Amir, King Abdullah Hold Official Talks

BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 8 Al Khaliji stays ‘well Al-Attiyah positioned coasts into to achieve comfortable excellence’ lead

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MONDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11468 February 24, 2020 Jumada II 30, 1441 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Amir, King Abdullah hold offi cial talks zGrand welcome to Amir upon arrival at Amman airport zQatar, Jordan stress commitment to advance bilateral ties in all fields

QNA Amman

is Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani Hand King Abdullah II bin al- Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan held yesterday an offi cial talks session that dealt with the strong bi- lateral relations and the means to en- hance them, in addition to the latest developments in the region. During the session, which was held His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani is being welcomed upon arrival at Queen Alia His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and King Abdullah II of Jordan holding bilateral talks at Al Husseiniya Palace in Amman, International Airport in Amman yesterday. at Al Husseiniya Palace in Amman yesterday. the Amir and King Abdullah expressed their satisfaction with the growth of nian Supreme Joint Committee, and tion to the exchange of expertise and to the 10,000 job opportunities that were of joint interest, led by the Palestin- stressed on the importance of reaching bilateral ties, and stressed their com- enhancing cooperation in the fi elds of training that will be carried as part of announced in August 2018, the open- ian issue. The two leaders stressed the political resolutions to the crises facing mitment to advancing it further in all energy, infrastructure, and higher edu- the preparations for hosting the 2022 ing of a centre in Jordan to facilitate the importance of supporting the Palestin- the region in order to maintain stability fi elds, particularly the economic and cation. FIFA World Cup in Qatar. process, and the support of the Jordanian ian people in obtaining their legitimate and security. investment fi elds. The University of Jordan will provide His Highness the Amir directed the military retirement fund with $30mn. rights and to establish their own inde- The session was attended by mem- The two sides stressed the impor- a number of academic courses under creation of 10,000 job opportunities in The talks also dealt with a number pendent state on the borders of 1967 bers of the offi cial delegation accom- tance of activating the Qatar-Jorda- Lusail University’s umbrella, in addi- Qatar for Jordanian nationals, in addition of regional and international issues with East Al Quds as its capital, and panying the Amir. To Page 24

Oman ruler aims to reduce country’s debt Doha Jewellery & Watches exhibition opens today

he 17th edition of the Doha Jew- ellery & Watches Exhibition T(DJWE), organised by Qatar Na- Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq tional Tourism Council (QNTC) under al-Said said yesterday the government the patronage of HE Sheikh Khalid bin would work to reduce public debt and Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani, Prime restructure public institutions and Minister and Minister of Interior, will companies to bolster the economy. be inaugurated today and will run until Haitham, in his second public speech February 29 at the Doha Exhibition and since assuming power in January, Convention Centre. Several events and workshops are said the government would create DJWE is a leading platform for jewel- organised on the sidelines of the 17th a national framework to tackle lery enthusiasts to discover the latest edition of Doha Jewellery & Watches unemployment while addressing trends and innovations in the industry Exhibition, in collaboration with its strained public finances. and see collections from renowned in- partners. Those interested in attending “We will direct our financial ternational and Qatari brands. This year’s the workshops can register through the resources in the best way that edition is expected to be the largest ever, event website www.djwe.qa will guarantee reducing debt and with 129 exhibitors from 14 countries The exhibition is supported by a increasing revenues,” he said in the showcasing 500 local and international number of partners, led by Qatar Na- televised speech. brands, spread across 33,000sq m. tional Bank (QNB) as the offi cial spon- “We will also direct all government Doors open to visitors today from sor, Qatar Airways as airline partner, departments to adopt eff icient 3pm-10pm, thereafter, the exhibition JW Marriott Marquis City Centre Doha governance that leads to a balanced, will be open daily from 12pm-10pm, as the offi cial hospitality partner, Al- diversified and sustainable with limited hours on Friday, February fardan Automotive and Sotheby’s In- economy.” 28, from 4pm-10pm. ternational Realty Qatar. Page 8

Afghan president, Qatar’s special envoy review ties, peace talks

resident of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani met yesterday with the PSpecial Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Aff airs for Counterterror- ism and Mediation in Confl ict Resolu- tion Dr Mutlaq bin Majed al-Qahtani, who is currently visiting Afghanistan. During the meeting, they reviewed the bilateral co-operation; the peace talks between the United States and Taliban in Doha; the de-escalation agreement; the signing of an agreement to end the war in Afghanistan at the end of the month; the intra-Afghan negotiations and the exchange of prisoners between the two sides, in addition to issues of mutual concern. Gulf Times 2 Monday, February 24, 2020 QATAR

Off icial Civic minister holds meeting in Paris Ministry of education Amir sends cable of congratulations launches unifi ed portal to Japan emperor

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and for public services His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday sent cables QNA quired speed. The ministry is cess to the services at any time of congratulations to Emperor Doha working to unify all its elec- and from any place. Naruhito of Japan on the tronic services under one um- He pointed out that the min- occasion of his birthday. HE the brella that is comprehensive istry has standardised its elec- Prime Minister and Minister of he Ministry of Education and integrated. tronic services and put it under Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa and Higher Education HE the Undersecretary of a multi-service umbrella, which bin Abdulaziz al-Thani sent a Tlaunched yesterday the the Ministry of Education and facilitates the process of obtain- cable of congratulations to the unifi ed online portal for public Higher Education Dr Ibrahim ing it in a way that meets the as- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo services. bin Saleh al-Nuaimi, affi rmed pirations of the public, and in a Abe on the occasion of emperor’s HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie The unified portal for pub- that the launch of the electronic manner that suits their multiple birthday. met the Minister of Agriculture and Food of France Didier Guillaume, on the occasion of Qatar’s lic services aims to enable the portal is a continuation of the needs in the digital age. participation in the annual Paris Agricultural Exhibition, which started on Saturday in Paris. The public, stakeholders and other ministry’s eff orts to develop the HE al-Nuaimi explained in a Amir sends cable meeting reviewed the means of co-operation between Qatar and France in the agricultural and food citizens and residents to have services it provides to the public, press statement that the serv- security, especially through the exchange of experiences and information in the fields of agriculture, electronic access to the serv- and in line with the e-govern- ices will be provided in multiple of congratulations fisheries, agricultural quarantine, veterinary services, animal production and natural reserves. ices provided by the Ministry ment strategy for Qatar 2020 for stages. Today the fi rst package to Guyana leader Ambassador of Qatar to the France Sheikh Ali bin Jassim al-Thani attended the meeting. of Education, through a uni- digital transformation aimed at of the electronic services was fied window and at the re- enabling and facilitating the ac- launched for the public. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday sent cables of congratulations to President of ACTA signs MoU with Palestinian Anti-Corruption Commission Guyana, David Arthur Granger, on the occasion of his country’s National Day. HE the Prime QNA sistent with the support provid- search and training fi elds, for the Minister and Minister of Interior Doha ed by Qatar’s leadership to State benefi t of all national authorities Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin of Palestine, covering all politi- in the two countries. Abdulaziz al-Thani sent a cable cal, economic and humanitarian For his part, the Head of the of congratulations to the Prime he Administrative Control fi elds. Palestinian Anti-Corruption Minister of Guyana Moses and Transparency Authori- He pointed out that the re- Commission Dr Ahmed Barak, Nagamootoo on the occasion of Tty (ACTA) signed yesterday lationship between Qatar and said that the MoU is the result his country’s National Day. a memorandum of understanding Palestine is fi rm and strong, of continuous co-operation be- with the Palestinian Anti-Cor- stressing that the signing of the tween the two sides in all fi elds. ruption Commission, with the Memorandum of Understanding He said that Qatar is support- Amir greets aim of strengthening co-opera- aims to exchange experiences ive of the Palestinian cause and Brunei sultan tion between the two sides in the and good practices on ways to the establishment of the Pales- fi eld of integrity, transparency and enhance transparency and in- tinian state, based on the foun- His Highness the Amir Sheikh anti-corruption. tegrity and combat corruption. dations of democracy and the Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, The memorandum was signed He emphasised that the sign- rule of law. His Highness the Deputy Amir by HE the President of the Ad- ing of the Memorandum of Un- Dr Barak stressed his coun- Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al- ministrative Control and Trans- derstanding refl ects the aspira- try’s keenness to take advantage Thani and HE the Prime Minister parency Authority Hamad bin tion of the Authority to launch of the Qatari eff orts in this fi eld, and Minister of Interior Sheikh Nasser al-Misnad, and the Head a strong strategic partnership appreciating the important Qa- Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz of the Palestinian Anti-Cor- between the ACTA and the Pal- tari role in putting the United al-Thani yesterday sent cables ruption Commission Dr Ahmed estinian Anti-Corruption Au- Nations Convention against of congratulations to Sultan Barak. thority embodied through the Corruption into practice, and its HE the President of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority Hamad bin Nasser al-Misnad Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei HE Hamad bin Nasser al-Mi- exchange of experiences and the initiatives in this fi eld, in partic- and the Head of the Palestinian Anti-Corruption Commission Dr Ahmed Barak at the MoU signing Darussalam on the occasion of snad said that the MoU is con- expansion of co-operation in re- ular the Doha Declaration. ceremony. his country’s National Day. Gulf Times Monday, February 24, 2020 3 QATAR

Grand Mufti of Kosovo Al-Mahmoud meets Turkish parliamentary delegation visits general directorate QNA of endowments Doha E the Speaker of the Shura Council Ahmed ead of the Islamic Com- and gave a presentation on the H bin Abdullah bin Zaid munity and Grand Mufti directorate, the various stages al-Mahmoud met a delegation Hof Kosovo Shaikh Naim it went through, the electronic of Turkish-Qatari Parliamen- Ternava and his accompanying programmes and systems used, tary Friendship Group headed delegation visited the General management of Qatar’s endow- by its chairman, MP Vahit Directorate of Endowments, as ments and its leading role in Kiler. part of his current visit to Qatar. community service. The meeting reviewed par- The visit aimed to learn about The head of the Islamic Com- liamentary relations between the eff orts exerted by the Ministry munity and Grand Mufti of the Shura Council and the of Endowments and Islamic Af- Kosovo Shaikh Naim Ternava Grand National Assembly of fairs in areas of Islamic work and highlighted the history of en- Turkey, and ways of support- the Qatari experience in the fi eld of dowments in the Balkans and ing and developing these rela- endowments, and to enhance the the eff orts made in the fi eld of tions in addition to co-ordi- co-operation with the Ministry of endowment. nation between the two sides Endowments and Islamic Aff airs. He thanked the Ministry of En- at regional and international The Kosovo delegation met dowments and Islamic Aff airs and forums. during the visit with Director- Qatar for its support to Kosovo A number of issues of common General of the General Directorate at various levels, and praised the concern were also reviewed. of Endowments Sheikh Dr Kha- achievements made by the Qatari During the meeting, the Shu- lid bin Mohamed al-Thani, and a Endowments for the advance- ra Council Speaker praised the number of directors and heads of ment of the endowment work. great development in the Qa- HE the Speaker of the Shura Council Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud with the delegation of Turkish-Qatari Parliamentary Friendship departments at the directorate. He stressed the keenness of the tari-Turkish relations in various Group headed by its chairman, MP Vahit Kiler. Director-general of the Gen- Islamic community of Kosovo fi elds, looking forward to more eral Directorate of Endow- on developing the relations with co-operation between the two expressed his great satisfaction common desire to develop them Parliamentary Friendship Group a number of the group members, ments welcomed the guest and Qatar’s Ministry of Endowments countries. with the close co-operation be- to broader horizons. Rashid bin Hamad al-Meadadi and Turkey’s ambassador to Qa- the accompanying delegation, and Islamic Aff airs. - QNA For his part, MP Vahit Kiler tween the two countries and a Chairman of the Qatar-Asian attended the meeting along with tar Fikret Ozer. MoPH launches strategy for human resources management

he Ministry of Pub- Emadi, said in his speech deliv- would achieve a future vision of services provided by hu- projects that the strategy con- lic Health (MoPH) has ered on behalf of the Director of in line with the developments man resource departments in tained. Tlaunched the Transforma- Human Resources Department in the global health sector and these institutions. It also aims Transformation Strategy for tion Strategy for Human Resourc- Ghanim Ibrahim al-Mohannadi with the roles of the MoPH in to contribute to the strategic Human Resources Manage- es Management 2020-2022, at a that the Transformation Strat- leading the health system in planning process of the MoPH ment 2020-2022 seeks to con- ceremony it held to publicise the egy for Human Resources Man- Qatar, as it is the first author- as well as provide support to vert human resources manage- strategy and its goals. agement 2020-2022 is an exten- ity responsible for developing achieve the desired results, and ment into an effective business The Transformation Strategy sion of the ministry’s directives national health programmes work towards a comprehen- partner who is able to con- for Human Resources Manage- and in line with the National and plans and is responsible sive digital transformation of tribute to the development of ment 2020-2022 is an important Health Strategy 2018-2022 and for monitoring and supervising human resource management performance and innovation, initiative of the MoPH aimed at Qatar National Vision 2030, health sector facilities. processes and procedures. and achieve the integration of making a qualitative leap in the which aims to transform Qatar He pointed out that the During the Transforma- employees in the MoPH of dif- human resources development into an advanced country capa- launch of the strategy comes tion Strategy for Human Re- ferent job levels, through the fi eld in the health sector in Qa- ble of achieving sustainable de- in light of the need to unify the sources Management launch- development and integration of tar, in line with the best global velopment and providing decent Abdullah Ibrahim al-Emadi Ghanim Ibrahim al-Mohannadi procedures of human resources ing ceremony, a comprehensive human resource management developments and practices in living for its people generation management in all institutions presentation was made on the processes and skills, building this fi eld. after generation. ment seeks to set a road map based on ensuring the qual- of the health sector and the ad- strategy. A number of Human capacity and improve customer Assistant Undersecretary Al-Emadi added that the towards providing advanced ity of the services provided. He ditional challenges that this Resources Department heads in and stakeholder experience and for Shared Services Aff airs at Transformation Strategy for and distinguished services in also pointed out that the strat- places in order to maintain the the MoPH gave presentations on create a performance-enhanc- MoPH, Abdullah Ibrahim al- Human Resources Manage- human resources management, egy includes everything that efficiency and effectiveness the programmes, initiatives and ing culture. - QNA Gulf Times 4 Monday, February 24, 2020 QATAR

