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MONDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10398 March 20, 2017 Jumada II 21, 1438 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

In brief

QATAR | Health GCC guide for food control from April The Ministry of Public Health announced yesterday that the GCC Guide for Control on Imported Food will be implemented from April and made mandatory from October this year. The guide aims at achieving the highest standards of food safety and facilitating the movement of international food trade, according to the best international practices in this area, the ministry explained in a statement. This would also maintain the common interests of the food exporting countries and the GCC countries. Wassan Abdullah HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani with Palestinian President Mahmoud Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas inaugurating the Palestinian School in Doha along with HE the Minister of Education and al-Bakir, the ministry’s Director of Food Abbas in Doha yesterday. Higher Education Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi. Safety and Environmental Health, pointed out that the guide includes the most important technical principles for imported food control before releasing them to the local market. It has been decided that these will be implemented simultaneously across all GCC countries. QATAR | Labour Abbas offi cially inaugurates Offi cials to help aggrieved workers Qatari authorities have come forward to help a group of labourers who complained that their residency permits and health cards were not issued even Palestinian School in Doha 15 months after their arrival in the country to take up employment with QNA the establishment of an independent President Abbas and accompany- enable them to think about education, He also noted that UNRWA has an a cleaning company. It was Gulf Times Doha State of Palestine with its capital East ing delegation left Doha later yesterday health and other aspects of life. annual budget of $700mn and is paid that revealed on Saturday the plight of Jerusalem as well as halting settlement concluding their working visit to Qatar. He pointed out that Qatar supports by the UN member countries, especially the workers. In response to the report, practices and the continued Israeli ag- They were seen off at Hamad Interna- the UNRWA in many projects to serve the EU and US, adding that almost all an off icial from a ministry said yesterday H the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin gression against the Palestinian people. tional Airport by HE the Minister of the Palestinian people and contribute UNRWA’s funding comes from volun- that they were prepared to provide Hamad al-Thani discussed in President Abbas offi cially inaugu- State for Foreign Aff airs, Sultan bin Saad signifi cantly to ease the burden on the tary contributions of UN member states. all necessary assistance to help the HDoha yesterday with Palestin- rated yesterday the Palestinian School al-Muraikhi, and the Palestinian am- Palestine people through several hu- The agency he said has experienced aggrieved workers. It is learnt that the ian President Mahmoud Abbas means of in Doha in the presence of HE the Min- bassador to Qatar, Munir Ghannam. manitarian and development initiatives. a budget defi cit of $100mn in 2017 and complainants are mainly from a South enhancing the brotherly close relations ister of Education and Higher Educa- Meanwhile, the Health Communi- Moreover, he said that UNRWA’s Com- that any increase in this defi cit means a Asian country. An off icial told they between the two countries and the lat- tion Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali al- cation and Community-Based Initia- missioner-General seeks to strengthen great disaster in light of the needs of the would follow up the issue and ensure est developments in the Palestinian ter- Hammadi and HE the Minister of State tive Offi cer at the UN Relief and Works the most eff ective relations and co-oper- Palestinian people of services in all sec- that the aggrieved workers get justice. ritories. for Foreign Aff airs, Sultan bin Saad al- Agency for Palestine Refugees in the ation to serve the Palestinians, pointing tors. President Abbas briefed HH the Emir Muraikhi. Near East (UNRWA), Dr Yasser Turkic, out that there are UN eff orts to establish a Dr Turkic stressed the need not to on the latest developments in the Pal- The Palestinian president toured the praised Qatar’s generous and sustained partnership with the Qatari government judge humanitarian works from political GT draw today estinian arena, expressing his thanks school and got acquainted with its fa- eff orts to support the Palestinian people to support the Palestinians. perspectives, ruling out the transfer of and appreciation to the Emir for Qatar’s cilities and educational means before at the level of government or charities. About the services provided by UN- the US embassy to Jerusalem and there The draw of the Gulf Times and Al Raya eff orts in supporting the Palestinian meeting with the educational staff and In a statement to Arabic daily Ar- RWA to Palestinian people, Dr Turki is no alternative to end the confl ict un- subscription promotion will take place cause. students. rayah published yesterday, Dr Turkic said that UNRWA provides assistance, til the Palestinian people get their full today at 10.30am at the main off ice of The meeting, which was held at the At the end of the visit, President Ab- hailed Qatar’s eff orts in supporting protection and advocacy for some 5mn rights. the dailies on C Ring Road in Doha. The Emiri Diwan yesterday morning, dis- bas presented the two ministers with UNRWA’s work in the occupied territo- Palestinian refugees in the occupied Regarding the inability of implement- prizes are a BMW 318i and a Mini Cooper. cussed the Palestinian national recon- souvenirs and signed the guestbook. ries, stressing that Qatar has helped in Palestinian territories, including 3mn in ing the two-state solution, he stressed Representatives from the Ministry of ciliation to unify Palestinian ranks. HH the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad many projects to serve the Palestinian Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. that the optimal solution is the decla- Economy and Commerce and the The two leaders also exchanged view bin Khalifa al-Thani laid the foundation people. He added that there are 700 schools ration of the independence of the State sponsor company Alfardan Automobiles on a number of regional and interna- stone of the school which was estab- He pointed out that the 2,306 Qatari- and 143 health centres and hospitals in of Palestine offi cially and the Israeli will be present at the draw. The event is tional issues of common concern, es- lished thanks to an Emiri gesture. The funded housing units in Khan Younis Qalqilya in the West Bank, as well as so- side and the international community open to subscribers who participated in pecially international eff orts aimed at school complex includes three levels in the southern Gaza Strip, at a total of cial services to help the poorest families should accept that, noting that this is an the promotion. reaching a lasting, just and comprehen- of elementary, middle school and high $120mn, helped Palestinian people to and a service center for camps and infra- elusive solution, but this is the solution. sive solution to the Palestinian cause, schools. enhance their stability and security to structure. Page 2 Dust band expected to hit the country today

dust band is expected to aff ect Also, while observing that “thunder- Off shore, it will be dusty and cloudy the country from morning until showers accompanied by strong down- and there is also a possibility of scat- Aevening today, resulting in a drop draft winds and low visibility in some tered rain that may be accompanied in visibility to below 2km in some areas, areas were aff ecting the country”, the by thunder occasionally. The sea level, the Qatar Met department has warned. Met department issued – on Twitter - meanwhile, may rise to 12ft. Advising people to be cautious, the a list of safety measures to be followed The wind speed may go up to 30 weather offi ce also said chances of during thunderstorms. knots inshore and 32 knots off shore thundery rain were expected to contin- On its part, the Ministry of Interior during thundershowers. ue until this morning along with fresh/ asked motorists to be careful as thun- Meanwhile, the temperature shot strong winds. dershowers and strong winds were be- up to 39C in Abu Samra and 38C in Off shore areas, too, are likely to ex- ing reported from diff erent parts of the Turayna yesterday, the Met depart- perience windy conditions, high seas country. It also advised caution in view ment informed through a tweet in the and thundershowers today. The depart- of low visibility and dust. afternoon. The minimum, on the other ment has reminded people to avoid any Today’s detailed forecast says it will hand, was between 20C and 23C. sea activities due to “unsettled weather be hazy in the early hours of the day A minimum temperature of 19C is conditions aff ecting the country”. and dusty conditions are also expected. expected in Dukhan today, while in Strong winds, thunder and rain Besides, it will be cloudy and there is a Doha it will be 22C. The maximum, on lashed Doha and other parts of Qatar chance of scattered rain, which may be the other hand, will range from 22C to late yesterday evening even as visibility thundery in some places. 28C. dropped in many places due to blowing dust, weather updates showed. Al Sarayat: season of sudden changes The wind speed gradually picked up as the evening progressed, going up to Yesterday’s weather was a “perfect The period is characterised by 40 knots in some places, even as light- example of typical weather fl uctuations “continuous weather fl uctuations as ning lit up the sky over the capital and during the season of sudden changes”, westerly disturbances continue crossing other areas. Social media was abuzz locally known as Al Sarayat, the Qatar Met the Arabian Peninsula, accompanied with images and video clips of the department said. by warm fronts at fi rst, followed by cold lightning and thunder. “As spring begins, it marks the onset of fronts”, it noted. In view of the “expected unsettled sudden changes known locally as Al The season is associated with “severe weather” today, the weather offi ce Sarayat,” the weather offi ce explained in a weather such as violent lightning strikes, urged people to follow latest updates post on Twitter. This phase begins today strong winds, heavy rain and dust”, the via its social media accounts and ignore and will continue until mid-May. weather offi ce added. any rumours. Lightning illuminates the Doha sky yesterday evening. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam Gulf Times 2 Monday, March 20, 2017 QATAR QM’s training gives Mahmoud Abbas opens Palestinian School in Doha insight into uses of Stone Age weapons

atar Museums (QM) Participants will also gain on the Arab Gulf coast and inside started its second train- useful insights and a deeper un- the peninsula itself,” he noted. Qing programme for GCC derstanding of the history of the Among these fi ndings were archaeologists and museum region, according to QM. Stone Age tools and weapons, professionals yesterday at the “Programmes such as these which prove that the Arab region Museum of Islamic Art (MIA). are vital in developing the capa- was occupied during that period, The fi ve-day programme, bilities of GCC archaeologists, as al-Kubaisi said. on the ‘Techniques of Mak- it will enhance their knowledge “Therefore, exploring these ing Weapons in the Stone Age,’ and unify their eff orts in pre- tools reveals many aspects about which concludes on March 23, serving the region’s heritage and our ancestors’ lifestyles and allow will give participants the oppor- scientifi cally document it for us to carefully document an im- tunity to learn about the history upcoming generations,” QM’s portant part of history,” he added. of human settlement in the Gulf, chief archaeology offi cer Ali Jas- The programme, which in- dating back to the prehistoric sim al-Kubaisi said. cludes various lectures and ac- period, by exploring the diff er- “Studies have shown us fi nd- tivities, will be delivered by QM’s ent uses of weapons and their ings from the Arab Peninsula that archaeology head Faisal Abdul- importance in tasks, including date back thousands of years. lah al-Nuaimi. It will cover the self-defence and food prepara- Through archaeological missions, diff erent weapons and tools used tion. a lot of remains have been found in the Gulf in the prehistoric pe- riod, including their uses, how to identify and categorise them, and how to classify the raw ma- terials used to make them. QM said the programme will also include training on mak- ing diff erent types of weaponry and tools, soft and hard forging, trimming through forging or pressing, and how to make the most important tools, includ- ing axes, arrowheads and blades. In addition to the discussions, participants will visit and ex- plore archaeological sites across Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday inaugurated the Palestinian School in Doha in the presence of HE the Minister of Qatar. Education and Higher Education Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi and the Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs, HE Sultan The programme has been bin Saad al-Muraikhi. The Palestinian president toured the school and met the staff and students. On the occasion President Abbas launched as part of QM’s com- presented the two Ministers with souvenirs and signed the guestbook. mitment to implement the rec- ommendations that were the result of the 16th Meeting of Ar- chaeology and Museums Under- secretaries, held in Doha in 2015. The programme aims to en- hance the mutual corporation between archaeology and mu- seum professionals in the GCC, and encourages collaboration that will help preserve the histo- ry of the Gulf. This initiative falls in line with QM’s goals to honour QM’s archaeology head Faisal Abdullah al-Nuaimi briefs two the traditions of the past whilst participants during the training programme which started yesterday. embracing the future.

Doha hosts Arab Human Rights Education, Culture ministries sign Arab Robotics pact to promote Qatari traditions Championship Day observed QNA he Human Rights De- tar as a model of cultural co- Doha partment at the Minis- existence and social peace, and QNA Ttry of Interior has cele- respect for others regardless of Doha brated the Arab Human Rights the diff erences in the race, re- he 10th Arab Open Ro- Day at an event at the Civil De- ligion or language. botics Championship fence Offi cers Club. The MoI offi cial under- he Ministry of Educa- Tkicked off here yes- Human Rights Department scored the contribution of the tion and Higher Educa- terday with the participation assistant director Lt Col Saad State of Qatar in the support of Ttion signed yesterday a of 12 teams contesting from Salim al-Dousari along with joint Arab action in all fi elds, memorandum of understanding various Arab countries in the offi cials from diff erent depart- particularly in the human (MoU) with the Ministry of Cul- presence of HE the Minister ments of MoI and representa- rights area. ture and Sports represented in of Education and Higher Ed- tives of Arab and non-Arab The Arab and Non-Arab ex- Nomas Centre to maintain and ucation Dr Mohamed Abdul expatriates participated in the patriates present at the meet- strengthen the sense of Qatari Wahed Ali al-Hammadi. event. ing lauded the eff orts of the identity. Faouzia al-Khater, the As- Lt Col al-Dousari said the authorities in the country to Director of Independent sistant Undersecretary for event assumes signifi cance protect human rights of all Schools Offi ce Khalifa Saad al- Educational Aff airs of the for such reasons as the close community members and also Derham represented the Minis- Ministry of Education and relations between the idea of in maintaining peace and se- try of Education in signing the Higher Education said that peaceful coexistence and so- curity in the State. MoU. the Robotics fi eld contrib- cial security, its positive im- Some of the community Signing on behalf of the Min- utes signifi cantly to devel- pact on maintaining public representatives were hon- istry of Culture was Director oping the students’ talents order and thus ensuring peace oured with appreciation cer- of Activities and Youth Events and their creative skills. of mind. tifi cates and medals in the Abdul Rahman bin Mohamed al- The Ministry of Education The State of Qatar has been event. The community lead- Hajri. The agreement involves Director of Independent Schools Off ice Khalifa Saad al-Derham representing the Ministry of Education and Higher Education sup- ranked top in the Mena region ers who participated in the holding a number of cultural and Director of Activities, and Youth Events Abdul Rahman bin Mohamed al-Hajri, on behalf of the ports robotics in all Qatari for the eighth consecutive event included Magdi Ismail events for boys and girls. Ministry of Culture, sign the MoU. schools, noting that robotics year in the Global peace in- (Egypt), Binish Tamang (Ne- Al-Derham said that the is not only an entertainment dex and 34 at global level, he pal), Omar Kamaluddin al- agreement aims to strengthen heritage.Such an initiative also Centre holding a number of tural workshops for boys and means but it also represents recalled. Khadi (Sudan), Milan Arun the sense of Qatari identity and helps the country maintain its workshops to raise the aware- girls. an innovative tool, which The offi cial stated that the (India) and and Ahmad Hus- culture among students to help values and traditions. ness of students on the centre’s The targeted age groups ac- enhances advanced thought. achievements have placed Qa- sain (Pakistan). them grow up with a balance be- For his part, al-Hajri said the activities. cording to al-Hajri were from tween modernity and their own agreement involves the Nomas It will also hold diff erent cul- the fi fth grade to the ninth grade. Putin receives envoy’s credentials QRCS operates 22 May Health Centre in Taiz

atar Red Crescent (QRCS) the almost broken-down health has completed the sec- system. Qond phase of a project in “I hope that the generous Yemen, which paved the way to support from the State of Qatar rehabilitate and operate the 22 would continue for the benefi t of May Primary Health Care Centre the poor local community,” she at Al Mudhaff ar District, the Taiz added. Governorate. Dr Helal Ali, the centre’s sup- The $110,000-project, com- ply manager, said all the de- pleted in co-operation with the partments are now functional Yemen Medical Charitable So- and visited are served using the ciety, was funded by Qatar Fund medical equipment and con- for Development. sumables provided by QRCS. The centre received 23,932 “We appeal for more contri- patients since its reopening in butions for the patients, who August 2016. Its rehabilitated suff er unfavourable health and departments are paediatrics, ob- economic conditions,” Dr Ali stetrics and gynaecology, den- added. tistry, reproductive health and A child receiving vaccination at the 22 May Primary Health Care The benefi ciaries thanked the Russian President Vladimir Putin received the credentials of Qatar’s ambassador to Russia Fahad family planning, malnutrition, Centre in Yemen. Qatar government, particularly bin Mohamed al-Attiyah in Moscow yesterday. The ambassador conveyed the greetings of HH the and vaccination. HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to the Russian president. President Putin reciprocated the The centre, according to treatment. In a statement, Ilan comed the eff orts of QRCS to Hamad al-Thani, for reopening Emir’s greetings and wished the ambassador success in his duties, assuring his support to further QRCS, revived the hopes of the Abdel-Haq, director of Health support Taiz public health fa- the centre, saving the lives of strengthen relations between Qatar and Russia. local community for medical Bureau, Taiz Governorate, wel- cilities, which helped improve many Yemenis. Gulf Times Monday, March 20, 2017 3 QATAR

Qatar-Malaysia ties reviewed OFFICIAL

Lekhwiya to stage exercises

Directorate of Moral Guidance at the Qatari Armed Forces announced that the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) will stage rappelling exercises at Lekhwiya Zekreet camp on March 28 from 7am to 11am. Lekhwiya will also carry out shooting exercises in the Zekreet camp on March 29 from 18:00 to 21:00. It will also stage rappelling and shooting exercises at Zekreet camp on April 4 The Minister of State for Defence Aff airs, HE Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, met his from 6am to 10am Doha Malaysian counterpart in Kuala Lumpur Hishammuddin bin Tun Hussein. They signed local time. of a letter of intent between the Ministries of Defence of Qatar and Malaysia. Talks The directorate cautioned during the meeting dealt with issues of common interest and means of enhancing visitors to the area. them, especially in military fields. Qatar-Greece ties reviewed

Greek Defence Minister Panos Kammenos met Awqaf Ministry holds workshop for Qatar’s ambassador to the Greece Abdulaziz Ali al- Naama. Qur’an teachers from Kyrgyzstan During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and ways of enhancing them, QNA ern ways of teaching the Holy Muslims, and realising the in addition to matters of Doha Qur’an referring to the ori- objectives of Sheikh Jas- common concern. gins of Islamic education and sim bin Mohamed bin Tha- introducing the trainees to ni contest in serving Holy Envoy presents training course for some of the concepts and is- Qur’an and Islam. teachers of Holy sues of contemporary Islam. He noted that the work- credentials AQur’an from Kyr- In press statements, the shop comes in the course gyzstan began at Sheikh Ab- Chairman of the organis- of the contest which aims The Foreign Minister of dullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud ing committee of Sheikh at enhancing the skills of Thailand Don Pramudwinai Islamic Cultural Centre in Jassim bin Mohamed bin Holy Qur’an teachers who received a copy of the Doha yesterday. Thani Holy Qur’an Con- represent the cornerstone credentials of Qatar’s The training course is or- test and Director of Sheikh in Qur’an teaching centres ambassador to Thailand ganised by the Ministry of Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mah- and schools. A number of Sheikh Jassim bin Awqaf and Islamic Aff airs. moud Islamic Cultural activities will take place on Abdulrahman al-Thani. The Ministry held a simi- Centre, Nasser al-Sulaiti the sidelines of the training The Thai Foreign Minister lar workshop for 14 Russian said that such courses for workshop including a visit wished the ambassador Qur’an teachers in August Qur’an teachers in non Ar- to Imam Mohamed bin Ab- success in his mission last year. abic-speaking countries are dul Wahhab Mosque and the and the relations between The programme covers aimed at strengthening the Heritage Hall at the Awqaf the two countries further Qur’an teaching, using mod- bonds of co-operation with Ministry. development. Gulf Times 4 Monday, March 20, 2017 QATAR QM trains 75 teachers to conduct exhibition tour he Picasso-Gi- acometti exhibition Tat Doha Fire Station’s Garage Gallery has attracted nearly 400 children since its opening on February 22. Qatar Museums (QM) has also trained more than 75 teachers in 12 three-hour long workshops. Such activity allowed teachers to conduct self- guided tours of the exhibi- tion for students, run work- shops and equip them with materials to have post-visit discussions with students, QM said in a statement. “I hope that all students that visited Picasso-Gi- acometti came away with lasting memories,” QM Chairperson HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani said. Students are briefed about the masterpieces of the two artists. “At QM, we pride our- selves on our commitment with QM educators, who of- to contributing to the edu- fer guided tours and related cational landscape of the workshops during the week, State of Qatar and are com- including hands on work- mitted to providing educa- shops where students can tional opportunities that create their own art based enrich lives, broaden hori- on the show. Teachers are zons and stimulate creativ- also invited to visit the show ity within the community,” independently with their she noted. classes. “I hope that through such The blockbuster exhibi- educational programmes, tion, a collaboration be- students are inspired to be- tween QM, the Musée na- come creative, compassion- tional Picasso-Paris, and ate and engaged individu- the Fondation Giacometti, Students from various schools in Doha visit the Picasso-Giacometti show. als. I also hope that more is the fi rst to show these schools and teachers across artists together in the Mid- time, the previously un- ums is gearing up to bring of artists taking part in this Qatar come forward, to visit dle East. known relationship between two new exhibitions to Doha year’s Artists in Residence the exhibition and be in- The show brings together the two artists, who, despite this summer that will also programme while ‘Skate spired by two of the greatest more than 120 works, cov- an age gap of twenty years, off er an educational pro- Girls of Kabul,’ an exhibition artists of all time,” said HE ering paintings, sculptures, shared many key moments gramme. about the extraordinary sto- Sheikha Al Mayassa. sketches, photographs and during their distinguished In June, the Fire Station’s ry of Afghan girls who took School trips can be or- interviews with the artists careers. ‘End of Residency’ exhibi- up skateboarding will open ganised independently, or and explores, for the fi rst In addition, Qatar Muse- tion will display the works on June 15.

AAB names winners of Dream Car Art contest

bdullah Abdulghani & Bros Co (AAB), the sole agent for Toyota vehicles in Qatar, has announced the Awinners of the Dream Car Art Contest. In a statement, the company said it organised the 11th national Dream Car Art Contest with the aim of developing children’s creative abilities and motivate them to express their talent in drawing their dream cars. The initiative is an attempt by AAB - Toyota to “discover children’s hidden potential and unveil their imagination for future cars”, the statement notes. Since 2004, the Toyota Dream Car Art Contest has been conducted as part of Toyota Motor Corporation - Japan’s social contribution initiatives. It gives children through- out the world the opportunity to develop an interest in cars and helps them feel the joy and importance of having a dream. “The Toyota Dream Car Art Contest invites children from all corners of the globe to share ideas about the fu- ture of mobility by drawing their dream cars, which may enable one of the talented children in Qatar to visit Ja- pan,” the statement added. In order to “off er ample opportunity” for children to take part in the contest, AAB - Toyota collaborated with more than 80 schools for participation in the con- test where students draw their dream cars at their schools. Special prizes will be given for the most liked drawings on Facebook. The previous year’s contest saw around 1,000 partici- pants. This year, the number of students taking part in it reached 1,445 as the AAB - Toyota management decided to organise the contest in schools in order to give more children the opportunity to be part of the initiative. This year’s winners are as follows: below 8 years - Syed Mustafa Qadri (DPS Modern Indian School), Jazmin Deveria (Philippine School Doha) and Shahid Hossam Eldin Zayed (Step One International); 8-11 years - Nidhi No- ronha (DPS Modern Indian School), Nirat Baneshwar Pai (DPS Modern Indian School) and Fatima al-Za- hra Satria (English Modern School); and 12-15 years - Aman Sharma (Noble In- ternational School), Siddhi Prasad (DPS Modern Indian School) and Selma Khalid Mahmoud (Al Aqsa Inde- pendent School for Girls).

Gulf Times 6 Monday, March 20, 2017 QATAR

Ezdan Mall ‘looking Ferrari Qatar gears up to forward to positive prospects’

zdan Mall has witnessed growth in Qatar’s retail mark 70th anniversary Esector, and is looking forward to “positive pros- By Joey Aguilar pects” in the country’s mall Staff Reporter sector in the next two years, according to general manager Malik Awan. errari car owners in Qatar Awan made the statement will take part in a unique before local and international Fparade from Doha to the real estate developers, retail Al Zubarah Fort on March 25 to experts, and visitors during a mark the 70th anniversary of the conference held on the side- iconic brand, Alfardan Sports lines of Cityscape Qatar 2017. Motors, offi cial importer of The conference focused on Ferrari in Qatar, has announced. major topics, including Qa- The parade, organised in col- tar’s retail sector and Ezdan Malik Awan delivers a lecture laboration with Qatar Tourism Mall’s level of service excel- at Cityscape Qatar 2017. Authority, Qatar Museums, and lence, in addition to the Green Mawater Centre, will see the Dream initiative launched by the fi rst commercial centre in special limited-edition LaFer- Ezdan Mall since its inception Qatar to off er the Green Dream rari Aperta leading the troupe in April 2013 – a fi rst-of-its- initiative and is proud of its under the Qatari fl ag from the kind in Qatar. ongoing endeavours to plant Ferrari showroom at The Pearl- The seminar also discussed 22mn trees by 2022. We are Qatar to the country’s fi rst the expansion in the leas- working as hard as possible to Unesco World Heritage Site. able space in the three malls hold many educational events The destination joins the net- owned by Ezdan, as well as and activities on aff orestation, work of heritage sites across the the growth prospects of Ezdan planting, and horticulture. globe that are serving as historic Mall following the progress of “We were able to host more venues for the commemoration the retail sector in the country. than 2,200 students from dif- of Ferrari’s seven decades of au- Driven by the ongoing in- ferent schools, in addition to tomotive excellence, according frastructure developments in more than 6,000 students for to Alfardan Sports Motors. Qatar, 2022 FIFA World Cup- the aff orestation educational Meanwhile, LaFerrari Ap- related preparations led to activities organised by Ezdan erta, which serves as the sym- the increase in sales and the Mall, not to mention our great bol of the 70th anniversary, number of stores of interna- success in establishing a green was launched to mark the grand tional brands entering the wall inside the mall comprising celebration this year. Qatari market. 2,650 diff erent plants.” The stunning model com- Awan said: “Ezdan Mall is Last year, the group was bines technological excellence, Ferrari Mena region general manager Giulio Zauner (left) and Charly Dagher (second, right) lead the unveiling of LaFerrari Aperta yesterday at witnessing an unprecedented able to open the fi rst phase of performance, style, exclusivity, Marsa Malaz Kempinski as part of the iconic brand’s 70th anniversary. PICTURE: Jayan Orma leap in terms of commercial Ezdan Mall Al Wakir and Car- with the unique exhilaration of and service performance, in refour store in Ezdan Mall Al open-top driving. until March 25 while an array of unprecedented journey during aimed at treating clients and light on its luxurious sporty addition to its outstanding Wakrah. The group is gearing The car is equipped with the fun-fi lled activities will also be the 70 years of its existence – a enthusiasts with unique Ferrari DNA that has for long capti- contributions and support to up to launch the rest of the same hybrid power unit as the held. true testament of passion and experiences. vated Qatar’s discerning clients the social responsibility, en- stages in 2017 to serve Ezdan coupé: an 800cv 6,262cc V12 “This is defi nitely a mo- craftsmanship that has stayed Such events form part of the with a penchant for exclusivity,” vironmental sustainability, villages residents and the engine (specifi c power output mentous occasion for Ferrari alive since 1947,” he noted. To- “Driven by Emotion” concept, Dagher added. and aff orestation. The mall public in general. of 128 cv/l, compression ratio and all those associated with day, we are driven even further one of the cornerstones on which A special website (www.fer- employs an experienced team Also in 2006, Ezdan Mall 13.5:1) coupled with a 120 kW the brand – dealers, owners, to help our customers experience the Ferrari story was founded. rari70.com) has been created to that deals professionally with won three awards at the Mid- electric motor for a total power enthusiasts,” Charly Dagher, the splendour of the Cavallino “The special celebrations fl ank the celebrations as they visitors and maintains safety dle East and North Africa output of a 963 cv. general manager of Ferrari Qa- Rampante”. ensuing will refl ect upon the unfold throughout the year, as and security all the time in Shopping Centre and Retailer LaFerrari Aperta will be ex- tar, Alfardan Sports Motors, Qatar is one of the 60 coun- brand’s unprecedented history well as to introduce the moments addition to providing the best Awards ceremony organised hibited nearby the state-of-the- said in a statement. tries worldwide and the fi rst as the beacon of Italian crafts- and individuals in the company’s services to visitors.” by the International Council art Ferrari showroom from today “The brand has engraved an in the region, to host events manship since 1947, shedding history. He added: “Ezdan Mall is of Shopping Centres (ICSC).

Winners of Like & Share Campaign picked

he winners of Like winners were announced & Share Campaign by James John, director- Tby Society magazine marketing, Gulf Publish- in association with Novo ing & Printing Company. Cinemas were picked at a The winners were Ana draw held at the Gulf Times Khan, Stephen Jayaraj, Ann offi ce. The week-long Maureen Cruz, Mebin Roy, campaign saw an over- Sara Ganim and Pauline whelming response and Miranda. Details of this six winners were randomly campaign and many such selected in the draw to win exciting off ers in the future free couple tickets to watch could be gained from www. Beauty and the Beast at any society.qa Some of the Novo Cinemas in Qatar winners are seen with John before April 14, 2017. The (centre) in the picture. Ooredoo to attend CSR conference

oredoo has an- Ooredoo said it sponsors with the community to en- ing for charitable causes nounced its par- and supports a host of CSR- rich people’s lives and raise is an amazing thing to do Oticipation in the based initiatives across awareness on these issues. and will give students real upcoming ‘2017 Qatar CSR Qatar, including building As well as displaying its working experience, some- Exhibition and Conference’, and operating the Fahad CSR initiatives via a dedi- thing all employers look for. to showcase the company’s Bin Jassim Kidney Centre, cated Ooredoo booth, the “We hope our presence growing number of CSR which supports kidney pa- company hopes to inspire at the 2017 CSR Exhibition activities for students and tients in Qatar and the new students to take part and and Conference will spark visitors. state-of-the-art Ooredoo volunteer in more CSR- future collaborations be- The event is being or- Cancer Awareness Centre. based activities in Qatar tween Ooredoo and other ganised by Qatar University Working towards 2030 throughout the year. Qatari organisations, as well and Qatar CSR Network and Qatar National Vision, Fatima Sultan al-Kuwari, as demonstrate and educate will take place on the uni- Ooredoo’s main CSR goals director of community and people on the huge year- versity campus from March are focused on health, edu- public relations at Ooredoo round initiatives we hold for 20 to 21. cation, and fi tness, working Qatar, said: “Volunteer- Qatar and its people.”

