scriptwriting at La This will be the fi fth consecu- range designed to meet the land, niversary edition of Dimdex.” school in Paris. tices and trainees at Gobelins national Animation Schools by Femis schools. tive edition the European de- naval and airborne guided weapon Qatar and MBDA have an- DFI CEO Fatma al-Remaihi receive the training needed to www.animationcareerreview. Providing animation for nar- fence company has joined Dim- system requirements, the part- nounced several deals over the said cultural shifts among the acquire the highest technical, com for the past two consecu- rative, documentary and inter- dex, the Mena region’s leading nership with Dimdex is part of its past years as part of the nation’s region’s young people have creative and professional skills, tive years based on the overall active projects, key projects in- international maritime defence long-standing commitment and ambitions to expand Qatar’s de- spawned a tremendous creative according to Gobelins’ Inter- quality of programme includ- cluded developing an interactive exhibition and conference. support for Qatar and the Qatari fence capabilities. energy that is fuelling demand national Relations head Cecile ing technology and facilities gaming path for a museum of Dimdex 2018 will be held un- Armed Forces. Dimdex will maintain its po- for local content. Blondel. provided, reputation within the the famous cheese The Laugh- der the patronage of His High- Staff Brigadier (Sea) Abdulbaqi sition as a premier platform to “Through partnerships with “Our partnership with DFI is industry and the quality of stu- ing Cow for Bel, video games for ness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin S al-Ansari, chairman of Dimdex showcase the most advanced and the best institutions in the world a new and exciting way for us dent and graduate animation Sony, Philips and an animated Hamad al-Thani, and hosted and said: “MBDA has proven capa- latest technology in maritime such as Gobelins, we are off ering to share our knowledge base in works. TV series for Xilam Studios, organised by Qatar Armed Forc- bilities of designing and produc- defence and security. our young talents the best op- short fi lm animation creation The first Gobelins anima- Stupid Invaders.

New Family Court to be HBKU students get insight inaugurated next month into Qatari court system he new building of the proper procedural phases to Family Court, located guarantee that it abides by the Tnear Al Sadd Police Sta- legal framework. uris Doctor (JD) students at from the French as opposed to the ers advocacy in international arbi- tion, is set to be inaugurated next He said that one of the the College of Law and Pub- Anglo-Saxon common law sys- tration and litigation in both civil month, the Court of Cassation draft laws recently reviewed Jlic Policy (CLPP) of Hamad tem, and emphasised the impor- and common law jurisdictions. and Supreme Judicial Council by the cabinet is on resolu- Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) tance of diff erentiating between As well as learning the theory and president Masoud Mohamed al- tion of disputes in a friendly recently attended a special guest the two systems to understand the practice of advocacy, JD students Ameri has said. way through reconciliation, lecture on the courts of Qatar and application of court precedent be- also participate in a mock trial at Speaking to local Arabic daily which is considered a sophis- local judicial processes. fore the courts. the Qatar International Court. Arrayah, he said the new building ticated judicial tool to resolve The lecture, conducted within The students also discussed Training sessions and special is equipped to handle the confi - disputes out of the courts, in CLPP’s JD programme and fall- diff erent types of cases that may guest lectures are an integral part of dentiality of cases. particular simple cases. This ing within Qatari law fi rm Sultan be brought before the courts, in- the curriculum at CLPP to ensure “We are always working to im- would ease the load on courts Al-Abdulla & Partners (SAP)’s cluding civil and trade cases, real that practical skills are developed prove the place of work for the to have more time for serious corporate social responsibility estate, construction contract dis- alongside a theoretical understand- judges, the parties to the litiga- and complicated issues. and community engagement ini- putes, labour matters, family law ing of legal issues and concepts. tion, and lawyers,” he said. Regarding the amendments tiatives, aimed at providing stu- cases and administrative cases. Mana A al-Ansari, a JD student, Al-Ameri said the draft laws of the blood money law, al- dents with an expert’s perspec- As part of the lecture, JD stu- said: “Ashraf has been practising the recently discussed by the cabinet Ameri said the amendments tive of the Qatari court system. dents learned more about issues legal profession in Qatar for more is an interpretation of His High- are related to procedural is- Ashraf Feshawi, the guest that can arise in practice, such than 18 years, so having a person of ness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin sues only and have no con- speaker and a partner at SAP, pro- as whether a court can consider such a calibre to deliver some of his Hamad al-Thani’s instructions nection to its amount. “It is vided the students with an over- cases with a foreign governing expertise was extraordinary. As stu- to bolster the judicial system, mainly related to its concept, The special lecture was delivered by Ashraf Feshawi, guest speaker view of the legal framework within law, the duration of cases be- dents of CLPP’s JD programme, we expedite the litigation processes as some see blood money as and partner at Sultan Al-Abdulla & Partners. The lecture, conducted the court system in Qatar, as well fore the courts of Qatar, and how are able to benefi t from a wide range and resolve the cases in good a compensation while others within CLPP’s JD programme and falling within Qatari law firm Sultan as judicial steps and procedures hearings are conducted before of applied activities that comple- time. see it as a penalty, and the new Al-Abdulla & Partners (SAP)’s corporate social responsibility and available in the country. His lec- the respective judges. ment our theoretical knowledge and However, he stressed that any modification of the law has re- community engagement initiatives, aimed at providing students with ture explained how the local court The Advocacy course is off ered form a critical component of our legal case should go through solved this issue.” an expert’s perspective of the Qatari court system. system is based on civil law derived within the JD programme and cov- learning experience.” Gulf Times 8 Monday, February 19, 2018 QATAR Tamuq hosts open house for aspirants

exas A&M University at riences as master’s students at is a great opportunity to further Qatar (Tamuq) has wel- Texas A&M at Qatar. deepen knowledge and develop Tcomed potential master’s A panel discussion, ‘Outlook new skills. It allows students students for its annual Graduate for R&D in the Fourth Indus- to engage in cutting-edge re- Studies Open House at the Texas trial Revolution: Why Pursue search with leading experts in A&M Engineering Building in Post-graduate Studies? Align- their chosen fi eld of speciali- Education City. ing Industry and Academia for sation and to personally con- The event aimed to answer the Future of Work’, featured Dr tribute to the advancement of questions for prospective stu- Marwan K Kraisheh from Qatar knowledge. Graduate studies dents about Tamuq’s master’s Environment & Energy Research also can enhance career progres- degrees in chemical engineering: Institute; Jabir al-Ghayathin, sion and open broader career the Master of Science and Mas- accounting manager, Oryx GTL; options. The graduate studies ter of Engineering. Nabila Adam Mohamed, win- Open House allows prospective Attendees learned about ner of an Oryx GTL Student graduate students to learn about Texas A&M at Qatar’s graduate Award for the Advancement of our programmes, resources and programme off erings, degree Jabir al-Ghayathin and others discussed the importance of pursuing Post-graduate Studies in Qa- campus life at Texas A&M at Qa- eligibility requirements and the graduate studies in a panel discussion during Tamuq’s annual Byanne Malluhi, a master’s student at Texas A&M at Qatar, sharing tar; Muaz Salem, who earned tar.” resources off ered, including fi- Graduate Studies Open House, which aimed to recruit potential her experiences as a graduate student in chemical engineering bachelor’s and master’s degrees Applications for the Master of nancial aid opportunities and master’s students to the branch campus. during the branch campus’ annual Graduate Studies Open House. from Tamuq; and Dr Ioannis G Science (MS) and Master of En- fl exible schedules. Potential Economou, associate dean for gineering (MEng) programmes graduate students interacted time employment options for employed full time in industry have — and are already having lenges, and contribute to Qatar’s academic aff airs and professor are being accepted for the fall with current graduate students full-time students through or government. — a direct impact on the State goal of being a knowledge-based of chemical engineering, Texas 2018 semester and will remain and some who have recently teaching and research assist- Speaking to the prospective of Qatar’s growth and develop- economy.” A&M at Qatar. open until May 15. graduated with their master’s antships. The organisers also students, Tamuq dean Dr Cesar ment. As a graduate student in Graduate students Tala Kat- Dr Patrick Linke, executive For information about the degrees. emphasised that Texas A&M O Malave said: “At Texas A&M chemical engineering at Texas beh, Byanne Malluhi, Bara Anaya director of graduate studies and Tamuq Graduate Studies pro- Faculty and administra- at Qatar’s flexible class sched- at Qatar, we are cultivating a A&M at Qatar, you’ll be involved and Husnain Manzoor talked chair of the Chemical Engineer- gramme, visit https://www.qa- tors gave information on the ules allow part-time studies new generation of engineering in responsive research that is with prospective students about ing Programme at Tamuq, said: tar.tamu.edu/graduate-studies programme as well as part- for those students who are leaders and researchers who will tackling Qatar’s Grand Chal- the programme and their expe- “Studying beyond a BS degree or call 44230135. Award-winning fi lmmaker shares experiences at NU-Q

ulia Leeb, a fi lmmaker and photographer who has worked in some of the most dangerous and Jremote places in the world, has shared her ex- periences at a Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) Community Meeting. The only way to know the truth is to see it with your own eyes; this is what Leeb shared with a roomful of media and communication students, along with faculty and staff from NU-Q, during the meeting. From documenting political upheaval in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Syria, Libya and Afghanistan to capturing everyday life in North Korea and Sudan, Leeb says she has “lived her life discovering others”. “Ms Leeb’s work is both courageous and inspir- ing,” said Everette E Dennis, dean and CEO, NU- Q. “Her projects are examples of how fi lm and photography can be a window into an entirely new world and consequently bring positive change to people’s lives, which is what many of our students plan to achieve.” Leeb also produces virtual reality and 360-de- gree content about remote regions, including Transnistria in Moldova and the Nuba Mountains Award-winning photographer and filmmaker, Julia Leeb, sharing her experiences with the NU-Q community. in Sudan. In 2014, the photographs from her visits to North Korea were published in her book, North “I identify stories that are not trending,” ex- perseverance is what keeps me going and wanting Korea: Anonymous Country. plained Leeb. “I go to places where media cover- to explore more.” “What I love most about my work is the power age is low or non-existent and where most people Leeb advised students to “create various forms it has to give back,” Leeb said. “By capturing the would be scared to go. And now, through 360-de- of your story. Use diff erent mediums to create a struggles and hardship of others, I am making a gree technology, I can bring other people’s reality better picture, and always be as transparent and diff erence by raising awareness about important, to life so anyone around the world can see what it honest as you can.” untouched issues, which can drive people to take is like, without being manipulated.” During her visit to NU-Q, Leeb also attended action and help those in need. During a question-and-answer period, stu- classes to discuss content creation and innova- “Never underestimate the power of a picture.” dents asked about the challenges she faced as a tion, as well as share some of her personal expe- On choosing her stories and news angles, Leeb woman in hostile environments and as an outsider riences and what she has learned travelling the says she stays away from sensational news and trying to connect with complete strangers. world, and screened some of her fi lms. chooses to cover undocumented stories that give “Despite all the challenges, it’s an extremely Elle magazine had listed Leeb as one of the top viewers a real taste of how people live their daily rewarding job because I get to meet with and 80 international characters and Refi nery29 named lives. This, she says, makes her projects unique learn from so many wonderful people,” said Leeb. her as one of the most inspiring women in Ger- and her stories eff ective. “They are my motivation, and their strength and many.

Ashghal and QFFD officials in Somalia. Ashghal delegation visits Somalia A technical delegation from the and contractual procedures in Public Works Authority (Ash- Somalia. ghal) recently visited Somalia The delegation also conducted for signing a Memorandum of site visits to the two projects ac- Understanding (MoU) with the companied by a technical team Qatar Fund For Development from the Somali side to inspect (QFFD), to provide technical the current construction works services and consultations, and and the traff ic situation on the manage the projects financed two roads, in addition to check- by QFFD outside Qatar. ing restoration and mainte- The delegation consisted of nance records. Ashghal engineer Ahmed and The Ashghal team will prepare technical manager Ali al-Ansa- a detailed technical report on ri, Roads Design Department the visit and its results as well assistant engineer Abdulaziz as prepare suitable recom- Ali al-Sada, and senior road mendations and proposals for design engineer Abdulaziz the planning and execution Salah El-dein Omar. of the projects in line with the The visit was to study the estimated costs and the contri- implementation of two roads butions specified by the QFFD. projects – namely 30km On the sidelines of the visit, Mogadishu-Afghoy, and the Ashghal delegation held talks 90km Mogadishu-Balad-Jow- with Prime Minister of Somalia, har. The team interacted with Minister of Planning and Eco- a number of Somali off icials to nomic Development, Minister obtain all technical information of Public Works, Minister of on the two projects, in addition Justice, the Under-secretary of to discussing the available the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs capabilities and resources lo- and the Off ice Director of cally, as well as reviewing laws President of Somalia. Gulf Times Monday, February 19, 2018 9 REGION/ARAB WORLD

Israeli fi re Iran postpones hunt for plane kills two in Gaza lost in mountain blizzard AFP Gaza City AFP Tehran sraeli forces shot dead two Palestinian teenagers in the he hunt for a plane that IGaza Strip, medical sources disappeared with 66 said yesterday, as tensions rose Tpeople onboard in Iran’s after an apparent bomb attack Zagros mountains was stopped that wounded several Israeli sol- until morning as blizzard condi- diers on the enclave’s border. tions made progress impossible The Saturday explosion and for rescue teams, state televi- ensuing Israeli air strikes marked sion said yesterday. one of the most serious escala- “With the wind intensifying, tions in the Hamas-ruled ter- and with snow, rain and dark- ritory since the movement and ness, it is not possible for rescue Israel fought a war in 2014. and relief teams to reach high Israel’s army said it attacked altitudes and the search opera- “18 targets belonging to the Ha- tion has been postponed until mas organisation” in two waves tomorrow,” broadcaster IRIB of air strikes. announced. Earlier the army said fi ghter “Five helicopters are on alert jets had targeted “six military to resume the search at dawn if targets in Gaza belonging to the weather conditions are bet- Hamas, including: a tunnel in ter.” the Zaytun area and military Aseman Airlines fl ight compounds near Deir el-Balah EP3704 disappeared from radar and Khan Yunis”. 45 minutes after taking off from Two Palestinians were in- Tehran. jured in air strikes which hit The ATR-72 twin-engine three bases belonging to Ha- plane, in service for 25 years, left mas in the east of the block- the capital’s Mehrabad airport Members of emergency and rescue team gather following a plane crash near the town of Semirom. Right: Relatives of a passenger who was believed to have been killed in a aded Gaza enclave, Palestinian around 8:00am (0430 GMT) plane crash react near the town of Semirom, Iran yesterday. sources said. and was heading towards the Speaking at a security con- city of Yasuj, some 500 kilome- ter an earthquake that killed at doomed fl ight told reporters of which is part-owned by Eu- Airlines plane crashed just after Israeli Prime Minister Ben- ference in Munich late Sat- tres to the south. least 620 people in Kermanshah his confl icting emotions. rope’s Airbus, said “the circum- take-off from Tehran, narrowly jamin Netanyahu off ered his urday, Israeli Prime Minister The Red Crescent said 45 in November and 30 Iranian “God has been really kind stances of the accident remain avoiding many more deaths condolences over yesterday’s Benjamin Netanyahu had called teams had been deployed to the sailors were lost in an oil tanker to me but I am so sad from the unknown” and that interna- when it plummeted near a busy crash, just moments after he the border blast “very serious” Dena mountain of Iran’s south- collision off China’s coast last bottom of my heart for all those tional investigators were ready market. launched a blistering attack on and pledged to “respond ap- western Zagros range, but there month. dear ones who lost their lives,” to assist Iran “if needed”. Lifting sanctions on avia- Tehran’s government. propriately”. According to wit- was still no sign of any wreck- Supreme leader Ayatol- the unnamed man told the President Hassan Rouhani tion purchases was a key clause “I take this opportunity to nesses, the two dead Palestin- age. lah Ali Khamenei sent a mes- Tabnak news website, which ordered the transport ministry in the nuclear deal Iran signed send condolences to the fami- ians were shot by Israeli forces “The mountainous terrain is sage of condolence, saying the showed a picture of his unused to set up a crisis group to inves- with world powers in 2015. lies of the 66 civilians that lost near the border on Saturday. impassable. Thick fog and snow news had “left our hearts over- ticket. tigate the crash and co-ordinate Following the deal, Aseman their lives,” Netanyahu said at They were identified by and rain have made it impos- whelmed with sadness and sor- Decades of diplomatic iso- rescue eff orts, ISNA reported. Airlines fi nalised an agreement the Munich Security Confer- the Gaza health ministry as sible to use helicopters,” said row”, according to state televi- lation have left Iran’s airlines Aseman’s three Boeing 727- to buy 30 Boeing 737 MAX jets ence. Salam Sabah and Abdullah Abu Morteza Salimi, head of its res- sion. with ageing fl eets of passenger 200s are almost as old as the for $3bn (2.4bn euros) last June, The US Treasury Depart- Sheikha, both 17, who were cue and relief section. Families of the passengers planes which they have strug- country’s 1979 Islamic revolu- with an option to buy 30 more. ment, which must approve avi- killed east of Rafah in the south The airline said 60 passen- gathered at a mosque near Me- gled to maintain and modernise. tion, having made their fi rst However, the sale could be ation sales to Iran, has done so of the enclave. gers, including one child, were hrabad airport. “I can’t bring Aseman’s fl eet includes at fl ights the following year. scuppered if US President Don- for 80 Boeing jets and 100 Air- The Israeli army said that on board fl ight EP3704, as well myself to believe it,” said a least three ATR-72s that date Iran has suff ered multiple ald Trump chooses to reim- bus planes for national carrier its forces had fired “warning as six crew. woman whose husband was on back to the early 1990s, accord- aviation disasters, most re- pose sanctions in the coming Iran Air. shots” at a number of Pales- It was the third disaster to board. ing to the IRNA news agency. cently in 2014 when 39 people months, as he has threatened The fi rst few Airbus jets have tinians approaching the border strike Iran in recent months, af- A man who missed the A spokesman for ATR, were killed when a Sepahan to do. already arrived in Tehran. fence “in a suspicious manner”.

Sandstorm in Kuwait Syria forces ready for Clashes leave 27 assault on rebel enclave dead in Yemen

AFP four children, and dozens more AFP southeast of the country. Beirut people wounded. Aden Mukalla was the most The last rebel bastion near populated Yemeni city un- Damascus, Eastern Ghouta is der direct Al Qaeda control yrian forces readied yes- held by two main factions, Jaish ight soldiers and 19 from 2015 to 2016, when terday for a ground of- al-Islam and Faylaq al-Rahman, suspected members the army and its regional Sfensive against the rebel- although militants also have a Eof Al Qaeda were military allies seized con- held enclave of Eastern Ghouta foothold there. killed in Yemen yesterday, trol of the port city. outside Damascus, a monitor The regime is keen to re- as the army launched an Special forces trained said, as residents of the capital gain control of the area to halt off ensive against key out- by the United Arab Emir- braced for retaliatory shelling. the deadly salvo of rockets and posts of the extremists, a ates — a key member of a President Bashar al-Assad mortars that those factions have military offi cial said. Saudi-led alliance fi ght- has in recent days been send- fi red on the capital. General Faraj al- ing alongside Yemen’s ing reinforcements from across An AFP correspondent in Da- Bahsani, governor of government forces — over the country to the edge of East- mascus said six rockets hit the Hadramawt province, said the weekend launched ern Ghouta, besieged by regime capital yesterday. the army had taken con- the off ensive, codenamed troops since 2013. Residents were already start- trol of the Mesini Valley “Al-Faisal”, against Al “The reinforcements are ing to pack bags and rent rooms west of Mukalla, a cen- Qaeda cells in oil-rich complete; the attack is just outside the city in anticipation tral site for Al Qaeda in Hadramawt province. waiting for a green light,” said of an operation now seen as im- Rami Abdel Rahman, the head minent. One of them said he was of the Syrian Observatory for planning to temporarily move Human Rights. his parents out of their home in Yesterday, more than 260 the capital’s east, which is regu- rockets, heavy artillery fi re, and larly hit in rebel shelling. air strikes slammed into sev- “I’d rather drop my parents eral towns in Eastern Ghouta, off in our village in Wadih al- he said. Qalaa,” in the government-con- The bombardment left at trolled province of Latakia, said Vehicles drive along a highway during a sandstorm in the Kuwaiti capital, yesterday. least 14 civilians dead, including 29-year-old Karim.

Jordan parliament blocks no-confi dence motion on govt Iran FM says Israel’s ‘myth of The Jordanian parliament yester- day refused a request to withdraw confidence from the government over recent economic measures, the country’s off icial news agency invincibility’ has crumbled Petra reported. In recent weeks, Jordan has seen a series of street protests against hikes in prices and Reuters invincibility (of Israel) has crum- taxes, which the government an- Munich bled,” Zarif said of Netanyahu’s nounced last month. The measures remarks, which followed the Feb included lifting the bread subsidy. 10 downing of an Israeli F-16 jet. Earlier this week, several lawmakers ran’s Foreign Minister said David Ivry, a former Israeli led by the Al-Islah bloc submitted yesterday the shooting down Air Force chief, told Reuters ear- a memorandum to the parliament, Iof an Israeli jet after it bombed lier this month he believed it was requesting a no-confidence vote an Iranian site in Syria had shat- the fi rst time an Israeli F-16 was on the government. Yesterday, 67 tered Israel’s “so-called invin- brought down since Israel began lawmakers opposed the request cibility”, reacting to a critical using the jets in the 1980s. while 49 others voted in favour speech delivered earlier by Israel’s Anti-aircraft fi re downed with four abstentions, Petra said. premier. the jet as it was returning from Prime Minister Hani al-Mulki has “Israel uses aggression as a a bombing raid on positions in defended the austerity steps, say- policy against its neighbours,” Syria. ing they are aimed at protecting Mohamed Javad Zarif told the It was one of at least eight Is- the country from bankruptcy. The Munich Security Conference, ac- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif gives a speech during raeli planes despatched in re- economy of Jordan, a country of cusing Israel of “mass reprisals the Munich Security Conference in Munich, yesterday. sponse to what Israel said was an 10mn that depends largely on aid, against its neighbours and daily Iranian drone’s incursion into its has been aff ected by an influx of incursions into Syria, Lebanon.” He was responding to Benjamin nian drone, accused Iran of trying airspace earlier on that day. refugees in recent years due to “Once the Syrians have the Netanyahu’s address to the con- to impose an “empire” across the The jet was hit by a Syrian an- neighbouring conflicts, as unem- guts to down one of its planes ference hours before, in which the Middle East. ti-aircraft missile and crashed in ployment reached 18.5%. it’s as if a disaster has happened,” Israeli prime minister, holding a “What has happened in the northern Israel, according to an Zarif said. piece of what he said was an Ira- past several days is the so-called Israeli offi cial. Gulf Times 10 Monday, February 19, 2018 AFRICA

Tanzania Zimbabwe president hails probes stray police bullet Tsvangirai, urges unity killing student AFP AFP Dodoma Harare anzanian President John Magufuli imbabwe’s president yesterday yesterday ordered an inquiry after praised opposition icon Morgan Tpolice admitted responsibility for ZTsvangirai who died last week the death of a 22-year-old student who as an outstanding political fi gure who was hit by a stray bullet as they sought to had endured political hardship and break up an opposition rally. deserved his place in the country’s The young woman’s death on Friday history. night triggered an outpouring of na- Tsvangirai, the strongest and fi erc- tional anger and demands for justice. est opponent ever to Robert Mugabe “I am profoundly shocked by the and his ZANU-PF party’s four dec- death of 22-year-old student Akwilina ades of rule, died on Wednesday, aged Maftah,” Magufuli said in a posting in 65 at a hospital in South Africa where Swahili on Twitter. he had been undergoing treatment for “I have ordered the security forces colon cancer. to carry out an inquiry and to take legal “When we write the history of this measures against those responsible.” country we cannot leave out the par- Another four people were seriously ticipation and role that the former injured in the incident as police sought prime minister played in the eff ort to to disperse a peaceful demonstration in entrench democratic values in this Dar es Salaam, the country’s commer- country,” President Emmerson Mnan- cial capital. gagwa said shortly after off ering his Regional police commander Lazaro condolences to Tsvangirai’s family. Mambosasa said six offi cers had been “He travelled a diffi cult journey and arrested for using their weapons during we should remember that.” Friday’s march as they sought to clear Mnangagwa also urged unity as the the road of demonstrators from Chade- country mourned the death of a man ma, the main opposition party. who had become the symbol of resist- Police had earlier said the bullet which ance to authoritarian rule and of the killed the young woman was one of the fi ght for democracy. warning shots fi red by offi cers during the “Let us all be united, let us be broth- operation. Witnesses said police used ers and sisters and come together and tear gas and fi red live ammunition, while mourn our former prime minister with the police accused some of the demon- that spirit. We are all Zimbabweans.” strators of throwing stones. Before being forced into a power- The shooting triggered a fl ood of sharing deal with ZANU-PF as a public outrage, with the TNSP, an um- prime minister, Tsvangirai was beaten brella group of Tanzanian students, up by police, his rallies were banned demanding “the immediate resigna- and he was charged with treason and tion” of Interior Minister Mwigulu jailed. Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa salutes mourners at the home of late opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai in Harare yesterday. Nchemba, urging Magufuli to sack him Mnangagwa said the upcoming if he refused to go. The group also said elections in Zimbabwe, expected by We need fair, free and credible elec- lowing a fl are-up in violence which short of garnering enough votes to be A split in the MDC could hand ad- it would help the victim’s family to fi le July, should be free, fair and credible tions this year,” he said. claimed at least 200 opposition sup- declared the winner. vantage to Mnangagwa who took pow- suit against the police. as a tribute to Tsvangirai. Tsvangirai, a former trade union porters. Tsvangirai’s death came as tensions er from Mugabe following a military The Alliance for Change and Trans- “I am appealing to all political par- stalwart and leader of the Movement He had beaten long-time ruler Mu- over his succession are threatening to takeover in November. parency, another opposition party, also ties in this country to hear my call that for Democratic Change (MDC), pulled gabe in the fi rst round of presidential tear apart the MDC, which he had led Tsvangirai will be buried tomorrow called for Nchemba and police chief Si- we need no violence in this country. out of an election run-off in 2008 fol- elections that year, narrowly coming since its formation in 1999. at his rural home in Buhera. mon Sirro to resign as well.