Minister honours Qatari inventors

HE the Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali honoured the Qatari inventors who participated in the 12th International Invention Fair of the Middle East (IIFME), which was held in Kuwait recently, during their meeting on Saturday. The Qatari inventors were honoured for their merit and honourable representation of Qatar during the international GPPC signs offi cial media exhibition, as they won 11 medals amid strong competition — five gold, five silver, and one bronze — as well as the first prize of the patent off ice for the Gulf Co-operation Council. Dr Ibrahim al-Musalmani won the gold medal with honours and the first prize of the GCC patent off ice. Khaled Abu Jassum, Ali Salah al- Bohsain, Khaled al-Ansari, Noura Talib al-Marri, and Khulud Zaid al-Qarrah won gold medals. Nouf Ali al-Obaidli, Souad Mohamed sponsor deal for QIBS ’20 al-Abdullah, Ali Ibrahim al-Farsi, Dr Reda Hamaila, and Mohamed Maraj won silver medals. Dr Nasser al-Emadi won a bronze medal. ulf Publishing & Print- media sponsorship (agree- “A designated media tent ing Co (GPPC), pub- ment) for a prestigious event will be accorded at the venue Glishers of leading dai- such as the Qatar Interna- to facilitate all mediapersons, Recall of Mazda CX9 models lies Gulf Times in English and tional Boat Show confi rms our under the Gulf Times and Ar- Arrayah in Arabic, signed an commitment and dedication rayah Media Centre.” The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), in co-operation offi cial media sponsorship to promoting major events QIBS 2020 will connect with National Car Company, dealer of Mazda in Qatar, has agreement for the Qawarib that uphold Qatar’s name the “world’s most privileged announced a recall of Mazda CX9 models of 2017-2018 due to a Qatar International Boat Show and fame in the international yacht and boat manufactur- possible malfunction in the warning lights on the dashboard that (QIBS) 2020 at the GPPC main arena. ers, service providers, local sometimes turn on suddenly. In a statement, the MoCI said the offi ce. “Our leading position in dealers, suppliers and poten- recall campaign comes within the framework of its continuous The signing ceremony was the media market with the tial buyers on an exclusive B2B eff orts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow attended by Hassan Ali An- best platforms, through Gulf and B2C platform to showcase up on vehicle defects and repairs. The ministry said it will co- wari, Advertisement & Com- Times and Arrayah, enables us the latest products and serv- ordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and munications manager repre- in this eff ort. We look forward ices in the marine industry”, repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure senting GPPC, and Dr Loay to an outstanding event from Al Mannai Plus Events said in that they have carried out the necessary repairs. The MoCI Dalis, general manager of Al the acclaimed oraginsers, Al a press statement. has urged all customers to report violations to its Consumer Mannai Plus Events, the event Mannai Plus Events.” The show “continues to at- Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department, which organisers. In his address, Dr Dalis wel- tract a large number of par- processes complaints, enquiries and suggestions through the call The Qawarib Qatar Interna- comed and thanked GPPC, ticipating companies with centre: 16001, e-mail: [email protected], Twitter: @MOCIQATAR, tional Boat Show 2020, in its represented through its media a 58% increase recorded in Instagram: MOCIQATAR, and the ministry’s app for Android and seventh edition, will be held arms Gulf Times and Arrayah, 2019 compared to 2017”, it was iOS: MOCIQATAR from March 18 until 21 at 23- for the media sponsorship. highlighted. 29 La Croisette, Porto Arabia, “This is an invaluable addition Due to the high demand The Pearl-Qatar. to our list of partners whose and expected increase in par- Speaking on the occasion, support and assistance is vital ticipating exhibitors, the ex- Anwari affi rmed: “GPPC has to the success of the event. We hibition will be spread over a been always at the forefront of are quite sure that both parties 12,000sq m area this year, a supporting events of national will mutually benefi t from this 100% increase compared to pride and honour. Signing the productive engagement. 2019. Hassan Ali Anwari and Dr Loay Dalis after signing the agreement. QC calls for contributing to ‘Sham Deserves’ drive

QNA ities (RACA), the “Sham Deserves” cam- It also calls on media persons and social Aleppo’ and ‘Arsal Relief’ campaigns ben- Doha paign aims to deliver assistance to 250,000 media infl uencers to publicise the cam- efi ted more than 9mn people. Qatar Char- Syrian refugees and displaced persons in paign. ity revealed that ‘Relieve Aleppo’ campaign the areas of shelter, food, water, sanitation, Benefactors can make their contribu- reached about 7,877,000 benefi ciaries, atar Charity (QC) urged people to and health. tions to the campaign in many forms, in- while the ‘Arsal Relief’ campaign ben- contribute to the national cam- The campaign is implemented by Qa- cluding money, jewellery and vehicles. efi ted 1,318,000 persons. It explained that Qpaign named “Sham Deserves” tar Charity, in co-operation with the Qatar In conjunction with the campaign, a the total donations for the two campaigns launched in partnership with the Qatar Media Corporation, Qatar Television, Qatar delegation from Qatar Charity has recently amounted to about QR68mn. Media Corporation to provide urgent relief Radio, Sout Al Khaleej Radio, Alkass Sports distributed urgent aid to the displaced in In a statement, Assistant of the General aid to Syrian people in their country and he Channels, Alrayyan TV and Alrayyan Radio. the country, and refugees in Turkish areas Director for Operations and International countries of asylum. Given the diffi cult humanitarian situa- bordering Syria. Partnership of Qatar Charity Faisal Rashid The campaign came within the frame- tion of Syrian refugees and internally dis- The aid included 200 tonnes of relief Alfehaida said that the relief campaigns are work of moral and humanitarian duty in placed persons (IDPs), Qatar Charity urges materials worth over QR14mn to benefi t essential part of Qatar’s charitable work, response to the worsening humanitarian benefactors in Qatar to contribute to the 864,618 people. adding relief and international partner- situation following the largest displace- “Sham Deserves” campaign to ease their Another delegation is scheduled to depart ships of Qatar Charity is providing assist- ment in Syria in the past three months. hardship, as they are struggling to survive on Friday to provide a second batch of aid to ance to displaced Syrians and refugees Launched under the supervision of the under the very harsh cold weather, heavy Syrian refugees and displaced persons. inside Syria and the countries of asylum Regulatory Authority for Charitable Activ- rains, frosts, and snow. z Qatar Charity said that ‘Relieve throughout the year.

‘Protecting the environment is the responsibility of all in the society’

QNA Spring’ programme Dr A Flower Each Spring Doha Saif Ali al-Hajari said during the weekly trip at programme aims at introducing the programme’s head- the flora of Qatar in their natural atar attaches quarters at Ras Matbakh great importance in the Al Khor area. He habitats to the local community Qto environmental said the Qatari constitu- in order to be protected and issues, said the chair- tion and Qatar National man of ‘A Flower Each Vision 2030 have stipu- grown well, and building lated this, by reducing positive behaviour towards the thermal emissions and shifting from the fossil natural environment for young fuel-based economy to a people knowledge-based econ- omy. year, is an important oc- importance in attract- ‘A Flower Each Spring’ casion to introduce the ing migratory birds, food programme emphasises fundamental transfor- of marine creatures and that the protection of the mations in the country in protecting the atmos- environment is one of the preserving water, air, and phere, noting that one most important issues soil, and an opportunity mangrove supplies 50 facing the globe, and that to inform the society of people with the oxygen. it is the responsibility of the great efforts made in ‘A Flower Each Spring all in the society, includ- this regard. programme’ is initiated ing the legislative bodies, He added that this pro- and sponsored by Her civil society organisa- gramme is keen to attract Highness Sheikha Moza tions, the private sector all components of society bint Nasser. This spring and support initiatives in this week’s trip that ‘A Flower Each Spring related to this aspect. includes centres, com- programme’ celebrates Dr al-Hajari stressed munities, and schools of the ‘Shuwaika’ flower. that the protection of the different nationalities, as The programme, initi- environment is every- the numbers of partici- ated and sponsored by one’s responsibility, from pants in each trip reach Her Highness Sheikha the family that converts more than 300 people per Moza bint Nasser, re- the knowledge of chil- week, which indicates flects the importance dren to practical behav- the success of the pro- that Her Highness at- iours, through the bodies gramme in achieving its taches to issues of soci- that are concerned with goals. ety and the country to the children, such as the For his part, ambassa- create awareness among Ministry of Education, dor of Indonesia to Qatar the children about their civil society institutions, Mohamed Basri Sidehabi, natural heritage. the private sector and stressed that Qatar’s En- The Shuwaika flower companies, by providing vironment Day is an op- is also known by its sci- green products and sup- portunity to increase entific name “Fagonia porting programmes and environmental diversity bruguieri”. It is a genus initiatives related to this and beautify cities, not- of wild, flowering plants field and through legis- ing that his country dif- in the caltrop family, lative bodies that enact fers in nature from Qatar, Zygophyllaceae. It has laws supporting educa- because Indonesia has a green leaves, covered tional awareness and in- rainy climate, so it has with fluff and its flow- vestment bodies that are dense vegetation, while ers which come in a light looking to achieve envi- Qatar has desert, there- purple, with a pleasant ronmentally safe invest- fore, Doha needs green- aroma, bloom in March ments. ing its streets and cities and April. The chairman of the to overcome the effects The programme aims programme called on the of the climate. He praised at introducing the flora research centres to study Qatar’s agricultural of Qatar in their natu- the Qatari environment projects and expand- ral habitats to the local and its plants to increase ing vegetation across the community in order to their capacity and work country. be protected and grown to develop them. He ex- The ambassador sug- well, and building posi- plained that the Qatar’s gested planting man- tive behaviour towards Environment Day, which groves on the coast of the natural environment falls on February 26 every Qatar, due to its great for young people. Gulf Times Monday, February 24, 2020 5 QATAR Commercial Bank raises golf awareness among students

ith the annually awaited golf tourna- Wment Commercial Bank Qatar Masters just around the corner, the title sponsor of the event, Commercial Bank, and Education City Golf Club have organised and scheduled school and university visits in Doha to raise awareness of the sport among students. Hussein Ali al-Abdulla, EGM, chief marketing offi cer at Com- mercial Bank, said: “This excit- ing awareness campaign seeks to promote Commercial Bank Qa- tar Masters 2020 as well as golf Snapshots from the awareness campaign. as a sport. “Every year, we tirelessly work community members aged be- Doha, Qatar University, QFB Moreover, Commercial Bank of Education City Golf Club, to deliver the best golf experi- tween three and 25 years, in or- Academy, Al Jazeera Academy, presented to schools a full golf said: “Every year, as part of Qa- ence for participants and play- der to make them more familiar Qatar Academy Al Wakra — a teaching kit called ‘Start New tar Masters, Commercial Bank ers, as well as spectators and with the game, its techniques member of Qatar Foundation, at Golf’ (SNAG), which enables organises school visits to raise enthusiasts. and values.” and many more, the bank said in physical education teachers to awareness of this special sport. them more familiar with the in- ters 2020 will take place for the “Spreading awareness about The awareness campaign in- a statement. off er golf classes as part of the “This year, having our part- ternationally renowned tourna- fi rst time at the Education City this fascinating game aims, in cluded several schools and uni- During the visits, students got school’s PE curriculum. nership in place for the fi rst ment taking place in Doha, Com- Golf Club from March 5-8, and the fi rst place, to educate the versities in Doha such as The the chance to learn more about golf On the campaign, Michael time, we are hoping to get more mercial Bank Qatar Masters.” tickets are available for free at public in Qatar, in particular Hamilton International School and try their hand at the game. Braidwood, general manager students to try golf by making Commercial Bank Qatar Mas- qatar-masters.com