Georgetown conference to explore Municipality dynamics of Indian Ocean world Expert scholars from around the University’s globe will gather at Georgetown Dr Thomas team inspects University in Qatar today and Blom Hansen, tomorrow to discuss shifts in the focusing Indian Ocean world. The annual on the food facilities faculty conference will focus on genealogies the nations, cultures, and people of distributed of the region under the theme sovereignty oha Municipality’s health control of ‘The Liberal State and its in the wake section has conducted an inspection Alternatives in the Indian Ocean.’ of colonial Dtour on the food facilities within its The event being held at GU- forces and jurisdiction and spotted some violations. Q’s Education City campus is imperial The inspectors found expired food products made possible by a Conference involvement in the store of a food establishment at the In- and Workshop Sponsorship in the Indian Dr Thomas dustrial Area. Accordingly, the place was is- Programme award from the Ocean region. Hansen to deliver sued a violation report of law no. 8 for 1990 Qatar National Research Fund, a “The keynote speech. on the Regulation of Human Foods Control. member of Qatar Foundation. conference The Ministry of Municipality and Environ- The programme features a diverse will also feature panel discussions, ment’s (MME) islands and beaches section mix of international and local beginning with a focus on topics has recovered a 50ft submerged yacht at Al experts from institutions including such as oil-producing states of the Wakrah Port in co-operation with the Coastal Oxford University, University of GCC, how digital networks enable Guard and returned it to its owner. Cambridge, King’s College London, and constrain states in East Africa, MME’s public relations department also Stanford University, the University and the interplay of negotiation conducted number of awareness lectures for of Singapore, Qatar University, and and compromise exhibited by school students to stress the importance of Hamad Bin Khalifa University. the government in Pakistan,” trees and vegetation in maintaining a healthy Today’s programme included according to a statement issued environment. a keynote speech by Stanford by GU-Q. Gulf Times Monday, March 20, 2017 7 QATAR

WCM-Q seminar explores impact Qatar Airways hails of healthcare laws

ore than 150 physi- achieve the purposes for which cians, nurses and al- it was collected. Mlied healthcare pro- Kamaljit Dosanjh, senior as- award-winning HIA fessionals attended a seminar sociate at Al Tamimi & Com- on the impact of legislation pany, discussed the changes to atar Airways has congrat- the best-in-class designator, ac- on the delivery of healthcare Qatar’s sponsorship laws and ulated its home and hub, cording to a press statement. in Qatar, held at Weill Cornell the likely impact on the health- QHamad International The World Airport Awards are Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q). care workforce. Airport (HIA), on being ranked the most prestigious accolades The event saw speakers dis- Law No. 21 of 2015 super- the Sixth Best Airport in the for the airport industry, voted by cuss the implications of new seded the Kafala system with World by the 2017 Skytrax World customers in the largest annual and amended legislation re- the intention of making it more Airport Awards, moving up four global airport customer satisfac- lating to privacy and personal straightforward for employees places from last year. tion survey. data protection, employee to switch jobs and leave the At a ceremony that took place The survey and awards process sponsorship and the delivery of country. during the Passenger Terminal is independent and free of any mental healthcare services. Dr Suhaila Ghuloum, senior Expo in Amsterdam, HIA was airport infl uence or interference Opening speaker Kelly Tym- consultant at the Psychiatry also named Best Airport in the in fi nal results. burski, a partner at Denton’s Department at Hamad Medi- Middle East for the third year and The awards are based on law fi rm, spoke about Law No. cal Corporation, spoke about recognised for having the Best 12.8mn customer nominations 13 of 2016 concerning privacy “Qatar’s Mental Health Law Staff Service in the Middle East across 110 nationalities of air and protection of personal and Impact on Healthcare De- for the second consecutive year. travellers, and include 410 air- data, announced in November livery”. Qatar Airways Group chief ex- ports worldwide. 2016. She discussed legislation re- ecutive Akbar al-Baker said: “We The survey evaluates customer Tymburski said that the new lating to training of healthcare are delighted to congratulate our satisfaction across 39 key per- law requires data collectors professionals involved in men- home and hub, HIA, on being formance indicators for airport to disclose the purposes for tal healthcare delivery, com- ranked the Sixth Best Airport in Off icials marking the occasion of HIA being ranked Sixth Best Airport in the World at the 2017 Skytrax service and product, from check- which data is being collected, pulsory admission of patients, the World by Skytrax.” World Airport Awards. in, arrivals, transfers, shop- the parties that will be involved and the role of families in men- HIA opened almost four years ping, security and immigration, in processing activities, and tal healthcare treatment. ago “and climbed to the sixth passengers, who have graciously of passengers served at HIA year ing it into the elite category of through to departure at the gate. the manner of processing. The presentations were fol- position in the world airports given us their vote of confi dence”, on year, to 37mn in 2016,” al- top-tier airports. Now in its 20th year of opera- Additionally, participants of lowed by a panel discussion ranking, a move which clearly he said. Baker added. It is only the sixth airport tions, Qatar Airways has a fl eet of the one-day event learnt that and Q&A session moderated by demonstrates our continued “It is even more notable to re- HIA was classifi ed as a 5-Star worldwide to have earned the 195 aircraft fl ying to business and data controllers must limit Dr Sunanda Holmes, associate commitment to delivering the ceive these prestigious awards as airport in January this year, after 5-Star distinction, and the only leisure destinations across six their collection and retention university counsel & assistant highest standard of service to our we signifi cantly grow the number being audited by Skytrax, elevat- airport in the Middle East with continents. of personal data to that which professor of Healthcare Policy is relevant and necessary to and Research at WCM-Q. HBKU Press hosts second joint workshop on QMJ

amad Bin Khalifa Univer- The workshop marks the sec- providing them with the resourc- platform, QScience.com, was was to highlight the benefi ts sity Press (HBKU Press) ond community outreach event es and the platform to have their developed under an open access of publishing in Qatar Medical Hand Hamad Medical Cor- hosted by HBKU Press for the work published by a world-class model, allowing authors to share Journal hosted on HBKU Press’s poration (HMC) hosted a joint academic community in Qatar. publishing house. their work freely.” academic publishing platform, workshop for researchers look- The previous workshop was “Community outreach is an The workshop gave partici- QScience.com,” explained Dr ing to publish their work in the held in conjunction with the In- integral part of what we do at pants insight on the way to sub- Mohammed Hammoudeh, senior HMC-sponsored Qatar Medical ternational Review of Law at Qa- HBKU Press,” explained Saffi yah mit research articles to QMJ, and consultant of Internal Medicine Journal (QMJ) found on HBKU tar University. al-Nuaimi, managing editor of how authors can promote their and Rheumatology at HMC and Press’s online academic publish- HBKU Press aims to support Qatar Medical Journal. “That’s research and work. editor-in-chief of Qatar Medical Dosanjh, Tymburski, Dr Ghuloum, and Dr Holmes at the seminar. ing platform, QScience.com. and retain local researchers while why our academic publishing “The purpose of this workshop Journal. Gulf Times 8 Monday, March 20, 2017 QATAR

Ministry announces recall of Volvo XC60 The Ministry of Economy and eff orts to protect consumers customers to report Commerce, in collaboration and ensure that car dealers any violations to its with Doha Marketing Services follow up on vehicle defects Consumer Protection and Company (Domasco), has and repairs. The MEC will Anti-Commercial Fraud NBK introduces service announced the recall of Volvo co-ordinate with the dealer to Department through the XC60 model of 2017 over follow up on the maintenance following channels: Hotline: potential malfunction in the and repair works and 16001, e-mail: [email protected]. front left and right hand side communicate with customers qa, Twitter: @MEC_Qatar, seat airbag. The MEC said the to ensure that the necessary Instagram: MEC_Qatar, MEC solutions package for trucks recall campaign comes within repairs are carried out. mobile app for Android and the framework of its ongoing The MEC has urged all IOS: MEC_Qatar asser Bin Khaled (NBK) come with a variety of add-ons that resale value and when the customer Automobiles, the author- also give you the opportunity to decides to sell his truck, the Service Nised general distributor of customise Mercedes-Benz service Solutions will help him get a better Mercedes-Benz in Qatar, has in- to your operational requirements. price for it. The new owner will also troduced the new Mercedes-Benz Based on customer request, other have a service history and complete service solutions package dedicated services can be added such as 24- maintenance, which includes serv- to light and heavy trucks. hour roadside assistance, Fleet ices performed by properly trained The new solution is in line with Board, tyre service, driver train- Mercedes-Benz technicians using the company’s “commitment to ing and extended opening hours, only Mercedes-Benz genuine parts, off er clients the best deals and op- Mercedes-Benz Service Solutions among others,” NBK Automobiles assuring that the truck is main- tions, providing reassurance that off er a customised range of explained. tained at the “highest standards to their vehicle is in safe hands at the services. The Mercedes-Benz Service So- deliver the best performance”. best price ever”, NBK Automobiles lutions allow the customer to pur- In addition to these benefi ts, Best has said in a press statement. range of benefi ts. Thanks to this chase the maintenance services of Maintenance has a fi xed cost that Mercedes-Benz Service Solu- package, all commercial vehicles his vehicle “as per his needs, over allows the customer to know exactly tions off er a customised range of and trucks will be maintained at the the chosen duration and mileage, how much the maintenance of his services at a “fi xed, transparent and highest standards so they deliver at a convenient price”. It covers the vehicle will cost over the next years. low price, which reduces downtime the best performance.” cost of parts, labour and operation- This will help them avoid the impact and improves economic effi ciency Service Solutions are modular, al fl uids needed for the scheduled of infl ation on maintenance costs. of the truck or fl eet”, the statement which means that whether one has maintenance operations. The Select Plus package off ers the notes. a fl eet of long-distance haulage Customers can choose from three same benefi ts in addition to post- Khaled Sha’aban, general man- or single vehicles doing local dis- customised packages: Best Mainte- warranty cost protection, while ager of NBK Automobiles, said: tribution, Mercedes-Benz has the nance, Select Plus and Complete. Complete package adds more bene- “Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles “right combination of service com- The Best Maintenance package fi ts such as scheduled maintenance, is pleased to off er fl eets this inno- ponents to meet the requirements pays from the fi rst until the last day. post-warranty cost and protecting vative solution, which has a wide of every client”. “Service Solutions It guarantees an increased vehicle wearing parts.

Intertec Group named sole distributor for Huawei Mobiles

ntertec Group is the sole distributor of Huawei Mo- biles in Qatar, senior offi cials from both companies Iannounced yesterday. Huawei and Intertec off icials announce their partnership. PICTURE: Thajudheen “Intertec group is a leading multi divisional company with diverse business activities,” Intertec Group’s divi- sion manager Asraf N K told a press conference. Huawei Mobiles country manager Simon Liu, chan- nel manager Raobinxiang, service manager Dongz- ichao, device retail manager Hanish Hamza, and In- tertec Group’s marketing manager Midhun Joseph were also present on the occasion. Asraf explained that Intertec Group has cut its ties with single brand mobile business and moved to multi- brand distribution strategy. “Now we are the authorised distributors of two major international brands- Huawei and Xiaomi in Qatar,” he added. Liu pointed out that Intertec Group is a prestigious company in Qatar for mobile distribution. “This part- nership will bring high-level product and service to the consumers. As a leading technology company, Huawei invests a signifi cant amount of its annual sales revenue to research and development eff orts, and has estab- lished 16 research centres around the world,” he said. They include the Huawei Aesthetics Research Centre in Paris, the Max Berek Innovation Lab in Wetzler, Ger- many, the newest R&D centre where Huawei and Leica are jointly researching technologies to improve mobile device camera and image quality. Huawei also has more than 10 open labs in China, Europe and other locations, where it works with more than 600 partners. Huawei Consumer Business Group is one of Huawei’s three business groups, providing a range of products including mobile phones, mobile broadband devices and home devices. Huawei’s products and services are available in more than 170 countries, used by a third of the world’s population, and ranked third in the world in mobile phone shipments in 2016. Intertec Group, established in 1993, currently has in- terests in the specialised areas of trading, interior deco- ration, telecommunications and wholesale food distri- bution.

HSBC introduces ‘Touch ID log on’ for business customers

SBC Qatar business Hcustom- ers can now benefi t from ‘Touch ID log on’ to gain “quicker and easier” access to their account and balance information through the HSBC- net Mobile app. The ‘Touch ID log on’ feature uses a recognised fi n- gerprint instead of passwords and is quick and easy to set up. Richard J Keery Richard J Keery, head (Commercial Banking) at HSBC in Qatar said, “Our business customers are increasingly using their mobile devices to access their account information and trans- act. The launch of Touch ID log on represents an im- portant step towards biometric banking and brings the benefi ts of more secure and more convenient mobile banking services to our business customers.” More than 100,000 business customers are currently using the app globally and the number of customers in Qatar is increasing. Touch ID log on is now available to corporate and commercial banking customers in Qatar using compat- ible Apple mobile devices. Gulf Times Monday, March 20, 2017 9 REGION/ARAB WORLD

UN urged to supervise Fierce clashes in Damascus Yemen port

Reuters Dubai after surprise rebel assault

coalition fi ghting in Yem- AFP tary points and residential position in Jobar into an of- en called yesterday for the Beirut buildings in Jobar”. State televi- fensive one”. “These are not AUnited Nations to place a sion aired footage from Abbasid intermittent clashes — these strategic port under its supervi- Square, typically buzzing with are ongoing attempts to ad- sion after a helicopter attack on a eavy clashes rocked activity but now empty because vance,” he said. boatload of Somali refugees left eastern districts of the the army had ordered residents Their incursion into Ab- 42 dead. HSyrian capital yesterday to stay indoors. basid Square, though brief, The refugees had departed as rebels and other militants AFP correspondents in Da- was the first time in approxi- from the western port city of tried to fi ght their way into the mascus said army units had mately two years that rebels Hodeidah en route to Sudan city centre in a surprise assault sealed off the routes into the had got that close to the centre when the gunship opened fi re on on government forces. square, where a thick column of of Damascus. Friday, the United Nations refu- The attack comes just days smoke rose into the cloudy sky. In recent months, the re- gee agency said. before a fresh round of UN- The few people out on the gime has sought to secure ter- The Red Sea port near the brokered peace talks in Geneva street moved quickly between ritory around the capital with Bab al-Mandab strait is under aiming at ending Syria’s six- buildings, but many stayed in renewed offensives on be- the control of Yemen’s armed year war. their homes in fear of stray bul- sieged rebel towns along with Houthi movement, which has Rebels and government forc- lets and shelling. local “reconciliation” deals. been fi ghting a coalition in a es agreed to a nationwide ces- Several tanks were seen en- Under such agreements, two-year-old confl ict. sation of hostilities in Decem- tering east Damascus as re- the government agrees to end While the alliance denied re- ber, but fi ghting has continued inforcements ahead of a pos- bombardments and stop be- sponsibility for the attack on across much of the country, in- sible counter-off ensive. sieging towns in exchange for Friday, it called for jurisdiction cluding in the capital. Several schools in the capital a rebel withdrawal. over Hodeidah port to be trans- Steady shelling and sniper announced they would stay Yesterday, dozens of rebels ferred to the UN fi re could be heard across Da- closed today. and civilians who had been “This would facilitate the mascus as rebel factions allied Control of Jobar — which bused out of the last oppo- fl ow of humanitarian supplies with former Al Qaeda affi liate has been a battleground for sition-held district of Homs to the Yemeni people, while at Fateh al-Sham Front launched more than two years — is di- city reached northern Aleppo the same time ending the use of an attack on regime positions in vided between rebels and al- province. the port for weapons smuggling the east of the city. lied militants and government An AFP photographer saw and people traffi cking,” it said in The attack began early in the forces. According to the Ob- men, women and toddlers a statement. day “with two car bombs and servatory, the Faylaq al-Rah- peeking out from behind cur- It did not address a call by So- several suicide attackers” in the man rebel group and the Fateh tains as the buses headed to malia to investigate. Jobar district, said Rami Ab- al-Sham Front — known as Al- Jarabulus, a town on the Syri- Hodeidah is part of a broad del Rahman, head of the Syrian Smoke billows following a reported air strike in the rebel-held parts of the Jobar district, on the eastern Nusra Front before it broke ties an-Turkish border. battlefront where forces loyal to Observatory for Human Rights outskirts of the Syrian capital Damascus, yesterday. with Al Qaeda — have a pres- More than 320,000 people Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu monitoring group. ence in the area. have been killed and millions Mansour Hadi, backed by the Rebels seized several build- “After a major advance by heavily bombarded in recent Regime warplanes have tar- Government forces have displaced since Syria’s conflict coalition, are fi ghting the Iran- ings in Jobar and advanced into opposition fi ghters, the regime weeks by forces loyal to Presi- geted rebel positions with more long sought to push the rebels erupted six years ago with pro- allied Houthi movement which the nearby Abbasid Square area, got over its shock and began a dent Bashar al-Assad. than 30 air strikes since the out of Jobar because of its tests against Assad’s rule. controls most of north and west- seizing part of a large bus sta- counter-off ensive,” he said. “Rebels want to link their morning, he said. proximity to the city centre. After a crackdown, the up- ern Yemen. tion before being pushed back As dusk fell, rebels shifted territory in Jobar with Qabun State media reported that the But with yesterday’s attack, rising became an all-out war The coalition was formed in by government forces, Abdel their focus to Qabun, a north- to break the government siege army had successfully “blocked Abdel Rahman said, “rebels that has drawn in world pow- 2015 to fi ght the Houthis. Rahman said. eastern district of Damascus there,” Abdel Rahman added. an attack by terrorists on mili- have shifted from a defensive ers on nearly all sides.

Abbas to meet Two get death penalty Sisi ahead of Teacher from Canadian Arctic Trump talks for drug smuggling Mahmoud Abbas will meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo today, ahead of wins global prize in Dubai AFP of cannabis and 400,000 pills the Palestinian leader’s talks with Gaza City of Tramadol — a powerful Donald Trump in Washington. opiate-based painkiller — in The Palestinian president is to AFP “Thank you for bringing glo- January alone, it said. meet Trump at the White House Dubai bal attention to them,” she add- Hamas military court Until yesterday, only peo- for the first time in early April, a Pal- ed. MacDonnell has created a life yesterday sentenced ple guilty of spying for Israel estinian off icial said on condition of skills programme specifi cally for Atwo Palestinians to or murder had received the anonymity. Canadian who teaches at girls, in a region where teenage death for drug smuggling in death penalty in Gaza, which An Arab League summit is also set a school in a fl y-in only pregnancies are common, with the Gaza Strip, in the fi rst has been controlled by Hamas for March 29 in Jordan, and Abbas’ Avillage in the Arctic won high levels of sexual abuse, ac- punishment of its kind in the since 2007. discussions with Sisi are likely to a $1mn Global Teacher Prize at a cording to her biography. enclave. The Palestinian Centre for touch on the meeting. ceremony in Dubai yesterday. Many teachers leave their “The Gaza military court Human Rights (PCHR) said The meetings come as the Maggie MacDonnell, praised posts midway through the aca- announced the death pen- yesterday’s sentences were a American president’s administra- for “changing the lives of her demic year due to stress and the alty for two civilians from “serious precedent” and that tion wades into the decades-old students and transforming her harsh conditions endured by the Rafah, in the southern Gaza bringing civilians before a Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with one community”, was among 10 fi - indigenous community. Strip, for selling narcotics,” military court was a breach of of his top advisers holding talks nalists chosen from 20,000 Canadian Prime Minister Jus- the Hamas-controlled inte- Palestinian law. with both Abbas and Israeli Prime nominations and applications tin Trudeau congratulated Mac- rior ministry said in a state- The PCHR said in a state- Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last from 179 countries. Donnell in a video message. “We ment. It said a third was sen- ment that to carry out the week. Jordanian King Abdullah II She has taught for the past Canadian teacher Maggie MacDonnell (left) receives the Global Teacher are all proud of you,” he said. tenced to hard labour. sentences would be “extra- is also reportedly to meet Trump six years in the Inuit village of Prize from Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, vice-president and MacDonnell, who has also Authorities have seized judicial killing, and those in April. Abbas spoke to Trump by Salluit, in the Canadian Arctic, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, during a ceremony in Dubai. been a temporary foster par- drugs with a street value (who) participated or contrib- phone earlier this month. which has a high rate of suicide, ent in the Inuit community, was of around $1mn (900,000 uted to issuing them should be Egypt and Jordan are the only two according to her biography pro- nessed over 10 suicides. an empty desk in that classroom. handed the award at a ceremony euros) over the past few held accountable on grounds countries in region to have signed vided by the award organisers. “As a teacher, when I come to There is stillness and silence,” that opened with a performance months, the ministry said. of extra-judicial killing and peace treaties with Israel. MacDonnell said she has wit- school the morning after there is she said, fi ghting back tears. by Italian tenor Andrea Boccelli. They seized 1,250 packets abuse of power”. Pre-nups land thousands of men in Iranian jails

AFP pay 110 coins immediately or go to jail. function as a form of dowry for the Tehran “The thought of ending up in prison newly-weds to buy furniture. for this, like in the movies, seemed ri- Now the payment is usually delayed diculous,” he said. and brandished against men as a threat hen Sadegh married his col- “Mehrieh is good as a fi nancial sup- in case of divorce, or even worse, is lege sweetheart, he never port for women in a patriarchal society used by unscrupulous families for ex- Wthought he’d end up as one like Iran, but it has become a business.” tortion. of those Iranians facing ruin and even Pleading he was broke, the judge “The worst case is when families prison because of huge sums demand- brokered a deal in which Sadegh agreed turn it into a business. Boys need to ed by his wife’s family. to pay the equivalent of 120 coins, one be careful not to be deceived,” said the But the “mehrieh” (“aff ection”) sys- per month. cleric. tem, in which future husbands agree to That meant a decade of payments, “Using mehrieh as a sword over the pay a certain number of gold coins to each taking just under half his photog- man’s head is wrong too. It only leads the bride in the event of divorce, has rapher’s salary. to more arguments and divorces.” left thousands of men in Iran languish- Then, fi ve months in, he lost his job. Offi cials agree that mehrieh has in ing in jail and many more destitute. It could have been even worse. recent decades degenerated into a sta- “Our mehrieh was high, around 800 At last count, the judiciary said some tus symbol, and that families are often gold coins, but when we were planning 2,297 men were in jail for failing to pay just too stubborn to back down when a the wedding, we didn’t think about their mehrieh after a divorce. marriage falls apart. how it might end,” said Sadegh, who A glimmer of hope surfaced this “Many families, when they go to wed was divorced last year after eight years week in Tehran, where a ceremony was their girls, their fi rst question is me- of marriage. held to celebrate the work of donors hrieh,” said Alireza Afsary, who runs a Each gold coin is worth around 10mn who pay off the debts of prisoners as a foundation supporting prisoners. rials ($300). A worker on Iran’s average show of charity. “Some laws need to be amended and wage would need 50 years to earn 800 They have freed 1,700 mehrieh- some cultural and social issues need to gold coins. convicts over the past year. change.” “Even when the problems started “Unfortunately, today competition The courts have tried to intervene, and we talked about separation, it was among families has led to ever-in- saying they will only force husbands to supposed to be mutual and no mehrieh creasing mehrieh,” said Hadi Sadeghi, pay a maximum of 110 gold coins, but was going to be paid,” said Sadegh, who a cleric and judiciary offi cial who helps even this is beyond the means of many spoke to AFP on condition that his full co-ordinate the releases. Iranians. name not be used. He said mehrieh, whose level is ne- Still, many women see mehrieh as a But then his wife’s family got in- gotiated by the families at the time of way of redressing the balance for di- volved, and suddenly Sadegh found a couple’s engagement as per ancient vorced women, who are often shunned himself in court where he was told to custom, had lost its simple traditional by society. Gulf Times 10 Monday, March 20, 2017 ARAB WORLD Iraqi forces close on Mosul mosque as strike kills militants

Reuters are losing on the ground.” He Mosul, Iraq barked orders into his radio as mortar rounds landed beyond his position. raqi army helicopters strafed Reporters saw an air strike and rocketed Islamic State hit Islamic State positions Ipositions inside Mosul’s Old about 300 metres ahead on the City yesterday as ground troops frontline. fought fi erce street battles to Helicopters circling over- close in on the strategic prize of head fi red rockets and raked the the Al-Nuri Mosque. ground with machine gun fi re. An air strike by the US-led Federal police also arrested coalition backing Iraq forces in Husam Sheet al-Jabouri, the lo- their campaign to retake Mo- cal chief of Diwan al-Hisba, an sul also killed six foreign mili- IS unit responsible for enforc- tant commanders in the west, ing strict rules, in Mosul’s Bab including a Russian who was a al-Sijin area, a police statement senior Islamic State leader, Iraq’s said. defence ministry said. As fi ghting has entered into Federal Police troops yes- the narrow alleyways and dense- terday advanced past the train ly populated parts of west Mo- station in western Mosul close sul, more residents are fl eeing to the mosque, where IS leader from liberated areas where food Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared and water are scarce and homes a caliphate in July 2014 after the are often caught in shelling. hardline militants had seized Families with elderly relatives swathes of Iraq and Syria. and children marched through Residents fl ed from the area, western Mosul’s muddy streets, carrying suitcases and bags of past buildings pock-marked by belongings and picking their bullet and bombs on Saturday. way through the wrecked build- Some said they had hardly ings as shells and gunfi re echoed eaten in weeks, scrambling for behind them. supplies handed out by a local Most of them were women aid agency. and children. “It is terrible, Islamic State “Federal Police and Rapid have destroyed us. There is no Response forces resumed their food, no bread. There is abso- advance after halting operations lutely nothing,” said one resi- due to bad weather. The troops dent. have a target of retaking the rest As many as 600,000 civilians of the Old City,” a police spokes- may be caught inside the city man said. with the militants. The battle to recapture Islam- About 255,000 people have ic State’s last stronghold in Iraq been displaced from Mosul and has now entered its sixth month. A federal policeman carries a wounded boy from clashes during a surrounding areas since October, Iraqi government forces, Federal police members sit in a military vehicle during a battle against Islamic State militants, in Mosul. battle against Islamic State militants, in Mosul. including more than 100,000 backed by US advisers, artillery since the military campaign in and air support, have cleared the ing minaret. Its capture would Iraq’s second largest city, resist- Iraq’s defence ministry said in Syrian, a Turkish commander Police commander General western Mosul began on Feb 19, east and half of western Mosul be a blow for Islamic State as it ing with mortar fi re, snipers and a statement a coalition air strike and two fi ghters from Morocco. Khalid al-Obedi told reporters according to United Nations fi g- and are now focused on control- was from there that Baghdadi suicide car bombs that plough destroyed a command centre, Federal Police moved in on on the frontline: “We are ad- ures. ling the Old City. declared himself head of his self- into army positions. killing Russian leader Abdul foot from near the train sta- vancing toward the Old City. The last week has seen the Recent fi ghting has target- proclaimed caliphate. The black Islamic State fl ag Kareem al-Rusi, head of the tion toward the Old City, forg- Their resistance is weaken- highest level of displacement ed the centuries-old Al-Nuri US offi cials estimate about still fl ew from the mosque’s Tareq Bin Ziyad brigade, as well ing ahead through rubble-fi lled ing. They are mostly using car yet, with 32,000 displaced be- Mosque, with its famous lean- 2,000 IS fi ghters remain inside minaret yesterday. as a British-Algerian, a French- streets. bombs and that shows they tween March 12 and 15. Lebanese descend on capital Jumblatt affi rms to protest proposed tax hikes son as political heir

AFP people”. “We have no food. No Reuters onciliation with Christians, family’s political leadership after Beirut work. We’re hungry...They want Beirut whom the Druze fought in the the assassination of his father in to increase taxes and we can’t 1975-90 civil war. the early years of the Lebanese even pay for food,” she said. “I am handing him the scarf civil war, and was one of the everal thousand people Lebanon’s parliament last ebanon’s main Druze lead- with the symbols I fought for main fi gures in the confl ict. descended on the Leba- week began discussing a long- er, Walid Jumblatt, yes- and defended, and my father. It Jumblatt has accused Syria of Snese capital yesterday awaited salary increase for public Lterday publicly confi rmed is a continuation of the policy of being behind the assassination of to protest proposed tax hikes servants, including teachers. his son Taymour as his political the family,” Jumblatt told Reu- his father. to cover a salary increase for But when it emerged that par- heir, extending the tradition of ters by phone. The Druze are an important mi- teachers and other public serv- liamentarians were considering dynastic politics that plays a big Jumblatt will continue to serve nority in Lebanon’s sectarian sys- ants. hiking taxes to pay for the raise, part in the country’s sectarian as a member of parliament un- tem of government. Demonstrators fl ocked to political fi gures and civil society government. til the next parliamentary elec- Jumblatt has frequently played downtown Beirut through- groups were enraged. Jumblatt, the leading politi- tions, when he will step down. kingmaker in Lebanese politics. out the day after civil society “Tax evasion in Lebanon is cian of the minority Druze com- He will also continue to serve After the war, Jumblatt was part groups and a range of political valued at $4.2bn. This amount is munity, took off his Palestinian his current term as head of the of the Syrian-dominated order in parties called for mass mobili- enough to fund multiple salary in- koufi eh scarf and placed it on the Progressive Socialist Party, Lebanon, before joining the anti- sation against the move. creases and plug a large part of the shoulders of his son at a televised which was founded by his father. Syrian coalition that mobilised Instead of taxing citizens defi cit,” lawmaker Sami Gemayel, rally in the town of Moukhtara in “I am not retiring. I am wait- to help force the Syrian army to more, the government should Protesters wave Lebanese national flags during a demonstration who heads the Kataeb (Phalange) the Chouf mountains. ing for the elections — if there withdraw from the country in eliminate corruption and waste against a proposed tax increase, in front of the government palace in political party, said earlier this “Walk forward with your head are elections — to present my 2005 after the killing of states- within its own institutions, the Beirut yesterday. The placard reads in Arabic: “We will not pay.” week.So far, parliament has pro- held high, and carry the legacy of resignation...and my son will be man Rafi k al-Hariri. Jumblatt said protesters said. posed to increase value-added tax your grandfather,” Jumblatt told offi cially presenting his candi- it was the fi rst time a member of “You steal, we pay!” read one fi rst place goes to the least cor- waste and corruption from the by 1% to a total of 11 %, as well as his son at the event to commem- dacy for the elections,” he said. his family had been able to pass on of the banners yesterday, while rupt. “On top of everything else, pockets of the Lebanese people,” hike taxes on tobacco, imported orate the 40th anniversary of Lebanon is due to hold parlia- the political mantle during their another depicted a picture of this government wants to pass he added. alcohol, and travel. the assassination of Walid Jum- mentary elections later this year, lifetime “for the simple fact that Lebanon’s cabinet with the cap- unconstitutional laws and taxes Camila Raad, the 32-year-old Protesters spent yesterday blatt’s father, Kamal Jumblatt. but rival political groups have nobody died in his bed”. tion: “The bandits of Lebanon”. instead of fi nding the source of head of a teacher’s union in the afternoon in the sunny square Speaking to Reuters, Jumblatt yet to agree on an election law. “I am the fi rst one to be able to Transparency International waste and corruption in the Leb- northern city of Tripoli, said she in front of Prime Minister Saad said the scarf symbolised the is- Lebanese parliamentary elec- survive 40 years. My father was ranked Lebanon 136th out of 176 anese state,” said Alaa al-Sayegh, had travelled to the capital to Hariri’s offi ces in downtown Bei- sues he wanted his son to fi ght tions have been delayed twice killed, my grandfather was killed countries last year in its Corrup- 29, in downtown Beirut yester- show her “opposition to the gov- rut, surrounded by Lebanese se- for and defend: Palestine, “Arab, since they were last held in 2009. — all my ancestors were brutally tion Perceptions Index, in which day. “They’re paying for all this ernment, which has starved the curity forces. progressive Lebanon” and rec- Walid Jumblatt took on his killed,” he said. Sudan seeks stability with national unity govt

QNA said that the National Congress’ the Sudanese state sees a new ments, Sudan People’s Lib- official and unofficial negotia- Port in Ethiopia. The govern- ment took action after the Cab- Doha gesture refl ected their desire to government that will then over- eration Movement — North tions and is currently discuss- ment refused the request which inet speech given by Sudanese ensure that the national dialogue see the constitutional reforms (SPLM-N) and a number of po- ing ceasefire and humanitarian makes access to humanitar- President Omar al-Bashir in becomes a success. mentioned in the dialogue. Ac- litical parties such as the Suda- aid access to those in need. ian aid the last obstacle before March 2014, known as the Al udan began taking steps He said that the announce- cording to the outcomes of the nese Communist Party have re- The humanitarian situation achieving an agreement. Wathba speech, where he called towards achieving politi- ment of the new government dialogue, the current govern- fused to participate. in South Kordofan has resulted Despite announcing the new for a new national leap for po- Scal stability by forming a have been delayed in order to ment should also commit to four Establishing peace in South in international intervention government, the national dia- litical reform, and to structure government away from military examine candidates thoroughly initiatives that would help build Kordofan and Blue Nile is the to convince SPLM-N to allow logue committee is still will- a constitution that satisfies the disputes that focuses on gain- and give opposing parties and greater trust with opposition cornerstone of achieving sta- aid to the residents. Last No- ing to accept parties and armed people of Sudan. ing support from all parties and movements more time to change forces. bility across Sudan. vember, the previous Obama movements including, SPLM- After two years, the general movements, in accordance with their position and participate in These four issues are the re- The government is currently administration offered an ini- N to join. assembly accepted the national the national dialogue. the national unity government. lease of all political prisoners, negotiating with SPLM-N to tiative to deliver medical hu- Recently, many indicators dialogue recommendations Sudan’s ruling National Con- Sudan has been holding a na- the guarantee of political rights achieve the national dialogue manitarian aid to the affected showed national group work which emphasised a consti- gress party announced that it tional dialogue for nearly two and freedom of speech, avoiding roadmap in these areas, with areas, subject to inspection by and trust such as the presi- tutional, political and social will forgo half of its seats in the years and included 79 parties and hate speech, and guaranteeing African support led by Thabo the Sudanese government. dential pardon given to armed togetherness in unifying the upcoming government, in a bid 31 movements after which the the safety of all who bore arms Mbeki. SPLM-N refused the of- militants, welcoming of partic- Sudanese to establish a just to encourage other parties and National Congress announced after engaging in national dia- The Sudanese government fer. However, during the peace ipants to the peace process and nation and an active political movements to focus on making the end of reasons for war and logue and agreeing to an end to considers the Doha Document negotiations in Addis Ababa the security, social stability system. It also confirmed the national unity eff orts a success. the beginning of a new peace- violence. for Peace in Darfur to be a mod- last August, the movement re- being witnessed in previously co-operation and support of Vice President of Sudan Has- ful era. The outcomes of the Since the dialogue began in el to solve similar regional dis- quested that 20% of aid to be troublesome areas. all Sudanese to overcome the sabu Mohamed Abdalrahman national dialogue dictated that 2014, armed Darfurian move- putes, where both sides ran 14 delivered through the Asosa The national dialogue move- country’s obstacles. Gulf Times Monday, March 20, 2017 11 AFRICA 4 dead in Stunning sunset! Nigeria suicide bombing AFP was nearby,” Abdulkadir explained. Maiduguri The three bombers also died in the blasts, he said. The Borno state capital of Maid- our people were killed on Satur- uguri is the birthplace of Boko Har- day evening when suicide bomb- am, a radical Islamist group that has Fers blew themselves up in a vil- killed over 20,000 people and forced lage on the outskirts of Maiduguri city 2.6mn from their homes since taking in northeastern Nigeria, police said. up arms against the Nigerian govern- Borno state police spokesman Vic- ment in 2009. tor Isuku said the incident occurred The violence has triggered a dire when three bombers — a man and two humanitarian crisis in northeast Ni- women — tried to enter Umarari vil- geria and the wider Lake Chad region, lage just outside Maiduguri. which has also been hit by the con- “They detonated the IEDs (impro- fl ict. vised explosive devices) strapped to Nigerian troops, with the help of A view of the sunset at Amboseli National Park in Kenya. their bodies while running to diff er- regional forces from Cameroon, Chad ent directions,” Isuku said. and Niger, as well as Benin, have since Among the dead was a local vigi- early 2015 managed to claw back most lante and a woman and her two chil- of the territory lost to Boko Haram in dren, he said. 2014. Another eight people were wound- But despite claims from the Nige- ed. rian military that the group is on the Ibrahim Abdulkadir, spokesman verge of defeat, suicide bomb attacks Rags, not riches, are defi ning for the National Emergency Manage- remain a threat to civilians, particu- ment Agency (NEMA), said the vigi- larly in Maiduguri. lante had tried to prevent the bomb- Boko Haram’s elusive leader Abu- ers from entering the village. bakar Shekau made his fi rst appear- “The vigilante was trying to stop ance in months last week, claiming Africa’s urban explosion them and that was when he was en- responsibility for a spate of suicide gulfed by the bomb and the woman bombings. By Boris Bachorz and Sebastien Visitors to Bamako’s dusty streets As a result, manufacturing and serv- four-storey one. Buildings fall down all Rieussec, AFP don’t have long before they chance ices, driven by consumer spending, are the time,” Sow said. Row over break-in at S African judge’s off ice Bamako upon what residents have nicknamed all too often absent. “You can’t do architecture on the fl y, Lafi abougou Hill, a pile of stinking “In all, 23% of land in Ho Chi Minh you are putting people’s lives at risk. outh African politicians yester- spiracy theories” and called for police rubbish that at one point loomed 20m City is taken up by industrial and com- Behind all of this is the issue of impu- day traded accusations over a to track down the thieves. narchic architecture, unchecked tall in the city centre. mercial activity, compared with 5.9% nity, the true evil of this country,” he Smysterious break-in at the Jo- Police described the break-in as pollution and high costs of liv- Lacking fuel to transport the trash to in Nairobi and 1.1% in Addis Ababa,” added. hannesburg offi ces of the country’s “an attack on the judicial system” and Aing are the lot of African city depots on the city’s edges, Lafi abougou Lall emphasised. Among the chaos, some are making top judge a day after his court severely vowed to catch the criminals. dwellers, experts warn, as living stand- Hill has become a pungent reminder of A World Bank report entitled “Af- fortunes. criticised the ANC government. The burglars reportedly only took ards fail to keep pace with rapid urban the municipality’s inability to provide rica’s Cities: Opening Doors to the In Abidjan, Ivory Coast’s largest city, Burglars targeted Chief Justice computers from the human resources growth on the continent. basic services to its rapidly expanding World”, released in February, said a single square metre of land can fetch Mogoeng Mogoeng’s offi ces on Sat- department, leaving other computers The Bamako Forum, a pan-African population. deep-rooted problems with the way 1mn FCFA ($1,625), encouraging ever urday, stealing 15 computers contain- and valuables behind. think tank, recently considered the “We have protested, burnt tyres, land was bought and sold, a lack of more landlords to bend the rules. ing sensitive information about 250 The theft occurred hours after the phenomenon of African urbanisation blocked off roads, because this aff ects investment in infrastructure and an The small minority of those private judges, offi cials said. Constitutional Court, which is head- against the backdrop of a city living the health of the people living in this absence of regulation constrained Af- or public investors controlling the Senior opposition Democratic Alli- ed by Mogoeng, delivered a scathing the results of rural fl ight clashing with area,” said Djiri Nimaga, head of a lo- rican cities. market “love urban disorder because ance (DA) lawmaker John Steenhuisen ruling against the ANC government poor urban planning. cal youth group that held protests last “Closed to regional and global mar- it’s all about gambling on property,” accused State Security Minister David over welfare payments. At 1.8mn inhabitants Bamako is far year aimed at rousing action from the kets, trapped into producing only lo- said Jean-Pierre Elong Mbassi, secre- Mahlobo of being behind the break-in. It criticised the “extraordinary from Africa’s largest city. authorities in the ACI 2000 commer- cally traded goods and services, and tary-general of the CGLU African local “My money’s on Mahlobo...In- conduct” of ministers, saying they But its 5.5% growth rate is the fastest cial district. limited in their economic growth,” is government association. timidation of judiciary,” Steenhu- had shown no interest in solving a on the continent, outstripping that of Until now Lafi abougou has not killed how the report characterised cities “They aren’t interested in whether isen wrote on Twitter, vowing to fi ght contractual dispute that put at risk established African megalopolises like anyone directly, but at least 113 people such as Bamako. the city actually works as long as they against “corruption and abuse of payments to millions of South Af- Cairo, Kinshasa or Lagos. were killed in a giant landslide at Ethi- Ousmane Sow, who works for can get such a high rate of return, state power.” rica’s poorest citizens. Over 1bn Africans will live in a city opia’s largest rubbish dump last week- Bamako’s city council, is building up which happens specifi cally because the “It is highly suspicious that the The State Security Agency yester- by 2040, according to World Bank es- end, including several children. an “urbanisation agency” of the kind city doesn’t function,” he added. break-in occurred the day after the day issued a statement dismissing timates, compared with almost half a The Western perception of poor encouraged by international develop- Back at Lafi abougou Hill, trucks are Constitutional Court handed down a “the baseless accusations made by billion today. countries having low costs of living, true ment bodies, but says little will fun- waiting to load rubbish dragged to the damning judgement,” a party state- some insinuating our involvement” “Such growth has never been seen across much of Asia, does not hold true damentally change until basic rules are site by donkey carts. ment said. in the break-in. The burglary “should globally, and probably never will be for Africa, where some of the world’s respected. “As soon as they stop taking it away, The ruling ANC accused the DA of be a concern to all and not a matter of again,” said Somik Vinay Lall, the bank’s most expensive cities are populated by “Say a neighbour has the permit for the trash just piles up again. It takes too “wild allegations (and) frivolous con- ridicule,” it added. top urbanisation expert, at the forum. some of the planet’s poorest people. a one-storey structure, he will build a long,” Nimaga said.