Displaced

New Congolese refugees arrive at a settlement in Kyangwali, Uganda. Since January, thousands of people have fled to Uganda from the Democratic Republic of Congo, fleeing violent attacks across the Kivu regions by reportedly Mai Mai militias and lack of food, water and basic services.

Nigeria releases 475 Boko Haram suspects for lack of evidence

AFP against them. Therefore, the suspects Most were men, but their number Abuja were released.” also included some women and chil- Among those released was a young dren, with Nigeria widely criticised for girl with a three-month-old baby from holding them and thousands of others igeria has freed another 475 Borno State who was taken to a Boko for years without trial or even contact Boko Haram suspects follow- Haram enclave by her brother and mar- with a lawyer. Ning a series of mass trials in ried off to his friend when she was 11. Before Friday’s release of 475 sus- which most cases were dropped for She was arrested in 2014 while try- pects, 468 had been freed after it was lack of evidence, the justice ministry ing to escape. found they had no case to answer; 45 said yesterday. Also freed were two mechanics, were jailed for between two and 15 Over the course of the week, hun- identical twins who were arrested in years and 28 had their cases transferred dreds of suspected Boko Haram ex- Bauchi State in 2010 after servicing a to other jurisdictions. tremists have appeared before a court vehicle at their workshop which be- A further 82 pleaded guilty in ex- at the Kainji military base in central longed to a Boko Haram member. change for a lesser sentence or release, Niger state. Also Friday, the court imposed a taking into account time served in cus- The release order was issued on second 15-year sentence on Haruna tody. Friday, with the 475 suspects to be re- Yahaya, 35, who was involved in the And others were freed after spend- turned to their home states for “proper 2014 kidnapping of more than 200 ing years behind bars. rehabilitation” before being sent back schoolgirls from Chibok. Earlier in the The remaining cases have been de- to their families, ministry spokesman week, he had been jailed for 15 years layed for another hearing. Salihu Othman Isah said. but the court handed him an additional Boko Haram’s bloody quest since He said they had been arrested on 15-year term, with the judge saying 2009 to establish a hardline Islamic grounds they either belonged to Boko the two sentences would run consecu- state in remote northeast Nigeria has Haram, or had concealed information tively. left at least 20,000 dead and forced about the group’s plans or its mem- In all, some 1,669 people have been more than 2.6mn others out of their bers’ whereabouts. processed in a string of mass hear- homes. “However, the Prosecution Counsel ings which began in October at four The violence has also spilt over into could not charge them with any of- specially-constituted civilian courts neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and fence due to lack of suffi cient evidence inside the facility. Niger. Gulf Times Monday, February 19, 2018 11 AMERICA Russia succeeding in ‘sowing discord’ among Americans

AFP and Russia, and possible obstruction of justice. Washington “If it was the GOAL of Russia to create dis- cord, disruption and chaos within the US then, with all of the Committee Hearings, Investiga- resident Donald Trump yesterday ac- tions and Party hatred, they have succeeded be- knowledged that Russia was succeeding yond their wildest dreams,” Trump said. Pbeyond its “wildest dreams” in sowing In yet another tweet, he said: “Obama was discord within the US but once more refrained President, knew of the threat, and did nothing.” from directly challenging Moscow over its elec- Adam Schiff , the senior Democrat on the tion meddling. House Intelligence Committee, agreed that the In a mash of tweets, Trump blamed former Obama administration should have done more president Barack Obama for failing to stop Rus- when it learned of the Russian meddling. sia while accusing the FBI of spending “too “None of that is an excuse for this president much time trying to prove collusion with the to sit on his hands,” Schiff said on CNN’s State Trump campaign.” of the Union show. But the president has made no move to take “The president of the United States contin- on Russia since the indictments Friday against ues to sit on sanctions that Congress passed, 13 Russians that laid out in detail aspects of the that Congress wants enforced against Russia alleged covert eff ort to sway the 2016 US presi- over this interference,” he said. dential election in Trump’s favour. The US Treasury Department last month is- US intelligence chiefs warned last week that sued a list of prominent Russian political and Russian meddling has continued and poses a business fi gures who could be sanctioned, as Students and others chant at a rally calling for more gun control three days after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Fort threat to the US mid-term congressional elec- required under a law passed last year to punish Lauderdale, Florida. tions this year. Moscow’s election meddling. Speaking at a security conference in Munich on But the administration said new sanctions Saturday, National Security Adviser HR McMas- called for under the law were not needed be- ter called the evidence of Russian interference in cause the measure was already having a deter- US democratic processes “incontrovertible.” rent eff ect. The indictments brought by Mueller But Trump glossed over Russian responsibil- alleges that the Russian campaign was launched ity, and off ered no indication of what his ad- in 2014, initially as an eff ort to undermine con- ministration would do about it. fi dence in the US political system. “General McMaster forgot to say that the By mid-2016, however, the campaign — un- Florida students results of the 2016 election were not impacted der the direction of Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close or changed by the Russians and that the only ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin — had Collusion was between Russia and Crooked H, become focused on hurting Clinton and helping the DNC and the Dems,” Trump said in a tweet Trump, according to the indictment. late Saturday, making reference to his defeated The eff ort allegedly involved hundreds of Democratic Party challenger Hillary Clinton. people working in shifts and with a budget of He followed that up yesterday, tweeting: “I millions of dollars. call for gun reform never said Russia did not meddle in the elec- Three companies were also indicted. tion, I said ‘it may be Russia, or China or anoth- The indictment did not address the Russian AFP er country or group, or it may be a 400 pound government’s role, hacks of the Clinton cam- Washington genius sitting in bed and playing with his com- paign and Democratic National Committee, or puter.’ The Russian ‘hoax’ was that the Trump possible Trump campaign collusion. campaign colluded with Russia — it never did!” “I do think there are other shoes to drop here tudents who survived a mass In another tweet he suggested that the prob- besides this indictment,” former national secu- shooting at their Florida lem lay with congressional and Department of rity director James Clapper said on CNN. Sschool yesterday announced Justice probes, rather than the interference itself. Russian Foreign Minister Serge Lavrov dis- plans to march on Washington in a Friday’s indictment was fi led by special missed the charges, calling them “blabber” and bid to “shame” lawmakers into re- counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating “fantasies” in comments at the Munich confer- forming laws that make powerful possible collusion between Trump’s campaign ence. fi rearms readily available. The “March for our Lives” will take place on March 24, with sister marches planned across the coun- try, a group of students told ABC News, vowing to make Wednes- Father seeks clemency for son day’s shooting a turning point in America’s deadlocked debate on gun control. Reuters implemented, it will only intensify his pain. Nineteen-year-old Nikolas Austin “I am going to be thrown into a deeper grief Cruz, a troubled former student at at the hands of the state of Texas, in the name Marjory Stoneman Douglas High of justice,” Kent Whitaker said last week, after School, has confessed to killing 17 Texas man who survived a deadly do- a 30-minute meeting with the chairman of the people with a legally-purchased mestic attack hatched by his son is push- Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles in Austin. AR-15 semi-automatic rifl e, the Aing the state to grant clemency to the Whitaker says his son has been a model in- latest such atrocity in a country condemned man, although it has never spared a mate and has provided letters from death row plagued by gun violence. death row inmate solely at the formal request of prison guards to back him up. Among the students announc- the victim’s family. According to the clemency petition, Kent ing the march was Emma Gonzal- Thomas “Bart” Whitaker is set to be put to Whitaker, his relatives and his wife’s family do ez, who captured worldwide at- death by lethal injection on February 22 for not want Texas to execute Bart. tention with a powerful speech in masterminding a 2003 plot near Houston that The panel’s decision is due tomorrow, two which she assailed President Don- Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school student Emma Gonzalez speaks at a rally for gun control at the left his mother Tricia, 51, and brother Keith, 19, days before the execution. ald Trump over the multi-mil- Broward County Federal Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. dead and his father Kent with a bullet wound If it recommends commuting the death sen- lion-dollar support his campaign near his heart. tence to life in prison, Governor Greg Abbott, a received from the gun lobby, and “We want to give them the op- politician “who is taking money to “create a new normal where In the 31 states with capital punishment, dis- Republican, would make the fi nal decision. vowed Stoneman Douglas would portunity to be on the right side of from the NRA is responsible for there’s a badge of shame on any trict attorneys make the decision whether to Local prosecutors said they considered the be “the last mass shooting.” this,” she said, as she and her four events like this.” politician who’s accepting money seek death, balancing the punishment that they family’s views but stood by Whitaker’s sentence Yesterday, the 18-year-old classmates called on students na- “This isn’t about the GOP,” he from the NRA.” consider best serves society with the wishes of as appropriate for such a brutal crime. Gonzalez urged politicians to join tionwide to help push the message said, referring to the Republican “People keep asking us, what the victim’s family. In this case, the local Texas “We represent all of the community. It is not a conversation about gun control across. Party. “This isn’t about the Dem- about the Stoneman Douglas prosecutors pursued death and jurors decided just one person we represent,” said Fred Felc- — citing Trump as well as Florida Singling out the links between ocrats.” shooting is going to be diff erent, Bart Whitaker, 38, deserved to be executed. man, fi rst assistant district attorney for the Fort Senator Marco Rubio and Gov- politicians and the powerful Na- Accusing the NRA of “fostering because this has happened before His father, a 69-year-old devout Christian Bend County District Attorney’s Offi ce. “Le- ernor Rick Scott, who are fellow tional Rifl e Association, fellow and promoting this gun culture,” and change hasn’t come?” said and retired executive, says if that penalty is gally, justice says that he should be executed.” Republicans. student Cameron Kasky said any Kasky said the students sought Kasky. “This is it.” Republicans face fi rst test of tax cuts’ power to sway voters

Reuters Trump to help Republicans retain But it remains to be seen legislation or for Saccone, the The predominantly white paychecks until early March. give the biggest breaks to the Washington control of the House and Senate whether the four-term state Republican congressional candi- district stretches from wealthy “By the time November comes wealthiest Americans and large in midterm elections this No- representative can persuade tax- date. southern Pittsburgh suburbs in around people are going to be corporations. vember. cut sceptics such as Marran and Trump voters Marran and Allegheny County, down through dancing in the street,” Saccone “I would have liked people in ark Marran, an opera- A crucial early test is set for Smith. Smith said they were still unde- the middle class community of said. the middle to be the sole ben- tions manager for a For- March 13 here in western Penn- Such doubts are refl ected in a cided about next month’s con- Washington and into the coal But with only a few weeks left efi ciaries”, Lamb said. “We know Mtune 500 company, vot- sylvania. new nationwide Reuters/Ipsos test. mining and farming territory of until the Pennsylvania contest, who that bill was for.” ed for Donald Trump. Two weeks Republican candidate Rick public opinion poll that shows a In Upper St Clair, a wealthy Greene County bordering West Trump is not leaving anything to Republican groups, mean- ago he noticed an extra $100 in Saccone, a conservative Trump plurality believe the legislation is Pittsburgh suburb, Republican Virginia. chance in a seat that Republicans while, have already spent near- his bimonthly pay check, cour- loyalist, is vying to win a special a windfall for the wealthy and big Bill Hartman, 59, said he plans to Pennsylvania’s 18th district is have held since 2002. ly $5mn on ads tying Lamb to tesy of sweeping tax cuts passed election for a congressional seat businesses. cast a vote for Lamb. wealthier than the national aver- The president is planning a Democratic House leader Nancy by the Republican Congress late in a district that the president Some 36% of respondents This despite the fact that Hart- age with median household in- rally later this month in Pitts- Pelosi, who derided the bigger last year. won by 19 points in 2016. said the rich would benefi t most, man’s top tax bracket will drop to come of $64,000 in 2016. burgh and is expected to praise paychecks that many Americans Marran says the extra cash is Yet recent polls show a tight- while another 22% said it would 25% from 28%. An analysis by the left-leaning Saccone and the tax overhaul. are now seeing as “crumbs.” nice, but it will not change his ening race in Pennsylvania’s 18th be US corporations. “The tax cut was meant to Tax Policy Center has concluded The special election, which O’Connell, the Republican life. “A lot of people around here district, where Republicans typi- Just 13% said they believed show (the GOP) did something,” that the top fi fth of US earners will fi ll a seat left vacant when strategist, is optimistic the tax think (the tax cuts) were a givea- cally enjoy a double-digit advan- that the middle class would be said Hartman, who earns more will get a 2.2 percentage point tax incumbent Republican congress- message will gain traction. way to the rich,” said Marran, 56, tage. the main benefi ciaries. than $100,000 a year selling ad- cut from the legislation, com- man Tim Murphy quit amid per- Middle-class voters could well a resident of this city of 14,000 Political analysts point to a The poll also suggests that the vertising. pared to a 0.4 percentage point sonal scandal, is an early litmus warm to the tax cuts by Novem- about 45km southwest of Pitts- number of factors fuelling a com- tax plan alone may not fuel Re- “But it was just to help the reduction among the poorest test for the GOP tax message, ber, he said. burgh. petitive race, including Trump’s publican turnout in November. wealthy.” fi fth. said Ford O’Connell, a Republi- And he believes Saccone will Just up the street, George low approval ratings and height- Some 55% of respondents said In contrast, Glen Laufer, a food In a telephone interview, Sac- can strategist. win next month. Smith, an optician who makes ened Democratic enthusiasm. the tax plan “makes me more in- service worker in nearby Bethel cone, the Republican candidate, It is “a trial run,” heading into Several western Pennsylvania $55,000 a year, echoed that sen- Democratic challenger Conor terested in voting for Democrats” Park, says he is thrilled about the said small business owners and November, he said. voters who spoke to Reuters were timent. Lamb, a retired Marine and or “will not change my interest in extra $120 he saw in his paycheck voters he has met are pleased “Trump obviously wants to enthusiastic. The Trump voter said he is now former federal prosecutor, is run- voting.” last month. with the extra income. hold the seat and Trump wants Jeff erson Hills residents Steven getting an extra $120 a month in ning as a moderate in a district In interviews with 30 voters He said he is voting for Sac- “A lot of the benefi ts have only to fi nd out if he has delivered Bronder, 59, and his wife have an- his paycheck. where liberals are viewed with in Pennsylvania’s 18th district, cone. just begun to accrue,” Saccone, enough to keep voters happy.” nual income of around $750,000. But he says it is the wealthy suspicion. Reuters found most were ambiv- “This gives the middle class 59, said. Meanwhile Lamb, the 33-year- Bronder, an insurance agent, who really scored. Saccone, meanwhile, has been alent about the tax cuts. more money, which will make Indeed, tax experts said that old Democrat, is trying to walk a fi gures the couple will save an ex- “It’s almost like being thrown a touting Trump’s signature legis- Most acknowledged they people more willing to spend because employers had until fi ne line in this conservative dis- tra $45,000 a year under the new bone,” said Smith, 59. lative achievement as a boon for would keep more of what they money,” Laufer said. February 15 to start using the new trict. tax legislation. These are worrying words for the middle class.”Tax cuts are earned. Tax cuts should play well with tax-withholding tables issued by He tells voters he is not against “I’m really happy,” Bronder the GOP, which is banking on changing lives,” says one of Sac- But that did not necessar- voters here, most of whom will the IRS, some employees may not tax cuts, but opposes what he said. “That’s why I voted for the tax cuts pushed by President cone’s TV spots. ily translate into support for the benefi t. start seeing a diff erence in their sees as legislation designed to Trump.” Gulf Times 12 Monday, February 19, 2018 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Aussie PM in damage control as scandal undermines deputy

Reuters and Joyce met on Saturday for Sydney crisis talks in Sydney which the Prime Minister described as “frank and warm, friendly, ustralian Prime Minis- good, constructive”. ter Malcolm Turnbull Yesterday, Australian media Abrushed aside suggestions reported that senior National of a rift in his coalition govern- Party figures were openly can- ment yesterday, saying there vassing constituents with a were “no issues” between the view to removing Joyce from Liberal and National parties in the party leadership. the wake of a sex scandal that has Veterans Affairs Minister swamped Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, a mem- Barnaby Joyce. ber of the National Party who “I can assure you that the has been passed over for the relations are very strong,” he leadership, declined to say said at a televised press con- whether he would challenge for ference in Melbourne. “I know the office. there was great excitement in “I never get too far ahead of the media that there was some myself,” he said, neither con- Coalition clash, there are no firming nor denying whether issues between the Liberal and he would attempt to depose National parties, at all. None at Joyce at a meeting to be held to- all.” Barnaby Joyce day. Joyce has refused to resign Joyce leads the rural-based from office, hitting out at crit- National Party, the junior part- has existed since 1923. The strained since news broke that The scandal prompted the ics, including Turnbull, whom ner in the centre-right govern- coalition rules with a majority Joyce had an extra-marital af- Prime Minister to ban sexual he accused of causing further ment led by Turnbull’s Liberal of just one seat but relations fair with his former press sec- relationships between minis- harm with “inept” comments Party, a political alliance that between the parties have been retary, who is now pregnant. ters and their staff. Turnbull on Friday. Malcom Turnbull Myanmar farmers Fire-hit Jokhang temple going against the grain with apps streets reopen after blaze Myanmar opened its doors, AFP Aye Ywar , Myanmar telecoms companies rushed in AFP that Tibet’s top Communist par- come to Lhasa to pray at Jokhang; from before the holiday began. it has brought economic growth to grab market share, thrust- Beijing ty offi cial Wu Yingjie had rushed it’s the wish of a lifetime. Many Jokhang monastery hous- to the region. Foreign journalists ing Myanmar beyond the era to the scene. who make pilgrimage to Lhasa es one of Tibetan Buddhism’s are banned from visiting Tibet free app on farmer San of desktop computers and old- Jokhang temple is a Unesco prostrating do so just to visit the most venerated icons, the Jowo except on state-sponsored tours, San Hla’s smartphone is style mobile phones. The cost treets around Lhasa’s fi re- World Heritage Site which lies temple,” she added. Shakyamuni — a statue believed as Beijing seeks to strictly control A her new weapon in the of sim cards, once the tightly- hit Jokhang temple, one of at the heart of old Lhasa. The The area has been the site of to be one of just three crafted the narrative about the region, war against the dreaded stem controlled reserve of the well- Sthe most sacred sites for Barkhor — a bustling, shop-lined past protests against Beijing’s during the Buddha’s actual life- ranked the second-least free ter- borer moth that blighted her connected, or special branch Tibetan Buddhism, were reo- area surrounding Jokhang whose presence in Tibet. time, depicting him at age 12. It ritory in the world after Syria by rice paddy in southern Myan- spies, plummeted from an un- pened to pilgrims yesterday after streets and square constitute one On Twitter, which is blocked is also home to numerous other US think tank Freedom House. mar for the last two years. attainable $3,000 in 2005 to a blaze broke out the night be- of the most important pilgrim- in China, Tibetans abroad noted priceless cultural artefacts, in- In 2008, demonstrations by As she watches her workers $1.50 in 2013. fore, Chinese state media said, age circuits for Tibetans — was that photos and posts about the cluding over 3,000 images of Tibetan monks in Lhasa degen- haul in this year’s harvest, the Competitors practically gave but the extent of damage re- temporarily closed after the fi re blaze were quickly being cen- Buddhas, deities and histori- erated into deadly violence tar- 35-year-old is in a triumphant away smartphone handsets mained unclear. but has been reopened, the state sored. cal fi gures as well as treasures geting China’s majority Han eth- mood, ascribing her victory as they fell over themselves to The offi cial Xinhua news Xinhua news agency said yester- Robert Barnett, a London- and manuscripts, according to nic group and the Hui, a Muslim over the seasonal scourge to ad- build up brand loyalty. Mobile agency said the fi re had erupt- day. based Tibetologist, tweeted that Unesco. Many murals and other minority. Later that year, dozens vice received via the app about penetration stood at just 7% in ed Saturday evening in part of Prominent Tibetan writer sources in Lhasa “claim police items were damaged during the of monks burst into Jokhang eff ective pesticide use. 2012. By the end of 2017, smart- the more than 1,300-year-old Tsering Woeser told AFP she was have threatened anyone distrib- Cultural Revolution, but much of temple to interrupt a state-run “We used to just farm the way phone penetration had rocket- Jokhang temple, but was soon “very worried” about the state of uting pictures or unoffi cial news its wooden architectural struc- foreign media press tour intend- our parents showed us,” she told ed to 80%. A nascent tech hub put out. the monastery. “Tibetans con- about the fi re.” ture had remained intact over ed to showcase the region’s har- AFP, in her village of Aye Ywar followed and outside of agri- Images posted on social me- sider Lhasa to be a sacred place, The incident comes as Tibet- the centuries despite countless mony and stability in the wake of west of Yangon. “But after get- culture, apps were created for dia of the blaze showed the eaved but Jokhang is a sacred place ans across the country are cel- renovations, said Woeser. the protests, accusing the gov- ting the app, I now see how we everything from healthcare to roof of a section of the building within that sacred place — the ebrating Losar, the traditional China has ruled Tibet since the ernment of lying. should be doing it... it’s better Myanmar’s parliament. lit with roaring yellow fl ames and most sacred in all of Tibet,” she Tibetan New Year that began Fri- 1950s, and has been accused of More than 150 Tibetans have to use proper techniques rather Farmers, many among the emitting a haze of smoke. “The said. “Some people say it’s only day, the same day as the Chinese trying to eradicate its Buddhist- self-immolated in protest against than just working blindly.” country’s poorest, today fi nd fi re was quickly extinguished, because of Jokhang that the holy lunar new year. The temple had based culture through political Beijing since 2009, according to San San Hla is among a themselves with a mobile there were no casualties and or- city of Lhasa exists at all.” been closed to the public on Sat- and religious repression. Beijing the International Campaign for growing cohort of farmers who computer in their hands – a der is normal in the area,” said “No matter where they are in urday, Xinhua reported, citing a insists that Tibetans enjoy ex- Tibet, headquartered in Wash- are turning to tech to address game-changer for the entrepre- the state-run Tibet Daily, adding the world, Tibetans all wish to schedule from local authorities tensive freedoms and argues that ington. the knowledge gap in a coun- neurs behind ‘Green Way,’ who try where two thirds of the launched their app in 2016 and workforce are employed in ag- now employ 18 full-time staff . Australian cruise ship slammed riculture. The sector accounts “‘Green Way’ is my dream to link for some 28% of the country’s farmers and experts,” Yin Yin after mayhem by family members New Year show GDP, but yields are low with Phyu told AFP. “The farmers can farmers cut-off from modern get help whenever they need.” Passengers travelling on an Australian cruise line to the South technology under decades of Some 70,000 farmers have Pacific have slammed the handling of the management after isolationist junta rule. For peo- already downloaded the app a mass brawl by an “unruly” 23-member family who had to ple like San San Hla apps could although she hears far more are be off loaded. The Carnival Legend 10-day cruise turned into be the answer. accessing it through phone-to- a nightmare with three days of violence, forcing the ship to They are providing farmers phone sharing. make an unscheduled stop-off in the New South Wales (NSW) with up-to-date information Greater productivity at My- town of Eden, the holidaymakers told media. The ship arrived on everything from weather, anmar’s farms could reshape to its home dock in Melbourne on Saturday night. Passengers climate change, crop prices to both its economy and society, yesterday rubbished the company’s off er of compensation advice on pesticides and fer- says 71-year-old agricultural of a 25% future cruise credit as a “goodwill gesture.” “I won’t tilisers. Chat forums are con- expert Myo Myint. be travelling Carnival ever again so a 25% off a future cruise necting farmers, allowing them “Many workers migrate to in my eyes is unacceptable,” Mark Morrison said yesterday, to swap tips while experts are other countries because they according to the Australian Associated Press. “To add insult on hand to answer queries. can’t make enough money to to injury ... they charged us a A$19.54 (US$15.48) credit card The “Green Way” app is the live from agriculture in Myan- convenience fee to settle accounts before disembarkation brainchild of two former agri- mar,” he says. “Farmers need this morning.” The mayhem broke out in the early hours of cultural students, who in 2011 technology and investment.” Friday at the ship’s nightclub, according to the passengers, set up a website for farmers, of- A 2017 World Bank study but there had been days of brawling before that. “Very ten working through the night found farmers in some areas of violent, they were full-on attacks,” passenger Lisa Bolithoto to keep it updated. But at the the country still earn as little as ld reporters on Saturday. “The captain said ‘What do you time few farmers had Internet $2 per day. Productivity is also want me to do about it: throw them overboard?’” She said access, recalls Yin Yin Phyu, 28, relatively low with only 23kg of her son was targeted by the family and they had to flee and explaining the “idea just didn’t rice paddy generated in one day lock themselves in their cabin. Police have launched an take off .” of work in Myanmar compared investigation. The cruise line has also launched an internal A man and his daughter watch a light show to celebrate Lunar New Year at Happy Valley in Beijing, China. Then smartphones arrived to 62kg in Cambodia, 429kg in investigation. and everything changed. As Vietnam, and 547kg in Thailand. US island Guam stays relaxed amid nuclear threat