MME takes part in 1mn tree-planting campaign

he Public Parks Department various departments along with support international eff orts to ordination with several ministries of the Ministry of Munici- Central Municipal Council (CMC) combat climate change and pro- and other entities such as the Tpality and Environment member Sheikha al-Jufairi. mote environmental sustainabil- Ministry of Transport and Com- (MME) in co-ordination with var- With this latest initiative, the ity. It also aims to sustain water munications, Ministry of Culture ious municipalities participated total number saplings planted by resources, use treated water for and Sports, Qatar Museums Au- in the ongoing 1mn tree-planting Doha Municipality, has reached irrigation, reduce waste of water thority, Qatar Railway Company campaign. The participation came 600. Al Daayen Municipality also resources, enhance biodiversity, and Private Engineering Bureau as part of MME’s eff orts to support carried out a tree planting cam- improve air quality, increase green among others. Qatar’s eff orts to combat climate paign and planted 100 trees at Si- areas and reduce gas emissions. The committee is responsi- change and promote environmen- maisma beach. The Supervisory Committee ble for fi ve major tasks including tal sustainability. The tree planting initiative was of Beautifi cation of Roads and the construction of central pub- The Doha Municipality, ac- announced in March 2019 during Public Places in Qatar is imple- lic parks, provision of dedicated cording to a press statement by the seventh International Agricul- menting the campaign, which lanes for pedestrians and bicy- MME, participated in a campaign tural Exhibition (AgriteQ) and the will continue until the end of cles, development of the Doha at Old Airport park where it was fi rst Qatar International Environ- 2021. The committee works un- Corniche, development of Cen- attended by the director of Doha mental Exhibition (EnviroteQ). der the Ministry of Municipality tral Doha and increasing aff ores- MME off icials and CMC member Sheikha al-Jufairi taking part in the campaign. Municipality and directors of The initiative was launched to and Environment (MME), in co- tation and greenery areas. Gulf Times 6 Monday, February 24, 2020 QATAR Qatar Post kicks off ‘Al Wasl’ drive to help connect people „ Campaign aims to ‘bring through the art of connecting called people together and spark new ‘Al Wasl’. connections’ “This is true of us as individuals, as „ A celebration of the importance well. Qatar Post hopes that every day of Arabic language in daily life we will be able to connect to fi nd aff ec- „ Specially designed parcel boxes, tion, respect, happiness, pride, grati- stamps and postcards are part of tude and much more, through each of the campaign experience our postal off erings.” Unlike some other languages where By Ayman Adly letters are placed next to each other in Staff Reporter a linear fashion to create words, Ara- bic language relies on physically con- necting one letter to another to create atar Post launched “Al Wasl” meaning. (connection), a new, innovative “Al Wasl” in Arabic translates as a Qcampaign, yesterday morning “link” or a “connection”. Off icials at the ‘Al Wasl’ launch event yesterday. to celebrate the Arabic language as a In this context, the links used in the provements if required. PICTURE: Jayan Orma means of connecting people. Arabic manuscript to form words be- The design of the new products has The campaign, launched on the oc- come the very tool that reminds people been created using strokes from the Right: Qatar Post’s parcel boxes, postcards and casion of the UN International Mother of the bonds they share, Qatar Post ex- Qatar Post logo, whereby lines inter- stamps will ‘turn into mediums to remind the public Language Day celebrated by Unesco, plains in a statement. sect and connect to form letters and in Qatar about the importance of connecting to one comes as part of Qatar Post’s “mission Alberto Manzo, head of sales and words embodying the essence of Qatar another’. (Supplied picture) to connect people to what matters to marketing at Qatar Post, elaborated Post’s philosophy. them the most”. on the campaign’s off ering: “Our cam- The perforated “peel this” tag on the Accordingly, Qatar Post’s parcel paign aims to inspire our people to box will allow the user to connect the boxes, postcards and stamps will “turn connect to each other through their letters themselves to form a word. into mediums to remind the public in mother language by emphasising how As the letters connect, the box gets Qatar about the importance of con- meaningful connections are to their opened, revealing the message: “It is Qatar, Japan are ‘indispensable’ necting to one another, using a special daily lives. only when individual letters are con- design based on specifi c Arabic word- “Qatar Post thought of bringing this nected, that they have meaning. The ing that celebrate human values”. important message to life through a same is true of us as individuals.” “Al Wasl” fuses the unique typogra- unique consumer experience that en- The parcel boxes are expected to be- trade partners, says ambassador phy of Arabic with the notion of lan- courages human connections in to- come a collector item. guage as a symbol of identity, commu- day’s high-tech, fast-paced and global Moreover, the postcard series, com- nication, social integration, education world that increasingly disconnects us prising a set of 2-4 cards in one enve- By Joey Aguilar role in the realisation of Qatar National and development. from our roots – be it our community, lope, will feature slots to be joined to- Staff Reporter Vision 2030,” Sunaga added. The boxes come in two versions in our family or our language. gether to reveal the word. As Qatar and Japan will celebrate terms of size and capacity: 7kg and “A series of powerful Arabic words, As for the stamp series, every fi rst the 50th anniversary of the establish- 5kg. such as pride, glory, and gratitude, will day cover will hold 2-5 stamps de- apan remains the largest import- ment of diplomatic ties next year, the Qatar Post chief operations offi cer reach our public soon in the form of pending on its value. er of Qatari products, importing ambassador expressed confi dence Hamad al-Fahida said at the launch beautifully designed Qatar Post par- The unique experience here is that Jabout 21% of Qatar’s total exports that such excellent bilateral relations event: “Connections have always lived cels, postcards and stamps, conveying its only when one tears off the letters according to the embassy’s December would expand further to incorporate at the heart of our Arab culture, and is the power of connections.” and places them next to each other will 2019 records, Japanese ambassador new fi elds of co-operation. even refl ected in our mother language. Manzo said that the campaign will they form a word that reminds them of Kazuo Sunaga has said. “Of course, the economy continues “As we know, isolated letters can continue for six weeks at all Qatar Post connections. “Without oil, gas and other prod- to be the driving force of our relations. form meaningful words only when outlets and offi ces, and will be as- More information is available at qa- ucts from Qatar, Japan could not But I, as ambassador of Japan, will they come in touch with one another, sessed for potential extension and im- tarpost.qa maintain the current level of economy work together with the government and even the current level of our (liv- Ambassador Sunaga: Japan is willing and people of Qatar to expand our bi- ing standards),” the envoy said, as he to play an active role in the realisation lateral ties in a wide range of areas, highlighted the strong bilateral rela- of Qatar National Vision 2030. such as security, science and technol- tions between the two countries at the ogy, culture, education and sports,” he recently-held Japan National Day and Sunaga stressed that Qatar and Ja- noted. Japanese Emperor’s birthday celebra- pan are indispensable trade partners, While reiterating the steadily devel- tions in Doha. noting that many Japanese companies oping bilateral relations between Qatar The event was attended by HE the have been contributing to the develop- and Japan, Sunaga referred to the two Minister of Transport and Communi- ment of Qatar. visits of His Highness the Amir Sheikh cations Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti, “Recent examples of this are the Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to Japan HE the Undersecretary of the Ministry inauguration of Doha Metro and the last year: an offi cial visit in January of Education and Higher Education Dr signing of the agreement for the Al and another visit in October to partici- Ibrahim bin Saleh al-Nuaimi, director Kharsaah mega solar power plant, just pate in the enthronement ceremony of of protocol at the Ministry of Foreign to name a few,” he said. “Last year, both Emperor Naruhito. Aff airs ambassador Ibrahim Yousif Fa- countries’ leaderships have agreed to “The government and people of khro, Diplomatic Corps dean ambas- advance our relations to a higher level Japan were really honoured and are sador Ali Ibrahim Ahmad, and other of strategic partnership.” grateful to His Highness,” the envoy diplomats and guests. “Japan is willing to play an active said.

Jaidah Automotive delivers Chevrolets for Ocean Rent a Car fl eet expansion

aidah Automotive, the exclusive dealer of Chevrolet in Qatar, re- Jcently delivered 50 units of the 2020 Chevrolet Spark to Ocean Rent a Car as part of the rental company’s fl eet expansion project. To mark the successful partnership, a signing ceremony was held on the Ocean Rent a Car premises. It was attended by various VIPs and dignitaries, including Ocean Rent a Car general manager Mohamed Eyad Gabr el-Bordeny, Jaidah Automotive general sales manager Samer al-Saleh, and Amr Mohamed, fl eet sales super- visor at Jaidah Automotive. Al-Saleh said: “We are constantly trying to meet market demands in Qatar with our dynamic and practical cars. “The expansion of the Chevro- let Spark’s presence in the country is helping to meet our customers’ needs Jaidah Automotive and Ocean Rent a Car off icials mark the occasion. and we look forward to new private and corporate deals in the future. our mission and we are very thankful ury and exotic cars and off ers short- “Thank you to the Ocean Rent a Car to Jaidah Automotive for their support and long-term leases for individuals team for their trust and co-operation.” in helping us achieve this.” and corporate customers. El-Bordeny said: “Working with the Ocean Rent a Car is a leading Qatar- It aims to further increase its fl eet to top car brands in the world is part of based company that specialises in lux- 500 vehicle units by the end of 2020.

No need to panic over locust sightings, says HBKU expert

In recent days, there have been increasing However, off icials and experts are keen to numbers of anecdotal reports relating to locust stress that the situation in Qatar bears no swarms being spotted in Qatar. resemblance to the African outbreak. These insects have a reputation for decimating The Qeeri is part of HBKU, and its scientists are crops and even causing famine, but the Ministry following the current situation closely. of Municipality and Environment (MME) insists Locusts are actually common visitors to Qatar that such isolated sightings are no cause for Dr Lawler and the Gulf region, generally arriving between alarm, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) said January and April each winter, although they in a statement yesterday. appear to be present in greater numbers than usual this year. “There have been some sightings of locusts in Qatar, with the They are even considered to be a delicacy in some areas, and Ministry of Municipality and Environment in good control of a prized source of natural nutrients. the situation,” says Dr Jenny Lawler, senior research director However, given that insecticide is being used by the MME and acting executive director of the Water Centre at Qatar as part of a wide-ranging action plan to combat their threat, Environment and Energy Research Institute (Qeeri). off icials have warned against eating the creatures. Concerns have been raised locally due to the increasing Members of the public who observe the presence of locusts crisis unfolding in east Africa, especially in Kenya, where are asked to contact the agricultural pest control unit of the billions of locusts are ravaging agricultural areas in the worst agricultural aff airs administration, which can be reached by infestation for 70 years. phone on 77438535, 44261728 or 55448879. Gulf Times Monday, February 24, 2020 7 QATAR Vodafone gives researchers access to latest technology

odafone Qatar is giving researchers at the Ministry of Transport and Communications VTASMU Innovation Lab “access to its very latest technologies and solutions.” TASMU Innovation Lab is part of the TASMU programme, an MOTC initiative that creates an enabling and collaborative environment for inno- vation and technological development. As one of the strategic partners of TASMU Inno- vation Lab, Vodafone Qatar will support and em- power visitors who may benefi t from the company’s technologies and capabilities. The Innovation Lab was offi cially inaugurated by HE the Minister of Transport and Communications, Air India country manager Veena Negi and other officials during the commencement of the airline’s thrice-weekly operations on the Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti earlier this month. Mumbai — Doha sector. TASMU Innovation Lab is set to stimulate the local innovation ecosystem to deliver national out- comes through emerging technologies and is an in- tegral part of the TASMU Smart Qatar Program, a principal driver of the country’s digital transforma- Thrice-weekly AI service to Mumbai takes off tion in line with Qatar National Vision 2030. The inauguration saw Vodafone Qatar demon- strate its role as a strategic partner of TASMU Inno- ir India started thrice-weekly opera- vation Lab, in the presence of VIPs, senior offi cials tions on the Mumbai — Doha sector and other attendees during their tour of the facility. Ausing the state-of-the-art Boeing Delegates also visited the Injaz area — a collabo- Vodafone Qatar is giving researchers at the 787 Dreamliner aircraft with eff ect from Fri- rative workspace that enhances productivity in a Ministry of Transport and Communications day. digital environment and which aligns with Voda- TASMU Innovation Lab “access to its very latest The fl ight AI 969 departs Mumbai at fone Qatar’s own commitment to help bring inno- technologies and solutions.” 10.20am and reach Doha at 11.15am. Flight vation and ideas to life. AI 970 leaves Doha at 12.45pm and reaches Vodafone Qatar Business Unit director Mahday fone’s capability to provide insights using Big Data. Mumbai at 6.45pm. al-Hebabi said: “Vodafone is honoured to be work- In the specifi c demonstration, the solution can Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner has two ing with the Ministry of Transport and Commu- help new restaurants and businesses across the confi gurations with 18 business class and nications as a strategic partner of this important public and private sector take data driven decisions 238 seats in economy. national initiative. TASMU Innovation Lab is an that can be applied for revenue generation and cost Air India had earlier recommenced Delhi ideal collaborative workspace and we look forward optimisation. — Doha — Delhi operations after a gap of 12 to leveraging our own expertise in telecommunica- In turn, Vodafone’s ‘Smart Agriculture’ demo shows years in October last year, connecting the tions and digital technologies to inspire digital in- how the use of real-time data can improve resource al- two capitals. In quick succession, Air India novation and drive the local economy in support of location and increase water and energy effi ciency. has also introduced a fl ight on the Mumbai- Qatar’s development goals.” The solution provides a fully autonomous irriga- Doha sector connecting the Qatari capital As part of Vodafone Qatar’s contribution to TAS- tion system, which uses sensors to determine water with India’s commercial capital, MU Innovation Lab, the company is also showcas- needs, then uses this data to autonomously irrigate Veena Negi, country manager, Air India ing its smart solutions to help the new generation of based on the precise watering schedules generated. Group said Air India, through its subsidiary, tech-based businesses understand how they could Vodafone Qatar continues its roll out of infrastruc- Air India Express already operates services use these technologies and adopt them in their ture for future technologies and an ecosystem of ad- from Doha to various cities in India. products and services, which in turn will help ad- vanced digital products and services for the nation, Air India Express will add a new fl ight dress the nation’s strategic requirements. leveraging its 5G GigaNet network, and its Narrow- Air India’s state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner from Mumbai being given a water (from March 30) on the Doha – Trichy sec- Among the demonstrations are ‘Vodafone Big band-IoT (NB-IoT) Network, launched nation-wide cannon salute at the Hamad International Airport. tor with three weekly services. Data as a Service’, a product that displays Voda- in 2019, among other next generation technologies. Gulf Times 8 Monday, February 24, 2020 QATAR