As drought sweeps Kenya, herders invade farms and old wounds are reopened

Guardian News Service away to a reserve in southern “What we have is an unfor- ranch, says there should be a It is a legacy that can be pro- Nairobi Kenya. tunate combination of events, sensible compromise between tected only by building relation- Local people say the latest mi- with a serious drought coming heated demands for radical land ships with local communities. gration of thousands of herders just before an election, and that restitution and the apocalyptic Many view national parks with itting on the edge of Ken- with tens of thousands of cows, has fed into the crisis,” says Elijah claims of a race war from British hostility because the animals ya’s highest mountain, its goats and sheep in search of wa- Kamunya, head of the revenue tabloids that focus on the per- trample their crops and kill their Sspectacular dun-coloured ter and pasture has been trig- board of the local government in spectives of white settlers, many neighbours. vistas stretching out into the gered mainly by harsh weather Laikipia county. third-generation Kenyan citi- Several conservation groups endless distance, Laikipia is one patterns. On Friday, President Uhuru zens. are now involving local commu- of the most beautiful corners of Politicians, however, have tak- Kenyatta ordered the army to “We need to pay attention to nities, most notably the Rhino east Africa. en advantage of historical griev- deploy to Laikipia to support po- land usage and not just owner- Ark, a charity that led a project The region received a rush of ances and played a role in goad- lice eff orts to improve security, a ship,” says Shuel. to fence off the Aberdare Forest, a publicity in 2010 when Prince ing on the pastoralists. move welcomed by Boris Johnson “Going down the populist huge expanse of indigenous trees. William proposed to Kate Mid- Their call to them to forcibly who toured the region on his fi rst route, where politicians urge The electric fence, maintained dleton at a log cabin there. occupy the holdings of all large visit to Africa as Britain’s foreign supporters to just grab land, will by the community, means farm- Tens of thousands of tourists landowners in the area, black and secretary. mean a loss for everybody and ers no longer spend sleepless now fl ock to parks and reserves in A herder fleeing drought collects water for his cattle in Laikipia white, has rattled Laikipia. Confl icts between herders and this place will soon be a desert.” nights fi ghting to keep elephants an area that promises rare sights County, Kenya. It has also opened up a na- farmers are not uncommon in There are several models for a off their crops. including the world’s last three tional debate on land ownership Africa. collaborative approach and some A plan to build a 350km game- remaining northern white rhi- Africa, and their animals have ings occupied by armed raiders. in Kenya, a country in which Experts say that amid wors- ranches have remained largely proof fence around Mount Kenya, noceroses. swept through farms and conser- Still, an undertow of griev- race relations have not been as ening climate stresses, growing untouched by the mayhem. not far from the Laikipia region, From the verandas of self- vation areas. ance about history has always fraught as in similar former set- populations and tougher com- The Lewa conservancy, where was endorsed by Pope Francis contained tents at lodges such Many of the herders have com- informed relations in Kenya’s tler colonies such as Zimbabwe, petition for scarce resources the royal engagement took place, on his visit to the country in No- as Lewa safari camp, visitors mitted acts of shocking violence, highlands and is playing a major or in South Africa, with its tor- these clashes could escalate and has a far-reaching community vember 2015. look out on endless stretches of and dozens of families have been role in the crisis. tured history. far-reaching measures need to be programme that provides medi- Shuel says the latest crisis wheat-coloured grass and the displaced. When the British arrived at the “This crisis is partly driven by taken. cal services and runs water man- should serve as a wake-up call. snow-capped peaks of Mount The herders’ crimes, including end of the 19th century, the Maa- the eff ects of the drought,” says In Nigeria, fi ghts between Fu- agement. “Droughts are cyclical and Kenya in the background. the killing of the well-known sa- sai warriors occupied some of the Joseph Shuel, a human rights ac- lani herders and farmers have Media commentators in Ken- they will happen again. We They can also see some of the fari guide Tristan Voorspuy, have best land and it was coveted by tivist based in Laikipia. cost hundreds of lives in the past ya have also called for private shouldn’t have these fi ghts every rarest species on earth, including been widely condemned. the settlers. “But historical grievances also three years. ranches to pay their fair share time. We just need an accommo- Grévy’s zebras, with their arched Some British tabloids have cast Under a 1904 treaty Maasai play a role with politicians incit- Laikipia, where conservation of land rates, pointing out that dation where everyone feels they necks and distinctive thin stripes the situation in racial terms, with chiefs agree to vacated their set- ing herders and misleading them eff orts receive millions of pounds enhanced taxation of the vast are benefi ting. – now found almost exclusively one speaking of the “end of the tlements in the central Rift Valley that they can take land by force in aid from donors including spreads of land in conservancies “The conservancy operators in the northern Laikipia ecosys- white man in Africa”. and moved to Laikipia, land they outside the bounds of the law.” Britain, could be a model for a would spread the benefi ts more should spread their wealth more tem – and masses of black rhino. This is not accurate. were promised they could hold Kenya will hold a general elec- system of land use that manages widely. widely and allow access to water Yet this windswept highland Ranches owned by both whites “so long as the Maasai shall exist tion in August and the govern- to preserve the region’s unique Despite losing tens of thou- and pasture in dry seasons. They plain has been in the news for all and blacks have been overrun. as a race”. ment has been accused of sitting biodiversity while allowing local sands of elephants and rhinos should also engage the local peo- the wrong reasons. Powerful Kenyans, including Like many treaties of that era, on the fence for fear that aggres- communities access to much- to poaching in recent decades, ple who in turn should resist in- Thousands of herders are fl ee- a former chief of the army and a it was soon violated and the Maa- sive action against the herders needed resources. Kenya still boasts some of the citement. ing their traditional grazing lands former speaker of the national sai were again forcibly ousted – and local politicians inciting Shuel, who previously man- richest, densest stores of wildlife “Going back to history will not as a biting drought engulfs east assembly, have seen their hold- from Laikipia and moved farther them – would cost votes. aged a Maasai-owned group in the world. solve any of our problems.” Gulf Times 12 Monday, March 20, 2017 AMERICA

Meals on Wheels Protest against pipeline America sees surge in donations

Reuters Bertolette told Reuters in an New York e-mail. The White House referred questions about the HHS eals on Wheels budget to the department. America, the um- An HHS representative re- Mbrella organisation ferred to a statement from for 5,000 providers of home- Secretary Tom Price released delivered meals for seniors, earlier this week. “HHS is said on Saturday that online dedicated to fulfi lling our donations have surged since department’s mission to im- the White House released a prove the health and well- proposed budget that could being of the American people. lead to a big drop in its fund- This budget supports that ing. mission and will help ensure The organisation, which we are delivering critical serv- provides advocacy services ices to our fellow citizens,” the for the national network, statement said. received about $50,000 on Trump’s budget proposal Thursday after the budget calls for a sharp increase in blueprint was announced, military spending and a like compared with $1,000 on a reduction in most discre- typical day. tionary non-defence pro- President Donald Trump’s grammes, prompting a wave fi rst budget proposal includes of concern from Democrats a 17.9% cut for fi scal 2018 in and some of the president’s funds for the Department fellow Republicans. of Health and Human Serv- Bertolette said the national ices, which provides most of Meals on Wheels association the government support for did not know whether its local Meals on Wheels, the organi- members have seen a similar sation said. jump in donations. The budget proposal did One in six seniors “strug- not say how the cut would gles with hunger”, according affect the Administration to the organisation, which for Community Living, the provides its services free of HHS agency that funds nu- charge for those who cannot trition programmes for the aff ord to pay. Police follow activists as they march in protest against banks funding the Dakota Access Pipeline during a Divestment Day rally in the Manhattan borough of New York. elderly, Meals on Wheels Seniors who have fresh spokeswoman Jenny Berto- meals delivered daily show lette said. greater improvement in health Meals on Wheels said on and well-being than those its website that it is diffi cult who get frozen meals delivered to imagine a scenario under once a week or no meals at all, which the next federal budget the organisation said, citing would not have an impact on research from Brown Univer- its services. sity and funded by AARP Inc. “While Meals on Wheels According to the website, America and local Meals on Meals on Wheels America Communities crumble Wheels programs are seeing hosts a resource centre on nu- an uptick in giving, it does trition with the help of federal not replace federal funding,” funding. under addiction crisis Homeland Dept seeks Producers of prescription the crisis, addicts are turning to syndrome, in which a mother’s gency”, allowing him to draw on wholesalers McKesson, Cardinal pain killers are being sued by heroin pouring in from Mexico. addiction is passed on to her funds normally appropriated for Health and AmerisourceBergen; the government And towns, cities and states child. natural disasters to deal with the and pharmacy operators like Rite proposals for wall are being overwhelmed. “The hospital has to rock these problem. Aid and Walmart. AFP More than 33,000 people babies 24 hours a day as they Two weeks ago, New York City New Hampshire, the New Washington across the country died in 2015 scream their way through addic- Mayor Bill de Blasio announced England state which rivals West Reuters night, the wall should be 30 from opioid overdoses, up 15.5% tion,” Farrell said. a sweeping new campaign to cut Virginia for the rate of overdose Washington feet high, built using concrete, from 2014. He said counties like his had addiction, after the city’s over- deaths, has sued Purdue. and “physically imposing.” f the 2,900 babies born That equated to a record little choice but to sue to force dose death toll hit 1,075 last year. “Last year we had 450 over- However, it says designs over last year in Cabell Coun- 10 overdose deaths for every drug companies to pay for the “The pharmaceutical indus- dose deaths” in a state of 1.3mn, he US Department of 18 feet high could be accept- Oty, West Virginia, 500 had 100,000 people — 10 times the present and future costs of the try for years has encouraged the Senior Assistant Attorney Gen- Homeland Security has able. to be weaned off of opioid de- level in 1971, when the US gov- crisis. overuse of addictive painkillers,” eral James Boff etti told AFP. Tissued requests for pro- “Designs with heights of pendence. ernment declared its “War on “What we’re asking for is not he said. “Their marketing exacerbated posals for prototypes for a wall less than 18 feet are not ac- In Ohio, counties are renting Drugs” after a surge in overdoses. only to hold them responsible for The surge in deaths follows a this addiction problem.” along the Mexican border, say- ceptable,” the document said. refrigerated trailers to store the But whereas six years ago four blatantly violating federal and shift in the nature of the crisis. Paul Hanly, whose law fi rm ing ideally it should be 30 feet It said the wall should have mounting number of bodies of out of fi ve overdose deaths came state laws, but to fi x the damage After the DEA last year ordered Simmons Hanly Conroy LLC is high and the wall facing the US features that do not allow peo- drug overdose victims. from prescription painkillers like they caused, so that we stop cre- a 25% cutback in the distribution suing 11 opioid distributors and side should be “aesthetically ple to climb over it and should In New Hampshire, hospitals oxycodone and hydrocodone, ating another generation of ad- of prescription opioids, addicts manufacturers on behalf of Erie pleasing in color.” prevent digging below the wall. have so many overdose patients now heroin and heroin-fentanyl dicts,” Farrell said. turned to heroin. County, New York, said the com- A wall to stem illegal im- “The wall shall prevent/de- they have to treat them in oper- deaths account for about half. How prescription opioid pro- But that drug is frequently cut panies’ behaviour resembled that migration was one of Don- ter for a minimum of 1 hour the ating rooms and neonatal nurs- In Cabell County, the over- ducers and distributors fed the with extremely potent fentanyl, of neighbourhood drug pushers. ald Trump’s main campaign creation of a physical breach eries. dose death rate was about 30 per crisis is made clear by previously causing even more overdoses. “Certain of the conduct that is promises and has been highly of the wall (e.g. punching And in Palm Beach County, 100,000, not even the highest in unreleased US Drug Enforcement “Everybody is starting to see alleged in our cases and the West controversial. through the wall) larger than Florida, where President Don- West Virginia, the state hit hard- Agency (DEA) data reported in a slowdown of prescription opi- Virginia cases do smack of rack- The president has vowed to 12 inches (30 cm) in diameter ald Trump spends his weekends, est by the addiction crisis. December by the Charleston ates. eteering and conspiracy,” he said. make Mexico reimburse the or square using sledgeham- 10 people died of overdoses on Lawyer Paul Farrell last week (West Virginia) Gazette-Mail. As you see supply drop, what The companies are fi ghting the United States for its cost but mer, car jack, pickaxe, chisel, Friday alone, likely from a batch fi led suit for Cabell and a neigh- It showed that from 2007 we are seeing is an equal rise of suits, denying they are to blame. Mexico has repeatedly said it battery-operated impact tools, of heroin tainted by fentanyl, a bouring county, Kanawha, seek- to 2012, those companies sold heroin,” said Farrell. In a statement to AFP that re- will not do so. battery-operated cutting powerful, synthetic opioid pain ing damages from drug com- 780mn opioid painkillers in West “We are going to see an all- fl ected the stances of the others, Earlier this week, the White tools, oxy/acetylene torch or medication. panies for dumping massive Virginia, 421 extremely addictive time high transition to heroin Cardinal Health said: “We be- House requested $3bn more for other similar hand-held tools,” After a decade and hundreds amounts of addictive opioids into pills for every man, woman and abuse in the next fi ve years.” lieve that these copycat lawsuits Homeland Security, with some it said. of thousands of deaths, the US the state, fuelling the addiction child in the poor eastern state. To raise funds to deal with do not advance any of the hard of that intended for planning The other document re- opioid addiction crisis is entering epidemic. Every state is feeling the im- it, cities and counties are su- work needed to solve the opioid and building the border wall. questing proposals has many a new phase. “My community is dying on a pact. ing manufacturers like Purdue abuse crisis — an epidemic driv- According to one document of the same requirements but it With the government fi nally daily basis,” he said. On March 1, Maryland Gov- Pharma, which makes OxyCon- en by addiction, demand and the posted online by US Customs does not specify that it be solid cracking down on the free fl ow of Every sixth baby born locally ernor Larry Hogan declared the tin, the most prevalent of the diversion of medications for ille- and Border Protection Friday concrete. prescription pain killers fuelling suff ers from neonatal abstinence addiction crisis a “state of emer- opioid painkillers; mega-drug gitimate use.” Trump to axe Appalachia economic programmes

Reuters Its programs, some launched under ture lay elsewhere. founding in 1965 as part of President Appalachia Democratic former President Barack “From my experience from the coal- Lyndon Johnson’s “war on poverty.” In Obama, are expected to create or retain fi eld, I know that that is a fi nite job and recent years it has focused on helping more than 23,670 jobs and train and ed- coal will run out eventually,” Preston states in the region deal with the coal resident Donald Trump has pro- ucate over 49,000 students and work- said. industry’s sharp decline and the loss of posed eliminating funding for ers, the organisation said. Preston was among several former 33,000 coal mining jobs between 2011 Peconomic development pro- Trump vowed during his campaign miners and other east Kentuckians at and 2016. grammes supporting laid-off coal min- that the White House would put Amer- an event in Paintsville this week held So far, ARC has had no offi cial con- ers and others in Appalachia, stirring ican coal miners back to work, in part by Interapt and ARC to announce In- tact from the president’s transition fears in a region that supported him of by cutting environmental regulations terapt’s plan to hire another hundred teams, said co-chair Gohl, an Obama another letdown on the heels of the coal ushered in by Obama, mainly aimed at people from the region this summer. appointee who remains in the job. industry’s collapse. curbing climate change but character- Interapt last year launched a pro- The cuts to its funding were recom- The 2018 budget proposal submit- ised by Trump as hampering the indus- gramme called TechHire Eastern Ken- mended to the administration by the ted to Congress by the White House on try. tucky, supported by ARC, which pro- Heritage Foundation, a Washington- Thursday would cut funds to the Ap- However, many industry experts and vides 36 weeks of paid training in code based think tank. palachian Regional Commission (ARC) Earl Gohl co-director of the Appalachian Regional Commission in a coding demo coal miners doubt that rolling back reg- and paid internships. Nick Loris, an energy fellow at the and the US Economic Development with Interapt trainees in Paintsville. ulation alone can revive the coal mining Interapt Chief Executive Ankur foundation, said the work that ARC and Administration. industry, which faces stiff competition Gopal, a 37-year-old tech entrepre- the Economic Development Adminis- The Washington-based organisa- Appalachia as a betrayal of his promises “It’s true that the president won his from abundant and cheap natural gas in neur, expanded his Louisville-based tration do should be devolved to state tions are charged with diversifying the to help coal miners. election in rural country. I would really fuelling US power generation. company out to eastern Kentucky with and local governments “to encourage economies of states like West Virginia “Folks that live in Appalachia believe like to see him climb aboard the ARC Rigel Preston, a 38-year old former the vision of lifting that part of his transparency and reduce duplicative and Kentucky to help them recover that the ARC belongs to them,” said vehicle as a way to help us help our- surface miner, said ARC programs home state out of economic stagna- federal spending.” from coal’s decline. federal ARC Co-Chair Earl Gohl, be- selves,” Rogers said. helped him land a job as a paid intern at tion. States have said their budgets are al- The proposed cuts would save the moaning the proposed cut. “It’s really Four hundred of the 420 counties technology company Interapt after he “There is a skilled workforce and ready strapped. federal government $340mn and come their organisation.” ARC operates in voted for Trump in lost his benefi ts. opportunity that can be found here in In addition to all of West Virginia as the Republican president seeks to Republican Congressman Hal Rog- November’s election. He said that, while he and many eastern Kentucky,” Gopal said. “7This and part of Kentucky, the ARC covers slash a wide array of federal programs ers, who represents eastern Kentucky’s The 52-year old agency has run more members of his family in eastern is not just a bunch of people that are parts of Alabama, Georgia, Maryland, and regulations to make way for in- coal counties, said he would fi ght to re- than 650 projects in Appalachia’s 13 Kentucky hope Trump will deliver waiting for coal mines to reopen.” Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, creased military spending. store the funding when Congress nego- states between 2011 and 2015 costing on his promise to revive the coal in- ARC has worked on economic de- Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, But they are perceived by some in tiates the budget later this year. hundreds of millions of dollars. dustry, he believed the region’s fu- velopment in Appalachia since its Tennessee and Virginia. Gulf Times Monday, March 20, 2017 13 AMERICA

Mayor asks FBI to Town hall meeting probe sex assault claims vs police

Reuters plorers programme in 2011 Louisville, Kentucky when he was 16, his attorney previously said. The police ran the pro- he mayor of Louisville, gramme, which has been sus- Kentucky, on Friday pended, in affi liation with the Tasked the FBI to inves- Boy Scouts of America. tigate potential violations of It was open to anyone aged federal law in a case involv- 14 to 19 interested in a law en- ing sexual abuse charges made forcement career. against two city police offi cers. The man’s attorney, David Mayor Greg Fischer said in a Yates, asked for the lawsuit to statement he also has named a be sealed and has declined to special investigator to oversee give specifi cs, including the an investigation into the accu- names of the offi cers. sations that the Louisville Met- Fischer has asked that the ro Police Department (LMPD) case be unsealed. offi cers sexually abused a teen- The Courier-Journal re- ager while he was part of a Boy ported on Friday that decisions Scout-affi liated youth pro- made at the time by police chief gramme. Steve Conrad, who told the The charges were made last paper he could not comment week in a lawsuit fi led in Jeff er- because the case was sealed, son Circuit Court on behalf of a would be part of the investiga- man identifi ed in court papers tion. only as NC. A spokesman for the po- “We have to get to the bot- lice could not immediately be tom of these disturbing allega- reached for comment. tions,” Fischer said in the state- The mayor appointed Kerry ment. Harvey, who until this year had A copy of the 25-page com- been the US Attorney for the plaint obtained by the Courier- Eastern District of Kentucky, to People in the crowd respond to a woman supporting President Donald Trump during a town hall meeting with Representative Mark Sanford (R-SC) in Hilton Head, South Journal newspaper claims the conduct the probe. Carolina. Constituents have been showing up in large numbers across the nation to congressional town hall meetings to voice their concerns. teen was raped and sexually “The allegations surround- abused by offi cers and the epi- ing the Explorer programme, sodes were recorded and used if true, represent unacceptable to make pornography. conduct involving children, A spokesman for the Federal and the citizens of Louisville Bureau of Investigation’s Lou- deserve to know what hap- isville offi ce, David Habich, pened,” Harvey, now with the said in an e-mail the agency Lexington offi ce of law rm fi was aware of the allegations Dickinson Wright, said in the but declined to confi rm or deny statement. the existence of an investiga- Also on Friday, Fischer or- ‘No proof of Trump, tion. dered an inquiry into all city The lawsuit, which was programmes involving children sealed, was fi led on behalf of and teenagers to ensure meas- the man, who joined the Lou- ures are in place to ensure their isville Metro Police Youth Ex- safety. Russian collusion’ The head of the intelligence Trump on March 4 tweeted gence offi cials in the year preced- ing that Britain’s intelligence said the president might be well panel will hear testimony that Obama had “tapped” his ing the November 8 election. services aided the Obama admin- advised to follow the sage paren- Ex-teacher accused from the FBI chief phone — a charge that has con- Nunes has said that the intel- istration in the alleged wiretap. tal counsel he received years ago. sumed political debate in the US ligence committee probe focuses That claim has strained rela- “To quote my 85-year-old AFP capital. in part on who revealed the fact tions with America’s closest ally. father...‘It never hurts to say of kidnapping child Washington The US intelligence commu- that Flynn had unreported pri- Still, as recently as Friday, you’re sorry,’” Representative nity has publicly blamed Russia vate contacts with the Russians Trump repeated the baseless Will Hurd, a Republican from for hacks of the Democratic Na- over the issue of international claim in an aside during a White Texas, told ABC television. Reuters lure and potentially sexually ex- congressional intelligence tional Committee last year, and sanctions against Moscow — a House press conference with An- “And it’s not just sorry to Tennessee ploit her,” the bureau said. panel so far has found suggested the cyber attacks were disclosure which led to his forced gela Merkel. (Obama) but sorry to the (United Thomas was last seen on A“no evidence” that Don- aimed at steering the election to a resignation as Trump’s national “As far as wiretapping, I Kingdom) for the claims — or Monday just before 8am CT ald Trump’s campaign colluded Trump victory. security adviser. guess, by this past administra- the intimation — that the U.K. ennessee police are when a friend dropped her off with Russia during the 2016 elec- Russia has denied involvement Adding to the intrigue, tion, at least we have something was involved in this as well,” said searching for a former at a Shoney’s family-style res- tion, its chairman said yesterday, in the hacks, and Trump has de- Trump’s attorney general Jeff in common, perhaps,” Trump Hurd, himself a former intelli- Thigh school teacher ac- taurant parking lot in Columbia, ahead of testimony by the head of nounced the tumult over the Rus- Sessions had to recuse himself told the German chancellor, re- gence agent. cused of luring a 15-year-old Tennessee, a city about 60km the FBI on the US president’s po- sia connections as a “total witch from any Russia-related inquir- ferring to a WikiLeaks report in Several Republicans last week student into his car outside of south of Nashville. tential Russia ties. hunt.” ies after it was learned that he 2015 that the US had monitored urged Trump to apologise for the a restaurant and disappearing Video surveillance footage Based on “everything I have up But the question of whether had met twice with the Russian calls involving Merkel and her allegations he made in a series of with the girl earlier this week, shows Cummins fuelling up his to this morning — no evidence of Trump Tower was bugged — an ambassador in the months before aides for years. tweets on March 4. investigators said on Saturday. silver Nissan Rogue at a nearby collusion”, by Trump’s team and accusation fi rst lodged by the Trump took offi ce, and had failed Republican Senator Ted Cruz The maelstrom also caused Tad Cummins, 50, who is gas station minutes later, inves- Moscow, Representative Devin president on Twitter — never- to disclose this during his confi r- — Trump’s vanquished rival last tension with key US allies and believed to be armed with two tigators said. Nunes, chairman of the House theless has risen to the top of mation hearing. year for the Republican presiden- threatens to distract Republi- hand guns, was placed on the State investigators said they Intelligence Committee, told Fox Washington’s political agenda, Domestically, the headline- tial nomination — said the wire- cans from campaign promises on Tennessee Bureau of Investi- last traced Cummins and Tho- News. becoming something of a na- grabbing controversy over the tapping charges are not entirely health care and taxes. gation’s top 10 “most wanted” mas to Alabama, but believe the Nunes made his remarks one tional obsession even as a grow- wiretapping claim has pulled at- “outlandish” and should be in- “I don’t know the basis for list on Friday on charges of ag- pair has since travelled to a re- day before Federal Bureau of ing number of lawmakers and top tention away from Trump’s ef- vestigated. President Trump’s assertion,” US gravate kidnapping and having mote area and are hiding out. Investigation Director James US offi cials assert there is no evi- fort to push through other key “I think it would be quite good Senator Susan Collins, a Republi- sexual contact with a minor. At a news conference on Fri- Comey is to face lawmakers on dence of any such claim. items on his agenda, including for the administration to put can, said on NBC’s Meet the Press. Cummings, who is mar- day, Cummins’ wife pleaded the panel, amid speculation that The wiretapping issue mush- the planned repeal of Obama’s forward what evidence there is,” “I do believe he owes us that ex- ried, was fi red from his Maurey with him: “Tad this is not you. Trump aides and associates — roomed last month, when healthcare law, tax reform and his Cruz told CBS television. planation.” County high school teaching job This is not who you are,” Jill and perhaps even the business- Trump’s national security ad- controversial travel ban. “You know, I will point out this Collins said she supported on Tuesday after being accused Cummins said. “Your family man-turned-politician himself viser Michael Flynn was forced to Critics say it has also debased is not necessarily as outlandish as Trump as president, but she of having an inappropriate re- wants their papi back. Please do — may have had uncomfortably resign after it was revealed he had the already-coarse tone of po- everyone in the press suggests. wouldn’t side with him if he lationship with student Beth the right thing, and turn your- close ties with Moscow. misled top offi cials over his con- litical debate in Washington and We do know that the Obama “misstated what the facts are”. Thomas, the Tennessee Bureau self into the police and bring Tiday’s hearing was also expect- tacts with Russia. eroded the president’s credibility administration targeted their po- Representative Adam Schiff , of Investigation said in a state- Beth home.” ed to address a second explosive is- Around the same time, The at home and abroad. litical enemies...so the notion is the top Democrat on the House ment. Local District Attorney Brent sue: Trump’s unsubstantiated ac- New York Times reported that US Some of the fallout has been not necessarily outlandish, but Intelligence Committee hold- “The 50-year-old may have Cooper told the news confer- cusations of wiretapping by Barack intelligence agents had intercept- international in scope: The White it’s serious,” he said. ing the hearing, called Trump’s been abusing his role as a teacher ence Thomas had a diffi cult life Obama — charges that have roiled ed calls showing that members of House was forced to retract a With the national debate con- claims “patently false” and said to groom this vulnerable young and was especially vulnerable to political waters in Washington for Trump’s campaign had repeated charge repeated last week by its sumed by talk over Trump’s wire- he expected Comey to say as girl for some time in an eff ort to being manipulated. the past two weeks. contacts with top Russian intelli- spokesman Sean Spicer suggest- tapping claim, one US lawmaker much on Monday. Trump, GOP confi dent AHCA on track to pass

Guardian News reductions, which I like.” if changes were not substantial. publican plan would eliminate states to impose work require- replacement plan would have US House Republicans are Washington In the frenetic push to keep In an interview on Fox News, the requirement that Americans ments on Medicaid recipients and “insurance for everybody”. The working on changes to their their longstanding promise to he said Republicans were looking purchase healthcare or face a to “block grant” federal funding CBO report made clear the plan healthcare overhaul bill to pro- repeal the ACA, Republicans and at the “higher healthcare costs” fi ne, but keep popular provisions for the welfare programme, as will not do that. vide more generous tax credits he Republican plan to re- White House offi cials are moving of people in their 50s and 60s, in including a requirement that in- opposed to the “per capita cap” Democrats are hammering for older Americans and to add a peal and replace the Af- aggressively to court conserva- particular. surers cover the sick and allow policy currently in the bill, which that point at press conferences work requirement for the Medic- Tfordable Care Act (ACA) tive support. The CBO analysis found that young people to stay on their would give states a set amount of and rallies across the country. aid programme for the poor, US has survived a damning report But they must also reassure older people would pay higher parents’ insurance. money per person. This week, Connecticut sena- House Speaker Paul Ryan said from the Congressional Budget an increasingly worried public, premiums under the Republican On Thursday, the House budg- tor Chris Murphy off ered a pow- yesterday. Offi ce, bipartisan opposition, after a Congressional Budget Of- plan, and gave the example of an et committee passed the bill in a The CBO analysis found erpoint presentation in response Ryan said Republican leaders criticism from virtually every fi ce report estimated that 14mn 64 year old who had an annual 19-17 vote. Three conservative that older people would to one given by Ryan after the still plan to bring the healthcare corner of the healthcare industry, Americans would lose health in- income of $26,500. members of the Freedom Caucus pay higher premiums plan was fi rst unveiled. bill to a vote on the House of and even duelling powerpoint surance in the fi rst year under the Under the ACA, that person opposed it. Several fi scal hawks and con- Representatives fl oor on Thurs- presentations. plan, and 24mn would be unin- would pay a $1,700 premium for By Friday one of the three, Ala- Asked how he would respond servative advocacy groups are day. This week, it is likely to face its sured by 2026. insurance coverage. Under the bama representative Gary Palm- to constituents and colleagues opposed to the AHCA, arguing Speaking on the “Fox News most consequential test yet — a A Fox News poll found that a Republican plan, that same per- er, said he had changed his mind. who call the Republican bill that it retains too much of the Sunday” television programme, vote on the fl oor of the House. majority of respondents (54%) son would pay $14,600, more Palmer was among a dozen “Obamacare-lite”, he replied: ACA and does not do enough to he added that leaders were work- Even though several members opposed or strongly opposed the than half the person’s annual in- members of the conservative Re- “You’re looking at some of the lower the cost of premiums. ing to address concerns that had of that chamber have openly de- Republican healthcare plan com- come. publican Study Committee (RSC) top conservatives in the House. On Wednesday, hundreds of been raised by rank-and-fi le Re- cried the American Health Care pared with just 34% who said Ryan argued the CBO report invited to the White House to We stand united today to move conservatives braved freezing publicans to the legislation. Act (AHCA), Donald Trump and they favoured or supported it. only looked at a “little piece of discuss their concerns with the this forward for the American temperatures for a “day of ac- “We think we should be off er- GOP leaders remained confi dent Asked why they opposed the the issue” and said regulatory president. people.” tion” on Capitol Hill. ing even more assistance than the this week that it was on track to bill, 67% said it was because changes would help bring “mar- After the meeting, Trump Republican leaders are still At the event, organised by the bill currently does,” for lower- pass. the legislation would make “too ket freedom” to insurance mar- bragged: “Every single person trying to shore up support. grassroots groups FreedomWorks income people age 50 to 64, Ryan At a rally in Nashville, Trump many changes” to Obamacare. kets by “dramatically lower[ing]” sitting in this room is now a yes.” The chair of the Freedom and Tea Party Patriots, activ- said of the tax credits for health vowed to “repeal and replace hor- The house speaker, Paul Ryan, the costs of insurance. The ACA, known to many as Caucus, North Carolina’s Mark ists waved signs that read “re- insurance that are proposed in rible and disastrous Obamacare”. eventually conceded that chang- “Even with that, we think we Obamacare, was on its “last dy- Meadows, said he “defi nitely” peal Obamacare” and “keep your the legislation. “It’s gonna be great. es would have to be made to the should be off ering more assist- ing feet”, he said. had enough votes to derail a bill promise” and cheered when Re- Ryan also said Republicans are It’s gonna be great,” the presi- AHCA, while conservatives op- ance than what the bill currently North Carolina’s Mark Walker, without substantial structural publican lawmakers took the stage working on changes that would dent said of the replacement posed to it maintained they had does,” he added. chair of the RSC, said Trump changes. to trash the replacement plan. The allow federal block grants to plan. “And then we get on to tax enough votes to block its passage As currently written, the Re- won support by agreeing to allow Trump has promised that any other side doesn’t like it,” he said. states for Medicaid. Gulf Times 14 Monday, March 20, 2017 ASEAN Bridge name puts Suu Kyi in hot spot

AFP Saw Kyaw Moe, who hails from the nearby Yangon Karen ethnic group, was part of a contingent of protesters who joined in support of the Mon. He said many minorities felt Suu Kyi’s govern- housands of people protested yesterday in ment was deaf to their wishes. eastern Myanmar against plans to name a “The MPs should listen to the wishes of the Tbridge after Aung San Suu Kyi’s father, the people who appointed them as MPs but now they latest fl ashpoint between her administration and don’t listen the voices of the people,” he said. the country’s restless ethnic minorities. The fi ght over the bridge’s name is seen as The issue highlights some of the deep distrust more than just a symbolic designation, but part among Myanmar’s patchwork of minorities to- of a larger fi ght for ethnic self-determination. wards the Bamar ethnic majority from which Suu Suu Kyi’s father Aung San is regarded as a na- Kyi and most of the political establishment hail. tional hero, especially among the Bamar majority. Thousands hit the streets of eastern Mon State But many ethnic groups see him as a more con- yesterday, the biggest rally yet against plans to troversial fi gure who failed to deliver on promises rename the local Thanlwin bridge spanning the of greater autonomy and federalism for them. wide Salween River. For decades Myanmar’s border regions have Lawmakers from Suu Kyi’s National League been plagued by insurgencies and civil wars for Democracy (NLD) party have proposed call- against the Bamar-dominated military which is ing it the Bogyoke Aung San bridge. widely loathed by ethnic minorities. Aung San was Suu Kyi’s father, seen as the Since winning a landslide election victory in founder of post-colonial Myanmar who was as- late 2015 Suu Kyi has made it a fl agship policy to Monks and ethnic Rakhine protesters take part in a demonstration against a government push to speed up the citizenship verification process sassinated before the country won its independ- fi nd a lasting peace. for the stateless Rohingya minority in Sittwe township, Rakhine state. ence from Britain. But those eff orts have been hampered by some Many of those protesting yesterday said locals of the worst fi ghting in decades which has fl ared, felt their wishes to keep the old name were being particularly in the country’s northeast. ignored. Analysts say the still powerful military has lit- “The NLD is powerful in the parliament and tle appetite for greater federalism or to end wars nowadays they can do whatever proposal as they that justify its bloated budgets. Myanmar Buddhists protest like,” demonstrator Lin Htet, 34, told AFP. Mon state remains peaceful, but Suu Kyi’s par- “But for us and for all ethnic people, we value ty faces a by-election over a single seat there next many things in our culture and they should listen month in which the bridge has become a major what the local ethnics want.” issue. citizenship for Rohingya

DPA “They are not qualifi ed to be- of them Rohingya. tions on how to resolve the con- Mourned! Yangon come citizens,” Aung Htay, one of The protest organisers claimed fl ict. the protest organizers told DPA in that 2,000 people took to the The advisory committee, Sittwe township. streets in Sittwe, while another which was founded in September undreds of nationalist Rakhine State, where most Ro- 700 participated in two town- to advise the government on how Buddhists in Myanmar’s hingya live, has been rocked by ships in Rakhine State. to promote peace in the troubled Hconfl ict-ridden Rakhine communal tensions for decades. The protest came three days area, recommended that the Ro- State protested yesterday against Violence between Buddhists after a committee led by former hingya camps should be gradu- citizenship for the Rohingya and Muslims in 2012 killed almost UN secretary general Kofi Annan ally dissolved and the citizenship Muslim minority. 200 and displaced 140,000, most presented a set of recommenda- verifi cation process expedited.