AFP could have stopped the threat — and resi- standoff with Pyongyang. It is part of the Andersen Air Force Base dents are just getting on with their lives. military’s gigantic Pacifi c Command (PA- “The general populace feels like they un- COM), a region spanning almost half the der the protection of the US government,” globe. General Joe Dunford — the chairman hen North Korea last year bragged says another local, Vincent Terlaje. of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who recently vis- of plans to lob a salvo of ballistic Residents have good reason to be calm ited the island with a group of journalists — Wmissiles toward Guam, residents —dozens of radars dot the tropical island’s and other US offi cials vehemently disagree of this relaxed American island in the west- cliff tops and nearby fi elds, scanning for with that assertion. The B-2 Spirit stealth ern Pacifi c didn’t seem too worried. Months signals and potential threats. Guam hosts a bomber, shaped like a jagged boomerang, is later, and with tensions still high, they re- sophisticated anti-missile system, known deployed here — it can carry nuclear pay- main sanguine. as Terminal High Altitude Area Defence loads and evade radar. “We know that if anything was to happen, (THAAD), which is designed to fi re intercep- Offi cials on the base wheeled out a better there would be a lot of eff orts to keep us safe tors into an incoming intermediate-range known plane for Dunford’s inspection — the and make sure we aren’t hit by anything,” rocket and pulverise the target. “There is imposing B-52 Stratofortress, a Cold War says Blake Bristol, manager of Mosa’s Joint no better defended place to be than Guam,” behemoth that still forms part of America’s diner in the capital Hagatna. “We are just Tourists board on a shuttle bus near the Navy Lieutenant Ian McConnaughey boasts bomber fl eet backbone. “We are the third going to hang out and enjoy the time that we tourist resorts in Tamuning on the island as he shows reporters around Andersen Air generation to fl y this plane, which is incred- have. If it happens, it happens — that’s how of Guam in this file picture. Force Base, a sprawling facility carved from ible,” 28-year-old Captain Joseph Trench it is.” the island’s dense tropical brush. Niez says. With THAAD and its network of Though Guam is US territory and home to intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) McConnaughey is one of more than 7,000 ship- and ground-based interceptors that more than 160,000 people, few Americans launches by Pyongyang — which prompted US military personnel stationed on Guam, can in theory take out an ICBM, the Penta- give the island much thought — and even President Donald Trump to vow “fi re and which juts out of the world’s deepest ocean gon says it can stop any threat from North fewer will ever visit. But it briefl y came to fury” in response — the North said it was and is part of the remote Mariana Islands Korea. prominence last year amid a fl urry of North considering sending missiles toward Guam. chain. Though it is located some 3,400km But America’s defences are by no means Korea weapons tests. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un hasn’t southeast of North Korea, Guam in some guaranteed and the calculus is always In a moment of red-hot tension after two followed through, but offi cials insist they ways represents a front line in America’s changing. Gulf Times Monday, February 19, 2018 13 BRITAIN

CRIME ACCIDENT AGREEMENT TRAVEL APPEAL Man found stabbed to Two killed in West Sussex Church spires to be used Uber launches 24/7 Firms urged to give more death in Kensington street level-crossing crash to boost phone, Wi-Fi signal helpline for passengers jobs to children from care

A 19-year-old man has been stabbed to death A 15-year-old boy and a 72-year-old man were Church spires across Britain will be used to boost Uber is setting up an “open all hours” Businesses are being urged by Families Minister in west London. Police discovered the injured killed when a train collided with a car in Horsham, broadband, mobile phone and Wi-Fi connectivity telephone hotline for passengers who want Kit Malthouse to hire more young people who victim at about 03.20GMT after they were West Sussex. Off icers were to Barns Green level in rural areas, under a deal struck between the to make a complaint after a journey booked grew up in foster care and children’s homes. The called to Logan Place in Kensington over crossing in Horsham following reports of a government and the Church of England. “This via the cab-hailing app. The Silicon Valley senior Conservative reminded businesses they reports of a large number of vehicles in the collision, the British Transport Police (BTP) said. agreement with the Church of England will giant is launching a “charm offensive” after can claim up to £1,000 from the government for area. The off icers gave first aid and paramedics The pair, who are members of the same family, mean that even a 15th century building can Transport for London’s refusal last September taking on an apprentice from such a background. were called but the man was pronounced died after a train struck their car, the force said. help make Britain fit for the future,” said Matt to renew its licence to operate in the city. It is He said: “Each year over 12,000 teenagers in dead at the scene. Scotland Yard said another Their family is being supported by family liaison Hancock, the minister for digital, culture, media appealing against the decision in the courts England make the leap to independent living from 19-year-old man was arrested nearby “in off icers. Detective inspector Brett Walker, from and sport. The CoE has 16,000 church buildings but has pledged reforms under chief executive care without the family support many of us have connection with the incident”. Detective BTP, said: “This is an extremely tragic incident and around 65% of its churches are located in Dara Khosrowshahi. Its announcement means enjoyed. It’s up to all of us to help care leavers get chief inspector Mark Cranwell said detectives and our thoughts are with the family at this rural communities, making them ideal hosts of passengers and drivers will get a number to the right opportunities and businesses play a vital believed a party was being held at a nearby diff icult time. Our off icers have been working key digital infrastructure. There are currently call to report bad experiences or seek support. role in this.” Malthouse urged business leaders “to address on Earls Court Road and they were at the scene, and will ensure we gain as much more than 120 cases of broadband and mobile The only point of contact with Uber till now recognise we’re all parents to care leavers” and “working to establish any link”. information about how the collision happened.” services being delivered from parish churches. has been via the app. back the See Potential campaign.

UK hits Flying Lion dance visa cap PM to reveal on letting in skilled workers tuition fee

Guardian News and Media London overhaul ritain has hit its cap on visas for skilled non- BEuropean workers for an unprecedented third month in a row, deepening the staffi ng cri- sis facing the NHS and other key employers. details today When the monthly quota was reached in December and Janu- Guardian News and Media review” announced by May at last 2012, annual tuition fees in Eng- ary for the fi rst time in seven London year’s Conservative party confer- land were £6,000 with an option years immigration lawyers had ence had receded after opposi- to rise to a maximum of £9,000 expected it would prove to be a tion from the previous education if universities gained approval blip, but they now fear it is turn- heresa May is to set out de- secretary, Justine Greening, and for access agreements targeted ing into a long-term problem. tails of her government’s universities minister, Jo Johnson. at improving admissions among More than a third of the tier- Tlong-promised major re- But both Greening and John- students from disadvantaged or 2 work visas issued by the Home view of higher education fund- son were moved by May in her under-represented groups. Offi ce go to medical and other ing in England – with the current last reshuffl e, leaving the way But in practice universities staff recruited to work in the structure of £9,000 undergradu- clear for a more disruptive re- quickly adopted access agree- NHS. Migration experts expect ate tuition fees up for scrutiny. view as envisaged by May’s ad- ments and raised their fees to the that among the fi rst group to be In her speech today, May will visers to take place. highest level, which now sit at turned away will be doctors and outline the delayed review of Before May’s announcement, £9,250 a year. other healthcare staff , software university funding, with vice- the University and College Un- Along with student loans to developers and scientists. chancellors nervously awaiting ion (UCU), which represents cover living expenses, the aver- The next set of quarterly im- the small print of the overhaul many academic staff , called for age graduate debt has increased migration fi gures will be pub- that is expected to take up to a the review to look at reintroduc- to £46,000, and to £57,000 lished on Thursday. They are year to complete. ing maintenance grants for stu- for students from less well-off expected to show increasing evi- The options being considered dents from poorer backgrounds. households. The debts are re- dence of a “Brexodus” over the include cutting tuition fees for “Too often recent reviews have paid by taking 9% of graduate past year, with an accelerating students in England from the simply resulted in fi nding new income above £25,000, with any decline in the numbers of EU na- current level of £9,250 to closer ways to saddle students with remaining debts 30 years after tionals coming to work in Britain to £6,000 a year, by dismantling record levels of debt,” said Sally graduation being scrapped. while increasing numbers return requirements on universities to Hunt, UCU’s general secretary. A recent report by the Insti- home. spend funds on widening partici- “Reversing recent cuts in cor- tute for Fiscal Studies estimated The Home Offi ce sent out pation measures and bursaries poration tax would free up money that 77% of graduates taking out hundreds of e-mails to UK em- aimed at disadvantaged students. to fund students’ fees, bring back student loans would have part ployers and businesses last week Calculations by the London maintenance support and still of their loans written off by the telling them that their applica- Economics consultancy fi rm leave the UK with a competitively treasury because they would not tions for the certifi cates of spon- found that cutting fees down to low rate of corporation tax.” earn enough to repay them with- sorship required to recruit most- £6,000 would take more than The parliament’s treasury in the 30-year limit. ly highly skilled workers from £3bn a year away from universi- select committee is preparing London Economics calcu- outside the EU had been refused ties, and mainly benefi t higher its own recommendations on lated that cutting fees to £6,000 because they did not meet the earning graduates, who would student loans, including a look a year would reduce the average minimum points score set. pay less back in student loans. at reintroducing maintenance student debt on graduation by The cap on skilled worker Such a change would mean the grants and simplifying the cur- just £9,400 to £36,600. numbers operates on an an- government having to increase its rent loan structure, which baf- Mark Leach, editor of the nual quota of 20,700 with a fi xed funding for higher cost courses fl es many parents and students. Wonkhehigher education number of spaces available each such as medicine, engineering May’s announcement comes thinktank, said the government month. Until last December the and many sciences, which it al- at a diffi cult time for university should resist cutting tuition fees monthly quota had only been ready subsidises, as well as fund- leaders, who face increased public merely to win headlines. exceeded in one month since the ing widening participation eff orts. scrutiny over high levels of pay for “Key questions right now are: cap was introduced by Theresa Other changes are likely to vice-chancellors, strikes over staff the current fees are frozen at May as home secretary in 2011. include the way interest is cal- pensions and the arrival of the £9,250 but for how long? And if The Home Offi ce confi rmed culated and applied to student sector’s controversial new regula- fees are to be seriously cut, just that the minimum salary for a A Flying Lion dance performance is held at the Trafalgar Square as people celebrate the loans, with the current top rate tor, the Offi ce for Students, which how low will they go? And will job to qualify for a skilled work Chinese Lunar New Year in central London yesterday. The Chinese Lunar New Year on of 3% plus the retail price index becomes fully operational in April. the government plug the gap for visa was normally £30,000, or February 16 ushered in the beginning of the Year of Dog and the beginning of spring. of infl ation to be revised. Under the system introduced lost income to universities after £20,800 for a graduate recruit. The prospect of the “radical by the coalition government in the cut?” Leach said.

Fashion week Fraud gang jailed over MPs call for Brexit £1mn online ads scam

Guardian News and Media Dragomir, 34, previously of fund for farmers Cheshunt in Hertfordshire, was London found to be wanted under a Eu- Guardian News and Media the EU, there is no guarantee four typical products in super- ropean arrest warrant issued in London this will occur,” the committee markets, beef and cheese could embers of a gang who Romania for fraud convictions said. increase by 30%, tomatoes by conned people out of in 2007. He was jailed for seven- It called on the government 18% and broccoli by 10%. M£1mn by placing fake and-a-half years at Blackfriars ood prices could rise to consider establishing a spe- The average tariff on dairy adverts for goods and services crown court in London having sharply and farming busi- cial fund to support agricul- is more than 30% – imported on eBay and other websites have been convicted in December Fnesses could be wiped out ture, which is facing some the cheddar would go up 42% and been jailed for a total of 22-and- last year of off ences including at the end of a Brexit transition highest tariff s in WTO’s rules in butter 49% but would be as a-half years. conspiracy to commit fraud and period, a House of Commons addition to the loss of EU sub- high as 87% for frozen beef The organised crime network possession of equipment adapt- committee has warned. sidies. It also warned that cus- products. was led by Dragoz Dragomir, who ed for making fake ID docu- The cross-party environ- toms checks could mean rot- By contrast, the Brexit- ran a counterfeit ID factory, which ments. ment, food and rural aff airs se- ting food with perishable goods campaigner Tim Martin, the helped facilitate the crimes. He Detective constable Chris Col- lect committee said the time- imported from the EU unable to founder and chairman of produced fake EU national ID lins from the Met’s Falcon squad, table for concluding a new free reach their destination on time Wetherspoon pubs, said the cards, passports and utility bills which tackles fraud and linked trade deal with the EU by the if there were delays. cost of its meals would decrease to open more than 100 bank ac- crime online, said the gang de- end of 2020 was “extremely Part of the problems centre by 3.5p if World Trade Organi- counts to receive payments from frauded hundreds of victims. ambitious”. on the UK’s lack of self-suffi - sation rules applied. the fraudulent adverts. He added: “Dragomir was an In its latest report, the com- ciency in food – it does not pro- Sheep farmers could be When Dragomir was arrested enabler of serious crime whose mittee says the government duce enough for its own popu- “devastated”, with farmers in last June, he was living under the products are likely to have helped must have contingency plans lation and relies on imports to Wales and Northern Ireland false name of Andrei Bernath. Po- others net millions of pounds to protect consumers and satisfy consumer needs. who export about 90% of their lice searched offi ce space he was from fraud and evade immigra- business from the immediate The committee concluded lamb products unlikely to sur- renting in Enfi eld, north London, tion control. I am sure the ar- impact of tariff s, which range that dairy, sheep and cereals vive a 50% tariff . where they discovered multiple rest of Dragomir has helped to from about 87% on frozen would be hit hardest by tariff s The committee called on printers and computers set up to disrupt other criminal networks. beef to about 42% on ched- on the export front. the government to publish the mass produce fake ID documents. Dragomir was a professional dar cheese and 50% on grated Consumer prices for meat agriculture bill as quickly as Sample ID cards used to ad- forger specialising in counter- cheese. and dairy were particularly possible, expressing surprise vertise his services were found, feit Romanian, French, German, “Although the government’s vulnerable to price rises. that the department for envi- A model presents a creation from Preen by Thornton Bregazzi including an image on a mobile Spanish, Polish, Hungarian, Slo- intention is to agree a compre- The British Retail Consor- ronment, food and rural aff airs during their catwalk show on the third day of London telephone of a mocked-up UK vakian, Austrian and Italian na- hensive free trade agreement tium told the committee that had not already completed its Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2018 in London yesterday. driving licence with a photo of tional identity cards, UK driving and customs agreement with having applied the tariff s to sector-by-sector analysis. David Cameron. licences and Italian passports.” Gulf Times 14 Monday, February 19, 2018 BRITAIN

Ambulances stuck at A&E ‘unable to respond quickly to 999 calls’

Guardian News and Media number of seriously ill patients “It is now commonplace over The risk of harm is now transfer- Norman Lamb claimed in the woman in Clacton, Essex, was before being handed over to A&E London who are having to wait for sev- the winter period for A&E cor- ring from those in (hospital) cor- House of Commons last month found dead by an ambulance staff . eral hours – far beyond the target ridors to become full of patients ridors to patients in the commu- that 81 patients had died earlier crew three hours and 45 minutes “Ambulances stuck outside response time of eight minutes – and ambulances to queue out- nity needing an ambulance.” this winter while waiting for an after ringing the East of England hospitals waiting to transfer atients who have a stroke for paramedics to arrive. side emergency departments,” NHS England has acknowl- East of England ambulance serv- service complaining of chest patients is just one example of or heart attack are at risk of Wayne Bartlett-Syree, the di- Bartlett-Syree said in a blog- edged “the risk to patients in the ice crew to reach them. The serv- pains. the unsustainable pressure that Pharm because so many am- rector of strategy and sustain- post written for NHS Providers, community when systems do not ice has denied that the number The latest NHS fi gures show the whole of the NHS is under. bulances are stuck at A&E units ability at the East of England which represents NHS trusts in eff ectively manage and reduce of potentially avoidable deaths, that 149,214 patients had to be Sadly, with services stretched to that they cannot respond quickly ambulance service, said the huge England. handover delays. As an ambu- which a whistleblower gave to the looked after by ambulance per- the limit it is staff and patients enough to 999 calls, an NHS boss number of delays ambulance “It means that patients in the lance trust we and, more impor- Liberal Democrat MP, is as high sonnel for at least half-an-hour who are suff ering the most,” said has said. crews have faced this winter in community could be having heart tantly, our patients, are now hav- as that. It is investigating 22 “se- either in the back of an ambu- Chris Jenkinson, the East of Eng- The admission by a senior handing over patients to hard- attacks and strokes when there ing to face the reality of this risk rious cases” of which 12 involved lance or a hospital corridor so land regional secretary for Uni- fi gure in the NHS ambulance pressed staff of overcrowded are no ambulances available to with our NHS partners”, he said. a patient’s death. far this winter, and that 35,535 of son, which represents some NHS service highlights the growing A&E units was to blame. provide an emergency response. The former health minister On January 2, an 81-year-old them had to wait at least an hour ambulance crew. Corbyn attacks Reception for Commonwealth diaspora Islamophobia during visit to mosque

Guardian News and Media after the attack for urging peo- London ple in the crowd not to harm Os- borne and delivering him to the police, said the attack “realised uslim women are facing people’s fears and left the com- routine racist abuse on munity in shock”. Mthe streets of the UK, Mahmoud, who gave evidence Jeremy Corbyn has said while at Osborne’s trial, said “any per- visiting mosques participating son would have done what I did. in a nationwide open day to build The eff ect (of the attack) on me is bridges across communities. irrelevant compared to the vic- “Islamophobia is a real tims and the bereaved.” problem in our society, as is He added: “The rise of ex- other forms of racism like an- tremist rightwing groups is a tisemitism and racism against very serious threat not just to people of Afro-Caribbean her- Muslims but to all minorities, itage,” the Labour leader said and in fact to all Britons, and to Queen Elizabeth II talks to England rugby players Mako Vunipola (second right) and Billy Vunipola (right) during a reception for the Commonwealth diaspora at at the Finsbury Park mosque in the interwoven fabric that holds Buckingham Palace in London. The reception offers an opportunity to recognise people of Commonwealth heritage who have made a positive contribution to north London. this country together. The way to business, community and culture in the United Kingdom. “I’ve held meetings with Mus- combat this is to have open and lim women who have told me frank dialogue; barring and ban- horrifi c stories of routine racist ning can only breed further hate abuse on our streets. If women and division.” are abused because they are Research recently conducted wearing a headscarf, then it is on behalf of the MCB found that a wrong against them and it is a 90% of Britons have never visit- wrong against all of us.” ed a mosque, and one in four said Finsbury Park mosque was they did not know any Muslims. among more than 200 Muslim Almost three-quarters have nev- places of worship to take part in er been into another faith’s place Slain MP’s husband quits Visit My Mosque day, organised of worship. by the Muslim Council of Brit- “This is not good for social ain (MCB). From Inverness to cohesion. In a time of increasing Cornwall, mosques invited peo- intolerance and rising misun- ple of other faiths and no faith to derstanding of faith communi- witness prayers, ask questions, ties, we should all be opening charities after abuse claims read the Holy Qur’an, take part our doors to others,” said Harun in hijab and henna demonstra- Khan, the secretary general of Guardian News and Media statement issued on Saturday, term, I decided to step down on a trip to Harvard. A woman mistakes he may have made in tions and eat traditional food in the MCB. London but admitted making mistakes from my current public roles for alleged he had bought her drinks the past, and we respect him for an eff ort to debunk myths about Emily Thornberry, the shadow in a previous role with the char- the time being.” then touched her inappropriate- doing so. We all make mistakes. Islam. foreign secretary and a north ity Save the Children. Jo Cox, a Labour MP, was shot ly, the Mail on Sunday reported. Brendan is a wonderful father For the Finsbury Park mosque London MP, held a private meet- he husband of the mur- “I want to apologise deeply and stabbed outside her constit- Cox denied the accusations and and I have no doubt about the and nearby Muslim Welfare ing yesterday with women from dered MP Jo Cox has and unreservedly for my past uency offi ce in West Yorkshire called some of the allegations happiness he brought to Jo.” Centre, it was the fi rst set-piece the Finsbury Park mosque to Tresigned from the two behaviour and for the hurt and by a far-right extremist during against him a “massive exag- Leadbeater said she would open day since a terror attack discuss their concerns about ris- charities he set up in her mem- off ence that I have caused,” the EU referendum campaign in geration”. also continue the work of More last June, in which Darren Os- ing abuse and attacks. “Muslim ory after being publicly accused he said in the statement. “In June 2016. Jo Cox’s sister Kim Leadbeat- in Common and The Jo Cox borne drove his van into a group women are particularly vulner- of sexual assault. the aftermath of Jo’s murder, I In the statement, Cox said: er said in a statement yesterday Foundation. “I have a fantastic of people leaving prayers, kill- able,” she said. Brendan Cox has stepped promised that I would dedicate “While I do not accept the al- it was another very diffi cult team of people who have sup- ing one person and injuring 12 Fatima, a volunteer at the down from his posts at More in my life to two things, fi rstly lov- legations contained in the 2015 day for the family but that they ported me so far and I know they others. Osborne was jailed for a mosque who declined to give her Common and the Jo Cox Foun- ing and protecting our children complaint to the police in Cam- would support Cox. “My prior- will continue to do so as we fo- minimum of 43 years earlier this full name, said it was a “scary dation after allegations, printed and secondly fi ghting the hatred bridge, Massachusetts, I do ac- ity is and always will be looking cus on creating a positive legacy month for the attack, which the time” for Muslim women. in the Mail on Sunday, that he that killed Jo. knowledge and understand that after Jo and Brendan’s children for Jo,” she said. judge said was motivated by an “Politicians talk about the lack assaulted a woman in her 30s “In the last few days allega- during my time at Save the Chil- and supporting my parents, who The Mail on Sunday reported “ideology of hate towards Mus- of integration, but women are at Harvard University in 2015. tions from several years ago have dren I made mistakes.” have already been through so in 2015 that Cox had stepped lims”. frightened to leave their homes. Police fi led her complaint as resurfaced that makes concen- Cox, who married his wife in much,” she said. down from his position as chief Mohamed Mahmoud, the Many women feel marginal- assault and battery, but action trating on both of those tasks 2009, was reported to police in “As a family we will support strategist after allegations of imam of the Muslim Welfare ised and judged because of their against him was dropped. much more diffi cult. For that Massachusetts in the US in 2015 Brendan as he endeavours to “inappropriate behaviour” be- Centre who was hailed as a hero faith,” she said. Cox denied the claims in a reason, while away over half- for inappropriate touching while do the right thing by admitting fore a misconduct hearing.