Denis, Papamichael to join Qumra 2020 Masters lineup

egendary French auteur ades of industry wisdom to pro- vention and embrace the poetry Qumra 2020 introduces, for the festival programmers, broadcast- Claire Denis and Bafta- and vide invaluable insight on select of storytelling. Papamichael has fi rst time, sessions dedicated to ers, market representatives, sales LAcademy Award-nominated projects through consultations an exceptional ability to visually exploring and developing series agents and distributors. cinematographer Phedon Papam- and deep-dive discussions with immerse audiences in perform- format projects from the region. Qumra 2020 features 20 ichael are confi rmed to join the participating fi lmmakers”, DFI ances with his extremely precise This follows the recent expan- projects by Qatar-based talent, Qumra 2020 Masters lineup in the has said in a statement. cinematic compositions.” sion of DFI’s Grants programme including 12 by Qatari nationals. sixth edition of Doha Film Insti- “We are extremely honoured This year’s edition of Qumra and various training and devel- Seven of the projects are in tute’s (DFI) annual fi lm industry to once again host fi ve highly will off er networking and de- opment labs dedicated to the cre- development, with others in the incubator for exceptional talents acclaimed masters of cinema velopment opportunities for 46 ation of original and compelling Qumra Series and Shorts pro- to be held from March 20-25. in Qatar at Qumra 2020. With projects from 20 countries as TV and web content in Arabic. grammes. The two will join international- mentorship and guidance from part of Qumra’s mission to ac- Projects in development par- Of 47 projects, 33 are re- ly celebrated director James Gray, these creative visionaries, par- celerate the success of fi lmmak- ticipate in group and individual cipients of the DFI Grants pro- Silver Lion-winning fi lm director ticipating fi lmmakers gain the Claire Denis Phedon Papamichael ers from the region and beyond sessions with Qumra Masters and gramme, three are supported and screenwriter Jessica Haus- unique opportunity to enrich and prepare them to bring their industry mentors in script con- through the Qatari Film Fund and ner, and Mark Mangini, Oscar- their creative voices by learning Filmmaker and DFI artistic ad- proaches to aesthetic and narrative. projects to audiences around the sulting, legal, sales, marketing and one through the Institute’s co- winning sound designer, for the the advanced skills necessary to viser Elia Suleiman added: “The “Denis’ daring portrayals of world, the statement notes. co-production advice, along with fi nancing programme. 2020 edition event dedicated to take their projects to completion extraordinary contributions that the human condition amid com- Continuing the institute’s individual matchmaking projects In all, 16 feature projects are in supporting important new voices and out to global audiences,” DFI Claire Denis and Phedon Papam- plex social and cultural land- “commitment to support Arab in post-production, which are development, 13 feature projects in from the Arab and world cinema. CEO Fatma Hassan al-Remaihi ichael have made to the art and craft scapes continues to embolden talents in evolving forms of cre- presented in a series of closed post-production, seven in Qumra Qumra Masters “draw on dec- said in a press statement. of fi lmmaking have redefi ned ap- fi lmmakers to defy standard con- ativity and new possibilities”, rough-cut screenings to leading Series and 11 in Qumra Shorts. Pakistan Super League 2020 Coronavirus screening for all ships at Qatari ports comes to Ooredoo ONE oredoo has announced that it has secured Orights for the upcom- ing Pakistan Super League 2020, and will be showing the cricket matches live on Oore- doo TV channel 399. The fi fth season of the hugely popular Twenty20 franchise has kicked off on February 20, with matches being held until March 22. Teams, including the Ka- rachi Kings, Multan Sultans and Islamabad United, will battle it out for the top spot in exciting matches featur- Mwani Qatar has announced the commencement procedures for the detection and examination of all ships calling at ing some of the best Pakista- Hamad Port, Ruwais Port and Doha Port, especially from countries that have reported cases of the emerging coronavirus ni and international players. channel is available on chan- watch one of cricket’s most course all the other benefi ts infection, in addition to applying all health checks for ship crews to detect the virus. “Mwani Qatar declares that (as a Ooredoo ONE customers nel 399 on Ooredoo tv. popular leagues live on Oore- on off er with Ooredoo ONE.” precautionary measure) it will reduce the entry of ships calling at Ruwais Port, preventing entry from 10pm to 7am,” it said can watch all the matches Manar Khalifa al-Muraikhi doo tv. Achieving complete Customers who do not yet in a statement yesterday. live on Ooredoo tv via the – director of PR and Cor- customer satisfaction is a key have Ooredoo tv via Oore- new Ooredoo Cricket chan- porate Communications at aim at Ooredoo, and we’re doo ONE can subscribe now nel, part of the Doosra pack- Ooredoo – said: “We have sure the live coverage of PSL at any of the Ooredoo shops age, which is included with thousands of enthusiastic 2020 will make the cricket around town. Customers on all Ooredoo ONE packages cricket fans here in Doha, and fans among our customers packages lower than 150Mbps of 150Mbps and above. we know they will be delight- very happy. We hope they can upgrade online, via the The Ooredoo Cricket ed to learn they will be able to enjoy all the matches, and of app or at any Ooredoo shop. India pavilion at DJWE to showcase new designs

or the second consecutive year, and Middle Eastern trends over the in manufacturing and generate job op- an India Pavilion organised by last few decades. portunities, according to a press state- Fthe Gems & Jewellery Export Some of the prominent Indian jew- ment issued by the Indian embassy. Promotion Council (GJEPC) — in col- ellers who will be part of the India “Indian gems and jewellery exports laboration with the Indian embassy in Pavilion are Amore Jewels Pvt Ltd, Be- to the Middle East region accounted Doha — will be part of the Doha Jew- lisma, Champalal and Co (Jewellers), for $12.11bn in 2019. Indian manufac- ellery & Watches Exhibition (DJWE) Creative Overseas, Deepika Creations, turers had received an encouraging 2020. De’viva Jewels, Full Moon Jewels, G.M. response from buyers across the world The event is scheduled to be held at Products Pvt Ltd, GDK Jewels Pvt at DJWE 2019. This year’s edition of the Doha Exhibition and Convention Ltd, Hia Exports, Iris Jewels, Jagan DJWE is also expected to attract a lot Centre from today until February 29. Nath Hem Chand, J H Jewellers, KK of attention of interested customers The India Pavilion will feature 27 Jewels, Kothari’s Jewellers, LS Enter- and connoisseurs of luxury jewellery exhibitors and showcase a complete prises, Lodha Jeweller, Lotus Gem, items,” the statement noted. range of products, including studded Mehta & Sons, M.L. The India Pavilion at the DJWE jewellery with stones like rubies, em- Impex, Noor Jewels, Rishabh Durga 2020 is being spearheaded by GJEPC, eralds, sapphires and pearls; as well as Gems and Jewels, Shrians Jewels, Sital which was set up by India’s Ministry plain and handmade jewellery. Dass and Sons, Sital Dass Son, Vihaan of Commerce and Industry in 1966, as The collections include a wide range Exims Co Pvt Ltd and Zel Jewellers Ltd the apex body of the gems and jewel- of contemporary, modern jewellery, Gems and Jewellery have been identi- lery industry in the country. Today, it with detailed and exquisite craftsman- fi ed as one of the ‘champion sectors’ by represents over 7,000 exporters in the ship and designs inspired by European the Indian government to push growth sector. CHLS plans biopsychology, neuroscience programmes

By Joseph Varghese designed toward advancing fi tness and Staff Reporter forwarding preventative healthcare, in line with Qatar’s National Physical Ac- tivity Guidelines,” he continued. he College of Health and Life According to the dean, CHLS grad- Sciences (CHLS) at Hamad uates leave with multidisciplinary TBin Khalifa University (HBKU) knowledge and experience in state-of- is planning to introduce new pro- the-art basic, clinical and translational grammes in Biopsychology, Neuro- research that allow them to become science and Cognitive Neuroscience, a leaders advancing precision health in senior offi cial has said. Qatar. “CHLS will continue to evaluate “Alumni are also equipped with Qatar’s health and life science needs critical professional skills including and design and develop the neces- excellence in oral and written com- sary academic and research-intensive munication, problem solving, ana- programmes. Biopsychology, Neuro- lytical assessment and team-building. science and Cognitive Neuroscience Dr Stuenkel, founding dean, CHLS. The combination of basic and clinical are programmes being considered, as background knowledge, research ex- they address Qatar’s National Mental overall focus on precision health melds perience and professional skills pre- Health Strategy,” Dr Edward Stuen- excellently with addressing not only pares CHLS alumni to contribute to a kel, founding dean of CHLS, told Gulf advancing genomic issues of clinical great variety of needs within the health Times. health challenges but also in address- sciences and health policy sector,” he Dr Stuenkel said that since its in- ing biological issues of mental health pointed out. ception in 2018, CHLS has undergone and behaviour,” explained Dr Stuenkel. The dean also highlighted that CHLS exceptional growth in internationally The college has fi ve programmes with was founded to instil knowledge and recognised research-focused faculty, a total of 113 current students — includ- excellence in research training to fu- graduate student applications and re- ing 20 Qatari nationals — and 14 faculty ture health science leaders towards cruitment, as well as in the diversity members and two lab managers. achieving success in precision health of its research programmes to promote “CHLS currently off ers fi ve pro- in Qatar. transdisciplinary interactions that grammes, including innovative MS “Graduates of CHLS are expected to spur innovation. and PhD programmes in Biomedical employ the knowledge and experience “Biopsychology rests at the inter- and Biological Sciences, and in Ge- gained to address present and future face of behaviour and biology, while nomics and Precision Medicine. Last clinical health challenges, as well as to neuroscience is directed at develop- year, CHLS launched a joint degree participate in developing societal policies ing a detailed understanding on the programme with University of South that advance preventative healthcare to function of the human brain. CHLS’ Carolina, an MS in Exercise Science, the benefi t of all in Qatar,” he added. Gulf Times Monday, February 24, 2020 9 QATAR

HEC Paris plans CCQ event discusses role of activities to mark radio in a changing world 10th anniversary EC Paris in Qatar is he Community College formation. We are delighted to marking the 10th an- of Qatar’s (CCQ) Library have had the opportunity to host Hniversary of its pres- TDepartment marked some of Qatar’s most famous ence in Qatar with its newly World Radio Day with a series media personalities on our cam- appointed dean, Dr Pablo of lectures and presentations by pus to share their broadcasting Martin de Holan. distinguished members of Qa- experience with CCQ’s students Since joining Qatar Foun- tar’s broadcasting community and hope that it inspires them to dation in 2010, HEC Paris at the College’s Lusail Female pursue careers in radio.” has launched two highly suc- Campus. Dr Hassan Rasheed, a Qatari cessful degree programmes, The event themed ‘Radio in journalist, critic and Qatar’s very the International Executive a Changing World’ explored fi rst radio announcer, stressed MBA (EMBA), ranked number topics such as the ‘History and the importance of radio and the 1 worldwide by the Financial Infl uence of Radio in Qatar’, immense impact it has on peo- Times in 2019, and the Spe- ‘Broadcasting and the Public’, as ple’s day-to-day lives, as well cialised Master’s degree in well as the future radio aspira- as the way in which it stimulates Strategic Business Unit Man- tions of CCQ’s students, among their intellect through thought, agement. Dr Pablo Martin de Holan other topics. art, culture and entertainment. A number of Qatar’s most Another prominent speaker at “Our fi rst decade in Qatar of expressing our appreciation prominent and recognised jour- The CCQ event explored topics such as the ‘History and Influence of Radio in Qatar’, ‘Broadcasting and the event was Ahmad al-Sheikh, has ensured we have for the many persons and the nalists, producers, anchors and the Public’, as well as the future radio aspirations of CCQ’s students, among other topics. media adviser, Al Jazeera, who a deep understanding many organisations and who other media personalities also delivered a talk entitled ‘Radio of Qatar Foundation’s have embraced our learning shared their broadcasting experi- Refl ecting Qatar’s position City in Qatar’s sleek and futuris- brary Department, CCQ, said, and Audience’, in which he spoke mission” philosophy over the past dec- ences with the CCQ community. as a thriving media hub, hous- tic Lusail City, over the past few “Radio has been around for over about his very fi rst encounter ade. We are very grateful to A competition for students ing global media broadcasting years, several new radio stations 100 years. Despite all the lat- with radio as a child, the history HEC Paris also off ers non- them,” said Holan. “It also sig- was also held at the event and powerhouses such as Al Jazeera in diverse languages were also est technological developments, of radio, his outlook on the fu- degree management pro- nals our growth plans for our drew a crowd of students, faculty and visionary and ambitious launched in the country. it remains an important and ture of radio and his journey into grammes for executives, in second decade in Qatar and and other members of CCQ. megaprojects, such as the Media Reem al-Ansari, head, Li- widely-accessed source of in- the media fi eld. the form of executive short beyond, with a strong focus programmes and certifi cates on entrepreneurship, women- as well as custom-designed in-leadership, and innovation, programmes for organisations. and under the two concept of Over its fi rst decade, 836 Excellence and Impact. For us, alumni have graduated from excellence means world class HBKU signs MoU with Brookings Doha Centre HEC Paris in Qatar, 68% of programmes and content, and which is Qatari and 42% fe- impact means sustaining and male. From the total number, increasing our contributions he Hamad Bin Kha- ings scholarship in the region Dr Emad El-Din Shahin, inter- 354 executives graduated to the State of Qatar and its lifa University (HBKU) has since 2008, the BDC advances im provost, HBKU said: “HBKU from the International EMBA fi rms, guided by the ideas of Tsolidifi ed its academic and high-quality, independent re- strives to build connections with degree programme and 482 the National Vision 2030.” research eff orts with a memo- search and policy analysis on the like-minded organisations and from the Specialised Mas- Michael Lefante, director, randum of understanding (MoU) Middle East and North Africa. our agreement with the BDC to- ter’s. Moreover, HEC Paris in Marketing, Events & External it has signed with the Brookings Speaking after the signing, Ta- day is a testimony to the univer- Qatar has delivered custom- Relations, HEC Paris in Qa- Doha Centre (BDC). rik Yousef, director, BDC, said: sity’s growing research potential. designed programmes for the tar, said: “Our fi rst decade in The MoU will underline areas “We are delighted to partner with Our partnership with BDC will executives and future leaders Qatar has ensured we have a of mutual benefi t and develops HBKU, one of the region’s most encourage policy-led debate and of 98 progressive organisa- deep understanding of Qatar a co-operative framework de- ambitious universities with a research on topics that are not tions in Qatar and the region. Foundation’s mission and that signed to facilitate scholarly ex- Hamad Bin Khalifa University and Brookings Doha Centre off icials at strong focus on interdisciplinary limited to security, international HEC Paris in Qatar plans to we share its objective and that changes, internships, and BDC- the signing ceremony. research. As we continue to en- relations, and governance reform. roll out a series of anniversary of the National Vision 2030 HBKU activities. In doing so, hance our output, we look forward “These topics are of grow- activities to mark its 10-year of transforming Qatar into an both entities will have a steadfast is a fast-emerging university lo- versities. Brookings Doha Cen- to this new MoU with HBKU to ing importance in light of an milestone culminating in a advanced society capable of commitment towards supporting cated in the heart of Education tre is an overseas centre of the bolster our research capabilities, increasingly complex political, major celebration later this achieving sustainable devel- Qatar National Vision 2030. City - an academic hub hosting Brookings Institution in Wash- expand our academic network and social, and economic landscape year. opment through a knowledge Hamad Bin Khalifa University some of the world’s top-tier uni- ington, DC. As a hub for Brook- community outreach.” in the Middle East.” “This celebration is our way based economy.” Gulf Times 10 Monday, February 24, 2020 QATAR Top experts explore power of public art at QF forum