Malaysia pursuing other suspects in Kim killing

AFP nounced Malaysia’s investiga- barred their citizens from leav- bassy in Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur tion as an attempt to smear the ing. His comments yesterday came secretive regime, insisting that Two women — one Vietnamese as North Korean state media re- Kim most likely died of a heart and one Indonesian — have been ported on Pyongyang testing a alaysia is pursuing more attack. arrested and charged with the powerful new rocket engine, in an potential suspects, in- “There are more...persons that murder. event apparently timed to coin- Mcluding at least one “im- are involved in the murder of Kim Airport CCTV footage shows cide with the visit of US Secretary portant” person, in connection Jong-nam, we will use the proper them approaching the 45-year- of State Rex Tillerson to Beijing with the murder of Kim Jong- legal channels to get them,” po- old victim and apparently smear- over the weekend. nam last month in Kuala Lumpur, lice chief Khalid Abu Bakar told ing his face with a piece of cloth. North Korea is banned by the the police chief said yesterday. reporters. Investigators are also seeking international community from The half-brother of North He said that investigators were seven North Korean suspects, pursuing nuclear and missile Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un was looking to detain at least one four of whom left Malaysia on the programmes but has defi antly poisoned with the lethal nerve “important” person, but did not day of the murder. ploughed ahead. agent VX in a brazen Cold War- elaborate on whether any North Interpol has issued an interna- It staged its two latest nuclear style assassination on February Koreans were among the people tional arrest warrant for the four tests last year and recently fi red 13 in Kuala Lumpur International being pursued. men. off missiles which it described as Airport. The killing has triggered a bit- The police chief has previ- practice for an attack on US bas- A hearse carries the coff in of Cambodia’s late Deputy Prime Minister Sok An in a funeral proces- Seoul has blamed Pyongyang ter row between Malaysia and ously said he believes they fl ed to es in Japan, in a challenge to US sion in Phnom Penh yesterday. for his death, but the North has North Korea, which have expelled Pyongyang while the other three President Donald Trump. rejected those claims and de- each other’s ambassadors and are hiding in North Korea’s em- Tourism to food, Buddhist Thailand hunts halal gold

By Jerome Taylor, AFP think this is a very good mar- sending their citizens. An AFP Now a growing numbers of Bangkok ket,” explains Sanya Saenboon, analysis of government fi gures food companies are switching the general manager of the hotel, shows visitors from key majority to halal to widen their customer one of a growing number of busi- Muslim nations in the Middle East base. rom hotels with segregated nesses serving a boom in Islamic and Asia have risen from 2.63mn Against a backdrop of hum- swimming pools to jelly tourists. in 2006 to 6.03mn last year. ming machines churning out Fmade from seaweed instead The hotel opened its doors last “Thailand was ahead of the butter, Lalana Thiranusornkij, a of pig bones, Buddhist Thailand year, setting itself apart with its curve,” says Fazal Baharden, Buddhist, explains how her fam- is chasing halal gold as it wel- attention to all things Islamic. founder of the Singapore-based ily turned their three factories comes Muslim visitors and touts For a start there is no alcohol Crescent Rating, which rates — under the KCG Corp banner — its wares to the Islamic world. on sale, while the top fl oor swim- which countries are most wel- halal to access markets in Indo- Inside the cavernous dining hall ming pool and gym has specifi c coming to Muslim travellers. nesia, Malaysia and in the Gulf. of the fi ve-star Al Meroz hotel in times for when men and women Thailand routinely places in But going halal sometimes re- a Muslim suburb of Bangkok, an can use the facilities. the top two for non-Muslim ma- quired some clever workarounds, elderly man with a wispy beard Everything in the building has jority nations alongside Singa- such as how to avoid animal recites verses of the Holy Qur’an been ticked off against stringent pore in Crescent Ratings’ annual based gelatin to make jelly. as a nervous-looking groom checklist for practising Muslims, survey of halal destinations. “In the past we used gelatin awaits the arrival of his bride. from bed linen washed in a par- “They’ve really recognised from pork but...we changed our The young man bursts into a ticular way, to ensuring toiletries the Muslim consumer market is gelatin from the pork source to be smile as his soon-to-be wife ap- are free of alcohol or animal fat — worth tapping into,” he explains, from a seaweed source,” she said. pears, clad in a brilliant white making everyday goods “permis- adding medical tourism, shop- Thailand’s junta has set the dress with matching headscarf. sible” for the faithful. ping and high quality hotels are goal of turning the country into The ceremony is one of dozens Sanya, who is Muslim, says the primary draws. one of the world’s top fi ve halal of marriages held over the last such checks give visitors “peace Baharden says the Islam- exporting nations by 2020. few months at the Al Meroz — the of mind” so clients never have to ic travel market is one of the Some outsiders might be sur- city’s fi rst entirely halal hotel. ask themselves “can I eat this?” world’s fastest growing thanks prised to see an overwhelmingly Thailand has long been a draw Despite a decade of political the growth of cheap fl ights and Buddhist nation embrace halal. for the world’s sun-seekers and turbulence, Thailand has seen an booming Muslim middle classes. But Dr Winai Dahlan, founder hedonists, drawn to its parties, explosion in tourist arrivals, from He estimates the number of of the Halal Science Centre at Family and friends of a newlywed couple pull on ribbons attached to a flower bouquet during the couple’s red-light districts, cheap booze 13.8mn annual visitors in 2006 to Muslim travellers has surged Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn Uni- wedding reception at the Al Meroz hotel in Bangkok. and tropical beaches. a record 32.5mn last year. from around 25mn a year in 2000 versity, says Thailand was well But it has also seen a huge infl ux Western arrivals have largely to 117mn in 2015. placed to make the change. fi rst began asking for the coun- lal certifi cation. Now it’s 6,000,” 10,000 to 160,000, he added. of visitors from Muslim countries, remained a constant. But it is not just at home that About 5% of its population is try’s halal testing centre, a busi- Winai told AFP as female lab tech- It’s paid off . The government part of a quiet but deliberate strat- The biggest increase in arrivals Thailand has gone halal. Muslim and — outside of the in- ness that scours products for any nicians in headscarves tested food estimates the halal food industry egy by the Southeast Asian nation comes from China, skyrocketing From chicken and seafood to surgency plagued southern bor- banned substances and has since products for traces of pork DNA. is already worth $6bn a year. to diversify its visitor profi le. from just 949,000 arrivals 10 years rice and canned fruit, the country der region — is well-integrated boomed. Over the same period the As Thailand has quickly “Considering there are 1.5bn ago to 8.7mn visitors in 2016. has long been one of the world’s within the Buddhist majority. “Fifteen years ago there was number of halal certifi ed products learned, there’s gold at the end of Muslims around the world, I But Muslim countries are also great food exporters. It was local Thai Muslims who only 500 food plants that had ha- made in Thailand has gone from the halal rainbow. Gulf Times Monday, March 20, 2017 15 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA Engine test is ‘new birth’ of rocket industry: N Korea

Reuters counterpart yesterday. North Ko- mental shelter has been moved up Seoul rea has conducted fi ve nuclear tests against the engine test stand since and a series of missile launches, in February 5, either for maintenance defi ance of UN sanctions, and is or to position a rocket engine for orth Korea has conducted believed by experts and govern- testing,” 38 North said in a note. a test of a new high-thrust ment offi cials to be working to It said North Korea had installed Nengine at its Tongchang-ri develop nuclear-warhead missiles the environmental shelter in late rocket launch station and leader that could reach the United States. 2015 to conceal detection of test Kim Jong-un said the successful Kim Jong-un has said North Ko- preparations. test was “a new birth” of its rocket rea is close to a test-launch of an KCNA cited leader Kim as saying industry, the reclusive North’s of- intercontinental ballistic missile. the signifi cance of the test would fi cial media said yesterday. KCNA said the test was carried out soon be evident. The engine would help North at the Sohae Satellite Launching “He noted that the success made Korea achieve world-class satellite Ground, where North Korea has in the current test marked a great launch capability, KCNA said, in- conducted long-range rocket tests. event of historic signifi cance as it dicating the test was of a new type South Korea’s military declined to declared a new birth of the Juche- of rocket engine for long-range comment. based rocket industry,” KCNA said. missiles. The Washington-based think Juche refers to North Korea’s The United States and China tank 38 North said last week sat- homegrown ideology of self-re- pledged to work together to get the ellite imagery indicated activity liance. “He emphasised that the North to take “a diff erent course” at the site’s vertical engine stand, whole world will soon witness and move away from its weapons possibly in preparation for a rocket what eventful signifi cance the programmes after US Secretary of engine test. great victory won today carries,” it State Rex Tillerson met his Chinese “The rail-mounted environ- said. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspecting the ground jet test of high-thrust engine at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground, North Korea. Trump looking forward to visit China: Tillerson

Reuters ences, and co-operation is the only correct China and the United States appeared to Beijing choice for us both,” Xi added, in comments have made some progress or put aside dif- carried by China’s Foreign Ministry. ferences on diffi cult issues, at least in ad- China and the United States must vance of a planned summit between Xi and ith warm words from Chinese strengthen co-ordination of hot regional Trump. President Xi Jinping yesterday, issues, respect each other’s core interests Both Tillerson and Chinese Foreign WUS Secretary of State Rex Tiller- and major concerns, and protect the broad Minister Wang Yi struck a more concilia- son ended his fi rst trip to Asia since taking stability of ties, Xi said. tory tone in their meeting, with Tillerson offi ce with an agreement to work together Tillerson replied that Trump looks for- saying the United States and China would with China on North Korea and putting ward to enhancing understanding with work together to get nuclear-armed North aside trickier issues. China and the opportunity for a visit in the Korea take “a diff erent course”. China has been irritated at being repeat- future. Underscoring the tensions, North Ko- edly told by Washington to rein in North Tillerson said Trump places a “very high rea conducted a test of a new high-thrust Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes value on the communications that have al- engine at its Tongchang-ri rocket launch and the US decision to base an advanced ready occurred” between Xi and Trump. station and leader Kim Jong-un said the missile defence system in South Korea. “And he looks forward to enhancing successful test was “a new birth” of its Beijing is also deeply suspicious of US that understanding in the opportunity for rocket industry, Pyongyang’s offi cial me- intentions towards self-ruled Taiwan, a visit in the future,” Tillerson said. dia said yesterday. which China claims as its own, with the “We know that through further dia- North Korea has conducted fi ve nuclear Trump administration crafting a big new logue we will achieve a greater under- tests and a series of missile launches, in arms package for the island that is bound standing that will lead to a strengthened, defi ance of UN sanctions, and is believed to anger China. strengthening of the ties between China by experts and government offi cials to be But meeting in Beijing’s Great Hall of and the United States and set the tone for working to develop nuclear-warhead mis- the People, those issues were brushed our future relationship of co-operation.” siles that could reach the United States. aside by Xi and Tillerson, at least in front Trump has so far been an unpredictable Washington wants China, the North’s of reporters, with Xi saying Tillerson had partner for China, attacking Beijing on is- neighbour and main trading partner, to made a lot of eff orts to achieve a smooth sues ranging from trade to the South China use its infl uence to rein in the weapons transition in a new era of relations. “You Sea and in December by talking to Taiwan programmes. China says it is committed to said that China-US relations can only be President Tsai Ing-wen. Before Tillerson enforcing UN friendly. I express my appreciation for arrived in Beijing on Saturday, Trump said sanctions on North Korea, but all sides this,” Xi said. North Korea was “behaving very badly” have a responsibility to lessen tensions Xi said he had communicated with Pres- and accused China of doing little to re- and get back to the negotiating table. ident Donald Trump several times through solve the crisis over the North’s weapons Chinese offi cial also repeatedly say they telephone conversations and messages. programmes. do not have the infl uence over North Korea “We both believe that China-US co-op- Speaking in Seoul on Friday, Tillerson that Washington and others believe, and eration henceforth is the direction we are issued the Trump administration’s stark- express fears poverty-struck North Korea both striving for. We are both expecting est warning yet to North Korea, saying in could collapse if it were cut off completely, a new era for constructive development,” Seoul that a military response would be pushing destabilising waves of refugees China’s President Xi Jinping (left) meets US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Xi said. “The joint interests of China and “on the table” if Pyongyang took action to into northeastern China. yesterday. Tillerson met Xi just hours after a North Korean rocket engine test added new pressure on the big powers to the United States far outweigh the diff er- threaten South Korean and US forces. Still, address the threat from Pyongyang.

Indian priest Race hots up in Hong Kong stabbed at Three years later, Melbourne S Koreans prepare church An Indian priest conducting mass at a Melbourne church in Australia was stabbed in the neck yester- to raise sunken ferry day, in what might have been a racist attack, police and church Reuters won ($75mn). A Chinese com- off icials said. The attacker, an Ital- Seoul pany has fi tted 33 beams beneath ian, who had attended the service the hull, which will be raised by but was not a church member, 66 hydraulic jacks, he and a sec- has been arrested, Victoria police outh Korea prepared yes- ond ministry offi cial said. said late yesterday. The incident terday to raise the Sewol The system was tested yester- took place at St Matthew’s Parish Sferry that sank nearly three day and it was hoped an attempt at Fawkner in Melbourne. years ago, killing more than 300 could be made to lift the ship the Reverend Tomy Kalathoor Mat- people, most of them children, next time the tides were right, thew, 48, a local priest of Indian testing a system to bring the ship on around April 4-5, the offi cials origin, was attacked with a knife to the surface in the hope of fi nd- said. “We’re waiting for the neap to the neck just before mass in ing the last nine bodies. tide and when it comes, we’ll see the foyer of the church.” This is The Sewol, which was struc- what the weather is like and we’ll appalling behaviour and people turally unsound, overloaded and try,” the fi rst offi cial said. “We’re should never be treated like travelling too fast on a turn, cap- not making any promises but we’ll this,” spokesman of the Catholic sized and sank during a routine try,” he said.”There have to be low Archdiocese, Shane Healy, said. voyage on April 16, 2014. waves for at least three days.” The priest was taken to hospital It lies at a depth of 44m The disaster was a blot on with non-life threatening injuries (144ft), off the southwestern former President Park Geun- Chief Executive candidates, former chief secretary Carrie Lam (left) and former financial secretary John Tsang take part in a debate and a 72-year-old local Fawkner island of Jindo. Of those killed, hye’s record in offi ce that she in Hong Kong, China, yesterday. man was arrested. He has not yet 250 were teenagers on a school was never able to clear. She was been charged. “The priest, Tomy trip, many of whom obeyed crew accused of dithering after the Mathew, was stabbed in the neck instructions to remain in their initial report came in that the with a kitchen knife by the Italian cabins even as crew members ferry was in trouble, accusations Japan PM leaves for Europe for security, trade talks during the mass at a Catholic were escaping the sinking vessel. she denied. church in Melbourne suburbs,” Mourning families have been Her response to the disas- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Secretary of State Rex Tillerson without warning over the north- (East Sea) off Akita prefecture. said Thiruvallom Bhasi, editor of a calling for the ship to be raised ter was again raised in recent Abe headed yesterday for a visited Tokyo for talks on North ern part of the country and into “I want to exchange opinions Melbourne daily. Racism may be and for a more thorough investi- months after she came under four-day trip to Europe, hoping to Korean nuclear and missile the western Pacific in 1998. openly with G7 leaders,” Abe the reason behind the attack, local gation into the disaster. suspicion in the course of an discuss security issues and make threats. The pace of the North’s missile told reporters at a Tokyo airport media reported, quoting church “The main reason is to fi nd the investigation into a corruption progress on trade as regional The top US diplomat also trav- development has intensified and before his departure. off icials. The attacker allegedly nine missing bodies,” a ministry scandal that led to her dismissal tensions soar over accelerating elled to Seoul and Beijing after its projectiles have since last “We hope to closely co-operate told the priest that because he of oceans and fi sheries offi cial, from offi ce on March 10. A rep- North Korean threats. Tokyo. year been landing ever closer to with the EU on issues the inter- was Indian, he must be a Hindu or who declined to be identifi ed, resentative of a victims’ family Abe’s trip, which will take him to Japan has been on edge over Japan’s coast, with three of the national community is facing a Muslim and therefore cannot be told Reuters, referring to the sal- group said relatives were hope- Germany, France, Belgium and North Korean launches since a four missiles launched earlier this such as the problems on North conducting a Catholic mass, ac- vage that is costing about 85bn ful. Italy, comes a few days after US mid-range ballistic missile flew month falling in the Sea of Japan Korea and free trade,” he said. cording to The Age newspaper. Gulf Times 16 Monday, March 20, 2017 BRITAIN

CLAIM CRIME LAW AND ORDER SURVEY VERDICT Deputy director of MI5 Murder hunt begins as Teens held on suspicion Bristol named best place Greedy treasurer jailed for ‘to head GCHQ spy agency’ boy found hurt in flat dies of child abduction to live in Britain in 2017 selling charity’s lifeboat

The deputy director-general of the internal security A one-year-old boy has died after being found A man and two teenagers have been arrested on Bristol has topped the list of the “best places to A “greedy” treasurer sank her own sea rescue service is to become the new head of intelligence injured in a north London flat. Police called to suspicion of child abduction after two missing live in Britain” in a new guide for 2017. The city charity after selling its lifeboat on eBay. Roxanna eavesdropping service GCHQ, the Sunday Times Wilberforce Road in Finsbury Park on Saturday schoolgirls were found in the early hours of yes- has been named as the UK’s most desirable Bridgland, 56, spent five years swindling £24,500 newspaper reported. The Sunday Times reported night also discovered a girl the same age who terday. The missing 13-year-olds were discovered location in the Sunday Times Best Places to from Cleethorpes Rescue Service, an inshore res- MI5’s Jeremy Fleming, who it said had worked at is in a critical condition. The children, thought to by off icers at an address in the Washwood Heath Live Guide. Described as “a small city that feels cue charity. The treasurer was handed a two year the intelligence agency for at least 20 years, would be twins, were taken to an east London hospital. area of Birmingham at around 1am. They went like a big city”, it was praised for being “handily prison sentence, after selling the charity’s £13,000 be named GCHQ head this week. The previous The boy died in the early hours of Sunday. Police missing after getting off a number 97 bus on placed for seaside and scenery” but “hardly lifeboat for £6,000 on eBay. Bridgland, from head of GCHQ, Robert Hannigan, who had been in are trying to trace Bidhya Sagar Das, 33, who also Garrison Lane in Bordesley Green, Birmingham, at cut off”. Regional winners included Frome in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, left the charity crippled be- post since 2014, said in January he was stepping lived in Wilberforce Road. A neighbour told the around 9pm on March 17, sparking an extensive Somerset, Peckham in London and Ballycastle yond recovery after engineering the resignation down for family reasons. Last week, in a rare public BBC a woman came downstairs screaming for police search. The pair are said to be safe and in Northern Ireland. The annual guide, which of its chairman and selling stolen property for her statement, GCHQ dismissed claims made on a US help, and another neighbour called the police. well and currently receiving specialist support combines data such as crime rates, house own gain. Hull Crown Court heard how the rescue television station that it helped former president One person living opposite the building, who from police off icers. A 27-year-old man and two prices and school performance, said the city service, which was set up in the wake of three Barack Obama eavesdrop on Donald Trump after gave her name as Gui Gui, said she had heard a teenagers, aged 16 and 17, have been arrested on had faced “stiff competition” from London and child deaths, was left to deal with unpaid gas and last year’s US presidential election. woman shouting. suspicion of child abduction. other major UK destinations. electricity bills and debt collectors. Osborne ability Dolphin sculpture for sale to serve as MP doubtful, feels Davidson

Guardian News and Media “There’s a liberal conservative London point of view to be talked about and we are going to do that.” The comments came as the he leader of the Scottish chair of the country’s chief Conservatives has ques- standards watchdog said rules Ttioned George Osborne’s regarding MPs’ second jobs may vow to remain as an MP after he need to be reviewed, given Os- becomes editor of the London borne’s decision not to resign as Evening Standard, as the chair MP for his Cheshire constitu- of the parliamentary standards ency, which is almost 200 miles watchdog pledged to review from London. rules on MPs’ second jobs. Lord Bew, chair of the com- Ruth Davidson said she could mittee on standards in public not see how the former chancel- life, told the Sunday Times the lor could juggle being a journalist current rules were “getting into and a politician. rockier waters”. “I spent 10 years as a journal- “We have not ruled out MPs ist and I’ve now spent six years having second jobs, quite delib- as a politician and I’m not sure erately, up until now, but we now I could combine them both,” have to look again at our rules,” Boy With A Dolphin is one of London’s best-loved pieces of public art — and now a private collector can get their own, smaller version. An early model, four feet long, was made she told the BBC’s Andrew Marr he said. “We are going to discuss by artist David Wynne as part of his preparations for the 15ft Cheyne Walk sculpture which is a familiar sight to people crossing Albert Bridge. Christie’s, which is selling the work Show. “I work a pretty busy week whether our rules on second jobs next Thursday in South Kensington, expects it to fetch about £50,000. as it is and this week in particu- need to be changed in light of this.” lar. I’m not sure I could do both Osborne’s case raised the “is- at the same time if I’m honest.” sue of how much time MPs have The MP for Tatton now has a to- to devote to their parliamentary tal of six highly paid jobs including work,” Bew said. his constituency work, as: editor Labour’s elections chief, An- of the Evening Standard; chair of drew Gwynne MP, has written to the Northern Powerhouse part- the Cabinet Offi ce to raise con- nership; adviser to BlackRock; a cerns about the potential con- Kissinger fellow in the US; and an fl ict of interest in Osborne taking Sturgeon ready to discuss after-dinner speaker. the role while remaining an MP. However, yesterday Osborne’s Former shadow business secre- new job was defended by both the tary Clive Lewis has also writ- former prime minister Tony Blair ten to the advisory committee on and ex-cabinet minister Nicky business appointments (Acoba), Morgan, both prominent Remain saying the committee should re- campaigners who hinted they buke Osborne for accepting the independence vote timing were pleased someone of his po- post before he had written to the litical persuasion was in the post. committee for guidance. Guardian News and Media place before Brexit, telling Stur- Sturgeon added that a de- “The SNP is not Scotland cused the UK prime minister of “I don’t know if having both Acoba assesses any private London geon “now is not the time” for lay until after the next Scot- and they are acting against the “condescension and infl exibility”, of those jobs is doable, but it’s paid roles taken by former min- the vote to be re-run. tish parliamentary elections in majority wishes of the people insisting there would be a second a great thing for the Evening isters and civil servants in fi elds Sturgeon said she was still of- 2021 would not be acceptable. of Scotland in putting forward referendum even if the UK govern- Standard,” Blair told Marr. “Why they used to regulate in govern- icola Sturgeon has said fering compromise. “(May) said “I don’t think that is reasonable their proposition,” she said. ment tried to block it. Holyrood is not? He’s a highly capable guy ment, but although it can of- she is willing to have a she does not agree with that because by that point Scotland “I’ve read far too many head- expected to back Sturgeon’s eff orts and it’ll make politics more in- fer guidance, it cannot prevent N“reasonable” discus- timescale,” the fi rst minister told has been taken out of the EU, two lines saying, ‘Scotland reacts in a vote on Wednesday. teresting.” appointments. Its advice has sion with Theresa May to delay Peston on Sunday. “I think it is years have elapsed,” she said. X, Scotland reacts Y’. No, it Earlier on Saturday, Gordon Morgan, who co-wrote a piece historically included guidance a Scottish independence refer- for her then to say what times- “Presumably there is diver- doesn’t. There are people right Brown said there was an op- for the Observer on Sunday op- to delay appointments, which it endum, but insisted it could not cale she thinks would be appro- gence opening up between the across Scotland, many, many portunity for Scotland to be posing grammar schools, said cannot do if the appointment has be put off for long in the face of priate and I’m happy to have that rules of the European Union and thousands of them, that are so granted a range of new powers the appointment proved there already been announced. Brexit. discussion within reason. the single market and where the thankful for the prime minister after Brexit – such as more tax- was still an appetite for liberal Osborne has previously been Scotland’s fi rst minister earli- “If she’s talking in the spring UK is going. I think it then gets to say let’s take a pause on this. raising powers, abilities to sign conservative voices. rebuked by Acoba for announc- er said a new independence vote of 2019, a bit later perhaps than much harder for Scotland to “We have asked basic ques- international treaties, and more “When you are fi red, as we all ing his Northern Powerhouse should be held in 2018, before I was suggesting, there may seek a diff erent course.” tions on things like currency, control over agriculture, fi sher- were last summer, what did the initiative before seeking the the fi nal deal on the UK’s exit be some room for discussion Ruth Davidson, the leader of on things like a central bank, on ies, environmental regulation, government expect? That we committee’s advice, and is likely from the EU is sealed. But yes- around that. But it seems to me the Scottish Conservatives, yes- things like whether we would employment and energy. were going to just all disappear?” to be similarly criticised by the terday she hinted that she could to be just fundamentally unfair terday repeated her opposition even rejoin Europe as a full An Opinium/Observer poll yes- she told ITV’s Peston on Sunday. watchdog for publicly announc- be willing to wait up to another for a UK government, with Brex- to a referendum and said it was member, and Nicola Sturgeon terday found 54% of people say “We are going to make our voices ing his newspaper job having year. it having sunk the ship, trying to wrong to consistently portray seems unable to commit to that.” they believe the chances of the heard, whether it’s me writing only informed the committee May has said she will not puncture Scotland’s lifeboat as the Scottish National party as In a speech to the SNP confer- break-up of the UK have increased, articles, or George being editor. earlier this week. agree to any referendum taking well.” the voice of Scotland. ence on Saturday, Sturgeon ac- against 16% who disagree.

Buyers snapping up outer Charity initiative Judges ‘must make London homes: survey ex-crime boss pay London Evening Standard Adams, 62, is seeking to over- London Evening Standard Sutton properties take an av- took for their status to change to London turn an earlier high court judge- London erage of 28 days after being listed “under off er”. Separate research ment which rejected his claim for sale to get an off er, the re- has shown property prices in that he is too poor to pay and search suggests. outer London rising by up to 20% he justice system will be all or part of the debt should be omes in less than fash- Havering and Bexley were next a year. brought “into disrepute” written off . In that ruling, Justice ionable suburbs of outer at 29 days. In central London, stamp duty Tif a former crime lord is let Davies found that Adams had not HLondon have become the They are among the fastest rises and the vote to leave the off a £700,000 debt to taxpayers made a “full and candid disclo- fastest-selling in the capital, re- places to sell property in Britain, EU are blamed for a freeze in the despite “fl aunting” his wealth at sure” about his wealth and said search shows. with Northampton (27 days) top past two years. However, there top London venues, the Court of “an unidentifi ed cash reserve” Although areas that have seen of the list. All the “prime” inner are recent signs of recovery, with Appeal has been warned. was available to him and his wife rapid gentrifi cation in the east of the London areas take longer than foreign investors taking advan- Kennedy Talbot QC told Ruth. capital were previously the “hot” the national average of 47 days. tage of the fall in the value of the judges that Terry Adams, the Representing Adams at the locations, it is now the turn of bor- Properties in the most ex- pound. former head of a notorious hearing, barrister Ivan Krolick oughs such as Sutton and Havering. pensive boroughs, Kensington Jonathan Hopper, manag- north London crime syndicate, claimed Justice Davies had been An analysis by property web- & Chelsea and Westminster, are ing director of the buying agents has a “hidden reserve” of mon- wrong because she incorrectly site Zoopla shows that properties slowest to go under off er in the Garrington Property Finders, ey channelled to him through treated “luxurious” spending by in Sutton are the quickest to go capital, at 83 and 70 days respec- said: “The past year has seen a “false loans and bogus employ- Ruth as proof of her husband’s under off er after they are put on tively. real shift in momentum from ment” and used to pay for an wealth. He said that in reality the market. Wandsworth (56 days), Cam- central London to the suburbs. expensive lifestyle including Ruth had her own money, mostly Experts said the study is fur- den (58 days) and Hammersmith “Boroughs like Havering are nights out at the Dorchester, from the sale of the couple’s ther evidence of the strength of and Fulham (62 days) make up enjoying a surge in interest. Re- the Ivy restaurant and the Royal London home. outer London’s property market the bottom fi ve. generation and the prospect of Opera House. Krolick added that pros- in comparison to the “prime” Haringey, 10th on the list of better transport connections Talbot said the spend- ecutors had failed to show central London market, which “fastest-selling” boroughs, is mean that areas like this can off er ing showed Adams could pay how Adams acquired the hid- has stalled in recent years. the highest-placed in inner Lon- both good value and the potential £700,000 which is outstanding den cash they claimed he had More people are now willing don. for strong growth.” from a confi scation order im- and that Adams — who he said to move to previously unpopular The analysis was based on a A spokesman for Zoopla said: Kinky Boots star Matt Henry poses for Comic Relief. The posed in 2007 after his convic- had stopped offending in the areas because of their aff ord- sample of for-sale listings, pub- “We are seeing outer London cast of the musical will be doing bucket collections and tion for money laundering, and early 1990s — had “suffered” ability and improving transport lished on Zoopla on or after Jan- continuing to grow and central auctioning off a billboard sign on March 24. there were “no grounds” to let because of his wife’s “foolish” links, they added. uary 1 last year, and how long it London stalling.” him off . spending. Gulf Times Monday, March 20, 2017 17 BRITAIN

Couple’s fi ght over cash lasts much longer than their marriage

Marilyn Levesque and Damien stop fi ghting over money, a judge on lawyers. Judges have heard the him at a private family court hear- She says evidence shows that to a nightclub and ran up a credit Court, who represented Hancox, Hancox have been embroiled said. pair, in their early thirties, had a ing in London late in 2016. But he had assets of more than £20mn card bill of more than £200,000 in said questions needed to be asked in court litigation for six times Marilyn Levesque and Damien “hedonistic” lifestyle after meet- Hancox mounted an appeal, com- in 2007 — the same year he had a 12-month period. about how much Levesque should longer than they actually Hancox have been embroiled in ing in 2010 and living at a South plaining of unfairness as a result declared himself bankrupt — and They said that Hancox was or- walk away with after a marriage shared a marital home court litigation for six times longer Kensington fl at. of being forced to take part in the operated Swiss bank accounts in dered earlier to pay maintenance lasting less than half a year. He told than they actually shared a marital They wed in July 2013 — amid a hearing over a telephone from Ibi- company names. pending the conclusion of pro- justice Baker that she had “always London Evening Standard home. ceremony that Levesque said cost za because he had pneumonia. Levesque says money was ceedings and that he owed her lived in student-style accommo- London Justice Baker, analysing the lat- about £200,000 — before sepa- Justice Baker analysed his com- “spent freely” during their mar- more than £100,000. dation”. est stage of their dispute at the rating in December that year and plaints at a public appeal hearing riage and there were photographs Barrister Justin Warshaw, QC, The judge told the pair the case family division of the High Court are now divorced. Commodities and concluded that rival claims of “bundles of cash” at the home for Levesque, said the “mess” had was “very expensive”, adding: model and a broker who in London, has urged them to try to broker Hancox, who has homes in should be reconsidered at a fresh they shared. been created because Hancox had “The more money you spend on split up fi ve months after reach agreement. Ibiza and Verbier, won the latest hearing. Her lawyers told justice Bak- failed to disclose fi nancial infor- legal proceedings the less money Aspending about £200,000 He was told that Levesque had round of the fi ght. Levesque says Hancox has not er that Hancox would regularly mation. there will be to share between you on their wedding should try to already spent more than £230,000 A judge had made orders against disclosed detail of his fi nances. spend more than £4,000 on a trip Barrister Christopher Mc- at the end of the day.”