Yard blocks retirement of Star gives £1mn to offi cer over custody death women’s justice fund AFP Tom Hiddleston have both given London £10,000 to the fund, which will Guardian News and Media investigated by the Independ- White told the police watch- be used to set up a network of London ent Offi ce for Police Conduct dog in 2009 he checked on Rigg advice, support and advocacy in connection with the death of in the van and repeated the claim ctress and activist Emma projects to tackle abuse across all Sean Rigg has been suspended by at the inquest at Southwark cor- Watson has donated £1mn sectors of work. ne of the police offi cers the Metropolitan Police Service, oner’s court in 2012. Ato kickstart a new Brit- It follows a legal aid fund responsible for the care having had his request to retire White agreed that this could ish fund to help women facing set up by A-list stars in the US Oof Sean Rigg, who died in from the MPS rescinded.” not have been true after he was harassment and abuse at work, to help both women and men custody in 2008, faces miscon- The move followed a call by shown CCTV that contradicted launched ahead of yesterday’s abused at work. duct proceedings after Scotland Marcia Rigg, Sean’s sister, for his account. He said he had Baftas and backed by hundreds “In the very near past, we lived Yard stopped him retiring before Scotland Yard to take action to made a mistake and was com- of female entertainment stars. in a world where sexual harass- disciplinary action could be tak- prevent White from retiring and pletely shell-shocked. “I just The justice and equality fund ment was an uncomfortable joke; en against him. The offi cer, who therefore avoid the misconduct apologised because I knew I was announced in an open let- an unavoidable, awkward part of was the custody sergeant on duty proceedings. was wrong,” he told Southwark ter supporting the US Time’s being a girl or a woman,” the let- on the night Rigg died, was due to Marcia Rigg’s lawyer, Daniel crown court during his perjury Up movement, signed by around ter published in The Observer face gross misconduct proceed- Machover, said White’s retire- trial. 200 women, including actresses newspaper says. ings but had informed the Met- ment would have prevented him A change in the rules has al- Kate Winslet, Emma Thomp- “In 2018, we seem to have wok- ropolitan police of his intention from facing disciplinary charges lowed forces to pursue offi cers son, Kristin Scott Thomas, Keira en up in a world ripe for change. If to retire next Tuesday. over her brother’s death on Au- for misconduct even after they Knightley and Saoirse Ronan. we truly embrace this moment, a The Guardian understands gust 21, 2008. retire, but it only applies to cases The letter is addressed to “dear line in the sand will turn to stone.” that Sergeant Paul White is ac- White told investigators and that arose after 2012. White’s re- sisters” — as was a similar mis- The letter was published cused of giving false evidence to the coroner that he checked on tirement would have prevented sive signed by Hollywood stars ahead of the British Academy Rigg’s inquest, as well as to the Sean Rigg in the back of a po- the force bringing proceedings last month — and calls for an in- Film Awards yesterday night, Independent Offi ce for Police lice van at Brixton police station against him. ternational movement to stamp when stars repeated the protest Conduct (IOPC) investigators. shortly before the 40-year-old Deborah Coles, director of the out a culture of abuse exposed by staged at last month’s Golden Another offi cer, police constable died. He was found not guilty of criminal justice charity Inquest, the Harvey Weinstein scandal. Globes awards and wore black in Mark Harratt, is understood to a criminal charge of perjury in had earlier urged the IOPC and The fundraising page for the a show of solidarity with victims. face the same allegation, as well relation to that evidence in 2016. the Met to stop the offi cer from new fund shows Watson, who The letter emphasises that as a further one of bringing the The watchdog last week or- retiring. “After the highly criti- won fame in the Harry Potter revelations about abuse in Hol- Met into disrepute by altering his dered Scotland Yard to bring gross cal Angiolini review on deaths in fi lms and is now a UN Women lywood have now spread across evidence. misconduct proceedings, which custody, we cannot allow offi cers Protesters wearing T-Shirts that read “Times Up Theresa” get onto goodwill ambassador, made the the world, saying the movement A statement from the Met would require a lower burden of to continue to evade potential the red carpet at the British Academy Film Awards at the Royal opening £1mn donation. is about more than just the en- police read: “A police sergeant proof than a criminal charge. sanctions,” she said Albert Hall in London yesterday. Knightley and British actor tertainment industry. Gulf Times Monday, February 19, 2018 15 EUROPE

ATTACK OFF-TRACK STUBBED OUT INTERNET CHALLENGE POLITICS 5 women killed in Dagestan 12-year-old travels 200km Anti-smoking petition to 4 injured after making Ex-aide to challenge Le Pen church shooting on wrong Germany train force MPs to debate ban a pool in truck bed with new anti-EU party

Five women were shot dead yesterday in an A 12-year-old boy trying to get from a Berlin A petition to ban smoking in Austria’s bars and Four men in southern Germany were injured The former right-hand man of French right-wing apparent radical attack on an Orthodox church in suburb to the city centre travelled hundreds restaurants has collected 100,000 signatures in in an attempt to build their own pool in the populist Marine Le Pen has launched a new party, the North Caucasus region of Dagestan. According of kilometres in the opposite direction less than three days, meaning the issue will now back of a lorry for an Internet challenge. The with the stated goals of standing against Le Pen’s to local press reports an unidentified gunman after hopping on the wrong train. Instead have to be debated in parliament. The petition construction of the makeshift pool was an National Front in elections and spearheading fired at worshippers at an Orthodox church in the of taking the suburban train line, he got on was launched by the Austrian Medical Association answer to a call by the Internet promotion France’s anti-EU movement. Supporters of Florian town of Kizlyar. “An unknown man opened fire board one of Germany’s high-speed trains, (OeAeK) after the government scrapped a ban that Grill-Pool Challenge, police said in a Philippot gathered near the city of Arras in northern with a hunting rifle in Kizlyar, fatally wounding federal police said yesterday. The boy was was meant to come into force in May. The ban was statement yesterday. The men had converted France to celebrate the founding party congress four women,” the regional internal aff airs ministry noticed by a train attendant who alerted cancelled at the request of the far-right Freedom the back of the lorry into a swimming pool by of The Patriots, as his new movement is called. said in a statement. A fifth woman died of her police. He was picked up by police at a train Party of Austria (FPOe), which entered government lining the bed with sheeting and filling it with Since the initiative was originally announced in injuries in hospital, health ministry spokeswoman station in Wolfsburg, a city about 200km as a junior coalition partner after elections late warm water. But when another member tried September, the party has gathered 6,500 members, Zalina Mourtazalieva told TASS news agency. Two west of the Germany capital, and then put last year. The petition proved so popular that to back the lorry into a hall, the movement according to Philippot. The 36-year-old wants France Russian police off icers were injured in the attack. on the next train back to the Berlin suburb of registration of signatures on the interior ministry caused the water to swing with such force to leave the European Union, telling broadcaster The attacker was “eliminated” by police fire, the Spandau — this time under the supervision website had to be stopped for two hours on Friday that it ejected the men over the edge of the Europe 1 that it was impossible to influence policy as regional internal aff airs ministry added. of train attendants. because the ministry’s servers were overloaded. pool. a member of the bloc and its euro currency club. SPD mayors Ready for spring back coalition with Merkel

Reuters with the Greens and the pro- Hamburg mayor Olaf Scholz as in- Berlin business Free Democrats failed in terim leader and recommended November. Nahles as longer-term successor to She had to make painful con- Martin Schulz, who resigned as lead- eading Social Democrat cessions to the SPD to break er to try to end turmoil in the party (SPD) mayors favour joining months of political deadlock after since it agreed the coalition deal. La coalition government with an inconclusive election on Sep- The turbulence in the SPD has Chancellor Angela Merkel’s con- tember 24. led to calls from some politicians servatives, a poll showed yester- The SPD’S leader-in-waiting, in Merkel’s conservative bloc to day, boosting the prospects of the Andrea Nahles, is trying to con- drop the coalition plan and form a centre-left party backing the alli- vince members to back the coali- minority government instead. ance in a ballot starting this week. tion agreement ahead of the postal Nahles told Der Spiegel maga- The SPD’s 464,000 members ballot, which will run through to zine in an interview published vote in a postal ballot from to- March 2. on Saturday she had no ‘Plan B’ morrow on whether their party The result, due to be announced should SPD members reject the should go ahead with the coalition on March 4, is wide open. coalition deal. agreement its leaders clinched this “I expect an intense debate Such an outcome could result month to renew their alliance with here,” Nahles told Reuters TV be- in new elections — likely an unfa- Spectators watch the burning of a 30m structure built of twigs and debris made in the form of a Gothic style building by Russian Merkel’s CDU/CSU bloc. fore a meeting with party mem- vourable scenario for the party. artist Nikolay Polissky during the celebration of Shrovetide (Maslenitsa) in the village of Nikola-Lenivets, Kaluga region, some Newspaper Bild am Sonntag bers in Kamen, near Dortmund in A survey by pollster Emnid for 220km outside Moscow. Shrovetide or Maslenitsa is an ancient farewell ceremony to winter, traditionally celebrated in Belarus, polled the mayors of the 35 big- western Germany. Bild am Sonntag showed support Russia and Ukraine and involves the burning of a large eff igy. gest towns and cities ruled by the “My impression is that here for the SPD down one percent- SPD and found that 26 of them too...we can achieve something by age point on the week at 19%, said they would back the so-called making good arguments.” with Merkel’s CDU/CSU bloc ‘grand coalition’ — a re-run of the Many in the party harbour mis- also down one point, at 33%. The ruling alliance in power since 2013. givings about sharing power with far-right Alternative for Germany Of the other nine mayors, seven Merkel, believing the party should (AfD) party was up two points at declined to give a view and two rebuild in opposition after suf- 14%, the Greens steady at 11%, the could not be reached, the newspa- fering its worst result in last Sep- radical Left party up one point on Orban steps up anti-migrant per reported. tember’s election since Germany 10%, and the business-friendly Merkel turned to the SPD after became a federal republic in 1949. Free Democrats steady on nine her eff orts to secure an alliance Last Tuesday, the SPD appointed points, the poll showed. rhetoric as election nears

AFP border fences, and his criticism of EU poli- His supporters say that he is reforming Berlusconi bloc leads opinion polls Budapest cies in this and other areas. Hungary after decades of stagnation, par- He has also sparked a bitter feud with ticularly during the country’s communist the Hungarian-born US billionaire George period that followed World War II. DPA “Their absence does not reas- The coalition is split on other ungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Soros, whom he accuses of orchestrating The strongest opposition party — the Rome sure me,” BoI leader Giorgia Melo- key issues, such as protectionism, Orban yesterday ratcheted up his immigration from the Middle East and radical rightwing Jobbik — is current- ni told La Stampa newspaper. the euro, and who should be prime Hfi erce anti-immigration rhetoric Africa. ly polling under 20% of decided voters “I can’t understand the problem minister in case of victory. as he urged voters to re-elect him in April Orban said yesterday that Hungarian among Hungary’s 8mn strong electorate. junior partner of Silvio with taking part in this initiative, Berlusconi, banned from public for a third term, branding the opposition as opposition parties had not supported the Orban’s ruling Fidesz party is polling Berlusconi’s conservative unless someone has in mind some offi ce due to a tax fraud convic- out of touch and “hopeless”. border fences, had opposed the govern- around 50% although an unfolding cor- Acoalition said yesterday kind of plan B,” she added, refer- tion, has spoken in favour of Euro- “Dark clouds are gathering over Europe ment in its ongoing quarrels with the EU ruption scandal involving the premier’s she doubted the former premier’s ring to Berlusconi. pean Parliament President Anto- because of immigration,” Orban told an over refugee quotas, and taken the side of son-in-law, and a row over an alleged gov- loyalty, exposing fresh divisions According to surveys, the con- nio Tajani, a moderate. audience of supporters during an annual Soros. ernment cover-up of refugee intake num- in the conservative alliance that servatives are ahead, but short of a Salvini and Meloni both want state-of-the-nation speech in Budapest. “This is why the opposition are in a bers have provided unexpected bumps for leads polls for Italy’s March 4 gen- parliamentary majority. the premiership for themselves. “Nations will cease to exist, the West hopeless position...I don’t understand the government in recent weeks. eral elections. If that outcome is confi rmed, According to Mario Sechi, a will fall, while Europe won’t even realise how they can ask for people’s trust,” he The size of Fidesz’s likely majority is Berlusconi and Matteo Salvini most analysts expect that Ber- political analyst, the centre-right that it has been invaded,” he said, claiming said, fl anked by a row of Hungarian fl ags, seen by analysts as the main factor to of the anti-migrant League party lusconi will back a national unity bloc is no more than an “election that large European cities could soon have with the slogan on his podium reading “For watch, with a drop from the two thirds ma- have deserted a rally held in Rome government with the centre-left cartel” at risk of unravelling after Muslim majority populations. Us, Hungary First.” jority won four years ago potentially loos- by their hard-right coalition part- Democratic Party (PD). the vote, while Professor Roberto “The opposition doesn’t feel the voice of Orban’s hardline immigration stance has ening Orban’s tight grip on power. ner Brothers of Italy (BoI), which That would fracture the cen- D’Alimonte of LUISS university the times,” he said. bolstered his popularity at home despite Election rules introduced since 2012 also culminated with a pledge not to tre-right coalition, as Meloni and said last week that “Salvini and Since 2015 the 54-year-old has become accusations by critics that his nationalist punish smaller parties if they are unable to join any grand coalition govern- Salvini have vowed never to join Berlusconi cannot stand each known for his tough anti-immigration policies have steered Hungary away from form eff ective alliances as has happened ment. forces with the PD. other.” measures including building razor-wire democracy and towards authoritarianism. with several leftist and liberal groups.

Thousands of Saakashvili supporters march in Kiev Estonia seeks more money

AFP fi rst by van, then by helicopter to for defence of border states Kyiv Kyiv international airport. Kyiv resident Galina Zagoruiko, one of the angry protesters, said: Reuters to help all members meet security housands of supporters of de- “People can’t stand it anymore — Munich needs. ported former Georgian leader that nothing changes and everything Kaljulaid also called for all Nato TMikheil Saakashvili marched just gets worse”. members to increase defence yesterday through the streets of Kyiv, As many others, she had come to orried about a contin- spending to meet the Nato target demanding the impeachment of the support a political party founded by ued Russian military of spending 2% of gross domestic Ukrainian president. Saakashvili. Wbuildup, Estonia yester- product on the military by 2024. An AFP correspondent saw some Saakashvili, a former governor of day called for the European Union Germany, whose spending now 10,000 people taking part in the rally, Ukraine’s Odessa region, was once an to spend more on the defence of its totals around 1.2% of GDP, will not though the ministry of internal af- ally of Poroshenko, but then became external borders. meet the target by 2024, Nato offi - fairs put the number at around 3,000 one of his greatest foes. Estonian President Kersti Kalju- cials have said. participants. Kyiv accuses Saakashvili of trying laid said her country was already “All alliance partners made the Protesters carried banners por- to stage a coup sponsored by allies spending 2.2% of economic output same commitments,” she said. traying President Petro Poroshenko of former Kremlin-backed Ukrain- on the military and could not aff ord “The important thing is that with a red line drawn over his face. ian president Viktor Yanukovych — a to spend more, although there were there’s movement.” The demonstrators chanted “Im- charge he strongly denies. additional military needs. Kaljulaid said increasing prices peachment!”, “Resignation!” and Ukraine stripped Saakashvili of his “Our little country cannot do for military equipment were com- “Poroshenko is a thief!” passport, but he nonetheless contin- more than it is already doing,” she plicating the eff ort by eroding Former Georgian president Saa- ued to challenge the government, or- told Reuters in an interview at the countries’ buying power. kashvili, who had been living in exile ganising frequent protests demand- Munich Security Conference. In Estonia’s case, that aff ected in Ukraine, was detained by masked ing Poroshenko’s ouster. “But more needs to be done in even the purchases of ammunition. men at a restaurant in central Kyiv With the help of his supporters, he our region.” “Even if we spent 2.5%, we and deported to Poland last Monday. broke through the Polish-Ukrainian Kaljulaid said the EU functioned would not be in a position to build The state border guard service said border in September last year, and as a redistribution mechanism, up a suffi cient deterrent,” she said. he had been residing in Ukraine “il- was briefl y detained in December in with money to be spent in those ar- She said Russia had proven un- legally” and was sent to the country Kyiv. eas where it made the most sense. predictable, particularly after its where he initially came from. Saakashvili is wanted by the Geor- In the case of security, that 2014 annexation of the Crimea Last Tuesday, Saakashvili gave a gian government on multiple crimi- Activists shout slogans during a rally calling for the impeachment of Ukrainian President would clearly be the border areas, region of Ukraine, but it was im- press conference in Warsaw and said nal charges, which he says are politi- Petro Poroshenko organised by ‘Movement Of The New Forces’ headed by former she said, calling for a “true defence portant to maintain dialogue with he had been blindfolded and rushed cally motivated. Georgian president Mikhael Saakashvili in Kiev. union” that included a mechanism Moscow. Gulf Times 16 Monday, February 19, 2018 INDIA

Tamil Nadu Roundup Jignesh Mevani detained during protests in Ahmedabad

By Umaima Shafiq IANS number, I am an elected MLA and submit our report to the state as- bulance and fi re-fi ghters after a the state government. The state the land in name of the family Ahmedabad you have no business to insult sembly about the incident.” week-long notice to the authori- government sent a delegation Bhanubhai Vankar was fi ghting me,” a furious Mevani shouted at “He may have misbehaved but ties. He had been seeking physi- comprising the Gandhinagar for, pay a compensation of Rs8 Jaya’s niece a police constable, after he and we have not. It is normal that cal and legal possession of the Collector, Inspector General of lakh to the family of Vankar and alit leader and Gujarat others were detained. there will be some arguments land allotted to the Dalit families Police and Social Empowerment transfer his family members, accused of lawmaker Jignesh Mevani When the police were tak- when a person is being detained by the state government for some Secretary to talk to the Dalit ac- who are government employees, cheating Dwas detained by police in ing him out of his car, Mevani by police,” he added. time. tivists and the family of Vankar. closer home. Ahmedabad yesterday along with claimed he was manhandled and Vankar, 60, on Thursday set This led to a series of protests But the meeting failed to break “The government will also set The Madras High Court has 100 others while staging dem- said an elected legislator could himself on fi re at the Patan dis- by Dalit activists across Gujarat the deadlock. up an inquiry commission head- asked police to file a case against onstrations in protest against not be treated like this. The MLA trict collectorate demanding on Friday night and Saturday, in- Although the government ed by a retired High Court judge J Deepa, the niece of late chief death of Dalit activist Bhanubhai alleged the police had barged into physical possession of land allot- cluding in Gandhinagar, Unjha, claimed to have accepted the key or a special investigation team, as minister Jayaram Jayalalithaa, in Vankar. his car, pulled out the ignition ted to a Dalit family. He was soon Chanasma and Patan in north demands of the family, the Dalits agreed by the family of Vankar.” a cheating case. Mevani got into heated argu- keys and broke them. taken to hospital with critical Gujarat and Morbi in Saurashtra, wanted a categorical assurance in This, however, did not stop The court acted on the complaint ments with police when he was Police denied the charges. burn injuries. He died on Friday with many resorting to blocking writing. Mevani from leading a group of of N Ramachandran, who claimed being detained in Saraspur sub- Joint Commissioner of Police J K night. traffi c and burning tyres. Deputy Chief Minister Nitin supporters on the SG Highway that he had lent Deepa Rs10mn urb of Ahmedabad. Bhatt told reporters: “It is wrong What led to widespread anger Vankar’s family refused to ac- Patel told reporters: “We have connecting Gandhinagar and through her driver, in the hope “Gujarat does not belong to to say that police ill-treated the was that Vankar self-immolated cept his body and put forth a agreed to all their major de- Ahmedabad, causing blockades of getting a senior post in her your father... give me your buckle respected legislator and we will in the presence of police, am- charter of seven demands before mands. We would legally transfer and stopping traffi c. fledgling political party last year. However six months later, when nothing happened, Ramachandran demanded refund. He then claimed that the duo began threatening him. Deepa is also involved in another police case, when a conman posing as an income tax off icial entered her home for a ‘raid’ Tripura sees recently. He escaped after she informed police, but surrendered the following day. Prabhakaran claimed that he had been hired by Deepa’s husband Madhavan, who had promised him a role in a film. 75% turnout Girl in freak accident recovering in assembly Dhanyasri, four, who sustained serious fractures when a man fell on her from a balcony at Thoraippakam area in Chennai on January 28 is now recovering at a hospital in Tondiarpet. “She was deeply comatose elections when she was brought in, she had suff ered a diff use axonal IANS still standing in queues at hun- chali Bhattacharjee, Chief Min- brain injury with fractures in her Agartala dreds of polling stations. The ister and CPM politburo member spine and ankle. We performed voters who entered the polling Manik Sarkar cast his vote here an emergency decompression station complex before 4pm will and expressed confi dence about surgery and removed her skull ver 75% of the 2,536,589 be allowed to cast their ballot retaining power. bone to be frozen. It will be grafted voters in Left-ruled even till late night.” “It is certain that the 8th Left after two months. At present she OTripura exercised their Balloting was held in 59 of Front government will be formed wears a soft helmet,” doctors said. franchise in a peaceful manner to the 60 assembly constituencies. in Tripura after these elections. Now she is able to sit up, recognise elect a new assembly yesterday, Polling was deferred to March 12 We are strongly hopeful.” her parents and is slowly getting offi cials said. in Charilam seat due to the death BJP Tripura unit president back her memory. Donations in Election offi cials said both of sitting MLA and Communist Biplab Kumar Deb voted in cash and kind have poured in for men and women, including new Party of India (Marxist) candi- southern Tripura’s Udaipur and Dhanyasri’s treatment. voters, had queued up in large date Ramendra Narayan Deb- claimed : “People want change. Meanwhile in Madurai, a teenage numbers outside polling booths barma. People strongly wish for a BJP schoolgirl sustained third degree across Tripura even before poll- Of the 3,174 polling stations, government in Tripura.” burns when a man set her afire ing began at 7am. a total of 47 were totally han- In India’s 65-year-old elec- over spurned love at Achampatti A total of 292 candidates, in- dled by women personnel. In toral history, the CPM has never village. She is admitted at the cluding 23 women and many all, 2,536,589 people, includ- before come in direct confronta- Government Rajaji Hospital, while independents, are in the fray. ing 1,250,128 women and 47,803 tion with the BJP. search is on for the man. Counting of votes will take place fi rst-time voters, were eligible to Tripura became a full-fl edged on March 3. vote. state in January 1972 along with “Over 75% electorate cast their The ruling CPM fi elded 56 Meghalaya and Manipur. The Gangster’s chopped votes till 4pm. Though the pre- candidates, leaving one seat each CPM-dominated Left Front has head thrown at scheduled voting hours ended at to its Left Front partners Com- been in power since 1978, except 4pm, a huge numbers of voters munist Party of India, Forward for 11 years (1972-1977 and 1988- bus stand were still in queues across the Bloc, and Revolutionary Socialist 1993) when the Congress and state,” an offi cial said. Party. a breakaway faction led by fi ve Masked men on bikes threw a He said snags in Electronic The Bharatiya Janata Party chief ministers were at the helm human head wrapped in a plastic Voting Machines (EVM) attached (BJP) is contesting 50 seats, leav- in the state. bag in the busy Kattankulathur with VVPAT (Voter Verifi able ing nine seats for its ally, the During 1988-1993, the Con- bus stand area in suburban Paper Audit Trail) were reported Indigenous People’s Front of gress in alliance with the tribal Chennai last week. from around 180 polling stations, Tripura (IPFT). Tripura Upajati Juba Samity gov- Shocked passersby informed resulting in slow balloting. The Congress fi elded candi- erned the state. the police. Police identified Voters, candidates and leaders dates in all 59 constituencies. The Left Front has ruled the the head as that of Balaji, of all political parties expressed However, its offi cial nominee northeastern state since 1993 a gangster wanted for the anger over the malfunctioning Sukumar Chandra Das in Kakra- under chief ministers Dasaratha murder of local DMK politician EVMs-VVPATs. ban-Shalgarha assembly seat Deb (1993-1998) and Manik Ravishankar. Police suspect that In the 2013 and 2008 assembly withdrew his nomination and Sarkar (1998-2018). it was a revenge killing from polls, Tripura witnessed a record joined the BJP. The Congress, which fought Ravishankar’s gang. balloting at 92 and 91% respec- The Trinamool Congress has assembly elections in alliance Balaji’s torso was recovered from tively. fi elded 24 candidates. with the tribal party since 1983, the Manimangalam forest several “The Election Commission Of the 60 seats, 20 are reserved entered the poll battle alone this kilometres outside the city. The put up specially modifi ed EVMs for tribals and 10 for Scheduled time. body parts have been sent for attached with VVPATs at all 3,174 Castes. The BJP previously fought autopsy and search is on for the polling stations. We replaced or “Apprehending trouble by elections alone but has since culprits. rectifi ed faulty EVM-VVPATs tribal outfi ts, a record 50,000 aligned with the IPFT, which and voting resumed in those paramilitary and other security since 2009 has been agitating for polling stations afterwards,” Ad- personnel were deployed while a separate state comprising areas Escaped criminal ditional Chief Electoral Offi cer two air surveillance teams led by under the Tripura Tribal Areas surrenders Tapas Roy said. senior offi cials were deployed on Autonomous District Council. “Voting was peaceful and in- helicopters,” an election offi cial The separate state demand has Binu Pachappan, a wanted People stand in queues as they wait to cast their vote outside a polling station during Tripura state cident-free. A large number of said. been rejected by all political par- criminal who escaped from assembly election on the outskirts of Agartala, yesterday. electorate, including women, are Accompanied by his wife Pan- ties. his February 7 birthday party at a factory shed in Chennai, surrendered at the Ambattur police station last week. He reportedly walked into the station, knelt and wept saying he had come for forgiveness and Rajasthan cylinder said he had not been criminally involved for two years due to severe diabetes. On his birthday, police managed to arrest 75 gangsters wanted in blast toll climbs to 18 rape, robbery and murder cases. Binu is accused in 28 criminal Agencies “So far 18 bodies have been brother Kartavya, 2, and Khushi cases and had been evading Ajmer recovered,” said Gaurav Goyal, Devda, 2. arrest for two years. a senior administrative offi cial Rajasthan Chief Minister Born in Malappuram in Kerala, he in Ajmer, the district where the Vasundhara Raje visited survi- worked in Chennai at a tea stall escuers discovered nine blast occurred, about 200km vors in hospital late Saturday before getting into crime. more bodies yesterday from the state capital Jaipur. and announced compensation Meanwhile police said they had Rbeneath the ruins of a “Five seriously injured peo- of Rs200,000 each for the fam- cornered Binu into surrendering hotel, bringing the known death ple, with severe burn injuries, ilies of the dead. after blocking all his escape toll from an explosion which are being treated in hospital,” “The cylinder blast at the routes out of Chennai. tore through a wedding party to he said. wedding ceremony at Beawar is 18, an offi cial said. Recovery teams were sifting nothing less than a nightmare,” A gas cylinder exploded late through mangled heaps of con- she said on Twitter. 55 cars take part Friday at the hotel in the town crete and steel, removing vic- Ajmer Collector Gaurav in heritage rally of Beawar, in Rajasthan, re- tims on stretchers covered with Goyal has asked offi cials to deal ducing the venue to ruins and white sheets. strictly with those found fi lling The Madras Heritage Motoring sparking a huge fi re. The blast all but levelled cylinders illegally. Club organised the annual heritage By Saturday evening offi cials the three-storey hotel where a Domestic gas cylinder ex- car rally between Chennai and said nine bodies had been found. wedding was underway. plosions are common in India, Puducherry on February 11. But the fi gure rose sharply yes- Eyewitnesses said the explo- where safety standards are rela- Over 55 heritage cars including terday as rescue teams, aided by sion occurred as a chef tried to tively poor. Reports of fatal ac- Chevrolets, Ambassadors, Fords, the army, found nine more vic- refi ll a cooking canister. cidents from cylinder blasts are Volkswagens, Mercedes and tims including women and chil- The 19 dead included three frequent but mass casualties Recovery teams sifting through mangled heaps of concrete and steel after a building collapsed due to a others took part. dren under rubble. children – Lakshat, 1, his are unusual. gas cylinder blast during wedding party in Beawar Rajasthan, yesterday. Gulf Times Monday, February 19, 2018 17 INDIA