he role of public art in “creating destinations”, Tconnecting people and opening minds was explored by experts from Qatar and around the world on the fi nal day of a forum at Qatar Foundation (QF). Outside the Box: Public Art in Qatar – organised under the Amal A al-Mannai, Dr Amal al-Malki and other dignitaries at the event. patronage of HE Sheikha Al Ma- yassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums – opened up new per- spectives on topics ranging from CHSS holds public talk to mark the social, economic, and cul- Hisham E Nourin Layla Ibrahim Bacha tural impact of art, to the future of public art in Qatar. “We have noticed that art- ined case studies from Qatar and but also public art spaces, and in World Day for Social Justice Commissioned by the British works are now more about the the Mena region, as well as from Qatar, with the 2022 FIFA World Council in partnership with Qa- temporary than the permanent. the UK and Europe. Cup approaching, many coun- tar Museums and QF, the forum I think this makes a piece of art In a discussion on the theme tries might want to exhibit their n keeping with its vision panel considered a range of inequality around the world. As has aimed to start a conversation more attractive, because peo- of The Art of Making Places, Dr art in those spaces.” to enrich society through social justice issues, includ- things stand, one in fi ve work- about how the use of art in the ple think they can see it now or Georgios Papaioannou, associ- The second day of the forum Itransformative educational ing education, accessibility, ers live in moderate or extreme public realm can be redefi ned and never.” ate professor of Museum Stud- – curated by FutureEverything experiences, the College of Hu- human rights and nationalism poverty and are eff ectively rethought. Its second day was Over its two days – the fi rst of ies at London-based university and supported by QF partner manities and Social Sciences and identity. trapped by stagnant wages and held at Qatar National Library, in which was held at the National UCL, said public art had, over university UCL Qatar - also (CHSS) at Hamad Bin Khalifa Discussions then turned to geographical disparities. Gender Education City, where local and Museum of Qatar – Outside the the past 20 years, become “more spotlighted the views of experts University (HBKU) commemo- practical steps to encourage inequality also ensures that a international participants spoke Box: Public Art in Qatar has fea- about physical participation”. from organisations, including rated the World Day for Social positive change by providing signifi cant amount of the global about how the meaning of art has tured panel discussions, presen- “I have seen many people take the UK’s Imperial War Museums Justice with a public talk. user-centred accessible envi- population misses out on the full evolved over the decades in Qatar tations from artists, debates, and pictures of public art, which and University of Central Lan- Celebrated yearly since ronments and accepting people benefi ts of economic develop- and around the world. interactive sessions designed to means it has become socially cashire, leading auction house 2009, the World Day of Social of diff erent cultural, linguistic, ment. This must change. “In the beginning, art was explore art’s role outside what important,” he told the audience. Christie’s Middle East, Qatar Justice is a United Nations (UN) and ethnic backgrounds. Panel “The event also underlines more a confi rmation of political are seen as its traditional or “I think art is a battle – the Museums, the Supreme Com- declared international day speakers included Amal A al- the College’s commitment to power, fostering national iden- conventional settings, how it battle of space. Design is im- mittee for Delivery & Legacy and which emphasises the global Mannai, CEO of Qatar Founda- nurturing socially respon- tity and the beautifi cation of the helps people experience cities, portant, but there has to be a Msheireb Properties. importance of social justice. tion for Social Work; Dr Azza sible global citizens beyond city,” said Layla Ibrahim Bacha, and its ability to create dialogue space for art, and getting the Discussions centred around Upholding human rights, Abdelmoneium, director of the classroom. Tackling so- senior art specialist, QF, in a and broaden perceptions. With space is even more important ways of commissioning and fi - advocating sustainable devel- Research Department at Doha cial injustice is by no means keynote speech. “It is now about thought-leaders and practition- than the art itself. Once your nancing art in the public realm, opment and eliminating pov- International Family Institute; the preserve of academia and creating a destination, fostering ers sharing insights and best space is there, at any time, you and designing a “collective erty are among the issues and Ahmed Habib, senior ICT Ac- policy-making circles. This social connections, and encour- practices about public art events can change the art. The focus toolkit” for how public art can objectives typically highlighted cess Policy Specialist at Mada was amply demonstrated by aging openness. and collaborations, it has exam- should be not only on public art, reach and engage people in Qa- by international organisations, Center; Zarqa Parvez, affi liate our audience who offered tar. non-governmental organisa- instructor in Middle Eastern some thought-provoking ide- “Art is universal – it is all tions and other stakeholders. Studies, College of Humanities as and perspectives for what around us, in many forms and on This year’s theme was ‘Clos- and Social Sciences, HBKU; is undoubtedly a shared global many platforms,” said Hisham ing the Inequalities Gap to and Ahmed al-Shahrani, an concern. In this respect, we’re E Nourin, executive director of Achieve Social Justice’ which adapted athlete. looking forward to holding Strategy, Administration and refl ects that inequalities be- Proceedings concluded with further public talks in the Projects, QF Community Devel- tween and among countries a questions and answers ses- not-too-distant future.” opment, in a welcoming address are weakening social cohe- sion and further interventions The College of Humanities to participants. sion, preventing people from from the fl oor. and Social Sciences regu- “It fosters cross-cultural un- achieving their potential and Speaking after the talk, Dr larly holds events to highlight derstanding and encourages us burdening economies. Amal al-Malki, founding dean, its research activities and to explore its messages and what Led by Dr Joselia Neves, as- CHSS, said: “The theme of this projects. More information The second day of the Outside the Box: Public Art in Qatar forum was hosted by Qatar Foundation at it means to our lives in the world sociate dean of social engage- year’s World Day of Social Justice can be had from chss.hbku. Qatar National Library. today.” ment and access, the college’s refl ects the urgent need to reduce edu.qa Monday, February 24, 2020 11 QATAR Qatar Charity urges people to contribute to “Sham Deserves” campaign for Syrians

atar Charity (QC), urges The campaign will include a snow. It also calls on media persons people to contribute to joint live TV and radio broadcast and social media influencers to the national campaign on Friday and Saturday, February publicize the campaign. named “Shams 28, and 29, 2020, by many media QDeserves” launched in partnership corporations to raise donations, in Benefactors can make their with the Qatar Media Corporation addition to some activities that will contributions to the campaign in to provide urgent relief aid to be held in commercial complexes. many forms, including money, Syrian people in their country and jewelry, and vehicle. Given the difficult humanitarian he countries of asylum. situation of Syrian refugees and In conjunction with the campaign, The campaign came within internally displaced persons (IDPs), a delegation from Qatar Charity has the framework of moral and Qatar Charity urges benefactors in recently distributed urgent aid to humanitarian duty in response Qatar to contribute to the “Sham the displaced in the country, and to the worsening humanitarian Deserves” campaign to ease their refugees in Turkish areas bordering situation following the largest hardship, as they are struggling to Syria. survive under the very harsh cold displacement in Syria in the past The aid included 200 tons of relief weather, heavy rains, frosts, and three months. materials worth over 14 million Launched on February 19, 2020, under the supervision of the Regulatory Authority for Charitable Activities (RACA), the “Sham Deserves” campaign aims to deliver assistance to 250,000 Syrian refugees and displaced persons in the areas of shelter, food, water, sanitation, and health. The campaign is implemented by riyals to benefit 864,618 people. Qatar Charity, in cooperation with Another delegation is scheduled to the Qatar Media Corporation, Qatar depart on Friday to provide a second Television, Qatar Radio, Sout Al batch of aid to Syrian refugees and Khaleej Radio, Al Quran Al Kareem displaced persons. Radio, Alkass Sports Channels, Alrayyan TV, and Alrayyan Radio. The donation in favor of the “Sham Deserves” campaign can easily be made through Qatar Charity’s website, mobile App, 27 branches across the country, and 97 collection points in commercial places. The donors can also request a “home collector” through the mobile App and dial the hotline 44667711 to make their contributions. Mobile donating is also available. To donate QR100, QR200, QR500, and QR100, please send an SMS with the code “SOS” to 92642, 92015, 92428, and 92429, respectively. Gulf Times 12 Monday, February 24, 2020 QATAR/REGION/ARAB WORLD

Snapshots from the Kuwait National Day celebration held at Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel yesterday. PICTURES: Thajudheen and Shemeer Rasheed Kuwait National Day celebrated

By Ayman Adly Staff Reporter

he Kuwaiti embassy in Doha yesterday marked Tthe 59th anniversary of Kuwait’s National Day and the 29th anniversary of its libera- tion with a grand reception that refl ected the heritage and tradi- tions of Kuwait and its people. Kuwait’s ambassador Hafi z Mohamed al-Ajmi thanked the Qatari leadership and govern- ment for sharing the joy of the occasion with their Kuwaiti brothers. The reception was attended by HE the Speaker of the Shura Council Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud, HE the Min- ister of Justice and Acting Min- ister of State for Cabinet Aff airs Dr Issa Saad al-Jafali al-Nuaimi, HE the Minister of Administra- tive Development, Labour and Social Aff airs Yousef bin Mo- hamed al-Othman Fakhro, HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari, Yousif Fakhro. Also, a consider- Qatar-Kuwait relations were Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim GCC Secretary-General, who appreciated the excellent broth- macy, economy, business and HE the Minister of Endowments able number of diplomats from deep-rooted while speaking to bin Hamad al-Thani and the Amir adopts the directives of the Amir erly relations between Qatar and investment, tourism, culture and (Awqaf) and Islamic Aff airs Dr various countries, leading Qatari the local press. The two coun- of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah al-Ah- of Kuwait and has vast experi- Kuwait and stressed that these people-to-people relations. Ghaith bin Mubarak al-Kuwari, businesspersons and other dig- tries have a long history of ex- mad al-Jaber al-Sabah, are work- ence in the region besides having have seen great development over He added that joint invest- HE the Minister of State for nitaries and guests were present cellent relations and both have ing relentlessly to fi nd a solution visited various GCC countries. the past few years in all fi elds for ments of the two countries have Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad on the occasion. achieved huge development over to the GCC crisis. He is also expected to visit Qa- the benefi t and prosperity of both crossed more than $7bn and the al-Muraikhi and director of A ceremonial cake was cut on the years due to their wise lead- He also expressed hope while tar as part of his fi rst tour in the countries. He noted that co-oper- trade exchange between them protocol at the Ministry of For- the occasion. Earlier, ambas- ership, he added. referring to the appointment of a region as the new GCC secre- ation between the two countries has signifi cantly increased over eign Aff airs ambassador Ibrahim sador al-Ajmi stressed that the The envoy noted that both His Kuwaiti Dr Nayef al-Hajraf as the tary-general. The ambassador covers all fi elds, including diplo- the past three years.