Armed police hold Rape victims terror drill on Thames to be spared Guardian News and Media London

ore than 200 armed po- lice have practised their ordeal of being Mresponse to a terrorist attack on a Thames “pleasure boat” in the fi rst drill of its kind on London’s main river. A sightseeing ship became the scene of a fi erce mock gun bat- tle between armed offi cers and grilled in court police posing as terrorists shortly after 11am yesterday. The exercise, Guardian News and Media give the best possible evidence days on end and would also al- close to the London Docklands London they can give in an environment low them to cut out any inap- area, marks the fi rst time the Met- that is much more suitable than propriate cross-examination of ropolitan police have staged a live, open court. We’ve been trialling a victim’s sexual history before it waterborne exercise like this. ew measures to spare al- this for children in cases of sex could be aired before a jury. Armed offi cers boarded the leged rape victims from abuses.” Prerecorded evidence is al- ship in a hail of gunfi re just over Nfacing live cross-exami- She added: “What this has led ready being launched nationwide two hours after fi ve offi cers pos- nation in court will be rolled out to is a much higher level of early for child sexual abuse cases. ing as armed terrorists hijacked as part of changes being made by guilty pleas. That has a huge The victims’ commissioner, the vessel. At least one “body”, the justice secretary. amount of benefi t. It resolves the Lady Newlove, welcomed the played by a volunteer, was thrown Liz Truss announced that case much earlier for the victim. news that the government is to overboard. from September victims in Eng- It reduces the level of trauma for strengthen the support avail- The Met, the Port of London land and Wales would be able to the victim. I want to see that be- able to victims in the courtroom. Authority, London Coastguard, provide evidence in prerecorded ing the standard off er in those “Prerecorded cross-examination the Royal National Lifeboat Insti- cross-examinations to be played cases and that will give more allows vulnerable victims and tution (RNLI), London ambulance to the jury once a trial begins. victims the confi dence to come witnesses to give evidence in service and London fi re brigade The rule applying to all adult forward.” a safe environment and I hope took part in the exercise aimed at sexual off ences is being intro- Rape prosecutions are at these long-awaited measures testing the eff ectiveness of emer- duced following the success of record levels and the court sys- will provide the protection and gency rescue tactics in lifelike pilot schemes using prerecorded tem is struggling to cope with the reassurance they need to seek conditions. The drill was designed evidence in cases of child sexual high caseloads. justice,” she said. to test every phase of the emer- abuse. Domestic abuse, rape, sexual However, some questioned gency response – from the mo- It was found that defend- off ences and child sex abuse whether the new measures would ment an incident is reported to the ants, when confronted with the account for 19% of the Crown place the defendant in rape trials conclusion of a rescue operation. strength of the evidence against Prosecution Service’s total at an unfair disadvantage. Commander BJ Harrington, them before the trial, were more caseload – more than double the James Conte, who founded the head of the Met’s public order likely to enter an early guilty plea, fi gure six years ago. website Accused.me.uk, a sup- command, said the exercise was reducing the trauma for victims, The volume of rape referrals to port group for victims of false not in response to any specifi c speeding up the justice process the CPS from the police rose to allegations, said: “Whilst we intelligence about an impend- and saving money. 6,855 in 2015-16 – up 11% on the would welcome measures that ing marine attack. But he noted The move comes amid changes previous year. Of those referred, would increase the rape convic- that recent terrorist incidents in that include a crackdown on pae- 3,910 resulted in charges and tions of people who really have the rest of Europe showed how dophiles grooming children on 1,300 in convictions. However, committed rape, if you are whol- would-be attackers have found social media with a new off ence campaigners claim only 6% of all ly innocent of someone trying to varied ways to infl ict harm. of “sexual communication with reported cases result in a convic- frame you, you will not welcome He said: “It’s important to point a child” to be brought in. It will tion for the perpetrator. these changes because they will out that the exercise has not been mean those convicted face a jail The new regulations will aim increase your chances of being designed in response to any spe- sentence of up to two years and to improve the conviction rate wrongfully convicted.” cifi c threat. There’s no informa- an automatic listing on the sex with victims and vulnerable wit- But Lisa Avalos, a profes- tion that we have that we’re pre- off ender register. nesses able to give evidence “in sor of law at the University of paring for. “Of course, we have Truss said the changes to rape a room in court where it’s much Arkansas who has carried out seen a number of incidents abroad trials would prevent victims fac- less intimidating, where there comparative work on rape pros- in the past few years: Nice, Berlin ing the trauma of confronting are ground rules set by the judge”, ecutions between Britain and – we have seen diff erent method- their attackers without reducing said Truss. the US, said false allegations of ologies developing, and, of course, the right to a fair trial. She said the changes would rape make up just 2-3% of all the river runs right through Lon- She told the Sunday Times: mean judges can limit the length rape allegations according to don, so why wouldn’t we prepare Armed counter terrorism off icers of the London Metropolitan Police, take part in a training exercise to “There is more we can do to help of cross-examination to avoid a study commissioned by the for that.” rescue hostages, played by actors, from a cruise boat on the river Thames, in London, yesterday. alleged victims in these cases victims having to testify for Home Office.

Rower honoured Duo squander inheritance Road rage attack lands on battle with stepmum cabbie in hospital London Evening Standard injured. He was in a daze. I said, London ‘Are you okay?’ but he was si- London Evening Standard legal bill for the case — thereby His death set his second wife of lent for 20 minutes. When he London wiping out their own inherit- nine years and his sons from his put his hand up to the wound ance — the judge blasted the fi rst marriage — Wandsworth cab driver suff ered a frac- behind his ear blood was drip- sons for forcing her to go to fi nancial adviser Richard, 54, tured skull after being ping down his fingernails onto wo brothers have been court. and US-based Jonathan, 55, — Aknocked to the ground in a his arm. I held on to his arm the criticised by a judge af- against each other in court. vicious “right of way” stand-off whole time to let him know I Tter blowing their entire “Their stance has, it is Ailsa, of Littlebourne, Kent, on a narrow London road. was there for him.” inheritance on a “hopeless” apparent to me, been said a will made in 2009 in The bespectacled victim, 62, The speech and language bid to stop their stepmother driven by personal issues which she was left £125,000 was recovering in hospital after therapist said of the attacker: “I getting an extra £25,000 from and not by a reasonable — equal to half of the remain- tempers fl ared when both vehi- can’t believe this man reacted so their father’s will. inquiry into their father’s ing estate after gifts to others cles refused to give way. violently over some small traffi c Richard and Jonathan Pow- state of mind” — was her husband’s last true The younger driver of the oth- delay, it’s just nasty. He needs to ell had claimed their disabled will. The brothers were be- er car leaned through his window be found before he does this to father, David, did not under- “She should not have been queathed £62,500 each. to land the fi rst punch, before the someone else.” stand what he was doing when put to the trouble and ex- However, they claimed a men got out of their vehicles. Residents have raised con- he made his final will, grant- pense of proving this claim will made 18 months earlier, The cab driver was then struck cerns about the pinchpoint ing his second wife £125,000. on the tenuous basis of chal- in which she and they split the in the face with such force that in the road with MP Chuka They said an earlier document, lenge advanced by Richard and estate three ways, was the last he fell to the ground, hitting his Umunna. from which stepmother Ailsa Jonathan Powell,” he said. “My valid one. head. Hassan said: “The road is Williamson Powell would get conclusion is that their posi- The widow’s barrister, Mark Witnesses said the attacker very narrow and so many cars £100,000, was his last true tion has not been reasonable Dencer, said the case had only left his victim unconscious in the come down here that it leads will, and forced the pensioner at any point in this litigation. come about because the “ava- road and got back in his car and to a lot of stand-offs. There is a to go to court over it. “Their stance has, it is ap- ricious” brothers did not like continued along Gleneldon Road one-way section which a lot of But after ruling in her fa- parent to me, been driven by her and hoped she would “lack in Streatham. people usually ignore and drive vour, Judge Marc Dight has personal issues and not by a the stomach or means to fi ght”. The road was blocked off for illegally down so we want more now said the brothers were reasonable inquiry into their Having lost the case, the broth- fi ve hours after the incident as cameras to catch them.” “unreasonable” not to accept father’s state of mind.” ers argued that the costs should police launched a hunt for the The suspect is described as that their father and step- Central London County be paid out of their father’s es- driver. black, in his early twenties and mother were a “devoted cou- Court earlier heard that retired tate. The court heard Ailsa had British rower William Satch holds his MBE medal after being NHS worker Shafaq Hassan, around 5ft 8in tall with afro hair. ple”. Kent farm manager David died tried to settle outside court and appointed Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) 37, said: “I sat down next to the He wore a jumper, black trousers Ruling they should pick up aged 84 in 2012 after a 20-year found it “inexplicable” that it at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London. man and tried to talk to him but and black shoes and was driving the entire estimated £200,000 battle with Parkinson’s disease. had actually gone to trial. I could see his head was badly a dark green car. Gulf Times 18 Monday, March 20, 2017 EUROPE

Spain says it will give Authorities seek motive nothing for ETA of Paris airport attacker to disarm AFP/Reuters The attack comes with France shots and then stealing another French media said his family Reuters Paris still on high alert following a se- car. was of Tunisian origin. Madrid ries of Islamist militant attacks On the departures fl oor of A spokesman for the Paris that have claimed more than 230 the airport, he grabbed a soldier airport authority said yesterday rench investigators were lives in two years. patrolling with two colleagues that the backlog of travellers he Spanish government on trying yesterday to es- Security is one of the key is- under the Sentinelle anti-terror stranded by the chaos had been will give nothing in ex- Ftablish whether the man sues in France’s two-round operation that has mobilised cleared and that passengers were Tchange for disarmament shot dead after holding up a sol- presidential election on April 23 thousands of troops since Janu- experiencing only “slight de- of the Basque militant separa- dier at Orly airport in Paris had and May 7. ary 2015. lays”. tist group ETA, Prime Minister planned the attack or acted on An autopsy was to be carried Paris prosecutor Francois Mo- Soldiers guarding key sites Mariano Rajoy said on Saturday. impulse. out on Ben Belgacem’s body to lins said Ben Belgacem threat- have been targeted in four at- The group, which has killed Saturday’s assault by 39-year- determine if alcohol or drugs ened the three, ordering them to tacks in the past two years that more than 800 people over sev- old Ziyed Ben Belgacem caused were a factor. surrender. have caused only minor injuries. eral decades and declared a per- a major security scare, leading Paris prosecutor Francois “I’m here to die for Allah. In In mid-February, a machete- manent ceasefi re six years ago, to the temporary closure of the Molins said he appeared to have any case, people are going to wielding Egyptian attacked a has been severely weakened in capital’s second-busiest airport become caught up in a “sort die,” Molins quoted him as say- soldier outside Paris’s Louvre recent years after hundreds of and the cancellation of dozens of headlong fl ight that became ing. museum, injuring him slightly, its members were arrested and of fl ights. more and more destructive”. He tried to use the soldier as a before being shot and wounded. police seized several weapons By morning yesterday the The shooting took place on Molins: the suspect appeared to have been caught up in a sort of human shield but her colleagues French President Francois stashes. situation had nearly returned to the second day of a visit to Paris headlong flight that became more and more destructive. managed to shoot him as they Hollande said on Saturday On Friday, France’s Le Monde normal. by Britain’s Prince William and scuffl ed. that his government was “de- reported that ETA were set to Ben Belgacem said that he his wife Kate, which was unaf- of Garges-les-Gonesse, where fi red at the police, slightly injur- Ben Belgacem was carrying a termined to fi ght relentlessly announce plans to disarm and wanted to “die for Allah” and fected. he lived. ing one offi cer. petrol can in a backpack as well against terrorism, defend the have scheduled a full handover that others too would die af- Ben Belgacem’s stand-off After spending the night in a Belgacem’s father, who was as a copy of the Qur’an, Molins security of our compatriots and of weapons for April 8 – several ter grabbing a female soldier, with the security forces began bar, he was pulled over by police initially detained by police but said. ensure the protection of our Basque political leaders said this putting a gun to her head and around 6.30am (0530 GMT) in for speeding. then released, denied his son had He was investigated in 2015 country”. was credible. seizing her rifl e. the gritty northern Paris suburb Ben Belgacem drew a gun and been involved in terrorism. over his suspected links to Is- Presidential candidates re- Basque independence sympa- “My son has never been a ter- lamist radicals but his name did sponded swiftly to the incident. thisers have lobbied for years for French teenagers charged over school shooting rorist. He has never prayed: he not feature on the list of those Conservative Francois Fillon imprisoned ETA operatives to be drinks. And, under the infl u- thought to pose a high risk. said that France was in a “situ- moved to prisons closer to the A 16-year-old boy who opened fire at his school in Tocqueville high school in the hillside town of Grasse, ence of alcohol and cannabis, A small amount of cocaine ation of virtual civil war” and Basque Country. southern France, slightly wounding four fellow pupils was carrying a small arsenal of weapons as well as a this is what happens,” the father, and a machete were found dur- spoke out against a proposal to “ETA has made the umpteenth and a teacher, was charged over the attack on Satur- homemade explosive device in a bag. whose name was not given, told ing a search of his home on Sat- lift a state of emergency in place announcement and says it will day along with an alleged accomplice. Authorities have not detailed their evidence against Europe 1. urday. since the November 2015 at- disarm ... it won’t be in exchange The heavily armed teen appears to have been moti- the 17-year-old alleged accomplice, and he refused to He said he had received a Police said they were ques- tacks. for anything,” Rajoy said during vated to launch Thursday’s assault by “bad relation- speak to investigators. phone call from his son in which tioning a brother and cousin of Far-right candidate Marine Le a meeting of his People’s Party in ships” with his classmates and aimed to kill up to 14 of However, his parents recently reported him to authori- Belgacem referred to shooting Belgacem and an autopsy on the Pen, running on an anti-immi- the Basque Country. them, authorities said. ties for writing a letter to an American prisoner in the the police offi cer, saying: “I ask dead man would be carried out. gration, anti-EU ticket, said the The group has attempted to The shooter, who has not been named because he is a state of Ohio who is serving a sentence for commit- your forgiveness. I screwed up Molins said on Saturday that Orly attacker could have caused broker deals in exchange for dis- minor, was charged with attempted homicide, and an ting three murders at a high school. with a policeman.” they would be examining his tel- a “massacre”. armament on several occasions accomplice was charged with helping him. The head teacher and four pupils wounded in the at- Ben Belgacem then drove to ephone to establish with whom “Our government is over- but the Spanish and French gov- Both are behind bars. tack were not the intended targets of the shooter, said Orly airport, stopping off fi rst in he had been in contact. whelmed, stunned, paralysed ernments have refused to work Investigators said the boy, a student at the Alexis de local prosecutor Fabienne Atzori. a bar where he had been drink- Belgacem was born in Paris, like a rabbit in the headlights,” with them, insisting only that ing hours earlier and fi ring more according to the prosecutor. she told an election rally. they hand over their arsenal. Germany hits back at Trump Social Democrats endorse over Nato after icy meeting Schulz to take on Merkel AFP Berlin AFP measure Germany’s military ef- Berlin forts. Merkel said Berlin was com- artin Schulz has of- mitted to increasing its military fi cially become Chan- ermany has hit back at spending to 2% of GDP, a 10- Mcellor Angela Merkel’s US President Donald year- target that North Atlan- chief rival at Germany’s Septem- GTrump’s claims that Ber- tic Treaty Organisation (Nato) ber general election, leading the lin owed “vast sums of money” member states formally agreed left-wing challenge to unseat ar- to Nato, following a less than to in 2014. guably the world’s most powerful cordial meeting with Chancel- Trump had made European woman. lor Angela Merkel at the White defence spending an issue dur- The bearded Social Democrat, House. ing his election campaign, say- already credited with giving his The comments from German ing that the US – which spends ailing party a strong shot in the Defence Minister Ursula von der just over 3% of its GDP (gross arm, was unanimously elected Leyen came as Trump’s spokes- domestic product) on defence – SPD leader and standard bearer man denied that the US leader carries too much of the fi nancial at a one-day congress yesterday had refused to shake hands with burden for supporting Nato. in Berlin. Merkel, arguably the most pow- Germany, whose war-time In a speech to the SPD rank and erful woman in world. past has led it traditionally to fi le, the 61-year-old attempted to The stark diff erences between be reticent on military matters, harness this momentum against Trump and Merkel on every- currently spends 1.2% of GDP Merkel, whose conservatives just thing from trade to immigration on defence. a few months ago had an appar- were in full view during their Von der Leyen said yesterday ently invincible lead in the polls. frosty fi rst White House meet- that Germany’s increased mili- “Starting now the fi ght begins ing on Friday. tary spending would not go only to become the top party in the Although the visit began Von der Leyen: There is no account where debts are registered with to Nato but would also be used country and take over the chan- cordially enough, with the pair Nato. for participating in UN and Eu- cellory,” Schulz told the party Schulz acknowledges applause after his election yesterday as new shaking hands at the White ropean peacekeeping missions congress. SPD leader during the party’s congress in Berlin. House entrance, Merkel’s sug- when Trump’s administration “Despite what you have heard and to contribute to the fi ght Schulz’s decision to leave the gestion of another handshake in defi ed the international com- from the FAKE NEWS,” he said, against the Islamic State (IS) ex- European Parliament, which he The Social Democrats, junior He has faced attacks from con- the Oval Offi ce went unheard or munity by refusing to renew a “I had a GREAT meeting with tremists. headed for fi ve years, and become partners in Merkel’s government servatives that he has adopted a ignored by Trump – an awkward pledge on climate change. German Chancellor Angela “To try to link the 2% (of a candidate for German leader for nearly eight of the last 12 “populist” tone but he dismisses moment in what are usually The ministers were forced Merkel.” (GDP) that we are aiming by the has given the Social Democrats years, has long suff ered in Mer- the charges as elitism. highly scripted occasions. on Saturday to leave out an en- But he then added: “Germa- middle of the decade is errone- a new lease of life since ex-party kel’s shadow. “I speak in a way so you can “I don’t believe he heard the tire section related to the Paris ny owes vast sums of money to ous,” she said. chief Sigmar Gabriel asked him But Gabriel, now Germany’s tell me apart from my rivals, and request,” Trump’s spokesman accord on combating climate NATO & the United States must Trump critics pointed out to take the reins in January. foreign minister, told supporters I try to make complex ideas un- Sean Spicer told German weekly change after US Treasury Sec- be paid more for the powerful, that Nato members don’t pay “It’s been encouraging to see this month that Schulz’s entry derstandable for my audience,” Der Spiegel published yesterday. retary Steven Mnuchin said that and very expensive, defence it the United States for security, in the last few weeks that people into the race as a Berlin outsider he insists. But Germany’s top-selling green issues were “not in my provides to Germany!” but contribute by spending on are hopeful again that the Social appeals to many SPD voters who Party members are hope- Bild newspaper said that was track”. Germany’s defence minister their own militaries. Democrats have a shot” at elec- are tired of the “grand coalition”. ful that Schulz can help heal “improbable”, saying that “Donald Trump is trying to Von der Leyen, a close Merkel “Sorry, Mr President, that’s tion victory, Schulz told Berlin “He embodies the feeling of the divisions stemming from a throughout the meeting, Trump ruin Merkel’s G20 summit” be- ally, rebuff ed his comments yes- not how Nato works,” tweeted public radio RBB this week. “My Social Democracy, in his head programme of labour market re- did not once look Merkel in the ing hosted by Germany in July, terday. Ivo Daalder, a former US ambas- intention to pursue policies that and above all in his heart,” Gabri- forms known as Agenda 2010 and eye. Die Welt newspaper charged. “There is no account where sador to Nato. “This is not a fi - make the lives of hard-working el said. passed by the last SPD chancel- The diffi cult encounter came Trump had lashed out at the debts are registered with Nato,” nancial transaction, where Nato people a little better is apparent- Schulz attributes his surge to lor, Gerhard Schroeder, who lost as a new row erupted over en- media in a Saturday morning she said in a statement, add- countries pay the US to defend ly fi nding a lot of support.” a sharpened focus on the party’s to Merkel in 2005. vironment at a G20 meeting of tweet over its view of the Merkel ing that Nato spending should them. It is part of our treaty Opinion polls have recorded bread-and-butter issues includ- The unpopular measures were fi nance ministers in Germany, meeting. not be the only criteria used to commitment.” a 10-point jump for the SPD in ing wealth redistribution, free successful in driving down un- recent weeks with some placing education and gender equality. employment but also a key factor it ahead of the conservative bloc He has in the process become in the party’s bitter and lasting behind Merkel, who is hoping to something of a social media gulf between centrists and left- win a fourth term in offi ce. phenomenon, inspiring a raft of ists. The SPD congress has fi red aff ectionate hashtags and viral Schulz, stressing his hum- Nato battle group starts arriving in Estonia the starting gun for the national videos among his fi red-up fans, ble roots, has pledged to soften election campaign and also the and dubbed “Robin Hood” by the some of its key planks, including race for three German state polls, press. lengthening the period of time AFP soldiers today as well as the rest in order to strengthen the al- formerly under Moscow’s con- the fi rst of which will be held in While the SPD party is turning the jobless are entitled to full Tallinn of the battalion in the coming liance’s defence capabilities,” trol. Saarland on the French border, decidedly to the left with Schulz, benefi ts. weeks. said Simmo Saar, a spokesman Apart from the British-led on March 26. the party said yesterday that it Meanwhile Merkel, a frequent By mid-April more than 800 for the Estonian defence force. battalion in Estonia, Canada will Ahead of the congress, Schulz favoured in the French presiden- winner of Forbes magazine’s ritish troops arrived in Es- British troops and nearly 300 “This decision is based on lead a multinational battalion in won a nod of support from EU tial race centrist ex-economy most-powerful woman ranking, tonia on Friday as part of a French troops will be stationed changes in the international se- Latvia, Germany in Lithuania Commission chief Jean-Claude minister Emmanual Macron. said she was not troubled about BNato move to reinforce its in Estonia. curity situation,” he told AFP. and the US in Poland. Juncker who, despite his centre- Schulz’s unique life history – the wind in the SPD’s sails, not- eastern fl ank in a bid to deter a A Danish contingent will re- The North Atlantic Treaty Tensions between Russia and right stance, has had a somewhat he wanted to be a professional ing that there had always been militarily resurgent Russia, the place the French later this year. Organisation (Nato) decided at the West have escalated over tense relationship with Merkel. footballer, didn’t fi nish high potential in its “very meagre poll military said. “The battle group led by the a July 2016 summit to deploy the past two years, triggered by “Both Martin Schulz and An- school, beat alcoholism before ratings”. The 130 soldiers were headed United Kingdom is placed here its troops to the Baltic states Russia’s actions in Ukraine and gela Merkel have the qualities to opening a bookstore and taught “Competition enlivens to the northern town of Tapa, at the request of Estonia and a and Poland as a tripwire against its military campaign in Syria be chancellor,” he told Bild news- himself fi ve languages – gives things,” she told Friday’s Saar- to be joined by up to 50 French shared decision of Nato allies Russian adventurism in states since late 2015. paper yesterday. him a common touch. bruecker Zeitung. Gulf Times Monday, March 20, 2017 19 EUROPE

Measles cases triple in Tensions rise further as Italy

AFP Rome Erdogan targets Merkel AFP/DPA Investigative proceedings will he number of measles Istanbul “defi nitely” be carried out, a po- cases in Italy has tripled lice spokesman told DPA yester- Tthis year, largely because day. parents are not getting chil- urkish President Recep The PKK, a militant opposi- dren vaccinated due to spurious Tayyip Erdogan has ac- tion group banned in Germany health scares, the health minis- Tcused German Chancel- as a terrorist organisation since try said on Friday. lor Angela Merkel of employing 1993, has waged an armed strug- More than 700 cases have “Nazi” measures as new rows gle for more than three decades been registered since the start of erupted between Ankara and against the Turkish government 2017 – compared with 220 in the Berlin over a pro-Kurdish rally for greater rights for the Kurdish same period last year and 844 and the July 15 coup attempt. minority, which it says faces sys- for the whole of 2016. Turkey and the European Un- tematic discrimination. Over half have been among ion are locked in an explosive Germany recently introduced 15-39-year-olds and the out- crisis that has raised questions new measures to ban PKK sym- break has been concentrated in over the future viability of An- bols. Erdogan: When we call them Nazis they (Europe) get uncomfortable. some of the country’s wealthiest kara’s bid to join the bloc, as The police had asked protest- They rally together in solidarity. Especially Merkel. But you are right urban centres: Rome, Turin, Mi- tensions rise ahead of an April ers to roll up their fl ags, before now employing Nazi measures. lan and Florence. 16 referendum on expanding Er- announcing that they would The ministry said the surge dogan’s powers. record video evidence of the The dispute has left Turkey’s planation after a report that dual showed a worrying number of The crisis began after Germa- banners. ambition to join the EU – a cor- nationals critical of Erdogan had younger Italians were not fully ny and other EU states refused Police said they were obligat- nerstone of its policy for half a been threatened. vaccinated against the disease. to allow some Turkish ministers ed to launch criminal proceed- century – hanging in the balance The Berlingske daily quot- “This is largely due to the to campaign for a “yes” vote ings as the image was believed to ahead of the referendum. ed dual nationals or those of growing number of parents who on their soil, provoking a vol- be a banned symbol. Erdogan threw further oil on Turkish origin who said they refuse vaccinations despite the canic response from the Turkish They added that they had not the fi re on Saturday by saying he were warned they would be de- established scientifi c evidence strongman who said the spirit of intervened during the demon- believed parliament would after nounced for “high treason” or (of their eff ectiveness),” it said. Nazi Germany was rampant in stration in order to avoid escala- the poll agree a bill to restore have their family harassed back According to ministry data, Europe. tion. capital punishment, which he in Turkey over anti-Erdogan re- only 85.3% of Italian two-year- “When we call them Nazis Meanwhile, Turkey reacted would then sign. marks on social media. olds had been vaccinated in 2015, they (Europe) get uncomfort- with indignation after Ger- It was Erdogan’s clearest Lars Aslan Rasmussen, a well short of the 95% threshold able. They rally together in soli- many’s intelligence chief said warning yet that he could re- member of parliament for the recommended by the World darity. Especially Merkel,” Er- he was unconvinced by Turk- verse the 2004 abolition of capi- opposition Social Democrats, Health Organisation (WHO) to dogan said in a televised speech. ish assertions US-based Islamic tal punishment, a precondition and former parliamentarian contain outbreaks. “But you are right now em- preacher Fethullah Gulen was for joining the EU. Oezlem Cekic of another leftist “We need to rapidly boost the ploying Nazi measures,” Erdogan behind the failed coup of July 15. European Commission chief party cited e-mails and mes- level of vaccination cover, which said referring to Merkel, point- This picture taken on Saturday shows protesters in Frankfurt Presidential spokesman Ib- Jean-Claude Juncker warned sages on social media. has fallen dangerously over re- edly using the informal “you” in marking the Kurdish spring festival Newroz and displaying the rahim Kalin said Europe was yesterday that any return of the They therefore feared visiting cent years,” said Health Minister Turkish. portrait of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. seeking to “whitewash” Gulen’s death penalty in Turkey would family in Turkey. Beatrice Lorenzin. “Against who? My Turkish group, while Defence Minis- be a “red line”. “I fear I can be arrested [in In Italy’s last major epidemic brother citizens in Germany and many put its name under an- “of the worst example of dou- ter Fikri Isik said the comments German Foreign Minister Turkey],” Cekic told the daily, there were 18,000 registered brother ministers” who went to other scandal,” presidential ble standards” for allowing the raised questions about whether Sigmar Gabriel told Der Spiegel: saying that her Danish passport cases and 15 deaths. the country to hold campaign spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told protest while preventing Turk- Berlin itself was involved in the “We are farther away than ever was no safeguard. Italy was one of the coun- rallies for a ‘yes’ vote in next CNN-Turk. ish ministers from campaigning putsch. from Turkey’s accession to the A week ago, Danish Prime tries where discredited claims month’s referendum, he said. He said the German ambas- there for a “yes” vote. “The fact that the head of EU.” Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen of a link between the combined Germany, home to 1.4mn sador was summoned although Many protesters carried sym- German intelligence made such The crisis is aff ecting Turkey’s asked his Turkish counterpart measles, mumps and rubella Turkish voters, hosts by far the this was not confi rmed by Berlin. bols of the outlawed Kurdistan a statement will increase doubts relations with key EU members Binali Yildirim to postpone a (MMR) vaccination and autism largest Turkish diaspora com- “Yesterday, the German am- Workers Party (PKK), listed as about Germany and give rise to and Turkish-Dutch ties hit an planned visit to had a signifi cant impact on pub- munity in the world but the bassador was invited – was a terror organisation not just by the question ‘was German intel- all-time low ahead of the March Denmark where Yildirim had lic perceptions of the safety of partnership between Ankara and summoned – to the foreign min- Turkey but also the European ligence behind the coup?’” he 15 elections in the Netherlands. planned to rally support for Er- the jab. Berlin has been ripped to shreds istry and this was condemned in Union and the United States. said. Erdogan last week even called dogan. That was partly because a by the current crisis. the strongest way.” Around 30,000 members of In an interview with Der on Turks living in Europe to have The Danish premier cited the local court in Rimini awarded In yet another row, Turkey Kalin said the demonstrators Germany’s Kurdish community Spiegel published on Saturday, more children to tilt the demo- row between Ankara and several damages to the family of a young reacted furiously to a Frank- had used the upcoming Kurdish marched through the streets Germany’s foreign intelligence graphic balance on the conti- European countries over deci- boy with autism in 2012 on the furt rally on Saturday urging New Year festival of Newroz as a of Frankfurt on Saturday for a chief Bruno Kahl said Ankara nent. sions not to allow the Turkish grounds that his condition had a “no” vote where protesters “pretext” for the rally as the new pro-democracy demonstration had repeatedly tried to convince Danish Foreign Minister An- government to hold rallies in most likely been caused by the brandished insignia of outlawed year only falls on Tuesday. under the slogan “No to dicta- Berlin that Gulen was behind the ders Samuelsen said yesterday support of an upcoming ref- MMR vaccination. Kurdish militants. The Turkish foreign ministry torship – Yes to democracy and coup “but they have not suc- that he was summoning the erendum to expand Erdogan’s The ruling was overturned on “Yesterday (Saturday), Ger- accused the German authorities freedom.” ceeded”. Turkish ambassador for an ex- powers. appeal three years later. The notion of an MMR-au- tism link was fi rst suggested by a British researcher, Andrew Wakefi eld, in a 1998 paper for medical journal the Lancet that Thousands rally in was subsequently found to have been falsifi ed. The paper was withdrawn in 2010 and Wakefi eld was barred Barcelona against from practising medicine. Numerous major studies since then have found no evidence of a link. secessionist push

Poachers kill AFP eastern Spain that is home to Barcelona 7.5mn people. 2.3mn songbirds Barcelona city hall estimates 6,500 people took part in the Poachers in Cyprus killed everal thousand people, march, which wrapped up out- an estimated 2.3mn birds in many waving Spanish and side the offi ces of the regional autumn 2016, including 800,000 SCatalan fl ags, rallied in Catalan government. on a British military base, Barcelona yesterday to oppose a Organisers estimated over conservation groups said this push by the regional government 15,000 people showed up. week. of Catalonia to break away from Pensioner Manuel Lopez said Poaching is banned on the the rest of Spain. Catalan separatist leaders had Mediterranean island but Demonstrators marched un- “poisoned our society” with songbirds including robins and der banners bearing slogans such their independence drive. blackcaps are regularly trapped as “No to Independence” and Parties that want Catalonia, and served as an illegal delicacy “Stop the Coup” – a reference which has its own distinct lan- called “ambelopoulia”. to the regional government’s guage and customs, to break BirdLife Cyprus and Britain’s plan to hold an independence away from Spain won a majority Royal Society for the Protection referendum, which the central of seats in the regional parlia- of Birds (RSPB) said that poaching government in Madrid says is ment for the fi rst time in local rates were around their highest unconstitutional, by September. elections in 2015. ever, with criminal gangs earning “I don’t want independ- Demands for autonomy have millions from the activity. ence, I am Spanish,” said Gloria been fuelled by Spain’s econom- Britain’s Dhekelia military base Chicote, a 60-year-old nurse ic downturn, leading many to Demonstrators hold a banner reading ‘In favour of freedom, democracy and cohabitation’ during a demonstration called by ‘Sociedat Civil was “the worst bird killing who moved to Barcelona from resent sending tax money to Ma- Catalana’ (Catalan Civil Society) to support the unity of Spain in Barcelona. hotspot in the whole of Cyprus”, the northern city of Burgos three drid to prop up poorer regions. the RSPB said. decades ago. Recent attempts by Madrid to autonomy statute that recog- lost. It is reversible but Madrid Madrid should boost invest- has called any attempt to hold The group’s Jonathan Hall called It was the fi rst protest staged interfere with Catalan education nised Catalonia as a “nation” needs to be much more present ment in infrastructure projects a vote on leaving Spain “anti- on the UK government “to crack by the Catalan Civil Society, a have further stoked passions within Spain. in Catalonia,” the head of the in Catalonia and be more sensi- democratic”, saying Spain’s con- down on this activity and end platform set up in 2014 to op- as did a 2010 ruling by Spain’s Surveys show that Catalans Catalan Civil Society, Mariano tive to the region’s language and stitution prevents any region the illegal killing of songbirds in pose independence for Catalo- Constitutional Court in 2010 are evenly divided on the issue. Goma Otero, told AFP. culture, he added. from unilaterally taking deci- Dhekelia”. nia, a wealthy region in north- that stuck down part of a 2006 “The battle is not completely The central government in Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy sions that aff ect all Spaniards. Phileas Fogg’s 80-day dash ‘was timed to last minute’: researcher

By Alain Jean-Robert, AFP author worked out how long eve- al library along with the contract when we were going through the Verne – who is often called of the Earth or Twenty Thousand It said that thanks to railways Paris ry hectic twist in the plot would Verne signed with his publishers. Hetzel (publishing house) docu- the “Father of Science Fiction” Leagues. and steamships that it had be- take to ensure that his hero Phile- “Several experts had told us ments and to fi nd Verne’s hand- – wrote the novel in 1872 during The book, recounting the story come theoretically possible to go as Fogg arrived back in London to that the original manuscript had writing mentioning Phileas Fogg the dark days after France’s hu- of the uptight Fogg slowly turn- around the world in 80 days. long-lost manuscript win his bet with his friends at the disappeared,” said Nelson, whose and then falling on the only sur- miliating defeat in the Franco- ing into a swashbuckling hero At that moment Verne said the of the classic adventure Reform Club. Saint Peres press has already viving complete manuscript it- Prussian war, when he had been who rescues a young Indian book’s fi nal twist also came to Astory Around the World Verne, who wrote the story published the manuscript of one self,” she told AFP. drafted into the coastguard. woman from a funeral pyre, was him. in Eighty Days shows how Jules with a quill, noted the timings in of Verne’s other great classics, The other big revelation was Paris, where he was living, an escape from the grim realities “I thought that the traveller Verne timed the story down to the margins and added them up Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the fl uid manner in which Verne had been torn apart by the failed of life for him as much as for his could benefi t from crossing the the last minute. at the end of each chapter. the Sea. wrote, with few corrections. Communard uprising. readers. International Date Line, so Phile- The handwritten original draft The rediscovered manuscript But the 32-year-old would not Instead, Verne would cross out To make matters worse, Verne Verne got the idea for the book as Fogg could arrive home just in – which will be published this was unearthed by researcher Jes- be put off . entire sections of the text and re- had not been paid a penny in roy- from a newspaper article read in a time to win his bet instead of a week – shows how the French sica Nelson in the French nation- “You can imagine our surprise write them completely. alties from Journey to the Centre Paris cafe, he later wrote. day late as he had thought.” Gulf Times 20 Monday, March 20, 2017 INDIA