ORDER ELECTIONS POLITICS CRIME CONTROVERSY Students told to wear Contestants to submit Kamal has ‘friendly Journalist’s mother, BJP, BJD trade charges slippers during exams sources of income meeting’ with Rajinikanth daughter murdered ahead of by-election

Ahead of Class 10 examinations, the Bihar Candidates of political parties and Days after ruling out an alliance with actor The mother and daughter of a Nagpur-based The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Biju School Examination Board (BSEB) yesterday independents contesting the upcoming Rajinikanth’s political party if it acquires a saff ron crime reporter were found murdered yesterday, Janata Dal (BJD) yesterday accused each asked students to sit for tests wearing slippers Karnataka legislative assembly election have hue, actor Kamal Haasan yesterday called on police said. The bodies of Usha S Kamble, 54, other of using money to lure voters ahead of or flip-flops and not shoes with socks. “There to disclose the sources of their income and him at his residence in Chennai. Haasan told and her 18-month-old granddaughter Rashi, both the February 24 by-election for the Bijepur is nothing new in this order to students assets, as directed by the Supreme Court, reporters that it was a “friendly meeting”. Both reported missing since Saturday, were discovered assembly seat in Odisha’s Bargarh district. Both appearing in Class 10 exams from February 21. state Chief Electoral Officer Sanjiv Kumar said. actors have announced their decision to plunge by behind a school building in Sitabuldi area of parties approached the state Chief Electoral It is a usual practice in other examinations held “All candidates contesting in the upcoming into active politics in Tamil Nadu. Haasan Nagpur yesterday. A crime reporter with Nagpur Off icer (CEO) a day after Rs4mn in unaccounted in the state. The board decided to adopt the state assembly election will have to disclose will start his political journey on Wednesday Times, an online newspaper, Ravikant Kamble cash was seized from a car by Bargarh police, practice from this year,” BSEB chairman Anand the sources of their income and assets along from Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu. He said he had reported that his mother and daughter had who arrested Akash Agarwal and his father Kishore said. Over 1.7mn students will sit for the with that of their spouses and dependents is embarking on an important journey of his gone to the market near their residential area of Om Prakash Agarwal as they could not provide Class 10 exams at 1,426 centres across the state in their nomination papers, as mandated by life and before that he would like to meet the Dighori on Saturday evening and never returned satisfactory answers about the cash. The BJP from February 21 to 28. Nearly 1,000 students the Supreme Court,” the poll official said in people he likes. The 63-year-old superstar had home. Though the motive is not yet known, police filed a complaint with the CEO and accused were penalised for cheating during the Class 12 Bengaluru. The 15th assembly elections in said his colour of politics is “black” signifying suspect professional or personal rivalry or Bargarh district administration of working to exams that ended last Saturday. Karnataka are due in April-May. Dravidian. financial disputes among the possible reasons. favour the ruling party. PNB offi cials took bribes to issue loan letters: CBI

IANS tries in core banking solution New Delhi (CBS) to process daily trans- actions. “It was used by many offi - unjab National Bank of- cials including Shetty by us- fi cials used to take com- ing passwords in the capacity Pmissions to issue letters of verifi er/authoriser enabling of undertaking and foreign the fraudulent SWIFT mes- letters of credit to diamond sages,” the source said. czar Nirav Modi and his part- The involvement and con- ner Mehul Choksi and their nivance of more staff members fi rms, according to the Cen- and outsiders, including Nirav tral Bureau of Investigation Modi and Mehul Chowksi, at which is probing the $1.8bn this stage is being probed. (Rs 113bn) bank scam. The CBI sources claimed Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis greets Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the presence of Governor C Vidyasagar Rao during the ground breaking ceremony of Navi The fresh revelation in the that it was not possible for two Mumbai International Airport yesterday. banking fraud has come after bank employees to commit a the CBI questioned former fraud on this scale without the PNB offi cials Gokulnath knowledge of other offi cials. Shetty and Manoj Kharat, and The action is based on a CBI Hemant Bhatt, the authorised case registered against Nirav signatory of prime accused Modi on Wednesday in con- Nirav Modi’s group of com- nection with a fraud involving panies. Rs64bn. They were arrested on Satur- The CBI on Thursday regis- Aviation sector is set day and have been remanded in tered fresh cases against 10 di- police custody till March 3. rectors of the Gitanjali Group According to CBI sources, of companies for causing al- the bank offi cials during in- leged loss of Rs48.8bn. terrogation disclosed that for The fraud, which includes every LoU, a percentage of the money laundering, allegedly amount was fi xed depending involved the Firestar Dia- upon the amount to be sanc- monds group in which the CBI to soar in India: PM tioned. last week booked Modi, his The commission collected wife Ami, brother Nishal Modi IANS laying ceremony for the Rs160bn Referring to the development infrastructure projects, Modi The NMIA will be constructed from the client was then dis- and their uncle Mehul Choksi. Raigad, Maharashtra Navi Mumbai International Air- of ports, the Sagarmala Project, said there were many projects in the Public-Private-Partner- tributed between all employ- Yesterday, the Enforce- port (NMIA) and the inaugu- and terrestrial projects in Mum- which were launched or inau- ship (PPP) mode on 1,160 hec- ees of PNB involved in the ment Directorate carried out ration of the country’s largest bai and Navi Mumbai, Modi said gurated and then abandoned tares on the mainland in Navi scam, the sources said. searches at over 45 locations he aviation sector in In- container terminal at Jawaharlal the country needs world-class and existed merely on paper. Mumbai, across the Mumbai The agency on Saturday across the country including dia is poised for a huge Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), built at infrastructure for progress. But he added he initiated the harbour, with the advantage of questioned six people in the four places in Delhi. Tgrowth in the coming a cost of Rs47bn. “We are working on ‘port-led’ Pragati scheme by which all the upcoming Mumbai Trans case. However, CBI offi cials Six properties in Mumbai years, Prime Minister Narendra “We want people wearing development and not merely such projects were brought out Harbour Link, a Special Eco- refused to share the names belonging to the jeweller have Modi said here yesterday. ‘hawai-chappal’ to be able to fl y ports development, and have of files, discussed, revived and nomic Zone and other major in- of all the people being ques- also been sealed. Presently, there are a total of in a ‘hawai-jahaz’... the aviation identifi ed over a 100 waterways many are on the path of imple- frastructure developments com- tioned. Meanwhile, Congress presi- around 450 aircraft operating sector has huge potential of giv- in India for transport which mentation across India. ing up. Those interrogated on Sat- dent Rahul Gandhi questioned in the country, but that will be ing over three-and-half times will be cost-eff ective and eco- India’s fi rst Greenfi eld Airport The JNPT’s Fourth Container urday have named a few more Prime Minister Narendra more than tripled with over 900 returns as from an investment friendly,” he said. project, NMIA will be the sec- Terminal (FCT)’s Phase I was offi cials who are likely to be Modis and Finance Minis- new aircraft to be deployed over of Rs100, we can get Rs350 in a Modi painted a futuristic ond international aviation hub completed in a record time at a questioned in a day or two, an ter Arun Jaitleys silence over the next few years in the country, period of time by boosting trade picture of Mumbai and Navi for Mumbai, presently served by cost of Rs47bn. It will double its offi cial said. the “Rs22,000 crore banking Modi said. and commerce, movement of Mumbai over the next few years the Chhatrapati Shivaji Interna- existing capacity and is expected The CBI offi cial said the ar- scam”, and asked the govern- “The aviation sector world- people, tourism and all-round with aircraft taking off from the tional Airport, which has almost to boost container trade and lo- rested offi cials were also ques- ment to stop behaving like it wide is moving very fast... we development,” Modi said. NMIA, cars zooming along the reached saturation point. gistics in a big way. tioned about their modus op- was “guilty”. cannot aff ord to lag. For 70 Maharashtra Governor C V Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, The new airport is being con- The FCT will add capacity of erandi. Taking a dig at the prime years, there was no aviation Rao, Chief Minister Devendra connectivity by high-speed structed by the GVK Power & 2.4mn containers per annum in The agency is also exam- minister, Gandhi said: “Prime policy in India, which we have Fadnavis, federal ministers Nitin metro rail network and the pro- Infrastructure Ltd (GVKPIL) in the fi rst phase and after comple- ining if other offi cials of the Minister Modi tells kids how implemented recently to pro- Gadkari, Ashok Gajapathi Raju posed gigantic statue of Chhat- collaboration with the City & tion of the second phase in 2022, bank had access to SWIFT – to pass exams for 2 hours, but vide all-round connectivity to and Ramdas Athawale, state rapati Shivaji Maharaj coming up Industrial Development Corp the capacity will be quadrupled global messaging service to won’t speak for 2 minutes the remotest corners of India at ministers and other senior offi - in the Arabian Sea off Malabar (CIDCO), the nodal authority to a whopping 10mn contain- move money internationally on the 22,000 crore banking aff ordable rates,” the prime min- cials were present on the occa- Hill. of Maharashtra to oversee the ers per year, at a cost of Rs79bn, – which they used to make en- scam.” ister said at the foundation stone sion. Stressing the need for top project implementation. Gadkari said. City Union Bank suff ers Trudeau begins trip with Taj Mahal visit cyber hack via SWIFT Trade between Canada and AFP Agra India has doubled in the last Reuters Kamakodi added they saw “so sent through a Bank of America decade to just over $8bn in 2016, Mumbai far no evidence of any internal account in New York to a China- a fi gure which India’s foreign staff involvement,” but said “we based bank, which Kamakodi anadian Prime Minister ministry says “does not refl ect are very clear now the account yesterday identifi ed as Zhejiang Justin Trudeau yester- true potential”. ndia’s City Union Bank said holders are part of this conspir- Rural Credit Co-operative Union Cday toured the Taj Ma- The delegation will walk a yesterday that “cyber crimi- acy.” in Hangzhou, China. hal with his wife and children diplomatic tightrope in Pun- Inals” had hacked its systems The disclosure from City Bank Kamakodi said the lender as he began a week-long visit to jab where Trudeau will visit the and transferred nearly $2mn comes as India has been gripped was working with Indian au- promote trade and investment Golden Temple – the holiest through three unauthorised re- by an announcement by Punjab thorities to work with affected with India. site in Sikhism, and the scene of mittances to lenders overseas National Bank earlier this week countries to investigate what Trudeau, his wife Sophie Gre- a bloody massacre of religious via the SWIFT fi nancial plat- that it had been the victim of a happened. goire and their three children separatists in 1984. form. $1.8bn fraud, although that case He added City Union was also posed for a family portrait be- The Canadian premier will The comments come after is suspected to involve the trans- strengthening its internal moni- fore marvelling at the legendary meet Indian political leaders, the small private lender on Sat- fer of unauthorised loans from toring systems. marble monument frequently civil society fi gures and corpo- urday had disclosed it had dis- bank employees. Brussels-based SWIFT has visited by foreign leaders during rate executives between ceremo- covered the three “fraudulent City Union said on Saturday it been urging banks to bolster roadshows to India. nial visits to religious sites and remittances”, which were sent had been able to block one of the security of computers used to It was Trudeau’s fi rst visit to national memorials. via correspondent banks to ac- remittances, totalling $500,000, transfer money since Bangla- India since taking offi ce in 2015. Trudeau is scheduled to visit counts in Dubai, Turkey and that was being sent through a desh Bank lost $81mn in a Febru- He will meet Prime Minister Modi’s home state of Gujarat to- China. Standard Chartered Bank ac- ary 2016 cyber heist that target- Narendra Modi, and eff orts to day before jetting off to Mumbai Chief Executive Offi cer N Ka- count in New York to a Dubai- ed central bank computers used expand trade will dominate an for talks with CEOs and business makodi called it a “conspiracy” based lender. to move funds. agenda also covering energy, ed- leaders the next day. involving multiple countries, A second transfer of €300,000 Banking security experts said ucation and infrastructure. After visiting Amritsar in and added the lender was still ($372,150) was routed through Indian banks that rely on the “Wheels up for India and a Punjab on Wednesday, Tru- investigating how it had hap- a Standard Chartered Bank ac- SWIFT messaging platform busy visit, focused on creating deau will meet Modi and For- pened. count in Frankfurt to a Turkish needed to be more vigilant. good jobs and strengthening the eign Minister Sushma Swaraj in “This is basically a cyber at- account, although the Turkish Industry experts say more deep connection between the New Delhi following a welcome tack by international cyber lender had blocked the transfer than 100 fi nancial institutions in Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, his wife Sophie people of our two countries,” at the presidential palace and a criminals,” he told Reuters in a from being fi nalised. India are connected with SWIFT Gregoire and his children pose for a photograph during their Trudeau tweeted before em- wreath-laying at Mahatma Gan- phone interview. A third totalling $1mn was including the central bank. visit to Taj Mahal yesterday. barking on the trip. dhi’s memorial. Gulf Times 18 Monday, February 19, 2018 LATIN AMERICA Mexican presidential race kicks off with nominations

AFP Nieto, who is deeply unpopular ful ex-lawmaker whose bid to to be its presidential candidate for change in Mexico...and are will- ner-up whose critics hate him as pel whoever is in that spot to the Mexico City heading into the fi nal stretch of his campaign as a fresh face has been the fi rst time in its history. ing to try anything diff erent, and fervently as his supporters love eventual win. six-year term in a Mexico beset by blotched by allegations of corrup- Offi cially, the campaign does those people who are genuinely him, he has emerged as the man Both have struck sometimes endless corruption scandals and tion and strongarming his way to not open until March 30, but in worried about what change will to beat. Recent polls give him just awkward alliances with smaller he top three contenders to record levels of violent crime. his party’s nomination. practice yesterday’s nominations bring,” said Duncan Wood, direc- over 30% of the vote, with Anaya parties, creating coalitions that be Mexico’s next president The leader of the pack is An- Rounding out the top three is put the seal on what has already tor of the Mexico Institute Wilson in the 20s and Meade in the teens span the political spectrum. Tstarted the race in earnest dres Manuel Lopez Obrador, or respected former fi nance minis- been a months-long “pre-cam- Centre in Washington. — enough for Lopez Obrador to The next president will inherit yesterday after their parties and AMLO, a fi ery leftist who has tried ter Jose Antonio Meade, standing paign” setting up a three-way The clear choice for change is win in Mexico’s fi rst-past-the- a lackluster economy, a politi- coalitions offi cially nominated to present a mellower image this for the ruling Institutional Revo- race. Lopez Obrador, a former Mexico post system. cal system rotting with corrup- them as their candidates for the time around. lutionary Party (PRI) — a long- Already, the contest has laid City mayor famous for railing Anaya, 38, and Meade, 48, are tion and a messy war on Mexico’s July 1 election. In second place is Ricardo dominant force in Mexican poli- bare Mexico’s divisions. against the country’s “mafi a of meanwhile fi ghting tooth and powerful drug cartels that has left It is still a wide-open race to Anaya of the conservative Nation- tics whose popularity is now so “This election is about those power.” nail for second place, in the hopes a trail of dead and missing in its succeed President Enrique Pena al Action Party (PAN), a youth- low it tapped a non-party member people who are desperate for A two-time presidential run- that an anti-AMLO vote will pro- wake. Light pollution Training ship sets sail threatens Chile dark skies

AFP A study published in December Paranal, Chile in the journal Science Advances has shown that global lighting has increased in both quantity and in- t seems nothing can escape tensity by about 2% per year from the inexorable spread of light 2012 to 2016. Ipollution – not even the giant At the Paranal Observatory telescopes probing the skies above deep in the Atacama desert, which northern Chile, a region whose houses the European Southern pristine dark skies, long consid- Observatory’s Very Large Tel- ered a delight for astronomers, are escope array – consisting of four under increasing threat. telescopes – staff are doing all they The Atacama desert, 1,200kms can to limit light leaking out into north of the capital Santiago, pro- the atmosphere. vides ideal conditions where as- After sunset, vehicles travelling tronomers study the stars in dark- around the observatory are pro- ness so profound they appear like hibited anything but their parking diamonds on velvet. lights. Flashlights, if needed, are Scientists estimate that by turned to the ground. 2020, Chile – a critically impor- Astronomers’ residences at the tant country for optical and radio base – 2,635 meters above sea level Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro waves during the set sail event of the Simon Bolivar training ship, Venezuelan navy’s flagship, in La Guaira, Venezuela. astronomy – will host 70% of the – are dimly-lit, to avoid interfer- globe’s astronomical infrastruc- ing with observation of the galax- ture. ies above. But the ever-expanding use of But the urban boom has been cheap light-emitting diode (LED) an unstoppable reality for 20 years lighting in the booming South in northern Chile, where cities American country is starting to have felt the economic eff ects of concern astronomers desperately the boom in copper, of which the trying to safeguard some of the South American country is the world’s darkest skies. world’s largest producer. “Unfortunately, as we have Halos of light above towns are New security ministry more and more white lights, the easily visible from observatories deterioration of the skies has in- within a 150km radius. creased by up to 30% compared “We have measured the impact to the end of the last decade,” said of this and we have already expe- scientist Pedro Sanhueza. rienced diffi culties making obser- Chile takes the problem of light vations at 20 degrees above the pollution so seriously that San- horizon. That’s going to increase a to fi ght Brazil violence hueza heads up an organisation lot and will prevent us from study- called the Offi ce for the Protection ing the furthest stars,” said Chris AFP lic security to co-ordinate all ef- lous state with around 16mn in- other factors also came into play. rious but it is necessary to be of Quality of the Sky (OPCC). Smith, head of the observatory at Rio de Janeiro forts,” said Temer after leaving habitants - 6.5mn of them living He said Temer is desperately vigilant that these measures are Its main task is to make the peo- Tololo, some 80kms from the town the meeting. in Rio de Janeiro. “trying to distract” attention not accompanied by the repres- ple of northern Chile aware of the of La Serena. The new ministry would have The decree is already in force from corruption allegations that sion of social movements and particularly high night-sky quality Urban growth has gone hand razilian President Michel a similar portfolio to the interior but must still be validated by have embroiled his presidency, the suspension of constitutional and the negative impacts of light in hand with huge infrastructure Temer has announced the ministry. Congress, which has scheduled a as well as his struggles to adopt rights,” said Gleisi Hoff man, pollution. projects to extract copper and even Bcreation of a public se- Army patrols were already vote for today evening. pension reform. president of the Workers’ Party Sanhueza says that though the construction of a brightly-lit curity ministry after giving the used in Rio’s gang-ruled fave- The army’s mission will last Arthur Trindade, a university of former president Luiz Inacio the quality is good, the sky over highway through the Atacama it- military full control over secu- las, but a decree signed on Friday until the end of Temer’s term as professor and former security Lula da Silva. northern Chile is becoming “an self. Smith is calling for more edu- rity in crime-plagued Rio de Ja- by Temer now gives the military president on December 31. secretary for Brasilia, said the Polls place Lula in the lead area of risk,” threatening the pro- cation in schools about the sus- neiro. overall control of security op- Temer said he was taking main objective of the decree is to for October’s presidential ballot found nocturnal darkness required tainable use of light, the need to Temer came to the city to meet erations in Rio state, which the “extreme measures” in the face “clean up” a police force under- even as he fi ghts to avoid prison for the study of phenomena such use “warmer” sources of lighting Governor Luiz Fernando Pezao, president said had been virtually of organised crime which has mined by corruption. for corruption. as solar fl ares, planetary nebulae, that are less polluting, and to avoid several ministers and General seized by organised crime gangs. spread throughout the country Eight months before a presi- More than 8,000 troops were black holes and supernovas. turning them towards the sky. Walter Souza Braga Netto, who Brazilian police are normally “and threatens the tranquility of dential election, the leftist op- sent to Rio de Janeiro in July to Fueling the threat, he adds, are “We are already seeing a big lev- will lead the operation and who under state supervision. Temer’s our people.” position is wary of military help the overstretched police but communities such as Antofagasta, el of impact and we need to con- was in charge of co-ordinating order for “federal intervention” Offi cials cited, in particular, intervention in a country still results were insignifi cant. Coquimbo and La Serena, where trol it now,” Smith, an American security when the city hosted places command in Netto, who violence during this month’s marked by two decades of mili- Rio state has been badly hit by LED lights are increasingly used astronomer, says – adding there the 2016 Olympic Games. will report directly to the presi- carnival but David Fleischer, a tary dictatorship which ended in Brazil’s recession and a slump in in homes, streetlights, store signs can be “no question of shutting “From next week or the next, I dent and not to authorities in professor of political science at 1985. the oil market, as well as by mas- and billboards. observatories down.” want to create a ministry of pub- Rio, the country’s most popu- the University of Brasilia, said “The situation in Rio is se- sive corruption.