UNREST 16 Turkish Militant group confi rms soldiers die in JRE appointed broker for Libya fighting death of its leader Forces loyal to Libyan eastern- based commander Khalifa Haftar said yesterday they had killed 16 new Paradise Compound AFP claimed responsibility for the Turkish soldiers in recent weeks, a Dubai December 6 mass shooting at day after Turkey acknowledged it a US naval base in Florida, in had lost several “martyrs” in com- ust Real Estate (JRE) has site kindergarten and nursery, which a Saudi air force officer bat in the north African country. been appointed rent broker while all residents can shop at l Qaeda in the Arabian killed three American sailors. Khalid al-Mahjoub, a spokes- Jfor the large new residen- the soon-to-open commer- Peninsula yesterday Washington considers man for Haftar’s self-styled Libya tial The Paradise Compound cial market and be assured that Aconfi rmed the death of AQAP to be the worldwide National Army (LNA), said the in Umm Salal Mohamed where their property will be profes- its leader Qassim al-Rimi and network’s most dangerous Turks were killed in the port city extensive amenities off er com- sionally maintained. appointed a successor, weeks branch. of Misrata, in battles in Tripoli and munity and social living oppor- Paradise Compound is in an after the US said it had “elimi- The extremist group in the town of Al-Falah south of tunities. ideal location being close to nated” the militant chief, SITE thrived in the chaos of years the capital. Turkey backs Libya’s The compound comprises a a hypermarket, just a minute Intelligence group said. of civil war between Yem- internationally recognised mix of 273 contemporary de- from Shamal Road, a fi ve- The announcement came in en’s government and Houthi Government of National Accord signed villas and 340 apart- minute drive from Doha Fes- an audio speech delivered by rebels. (GNA) and has sent soldiers and ments. Its fully-furnished and tival City and Ikea and has AQAP religious offi cial Hamid “Under Rimi, AQAP com- weapons to help the Tripoli- semi-furnished units, which close access to supermarkets, bin Hamoud al-Tamimi, said mitted unconscionable vio- based administration repel an are complete with kitchen ap- a mosque, restaurants, schools the group which monitors mil- lence against civilians in attempt by the LNA to capture pliances, provide comfortable and a hospital. Rental prices are itant networks worldwide. Yemen and sought to conduct the city. Turkish President Tayyip family homes where pets are highly-competitive, and all in- “In his speech, Tamimi and inspire numerous attacks Erdogan on Saturday acknowl- allowed. Residents also benefi t The Paradise Compound provides value and lifestyle opportunities clude a one-month free. Units spoke at length about Rimi and against the United States and eged some Turkish losses in from round-the-clock security, for singles, couples and families. start at QR6,000 a month for his journey, and stated that our forces,” Trump said at the Libya’s “struggle”. “We are there a concierge, and covered park- a two-bedroomed, semi-fur- Khalid bin Umar Batarfi is the time. (in Libya) with our (Turkish) ing. erties available to residents of tion off erings.” The Paradise nished apartment; QR6,750 per new leader of AQAP,” it said. “His death further de- soldiers and our teams from The villas feature-rich, tex- Qatar,” said engineer Nasser al- Compound off ers residents month for a two-storey, 3-bed- SITE said Batarfi has ap- grades AQAP and the global the Syrian National Army. We tured exteriors and provide Ansari, JRE chairman. great social activities as it is room villas with a maid’s room; peared in many AQAP videos Al Qaeda movement, and it continue the struggle there. We direct parking for a family car. “It is also a great new addi- dotted with wide open green and QR10,000 a month for a over the past several years and brings us closer to eliminat- have several martyrs. In return, The ground fl oors of the villas tion to the country’s stock of areas, features two club houses, 4-bedroom unit with a maid’s appeared to have been Rimi’s ing the threats these groups however, we neutralised nearly a are arranged around the main quality residential develop- two swimming pools, and two room, with all villas having deputy and group spokesman. pose to our national security.” hundred (of Haftar’s) legionaries,” open plan living/dining rooms ments where residents’ life- gyms, as well as a sauna, four covered parking spaces. President Donald Trump Trump did not give any Erdogan said. The Syrian National and have garden access. styles are prioritised and a very sports courts, and three kids’ The Paradise Compound announced Rimi’s death ear- details about the circum- Army, also known as Free Syrian “This is another vote of con- welcome extension to JRE’s im- playgrounds. provides value and lifestyle op- lier this month, saying he had stances or the timing of the Army, is a Turkey-backed Syrian fi dence in JRE’s ability to mar- pressive portfolio of superior Young families can take ad- portunities for singles, couples, been killed in a US “coun- operation, but the US has rebel group fighting against pro- ket the highest quality prop- investment and accommoda- vantage of the compound’s on- and families. ter-terrorism operation in waged a long-running drone Damascus forces in northern Syria, Yemen”.That announcement war against the leaders of the where 16 Turkish soldiers have came shortly after AQAP Yemen-based AQAP. been killed so far this month. General Directorate of Passports ‘completes more than 3mn transactions’ Statistics issued by the Ministry of Interior (MoI) showed that more followed by Mesaimeer with 11.3%. The statistics also showed that Ministry recalls 2016-19 Apple Watch Series 2 and Series 3 than 3mn transactions were completed at the General Directorate of more than 84,000 special transactions were completed, including Passports and its departments and electronic platforms, QNA reported 80,733 transactions in the Recruitment Applications Reviewing The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), The ministry said it will co-ordinate with the dealer to yesterday. Committee, 759 transactions for the elderly and persons with dis- in co-operation with iFix Qatar, Ali Bin Ali and Fifty follow up on the maintenance and repair works and The completed transactions in the departments affiliated with abilities, and 2,536 other transactions. One East, dealers of Apple watches in Qatar, has an- will communicate with customers to ensure that they the General Department of Passports during the aforementioned The total number of entry and exit movements through Hamad nounced a recall of Apple Watch Series 2 and Series have carried out the necessary repairs. month reached 2,690,303, while the number of completed transac- International Airport in January amounted to 1,215,840, including 3 (aluminium model), 2016-2019, over a crack that The MoCI has urged all customers to report violations tions in the service centres of the Unified Services Department 436,904 movements through e-gates. may form along the rounded edge of the screen in to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial spread across the country reached 238,460. The statistics also showed an increase in the electronic services aluminium models. Fraud Department, which processes When it came to the number of transactions completed at MoI transactions in January, exceeding half a million (501,502). These In a statement, the MoCI said the recall campaign complaints, enquiries and suggestions through the services centres during January, the statistics indicate that the Al included 301,048 transactions through the MoI website, 200,176 comes within the framework of its continuous eff orts call centre: 16001, e-mail: [email protected], Twitter: @ Rayyan Services Centre topped with 24.6% of visa- and residency- transactions through Metrash2 and 278 transactions through the to protect consumers and ensure that dealers follow MOCIQATAR, Instagram: MOCIQATAR, and the minis- related transactions, right above Wakra Services Centre with 18.4%, Qatar e-government portal, Hukoomi. up on product defects and repairs. try’s app for Android and iOS: MOCIQATAR Gulf Times Monday, February 24, 2020 13 REGION/ARAB WORLD/AFRICA Iran’s virus Troops shoot dead death toll Palestinian fi ghter rises to eight AFP 2,442, plus 648 new infec- AFP Tehran tions. Nearly 80,000 people Jerusalem have been infected worldwide, the vast majority in China. ran’s confi rmed death toll But offi cial fi gures indicate sraeli forces yesterday shot from the new coronavirus the death rate is proportion- dead a Palestinian fi ghter Irose to eight yesterday, the ately much higher in Iran than Isuspected of placing a bomb highest outside China, send- China, standing at nearly one near the Gaza border, before ex- ing neighbouring countries in fi ve of the confi rmed infec- tracting his body with a bulldoz- scrambling to contain the out- tions. er, the army said. break. Iran’s health minister, Saeed “Following the successful Turkey said it would “tem- Namaki, said the treatment thwarting of the attack near porarily” shut its border with of COVID-19 cases would be the Gaza Strip fence earlier this Iran, and Afghanistan banned free. morning, an IDF (Israeli army) all ground and air travel be- “In every city, one hospital bulldozer extracted the body of tween the two nations. will be dedicated to treating one of the fi ghters,” a military The moves come amid coronavirus cases,” he said, spokeswoman said. growing regional concerns adding that this number would The Palestinian Islamic Jihad about the spread of the virus. be greater in bigger cities like movement identifi ed the dead Lebanon on Friday con- the capital. man as Mohamed al-Naem, 27, fi rmed its fi rst case — a But academics expressed a member of its armed Al-Quds 45-year-old Lebanese woman concern over the ability of Iran Brigade forces. who had travelled from Qom — currently grappling with a Shortly after dark, cross-bor- in Iran — and Israel yesterday major economic crisis and hit der fi re broke out from the Gaza quarantined at home nearly by swingeing US sanctions — Strip, setting off warning sirens 200 school pupils who came to contain the outbreak. in the southern Israeli city of into contact with South Ko- “It is unlikely that Iran will Ashkelon and several other loca- rean tourists who contracted have the resources and fa- tions, the Israeli army said. the virus. cilities to adequately identify “Twenty launches were iden- Iran yesterday reported cases and adequately manage tifi ed from the Gaza Strip to- three more novel coronavirus them if case numbers are large,” ward Israeli territory,” a military deaths among 15 new cases in said Paul Hunter, a medical statement said. the past 24 hours, taking its professor at the University of It did not specify if they were total number of fatalities to East Anglia in Britain. rockets or shorter range mortar eight and infections to 43. He also noted that the “situ- fi re but said that about 10 attacks Four new COVID-19 cases ation in Iran has major impli- were intercepted by the Iron surfaced in Tehran, seven in cations for the Middle East,” in Dome missile defence system. the holy city of Qom, two in a context where the region is There were no reports of Gilan and one each in Markazi grappling with multiple con- casualties. Palestinian security and Tonekabon, health minis- fl icts. sources reported outgoing rock- try spokesman Kianoush Ja- “During armed confl icts et fi re. Earlier yesterday, the Is- hanpour said. borders between countries be- raeli army had said it “spotted Palestinians demonstrate along the Gaza-Israel border east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, yesterday, as a battle tank is seen across Authorities have ordered come porous...and health care two fighters approaching the the other side. the closure of schools, univer- facilities are often targeted and security fence in the southern sities and other educational destroyed.” Gaza Strip and placing an ex- video from Gaza emerged on heard and the men ultimately civilians were wounded by Is- Gaza as bargaining chips to centres in 14 provinces across Other regional countries plosive device adjacent to it”. social media showing a bull- run away as the bulldozer col- raeli gunfire at the scene. pressure Hamas, the group the country as a “preventive yesterday also took major “The troops opened fire to- dozer approaching a body as lects the body. Hawkish Israeli Defence that controls the Palestinian measure”. precautionary measures to wards them. A hit was identi- young, apparently unarmed A tank can be seen po- Minister Naftali Bennett has enclave, which has been hold- Art events, concerts and counter the virus potentially fied,” a military statement said. men, were trying to retrieve it. sitioned nearby. The Gaza pursued a policy of retaining ing the bodies of two Israeli fi lm shows have been banned spreading from Iran. Following the incident, a The sound of gunfire is health ministry said that two the bodies of fighters from soldiers since 2014. for a week. Jordan said yesterday it “We are on the frontlines, would bar entry to citizens of we need help,” the head of China, Iran and South Korea Qom’s medical sciences uni- and other foreigners travelling versity, Mohamedreza Ghadir, from those countries. said on state television. Jordan’s minister of state for “To prevent the spread of media aff airs, Amjad Adayleh, Conservatives claim victory in Iran polls the novel #coronavirus and said the decision was part of protect the public, Afghani- “pre-emptive measures... stan suspends all passenger following the rise in cases AFP nomic downturn and the dis- cal affi liation. “Victory for the weakened by President Donald 290-seat parliament. movement (air and ground) to of coronavirus” in the three Tehran qualifi cation of half the candi- anti-American candidates, a Trump pulling the US out of a Interior Minister Abdolreza and from Iran,” the offi ce of countries. dates. new slap for Trump,” crowed landmark nuclear deal and by a Rahmani Fazli announced the the National Security Council He said the ban would be The interior ministry an- the ultra-conservative Kayhan slew of economic and political participation rate was 42.6% — of Afghanistan said in a state- “temporary” and imposed on ran’s conservatives claimed nounced results of 95% of the newspaper. crises. the lowest in four decades. ment posted on Twitter. all non-Jordanians. victory yesterday in a gen- 208 constituencies in Friday’s “The people have disqualifi ed Seventeen women were elect- The election came two days China — the epicentre of the The Kuwait Port Authority Ieral election marked by the election, declaring the names the reformists,” it added, allud- ed, the website of the govern- after Iran announced its fi rst outbreak — reported another meanwhile announced a ban lowest turnout since the 1979 of the winning candidates but ing to President Hassan Rou- ment newspaper Iran said — the cases of the deadly new corona- 97 deaths in its daily update on the entry of all ships from Islamic Revolution amid an eco- without specifying their politi- hani’s backers, who have been same number as in the outgoing virus that emerged in China. yesterday, taking its total to the Islamic republic.

President-elect sets Togo counts votes as challenger claims ‘fraud’ inauguration date AFP The authorities banned Lome hundreds of local observers from monitoring the election AFP tour of Africa, Europe and Asia, and cancelled the system of Bissau told media at the airport: “I will ogo tallied ballots yester- electronic security at the last be inaugurated in a few days and day after a key challenger moment. the country can hope for brighter Tinsisted he could cause Some 300 international ob- he winner of Guinea- days ahead.” a shock upset despite what he servers were deployed, mainly Bissau’s disputed presi- The 47-year-old former gen- claimed was “fraud” in an elec- from the Economic Commu- Tdential election, Umaro eral and prime minister deplored tion President Faure Gnassing- nity of West African States Sissoco Embalo, said yesterday “strikes just about everywhere” be was widely expected to win. (Ecowas) and the African Un- he would be inaugurated on Feb- and “salaries that are not being Troops briefl y surrounded ion, with many African states ruary 27 despite challenges from paid.” the homes of opposition candi- supporting the incumbent. the party now in power. He pledged to hold a low-key date Agbeyome Kodjo and one The six opposition chal- Embalo won 53.55% of the ceremony, saying that a nation of his main allies shortly after lengers have suggested they votes in the December 29 elec- which has long struggled with voting ended on Saturday in a will unite against the presi- tion, while Domingos Simoes poverty and corruption, and has move the authorities said was dent if he fails to win an out- Pereira, from Guinea-Bissau’s also become a transit route for for their “own safety”. Kodjo, a right majority and the election traditional ruling party, won South American cocaine head- former prime minister and head goes to a second round. 46.45%, according to the Na- ing to Europe, “cannot aff ord of the national assembly, has That vote would be held 15 tional Electoral Commission. the luxury of a sumptuous cer- emerged as a dark horse chal- days after the announcement Since then, Pereira has con- emony.” lenger looking to stop Gnass- of the final results, expected in tested the result, arguing that Guinea-Bissau has known ingbe’s bid for a fourth term a week but possibly earlier. the votes were manipulated. little but coups and instabil- in offi ce that would extend his The authorities faced major But Embalo, who returned to ity since its independence from family’s half-century domina- protests in 2017 and 2018 de- the west African nation from a Portugal in 1974. tion over the West African na- manding an end to the Gnass- tion. ingbe family’s five-decade The president and his sup- stranglehold. porters had been confi dent of a But the demonstrations pe- Guinea braces for election amid fears of violence resounding victory in the fi rst tered out in the face of govern- round, despite widespread dis- ment repression and squab- Guinea is bracing for legislative in the run-up to the polls in the illusionment after 53 years of bles among the opposition. elections and a constitutional West African nation, according dynastic rule that has failed to File photo taken on February 19, 2020 shows Agbeyome Kodjo, former Togolese Prime Minister under Last May, Gnassingbe over- referendum on March 1, set to to Human Rights Watch (HRW). drag many out of poverty. late Togolese President Gnassingbe Eyadema, and presidential candidate of Movements of Patriots for saw an overhaul of the consti- be boycotted by the opposition Conde, 81, has been in power “I have the conviction that in Democracy and Development, looks on during a campaign rally in Kpalime in Togo. tution that allowed him to run amidst fears of violence. since 2010 and the constitution the coming week, I will lead this this year — and potentially re- A coalition of non-governmental currently bars him from running country,” Kodjo told journal- The challenger said fi gures some of the polling stations in Internet connections ap- main in office until 2030. groups and opposition parties for a third five-year term. Off icially, ists at a press conference in his gathered from various polling Lome which traditionally go for peared to be sporadically in- Despite economic growth opposes the referendum, arguing the referendum is meant to allow house after the security forces stations showed he was in the the oppositions cannot be taken terrupted. of around 5%, around half of that a new constitution could laws from the French colonial left. lead in the capital Lome and the as representative of the coun- Gnassingbe has led the West Togo lives on less than $1.90 clear the way for President Alpha era to be amended, but Conde “Considering the revelations coastal region and had “good try,” the source said. African country of 8mn people per day. Conde to run for a third term himself said on February 10 that if of fraud which marked this bal- scores” in other areas. “UNIR (the ruling party) since taking over in 2005 fol- Stability and security are later in the year. The coalition a new constitution is passed, “(His) lot, it is impossible for the out- The election commission is has held onto all its traditional lowing the death of his father central to Gnassingbe’s mes- has organised widespread street party will decide,” whether he will going candidate to be elected in expected to release the offi cial strongholds and has even done Gnassingbe Eyadema, who sage as militant violence rocks protests against the referendum run for re-election, according to the fi rst round.” provisional results early next better everywhere, including ruled for 38 years. its northern neighbour Burki- since mid-October, which have HRW. The opposition coalition Kodjo claimed the authori- week. in difficult areas in the south Kodjo, who served as pre- na Faso. been met with a harsh crackdown also accuses the government of ties had used ballot stuffi ng, A source in the president’s of- and in Lome,” the source add- mier under Gnassingbe’s fa- Togo has so far managed to by security forces, and arrests. rigging the legislative vote, and fake polling stations and people fi ce dismissed Kodjo’s remarks ed. ther, gained ground during prevent the bloodshed spilling More than 30 people have the electoral commission of being casting multiple votes to skew and said the results would soon The situation around Lome the campaign after winning over and its army and intel- been killed and dozens injured biased towards the ruling party. the results in the incumbent’s show a diff erent story. was calm yesterday morning, the backing of an influential ligence service are among the favour. “The results (for Kodjo) in an AFP journalist reported. former Catholic archbishop. most effective in the region. Gulf Times 14 Monday, February 24, 2020 AMERICA