Tamil Nadu Roundup ‘Liquid biopsy’ off ers new hope for cancer patients

By Umaima Shafiq IANS pany, physicians can identify that by 2020 India may have an cal oncologist at TMH, said: “As This empowers cancer spe- lecular tool after histopathology Mumbai genetic alterations, interpret, estimated 1.73mn new cases of the care gets more personalised, cialists to look for actionable diagnosis and detecting molec- assess and treat various forms of cancer and over 880,000 cancer doctors will be equipped to make alterations in a patient’s treat- ular changes at baseline and at Online company cancer, the company said. deaths. Around 70% of all can- the correct diagnosis, progno- ment and management, without the time of relapse in lung and n a development that could The test has also been vali- cer patients approach the doctor sis and prediction of diseases. having to do an invasive biopsy colon cancer for deciding the owner held for transform the manage- dated in a scientifi c study, in only when the symptoms no- Cell-free tumour DNA (ctDNA) or where biopsy is not an option, right treatment. alleged fraud Iment of cancer patients, a academic collaboration with ticeably appear and the chances analysis will help in avoiding re- MedGenome said. MedGenome is a market lead- Bengaluru-based laboratory has the Tata Memorial Centre Hos- of cure are very low. peat biopsies of diffi cult-to-get “Liquid biopsy has the capac- er for genomic diagnostics in claimed to have cracked the dif- pital (TMH) in Mumbai, and its “Management of cancer will tumours and also in monitoring ity to interpret infi nite muta- South Asia and a leading provid- Yogendra Vasupal, the owner fi culties related to tracing ma- state-of-the-art R&D satellite undergo a massive transforma- the overall response to treat- tions which will pave the way er of genomics research services of a Chennai-based online lignant cells and avoid repeated Advanced Centre for Treatment, tion in India with NGS (next ment on real time basis.” for new drug discovery, research globally. The company off ers company was arrested for non- biopsies. Research and Education in Can- generation sequencing)-based In medical terms, the liquid and therapies. Over 35 on- genomics solutions in cancer payment of dues last week. Doctors often are forced to cer (ACTREC). liquid biopsies. We are con- biopsy-based test is a non-inva- cologists in India have already immunotherapy, diabetes, etc, Stayzilla.com, which was conduct repeated biopsy tests to The test facilitates detection stantly striving to get the most sive screening that analyses cell- screened patients using our On- and works with various com- founded in 2005 as Inasra, off ers detect certain types of cancers of mutation where there is dif- advanced genetic testing tech- free DNA that is isolated from a cotrack. Further, since it has a mercial and academic research- 55,000 home stay options in related to skin, lung and colon. fi culty of obtaining biopsy or in nology/technique at aff ordable patient’s blood. Using high-end very patient-friendly approach, ers globally on genomic research 4,000 Indian cities. Its directors But with the new method – the event of a damaged biopsy prices to the patients and On- sequencing technology, the we are confi dent it will be very projects. It is also a founding are Yogendra Vasupal, his wife liquid biopsy test – developed material and non-availability of cotrack is one such off ering,” screening process identifi es well accepted by the doctors and member of GenomeAsia 100K Rupal and their partner Sachi for the fi rst time in India by tissue biopsy. said MedGenome chairman Sam specifi c gene mutations that are patients,” said Dr V L Rampras- initiative to sequence 100,000 Singhi. The company is crowd MedGenome, a genomics-based The development assumes Santhosh. linked with melanoma, lung and ad, COO of MedGenome. genomes in South, North and funded and does business research and diagnostics com- signifi cance in view of the fact Dr Kumar Prabhash, medi- colon cancers. Oncotrack is a proven mo- East Asia, Ramprasad said. online through apps and has five off ices in India. Trouble started when Vasupal announced plans to shut down Cricket for a cause business in a recent blog post and defaulted on rents for his off ices, advertisers and hotel agents. Besides this, Adithya, the owner of advertising company Jigsaw Govt steps up Solutions, alleged that Vasupal had not paid dues of Rs10.82mn despite a business turnover of Rs800mn last year. He also accused Vasupal of leading a luxurious lifestyle and siphoning off company money to his crackdown relatives though none of them were his business partners. Meanwhile Vasupal accused Adithya of harassing him with voodoo dolls and rudely-worded letters. Vasupal has been remanded in judicial custody. on ‘benami’ Fisherman buried after government promises justice transactions Thousands of fishermen ended a week-long protest and buried The new law is in step with ryday transactions in India were spread across 20 fi ctitious ac- the body of 21-year-old K Britjo, November’s controversial in cash. counts. a fisherman who was allegedly demonetisation Holding real estate in some- A network of jewellers, mean- shot dead by the Sri Lankan one else’s name has been a while, was busted spiriting black navy, in the coastal district of AFP particularly popular avenue money into shell companies os- Rameshwaram. New Delhi for those seeking to legitimise tensibly owned by a day labourer, The fishing community had black money and dodge their local media reported. demanded a judicial probe tax dues. “Even within families, people into the incident and refused ansions owned by Those caught out could have want to hide their assets from to accept Britjo’s body. Over maids, gardeners and their wealth seized, face a seven- others so will purchase it in some- 3,000 fishermen from coastal Mdrivers until now have year jail term and pay hefty fi nes one else’s name,” said Abhishek districts staged protests with aroused little suspicion in In- equivalent to 25% of the asset’s Goenka from tax and audit fi rm slogans and black flags at dia, where the wealthy have long value. PwC India. the Nagapattinam head post hidden fortunes in the names of Government offi cials say 235 One businessman bought a off ice, about 265km from lowly-paid staff to avoid paying suspicious accounts were under sprawling mansion in a swish Delhi Rameshwaram. Fishing and tax. investigation for alleged benami postcode and registered the deed other related activities were But as the government broad- activity in mid-February, with under a company whose CEO also suspended for a week. ens its crackdown on corruption, more than half frozen and prop- happened to be his maid. The protesters withdrew only a new law promises to end the erties seized. A young couple meanwhile after federal ministers Pon widespread practice and hun- But Modi, who was elected in purchased a $1.2mn house un- Radhakrishnan and Nirmala dreds of suspicious bank accounts 2014 on a pledge to wipe out cor- der someone else’s name to avoid Sitharaman promised a detailed are under investigation. ruption and kickstart the econo- explaining how two civil servants inquiry. “There’s been an overnight my, has promised more scalps as could aff ord such a place, a person Similarly Sitharaman has also change in the system,” real estate the dragnet widens. close to the transactions said. expedited the probe into the lawyer Naresh Gupta said, de- “It has some very tough provi- “By registering the property March14 suicide of Muthu scribing the new rules as “very sions. Those holding such prop- in someone else’s name, unac- Krishnan, a Salem-based draconian”. erty should start consulting their counted income gets accounted postgraduate scholar at New “Investigators can question (accountants),” he said in a Febru- for,” said Goenka. Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru anyone and ask any government ary speech. “If at a later date it’s then sold University. department for information The law was in step with No- on to a benami buyer, the cycle about suspects.” vember’s controversial demon- perpetuates.” The law banning so-called etisation, which forced Indians to There is no hard data on what Gangai Amaran is “benami” transactions, making turn in their Rs1,000 and Rs500 percentage of transactions in In- BJP candidate it illegal for assets to be hidden in notes. dia are benami and could fall foul another’s name, came into eff ect Those declaring suspicious- of this law. from R K Nagar in November as part a twin strike ly-large sums were red fl agged But experts agree the practice is by the government to fl ush out for audit by the tax department, rife and long overdue for scrutiny. Award winning music director undeclared black money hoarded which often uncovered complex “After the note ban, this was Gangai Amaran has filed by tax evaders. and implausible webs of benami the natural next step,” said Uday nomination as the Bharatiya It followed a shock decision by holdings. Ved, a Mumbai-based tax adviser Janata Party’s candidate for by- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to In one case, the department and former KMPG head of tax, election on April 12 in R K Nagar withdraw high-value bank notes said Rs33mn ($500,000) were in reference to the Modi govern- constituency in Chennai. Cricketer-turned Trinamool Congress leader and West Bengal minister Laxmi Ratan Sukla from circulation, compelling mil- hidden in the name of a woman ment’s anti-benami blitz. The seat fell vacant following and film stars play cricket to help raise funds for underprivileged children at Eden Garden in lions to join the formal banking who wasn’t even aware the ac- “Now the law is in eff ect they the death of chief minister J Kolkata yesterday. sector for the fi rst time. count existed. will go after cash, real estate, gold, Jayalalithaa on December 5. Previously, around 90% of eve- In another instance, $9mn was everything.” Gangai Amaran, 69, has also written, acted and produced films. A BJP press release said that Gangai Amaran Festive stunt was the ideal candidate as he had a personal grouse against AIADMK nominee T T Parties trade charges ahead V Dinakaran for usurping his property a decade ago. Gangai Amaran said: “I have of key by-election in Kerala not decided yet on the date of submitting my nomination. I will go by whatever the party By Ashraf Padanna unknown local leader, B K Faisal. the seven assembly segments decides and am grateful for this Thiruvananthapuram Similarly, the BJP chose N last year. Kunhalikutty, 66, who nomination.” Sreeprakash against the wishes is also the general secretary of of the party’s local workers who the IUML, had won the Vengara erala’s ruling Communist wanted their fi rebrand woman segment sweeping 72,181 votes as Two dead in Party of India (Marx- leader Sobha Surendran as their against his rival’s 34,124. factory blast Kist) and Prime Minister candidate. The district is yet to recover Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Ja- But Sreeprakash is not a nov- from last week’s attacks on nata Party (BJP) are engaged in a ice. A local boy like Faisal, he had houses and vehicles at night and Two men died when chemicals war of words over the selection polled 7.58% votes in the 2014 the alleged police excesses in the exploded at a detonator of candidates for the April 12 elections when IUML president coastal town of Tanur, though it manufacturing unit at parliamentary by-election. E Ahamed, who died on February is not part of this constituency. Jolarpettai town in Vellore They accuse each other of 1, won the seat by a huge margin CPM secretary Kodiyeri district last week. having a secret pact with the of 194,739 votes and 51.27% of Balakrishnan had already assert- Gandhi, 29 and Ponnurangam, Indian Union Muslim League the popular vote. ed that the by-election would be 35, were working in the factory (IUML) to fi eld a weak candidate The Jama’at-e-Islami-pro- a referendum on the performance when the accident occurred in against its top leader, P K Kun- moted Welfare Party of India of its 10-month-old government the afternoon. Their bodies were halikutty, in its stronghold of (WPI) and the Social Democratic of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijay- blown apart and the impact of Malappuram. Party of India (SDPI) are yet to an, who is already under fi re for the explosion was heard up to a The CPM’s local leaders reveal their strategy though the the worst policing the state has 5km radius. wanted T K Hamza to be nomi- last date for fi ling nominations is seen in many years. Police had trouble finding their nated. He had won the seat in Thursday. The Left Democratic Front body parts. Later the police 2004 by an impressive margin The hardline SDPI had got (LDF), which the CPM leads in arrested the unit owner Raju for of some 50,000 votes defeating 5.6% votes last time while the Kerala, would meet this week to unlicensed and unsafe practices. IUML’s K P A Majeed when it WPI ended up fi fth with 3.42% of form election committees while These detonators are used to was Manjeri constituency before votes. The IUML appears strong Kunhalikutty, who has already A man performs a stunt with a bamboo stick as part of Holi celebrations locally known as “Gare” blast rocks in quarries or deepen delimitation. in the Muslim-dominated con- hit the campaign trail will fi le his festival outside a temple in Ahmedabad yesterday. water wells and ponds. But the party chose a relatively stituency where it had won all nomination today. Gulf Times Monday, March 20, 2017 21 INDIA

OFFBEAT CONTROVERSY POLITICS CRIME GOVERNMENT Railways saves baby Congress in Kerala asks BJP ally opposes Domicile AAP youth wing leader, 39,000 sit for Kashmir with milk after SOS tweet AG Rohatgi to resign Policy in Jharkhand 5 others held for robbery civil services exam

The railways ministry is winning hearts Congress leader V M Sudheeran yesterday asked The All Jharkhand Students Union, the Bharatiya Six men, including an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Around 39,000 candidates across Jammu and after it came to the rescue of a hungry Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi to resign for Janata Party’s ruling alliance partner in Youth Wing leader, have been arrested on charge Kashmir yesterday appeared for the state Civil five-month-old baby and provided it milk allegedly acting at the “behest of a few bar hotel Jharkhand, has opposed the Domicile Policy, of robbing a businessman of Rs2.5mn in New Services Examination at 84 centres. “The State following a tweet by a passenger. The owners” in Kerala. In December, the Supreme amendments in two land acts and demanded a Delhi, police said yesterday. The accused were Public Service Commission conducted the J&K incident took place on a train travelling Court banned the sale of liquor within 500m of hike in the reservation quota for the backward identified as Jitender, 27, Sabab, 26, Najeeb, 24, Combined Competitive (Preliminary) Examination through south-western India on the weekend national and state highways across the country. community. The AJSU made the demands at its Nadeem, 23, Naved, 22, and Mahammad Yusuf, for 277 gazetted posts in administrative service, when a passenger noticed a mother trying to But Rohatgi advised the Kerala government three-day annual convention which concluded 19. All are residents of Maujpur in east Delhi. police service and accounts service,” an off icial find milk for her baby daughter. She tweeted that retail outlets for sale of liquor alone need to in Ranchi yesterday. “The party rejects the “They had on March 12 forced businessman Vipul said. A total of 48,000 applications were received to the ministry asking for help, after which be removed and that bar hotels and beer-wine amendment in the two land acts and opposes Jain to part with Rs25 lakhs at gun point. Jain, and approximately 80% attendance was reported the divisional railways swung into action parlours along the national and state highways the Domicile Policy in the current format. The also a resident of Maujpur, and locals tried to during the examination. “It is the first time that the and arranged the milk for the baby within can remain. “There is every reason to believe party also demands that the reservation of the chase them. As Nadeem fell from his bike while examination centres were established in far-flung an hour. The railways’ sensitivity and swift that the said advice was given at the behest of backward community should be increased from fleeing, he was overpowered and handed over to areas to provide an opportunity to aspirants from action has drawn praise from passengers as a few bar hotel owners in the state,” Sudheeran 14 to 27% in the state,” AJSU spokesperson Deo police,” Joint Commissioner of Police Ravindra the lower income groups,” an off icial statement well as on social media. said in a letter to Rohatgi. Sharan Bhagat told reporters. Yadav said. said. UP move is PM’s message on Hindu India, say analysts

Reuters cused of making anti-Muslim Lucknow statements to polarise Hindu voters. “Modi and the BJP had prom- he choice of Hindu right- ised the poor of India good times wing leader Yogi Adity- to come,” said Paranjoy Guha Tanath as the chief minis- Thakurta, editor of the Economic ter of Uttar Pradesh seals what & Political Weekly. appears to be a shift in course by “When they fail to create jobs, Prime Minister Narendra Modi revive the economy or lift in- that could redefi ne the world’s vestment, they are going to fall largest democracy as a Hindu back more on the majoritarian nation, analysts said yesterday. agenda.” The move stunned observers Modi, in his victory speech who said it marked a departure after the Uttar Pradesh triumph, from the platform of develop- had called for the creation of a ment for all on which Modi rose “New India” by 2022, eff ectively Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik Yogi Adityanath greet a gathering before Adityanath takes an oath as the new chief minister of Uttar Pradesh to national power in 2014. staking a claim to a second term yesterday. “Modi is saying India is a Hin- at the general election that is due du country and shall remain so,” to be held in two years. veteran journalist and commen- Adityanath, elected fi ve times tator Shekhar Gupta said. to the parliament from Gorakhpur “Hindus will rule, so you had in eastern Uttar Pradesh, has been better behave.” magnanimous in victory, pledging A spokesman for Modi’s to uphold Modi’s slogan of ‘sabka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) saath, sabka vikas’ (‘all together, however said the government development for all’). Will work for everyone, did not make any distinction “Everyone who is prejudging between citizens on the basis of the decision is doing it at their religion. own peril – these arguments Adityanath, 44, was elected were also used in the case of by state lawmakers on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” a week after the BJP won a land- BJP spokesman Nalin Kohli said. slide victory in Uttar Pradesh by “Almost three years down the promises Adityanath mobilising the Hindu vote. line there is no departure from The BJP won the biggest ma- ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas’; there Firebrand leader sworn in as tyanath promised there would be president Amit Shah, party chief is a minister with independent Shastri, Rajesh Agarwal, a six- jority for any party in the state is no let up in providing govern- Uttar Pradesh’s its 21st chief no bias for or against anyone. ministers besides thousands of charge. term MLA from Bareilly Canton- legislature in 40 years. ance and improving delivery to minister, heads a 47-member Agriculture, he said, would be cheering supporters. Baldev Olakh, who won from ment, Satish Mahana and Satya- He took the oath of offi ce at an the poorest; and there can be no ministry made the base for all develop- Governor Ram Naik admin- Bilaspur, is the Sikh face of the deo Pachauri. open-air ceremony in the state distinction between citizens on ment work in Uttar Pradesh. istered the oath of offi ce and ministry. Three Lucknow legislators – capital Lucknow yesterday, be- the basis of their faith, region or IANS “Our government is fully secrecy to Adityanath, Deputy Dressed in his characteristic Brajesh Pathak, Rita Bahuguna fore shaking hands with Modi identity.” Lucknow committed to fulfi lling the Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad saff ron robes, Adityanath, af- Joshi and Ashutosh Tandon – and other BJP elders who at- Kohli also dismissed sugges- promises made (before the as- Maurya and Dinesh Sharma as ter taking oath, walked over to also made it to the cabinet. The tended. tions that Adityanath’s election sembly elections).” well as 44 ministers. and sought the blessings of BJP fourth Lucknow MLA, Swati After the ceremony, Modi said would undermine the secular ttar Pradesh Chief Min- “We want to assure the peo- Maurya is the state BJP chief veterans L K Advani and Murli Singh, became a minister of state in a tweet: “Our sole mission and basis of Indian democracy. ister Yogi Adityanath ple of UP that our government and a Lok Sabha member from Manohar Joshi as well as Rajnath with independent charge. motive is development. When There are precedents for Hin- Uyesterday pledged to will take the state on the path of Phoolpur while Sharma is the Singh, the federal home minister Political turncoats who con- UP develops, India develops.” du devotees taking high offi ce, work for all sections without development and prosperity and Lucknow mayor. and a Lucknow MP. tested on BJP ticket and got a The BJP fi elded no candidates he said, including Uma Bharti, a bias and said he believed in would do everything that it takes There are 22 members of the As celebrations erupted in place in the ministry included from the Muslim minority that former chief minister of Madhya Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s to do so,” the 44-year-old said. cabinet, nine ministers of state Adityanath’s native village Pan- Swamy Prasad Maurya, Dara makes up 19% of the population Pradesh who is now Modi’s water slogan ‘sabka saath sabka vikas’. Earlier, the fi rebrand leader with independent charge and 13 chur in Uttarakhand and Gora- Singh Chauhan and Brajesh in a state with a population of resources minister. Addressing his fi rst press con- was sworn in as Uttar Pradesh’s ministers of state. khpur town, Modi congratulated Pathak (all ex-BJP) and Rita Ba- 220mn. A source close to the powerful ference after taking oath, the its 21st chief minister, heading Om Prakash Rajbhar, leader of the new chief minister and his huguna Joshi, a former Congress If it were a country, Uttar Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Gorakhpur MP also vowed to a 47-member ministry that in- Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, team and hoped they will trans- leader who defeated Mulayam Pradesh would be the world’s (RSS) said Adityanath would un- end the law and order problems cluded known Hindutva faces a BJP ally, was also sworn in as a form Uttar Pradesh into “Uttam Singh Yadav’s daughter-in-law fi fth-most populous. dergo a complete image makeo- in the country’s most populous and political turncoats. cabinet minister. Pradesh”. Aparna Yadav. India is offi cially a secular na- ver to repackage him as a moder- state. The oath taking at Smriti Up- The sole Muslim in the min- Prominent among the cabinet Four women – Gulabo Devi, tion, but the BJP has for years ate reformer. In an apparent move to al- van, which marked the return istry is former cricketer Mohsin ministers are veteran BJP legisla- Archana Pandey, Rita Bahuguna fought elections on a Hindu Adityanath has in the past ac- lay fears that he, as a long-time of the Bharatiya Janata Party Raza, who is not a member of the tors Surya Pratap Shahi, Suresh Joshi and Swati Singh – are in the nationalist agenda, with party cused Muslim men of waging Hindutva icon, might discrimi- (BJP) to power in the sprawling assembly as the BJP did not fi eld Khanna, a seven-time legislator government. The BJP gave ticket members in the past being ac- “love jihad”. nate against the minorities, Adi- state, was watched by Modi, BJP any Muslim in the election. Raza from Shahjahanpur, Ramapati to 43 women of whom 32 won. Jat leaders put off Delhi Badal declines CM’s off er of govt house protest over reservation IANS Chandigarh

Agencies would blockade parliament and curity arrangements at the bor- New Delhi all highways leading to Delhi to- ders, in New Delhi area and other ut of power after helm- day. places will remain intact and ing Punjab as chief min- Yesterday evening’s post- that the security situation will Oister for 10 years since eaders of the Jat com- ponement of the protest came be monitored closely. 2007, Parkash Singh Badal is munity have postponed after administration offi cials “The police presence will hunting for a house nowadays. Ldemonstrations planned and police in the Indian capital be there. We are continuously Yesterday, he “politely” de- for today demanding the Indian had already boosted security in monitoring the situation so that clined the new Congress gov- Badal: house hunting government extend its affi rma- anticipation of the rally, halting if any situation is precipitated, ernment’s off er of free govern- tive action policy for certain metro rail services in some areas we are able to handle it,” he said. ment accommodation in the is coming there up after the old castes to their members. and deploying extra forces at the The Jat community, which state capital Chandigarh. one was pulled down. India’s caste system of social border entry points of the city. have been demanding reserva- The Amarinder Singh gov- Badal, 89, lived in the chief stratifi cation is accompanied by The Delhi protest was pushed tion in government jobs and ernment had off ered a suitable ministerial bungalow in Chan- a policy that sets down quotas back by at least two weeks after educational institutions, among bungalow in the City Beauti- digarh’s tony Sector 2, before in government jobs and higher Haryana’s Chief Minister Mano- other things, resumed their agi- ful to Badal, a fi ve-time chief his Shiromali Akali Dal was education institutions for the har Lal Khattar assured them tation on January 29. minister of Punjab. routed in the February 4 as- lowest castes, members of which that several of their demands Federal Minister of State Badal said: “I am thankful sembly elections. have benefi ted under the system would be met, Jat forum chair- for Law and Social Justice P P to Chief Minister Amarinder Since Badal is only a legisla- for centuries. man Yashpal Malik said. Choudhary said that the process Singh for his gracious ges- tor from Lambi and his party The Jats, a caste of largely Speaking at a joint press brief- for Jat reservation in central gov- ture. It is very graceful of him has only 15 legislators in the well-off land-owning groups, ing with Jat leaders, Khattar ernment jobs will start after the to make this off er. But I am new assembly, he does not say the government’s reservation said the process of giving the Jat chairperson and other members making my own arrangements qualify for the status of Leader policy for members of economi- community quotas would be be- of the National Commission for for stay. I value his sentiment of Opposition and hence not cally or socially disadvantaged gun soon by the federal and state Backward Classes have been ap- highly and fully reciprocate it.” offi cially entitled to a govern- castes is unfair and demand that governments. pointed. The veteran Akali leader’s ment bungalow. the benefi ts be extended to them A relieved Delhi, however, Malik said the Jats will not un- aides are hunting for a house Badal, the country’s oldest as well. still remained on alert with re- dertake the proposed march to for him in Sector 8 here. serving chief minister till his A forum that leads the Jats’ strictions on exit in place at four parliament today. Badal’s family owns two plots party was decimated in the movement for quotas in govern- metro stations. However, he said, token rallies of residential land, measuring electoral battle, did not attend ment jobs and educational in- Special Commissioner of Po- at some places in Haryana would Police check vehicles to stop Jat protesters entering Delhi from Uttar almost 1.5 acres, in upscale Sec- the swearing-in of Amarinder stitutions had said its members lice Dependra Pathak said se- continue for the time being. Pradesh yesterday. tor 9 here, but a new structure Singh on March 16. Gulf Times 22 Monday, March 20, 2017 LATIN AMERICA No escape for workers of Venezuela’s illegal mines

AFP The head of the Venezuelan El Callao, Venezuela Mining Chamber, Luis Rojas, estimates that 90% of the gold produced in the South American arefoot and shirtless in nation comes from illegal mines. the cavernous belly of an In a country where a crushing Billegal gold mine, Ender economic crisis has fuelled an doesn’t fl inch when a piece of epidemic of violent crime, such rock falls through the darkness mines are “primarily in mafi a and breaks the silence. hands,” he said. Working in the dangerous and At the nearby Nacupay gold violent underworld of illegal mine, workers dig the earth from mining in eastern Venezuela, the the bed of a contaminated river skinny teenager is used to taking as others pour mercury into pans his life in his hands every day. of extracted sediment. The narrow mine shaft is fi lled The open-pit mine is known with puddled water and the smell as one of the most violent and of gases, and the handmade polluting in the region. wood supports staving off a col- Few people are willing to talk lapse look precarious at best. openly about the “vaccines,” But Ender Moreno is unfazed. or extortion money, that min- Local residents wade through the water as a flash flood hits the city of Trujillo, 570kms north of Lima, bringing mud and debris. At 18 years old, he has already ers and shopkeepers have to pay been doing this job for eight their mafi a overlords in this law- years. less area. “I’m not afraid,” he said as he “It’s like a parallel govern- climbed through the pitch black, ment,” said one miner, who his headlamp lighting the way asked not to use his name for fear through the hazardous maze 100 of reprisals. “This place belongs feet underground. to one group. The others have to “I’ll probably do this till I die.” keep their hands off it. “ More rain looms as Peru The inside of the mine is no “Each group has its territory,” scarier than the outside. There said miner Argenis Tarazona. is a bloody mafi a war raging for “Whoever breaks the rules, who- control of the unlicensed, arti- ever robs, they kill him or beat sanal gold mines in the Venezue- him up,” added Tarazona, 47. lan state of Bolivar. He left his fi ve children three Miners regularly turn up dead, years ago to try his luck as a gold hit by disastrous fl oods their bodies mutilated or riddled miner, after fi nding he could no with bullets. longer support them on his sal- AFP divert the course of the river that ary as an industrial mechanic. Lima President Kuczynski’s popularity falls to 32% has been fl ooding Huarmey. Tens of thousands of Ven- The government said it was ezuelans from across the coun- Peruvian President Pedro Pablo ing Kuczynski’s eight-month-old devastation to many com- working to repair three bridges, try have fl ocked to this region eruvians yesterday strug- Kuczynski’s approval rating centrist government, the poll munities may give Kuczynski in Huarmey and nearby Casma, as President Nicolas Maduro’s gled to cope with ava- slipped six percentage points showed. Kuczynski’s approval a respite from political attacks. that had collapsed. socialist government has strug- Planches, mudslides and to 32% in an Ipsos poll taken rating has dropped by half since Lawmakers from across the po- Storm-caused erosion also gled with a three-year reces- extensive fl ash fl ooding caused while deadly downpours and peaking at 63% in September. litical spectrum have vowed to provoked the collapse late Sat- sion, spiralling infl ation and food by torrential rainfall as fore- flooding racked the Andean He took off ice on July 28 prom- avoid clashes with the executive urday of the Viru bridge between shortages. casters predicted still more rain country, local daily El Comercio ising to reduce inequality and so the government can focus on Trujillo and Lima. Workers are bused in to the ahead, prolonging the country’s reported yesterday. Support for ensure more people have ac- emergency eff orts. Earlier this “This is the road that links the “My mom says this is no mines every morning, their pick- woes. Kuczynski had already been cess to running water and other week, the opposition-ruled Con- north of Peru to Lima,” said Viru kind of life. But I can’t stop axes and shovels slung over their The death toll remained at 72, hurt by a massive graft scandal basic services. Kuczynski’s plans gress cancelled its scheduled Mayor Ney Gamez. “This is a cry because I need the money shoulders and their pans perched authorities said, but devastat- before torrential rains in the past to bolster growth with new infra- questioning of the transporta- for help.” to help her” on their heads like hats. Others ing damage reports continued to week plunged about one-half of structure have been delayed by tion minister over a controver- The government said road sleep on site in malaria-ridden pour in. the country into a state of emer- a graft inquiry into Brazilian con- sial modification to an airport travel to the north would be re- Shootouts with assault rifl es camps built with sheets of black Prime Minister Fernando Za- gency. A majority of Peruvians struction company Odebrecht contract. The Ipsos poll of 1,250 stored soon. are common currency in the re- plastic. They make somewhere vala said 72,115 Peruvians had lost do not feel that public safety, the that has chilled investments and people was conducted March After fl ooding hit Lima, hun- gion. between 260,000 and 1mn boli- everything, while 567,551 had suf- economy, or the fight against stalled public works projects. 15-17 and had a 2.8 percentage dreds of residents of the Chosica Two weeks ago, three young vars a month ($95 to $360 at the fered less serious damages. corruption have improved dur- The focus on the flooding and point margin of error. neighborhood spent Saturday men Ender knew were killed in black-market exchange rate), He predicted days of more rain night in tents set up in sports his neighbourhood of El Callao. they say — far higher than mini- ahead. fi elds or on school grounds near The day before, he had been mum wage. On Saturday, fl ood waters Air travel has been aff ected as clouds with tremendous loads of Parts of the city of their homes — or what had been dancing with them at the an- “I’ve got no other choice. I swept into the very centre of well. “I’ve been stranded in Tru- water, which then falls on coast- Huarmey, 300kms north of their homes. nual carnival celebrations in the was working as a porter, but I Trujillo, the country’s third- jillo for fi ve days. My family lives al areas, sparking avalanches Lima, remained under as A red alert warning of new city, the cradle of a gold rush that couldn’t support my three kids,” largest city, fi lling its streets and in a part of Lima aff ected by the from steep hillsides and causing much as a meter (3.3 feet) of “huaycos” was lifted overnight, started in 1870 and has recently said Gilberto Urrieta, 32, who forcing residents braving the huaycos, but I haven’t been able rivers to overfl ow. water. and drinking-water service has intensifi ed. arrived four months ago. “Now waters to cling to each other to to get through to them,” would- “There will be heavy rains in Television showed people gradually been restored. “They were miners, but they I send them 150,000 bolivars a avoid being swept away. be passenger Ernesto Alvarez northern regions and in central using boats to move through Citizens had been forced to trek started running around with month.” The “huaycos,” as Peruvians told RPP radio. Lima over the coming days, so city streets to retrieve be- to the fountains of the capital’s gangsters,” he said. After riding a worn green rope refer to the powerful avalanch- “Some 500 of us are stranded the alert situation remains in longings. The city’s mayor, Plaza Mayor for potable water. Ten months ago, his boss at back to the surface, Ender con- es of mud and stone that pour here, unable to travel. We just place,” Zavala said. Miguel Sotelo, interrupted a But the threat remained that the mine was killed. The miners templated his future during a down from steep Andean hill- hope there isn’t another (huay- Humanitarian aid, from the presidential news conference the Rimac river might again say it is because he refused to let short break. “My mom says this sides after heavy rain, continued co.)” government and individuals, to demand help. “My village overfl ow. mobsters take over the business. is no kind of life. But I can’t stop their damaging ways. The rains aff ected the north- was being sent by plane or ship is inundated,” he said. “Three Its fury unabated, the Rimac Two months before that, 28 because I need the money to help Mountains of mud wended ern area as well. In the city of to aff ected areas. days and we’re still underwa- has continued to fl ood roads, de- workers were massacred at a her,” the teenage miner said. “I’m through city streets, sweeping Piura, streets were again fl ooded “We must help each other in ter. There is no light or food in stroy bridges and threaten houses nearby mine, in what authorities young and I want to enjoy life. away everything in their paths: by the eff ects of El Nino. solidarity with those who are my village.” along its banks as Peruvians pray called a turf war between rival But when your time is up, it’s up. houses, furniture and some- The periodic warming of victims,” said President Pedro He urged the president to pro- for an end to the rains — and a gangs. Everyone has to die sometime.” times people. Pacifi c Ocean waters charges Pablo Kuczynski. vide heavy equipment to help chance to begin rebuilding.