Rains destroy homes Many charities hushed Cuba comedian fl ays discriminatory policies up misconduct: Haiti Reuters created the diff erences between Havana Cubans and foreigners,” he wrote. For many years, Cubans were Reuters It has neither confi rmed nor de- missed 19 people as a result. not allowed to stay at resort hotels Port-au-Prince nied a recent Times of London re- It did not provide details of uban comedian Luis Silva, exclusively reserved for foreign- port that some of its staff paid for where the harassment or abuse better known as his popu- ers, or to buy and use cellular tel- sex with prostitutes. took place, who was dismissed or Clar television character ephones or computers. aiti’s president said that “There should be an investi- whether the complaints were also Panfi lo, denounced discriminato- sexual misconduct by staff gation into other organisations registered with local law enforce- ry policies against Cubans in their “It is our own country that Hof British charity Oxfam that have been working here since ment. own country in a Facebook post, in has created the diff erences was only the tip of an “iceberg” 2010,” said Moise. “For example, Roland Van Hauwermeiren, the an unusually strong, public criti- between Cubans and and called for investigations into Doctors Without Borders had to former Oxfam offi cial at the cen- cism of the government. foreigners” Doctors Without Borders and oth- repatriate about 17 people for mis- tre of the sex abuse scandal, said In a country where the Com- er aid organisations which came to conduct which was not explained,” on Thursday he made mistakes munist government tightly con- President Raul Castro has lifted the country after its 2010 earth- he added. by having a relationship with the trols the media, Silva’s bumbling those restrictions since taking of- quake. It was not clear what cases Moi- sister of a recipient of aid when old character Panfi lo in the wide- fi ce in 2008, although others re- “The Oxfam case is the visible se was referring to. working in Haiti but denied paying ly-popular comedy show Vivir del main. In the post that was shared part of the iceberg,” President Geneva-based Doctors With- for sex with prostitutes or abusing Cuento is allowed to poke fun at more than 600 times and com- Jovenel Moise said in a phone in- out Borders, known as Medecins minors. offi cial policy but stops short of mented on hundreds of times, Sil- terview with Reuters. “It is not Sans Frontieres in non-English In an open letter to a broadcast- attacking it. va mentioned a directive banning only Oxfam, there are other NGOs speaking countries, is looking into er in his native Belgium, he said he The actor, who has around Cubans from taking a catamaran (non-governmental organisa- Moise’s comments and welcomes feared that Oxfam, other aid work- 200,000 followers on Facebook, with a motor. tions) in the same situation, but scrutiny on the aid sector, said ers and those they help would suf- posted a link to an article in state- “Why? No one knows,” he they hide the information inter- spokeswoman Analia Lorenzo. fer from false accusations. run newspaper Juventud Rebelde wrote. “We are potential terror- nally.” She added that the organisation “We call on the Belgian and UK headed “Are Cubans second class ists, who might steal the catama- The scandal has already shaken had zero tolerance of sexual mis- government to assume their re- tourists?” that described tourism ran to go to Hialeah’s Walmart to the aid sector, with Britain and conduct. sponsibility, and we call on the workers providing worse service go shopping,” he joked. the European Union reviewing On Wednesday, Doctors With- whole international community to to locals than to foreigners be- “Vivir del Cuento” in 2016 fea- Oxfam’s funding. out Borders, which sends medical help make sure those guilty of such cause they do not tip as well. Silva tured a famous skit with former Oxfam, one of the world’s big- staff around the world to regions misconduct are punished, wheth- opined that the history of gov- US president Barack Obama after gest disaster relief charities, apol- stricken with war and disease, er they are Belgian or of another ernment rules restricting Cubans his historic visit to Havana in the ogised this week for unspecifi ed said it had dealt with 24 cases of nationality,” Moise said. “The dig- Children sit next to their destroyed house after heavy more than foreigners was more to wake of the US-Cuban detente, sexual misconduct uncovered in a sexual harassment or abuse among nity of the Haitian people has been rains flooded Palca, a community near La Paz, Bolivia. blame for discrimination of locals. fostering the leaders’ popularity in 2011 internal investigation. its 40,000 staff last year, and dis- trampled on.” “It is our own country that has the country. Gulf Times Monday, February 19, 2018 19 PAKISTAN

Kulsoom Nawaz likely to return next month

Kulsoom Nawaz, ailing wife of former prime minister Nawaz NAB yet to get evidence against Sharif, is likely to return to Pakistan in March if the doctors’ team get satisfied with her medical reports after sixth session of chemotherapy for the cancer disease, reliable sources said yesterday. Sharif family as deadline nears “The six-month deadline given by the Supreme Court to the Accountability Internews eign countries is still awaited. the Mutual Legal Assistance Court to wrap up the proceedings Islamabad While the trial against Sharif, (MLA) is still awaited. in the references against the Sharif his daughter Maryam Nawaz and In both the references Al- family – Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, son-in-law retired Captain Mo- Azizia and Flagship Invest- Hussain Nawaz, Hasan Nawaz and s the six-month time hammad Safdar was in its fi nal ment NAB stated, “the fi nal Safdar expires in March, so the return given by the Supreme stages, NAB fi led supplemen- responses of mutual legal assist- of Kulsoom Nawaz to Pakistan may be ACourt to the account- tary references in Al-Azizia and ance requests, which have al- highly crucial in the political scenario ability court of Pakistan for Flagship Investment cases last ready been forwarded to foreign of Pakistan,” the sources said. completing proceedings of week. jurisdictions, are still awaited”. The sources said Kulsoom references fi led against former Earlier in January the bu- The reference further states, Nawaz on January 8 last month prime minister Nawaz Sharif reau already fi led a supple- “the same will be placed before successfully went through her and his family members is go- mentary reference in Avenfi eld the Honourable Court in ac- fifth chemotherapy session in ing to end next month, the Na- Properties case. cordance with law, if received”. London, and, now, the doctors tional Accountability Bureau The SC in its judgement in In the supplementary refer- would re-examine her health after (NAB) has yet to obtain evi- the Panama Papers case on July ence the bureau fi led last month six session of chemotherapy, dence against the accused from 28 had empowered NAB to fi le in Avenfi eld Properties, NAB PML-N Nawaz Sharif addressing a gathering of supporters at Sheikhupura, 328km from Islamabad, yesterday. adding, “If the team of doctors foreign countries. “supplementary reference(s) if admitted its failure to obtain show its satisfaction over her On the directives of the apex and when any other asset, which evidence it sought from the UK Hussain Nawaz of which Mar- ences of Al-Azizia and Flagship there been any tangible evidence health recovery then Kulsoom court, NAB fi led three refer- is not prima facie reasonably under the MLA. yam Nawaz was made a trustee. Investment, the bureau alleged on record the bureau would have Nawaz will likely to return to ences – Avenfi eld Properties, accounted for, is discovered”. NAB, however, declared Shar- According to NAB, it has been that Sharif “acquired the assets not fi led the supplementary Pakistan next month.” Al-Azizia and Flagship Invest- While NAB’s request for “mu- if accused in the supplementary proved to be fake and fabricated along with its crime proceeds in references. The references against the Sharif ment – against the Sharif fam- tual legal assistance” through references. from the record and forensic millions of rupees with the active NAB deputy prosecutor gen- family members were filed in light ily members in the account- which the bureau seeks nec- In the reference related to report. connivance of his dependents”. eral Sardar Muzaff ar Abbasi, on of the Supreme Court’s July 28 ability court in September last essary evidence from foreign Avenfi eld Properties, Sharif was Subsequently, Maryam and her In the interim reference, the the other hand, defended the decision in the Panama Papers year. countries has not been respond- one of the accused along with brothers, Hassan and Hussain, bureau has held Sharif and his supplementary references in the case. The SC directed the ac- ed to by the governments of the his other family members. (who have already been declared sons equally liable for owning the accountability court and said The sources said Nawaz Sharif was countability judge to conclude UK, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, In the supplementary refer- proclaimed off enders) and her assets beyond means. that they were fi led on the ba- all set to pay visit to London this the proceedings in six months. it fi led supplementary refer- ence the bureau declared Sharif husband Safdar being associ- Sharif has recently com- sis of fresh evidence and new week but when the Accountability An apex court judge, Justice ences mostly on the basis of me- the prime accused as it alleged ate aided, abetted, conspired and mented that fi ling of supplemen- witnesses. Court rejected his plea to get Ijazul Ahsan, was appointed dia reports and evidence gath- that the former PM could not connived themselves with Sharif tary references gives an impres- It may be mentioned that in exempted from appearing before to supervise the trial court’s ered by the SC-appointed joint reasonably account for and did in the commission of the off ence sion that there is nothing in the three supplementary references the court and NAB wrote a letter proceedings. investigation team. not commensurate with his punishable under relevant sections already pending references. the bureau has included 28 wit- to the interior ministry to place his Bureau admits record it In the recent supplementary sources of income. of the National Accountability Therefore, he added, NAB nesses. In the interim referenc- name on the exit control list (ECL) sought against ousted PM and references, NAB has admitted The properties were shown Ordinance, 1999. was fi ling consecutive supple- es, the number of prosecution he decided to remain in Pakistan his family members from for- that the record it sought under to be acquired in the name of In the supplementary refer- mentary references. He said had witnesses was almost the same. and face the situation. Stop blaming PTI trying to Pakistan for win Senate seat failures in from Punjab

Internews the party could win a seat with Rawalpindi the support of others and in Afghanistan: this regard it had started woo- ing opposition parties and akistan Tehreek-i-Insaf independent candidates. (PTI) is relying on the He said the party had given Psupport of Pakistan the task to Punjab Assembly Bajwa to US Muslim League (PML-Q), PPP opposition leader Mian Meh- and independents as well as moodur Rashid to meet PML- dissidents of the ruling PML- Q, PPP and Jamaat-i-Islami Internews rorist sanctuaries allegedly used N to get at least one senator and seek their support. Islamabad for sustaining the insurgency in elected from Punjab. He said the PTI members of Afghanistan. The total strength of PTI the assembly had been asked A bilateral engagement proc- in Punjab Assembly is 30 – to be present on the Election akistani Army chief Gen ess started afterwards to fi nd 25 directly elected MPAs and Day as the party wanted to win Qamar Bajwa yesterday common ground, but the Na- four women and one minority a seat from Punjab. He said lo- Pasked the US to stop blam- tional Security Strategy docu- member. For electing a sena- cal MPAs had contacted three ing Pakistan for its problems in ment unveiled by the US, Presi- General Qamar Bajwa gives his speech on day two of the 54th Munich Security Conference (MSC) in tor, a party should have at least independent members and Afghanistan and instead search dent Trump’s New Year’s Day Munich, southern Germany. 50 members’ support. managed to get their support for the reasons for its failures. tweet, and suspension of se- PPP and PML-Q have eight for the PTI candidate. He was speaking at the Mu- curity aid left little doubt that is running a secret dialogue with was being attacked from terror- defeating terrorism. He also un- members each, Jamaat-i-Isla- He said the PTI had assured nich Security Conference where the extensive Pak-US talks had the US. Recently, at the corps ist hideouts on Afghan soil. derscored the importance of in- mi one and independents fi ve the PPP leadership in Punjab military chiefs and civilian failed to resolve the diff erences. commanders’ conference the He also emphasised the need ternational co-operation against in the assembly. that if it supported Chaudhry leaders have gathered to dis- Almost at the same time as military’s top brass had signalled for repatriation of 2.7mn Afghan terrorism. As many as 12 senators will Sarwar the PTI would vote cuss the world’s most pressing suspension of security aid, its desire for co-operation with refugees currently residing in Speaking about the operations be elected from Punjab seven for the PPP candidate for the security issues. The conference Pentagon quietly opened an- the US. Pakistan. launched in the country against on general seats, two women, Senate chairman. is a three-day event. Tensions other channel with the GHQ In Munich the army chief Pointing to the Jamaat-ul-Ah- terrorists, he said that besides two technocrats and one on However, he said the PPP had between Islamabad and Wash- over the problems in security again categorically denied the rar, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan kinetic operations, a lot of em- minority seat. not given any response as yet. ington intensifi ed after the an- co-operation. The GHQ later existence of terrorist sanctuaries and Islamic State safe havens, phasis had been put on cutting However, the ruling PML-N On the other hand, negotiations nouncement of Trump admin- shared broader sense of conver- on the country’s soil and recalled he said terrorists had established off their financial sources. has the support of 320 mem- with PML-Q were held twice in istration’s strategy for South sations with US Centcom Com- the steps taken to prevent unau- sanctuaries on the Afghan soil He said Pakistan’s counter- bers 310 elected on its own Lahore and Gujrat last week but Asia and Afghanistan, which mander Gen Joseph Votel and an thorised movements across the along the border with Pakistan. terrorism operations were be- tickets and 10 from its allies could not produce any result. was very critical of Pakistan for unnamed American senator. porous border. Gen Bajwa said Pakistan had ing carried out under a National such as PML-Zia and Jamiat- PTI MPA Arif Abbasi said that its alleged inaction against ter- It is widely believed the GHQ Gen Bajwa said that Pakistan rendered a lot of sacrifi ces for Action Plan. i-Ulema Islam (JUI-F). the party did not have the req- PTI has nominated former uisite number for Senate elec- governor Chaudhry Sarwar tion but was trying hard to get at as its candidate while PML-Q least one seat from Punjab. fi elded Kamil Ali Agha. Both He said the party had se- have started seeking each oth- lected the right man for the er support for their respective Senate elections and if the PTI KP province struggles to spend candidates. got the support of the PML- A senior PTI leader said that Q, PPP and independents it budget in fi rst half of fi scal year out of the seven general seats would manage to win the seat.

Internews schemes in the education sec- foreign assistance and Rs126bn total allocation of Rs6.3bn. utilise the allocated budget for Ex-minister joins PTI Peshawar tor this year. Of this, Rs14bn had component which was supposed In the health sector, Rs5.3bn developmental sectors. been allocated for elementary to be provided by the provincial were released out the total al- He added that initially, they Internews election in the constituency. and secondary education and government. location of Rs12bn but the de- explained their troubles away by Islamabad However, for some personal espite claims from the Rs6.3bn for higher education. The government has so far re- partment cautiously spent only claiming that this was the fi rst reasons Omar did not contest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa But documents from the plan- leased Rs61.4bn of this and the Rs3.2bn. This meant that the time the Pakistan Tehreek-e- the by-election held towards D(KP) government that it ning and development depart- departments have only been able department spent 26.9% of its Insaf (PTI) was in power and that mar Ayub Khan, a fed- the end of 2015. has prioritised previously un- ment show that the government to spend around R43.8bn, which total allocation in the fi rst half of things were new for them which eral minister of state for During the regime of Per- derserved sectors such as edu- released Rs7.88bn in the fi rst makes up around 34.8% of the fi scal year. is why they had failed to utilise Ofi nance, joined the Paki- vaiz Musharraf, Ayub served cation in the province, it has part of the year to the elemen- the ADP. The water sector, by com- their budget properly. stan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) after as minister of state for fi nance now found itself in a diff erent fi x tary and secondary education This was lower than the funds parison, spent 60.8% of its to- Masood added that while the a meeting with party chairman from 2004 to 2007. – a struggle to spend allocated department. spend by the government at tal allocation while Rs4.7bn tenure of the PTI government Imran Khan yesterday. A statement issued by PTI’s funds. Of this, the department man- the same stage last year when was released for it against the in the province was almost over, Omar who hails from Haripur central media department said The KP government has aged to spend only Rs4.71bn, or departments had managed to total Rs7bn. they have not yet learnt to fully has made it to the National As- that Ayub had expressed com- shown the way to other prov- around 33% of the total alloca- spend 36% of their allocated The offi cial, however, said utilise the budget. sembly twice – fi rst in 2002 plete confi dence in the party inces on how to allocate money tion of Rs14bn. funds. that allocations for these sectors He added that the PTI govern- after contesting on a ticket of leadership and manifesto. for areas such as education in Similarly, out of Rs6.3bn al- An offi cial in the fi nance de- are also small when compared to ment had declared an education Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid In 2013 general elections, the amount of money it has al- located to the higher education partment who did not wish to be the prioritised sectors of health, emergency in the health sector, (PML-Q) and then in 2014 on Ayub had lost to a candidate located for education, doubling department, the government named shared that various de- education, roads and water. but it has failed to resolve even a Pakistan Muslim League- from the PTI and accused it of from Rs61bn in 2013 to Rs138bn released Rs2.25bn so far of which partments have slowed down as Centre for Governance and basic problems. Nawaz (PML-N) ticket. committing poll rigging. in the ongoing fi scal year. the department could only he pointed to the utilisation by Public Accountability (CGPA) K-P Elementary and Second- In June 2015, he was un- His plea was accepted and a However, the government has spend Rs1.83bn. the elementary and secondary programme manager Malik ary Education Additional Secre- seated by the Supreme Court re-polling was ordered at sev- spent just 31% of the allocated The KP government ear- education department. Masood said that despite the tary Khalid Khan explained that which declared elections in his en polling stations and Ayub budget in the fi rst half of the marked Rs208bn for its annual Similarly, the higher educa- claims by the government, noth- he was not aware that the budget constituency as null and void. was consequently declared fi scal year 2017-18. development programme (ADP) tion sector spent only 29% of to- ing has changed on the ground had not been properly utilised The top court had also or- the winning candidate in 2014. The KP government had ear- for the fi scal year 2017-18 which tal available funds while Rs2.2bn in past four years since the gov- and refused to comment any dered the election commission But in 2015, he was unseated marked Rs20.3bn for uplift include a Rs82bn component of were released against the ernment has failed to properly further. of Pakistan (ECP) to hold a by- by the Supreme Court itself. Gulf Times 20 Monday, February 19, 2018 PHILIPPINES Makati seeks Getting ready for revolution anniversary more youth in campaign against drugs

By James Konstantin Galvez drive has established student Manila Times campaign groups, developed theatre and arts skills among students, equipped the youth he Makati city govern- with peer education, and ac- ment wants more youth tivated civic involvement in Tengagement in its on- battling illegal drugs trade going campaign against illegal and use within barangays. drugs. Since its launch, the Pa- Mayor Abigail Binay urged gasa campaign has benefited the youth from the city’s thousands of public high schools and barangay (villages) school students in at least six to get involved in the “Pag-asa barangays, including Pobla- sa Makati” campaign, which cion and San Isidro in District is aimed at developing ac- 1, and Comembo, East Rem- tive youth advocates who will bo, West Rembo, and Pitogo serve as the city’s partners in in District 2. the promotion of a drug-free The respective Barangay Makati. Anti-Drug Abuse Councils The entire programme aims of the said barangays col- not only to cultivate the skills laborated with the MPOC and talents of the youth, but and MADAC to implement also to empower them to be programmes integrating arts great leaders and role models and multimedia tools. These for their peers. include two major workshops The campaign, launched – basic integrated theater Workers dismantle the scaffolding around the People Power monument in Manila after removing the rust and polishing yesterday, ahead of the 32nd People Power in April 2017 through joint workshop and repertory Revolution anniversary on February 25. A popular People Power revolt toppled Ferdinand Marcos from power in 1986 and chased him into exile in Hawaii, where he efforts of the Makati Peace theatre guidance – that were died in 1989. and Order Council (MPOC) launched last year to train and Makati Anti-Drug Abuse teachers and establish core Council (Madac), now has campaign groups of students 6,000 participants mostly initially in six target public students from the city’s pub- schools. lic schools. From April to November “We are glad to note that last year, 96 teachers were the Pag-asa sa Makati cam- also trained along with 507 paign is fast gaining ground. students from Fort Boni- We encourage more young facio High School, Makati Makatizens to participate in High School, San Isidro Senate to probe frigate various training and activi- High School, Pitogo High ties being conducted in our School, Benigno “Ninoy” schools and communities,” Aquino High School, and Binay said in a statement. Tibagan High School, who The mayor pointed out that became members of their the youth becoming advo- own school’s core campaign cates of drug-free communi- groups. deal, Duterte aide’s role ties was a “much better and Many of them have ex- wiser option” than joining pressed delight over the op- Manila Times The committee on national Go are among those expected to The “truth” for Empedrad Thales Tacticos supply the com- fraternities or gangs. portunity to take part in Manila defence and security, led by Sen. be present at the hearing. is “that there is no anomaly in bat management system (CMS) She cited the case of the fa- such an undertaking, which Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan, Go reportedly intervened in the frigate.” “Tomorrow (Mon- for the frigates. tal stabbing last February 9 of empowers them to speak on and the congressional oversight the negotiations for the acquisi- day), the (hearing) will be about A source who requested ano- a Makati high school student, relevant issues like the drug committee on the Armed Forces tion of the two missile-capable that item. For me, there was no nymity said Mercado and Empe- which was linked to rivalry problem, and to positively he Senate will start its Modernization Act, were direct- frigates for the Navy and in the anomaly, there was no problem drad had a rift over the frigate among fraternity groups. influence their peers towards inquiry into the P15bn ed under Senate Resolution 584 selection of the weapons system and there was no intervention,” deal. “I appeal to students and self-improvement, rather Tfrigate deal entered into to spearhead the investigation supplier. Empedrad told reporters on the Empedrad said, however, that to all our young constituents than self-destruction. by the Philippine Navy amid al- today. Go denied the allegations as sidelines of the Philippine Mili- he and Mercado were “good.” to avoid any involvement Madac also conducted legations that a close aide of Defence Secretary Delfi n top defence and military offi cials tary Academy’s (PMA) Alumni “Good, we are good. We are with groups that breed vio- drug prevention training, President Rodrigo Duterte inter- Lorenzana; Rear Admiral Robert and Malacanang expressed con- Homecoming. okay and we are (in) very good lence, and to instead devote seminars, and lectures for vened in the negotiations and to Empedrad, Philippine Navy’s fi dence that he could prove his Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph terms,” he said. your time and energy to more private institutions, in- determine whether the acquisi- new Flag Offi cer-in-Command innocence during the hearing. Mercado was relieved in 2017 After the alumni parade at the productive endeavours, such cluding Questronix Corp, tion of the frigates “promotes (FOIC); former FOIC Vice Ad- In a separate interview in Ba- from his post as Navy chief, PMA, Empedrad was asked if he as the Pagasa sa Makati cam- Pasay Rotary Club South- the goals of the modernisation miral Ronald Joseph Mercado; guio City yesterday, Empedrad which stemmed from alleged saw Mercado, he said: “I haven’t paign,” Binay said. east and Globetek Science programme and complies with and Special Assistant to the also said that he was expecting “insubordination” after he in- seen him yet now but I did see Madac has reported the Technology. pertinent laws.” President Christopher “Bong” the “truth” to come out. sisted that Dutch company him during the parade.” ‘More than 1,000 jobs’ on off er Parents of another vaccine for Filipinos in three nations ‘victim’ seek justice for child By Jeff erson Antiporda died on February 10, days after Jimenez echoed the senti- Manila Times developing a fever. ments of the parents and called Manila Times Based on the death certifi cate on Health Secretary Francisco Manila issued by the Offi ce of the Civil Duque to listen to them and join he may have been laid to Registrar General, the immedi- the grieving parents. rest but parents of Ab- ate cause of death was septic He said the DOH is responsi- audi Arabia, Taiwan and Sbie Hedia, suspected to be shock, with viral encephalitis ble for the mass immunisation of Germany have opened a victim of Dengvaxia, vowed stated as the antecedent cause, children and yet not a single of- Smore than 1,000 job op- not to rest until those responsi- and acute gastroenteritis with fi cial of the department has been portunities for Filipino workers ble for administering the anti- severe dehydration as the un- seen during Abby’s wake. under a government-to-gov- dengue vaccine on hundreds of derlying cause. Abbie’s mother “I again I ask Sec. Duque to ernment programme, the Phil- thousands of school children are Ruby however was convinced please tell your people to come ippine Overseas Employment taken to court. that the death of her daughter empathise with the victims and Administration (POEA) said. According to Dante Jimenez, has something to do with the be pro-victims,” Jimenez added. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of chairman of the Volunteers anti-dengue vaccine which was The VACC head noted that Du- Health alone is looking for a Against Crime and Corruption given to her under the anti-den- que was already the secretary of total of 500 female special- (VACC), the parents of Abbie are gue immunisation programme health when Abbie was inoculated ist nurses for neonatal inten- appealing to President Rodrigo of the Department of Health with Dengvaxia, making him also sive care unit, coronary care Duterte for justice. They are de- (DOH). responsible because he allowed unit, intensive care unit, nurs- manding that those responsible “Where is the DOH when the the vaccination programme to ery, emergency room, surgical for the death of their child be parents of the victims are in pain continue. wards and obstetrics and gyne- charged and punished. for losing their child? They are The parents of Abbie’s class- cology, the POEA said. Abby, a 13-year-old stu- the reason why Abby was vac- mates are also bothered and fear- The I-Mei Foods Co, Ltd.- dent who was inoculated with cinated in the fi rst place,” said ful because their children also re- Taiwan is looking for 80 work- Dengvaxia in November 2017, Jimenez, quoting the parents. ceived the vaccine, Jimenez said. ers, including male technicians, male refrigeration and air con- ditioning maintenance work- ers, male or female bakers and Eight law students expelled over hazing death staff canteen cooks, male or female food analysis inspectors, The University of Santo Tomas (UST) expelled UST said, however, that even after the students male general technicians, male eight civil law students allegedly involved in the have been expelled, it would continue its investiga- or female machine operators- Filipina workers returning home from the Middle East arrive at Manila International Airport yesterday. hazing death of a law freshman last September, tion until all the students involved would be held food processing and male ma- Manila Times reported. In a statement yesterday, administratively liable for the death of Castillo. sons. Formosa Taff eta Co Ltd, plicants should register online that each time someone leaves this national Migrants Sunday UST confirmed a report by The Varsitarian, the “The University reiterates its commitment to fer- and NXP Semiconductors Tai- at www.poea.gov.ph or www. for a foreign land in search of let us be the Angels of OFWs, school’s off icial publication, earlier in the day that ret out the truth, determine liability, and impose wan Ltd., both in Taiwan, are eregister.poea.gov.ph. brighter opportunities, there praying for their safety and the committee tasked to investigate the death the appropriate sanctions,” the school said. UST’s also in need of a total of 25 fe- Meanwhile, the chairman of are always sad partings bring- stable jobs, praying that they of Castillo found the eight law students guilty of decision to expel eight students linked to Castillo’s male machine operators. the Catholic Bishops Confer- ing loneliness to all. may have good and generous violating the Code of Conduct. “The University of death came five months after the incident and after POEA Administrator Bernard ence of the Philippines’ Episco- For Catholics, yesterday was employers,” the Bataan bishop Santo Tomas confirmed that the Committee tasked mother, Carminia, threatened to file a complaint Olalia said that several other pal Commission on the Care of the fi rst Sunday of Lent. said. to investigate the death of Horacio Castillo III before the Vatican last Friday against the school’s fi rms in Taiwan were also in Migrants and itinerant People The First Sunday of Lent “We can be their Angels so has issued its first resolution finding eight (8) law alleged inaction on her son’s case. Castillo died from urgent need of factory workers, (CBCP–ECMI) yesterday lik- was also national Migrants as to protect them from un- students guilty of violating the Code of Conduct injuries he sustained during initiation rites by the among others, while Germany ened the life of overseas Filipino Sunday where the celebration just and inhuman treatment, and Discipline and imposing the supreme penalty Aegis Juris Fraternity last September 17, 2017. In its needed nurses, and electrocar- workers to the Season of Lent. was held at the Canosa Col- to promote their rights and of expulsion,” UST said. The investigating commit- own investigation, the Senate has also recommend- diography and laboratory tech- Bishop Ruperto Santos of the lege in San Pablo City, Laguna prosecute those who abused tee is composed of six UST administrators and a ed disbarment of UST Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina, nicians in Saudi Arabia. Diocese of Balanga and CBCP– as the diocese of San Pablo and made them suffer,” Santos representative from the Central Student Council. whom it held responsible for the student’s death. Olalia said that qualifi ed ap- ECMI chair, said. He added was the national host. “With added. Gulf Times Monday, February 19, 2018 21 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL

Britain lifts ban on direct air cargo to Bangladesh

The British government has withdrawn its ban on direct air cargo between the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka and London. Eff orts on to bring back The British government imposed the embargo citing poor security at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on March 8, 2016. “It is a major achievement that you have transformed in the cargo handling and created a condition that we are very Mujib’s killers: minister satisfied with,”British High Commissioner in Bangladesh By Mizan Rahman Amina Ahmed in the parliament. Canada, the minister said. ment has opened 13 jails after Alison Blake told journalists Dhaka “The government has under- He also said that red alert has repair across the country since at a press conference jointly taken necessary steps to send been issued to locate and arrest 2009, adding, “Eight more jails organised by the British High information along with pho- the convicted fugitive killers by are under construction and ini- Commission and Bangladesh’s ome Minister Asaduz- tograph to diff erent airports Interpol, while the government tiatives have been taken to con- Civil Aviation Ministry in Dhaka. zaman Khan yesterday through Interpol to identify and requested countries concerned struct more six jails during the The British envoy said the lifting Hsaid that Bangladesh locate fugitive killers of Father not to grant citizenship appli- current fi nancial year.” of the suspension comes as a has taken eff ective measures to of the Nation for execution of cations by the convicted killers. He informed the House that result of ongoing co-operation locate and bring back the con- the court verdict,” Khan added. To another question, the the government has also a plan between Britain and Bangladesh victed fugitive killers of Father He said the government home minister said there are a to construct four more prisons and the joint assessment of the of the Nation Bangabandhu confi scated 16.94 acres of land total of 15,919 convicted pris- including Jessore, Rangpur, Ra- airport. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for owned by Khandker Abdur oners in diff erent jails in the jshahi and Pabna in the country Blake said that from Sunday any execution of the court verdict. Rashid and 1.15 acres of land country. during the next fi scal year. airline except Bangladesh Biman A taskforce was formed by owned by Rashed Chowdhury. “Out of the total convicted Replying to another starred will be able to carry direct cargo the government on March Besides, law fi rms have al- prisoners there were 15,374 question from treasury bench to Britain. 28, 2010 headed by Law, Jus- ready been engaged by the males and 545 females as of member MA Malek, Asaduz- Mosaddique Ahmed, chief tice and Parliamentary Af- government in the United February 1, 2018,” he said, this, zaman Khan said, “Currently executive off icer, Biman, said fairs Minister Anisul Haq to States of America (USA) and while replying to a starred Bangladesh has two extradi- it may take 15 to 20 days for bring back the convicted fu- Canada for bringing back the question from treasury bench tion treaties for exchanging his airline to get the proper gitive killers, he said, while fugitive convicted killers Abu member AKM Jahangir in the criminals. India and the Unit- certification. replying to a starred question Rashed Chowdhury from USA legislature. ed Arab Emirates are under the from treasury bench member and Noor Chowdhury from The minister said the govern- treaty.” Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan

Soccer by riverside No elections without Bangladeshi Zia, says BNP leader expats to be

By Mizan Rahman without her as she is now ‘an- enrolled in Dhaka other Bangladesh’ despite her imprisonment. “People will hrugging off ruling Awa- foil all plots to hold the polls voter list mi League (AL) general keeping her in jail through Ssecretary Obaidul Quad- conviction in cases.” er’s remark that BNP will go to Criticising the government By Mizan Rahman polls keeping Khaleda Zia in for what he said not providing Dhaka jail, the opposition party yes- the certifi ed copy of the verdict terday said no election will be against Zia, Rizvi said the gov- held in the country without ernment is resorting to vari- he election commission her participation. ous tricks to obstruct the BNP (EC) will start enrolment Speaking to reporters, BNP chief from getting bail. Tof Bangladeshi expatri- senior joint secretary-general “The copy of the verdict ates in voter list soon so that Ruhul Rizvi said Quader some- was also not given today (Sun- they could cast their votes in times talks in such a way as if day). It’s not provided as the the forthcoming elections in the he is a BNP policymaker on prime minister didn’t give any country. one hand and Awami League directive in this regard.” In this regard, the commis- general secretary on the other. He alleged that police in- sion will arrange a workshop “Where did you (Quader) get tercepted their party men in on February 27 at Bangabandhu the information that BNP will some districts from observing International Conference Cen- go to the polls keeping Khaleda peaceful programme like sub- tre (BICC) in Dhaka to receive Zia in jail? We would like to say mitting memorandum to dep- suggestions and opinions from no election will be held with- uty commissioners yesterday stakeholders, particularly dip- out her participation as she is demanding Zia’s release. lomats stationed in countries the part and parcel of BNP and Referring to home minis- that host a large number of the only source of inspiration ter’s remark that police were Bangladeshis. of its leaders and activists,” he not obstructing BNP’s peace- Some 100 participants, in- said. ful programmes, Rizvi said a cluding top diplomats, offi cials at The BNP leader also said the responsible minister’s com- the ministry of expatriates wel- Nepali school students playing at a football ground at Bahuneypati, some 70km northeast of Kathmandu. country’s people will not al- ment should have refl ection on fare and overseas employment, low anyone to hold the polls action. and other agencies concerned will be present at the event. “We will take our next meas- ures after receiving suggestions from the workshop,” election commissioner Shahadat Hos- Chinese tourists fl ock to Nepal to celebrate New Year sain Chowdhury told newsmen yesterday. Though the commission has IANS good fl ow of Chinese tour- pany in a week is a signifi cant almost fully booked for the next Based on ongoing arrivals and more Chinese tourists dur- not yet fi xed any timeline for Kathmandu ists for this Chinese New Year,” jump. two weeks. booked seats in the airlines, the ing the Spring Festival if more implementing the initiative, it Bishwesh Shrestha, managing With infl ow of Chinese tour- In order to show Nepal’s hos- NTB expects arrivals of at least fl ights are arranged between the expects that the voter enrol- director of tour operator, said ists during the festival growing, pitality to Chinese tourists, the 30,000 Chinese tourists over two countries and more Chi- ment process can be launched uring the New Year also yesterday. Nepal’s hotels are crowded with Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) in the next two weeks. nese cities are connected with by this year in some countries, known as Spring Fes- Similar is the experience of Chinese travellers. co-ordination with civil avia- This will be the major fl ights. he added. Dtival, all of China goes another travel agency, which is A fi ve-star hotel in Kathman- tion authority of Nepal and boost to Nepal tourism sec- These Chinese airlines cur- The commission plans to start on vacation either within the the fi rst travel agency to bring du said that around 10% of hotel department of immigration has tor as Nepal expects at least rently operate from Lhasa, Kun- the voter enrolment process ini- country or outside. A total of Chinese tourists to Nepal. “We rooms are occupied by Chinese made arrangement of distrib- 150,000 Chinese tourists ming, Chengdu and Guangzhou tially in Saudi Arabia, the United 6.5mn Chinese are expected are organising a trip for around tourists currently, while on other uting postcard written ‘Happy by air in 2018, according to to Kathmandu but Chinese Arab Emirates (UAE) and Malay- to travel overseas during the 200 Chinese travellers dur- occasions the rate is 3-4%. New Year’ in Chinese language NTB. Nepal received a total capital Beijing and major fi nan- sia – the three largest destina- week-long Spring Festival hol- ing this week alone,” Kishor “We have got very good to the Chinese visitors at the of 104,664 Chinese tourists cial city Shanghai are still out tions of Bangladeshi expatriates. iday, according to a report by Pandey, chairman of the travel booking from Chinese tourists Tribhuvan International in 2017, according to Nepal’s of direct air connectivity with “We are trying our best to China Tourism Academy and company, said. until February end,” said Atma Airport in Kathmandu. department of immigration. Nepal. introduce voter enrolment sys- Ctrip. With the company organis- Khanal, sales executive at the “We have also arranged people China is the second largest Joshi said they have also tem for Bangladeshi expatri- Nepal, a next-door neigh- ing trip for around 300 Chinese Hotel. who can speak Chinese language source market for Nepal’s planned to make arrangement ates in foreign countries as early bour, is benefi ting greatly from travellers a month on other oc- Travel agencies said that all at the airport to ease the Chinese tourism sector. of chartered fl ights between as possible. We have already Chinese holidaymakers going casions, the number of Chinese the airlines conducting fl ight visitors,” said Deepak Joshi, chief Travel and tour operators said various Chinese cities and worked out technical matters,” abroad. “We have received very visitors managed by the com- from China to Nepal have been executive offi cer, NTB. that Nepal could attract even Nepal. he said. Lanka and China strive for long-term success of Hambantota Port

IANS co-operation in Hambantota Port. oping new transshipment and from the Sri Lankan community. Colombo Indeed, Hambantota Port had related businesses, the chief Lasantha Wickremesooriya, witnessed a relatively slow pace operating offi cer said. senior fellow at the Institute of of growth and development in “We are also receiving many National Security Studies, said ri Lanka is reaping early the past. However, with the great overseas inquiries for the devel- that for the fl ow of vessels be- harvests from the China- potential of the port gradually opment of new break-bulk and tween the West and the East, the Sproposed Belt and Road realised and the joint venture bulk-cargo business, which has major transshipment hub is Sin- initiative, featured with the established between Sri Lanka been only made possible by lev- gapore. But he added that Ham- launch of operation at Ham- Ports Authority and China Mer- eraging on the global network of bantota Port is more economical bantota Port, one of two ports chants Port Holdings (CMPH) CMPH.” for them. being developed by with Chi- to co-develop the port, the op- The future of the Sri Lanka- “With the technical knowhow, nese assistance, through a joint eration of Hambantota Port has China co-operation in Ham- marketing knowhow, and the in- venture between the two sides remarkably improved. bantota Port is promising, just vestment capability by CMPH, last year. Tissa Wickramasinghe, chief as Sri Lankan Prime Minister the port will eventually turn into Since Sri Lanka and China operating offi cer of the joint- Ranil Wickremesinghe said at a profi table venture in the fu- started joint operation of Ham- venture Hambantota Interna- the offi cial launching of the joint ture with more modern vessels bantota Port in southern Sri tional Port Group, told Xinhua venture, “We have made ar- coming in,” he said. Lanka, there have been doubts recently that since the joint ven- rangements for the management Mangala PB Yapa, manag- over the profi tability and the fu- ture took over the operation of and long-term success of Ham- ing director of the Agency for ture of the port. the port in December, the port bantota Port. The operations Development at the Sri Lankan A truck driving along the site of a Chinese-funded $1.4bn reclaimed land next to Colombo’s main seaport. China However, the smooth and has been functioning “extremely of the joint venture will ensure ministry of development strat- will invest $1bn in the construction of three 60-storey buildings at a mega-project near Sri Lanka’s main port. excellent performance of the well,” with the roll on-roll off an additional port in the Indian egies and international trade, port and the properly address- (RO-RO) business picking up Ocean.” also expects a bright future of and our partner CMPH. A com- resulting in better livelihood for the Belt and Road initiative, the ing concerns of the former more than expected. Today, Hambantota Port, lo- Hambantota Port. mercially viable and effi cient the people in that part.” joint venture, in essence, is also employees have proven that Major global players in the cated near the main shipping “We are confi dent that this Hambantota Port will be catalyt- As an example of fruitful co- a case of commercial restructur- time will answer all doubts lin- RO-RO business have all visited route, is prospering every day collaboration and partnership ic in the economic development operation between China and Sri ing between the Sri Lanka Port gering over China-Sri Lanka the port, with a view to devel- and gains increasing confi dence will bring in success to Sri Lanka of the south of the country and Lanka within the framework of Authority and CMPH. Gulf Times 22 Monday, February 19, 2018 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka The social media threat Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar to society and security [email protected] 44350478 (News), control over half of all digital and defend what John Stuart Mill called The impact of such innovations on 44466404 (Sport), By George Soros Munich advertising revenue. To maintain their the freedom of mind. Once lost, those unemployment depends on government 44466636 (Home delivery) dominance, they need to expand their who grow up in the digital age may have policies. The European Union, and networks and increase their share of diffi culty regaining it. particularly the Nordic countries, are 44350474 he current moment in world users’ attention. Currently they do this This would have far-reaching much more farsighted than the United facebook.com/gulftimes history is a painful one. Open by providing users with a convenient political consequences. People without States in their social policies. They societies are in crisis, and platform. The more time users spend the freedom of mind can be easily protect the workers, not the jobs. They twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar Tvarious forms of dictatorships on the platform, the more valuable they manipulated. This danger does not are willing to pay for retraining or and mafi a states, exemplifi ed by become to the companies. loom only in the future; it already retiring displaced workers. This gives Vladimir Putin’s Russia, are on the rise. Moreover, because content providers played an important role in the 2016 US workers in Nordic countries a greater In the United States, President Donald cannot avoid using the platforms and presidential election. sense of security and makes them more Trump would like to establish his own must accept whatever terms they are There is an even more alarming supportive of technological innovations GULF TIMES mafi a-style state but cannot, because off ered, they, too, contribute to the prospect on the horizon: an alliance than workers in the US. the Constitution, other institutions, profi ts of social media companies. between authoritarian states and The Internet monopolies have neither and a vibrant civil society won’t allow Indeed, the exceptional profi tability of large, data-rich IT monopolies, the will nor the inclination to protect it. these companies is largely a function bringing together nascent systems of society against the consequences of Not only is the survival of open of their avoiding responsibility – and corporate surveillance with already- their actions. That turns them into a Non-stick frying pan society in question; the survival of payment – for the content on their developed systems of state-sponsored public menace, and it is the regulatory our entire civilisation is at stake. The platforms. surveillance. This may well result in a authorities’ responsibility to protect rise of leaders such as Kim Jong-un in The companies claim that they are web of totalitarian control the likes of society against them. In the US, North Korea and Trump in the US have merely distributing information. But which not even George Orwell could regulators are not strong enough to chemicals raise risk much to do with this. Both seem willing the fact that they are near-monopoly have imagined. stand up to the monopolies’ political to risk a nuclear war in order to keep distributors makes them public The countries in which such unholy infl uence. The EU is better positioned, themselves in power. But the root cause utilities and should subject them to marriages are likely to occur fi rst because it doesn’t have any platform goes even deeper. Mankind’s ability to more stringent regulation, aimed at are Russia and China. Chinese IT giants of its own. for gaining weight harness the forces of nature, both for preserving competition, innovation, companies in particular are fully equal The EU uses a diff erent defi nition of constructive and destructive purposes, and fair and open access. to the US platforms. They also enjoy monopoly power from the US. Whereas continues to grow, while our ability to Social media companies’ true the full support and protection of US law enforcement focuses primarily Chemicals called perfl uoroalkyl substances (PFASs), govern ourselves properly fl uctuates, customers are their advertisers. But President Xi Jinping’s regime. China’s on monopolies created by acquisition, used for more than 60 years to make products more and is now at a low ebb. a new business model is gradually government is strong enough to protect EU law prohibits the abuse of monopoly stain-resistant, waterproof or non-stick, have raised The rise and monopolistic behaviour emerging, based not only on advertising its national champions, at least within power regardless of how it is achieved. of the giant American Internet platform but also on selling products and services its borders. Europe has much stronger privacy and plenty of health concerns. Now a new study from Harvard companies is contributing mightily directly to users. They exploit the US-based IT monopolies are already data protection laws than America. University suggests the chemicals may also make it to the US government’s impotence. data they control, bundle the services tempted to compromise themselves in Moreover, US law has adopted a tougher to keep off weight. These companies have often played they off er, and use discriminatory order to gain entrance to these vast and strange doctrine that measures harm PFASs are used in non-stick cookware. They are an innovative and liberating role. But pricing to keep more of the benefi ts fast-growing markets. These countries’ as an increase in the price paid by incorporated into clothing, like raingear, to help repel as Facebook and Google have grown that they would otherwise have to dictatorial leaders may be only too customers for services received. But stains and water, and used in furniture and carpeting ever more powerful, they have become share with consumers. This enhances happy to collaborate with them, in the that is almost impossible to prove, given obstacles to innovation, and have their profi tability even further, but the interest of improving their methods of that most giant Internet platforms to make them resistant to stains and liquids. PFASs are caused a variety of problems of which bundling of services and discriminatory control over their own populations and provide a majority of their services for also used in fast food and other packaging to keep food we are only now beginning to become pricing undermine the effi ciency of the expanding their power and infl uence free. Moreover, the doctrine leaves out from sticking. The chemicals have been linked to high aware. market economy. in the United States and the rest of the of consideration the valuable data that cholesterol, eff ects on the immune system, hormone Companies earn their profi ts by Social media companies deceive world. platform companies collect from their disruption, low infant birth rates, and even cancer, exploiting their environment. Mining their users by manipulating their There is also a growing recognition of users. and oil companies exploit the physical attention, directing it toward their own a connection between the dominance The EU Commissioner for according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. environment; social media companies commercial purposes, and deliberately of the platform monopolies and rising Competition Margrethe Vestager is the The latest study, published in the journal PLOS exploit the social environment. This is engineering addiction to the services inequality. The concentration of champion of the European approach. Medicine, found that higher levels of PFASs in the blood particularly nefarious, because these they provide. This can be very harmful, share ownership in the hands of a few It took the EU seven years to build a were associated with increased weight gain after dieting, companies infl uence how people think particularly for adolescents. individuals plays some role, but the case against Google. But, as a result of particularly in women. The compounds are referred to as and behave without them even being There is a similarity between Internet peculiar position occupied by the IT its success, the process of instituting aware of it. This interferes with the platforms and gambling companies. giants is even more important. They adequate regulation has been greatly “obesogens” because they may upset normal metabolism functioning of democracy and the Casinos have developed techniques to have achieved monopoly power while accelerated. Moreover, thanks to and increase the risk for gaining weight the more people integrity of elections. hook customers to the point that they also competing against one another. Vestager’s eff orts, the European are exposed to them. Because Internet platform companies gamble away all of their money, even Only they are big enough to swallow approach has begun to aff ect attitudes The study found that are networks, they enjoy rising money they don’t have. start-ups that could develop into in the US. Perfl uoroalkyl people with higher marginal returns, which accounts Something similar – and potentially competitors, and only they have the It is only a matter of time before the for their phenomenal growth. The irreversible – is happening to human resources to invade one another’s global dominance of the US Internet substances are concentrations of PFAS network eff ect is truly unprecedented attention in our digital age. This is territory. companies is broken. Regulation and in their bodies also had a and transformative, but it is also not a matter of mere distraction or The owners of the platform giants taxation, spearheaded by Vestager, will used in non-stick lower resting metabolic unsustainable. It took Facebook eight addiction; social media companies are consider themselves the masters of be their undoing. – Project Syndicate rate, meaning they burn and a half years to reach a billion users, actually inducing people to surrender the universe. In fact, they are slaves to cookware fewer calories during and half that time to reach the second their autonomy. And this power to preserving their dominant position. zGeorge Soros, Chairman of Soros billion. At this rate, Facebook will run shape people’s attention is increasingly They are engaged in an existential Fund Management and of the Open normal daily activities. out of people to convert in less than concentrated in the hands of a few struggle to dominate the new growth Society Foundations, is the author of Researchers analysed data from 621 overweight and three years. companies. areas that artifi cial intelligence is The Tragedy of the European Union: obese people who took part in a two-year clinical trial Facebook and Google eff ectively It takes signifi cant eff ort to assert opening up, like driverless cars. Disintegration or Revival? conducted in the mid-2000s. The participants lost an average of 14lb in the fi rst six months of the trial, but regained about 6lb over the next 18 months. The people who gained the most weight back had the highest concentration of PFASs, and the link was strongest among women. “The potential endocrine-disrupting eff ects of PFASs have been demonstrated in animal studies, but whether PFASs may interfere with body weight regulation in humans is largely unknown,” said Gang Liu, lead researcher for the study and research fellow in the department of nutrition at Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health. Liu and team found that all individual PFASs were signifi cantly associated with more weight regain in women, but not in men, which was in agreement with some previous studies in which the intergenerational Facebook and Google eff ectively control over half of all digital advertising revenue. eff ects of PFASs on body weight were observed only in girls but not in boys. Although the reasons for these gender-specifi c fi ndings are still unclear, accumulating evidence from experimental research suggests that PFASs are able to interfere with estrogen metabolism and European security in the Trump era functionalities. Although the researchers say more studies are needed By Carl Bildt the US has indicated that it will do even of a year ago have dissipated? Far from there is no way to build a wall in the to confi rm their fi ndings, one thing seems clear. These Munich more to ensure the territorial integrity it. The strategic shocks of recent years Mediterranean. fi ndings suggest that environmental chemicals might of Baltic and Scandinavian member have left deep and lasting wounds, and Moreover, it is worrying that the play a role in the current obesity epidemic. Given the states. pushed Europe into new and uncharted Trump administration hardly ever persistence of these PFASs in the environment and the t last year’s Munich Security Moreover, fears that Trump waters. A decade ago, EU leaders talked talks about upholding the post-war Conference, the mood of fear might try to forge a new Yalta-style confi dently about projecting stability liberal international order. Instead, it human body, their potential adverse eff ects remain a and apprehension among agreement with the Kremlin – in which abroad. Today, their priority is to views the world as a zero-sum strategic public health concern. AEuropean security offi cials Eastern European countries would be prevent instability from spilling over competition in which the US should The study’s co-author Philippe Grandjean, adjunct was palpable. Three years earlier, Russia abandoned to their fate – have all but into Europe. look out only for itself. Unfortunately, professor in the Department of Environmental Health at had annexed Crimea and launched disappeared. If anything, the greater At the same time, there is a growing in a world without common institutions Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, pointed out incursions into Eastern Ukraine. And in concern now is that US-Russian awareness that while the US is still the to restrain sovereign states from the previous year, a narrow majority of relations are becoming increasingly main guarantor of European security, escalating confl icts with one another, that we are decades behind in the research because these British voters had decided to take their acrimonious, even irrationally so. it might not be forever. Even if some of the risks of all-out war will increase compounds were fi rst used in the 1950s and not much country out of the European Union, and Russia, meanwhile, seems eager the rhetoric accompanying proposals substantially. toxicology was done and there was no legislation. So, in Americans had elected a president who to disengage its military from an for an EU defence union has been To be sure, the US says that it short, it is high time that the authorities concerned took was critical of Nato and openly admired intractable situation in Syria, where vastly overblown, the bloc’s leaders is stepping up its commitment to action against yet another health hazard. Russian President Vladimir Putin. it has so far played its cards right. are right to focus more on defence and European security. But, given China’s Still, the West has so far survived The same cannot be said for Ukraine, security issues than they have in the growing military might and the the age of Donald Trump. And, despite where the Kremlin has learned that past. Whether it is through “defence strategic importance of the Asia-Pacifi c the ongoing confusion over Brexit and invasions are not a good way to make industrial policies” or something else, region, the US will have no choice but To Advertise German leaders’ diffi culty in forming friends. By alienating that country the EU needs to develop its capacity to to pivot to the East. In fact, despite all a new government, the EU seems to for generations to come, Russia has marshal joint responses to future hard- of Trump’s complaints about America’s [email protected] have bounced back. Most member suff ered a geopolitical setback of power threats. oversized contribution to Nato, the US Display states’ economies are doing well, and historic proportions. This is true even if the Kremlin has already directs the bulk of its military French President Emmanuel Macron’s Sooner or later, Russia will want come to regret its actions in 2014, spending to the Asia-Pacifi c region. 44466621 44418811 administration is breathing new life into to cut its losses and disengage from which led to Western military forces So, while the immediate fears of the European idea. Eastern Ukraine, too. It has already being deployed on its borders. After 2017 have subsided, and some sense of Classified Although the Trump administration fl oated the idea of a limited UN all, Russia is still holding on to Crimea, normality has returned, Europeans can 44466609 44418811 has continued to send mixed signals peacekeeping operation there. And where it has long maintained key no longer avoid taking responsibility for about its willingness to uphold while Russia has not yet expressed military bases. And, apart from Russia, their own defence. Even after Trump is Subscription American commitments, the US has a willingness to cede control of the Europe is surrounded by ongoing long gone, soft power will not suffi ce nonetheless delivered on former Ukraine-Russia border, nor made confl icts. Tensions are increasing from in a world of hard-power confl icts. – [email protected] president Barack Obama’s pledge to progress in talks with the US, Putin the Indus to the Nile and across North Project Syndicate strengthen Nato’s military posture surely knows that the status quo is Africa, where any turmoil will have in the Baltics and Poland. And in the unsustainable. an immediate impact on European zCarl Bildt is a former prime minister © 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved run-up to a Nato summit later this year, Does all of this mean that the fears security. As Europeans well know, and foreign minister of Sweden. Gulf Times Monday, February 19, 2018 23 COMMENT Free speech in the fi lter age