Trump fl ays Schiff for leaking Russia Sanders wins Nevada intel to hurt Sanders

Reuters Trump looks for new Washington envoy to Germany President Donald Trump said Democratic caucus resident yesterday he is looking for a Donald new ambassador to Germany Reuters PTrump yes- after tapping current diplomat Las Vegas terday accused Richard Grenell to serve as act- Representative ing US intelligence chief. Adam Schiff of “I’ll be appointing an ambas- road-based support across leaking classifi ed sador to Germany,” Trump told age, racial and ideologi- information on reporters at the White House Bcal groups propelled Bernie Russian interfer- before departing on a trip to Sanders to a dominant victory in ence in the 2020 India. Nevada’s Democratic caucuses, US election to hurt A senior administration tightening his grip on the front- Democratic presi- off icial told Reuters last week runner spot in the race to fi nd a dential front-run- that Grenell would remain as challenger to President Donald ner Bernie Sand- ambassador even as he took Trump. ers. up the post of acting director of Joe Biden, a former vice presi- Speaking to re- national intelligence, a position dent, appeared headed to a badly porters as he left that oversees the 17-agency US needed second-place fi nish in Ne- the White House intelligence community. vada after poor showings earlier for a trip to India, It is unclear how long Grenell this month in the fi rst two nomi- Trump said he had will serve as the top intelli- nating contests in the Democratic not been briefed on gence off icial. presidential race ahead of the No- intelligence that Trump said he was consider- vember 3 election. Russia was aiming ing five candidates to take Sanders’ triumph on Saturday in to boost the cam- on the role on a permanent the fi rst racially diverse state in the paign of Sanders, basis, and Grenell had said on campaign suggested he was reach- a US senator from Thursday he would not be tak- ing a broader coalition of Demo- Vermont, and he ing the job. cratic voters with his unapologetic called for a probe “At a certain point in the message of social and economic into Schiff for the not too distant future, we’ll be justice, including his signature leak. announcing who they are,” pledge to provide universal health- Schiff , a Demo- Trump said. care for all Americans. crat, denied the al- For Biden and other moderates legation. who argue Sanders is too liberal to A congressional source told Reuters on Friday that beat Trump and who have been try- intelligence offi cials had told lawmakers Russia ap- ing to blunt his momentum, how- pears to be engaging in disinformation and propagan- ever, the Nevada results made the da campaigns to help both Sanders and Trump, who is job much harder. Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders celebrates after being declared the winner of the Nevada Caucus at a campaign rally in San seeking re-election. “We have put together a multi- Antonio, Texas, on Saturday night. “I read where Russia is helping Bernie Sanders. No- generational, multiracial coali- body said it to me at all. Nobody briefed me about that tion that is going to not only win “The press is ready to declare “We can either tighten a narrow was set to get more support from He also won with college gradu- at all,” Trump said. in Nevada, it’s going to sweep the people dead quickly, but we’re alive and hardcore base or open the tent African Americans than Sanders at ates, and was the top pick of voters “They leaked it, Adam Schiff and his group. They country,” Sanders, a US senator and we’re coming back and we’re to a new, broad, big-hearted Amer- the moment, but that a debate to- who consider themselves inde- leaked it to the papers and — as usual — they ought to from Vermont and self-described gonna win,” Biden told supporters ican coalition,” Buttigieg told sup- morrow night would be a factor. pendents. investigate Adam Schiff for leaking that information,” democratic socialist, told cheering in Las Vegas on Saturday night. porters in Las Vegas. Clyburn said he would wait until He also was favoured over Biden Trump said, without providing any evidence to back supporters in San Antonio, Texas. In a prerecorded interview set to The race now begins to broaden after the debate to endorse a candi- among voters whose top priority is up his claims. He then turned his attention to air yesterday on CBS’s Face the Na- across the country, with the South date. defeating Trump in the November Schiff , who served as the lead prosecutor in Trump’s Trump. tion, Biden said he was confi dent Carolina primary followed closely The Super Tuesday states will be election. impeachment trial in the Senate, said Trump was “We are going to win across the he could win the next contest on by the Super Tuesday contests in the fi rst nominating contests for Warren shrugged off her poor seeking to turn attention away from his own actions country because the American peo- Saturday in South Carolina with 14 states on March 3 that pick more former New York Mayor Michael fi nish in Nevada, saying she got a with the comments. ple are sick and tired of a president support from African-Americans, than one-third of the pledged del- Bloomberg, who has not been com- boost in fundraising and support “Nice defl ection, Mr President. But your false who lies all of the time,” he said. according to a transcript. egates who will help select a Demo- peting in the four early voting states from an aggressive debate per- claims fool no one,” he wrote in a tweet. Trump, speaking to reporters at Senator Elizabeth Warren, who cratic nominee. but had been rising in opinion polls. formance last Wednesday — which “You welcomed Russian help in 2016, tried to coerce the White House as he departed had been looking to jump-start Biden, vice president under Sanders was aided by strong sup- came too late to aff ect early voting Ukraine’s help in 2019, and won’t protect our elections for a trip to India, said Nevada was her campaign after poor fi nishes in former president Barack Obama, port from the six in 10 voters who in the fi rst part of the week. in 2020. Now you fi red your intel chief for briefi ng a “great win” for Sanders, adding Iowa and New Hampshire, trailed in is counting on a strong showing in said they backed a government-run “We have a lot of states to go, Congress about it. You’ve betrayed America. Again.” that he did not care who his oppo- a disappointing fourth place with South Carolina, which has a large Medicare for All, the Edison en- and right now I can feel the mo- Trump changed out his acting director of national nent would be. 10% in Nevada. bloc of black voters. trance poll showed. mentum,” Warren said at a rally in intelligence Joseph Maguire and replaced him with US By yesterday morning, with 50% Senator Amy Klobuchar and ac- In Nevada, entrance polls The entrance poll showed Sanders Seattle. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell last week, of the precincts reporting, Sanders tivist billionaire Tom Steyer were showed Biden led among African led in Nevada across all age groups Nevada caucus officials and reportedly after being annoyed by the briefi ng to law- had 47% of the county convention well back at 5% and 4%, respec- Americans with 36%, followed by except for those older than 65. voters at multiple sites on Satur- makers about Russian interference. delegates in Nevada. tively. Sanders with 27%. Around 54% of Latino voters day reported voting rules confu- The president has repeatedly cast doubt on US intel- Biden was a distant second to Buttigieg cautioned Democrats Speaking on NBC’s Meet the said they backed him, while 24% sion, calculation glitches and de- ligence fi ndings that Russia intervened to help him in Sanders with 19%, but ahead of about nominating Sanders, por- Press, US Representative James of college-educated white women lays in reporting tallies — despite the 2016 presidential election against Democratic can- former mayor of South Bend, In- traying him as an ideologue who Clyburn from South Carolina, the and 34% of those who have a union efforts to avoid the issues that didate Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state. diana, Pete Buttigieg, in third place would divide the country and lose highest-ranking black lawmaker member in their families supported plagued Iowa’s caucuses earlier By raising questions about the latest fi ndings, with 15%. to Trump. in Congress, said he thought Biden him. this month. Trump appears to be seeking to boost Sanders, who is now the front-runner for the 2020 Democratic presi- dential nomination. Trump has long argued that the Democratic Party George Washington sought honest British workers over ‘slovenly’ Americans favored Clinton unfairly over Sanders in the 2016 pri- mary race, an issue that still divides the Democratic base. George Washington, the first would like to emigrate to the United had a well founded hope of obtaining one dollar bill, was a revolutionary “I set it at a bushel and half for “I think what it could be is, you know, the Demo- president of the United States, States to work on his land. this class of Men from any other (par- war hero who played a major role in every acre contained in the lease,” crats are treating Bernie Sanders very unfairly and praised the honesty of British “My sole object is, if there are per- ticularly from Great Britain) where throwing off British imperial rule and he wrote. it sounds to me like a leak from Adam Schiff because farmers and sought to entice sons on the move, who may incline husbandry is well understood, and then helped unite the newly inde- Washington towered above his they don’t want Bernie Sanders to represent them. It some to his estates because local to associate and become tenants the language similar.” pendent nation as its first leader. generation: he was over six foot tall, sounds like it’s (2016) all over again for Bernie Sand- tenants were so “slovenly”, ac- on such a plan as I off er, that being The letter was unveiled by the The letter of 1796 shows Wash- a great rider, an elegant dancer and ers,” Trump said. cording to a handwritten letter he apprised of the measure, they may University of Edinburgh. ington was planning for life after his has become an American icon. Other administration offi cials have cast doubt on wrote in 1796. decide how far their views would be It was donated to the university by presidency which would end the His death in 1799 prompted reports that Russia was trying to help Trump again In a three-page letter to the Earl accommodated by it,” Washington Scottish polymath and antiquarian following year. mourning for a man who had come this year. of Buchan, Washington asks the wrote. David Lang in the 1870s. After abandoning tobacco crops in to symbolise the strength, moral- “I haven’t seen any intelligence that Russia is doing Scottish nobleman if he knew of any “Nor would I wish to do it with the Washington, a founding father of the 1760s, he focused on wheat and ity and legitimacy of the United anything to attempt to get President Trump re-elect- “honest and orderly” farmers who slovenly farmers of this country, if I the United States who still graces the gives possible terms for tenants. States. ed,” White House National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien told ABC’s This Week.

As Florida, Georgia battle over water, panhandle oystermen struggle to survive

By Rich McKay, Reuters Florida accuses its northern sources that fl ow to the Apala- “I love oysters, especially those Apalachicola, Florida neighbour — and particularly the chicola Bay. Apalachicolas,” Campbell said. fast-growing city of Atlanta — of State offi cials and farmers say “I’d love to see them success- drawing too much water from the they are conserving more water ful. But truth is, we need that tanding in his boat in Flor- rivers that feed the bay, caus- than ever, and that they aren’t to water. Once you put a crop in ida’s Apalachicola Bay, ing its salinity to rise and driving blame for crash of the oyster beds. the ground, the banker wants his SMichael Dasher lowered a down the oyster population. Katherine Zitsch, manager of money.” long pair of tongs into the water, Georgia rejects that claim, natural resources for the Atlanta “We’d be a dust bowl without pulling up a muddy mass of oysters saying it has made great strides Regional Commission, said the irrigation,” he said. that his son sorted, keeping those in water conservation. metropolitan area now uses 10% The dozen or so oystermen left big enough to sell and tossing the It says that what has really hurt less water than it did 20 years working the Apalachicola Bay — rest back into the brackish bay. the oyster population is a surge of ago, even though the population a sliver of the more than 400 that His 53-year-old calloused over-harvesting since the 2010 has risen by 1.2mn people. once worked its waters — like- hands grasped not just the 12ft BP plc Deepwater Horizon oil But the oystermen and environ- wise say they can’t do without. long (3.7m) tool but a way of life spill, which Florida had feared mentalists in both states say that “We’re counting on the court that Florida panhandle oyster- would foul the bay but ultimately same water is needed in the bay. seeing it our way, or we’re sunk,” men say is dying: Last year, they did not. Federal court precedent dating said Shannon Hartsfi eld, the hauled in 7,257kg of oysters worth The oystermen have reason to back more than 100 years dic- 50-year-old president of the $130,000, according to state fi g- be worried: US Circuit Judge Paul tates how states must share fresh local Franklin County Seafood ures, a fraction of the 2012 catch Kelly of Santa Fe, a state water water that fl ows across their Workers Association. of 1.4mn kg worth $8.8mn. rights expert who was named a borders, but does not set precise Hartsfi eld has been reduced “It’s like dumping sacks of “special master” by the US Su- standards for water allocation. to oystering part time, making rocks every day, but I don’t preme Court in the case, has rec- Water is divided based on the rest of his living fi shing for know how to do anything else,” ommended that the court side proven needs, populations, agri- shrimp. said Dasher, who fretted that with Georgia. culture and other factors. Many of his former counter- his 32-year-old son nicknamed But the court can ignore his “Even though Florida is enti- parts had left their boats and “Little Mike,” a fi fth-generation recommendation, if it’s swayed tled to an equitable share, that’s a Michael Dasher, Sr, uses tongs to lift oysters from the bottom of Apalachicola Bay onto the boat of his son gone to Tallahassee or Panama oysterman in the family, may also by Florida’s arguments. moving target,” said John Draper, Michael Dasher, Jr, as they work off Eastpoint, Florida. City to work in construction be its last. Florida says Georgia uses too a Santa Fe attorney and expert in or the hospitality industry, he Their future may be deter- much water. this sort of litigation.”It’s not a “The state of Florida remains Offi cials declined to comment. Farmer Murray Campbell, 64, said. mined by the US Supreme Court, The swelling 6mn strong pop- 50-50 split.” committed to restoring the his- Upstream and down, residents a third-generation peanut farmer “But it’s not too late to reclaim which is expected to rule later ulation of the nine-county great- The Florida Department of toric fl ows of the Apalachicola who have long relied on the wa- in Pebble City, Georgia, about it,” Hartsfi eld said of the oyster- this year on a seven-year-long er Atlanta area, as well as Geor- Environmental Protection said it River,” for the families who rely ter to support their sources of 240km north of Apalachicola ing way of life.”If we get that wa- legal battle between Florida and gia’s peanut and cotton farms, was hopeful the court would rule on the river for their livelihood, it income say they can’t make do Bay, says he has sympathy for the ter back, our men will be back. Georgia. all draw on the same fresh water in its favour. said in a statement. with less. oystermen. The bay can bounce back.” Gulf Times Monday, February 24, 2020 15 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