Armed gangs killing rights X-Knights contest Probe pledged into activists in Colombia: UN Haiti bus crash Reuters crashed into three “rara” parades Gonaives, Haiti in nearby Mapou. Thomson Reuters Foundation see the activism as a threat, it impoverished Pacific coast and Rara parades, which usu- Bogota said. northern borders, Howland ally take place around Easter, are The armed groups are moving said. aitian President Jovenel groupings of musicians playing into former rebel strongholds, “There’s a fi ght to occupy Moise has told the grief- traditional instruments who are ozens of human rights fi ghting for territory and re- these areas,” he added. Hstricken relatives of 38 often joined by passers-by. defenders have been sources, the UN said. Last year, 14 rights defenders people killed in a bus collision After being released from cus- Dmurdered in Colombia “The Farc leaving is compli- were murdered in Colombia’s last week that he would bring or- tody, the bus driver fl ed, and re- by gangs fi ghting for spoils and cating the lives of leaders,” said western province of Cauca, a der to the country’s roads, vow- mains a fugitive, police say. control since the nation ended Todd Howland, head of the UN drug-producing area and former ing to carry out an investigation At the service, people close to its decades-old civil war late last human rights offi ce in Colombia Farc stronghold, the highest into the crash. the victims slowly fi led into the year, the United Nations said, at a news conference. number in the nation, the UN Speaking at an emotional mass square, where fl ags for Haiti and urging better protection for ac- “The state has an obligation to said. funeral in the northern city of Gonaives hung at half-mast. tivists. guarantee the protection of eve- Community leaders blame Gonaives, attended by roughly Some stopped to see the Armed groups are moving ryone,” he said. many of the murders on right- 2,000 relatives, friends and local white and gold caskets, all la- into territory being vacated by Colombia’s Interior Minis- wing paramilitary groups an- politicians, Moise pledged to in- belled with the name of the rebel fighters under an histor- ter Juan Fernando Cristo said gry over terms of the peace vestigate the incident and bring person inside and decorated ic peace agreement signed in violence against rights de- accord, especially those that justice to those aff ected. with wreaths of white, red and December by the Colombian fenders and securing control allow the Marxist Farc rebels “We will bring order to the yellow flowers. government and the left-wing of former rebel territory could to rejoin society and form a traffi c of Haitian streets,” Moise Victims’ loved ones mostly Revolutionary Armed Forces undermine the success of the political party. said, promising to install vehicle wore black and white, while oth- of Colombia (Farc), the UN peace accord. The interior minister blamed inspection points throughout ers wore T-shirts bearing trib- said. “We’re all interested in facing a powerful drug-running crime the country. “We must know utes to the deceased. At least 59 rights defend- these threats and these murders group, the Gulf Clan, for violence how this vehicle was able to kill Some attendees writhed on ers were killed in Colombia last because we know that it seri- along the Pacifi c coast. people and how the driver was the ground, screaming tearfully. year, compared with 45 in 2014, ously aff ects the chances of con- The peace accord ended a able to fl ee justice.” “He wasn’t ready! He wasn’t the UN said in its annual human solidating peace in Colombia,” 52-year war that killed some The incident occurred late last ready!” one woman yelled. rights report. Cristo said. 200,000 people and displaced Saturday evening when a bus, Quico Bien-Aime had come to Community leaders who Violence, including death millions of others. travelling from Cap Haitien to mourn the death of his brother, speak out against rights abuses threats and killings, against hu- “We bet on peace, but there Japanese BMX rider Taka Higashino performs during the the capital Port-au-Prince, hit Dupito. “It was the music he are targeted by armed groups, man rights and land activists is are enemies of peace,” said Luis X-Knights competition at the National Stadium in San two people in a town outside Go- loved,” Bien-Aime said, referring often involved in drug traffick- most prevalent in rural areas, David Rincon, a community Jose, Costa Rica. naives, killing one. to his younger brother’s love of ing and illegal gold mining, who particularly along Colombia’s leader. The driver then fl ed and rara. “He loved music a lot.” Gulf Times Monday, March 20, 2017 23 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN Pakistan urges Govt to set up mechanism to monitor Indus River fl ows Taliban to hold Internews Lahore

akistan will put forward an advice of deploying a Pmonitoring mechanism to talks with Kabul assess the adverse eff ects of cli- mate change on the water fl ows Internews their homes and Fata is now be- against the country are irrel- of Indus rivers system during a Islamabad ing mainstreamed to the politi- evant. meeting with an Indian delega- cal governance of the country,” He said Pakistan and the US tion, offi cials said yesterday. he said. had a historic and multi-faceted As per the fourth point of akistan has relayed a clear He said several high offi cials, relationship spanning over seven agenda of the 113th meeting of message to the Taliban to including from the US, had visit- decades. Permanent Indus Waters Com- Pparticipate in talks with ed and witnessed for themselves Pakistan, he said, was looking mission, Pakistan has commu- the elected government in Kabul the gains of peace and security in forward to working closely with nicated to India that discussion and off ered full support to the Pakistan. the new US administration in would be held on the monitor- US to bring peace to the war- The ambassador further in- order to further strengthen the ing of the parameters relevant torn country. formed the journalists that the bilateral relations and to bring to the climate change for the “Our message to the Taliban recent initiative to reach out to people from both the countries Indus System Rivers, a senior is clear: go ahead and participate the Afghan government, which closer to each other. offi cial confi rmed. in the process of reconciliation led to a meeting between Adviser Aizaz said the improved secu- “As climate change would with the Afghan government. to the Prime Minister on Foreign rity situation and economic re- infl uence the fl ow of the rivers, We don’t want bloodshed in Af- Aff airs and Afghan National Se- forms had led to revival of econ- so it cannot be excluded from ghanistan, nor we want our land omy, which was now growing at the treaty framework,” the of- A herd travels to cool off in the River Indus, Hyderabad, Pakistan, on March 18. to be used against anyone,” Pa- “It is in the common interest the rate of 4.7%. fi cial of Pakistan’s Indus Waters kistan’s new ambassador to the of both nations to stop “All economic indicators are Commission said. A 10-member delegation of greatly aff ect the river flows, the fl ows in Ravi and Sutlej rivers to re- US Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry said cross-border movement of pointing upwards. Energy defi cit “Further, Paragraph 29 of Indian Indus Waters Commis- offi cial added. duce environmental degradation. on Friday. terrorists” will soon be a matter of the past. Annexure G of Indus Waters sion was to arrive in Pakistan “Therefore, we can never ig- Due to a loss of regular fl ow in However, Chaudhry said the The resurgence of economy was Treaty mentions the interna- yesterday (Sunday) for tak- nore the importance of having the eastern rivers, the riverbed Afghan government should also curity Adviser in London, was an attracting investors from all over tional conventions and cus- ing part at the two-day annual such a monitoring mechanism.” has accumulated sand dunes, move forward and seek a po- important step in the direction the world,” he said. tomary international law. Un- meeting of the commission. Watershed management is which are causing havoc to the litical solution to end violence in aiming at close co-ordination To another question, he said der these, the environment India agreed to revive Indus another tool that could help in fragile ecology of the area. the country. and cooperation between the Pakistan wants good ties with and climate change cannot be waters commission-level talks for making water fl ows smooth. A senior offi cial said India He said the US military com- two governments. the US, China, Russia and all excluded.” discussing water issues after hav- Both countries should develop insisted on discussing the ob- mand was aware of Pakistan’s “It is in the common interest neighbouring countries. The treaty states except ing virtually ended boycott of the a mechanism in this regard and jections of Pakistan on Kis- co-operation in its Afghan op- of both nations to stop cross- To another question, he said as the Parties may otherwise negotiation process after around also ensure real time exchange of hanganga and Rattle hydroelec- erations and Islamabad would border movement of terrorists,” Pakistan and US had diff erence agree, “The law to be applied by one and half year of impasse. data related to river fl ows. tric projects at the platform of continue to support the Ameri- he said, adding that Pakistan of opinion on the issue of CIA the court shall be this treaty.” The last meeting of the com- The offi cial said both the Pakistan Indus Waters Com- can eff orts to bring lasting peace suff ers greatly as a result of in- spy Shakil Afridi, who was cur- The Indus Waters Treaty mission was held in 2015. countries should immediately mission instead of World Bank- in Afghanistan. stability in neighbouring coun- rently jailed in Pakistan for vio- gives option to the parties to re- India has also started ex- take steps under the guiding driven process. In his fi rst interaction with try, so Islamabad sincerely wants lating the country’s law. solve the issues. changing water fl ow and agri- principles of treaty to eff ec- Pakistan has refused this. the Pakistani journalists based to see a peaceful, independent Spelling out his priorities, Pakistan and India signed culture use data with Pakistan. tively mitigate adverse eff ects “We have responded to that in Washington, Aizaz said he had and prosperous Afghanistan. Ambassador Chaudhry said it the treaty after hectic negotia- Another offi cial said there is of climate change. and our response is that these clear instructions from the lead- Pakistan believes the two gov- was his mission to strengthen tions in Karachi on September dire need to have a joint moni- He said Pakistan is already a will not be discussed as the ership to strengthen ties with ernments should co-operate to Pakistan’s relations with the US 19, 1960. toring of Indus basin to deal victim of fl ow restriction on the process of discussion has been the US and update the congress- stop the cross-border movement and win friends for Pakistan in It consists of 12 articles and 8 with such a burning issue. eastern rivers. completed and gone to the for- men and the US administration of terrorists. American polity. appendices. Global warming is going to Also, India was not releasing ward stages,” the offi cial said. on the real change in Pakistan. He underscored the impor- He said it was important for Aizaz, who served as Paki- tance of eff ective border man- the world to see the positive stan’s foreign secretary prior to agement, which is in common constructive reality of today’s his appointment here, says to- interest of both Afghanistan and Pakistan. day’s Pakistan has changed as Pakistan. Underlining the important the country is winning the war To a question about eff orts role that the Pakistani Ameri- against terrorism and moving of some think tanks to create can community is playing in Celebrated Kalasha activist towards economic prosperity. misunderstanding between Is- the US, ambassador Chaud- “Zarb-e-Azb has achieved a lamabad and Washington, the hry stated that in line with the resounding success. The tribal ambassador said people and directions of the leadership, areas have been cleared of ter- leadership in the US want strong it would be his top priority to rorist hideouts. and friendly relations with Pa- serve the community and ad- Maureen Lines passes away The temporarily displaced kistan and a few people who are dress their issues and interests people (TDPs) have returned to engaged in negative propaganda with missionary zeal. Internews odds and she cian in the US and worked as a torial coff ee-table book that Islamabad was a recipient ‘barefoot doctor’ going door- captures rare glimpses of every- of the Tamgha- to-door providing medicine to day life of the Kalasha who are Three US troops wounded aft er Afghan soldier opens fi re elebrated British so- i-Imtiaz (Paki- the Kalasha people. fi ghting for their cultural survival cial worker and envi- stan’s civil med- Lines was the founder of the amid growing commercialisation Three US troops were wounded yesterday after So-called “green-on-blue” insider attacks by Cronmentalist Maureen al award) for Kalasha Environmental Protec- and modernity as the dwellers an Afghan soldier opened fire on them at a base Afghan soldiers on international service members P Lines, known for her work extraordinary Maureen Lines tion Society and the Hindukush of the last mountain enclave of in the southern province of Helmand, the Nato-led were a major problem several years ago, but now on the Kalasha people, passed services rendered Conservation Association. pagan tribal people in one of the Resolute Support mission said. occur less frequently after security measures were away in Peshawar yesterday. in the preservation and promo- She was also a columnist for remotest parts of Pakistan. The soldiers are receiving medical care, the Nato- improved and the number of foreign troops in the She was 79. tion of Kalasha culture. Pakistan’s English daily Dawn, Lines was an extraordinary led training and assistance mission said on Twitter. country fell sharply. Born in 1937 in England, She studied international af- and The Friday Times, and au- and inspirational fi gure who A spokesman for the Afghan military in the south Most foreign combat troops withdrew from Lines fi rst visited Pakistan in fairs at the New York University thor of several books, includ- had devoted her life to the serv- of the country said the Afghan special forces Afghanistan at the end of 2014, 13 years after 1980. (NYU) and journalism at the ing Beyond the North-West ice of others. soldier was shot dead after firing at the Americans they ousted the Taliban from power, but around She lived among the Kala- New School for Social Research Frontier, A Guide to the Kalasha She had recently adopted at Camp Shorab air base at around 3pm local time. 13,000 Nato-led soldiers remain to help advise sha, learning their language and (NSSR) in New York. People, and The Kalasha of the some Kalasha orphan children “The guard lost his life in exchange of fire,” and train Afghan forces fighting a revived Taliban ways. She was earlier trained as an Hindu Kush. who she had desired to educate Mohamed Rasoul Zazai said. insurgency. Her love for them braved all ambulatory emergency techni- Her last publication is a pic- at schools in Peshawar. Afghan Star: Rap, stilettos and a musical revolution

AFP Kabul

mokey-eyed Zulala Hashemi, standing tall Sin four-inch gold heels, wants to sing for women. The 18-year-old has become the fi rst girl to reach the fi nal of popular television music talent show Afghan Star. Hashemi, a native of eastern Jalalabad — a stronghold of Tali- ban and Islamic State insurgents — will face off against the rstfi rapper of the competition in to- day’s fi nal. Their clash will be one of the most trailblasing in the popular show’s 12-year history. Quietly rooting for Zulala is Aryana Saeed, one of the judges and an indefatigable women’s rights activist. In this photograph taken on March 9, 2017, judges of the television music competition Afghan Star (L/R) Young Afghan singer Zulala Hashemi (R) stands alongside competitor Sayed Jamal Mubarez as they Saeed, who was born in Kabul Obaid Juenda, Aryana Sayeed, Saida Gul Mina and Qais Ulfat take part in the show in Kabul. perform during the television music competition Afghan Star in Kabul. but usually lives in London, is likened widely to American re- of “American Idol”, has been a public, Zulala can count on sup- of Tolo TV, said it was nothing and bomb attacks. bus ride to Kabul. ity,” Omid said. ality star Kim Kardashian and is huge hit in conservative Afghan- port from her mother Merem short of revolutionary that a girl Earlier this month, a group of At 23, he is the breadwinner of In the semi-fi nals, Aryana despised by religious conserva- istan since the fall of the Taliban Hashemi, a smiling woman who from conservative Jalalabad had gunmen stormed Afghanistan’s his family and is keenly eyeing Saeed took to the stage, inton- tives for her fi gure-hugging regime that banned music and designed and hand-stitched all reached the fi nals. largest military hospital in Ka- the Afghan Star prize — a motor- ing a new song dedicated to clothes. cinema. her daughter’s on-stage cos- “This is exactly what this bul, killing more than 100 peo- cycle and a trip to Kazakhstan. Farkhunda and Rukshana — two Zulala and Saeed hug in a stu- But since its launch in 2005, tumes. country needs right now,” he ple, according to multiple sur- “Jamal has been in the lead Afghan women who were beaten dio at local television station it has also seen a backlash from “Even if I do not win, I will be enthused, alluding to growing viving staff . since the beginning,” said Omid. to death and became a symbol of Tolo, their eyelashes fl uttering. mullahs for the way it features a singer,” says Zulala in her deep insecurity. Tolo’s maze of pro- Competing against Zulala is However, his chances are weak endemic violence against wom- “I have never hidden my sup- unveiled women singing and voice, determination in her al- duction sets lie behind a thick Sayed Jamal Mubarez, a barber if the voting is along ethnic lines en. port as women have little chance dancing. mond-shaped eyes. steel door, manned by armed and a young rapper from north- in the deeply divided country. “Your status is that of half a in this country,” Saeed told AFP. A woman came in third place “I wear traditional dresses but guards and barricaded against ern Mazar-i-Sharif city. Zulala is from the dominant man / But you are punished twice “For the fi rst time people have in 2008, and since then no fe- my songs follow the path of Ary- car bombs and gunfi re. Dressed in baggy pants, a Pashtun majority, whereas Mu- as much (...) Arise and shout / voted for a girl — and one who male singer has gone beyond 7th ana. I want to convey a message The TV station has stopped cap and red sneakers, Muba- barez is a Hazara, a long perse- Raise your sleeves / Claim your comes from a very conservative or 8th position, said Omid Ne- to Afghan women: they must outdoor recordings owing to se- rez shut down his hair salon cuted minority. rights / You can do it!” province, a land of Islamic State zami, the show’s presenter and a claim their rights and explore curity concerns. for three months to partici- “Every show I encourage The fi nal of the show will be zealots.” former contestant. their talents,” she added. The Afghan capital is regu- pate in the show, borrowing the audience to vote for tal- live today, on the eve of the Af- Afghan Star, Tolo’s adaptation Aside from the backing of the Massood Sanjer, the head larly hit with insurgent gun $8 from his neighbours for the ent, not according to ethnic- ghan New Year. Gulf Times 24 Monday, March 20, 2017 PHILIPPINES

Military Govt can’t attacks extremist stop China ‘bomb ‘building makers’ AFP Manila

he Philippine military has used aircraft and artillery on shoal’ Tto attack a group of ex- tremists who were learning how AFP a month. But Duterte said: “So to make improvised explosive Manila what if they stop there? They devices, a spokesman said yes- admit it is within the territory terday. of the Philippines. That does not The attacks between March 13- hilippine President Rod- satisfy you?” 16 were a severe blow to fi ghters of rigo Duterte said yesterday He described the complaints the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Phe could not stop China against China as “nit-picking.” Fighters (BIFF), some of whose from building on a disputed The Philippines under Du- members have pledged allegiance shoal near his country’s west terte’s predecessor Benigno to the Islamic State group, said coast because it was too power- Aquino had actively challenged Brigadier General Restituto Padil- ful. China’s claim to control most la. “The target was completely de- The mayor of China’s San- of the South China Sea, despite stroyed,” he said following assaults sha city has reportedly said his counter-claims by several other by planes, helicopter gunships and country would set up an envi- nations. artillery in the southern island of ronmental monitoring station on However Duterte, who took President Rodrigo Duterte arrives at Naypyidaw International Airport, Myanmar yesterday. Mindanao. Scarborough Shoal, which China offi ce last year, has reversed that There were no civilians in the seized from the Philippines in policy and is seeking billions of area during the attack, he said. 2012. dollars worth of investments and Foreign and local extrem- “We cannot stop China from grants from Beijing. ists were meeting in a BIFF en- doing (these) things,” Duterte “We are now improving the clave in the southern province of told journalists when asked economy because of the help Duterte begins four-day Maguindanao when the attack was about the reports. of China. Why will you be so launched, Padilla said, declining to “What do you want me to do? shameless just because they are say where the foreigners had come Declare war against China? I passing by?” he told reporters from. He cited intelligence sources can’t. We will lose all our mili- yesterday. as saying 21 extremists were killed tary and policemen tomorrow Beijing has already reclaimed visit to Myanmar, Thailand and 26 wounded, although no and we (will be) a destroyed na- large areas around several islets bodies were recovered. tion,” he told a press conference and reefs in the Spratly archipel- Rebels often carry away their before departing for a visit to ago elsewhere in the South China DPA The trip to Myanmar coincides with the its eff orts to address challenges, certain dead and wounded. Myanmar. Sea, and installed military facili- Manila celebration of the 60th anniversary of the problems in these regions,” he said. Five completed improvised ex- Duterte said he would tell the ties on some of them. establishment of diplomatic relations be- Today, the 71-year-old president travels plosive devices were recovered Chinese: “Just keep it (the wa- However analysts warn that tween the two countries. to Thailand, where he will meet with Thai along with bomb-making manu- ters) open and do not interfere building on Scarborough Shoal hilippine President Rodrigo Duterte The notoriously straight-talking Du- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha to als and materials, the military said. with our coast guard.” would radically change the situ- yesterday embarked on a four-day terte will meet with State Counsellor and discuss political, economic, agricultural, Troops are still tracking down He also brushed aside con- ation since it is just 230 kilome- Ptrip to Myanmar and Thailand aimed Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi and his energy, educational, and defence co- the remnants of the BIFF group, cerns over Chinese survey ships tres from Luzon. at boosting ties with the two Southeast counterpart President Htin Kyaw. operation.“There is much at stake in (our) Padilla said. that had been seen near Benham Outposts on the shoal would Asian neighbours. Duterte said he would discuss co- relations,” Duterte said.”We have to move Rebels have waged a separa- Rise — waters east of the main put Chinese jet fi ghters and “We will strengthen partnerships for operation in combating traditional and forward together on shared interests in se- tist insurgency in the south of the Philippine island of Luzon that missiles within easy striking positive change as we engage our region emerging transnational crimes, including curing security and stability in the region mainly Catholic Philippines since have been recognised by the distance of military bases in and our world,” Duterte said before leav- terrorism and violent extremism, piracy as we seek to sustain growth and develop- the 1970s, with the confl ict claim- United Nation as indisputably the Philippines, some of which ing for the Myanmar capital of Naypyidaw, and the illegal drug trade with Myanmar’s ment for our peoples.” ing more than 120,000 lives. Philippine territory. could host US troops. his fi rst stop. offi cials. In both trips, the president will meet While the major rebel organi- Earlier this month, Defence The shoal also commands the With the trip, Duterte is completing his Bilateral trade and investment would with the Filipino communities in the two sations have for years observed a Secretary Delfi n Lorenzana said northeast exit of the sea, so a visits to member countries of the Asso- also be a key area of discussion, he added. countries. ceasefi re as part of peace eff orts, he was very concerned that the Chinese military outpost there ciation of Southeast Nations (Asean) that “In my discussions, I will convey the At least 1,800 Filipinos live in and work breakaway factions like the BIFF ships had been seen at that lo- could stop other countries’ na- have taken place since he became presi- Philippines’ support for the reforms be- in Myanmar and 16,000 Filipinos in Thai- and other gangs still engage in cation, sometimes for as long as vies from using the waters. dent in June last year. ing undertaken by Myanmar as well as in land. bombings and kidnappings. President welcomes prospect of ICC Bishops preach against case, says ‘brutal’ war on drugs to go on restoring death penalty Reuters security forces to kill suspects plicity. The authorities reject war. Two men, including the one Manila who were not resisting arrest. that and blame vigilantes and who is expected to fi le the ICC AFP who could not aff ord good lawyers and that it was More than 8,000 people have drugs gangs. Duterte said he case, have testifi ed before the Manila often used by oppressive regimes to silence dis- died since he took offi ce last year would never “condone the killing Philippine Senate saying they senters. Duterte, who won election by a landslide hilippine President Rodri- and began his anti-drugs cam- of a criminal person arrested with were part of an alleged “death in May, has launched a brutal, but highly popular go Duterte yesterday wel- paign, a third in raids and sting outstretched arms, begging for his squad” in Davao that killed at Du- hilippine Catholic bishops fi red back war against crime which has included a campaign Pcomed the prospect of the operations by police who say life, or what is popularly known as terte’s behest. against eff orts to restore the death penalty to bring back capital punishment with hanging as International Criminal Court they acted in self-defence. extra-judicial killings.” But legislators found no proof Pwith a special prayer read at all masses yes- his preferred mode of execution. (ICC) putting him on trial over “I will not be intimidated and “Follow the law and we are al- of extra-judicial killings and death terday. Among his allies in this campaign are box- his bloody war on drugs, saying I shall not be stopped just by right. Drop shabu and nobody will squads. The church leaders of the country which is ing hero-turned-senator Manny Pacquiao who he would not be intimidated and what? International Criminal die tomorrow,” Duterte said. The “death squad” and alle- about 80% Catholic, issued the special homily quotes the Bible to justify capital punishment his campaign would be unre- Court? Impeachment? If that is Shabu is the street name for the gations of drugs-related extra- in response to an eff ort spearheaded by President and the House of Representative which voted lenting and “brutal”. part of my destiny, it is my des- highly addictive crystal metham- judicial killings were among the Rodrigo Duterte to bring back capital punish- earlier this month to restore the death penalty. A self-confessed assassin who tiny to go,” Duterte told reporters phetamine that the government reasons for an impeachment com- ment which was abolished in 2006. Last week, Duterte’s ruling party stripped a testifi ed to being in a “death shortly before leaving for Myan- blames for most of the serious plaint fi led by an opposition law- “Dear sisters and brothers in Christ, let us not dozen lawmakers of House leadership posts for squad” under Duterte is expect- mar. crimes in the Philippines. maker in Congress against Duterte allow our wells to be poisoned by bitter water. Let voting against the death penalty. ed to fi le a case at the ICC this “The drive against corrup- But Duterte warned: “If you on Thursday. us uphold the sanctity of life and make a stand The bill restoring the death penalty must still month or in April, accusing the tion, criminality and drugs will place the guys lives in jeopardy... Duterte said he was not ruling against death penalty,” the Catholic Bishops of be passed by the Senate but Duterte’s allies also president of crimes against hu- resume and it will continue and my order is to shoot you.” out the possibility that “scalawags the Philippines said in the special pastoral state- make up the majority in this chamber. manity, his lawyer said recently. it will be brutal.” He said he would rather see in government who are trying to ment. The bishops argued that there was no evi- In an apparent rebuttal to Pacquiao, the bish- But Duterte has said he is on Rights groups say many of “thousands or millions of crimi- silence guys dealing with them” dence that capital punishment deterred crime, ops said,““Let us pray fervently for the legisla- the right track regarding human the deaths were assassinations nals go fi rst”, than see security were behind these extra-judicial contrary to the arguments of Duterte allies. tors of our country as they prepare to vote on rights and has never instructed of drugs users with police com- forces killed in the anti-narcotics executions. They added that it was biased against the poor death penalty in the Philippine Senate.” Robredo camp calls impeachment threat ‘irresponsible’

By Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino that fi ling,” Robredo said. ment of the Interior and Local scheme to undermine the ad- impeachment case and the re- Manila Times Robredo’s spokeswoman, Government) and PNP (Philip- ministration. leasing of the video,” she added. Georgina Hernandez, in a televi- pine National Police) as early as The Palace and Alvarez both Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary sion interview on Friday noted January. But our letter was not claimed Robredo was behind the Alejano on Thursday fi led an ouse Speaker Pantaleon that Alvarez had admitted that answered. So we did not know complaint as she would benefi t impeachment complaint against Alvarez’s threat to im- he still needed to consult his where to turn to. The people the most from Duterte’s ouster. President Duterte over thou- Hpeach Vice President legal team before fi ling an im- who come to us seek protection, Robredo is Duterte’s constitu- sands of supposedly drug-relat- Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo is peachment complaint. seek help. We cannot aff ord to do tional successor. ed killings, summary executions “utterly irresponsible,” Robre- “And if that is the case, he is nothing,” she said. “It is just a coincidence that it in Davao City when Duterte was do’s camp said on Saturday, as making such public statements Hernandez said: “There is was released recently…because city mayor, as well as alleged the vice president denied claims without suffi cient basis and it nothing in the video that shows it would be used in a conference graft and corruption. she was behind the impeach- is purely speculation, really,” any sort of action as all of the this March. But that was long “As to the plan or the objective ment raps fi led by the Magdalo she said, adding that “We re- statements on the video are ago. Long ago,” Robredo said. of the House speaker, we really party-list group against Presi- ally think that such statements based on facts coming from fi rst- Hernandez said those behind could not tell at this point. But dent Rodrigo Duterte last week. should not be taken seriously hand accounts of families, urban the United Nations anti-narcot- we see it is purely conditioning Talking to reporters in Naga and these are really just empty poor families who sought refuge ics meeting made the request for the mind of the public and also City, Robredo said she was only threats and trying to mind-con- by visiting personally the Offi ce a message from the vice presi- really trying to bring the cred- able to read about Alvarez’s re- dition the public.” of the Vice President to share dent last month, and the video ibility of the vice president down marks on social media. Alvarez made the threat to im- A group of protesters led by actress Vivian Velez (third from left) stormed their experiences, as regards the message was sent to the organ- as she continues to really focus “It is diffi cult to comment be- peach Robredo on Friday, claim- the off icial residence of Vice President Maria Leonor ‘Leni’ Robredo in New various operations happening in isers before the end of February. on her work of poverty allevia- cause I do not know what his ba- ing the vice president betrayed Manila, Quezon City on Saturday to demand her impeachment. relation to the government’s war “The decision as to when it tion,” Hernandez said. sis is. But the president repeated public trust for maligning the on drugs.” will be shared and posted online The erstwhile ruling Liberal several times that he is sure that country in a video message be- drug war and the so-called “pal- Robredo said her video mes- Robredo also denied Malaca- depended solely on the schedule Party said on Saturday that ac- I am not part of any destabilisa- fore a United Nations meeting it-ulo” scheme, wherein the po- sage was “very factual.” nang’s claim that the release of of the conference, which was be- cusations linking Robredo to tion plot. If his (Alvarez’s) basis on illegal drugs in Vienna, Aus- lice would take a member of the “That statement came from the video was timed to coincide yond our control. We really see supposed eff orts to undermine is the impeachment complaint tria last week. family of a drug suspect without stories that were conveyed to our with the fi ling of an impeach- here based on facts and time- the Duterte administration were fi led by Magdalo, they them- In the video clip, Robredo a warrant if the suspect didn’t offi ce. In fact, we tried to request ment complaint against Duterte lines, that there is no such co- “baseless, orchestrated lies” selves said that I was not part of spoke out against Duterte’s anti- want to surrender. for data from the DILG (Depart- last week, as part of a grand ordination as to the fi ling of the that could harm the country. Gulf Times Monday, March 20, 2017 25 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL

Lanka to Bangladesh’s top court clears open bid for energy project execution for extremist leader in April AFP 2004 grenade attack that killed Dhaka three and injured scores more, including then British high IANS commissioner (ambassador) Colombo angladesh’s highest court Anwar Choudhury. yesterday rejected the It was among the most high- Bfi nal appeal by a top ex- profi le attacks orchestrated by ri Lanka will in April open tremist leader to overturn his the Harkat-ul Jihad Al Islami international bids for a liq- death sentence, all but paving (HuJI) group, headed by Han- Suefi ed natural gas energy the way for his execution within nan, across Bangladesh in the project, a government offi cial has weeks. mid-1990s. said. The Supreme Court upheld By the time Hannan was ar- The project is intended to gen- a 2008 order to execute Mufti rested in late 2005 more than erate 300MW of electricity for Abdul Hannan and two asso- 100 people had been killed in the national grid, Xinhua news ciates for an attack on a shrine attacks by HuJI on a church, agency reported. that left three dead and injured secular gatherings and mosques Spokesman for Sri Lanka the British high commissioner used by Islam’s minority sects. Powers and Energy Minis- at the time. His supporters attempted try Sulakshana Jayawardane The decision comes just to free their infl uential leader said that the government had weeks after armed militants in early March by hurling hurl agreed to proceed with the attempted to free Hannan in a bombs at police vans transport- project, to be implemented in daring ambush as police trans- ing Hannan, but failed to secure the Colombo suburb called ferred the high-profi le extrem- his release. ‘Kerawalapitiya’. ist between prisons. Bangladesh has suff ered a “We are now working on the The appeal dismissal leaves spate of attacks on secular ac- tender process,” he said. Hannan and his associates no tivists, foreigners and religious Sri Lanka mainly depends further legal avenues to escape minorities in recent years. on hydro, coal and ther- the gallows and they could be Al Qaeda and the Islamic mal power for its energy hanged within a week, said State group have claimed re- requirement. Attorney General Mahbubey sponsibility in some cases but However, the prevailing dry Alam. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s spell has reduced the contri- “They can still beg for their secular government has pinned bution of hydro power to ten lives to the president,” he said, the blame on local outfi ts. per cent of the national grid. though there is no such prec- Islamic State claimed re- Otherwise, it remained at 50 edent of an Islamist extrem- sponsibility Saturday for a per cent when rainfall was ist being granted clemency in suicide bomb attack on a Bang- abundant. Bangladesh. ladesh security forces camp, Sri Lanka operates one coal Defence lawyer Nikhil Ku- while police in Dhaka shot power plant established with mar Saha said: “It is up to them dead a suspected militant in a fi nancial co-operation from whether they will seek clemency separate incident. China. from the president or not.” Police have arrested scores of The government has now The Supreme Court upheld suspected extremists and killed decided not to go for any coal their death sentences last year. more than 50 people since an project in future. Instead, it will The trio were sentenced to attack on a Dhaka cafe last year opt for green energy sources, the death for masterminding a that left 22 dead. Mufti Abdul Hannan, flanked by police off icers after a court appearance in Dhaka. report said. Properly-functioning judiciary can Indian army reduce graft, crimes: chief justice chief to visit

By Mizan Rahman preme Court cannot discharge of the government’, resulting ifi ed that the judiciary has no rival- the vacant posts in the judici- Dhaka its due role, as given to it by the in a misunderstanding be- ry, either with the administration ary. But we did not get assist- constitution and the law of the tween the judiciary and the or the government. ance from the administration,” Nepal soon land. “Had the Supreme Court administration. About the vacancies in the he added. orruption and crimes will been able to discharge its duties A section of lower level of- lower judiciary, Justice Sinha The CJ also said the govern- remarkable come down properly, as bestowed upon it by fi cials of the administration said a total of 307 posts in the ment annually collects 30bn taka IANS armies to confer this honour Cin Bangladesh had the the constitution and the laws of is giving wrong explanations lower court judges, including as revenue from the judiciary. Kathmandu on each other’s chiefs to signi- judiciary been able to properly the land, I think the tendency to the top administration, six of district judges, have been Yet, the lower court judges have fy close and special military- exercise the power given to it by towards crime and corruption Justice Sinha said, calling on lying vacant for a long time, to share their courtrooms dur- to-military ties. the constitution and laws, Chief and even terrorist activities administration offi cials to re- resulting in a huge backlog of ing the judicial function since ndian army chief General General Rawat will also dis- Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha would have come down sharply,” frain from giving any wrong cases. “These posts could not be there is a dearth of suffi cient Bipin Rawat is slated to cuss bilateral military ties and said yesterday. he said. explanations to ensure good fi lled as the government is yet courtrooms, he pointed out. Ivisit Nepal at the invita- other aspects of co-opera- The chief justice (CJ) was ad- Explaining the reason for relations between the judi- to give its nod to an apex court The CJ also mentioned several tion of the Himalayan nation’s tion during his meeting with dressing the inaugural function the apex court’s disability to ciary and the government. proposal,” he noted. achievements of the apex court, government. Nepali army chief General Ra- of online application registra- properly discharge its duties, “The judiciary is not aff ected The CJ disclosed that more including the deliberations in During his visit from March jendra Chhetri. tion system of Bangladesh Ju- the CJ said a section of of- by these wrong explanations; than 3MN cases are currently the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mu- 28 to 31, the Indian army chief General Rawat is also dicial Service Commission in fi cials of the administration rather, it takes a toll on the pending before the courts for jibur Rahman murder case, the will be conferred the honorary scheduled to meet Prime Dhaka. is conveying ‘wrong reports government,” he added. disposal across the country. jail killing case and war crimes rank of general of the Nepal Minister Pushpa Kamal Da- He lamented that the Su- about the judiciary to the head The chief justice, however, clar- “We have sent a proposal over cases. army by Nepal President Bid- hal and Defence Minister Bal hya Devi Bhandari, defence Krishna Khand and will visit spokesman Major General Pokhara, where India’s big- Tara Bahadur Karki said yes- gest pension camp is locat- terday. ed, and travel to Muktinath Celebration for long life President Bhandari will where Nepal army runs a 600,000 confer the honorary rank on high-altitude military war- General Rawat on March 29 fare training centre. for his “commendable mili- Other highlights of his visit tary prowess and immeasur- will be issues related to pur- yaba able contribution to foster- chasing military hardware and ing India’s long-standing and software for the Nepal army. friendly ties with Nepal”, the Nepal makes almost all tablets spokesman said. military and defence pur- It is a custom and tradition chases from India, including seized between the Indian and Nepali helicopters.