By Alexandra Borchardt courts to be eff ective in fighting trolls Oxford and online hate. And many victims are not in any position to hire a high- quality lawyer, as Gutjahr did. Relying ermany’s Network on the state’s most cumbersome Enforcement Act – according institutions alone is not an eff ective to which social-media strategy for protecting free speech Gplatforms like Facebook on today’s digital communication and YouTube could be fi ned €50mn networks. ($63mn) for every “obviously illegal” Hate speech and other kinds of post within 24 hours of receiving a dangerous and illegal content must be notifi cation – has been controversial attacked at the source. On one hand, from the start. After it entered fully there is a need for increased media into eff ect in January, there was a literacy on the part of consumers, who tremendous outcry, with critics from need to be taught, from a young age, all over the political map arguing that about the real-world consequences it was an enticement to censorship. of online hate speech. On the other Government was relinquishing its hand – and this is what the NetzDG powers to private interests, they attempts to ensure – social-media protested. platforms must ensure that their So, is this the beginning of the end of products are designed in ways that free speech in Germany? encourage responsible use. Of course not. To be sure, Germany’s But this is no quick fi x. On the Netzwerkdurchsetzungsgesetz (or contrary, it demands a fundamental NetzDG) is the strictest regulation of rethink of business models that its kind in a Europe that is growing facilitate and even reward hate increasingly annoyed with America’s Under Germany’s Network Enforcement Act, social-media platforms like Facebook and YouTube could be fined €50mn ($63mn) for every “obviously illegal” post within speech. Firms cannot be allowed powerful social-media companies. 24 hours of receiving a notification. to profi t from damaging content, And critics do have some valid points while shrugging off responsibility about the law’s weaknesses. But the boundaries of the law, but no one has above all else. So the noisiest are Victims of online harassment often fear speaking up. If that happens, “free for its consequences. Instead, they possibilities for free expression will ever been guaranteed an audience. To often rewarded with a megaphone, respond with self-censorship, and speech” is dead. must revise their algorithms more remain abundant, even if some posts have an impact, citizens have always while less polarising, less privileged many, with their sense of security Not all NetzDG critics dispute eff ectively and scrupulously to flag are deleted mistakenly. needed to appeal to – or bypass – the voices are drowned out, even if they and even self-worth eroded, remove this assessment: some agree that the content that humans should monitor The truth is that the law sends an “gatekeepers” who decide which are providing the smart and nuanced themselves from social media speech of the vulnerable does need and assess, while entrenching in all of important message: democracies causes and ideas are relevant and perspectives that can truly enrich altogether. In this sense, by off ering extra protection. But they argue that their business decisions an awareness won’t stay silent while their citizens worth amplifying, whether through public discussions. blanket protections in the name of the necessary protections are already of their responsibility in the fi ght for are exposed to hateful and violent the media, political institutions, or If the algorithm doesn’t do the job “free speech,” countries actually in place. After all, severe insult and truly free speech. speech and images – content that, protest. of silencing less privileged voices, privilege hate speech. But why should a incitement to hatred and violence This may contradict the as we know, can spur real-life hate The same is true today, except that online trolls often step in, directing victim’s rights count less than those of are prohibited, and perpetrators can straightforward business logic of and violence. Refusing to protect the gatekeepers are the algorithms hateful and threatening speech at their bullies? be prosecuted. French President doing whatever maximises profi t and the public, especially the most that automatically fi lter and rank all whomever they choose. Women and In a democracy, the rights of the Emmanuel Macron, for example, shareholder value. But it is, without vulnerable, from dangerous content contributions. Of course, algorithms minorities are particularly likely to many cannot come at the expense favours focusing on strengthening the a doubt, what is best for society. The in the name of “free speech” actually can be programmed any way be victims of online harassment, but of the rights of the few. In the age of judicial system’s ability to deal with German government is right to push serves the interests of those who are companies like, meaning that they may anyone may be targeted. The German algorithms, government must, more hate speech and misinformation. companies in the proper direction. – already privileged, beginning with the place a premium on qualities shared blogger Richard Gutjahr, for example, than ever, ensure the protection of But, in the digital age, speed is Project Syndicate powerful companies that drive the by professional journalists: credibility, became the object of conspiracy vulnerable voices, even erring on decisive. The technology is instant, dissemination of information. intelligence, and coherence. theories and the target of intense victims’ side at times. If already- and online posts can be shared zAlexandra Borchardt is Director Speech has always been fi ltered. In But today’s social-media platforms harassment after being present at two vulnerable people are besieged by widely within minutes. Democratic of Strategic Development at the democratic societies, everyone has the are far more likely to prioritise terrorist attacks within two weeks of mobs of extremists and aggressors, it is institutions move rather slowly – Reuters Institute for the Study of right to express themselves within the potential for advertising revenue each other. entirely understandable that they will much too slowly for police and the Journalism.

Letters Three-day forecast

TODAY Qatar has always stood by the rushed to HMC Emergency where he for the superb service rendered by Maximum Temperature : 260c Somalis stand with Somali people in times of crises was diagnosed with serious injury to Hamad Medical Corporation. Keep it Minimum Temperature : 180c for which we are grateful. We also his backbone. He underwent medical up! TUESDAY the Emir and Qatar thank Qatar for supporting the treatment for about a year, after which Maximum Temperature : 250c Dear sir, poor and the needy, including those he was able to walk and drive. During C K Krishnan Minimum Temperature : 160c suffering in war zones like Syria, the treatment his caregivers would Doha WEDNESDAY On behalf of the Somalis living Palestine, Yemen, Afghanistan and take him in a wheelchair to parks and [email protected] Maximum Temperature : 250c in Qatar I wish to congratulate His Iraq. other recreational facilities to keep his Minimum Temperature : 180c Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim The Somalis stand by Qatar in spirits up. Where else in the world can Fisherman's forecast bin Hamad al-Thani and the people its eff orts to chart a peaceful and one get such treatment! Please send us your letters of Qatar for successfully tackling prosperous future for everyone. What’s more, the medical WARNING the unjust blockade imposed on the commission ordered his company By e-mail Inshore : Poor visiblity expected [email protected] at places country by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Ahmed Ali Adam to pay him a compensation of about Offshore : Expected strong wind Bahrain and Egypt. Doha, Qatar QR300,000 as he did not have medical Fax 44350474 with high sea & poor We Somalis strongly condemn the Ph: 55475518 insurance. The employer gave the Or Post visibility at places WEATHER blockade. Many of our children and amount to him promptly and he was Letters to the Editor Gulf Times Inshore : Moderate temperature grandchildren were born in Qatar and fl own to India where he is presently P O Box 2888 daytime with slight dust they don’t have any other country living. to dusty at places and Thank you, HMC Doha, Qatar some clouds, cold by to call home. I came to Qatar in 1969 We can’t forget the services night and have seen with my own eyes the Dear sir, rendered by the HMC to the public. All letters, which are subject WIND progress made by Qatar, thanks to its Presently, my treatment is going on Inshore : Northwesterly 08-16/19 to editing, should have the KT wise leadership. I want to convey my appreciation to in Wakra Hospital for some health name of the writer, address Offshrore : Northwesterly 18-25/30 Somalis work in large numbers, Hamad Medical Corporation for their problems. The service of their staff is and phone number. The KT both in the private and public sectors, remarkable service. fantastic and they give me maximum writer’s name and address Visibility : 4 - 8 KM/3 KM or less at including the military and police I was a witness when, a few years care. Also the medicine cost is very may be withheld by request. places at times. departments and pledge their support ago, my friend was involved in an reasonable and I can aff ord it. SEA STATE for Qatar. accident at his workplace. He was Once more, I give my appreciation Offshore : 5-8 FT, rises to 10 FT to the north at times

Around the region Weather Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Live issues Baghdad M Cloudy 16/07 P Cloudy 19/09 Kuwait City Sunny 23/10 M Sunny 22/12 Manama M Sunny 23/17 M Sunny 23/16 Muscat Sunny 31/22 M Sunny 27/21 The ethics of fi ghting drug resistance Tehran P Cloudy 13/03 Sunny 13/05

By Christian Munthe This scary reality continues to unchanged, this solution brings its currently being discussed – will Gothenburg frustrate healthcare professionals. own set of ethical considerations – require complex ethical reflection To be sure, there are solutions to such as how and when to reduce the and analysis. the drug resistance crisis: restricted length of clinical trials. The fi rst ethical hurdle is to reach n 2014, the World Health consumption, better diagnostics and For all of these reasons, ethicists, a consensus on how to characterise Organisation reported that disease surveillance, and expanded healthcare researchers, and social drug resistance. Many ethicists see drug resistance – especially clinical development of new drugs are scientists have begun to examine it as a “collective action problem,” a Iresistance to antibiotics – is a three. And some initial co-ordinated how best to ensure that strategies for public-health concern that must be growing threat to human health, food action has been taken in the WHO tackling drug resistance are ethically addressed in an organised, holistic security, and “the achievements of global action plan. But every fi x responsible. In 2015, the year after manner. There is less agreement, modern medicine.” Far from being an has an ethical component, and four the release of the WHO’s report, the however, on what kind of collective “apocalyptic fantasy,” the WHO said, years after the WHO’s assessment, journal Public Health Ethics published action problem is it. Is it similar to Around the world a post-antibiotic era “is instead a very the ethical roadmap for addressing a special issue devoted entirely to this other global challenges like climate Weather Weather real possibility for the twenty-fi rst this medical emergency remains topic. change, poverty, or inequality? Or is today Max/min tomorrow Max/min century.” dangerously ill-defi ned. Then, in November 2017, the it more of a national issue, best left to Athens S Showers 14/08 Showers 14/08 Drug resistance threatens the Healthcare policies that pursue Centre for Antibiotic Resistance sovereign authorities? How we defi ne Beirut M Sunny 17/13 P Cloudy 17/13 effective treatment of a growing long-term goals often have short- Research (CARe) at my own the problem will determine what Bangkok P Cloudy 33/27 S T Storms 33/27 list of communicable diseases – term costs for human, animal, and university held the first-ever trade-off s people and governments are Berlin Cloudy 06/-2 P Cloudy 04/-3 from bacterial infections to viral environmental well-being. For major symposium on the topic, willing to make. Cairo M Cloudy 23/12 M Sunny 24/13 to and fungal diseases. When example, restricting antibiotic bringing together leading scholars in Several participants at the CARe Cape Town Sunny 25/17 Cloudy 23/17 people recklessly use antibiotics consumption in certain populations economics, ethics, law, policy, social symposium highlighted this problem, Colombo M Sunny 31/23 M Sunny 32/24 to fight a common cold, when could lead to job losses for those prone science, and health care. The two- noting that to implement drug- Dhaka Sunny 31/18 M Sunny 32/18 farmers use antibiotics to boost to illness. Actions taken to prevent day conference provided a platform resistance strategies successfully, Hong Kong P Cloudy 22/19 Cloudy 22/19 livestock productivity, or when infections may also infringe on for the development of collaborative governments must strike a balance Istanbul Cloudy 09/07 Cloudy 09/06 pharmacological factories emit personal privacy, as epidemiologists synergies, and the research output between global medical responsibility Jakarta T Storm 30/24 T Storms 31/24 antibiotics into the environment to seek to identify and track people who is scheduled to appear in the journal and local public good. One idea that has Karachi Sunny 32/15 M Sunny 32/16 cut production costs, the bacteria carry resistant bacteria. Controls Bioethics. been proposed is to tax meat produced London Showers 11/07 M Cloudy 08/03 that the drugs are designed to may even require curbing individual These scholarly gatherings have with antibiotics, an approach that Manila Sunny 33/23 M Sunny 33/24 kill become immune. The more freedoms, like accessing hospitals or helped to foster academic interest could move animal agriculture in a Moscow S Showers -2/-9 Cloudy -4/-15 antibiotics consumed and emitted, getting on airplanes. in the ethical considerations of more sustainable direction. While meat New Delhi M Sunny 27/11 Sunny 27/12 the faster resistance develops, Moreover, capping antibiotic use drug resistance, but represent only costs might climb, drug resistance New York S Showers 11/08 P Cloudy 18/03 leading to “superbugs” that could lead to higher drug prices, a tiny fraction of what is needed to in livestock would decline, as would Paris Cloudy 08/06 Showers 08/00 jeopardise human health, both by threatening access for those who help the world safely navigate the adverse environmental eff ects.– Project Sao Paulo S T Storms 27/21 S T Storms 28/21 raising the risk of massive deadly need the medication. And, while looming moral minefield. Any effort Syndicate Seoul M Cloudy 07/-4 P Cloudy 06/-5 epidemics and by compromising many people might prefer a status to restrict antibiotic consumption, Singapore S Showers 32/24 P Cloudy 32/24 medical services, such as surgery quo approach that speeds up the regulate the food and pharmaceutical zChristian Munthe is a bioethicist Sydney M Cloudy 26/19 Cloudy 21/18 and cancer treatment, that rely on development of new antibiotics industries, or change human and professor of philosophy at the Tokyo Clear 09/01 Cloudy 11/02 effective antibiotics. while leaving current consumption behaviours – all strategies that are University of Gothenburg. Gulf Times 24 Monday, February 19, 2018 QATAR New Masters join top-notch Qumra lineup Some of the off icials at the opening session. enowned British costume designer Sandy Pow- QU conclave explores possibilities Rell and famous American fi lm director Bennett Miller have been confi rmed as Masters in the fourth edition of the Doha Film in biomedical engineering research Institute’s (DFI) Qumra, sched- uled to be held from March 9 to 14. atar University Col- Munir Tag, as well as CENG fac- tion’, ‘Digital Twins: Multimedia ating in the areas of healthcare The two join Venice Golden lege of Engineering ulty, students and staff . for Social Good’, ‘Empowering and telemedicine. Qatar has Lion winning Russian director Q(QU-CENG) yester- The programme agenda fea- IoT Security and Performance witnessed in the last decade an and writer Andrey Zvyagintsev, day launched the International tured presentations delivered by on Multi-core Platforms’, ‘Con- unprecedented advancement in Cannes Palme d’Or winning Thai Workshop on ‘Emerging Tech- speakers from Qatar University, ceptual Data Sampling For healthcare services. fi lmmaker and visual artist Api- nologies in Biomedical Engi- Anglia Ruskin University, Brit- Breast Cancer Histology Image Hospitals and health centres chatpong Weerasethakul, and the neering and Tele-Medicine ish Brunel University, British Classifi cation By Intensive Data in the country are using the best only documentary director to win (ETBET’18)’, sponsored by Qatar University, Geneva University Reduction’, ‘Prototyping IoT- communication systems to ex- the Berlinale Golden Bear Italian National Research Fund (QNRF). Hospital, Notre Dame Univer- based Applications for Health- change information and serve director Gianfranco Rosi for the Attending the opening cer- sity, Qatar Mobility Innovations care and Smart Environments’, patients.” 2018 edition of the one-of-its- emony were QU chief strat- Center, Tampere University of ‘Mobile Edge Computing for Dr al-Maadeed said, “The ET- kind dedicated industry forum Bennet Miller egy and development offi cer Dr Technology, Texas A&M Uni- Smart Health Applications’, BET’18 workshop is an excellent that focuses on fi rst and second Darwish al-Emadi, CENG dean versity at Qatar, University of ‘IoT in Healthcare Applications: forum to build a strong network time fi lmmakers. Dr Khalifa al-Khalifa, CENG Ottawa, and Universidade do Systems Architecture and Chal- between world-class scholars The Qumra Masters will share Department of Computer Sci- Porto. lenges’, ‘IoT & Blockchain as and local researchers to develop their insights with emerging ence and Engineering head Dr They discussed a wide range Enablers for Healthcare 4.0: Op- new research projects leading to fi lmmakers, provide feedback Sumaya al-Maadeed, QNRF ex- of issues such as ‘Emerging portunities & Challenges’, and innovative solutions and appli- on projects in consultation ses- ecutive director Dr Abdul Sattar Smart Biomedical Devices and more. cations in biomedical engineer- sions, and discuss their own al-Taie, and QNRF ICT Pillar Telemedicine’, ‘3D within the Dr al-Khalifa said, “Techno- ing and telemedicine that serve inspiring creative journeys in senior programme manager Dr Healthcare: Evolution or Revolu- logical development is acceler- the country.” daily Masterclasses. Qumra 2018 will provide 34 projects from 25 countries access to Masterclasses and networking opportunities for fi rst and second-time fi lmmak- ers, driving Qumra’s mission to expand support for the develop- ment of emerging fi lmmakers from Qatar, the Arab region and around the world. Announcing the line-up of Qumra Masters at Berlinale, DFI Sandy Powell. PICTURE: Brigitte Lacombe CEO Fatma al-Remaihi said: “We are honoured to be hosting fi ve of ern legend in design while Miller Masterclasses and mentoring the most celebrated contributors possesses a powerful ability to sessions by the Qumra Masters. to contemporary world cinema.” dissect social constructs by skil- There are 14 Qumra projects by “All creative visionaries in fully tapping into the psyche of Qatar-based talent, including fi lm, their presence in Doha and his protagonists.” nine fi lms by Qatari nationals. interaction with Qumra delegates “Their contribution to fi lm is While six Qatar-based projects The three winning teams. will incredibly benefi t emerging evident in their long list of criti- are works-in-progress, the oth- fi lmmakers, and inspire them to cal and awards acclaim, and we ers are in development stage. al khaliji hosts football tourney to mark Sport Day take their works to the next level. look forward to the depth of un- In all, 16 projects are in devel- With the masterful crafts of Pow- derstanding and possibilities opment, 13 projects are works- Al Khaliji Commercial Bank (al the bank said in a statement. noted. The competing teams claimed the first place, while ell (OBE) and Miller, the Qumra that their participation will bring in-progress, and fi ve are in pic- khaliji) recently hosted its Annual Held on Saturday at Al Sadd were from leading institutions Q-Chem and Qatar Airways came Masters will push the conversa- to Qumra delegates,” Suleiman ture lock. There are 13 fi ctions Football Tournament, for the Sports Club, the bank’s five-a- such as Qatar Airways, Qatar in second and third, respectively. tion and learning in exciting new noted. and 10 documentary features and fourth year in a row, with the side football tournament saw Petroleum, Nakilat, Q-Chem, The football tournament is one of directions this year,” she added. This year, over six days, the 11 shorts. Of the 34 projects, 23 aim of promoting the health and the participation of teams from Mannai, Gulf English School, al khaliji’s annual traditions held Filmmaker and DFI artis- Qumra delegates will take part are recipients of the DFI’s Grants wellness of community members. several organisations and served Carnegie Mellon University in in the framework of the bank’s tic adviser Elia Suleiman said: in bespoke industry sessions de- programme, two are supported The initiative was held in support as a platform to foster the values Qatar, HBK, Doha Insurance, community development eff orts “Powell’s adeptness at trans- signed to progress their projects through the Qatari Film Fund and of National Sport Day and came of community, sportsmanship Bima Insurance, Regency Travel – by aligning its core values and porting audiences into directors’ and prepare them for interna- all others are shorts by either Qa- as part of al khaliji’s corporate and positive team spirit among & Tours and al khaliji’s team. strategies with Qatar National environments makes her a mod- tional markets, in addition to the tari nationals or residents. social responsibility programme, the participants, the statement Team Gulf English School Vision 2030, the statement adds. AAB organises Sport Day Tamuq conference emphasises on activities for community local solutions to global problems exas A&M University at bdullah Abdulghani & a press statement. Sports events with Qatar National Vision 2030. Qatar (Tamuq) has hosted Bros Co (AAB), the exclu- for the day included basket- Internally, it conducts weekly Tattendees from around Asive dealer of Toyota and ball 3x3, volleyball for men and sports events, which has seen the world for the sixth annual Lexus in Qatar, celebrated Na- women, cycling, skateboarding the participation of around 50% Liberal Arts International Con- tional Sport Day with a series of and team-building sessions or of its total number of employees ference, ‘Local Dreams, Global simultaneous activities open to mini-boot camp. Pre-registered for seven consecutive seven years Visions: Multidisciplinary Per- the public in the car park of Asian teams and participants in the ball through the AAB Sports Season spectives’. Town cricket stadium in the In- games and cycling easily fi lled up held during the winter months. The conference theme was dustrial Area. the slots, the statement noted. The National Sport Day ac- inspired in part by Qatar’s re- Being a day that is envisioned The vast open space at the tivities are a vital part of AAB’s cent experience on the world to bring communities closer to- venue accommodated all the sports programme celebrated stage, said Dr Mark van de Logt, gether through fi tness, health events and activities, which were every year. chair of the conference’s organ- and unity, the AAB National held simultaneously. Broadening the scope and im- ising committee and an assist- Sport Day celebration gave AAB stressed that it encour- pact to the community, AAB has ant professor of political science skilled workers living in the vi- ages work-life balance and rec- made its celebration open to the at Tamuq. “We see the eff ects cinity the opportunity to par- ognises the importance of sports public and a majority of skilled of globalisation or transnation- ticipate with the nation in the in the holistic development of an workers in the Industrial Area alism all around us,” Dr Van de celebration, the company said in individual and community in line this year. Logt said. “The question is, in an age of globalisation, how do we main- Keynote speakers during the conference included Dr Mehran Kamrava, pictured second from left, who tain local identity and authen- lectured on social science in a turbulent Middle East. ticity while engaging with the rest of the world? The world fessional Ethics at Texas A&M Scholarship in a Turbulent Mid- neering — is cultivating the next must reckon with the challenges at Qatar and Qapco. This year’s dle East’. The Liberal Arts Pro- generation of engineering lead- of globalisation, while seizing all conference featured three re- gramme at Texas A&M at Qatar ers in Qatar. of the opportunities it presents. nowned keynote speakers: Dr hosts the conference each year “Texas A&M is known for ex- “We hope this conference will Kirk St Amant, professor and to explore a wide variety of re- cellence in engineering, and this provide us with answers, show chair of the Technical Commu- gional and global topics from a tradition continues in Qatar,” Dr us where to look for solutions nication department at Louisi- multidisciplinary perspective. Malavé said. and educate us on what local ana Tech University (US), who Started in 2011 by faculty “A multidisciplinary ap- entities can do to improve our gave the talk, ‘Of Infrastructures members Dr Troy Bickham and proach to education — including lives as members of the global and Friction Points: Examining Dr Hassan Bashir, the event a strong commitment to the so- community.” the Dynamics of International “serves as a rich opportunity in cial sciences, arts and humani- The conference featured key- Online Education in the Age of Qatar for scholars in the social ties — creates engineers who are note addresses and panel ses- Globalisation’; Dr Michael de sciences, arts and humanities known as the problem solvers sions, and a slate of more than Miranda, professor and head of to engage with colleagues from and critical thinkers. 70 speakers, including eight the Department of Teaching, around the world and to stimu- The liberal arts give our stu- Tamuq students and 24 present- Learning and Culture at Texas late research and learning ef- dents broad perspectives and ers from Qatar. Other countries A&M University (US), who gave forts”, according to a press state- help shape them into innovative represented include the US, UK, the talk, ‘Education for Sus- ment by Tamuq. thinkers and eff ective commu- Canada, Brunei, Japan, Germa- tainable Development: The Collaborations from past nicators, which in turn makes ny, Poland, India, Bangladesh, Interdisciplinary Imperative for conferences have led to several our graduates so highly sought Oman, Cyprus and the Nether- STEM Education’; and Dr Me- academic articles and several after in the workforce.” lands. Conference participants hran Kamrava, professor and books. Dr Cesar O Malave, dean Dr Zohreh Eslami, Dr Sara also came from France, Iran, Ire- director of the Center for Inter- of Tamuq, said though Texas Hillman, Dr Phillip Gray and Dr land, Italy, Pakistan, the Philip- national and Regional Studies at A&M is known internationally Paul Lee comprised the organis- pines, Singapore and Uruguay. Georgetown University’s School for being leaders in engineer- ing committee, with assistance Panel sessions were spon- of Foreign Service in Qatar, who ing education, excellence in the from Khadija El-Cadi and Olena The AAB management team and staff celebrating National Sport Day with members of the community. sored by The Initiative in Pro- gave the talk, ‘Social Science liberal arts — and not just engi- Snitko.