IANS Dhaka Chinese minister he Bangladeshi anti- crime elite force Rapid TAction Battalion (RAB) leaves for Lanka yesterday seized 600,000 yaba tablets in a drive in seaport city Chittagong. Reuters statement, said Deputy Na- A RAB offi cial said that eight Beijing val Chief Su Zhiqian would people, including six Myanmar accompany Chang. citizens were also arrested with China’s defence ministry suspected links to the seizure of hinese Defence Min- said in December that China 600,000 yaba pills. ister Chang Wanquan would hold its fi rst military Acting on a tip-off , the offi - Cleft yesterday for offi - drills with Nepal in 2017. cial who did not like to be named cial visits to Sri Lanka and Ne- In 2014, Sri Lanka allowed a said the law enforcers raided a pal, the defence ministry said. Chinese submarine and a war- Chittagong area and seized the China is vying to increase ship to dock at its port in the tablets, often used for sexual its infl uence in Nepal, which capital Colombo, prompting stimulation in Bangladesh and serves as a natural buff er be- concern in New Delhi. continue to be increasingly pop- tween China and India, chal- India, which has a festering bor- ular among drug users, in spite lenging India’s long-held posi- der dispute with China, has looked of the eff orts of law enforcement tion as the dominant outside at the latter’s strategic ambitions in agencies to contain the dangers power in the landlocked nation. South Asia and in the Indian Ocean of the narcotics trade. China has also invested with some nervousness. RAB in January 2016 seized heavily in Sri Lanka, funding China has close defence ties 2.8mn yaba tablets in special airports, roads, railways and with India’s rival Pakistan, and drives in Dhaka and seaport city ports, and including the island has been getting closer to Bang- Chittagong, nation of 21mn people on its ladesh and the Maldives too. Law enforcers had then An elderly Nepalese man Dilbahadur Maharjan, aged 77, is carried by his grandchildren in a wooden chariot during a Janku procession “One Belt, One Road” mission Chinese warships now drill in the claimed that was the biggest in Kirtipur, outskirts of Kathmandu, yesterday. Janku is a ritual practice performed by Newar people when a man or a woman turns 77 to create a modern-day “Silk Indian Ocean too, as Beijing be- ever seizure of contraband yaba years old to mark the celebration for long life. Road” across Asia. comes more confi dent about pro- tablets in the country in a day. The ministry, in a short jecting power far from its shores. Gulf Times 26 Monday, March 20, 2017 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Deputy Managing Editor: K T Chacko President Trump’s

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar [email protected] imaginary enemy Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) It seems clear that managing housing prices and focus, an important step toward a market- boost exports and economic growth. Fax 44350474 instead, on propping up the exchange based exchange rate regime. But it was not until 2008 that US policy will be rate, as Japan, Russia, and South Asian The PBOC took these steps before Chinese policymakers – seeking to economically tougher on economies had done. China, they Trump’s January inauguration. Given off set the upward pressure that high argued, could not allow its hard- Trump’s accusations of currency capital infl ows were placing on the China in the coming years earned foreign-exchange reserves to manipulation by China, that was good renminbi – allowed local enterprises slip away. timing, regardless of the fact that to invest abroad. And even then, such By Zhang Jun But, after partly decoupling the the PBOC’s intervention was aimed investments could be made only in GULF TIMES renminbi from the dollar in August at strengthening, not weakening, specifi c circumstances. Shanghai 2015, the People’s Bank of China the renminbi. Enduring restrictions Similarly, in 2013, China established (PBOC) tried hard not to intervene on short-term capital outfl ows, a pilot free-trade zone in Shanghai, ast month, China to boost the renminbi’s value. As however, could still become a target, to explore approaches to facilitating commemorated the 20th China’s economic growth continued though such criticism, too, would be short-term capital fl ows and to quiet anniversary of the death of to decline and America’s continued to unwarranted. demands for fi nancial liberalisation Urgent measures recover, the renminbi’s exchange rate China’s regulation of cross- from the US and the International LDeng Xiaoping, the chief architect of the economic reform continued to fall. border capital fl ows has long been a Monetary Fund. But, in order to and opening up that catapulted the Some observers might have contentious subject. A few years ago, mitigate possible fi nancial risks, China country to the top rungs of the global wondered whether the PBOC most economists recommended that continued to develop its regulatory needed to combat economic ladder. The anniversary purposely allowed the depreciation to China liberalise the capital account, framework for capital-account comes at a time when economic boost China’s trade competitiveness thereby eliminating a key institutional convertibility. openness is under threat, as the in advance of a potential victory by barrier to the establishment of China also initiated in 2013 its “one United States is now being led by a Trump in the US election – a result Shanghai as an international fi nancial belt, one road” initiative, a massive obesity in Qatar president who believes that the way to that many assumed would weaken the centre and of the renminbi as an undertaking that will establish the “make America great again” is to close US dollar. Perhaps it did. But it did not international reserve currency. physical and institutional structure it off from the world. actively devalue the renminbi. But, according to respected for closer trade and investment In particular, Donald Trump’s When Trump’s election as US economists like Justin Yifu Lin and relations with countries in the Asia- It is alarming that as many as 70% of the participants of administration is posturing for a president defi ed expectations and Yu Yongding, the full liberalisation Pacifi c region and beyond, thereby the Qatar Biobank were diagnosed obese, as revealed by the stricter approach to China, which he made the already-strong dollar rise of China’s capital account would accelerating the internationalisation annual report released last week. claims has been “raping” the US with further, depreciation pressure on the be highly risky for China. They also of the renminbi. At that time, overseas its trade policies, including by keeping renminbi intensifi ed. By the end of last point out that there is little evidence investments and acquisitions by By the end of December 2016, Qatar Biobank had reached the renminbi’s value artifi cially low. year, the renminbi had depreciated by backing claims that free cross- Chinese enterprises were being 6,475 participants and out of them, almost 80% (5,136) were Whatever concrete steps Trump takes, around 15% against the dollar from border capital fl ows are necessary for strongly encouraged, in order to Qataris. it seems clear that US policy will be the summer of 2015, and rapidly rising continued economic development. provide an outlet – something The report says that Qatar as a nation has some of the economically tougher on China in expectations of further depreciation As recent experience shows, China’s like the US Marshall Plan for the highest levels of metabolic disorders such as obesity and the coming years, potentially even were driving more investors to take use of adjustable quotas for qualifi ed reconstruction of post-war Europe – triggering a trade war. But, as a closer their capital out of China. foreign and domestic institutional for the excess capital and production diabetes mellitus within the region. look at China’s fi nancial policy stance The PBOC had to take stronger investors to manage short-term cross- capacity that had emerged following The data and samples collected from Qatar Biobank shows, China is not America’s foe. action to contain the renminbi’s border capital fl ows remains a valuable the 2008 global fi nancial crisis. participants paint a worrying picture of the local Just a few months ago, China decline. To stabilise exchange-rate tactic for protecting its exchange rate Deng used to tell Chinese offi cials population’s health, including both Qataris and long-term was confronted with the urgent expectations, it imposed tighter and foreign-exchange reserves. As a that, when faced with new challenges, challenge of preventing the continued restrictions on short-term capital country with considerable savings and one should “stay calm, hold one’s residents, highlights the report. depreciation of the renminbi and outfl ows. At the same time, it took an underdeveloped fi nancial market, ground, and respond.” So far, that More than 70% of the population is either overweight or cooling down an overheating real- its previous eff orts to decouple the China knows that it must be careful. is what China has done, pursuing obese and nearly half of all men – 48% – are classifi ed as estate market. This would be no easy renminbi from the dollar – a shift To be sure, when China’s economic cautious fi nancial liberalisation obese. feat, not least because the authorities’ from a fi xed median-price system to a situation has called for it, the according to its own needs and logic. eff orts to stem the renminbi’s decline market-based exchange-rate package authorities have taken steps to reduce Whatever Trump says, that does not Furthermore, 83% of the population participate in little- were rapidly shrinking China’s – a step further, adding 11 currencies restrictions on capital fl ows. Some make China an enemy of America. – or-no physical exercise, with 41% not participating in any foreign-exchange reserves. to the renminbi’s reference currency 20 years ago, China began to allow – Project Syndicate physical exercise at all, according to the report. The situation was so grim that basket. With that, China’s exchange- even encourage – current-account Almost 16% of Qatar Biobank visitors were diagnosed with some international investors and rate storm subsided, and a two-way liberalisation, in order to attract zZhang Jun is Professor of Economics diabetes, and 86% are Vitamin D-defi cient. economists suggested that the fl uctuation range for the renminbi- infl ows of foreign direct investment and Director of the China Center for government would have to give up on dollar exchange rate was established, into its manufacturing sector and Economic Studies at Fudan University. Additionally, over 45% of participants consume fast food more than three times a week. The Qatar Biobank sample cohort showed a low rate of smokers, with 39% of men and 4% of women reporting that they smoked. Yet another disturbing fi nding from the report is that more than 45% of both men and women consumed fast food more than three times a week. Though it is a well- There is a close known fact that fast food consumption is high in relation between Qatar, the latest fi gure highlights a dangerous obesity and pattern. kidney diseases By generating a comprehensive picture of the environmental, genetic and lifestyle factors that contribute to health issues facing the local population, Qatar Biobank can begin to help researchers and healthcare providers make better diagnoses and provide better treatments for diseases aff ecting the health of Qatar’s population, as pointed out by Dr Nahla Afi fi , scientifi c and education manager and acting director. As it was recently stressed by Dr Buthina Ibrahim, senior consultant, endocrinology and diabetes and a member of Qatar Metabolic Institute, obesity is now considered a disease and accompanied by mental, mechanical and metabolic complications. Dr Wahiba M Elhag, consultant bariatric medicine surgery, Hamad Medical Corp, said there is a close relation between obesity and kidney diseases. Obesity causes Marine Le Pen, French National Front (FN) political party leader and candidate for French 2017 presidential election, addresses supporters during a political rally in kidney malfunction. Even if a patient is looking for the renal Metz, France, on Saturday. transplant, the weight of the person must be reduced. There is a possibility of renal rejection in obese people, she explained. This should read in conjunction with the fact that bariatric French vote: Le Pen steals the limelight surgery, for weight loss, is conducted in Qatar at an ever increasing rate. By Florence Biedermann/AFP The UK Independence Party’s Nedeli television show hailed her of the republic and its institutions”. Since HMC started the process some fi ve years ago, more London former leader Nigel Farage, a leading anti-immigration policies before Macron: ‘France’s answer to campaigner for Brexit, said that an delving into allegations about Trump’ than 4,000 surgeries have been done. election victory for Le Pen and her moderate candidate Emmanuel Macron is often found intriguing According to Dr Moataz Bashah, consultant, bariatric arine Le Pen’s far- far-right National Front (FN) would Macron’s assets. and, sometimes, charming. medicine surgery, about 1,000 bariatric surgeries are done a right rhetoric, Francois “bring down” the European Union. The show labelled him President German media praise “the blue- year at HMC hospitals. Fillon’s survival tale and In Germany, the prospect of a Le Francois “Hollande’s creature”. eyed boy who reads Goethe” – a recent This is a huge number given that Weill Cornell Hospital in MEmmanuel Macron’s Pen victory is worrisome and a “real Fillon: A question of ethics headline from the liberal Frankfurter novel style: the ups and downs of the danger” according to Sigmar Gabriel, The other candidate to fi nd favour Allgemeine Zeitung. New York does only about 250 surgeries yearly. French presidential election have the minister for foreign aff airs. in Russia is Francois Fillon. The left-wing Tagesszeitung is more Qatar ranks either third or fourth internationally in the captured international attention. “The only question that matters, The right-wing presidential critical, describing Macron as “the number of bariatric surgeries done a year, Dr Bashah added. The main focus: the rise of is who can beat Marine Le Pen,” the hopeful, charged for misusing public elites’ candidate” but also as “the last The fi ndings from the Qatar Biobank 2016 annual report populism. weekly news magazine Der Spiegel funds, is described as the “victim of defence against the National Front”. Who can beat Le Pen? wrote. persecution” by Vesti Nedeli. In London, where he met with ought to be taken in the right spirit by those concerned and In Brexit Britain, the French In the United States, where many But his “Russian friendships” could Prime Minister Theresa May and held urgent measures initiated to combat obesity in Qatar. electoral campaign is being closely- focus on whether the “Trumpism” end up working against him, the state a rally for thousands of supporters, his watched. wave will grow or fi zzle out, Marine news agency RIA Novosti said. liberal views are attractive. Many, from the media to leaders and Le Pen’s name is the only one to really Elsewhere, the former PM’s The daily Independent newspaper To Advertise Londoners still stunned by the result stand out. continued candidacy is a source of said: “It is Emmanuel Macron, not of the referendum on European Union However, as the Richmond Times- incredulity and ridicule. Marine Le Pen, who will come to be [email protected] membership, wonder whether Le Pen Dispatch highlighted, there are “I can’t see that in the UK,” Bond known as France’s answer to Donald Display could actually come out on top. diff erences between the US President said, adding: “If such a case arose, Trump.” Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 Ian Bond, director of policy at the and the aspiring French candidate, senior fi gures in any political party Unsurprisingly, Russia expresses Centre for European Reform think most notably, her “constancy and would give him a bottle of whisky and little love for him. Classified tank, said the election refl ects “the coherence,” which Trump lacks, a revolver”. The Kremlin-backed Sputnik, Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 battle between mainstream politics according to the newspaper. “Apparently, he drank the whisky which aims to gain a foothold in and populism”. As the CNN journalist Anderson and gave them the gun back”. France, denounced what it views Subscription It will reveal whether populism Cooper pointed out, Le Pen is a In Germany, where politicians’ ethics as the French media’s “favourable” [email protected] “will take another step forward or if “professional politician”. are under strong public scrutiny, Fillon’s treatment of Macron. it has reached its peak, and if more In Russia, Le Pen is the clear persistence has caused shock. It also said the “satanic trio” of reasonable politicians will be able to media favourite and her manifesto is Der Spiegel said the Fillon “saga” Nato, the European Central Bank and 2017 Gulf Times. All rights reserved reassert themselves in Europe,” he presented as the best. not only aff ects the political elite but the European Union want to “impose said. On Sunday, the popular Vesti also seriously damages “the reputation their Macron”. Gulf Times Monday, March 20, 2017 27 COMMENT New Commercial Companies Law in Qatar

he Law No 11 of 2015 (new Companies (LLC), and Single this case if the company is converted Companies Law) which Shareholder Companies (SPC) to to a new type of a company within entered into force in August comply with the new law, as set out in six months of such transfer, or if the 2015 has fully repealed the this article. number of shareholders is brought to T the minimum. old Commercial Companies Law No 2. New Corporate Governance 5 of 2002. The new law states that Rules for Private Shareholding 9. Period of Limitation until such time as HE the Minister Companies The period of limitation for certain of Economy and Commerce issues With the exception of companies claims has been reduced from fi ve to executive decisions to enforce it, supervised by the Qatar Central three years (Articles 338, 339 and 340). the current decisions shall remain Bank, the Companies Law states 10. General Comments applicable to the extent they do not that the minister will issue decisions zThe time periods required for the contradict its provisions. regulating the application of completion of various processes have This article sets out the corporate governance to private been substantially reduced under the amendments introduced by the shareholding companies. Public to request the managers to call for a party may, after six months from the general assembly meeting passed by new Companies Law. However, we new Companies Law, and its impact shareholding companies will continue meeting. lapse of the notice period, may request votes representing 75% of the share note that some of the provisions have on companies registered with the to be governed under the corporate zThe MEC had recently issued a the invalidation of the company, and capital of the company. The old law introduced new time periods that were Ministry of Economy and Commerce governance rules issued by Qatar new template for the LLC’s Articles subsequently its liquidation. was silent on this matter. not applicable under the old law. For (MEC). Financial Markets Authority. of Association (AoA). Companies are zPublic shareholding companies zThe new law has introduced a example, under Article 233 of the new This article contains general 3. Registration Process required to update their AoA in line must list their shares within one method of reducing the share capital law, the application for registering an statements in relation to the new law, To facilitate the registration process with the new template issued by the year of establishment; failing this, of a public shareholding company, LLC will be considered by the offi cers and should not be construed in any with the MEC, the new law states that MEC by the end of August 2017. As the company’s registration will being a reduction of the nominal value of the MEC within 15 days from the way or form as legal advice. Formal the minister will issue new decisions a matter of new practice, the MEC automatically revert to a private of the shares. date of submitting the application. legal advice should be sought on a in relation to registration of companies requires foreign shareholders’ to shareholding company. The old law 6. Private Shareholding The old law did not include the 15-day case-by-case basis when interpreting and the issuance of pertinent licences authorise an individual to sign on was silent on this matter. Companies period, and as a matter of practice the its provisions, and their impact on under a “one stop shop” system. resolutions, amended AoA, etc of the zThe board of directors of a public The government or a government offi cers at the MEC are considering entities, whether existing, or will be At the time of writing, the MEC has LLC by virtue of a duly notarised, shareholding company may issue entity or corporation may own at the registration application for an registered pursuant to the new law. not yet implemented the “one stop legalised and authenticated power of a decision by circulation in case of least 51% of a private shareholding LLC within a shorter timeframe (1-2) 1. Compliance with the new law shop” system for the registration of attorney for use in Qatar. an emergency, provided that all the company or less if approved by the business days. We believe that until The new law provides that all companies. zAn LLC can be established members of the board approve this Council of Ministers. Such companies such time the Minister of Economy registered companies must comply 4. Limited Liability Companies by a single person. Under the old in writing. This decision will have to will not be subject to the provisions of and Commerce issues decisions to with its provisions within six months zUnder the old Companies Law Companies Law the minimum number be presented in the subsequent board the new Companies Law to the extent implement the new law it would from the law taking eff ect. The initial the minimum share capital of an LLC of shareholders for an LLC was two. meeting, and documented in the they do not contradict the agreements be difficult to predict how such six-month period was extended for was fixed at QR200,000, divided Single Person Companies (SPCs) minutes of such meeting. The old law or arrangements concluded upon its processes will be carried out in two additional six-month periods, into equal shares, the value of each registered under the old law are was silent on this matter. establishment or duration, in addition practice, specifically in the context i.e. to February 2017. The MEC has is not less than QR10. Under the required to update their registration zMembers of the board of directors to the provisions of its articles and of the new direction adopted by the recently announced a further six- new law however, the shareholders’ to “Single Person LLC”. The MEC of a public shareholding company are memorandum of association. new law to facilitate the registration month extension period allowing can agree on the value of share had also issued a new AoA template liable for “gross fault” in undertaking 7. Private Institutions for Public of companies under a “one stop registered companies until August capital they deem fit. The MEC’s for SPCs, which SPCs are required their duties. The old law was silent on Benefi t shop” system. 2017 to comply with the new law. current practice is that it allows to comply with by the end of August this matter. Private institutions for public zApart from the Qatar Financial Notwithstanding that the minister’s the registration of LLCs with a 2017. zA public shareholding company benefi t may establish private Markets Authority (QFMA) rules and decision has granted entities an share capital as low as QR1,000, 5. Public Shareholding may, after obtaining the approval of shareholding companies by obtaining regulations, the new Companies Law extension to comply with the new Notwithstanding this, local banks Companies the company’s general assembly, issue the approval of the Council of has stated various new supervisory law, we note that companies should may require a minimum amount to zIf a public shareholding company tradable Islamic Sukuks in accordance Ministers. obligations of the QFMA in relation to be familiar with the new provisions be deposited in the LLC’s bank to has been established in contravention with the provisions of the public 8. Dissolution public shareholding companies listed introduced by the Companies Law open the LLC’s bank account. of the provisions of the new shareholding companies. The old law Under the old Companies Law, a on the Qatar Exchange. which they are required to comply zShareholders holding 20% of the Companies Law, any concerned party was silent on this matter. company would have been dissolved if with before August 2017, unless the share capital may request the LLC’s may within the six months (under zThe shareholders of a public a share transfer resulted in the number For further information on this issue, minister issues a new decision to managers to call for a shareholders’ the old law it was fi ve years) after its shareholding company may waive of shareholders being less than the or other legal matters please contact extend the said period. To date, the general assembly meeting; under the establishment notify the company to their pre-emption right in relation to minimum number required under David Salt ([email protected]) minister had only issued executive old law, only shareholders holding at rectify its status within a one-month subscribing for new shares by virtue of the law. Under the new law however, or Yousef Fakhoury (Yousef.Fakhoury@ decisions for Limited Liability least 25% of the share capital were able period; failing this any concerned a decision passed by an extra-ordinary the company will not be dissolved in clydeco.com). Kaczynski’s war against the EU Weather report Three-day forecast

TODAY By Sławomir Sierakowski id, overwhelmed by the death drive. European Council deserves a similar Now that he has determined that the High: 28 C Warsaw His modus operandi is to attack his fate. In his view, the EU elected Tusk EU “deceived” Poland once, he will opponents, wait for them to hit back illegally, so the European Council is grasp at that conclusion continually. Low : 22 C Inshore: Strong wind and expected or mount resistance, and then retaliate still without a president. Poland will And Kaczynski’s wars never end with thunder rain. ntil his recent bungled with full force. And, as always, not work with such an entity, because, a compromise. He was unmoved by attempt to block Donald his views, allies, and short-term according to Waszczykowski, “what French President François Hollande’s Tusk’s reelection as objectives are inconstant, because happened on Thursday is a sign that warning that Poland “may have TUESDAY European Council president, they ultimately matter little to him. we will be deceived.” We can expect principles, but we have the structural High: 27 C U Low: 17 C Poland’s de facto leader, Jarosław Given Kaczynski’s belief that he was that the Polish government, heedless funds,” because he does not care Kaczynski, may have appeared to humiliated at the recent summit, he of the economic or geopolitical about costs. As he told Reuters, his P Cloudy many European Union leaders to be will now lash out at the EU. He will consequences, will now veto European government is “a revolt, and in the long a politician in the vein of Hungarian provoke, obstruct, ignore, and assign Council measures, obstruct and term it is worth it, even if the current Prime Minister Viktor Orbán or some blame. In a sign of what is to come, boycott summits, and violate EU law. pace of economic growth declines.” WEDNESDAY Western populist. But that is far from Poland’s foreign minister, Witold One possible manoeuvre is arresting But the EU could fi nd a silver lining High: 27 C the case. And now Europe has gotten Waszczykowski, told the tabloid Tusk, which would force the EU to in the Polish government’s outrageous Low: 19 C a taste of Polish political culture, Superekspres after the summit that negotiate with Kaczynski for his release. behaviour, if it uses the current standoff M Sunny which has long revolved around the EU was pursuing “a policy of The Financial Times reports that to emancipate itself from its member attempting to restrain a madman. This double standards and deceptions.” Kaczynski told German Chancellor states’ worst dictates. And with such is what Aleksander Kwasniewski did According to Waszczykowski, Poland Angela Merkel that Poland will seek an cuckoos as Kaczynski in the nest, the EU Fishermen’s forecast arrest warrant. That may sound absurd. desperately needs to be emancipated. If as president, and it is what occupied not only “must drastically reduce [its] OFFSHORE DOHA Tusk when he was prime minister. level of trust in the EU,” but “must also But it is no more absurd than proposing the EU can overrule a member-state once, Wind: NW 18-28/32 KT Now this task falls to the Polish begin to pursue a negative policy,” by Jacek Saryusz-Wolski’s candidacy to it can do so again. That means eff ectively Waves: 7-12 Feet opposition – and to Europe. “blocking other initiatives or playing a replace Tusk. And it is certainly no more using double-majority voting, which EU INSHORE DOHA Wind: NW 12-22/30 KT What happened in Brussels was not very aggressive game.” absurd than the rationale for issuing an offi cials have been scared to invoke but Waves: 1-3/4 Feet part of any larger plan. Kaczynski’s In fact, Polish Prime Minister Beata arrest warrant: Kaczynski’s belief that could make the EU more effi cient and attempt to undermine Tusk benefi ted no Szydło had already launched that Tusk conspired with Russian President more deeply integrated. Around the region one, neither Poland nor the ruling Law strategy, by refusing to sign off on the Vladimir Putin in the 2010 plane crash Ultimately, the EU will prevail, Weather Weather and Justice (PiS) party, which Kaczynski summit’s offi cial record, as if this would that killed his brother, then-Polish because ordinary Poles will today Max/min tomorrow Max/min chairs. That is not surprising, because render the outcome inconsequential president Lech Kaczynski. quickly realise that their country’s Abu Dhabi Cloudy 36/22 Rain 23/20 Kaczynski represents the antithesis of to Poland. Such infantile ploys have It has become clear that Kaczynski independence makes no sense without Baghdad Sunny 22/12 M Sunny 23/12 Dubai pragmatism, which he views as a hallmark become all too characteristic of the PiS will not rest until he puts Tusk the EU and Nato. It can’t survive long Cloudy 37/23 Rain 23/20 Kuwait City P Cloudy 26/14 Sunny 24/15 of betrayal and weakness. Unlike Orbán, government, which has also refused to in prison. This obviously poses a if it is unaligned and has to be either a Manama I T Storms 24/18 Sunny 24/17 his partner in “illiberalism,” Kaczynski is publish Polish Constitutional Tribunal problem for the EU, because the member of the geopolitical West, or a Muscat Sunny 34/25 S Showers 28/23 a paranoid fanatic, not merely a cynical decisions, as if this makes them legally purported criminal is the president of satrapy of Russia. — Project Syndicate Riyadh M Cloudy 25/14 Sunny 26/16 opportunist. non-binding. The government has the European Council. Tehran Showers 15/04 M Sunny 14/06 There is little to be gained by trying undoubtedly paralysed the Court, The problem for Poland, and for zSławomir Sierakowski, founder of to decipher Kaczynski’s plans, goals, thereby undermining the rule of law in Europe, with Kaczynski’s war with the the Krytyka Polityczna movement, is statecraft, or ideology. He is not an Poland. EU is that it could ultimately result in Director of the Institute for Advanced egoist; in Freudian terms, he is pure Kaczynski believes that the “Polexit” – a Polish exit from the Union. Study in Warsaw. Live issues Sleep apnea tied to changes in brain

By Andrew M. Seaman all children are aff ected by OSA. The said it’s unclear how closely changes in Katz, who wasn’t involved with the Reuters Health condition causes the child’s airway the brain are connected to behaviour, new study, said the previous research on to become blocked, which ultimately cognition and other issues. problems faced by children with OSA - causes the brain to go without oxygen “We know these two things are like behaviour and cognition - is fi tting n children with a common for short periods of time and may happening, but we’re not sure how nicely with the brain imaging studies. condition that causes them wake the child up. much the reduced gray matter tracks “This is really the fi rst large, really Around the world to periodically stop breathing Previous studies on lab animals and with poor scores,” he told Reuters well controlled study that has found Weather Weather during sleep, areas of the brain adults with OSA have shown changes Health. decrements in gray matter in children today Max/min tomorrow Max/min I Athens M Sunny M Cloudy 20/10 involved with thinking and problem- in the brain due to nerve cells dying, The researchers also can’t say with obstructive sleep apnea,” he told 22/11 solving appear to be smaller than in they add. exactly why OSA is tied to reduce gray Reuters Health. Beirut S Showers 17/15 P Cloudy 18/14 P Cloudy 35/27 children who sleep normally, a study For the new study, the researchers matter volume among children. A He said parents should discuss Bangkok 33/27 P Cloudy Berlin Showers 12/09 S Showers 13/01 fi nds. used magnetic resonance imaging to lack of oxygen may kill off brain cells symptoms of OSA with children’s Cairo Sunny 24/13 P Cloudy 26/17 Researchers can’t say the brain analyse the volume of children’s gray or it may stop the brain from properly healthcare providers. Those symptoms Cape Town M Sunny 34/21 Sunny 31/18 changes actually cause problems matter, which is the outermost layer of developing, for example. include chronic snoring and gaps in Colombo S T Storms 32/24 P Cloudy 33/23 for children at home or school, but the brain that allows for higher levels Macey’s team wants to see whether breathing while they sleep. Dhaka Rain 28/19 Sunny 29/20 Hong Kong P Cloudy 23/21 P Cloudy 24/20 they do say the condition, known as of functioning like problem solving. treating the condition helps children get “Sleep complaints are often not Istanbul P Cloudy 14/07 P Cloudy 19/07 obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), has They compared brain scans from back on track with their healthy peers. addressed in well child care visits,” he Jakarta T Storms 31/25 S T Storms 31/24 been tied to behaviour and cognitive 16 children with OSA and 200 “If we did that we would know said, or in training programmes for Karachi Sunny 34/20 Sunny 33/21 problems. children without the condition. All better how people recover from it or paediatricians. London Rain 13/04 M Sunny 10/05 Manila P Cloudy M Cloudy 31/25 “It really does seem that there is a the youngsters were between 7 and 11 not,” he said. He advises parents to “take a brief 33/23 Moscow Rain& Snow 06/01 Cloudy 08/01 change in the brain or that the brain years old. Dr Eliot Katz, of Harvard Medical phone video of the breathing pattern New Delhi Sunny 31/16 Sunny 34/18 is aff ected,” said study author Paul Overall, children with OSA had School and Boston Children’s that’s concerning to them and show it New York M Sunny 11/04 P Cloudy 15/03 Macey, who is director of technology decreases in gray matter volume Hospital, said previous research shows to their paediatrician.” Paris Cloudy 13/08 M Cloudy 11/03 and innovation at the University of in areas of the brain important for treating OSA by removing tonsils and Macey said daytime tiredness and Sao Paulo Showers 23/16 P Cloudy 24/16 Seoul M Cloudy 17/03 P Cloudy 13/-1 California, Los Angeles School of controlling cognition and mood, adenoids improves children’s school mood issues can also be symptoms Singapore T Storms 33/24 T Storms 33/24 Nursing. compared to the other children. performance, behaviour and sleep- of OSA. Children who are overweight Sydney P Cloudy 27/21 S T Storms 27/22 Macey and colleagues write in Macey, who is also affi liated with related issues. Evidence is mixed on and obese are at higher risk for the Tokyo Clear 17/06 Cloudy 12/06 Scientifi c Reports that up to 5% of the UCLA Brain Research Institute, whether it improves cognition. condition. Gulf Times 28 Monday, March 20, 2017 QATAR HMC celebrates UCL Qatar students GCC Nurses Day

amad Medical Corpora- al-Meer highlighted the impor- tion (HMC) has observed tance of nursing leaders encour- HGCC Nurses Day with aging Qatar’s younger generation celebrations held across its net- to seek a career in healthcare, granted scholarships work of facilities and paid trib- adding that the nursing profes- ute to Rufaida al-Aslamiya, the sion represents a great opportu- founder of modern nursing in nity for Qataris to exhibit noble Middle Eastern countries while values and become respected recognising the important role leaders who will infl uence the nurses play as advocates for their future development of Qatar’s patient’s health, safety, and dig- healthcare sector. nity. “Our highly trained nurses Dr Nabila al-Meer, deputy perform specialised roles and chief for the continuing care provide our patients with the group at Ministry of Public most eff ective care,” said Dr Health Nursing Aff airs, ex- Badriya al-Lenjawi, executive pressed her gratitude and appre- director of nursing at HMC. ciation to all nurses in Qatar. “GCC Nurses Day provides us “GCC Nurses Day is a time to with an opportunity to recognise refl ect on the important work of our nurses and midwives and nurses and also honour the lega- the important contribution they cy of Rufaida al-Asalmiya in her make to delivering excellent care work to establish the fi rst hospi- and improving the health out- tal to care for wounded soldiers comes of our patients.” during many battles, including Rufaida al-Asalmiya is be- the Great Gazwat Bader.” lieved to have learned her nurs- During the celebrations, held ing skills from her father, who under the theme ‘GCC Nursing, was a renowned healer. She de- Together We Care’, a number of voted her life to developing and nursing leaders were presented improving nursing care. She is with certifi cates of recognition in thought to have founded the fi rst acknowledgement of their con- nursing school in the Islamic tribution to the profession. Dr world.

HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani and UCL Qatar director Dr Sam Evans with recipients of the UCL Qatar Academic Excellence Scholarship.

atar Foundation (QF) led by UCL Qatar director Dr seum and Gallery Practice). teaching staff – before attend- sity of QF since 2010, will hold vice-chairperson and Sam Evans, from those accepted “In a highly competitive and ing a buff et lunch with staff and its open evening, ‘Discover UCL QCEO HE Sheikha Hind onto UCL Qatar Master’s pro- demanding world in which aca- students. Qatar’, on Monday, March 27, bint Hamad al-Thani has grammes. The awards aim to demic excellence can have glo- Commenting on the scholar- from 6.30-9pm for prospective awarded scholarships to three encourage the brightest aca- bal impacts, UCL Qatar scholar- ship award, al-Shamari said: students, existing applicants students who attend UCL Qa- demic minds, who demonstrate ships seek to encourage the very “It’s a huge honour to receive and members of the commu- tar in acknowledgement of their a strong potential for research best students in the world to this scholarship and I am ex- nity interested in learning more academic achievements to date. and academic excellence, to consider studying at UCL Qatar, tremely grateful to UCL Qatar about Master’s degrees in Li- The UCL Qatar Academic Ex- achieve the highest standards a partner of Qatar Foundation’s and Qatar Foundation for this brary and Information Studies cellence Scholarship is awarded in their chosen disciplines of Education City,” Dr Evans said. opportunity to study at such and Museum and Gallery Prac- to students who have demon- study. As well as handing out a prestigious institution. I am tice. strated outstanding academic The students being honoured the Scholarship Awards, HE looking forward to getting in- The courses are designed for achievement prior to com- this year are Eman al-Shamari Sheikha Hind was given a guid- volved in my studies and to con- both international and Qatar- mencing their studies at the QF (MA Library and Information ed tour of the UCL Qatar facil- tributing to the preservation of based students looking for ca- partner university. Studies), Elena Terranova (MA ity, within the Georgetown Uni- Qatar’s cultural heritage in the reers in the cultural heritage, Students are selected by the Museum and Gallery Practice) versity building, by the director future.” library and knowledge manage- GCC Nurses Day celebrations at the Residential Care Compound 1 in university’s Scholarship Panel, and Suzanne Mirgani (MA Mu- – accompanied by a number of UCL Qatar, a partner univer- ment sectors. Muaither South.

CNA-Q hosts largest skills competition

The College of the North Atlantic-Qatar (CNA-Q) hosted its largest co-curricular event of the academic year, the 8th annual CNA-Q Skills Competition, sponsored by Qatar Petrochemical Company (Qapco). The event featured 50 diff erent competitions – in engineering technology, information technology, health sciences, business studies, and academics – simulating a variety of real-world tasks that students will need to perform in the workplace once they graduate.The CNA-Q Skills Competition is modelled after World Skills International, a global initiative to promote the development of skilled trades. The Qapco Highest Achiever award was presented to Abdullah Ali Abdoulghani, an engineering technology – technician certificate programme student sponsored by Qapco. He was presented the award for achievements in the Skills Competition and wider academic studies, while maintaining perfect attendance. Dr Mohamed Yousef al-Mulla, Qapco’s managing director and CEO stated, “By supporting CNA-Q’s innovative educational programmes such as the CNA-Q Skills Competition, we believe we are making a diff erence to the future of vocational training in Qatar by nurturing talent and expertise. This competition is important as it sharpens the skills of the students and ensures their marketability in an increasingly competitive working environment.” More than 550 College students competed against their peers to test the technical skills they are learning through their studies. For the second year, the college partnered with local secondary schools to include over 400 secondary students from 40 schools in the competition, giving more young people the opportunity to be involved in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Some competitions are completed individually, while others are group competitions where students solve real-life scenarios. As in past years, pharmacy students from Qatar University, nursing students from University of Calgary in Qatar, and medical students from Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar participated in group healthcare-related competitions. “Most of the extra-curricular activities we host on campus are also co-curricular, and involve elements of experiential learning. We believe in applied education, and producing graduates to be knowledge workers for the future,” said Dr Ken MacLeod, president, CNA-Q. Participants at the CNA-Q Skills Competition. International toy store makes Gulf debut at Fifty One East

By Joseph Varghese ing larger-than-life doll houses, Staff Reporter dinosaurs, planes, race cars and characters. With knowledgeable and toy-trained staff on-hand to eading international toy help customers, JouéClub claims store JouéClub opened its that it is ‘the perfect place for the Lfi rst store in the Gulf at perfect toy.’ Fifty One East, Lagoona Mall. JouéClub has more than 350 The opening was held under the stores worldwide. Since launch- patronage and attendance of Qa- ing in 1952, it has been a favourite tar Chamber chairman Sheikh destination for kids and grown- Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohamed ups alike with its impressive as- al-Thani. sortment of toys, games, sport- Darwish Holding chairman ing goods, electronics, software and managing director Bader and baby products. Abdullah al-Darwish, French Bourgeois-Muller comment- ambassador Eric Chevallier, and ed, “We are delighted to be in- JouéClub president and general troducing JouéClub in Qatar and manager Alain Bourgeois-Muller bringing an experience to the were also present on the occa- community that has enhanced sion. the lives of millions of children The grand opening saw a gath- and adults around the world. The ering of families to play and in- opening of the store in Doha as teract with popular mascots and well as partnering with Fifty One enjoy some games. Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani opening JouéClub store at Fifty One East, Lagoona East, is a step forward towards Speaking to Gulf Times, Chev- Mall, as Bader Abdullah al-Darwish, Eric Chevallier, Alain Bourgeois-Muller and another dignitary look on. achieving our expansion plans allier said that it was a great oc- PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil across the GCC markets.” casion that marks the collabora- According to the offi cial, Joué- tion of two great organisations. East is a momentous landmark “This opening is yet another values and keep on providing un- Club will provide the ultimate “JouéClub off ers quality prod- in our journey as it allows us to evidence that Fifty One East is paralleled retail experience to our fairy tale experience for chil- ucts for young kids and Fifty One meet the increasing demand for the partner of choice for pres- trusted clientele,” he continued. dren and will fascinate adults too East is one of the most reputable high-quality children’s products tigious brands who are keen to The outlet at Fifty One East with the diversity of choices that companies in Qatar.” and family entertainment expe- establish their presence in the spans an area of more than 1,000 awaits them. The store also hosts Al-Darwish said, “The open- riences in Qatar, and the wider region. As our journey continues, sq m and has the ‘largest selection interactive demonstrations of fa- ing of JouéClub at Fifty One region.” we will stay true to our founding of toys under one roof’, featur- vourite toy characters. The entrance of JouéClub store at Fifty One East, Lagoona Mall.