Quarantine questioned as Japan woman tests positive after leaving ship

AFP 23 passengers were allowed to have questioned the effective- embark passengers who tested blunt criticism rarely seen in Jap- ing to local media. On Saturday, of them were not placed in isola- Tokyo leave without being properly ness of the quarantine period negative during the quarantine anese offi cialdom. around 100 more passengers tion as they were needed to keep tested. The woman in her 60s on the vessel. “There has been a period as they took measures to The Kobe University professor who had reportedly been in close the ship running - preparing food returned to her home in Tochigi judgement that those who dis- prevent spread of the virus - pas- later said he had heard from a col- contact with infected people on and delivering meals to cabins. apan yesterday confirmed prefecture north of Tokyo by embarked after testing negative sengers were confi ned to their league on board that quarantine board were allowed to get off . Critics have charged that they that a woman who tested train after she disembarked on had no problem, but it has now cabins, except for brief outings procedures had improved, but They included the last group were inadvertently spreading the Jnegative and disembarked Wednesday, but she had a fever become clear that those people on open deck when they were re- still recommended that all those of Japanese passengers while virus throughout the ship, which from the coronavirus-stricken on Friday and tested positive on can turn positive,” Tochigi gov- quired to wear gloves and masks disembarking the ship should be some foreign passengers were has seen more than 600 cases of Diamond Princess cruise ship Saturday, a local official told ernor Tomokazu Fukuda told a and keep their distance from fel- monitored for at least 14 days and still waiting on board for their the potentially deadly Covid-19 later tested positive, raising AFP. She was the first passen- press conference late Saturday. low passengers. should avoid contact with oth- governments to send chartered disease. Kato defended Japan’s questions about the effective- ger from the ship to have tested “We call on the government to However, infectious diseases ers. Since Wednesday, about 970 aircraft. on-board quarantine, telling a ness of the quarantine meas- positive in Japan after having take additional measures,” he specialist Kentaro Iwata has said passengers - who tested negative With the latest disembarka- TV programme Saturday there ures. been cleared to disembark. The said. the situation on the ship was after the government put the ship tion, a 14-day quarantine is ex- was no medical facility large Health Minister Katsunobu news comes as infectious dis- Japanese authorities have “completely chaotic” and vio- under quarantine on February pected to start for more than enough to admit more than 3,000 Kato has also apologised after ease experts and local officials said they made a decision to dis- lated quarantine procedures, in 5 - have disembarked, accord- 1,000 crew still on board. Many people at once. South Korea raises virus alert to ‘grave’ as infections surge

AFP Latest on coronavirus Seoul „ China has reported a total of 76,936 cases of the disease outh Korea raised its alert caused by the virus, known as on the coronavirus to the Covid-19, including 2,442 deaths. Shighest level yesterday af- Mainland China had 648 new ter reporting three more deaths confirmed cases on Saturday, up and 169 new infections. The from 397 a day earlier. country has seen a rapid surge The death toll was up by 97 in the number of coronavirus from the previous day. The virus cases since a cluster of infections epicentre of Hubei province re- emerged from a religious sect in ported 96 new deaths, of which the southern city of Daegu. 82 were in the provincial capital The national toll of 602 cases Wuhan. is now the highest outside China, „Hong Kong said it had 74 apart from the Diamond Princess confirmed cases, up from 69 on cruise ship in Japan. “The Cov- South Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks during a government Saturday. The death toll is three. id-19 incident faces a grave turn- meeting on the Covid-19 epidemic at the government complex in ing point. The next few days will Seoul yesterday. „The World Athletics Indoor be crucial,” said President Moon Championships, scheduled for Jae-in following a government Nanjing from March 13-15, were meeting on the virus. postponed until next year. Soccer “The government will raise matches in northern Italy and the alert level to the highest level China were among other sport- of ‘grave’ according to experts’ ing events postponed. recommendations and drastical- „ The World Health Organisation ly strengthen our response sys- (WHO) is concerned about the tem,” Moon said. He also urged number of cases with no clear offi cials to take “unprecedented epidemiological link, although powerful measures” to contain the total number of cases outside the outbreak. China remains relatively small, its The government ordered all director general said on Saturday. schools and kindergartens na- „ Outside China, there have tionwide to extend the spring been more than 1,200 cases in break by a week in an eff ort to 26 countries, the WHO said. prevent further spread of the vi- That includes one confirmed rus. While more measures have Market workers wearing protective gear spray disinfectant at a case on the African continent, not been introduced, South Ko- market in the southeastern city of Daegu yesterday as a preventive in Egypt. rean media reports say the high- measure after the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak. Ambulances carrying patients infected with the Covid-19 coronavirus arrive at a hospital in Daegu yesterday. est ‘red’ alert level would allow the government to restrict public and luxury Galaxy Z Flip models. Korea Centers for Disease Con- Daegu — South Korea’s fourth- tional crisis”, adding the cities cism blaming his church over the confi rmed Covid-19 case so far. transport, ban group events such Yesterday, South Korea reported trol and Prevention said. More biggest city, with a population of will receive “full support” for spike in the number of infections, Israel has issued an entry ban as religious activities and pro- 169 new cases and three deaths, than 300 cases have been linked 2.5mn — reported more than 90 any lacking medical supplies and noting the virus had broken out on South Koreans and refused to tests, and enforce tighter entry taking the countrywide toll to to the church, starting with a new cases yesterday, bringing the personnel. in China. “Please be aware that allow non-Israelis to disembark restrictions on the country. fi ve. Later, Yonhap news agency 61-year-old woman who devel- city’s total to 247, mayor Kwon But with more church members the Shincheonji Church and its from a Korean Air plane on Sat- The outbreak has forced South said a sixth patient had died. oped a fever on February 10 and Young-jin said. than available places in heaven, members are the biggest victims urday. Korean tech giant Samsung Elec- One of the victims was a pa- attended at least four services in The mayor asked all they are said to have to compete of the Covid-19,” he said. Among The US State Department on tronics to suspend operations at tient being treated for mental Daegu before being diagnosed. Shincheonji members with for slots and pursue converts. In the new cases were 18 people re- Saturday raised its travel advi- its smartphone plant in Gumi, health issues at a hospital in Some 9,300 Shincheonji mem- symptoms to come forward a video statement read out by its cently returned from a group pil- sory for South Korea, joining a 200km southeast of Seoul, after Cheongdo, a southern city linked bers in Daegu have either been and be tested, with hundreds of spokesman, Shincheonji apolo- grimage to Israel, the KCDC said. handful of countries bolster- one of its employees was infected to the religious sect where around quarantined or have been asked members yet to be reached by gised for “causing concern”, but It was unclear how they had been ing their vigilance after its rapid at the weekend. The Gumi plant 100 new cases were reported. to stay at home, said KCDC di- authorities. Moon described the insisted it was co-operating with infected, but authorities said one spike in the number of infections. manufactures high-end products Among the latest infections, 95 rector Jung Eun-kyeong, with situation in Daegu and Cheongdo health authorities for the “early of the victims were likely exposed Britain has also advised its na- for the domestic market, includ- involved the Shincheonji Church more than 1,240 saying they had - the birthplace of Shincheonji’s cessation” of the situation. The to the virus before their trip, giv- tionals “against all but essential ing Samsung’s latest Galaxy S20 in the nearby city of Daegu, the symptoms. founder Lee Man-hee - as a “na- spokesman refuted public criti- en Israel has reported only one travel to Daegu and Cheongdo”.

Japan emperor says unwell Australia’s bushfi re-stricken state pays tribute to victims empress has ‘ups and downs’ Japan’s Emperor Naruhito has closed she had been undergo- said his wife Empress Masako ing treatment for stress-induced Reuters “still has ups and downs” as she adjustment disorder, which has Melbourne battles to recover from a long- forced her to skip some royal standing stress-induced illness engagements. related to her royal duties. The couple’s only child Aiko, 18, amilies, fi refi ghters and The health of Masako, who will study Japanese literature politicians gathered in a was fit enough to attend all of from April at Gakushuin Uni- Fsolemn public ceremony in Naruhito’s ceremonies when he versity, of which Naruhito is an Sydney yesterday to honour the was sworn in as emperor last alumnus. 25 people killed in recent bush- year, is a major talking point in She cannot succeed her father fi res that tore through the coun- Japan. as only a male heir can ascend try’s most populous state. Hopes were raised that she the Chrysanthemum Throne. The bushfi res, which lasted had recovered from her illness Naruhito’s younger brother from September until torrential as she was present at a series Akishino is first in line to the rains hit earlier this month, killed of public events last year but throne. His son, 13-year-old 33 people and a billion native Naruhito warned the empress Hisahito, is second. Aiko would animals nationally and destroyed was “still on the path to recov- lose her royal status once she 2,500 homes and a wilderness ery”. marries a commoner. area the size of South Korea. “Her condition has its ups and That has raised the prospect The damage was most devas- downs and her fatigue tends to of a succession crisis if Hisahito tating in New South Wales state. be prolonged after a big event does not have a son but the em- Among the 25 people killed there Australian Prime Minister Scott or when events take place one peror refrained from comment- were 19 civilians, three local vol- Morrison speaks at a state after another,” he told report- ing on the male-only rule. unteer fi refi ghters and three US memorial for those impacted by ers at a news conference to He said he talks about the fi refi ghters. the recent bushfires in Sydney Victims’ families of the Australian bushfires light candles at a state memorial for those impacted by the mark his 60th birthday. “I want issue with Akishino but went Australian Prime Minister yesterday. recent bushfires in Sydney yesterday. her never to extend herself no further than that. A public Scott Morrison, who thanked too much but continue to gathering to celebrate his first those who fought the blazes and and sunsets only signalled an- if not more”. His management of inquiry into the causes of the one of those is a story of grief, of work on what she can do,” he birthday as the emperor was honoured those who died, spoke other night of terror, where the the fi res also came under criti- fi res. profound loss, and great sadness, said, describing her as “a good cancelled as fears grow over the of “children kissing the coffi ns of fi re crashed on our beaches from cism over the unusually pro- NSW Rural Fire Service Com- of lives cut short, and of families consultant on both private and spread of the new coronavirus their fathers” and “mothers who the bush that surrounded them”. longed summer wildfi re season, missioner Shane Fitzsimmons, being changed forever,” Fitzsim- off icial matters”. in the country. should have never had to bury Morrison has drawn public an- when he was forced into a rare who played a very public role mons said. Six pairs of boots were The Harvard- and Oxford- “I hope the spread of infections their children”. ger for his refusal to directly link public apology for taking a holi- during the crisis, said the season placed to symbolise the lives of educated Masako left behind will stop as early as possible,” He told the public, gathered the bushfi res to climate change, day to Hawaii. will be remembered as one of the the three Australian volunteers a promising diplomatic career he said while praying for the re- around lit candles, of “a summer insisting removing fl ammable Last week, he said Australia most challenging, in which the and the three US fi refi ghters who to marry into the royal family covery of patients and thanking where the dark sky turned black vegetation is “just as important, would conduct a wide-ranging loss of life was enormous. “Each died in NSW. in 1993. In 2004, the palace dis- medical workers. Gulf Times 16 Monday, February 24, 2020 BRITAIN Minister refuses to guarantee ban on chlorinated chicken

Guardian News and Media legal in the UK, and that the ing farmers to hire low-paid for- whether the UK would be willing on chicken are a very outdated in unsanitary conditions while hormones. We’ve no plans to London government was committed to eign workers to harvest crops for to relax its rules on these prod- technology and it is not really alive. change those things,” he said. maintaining high standards, 2021. ucts if that were the price for used by the US any more any- In the interview Eustice in- Eustice also acknowledged George Eustice’s declaration Theresa Villiers, who Eustice getting a trade deal with the US, way,” he said. sisted that the government was that farmers needed an opt-out he environment secretary that the government had “no replaced in the recent cabinet he repeated Villiers’ point about Eustice said that in the US committed to high standards for from the tight post-Brexit im- has refused to give a fi rm plans” to change the law was reshuffl e, said in January that how both were currently illegal. farmers now used lactic acid food safety and for animal wel- migration rules recently an- Tguarantee that the gov- more equivocal than assurances chlorinated chicken and hor- But he also played down the washes instead of chlorine fare. But he refused to give an nounced by the Home Offi ce. ernment will not allow chlorine- given by his predecessor, who mone treated beef were both il- idea that chlorinated chicken washes – a point unlikely to re- absolute assurance that the cur- Under the plans announced by washed chicken to be imported said the current law would stay. legal under EU law adopted by would become a key issue in the assure campaigners who object rent rules would remain. the home secretary, Priti Patel, into the UK as part of a trade deal In an interview with Sky’s the UK and that “legal barriers to talks. to chlorination not because of “We’ve got a clear position in from January 2021 it should no with the US. Sophy Ridge yesterday, Eustice their import” were going to stay “I’m not quite sure why the US the chlorine, but because the this country that it is illegal to longer generally be possible for While stressing that chlorin- also signalled that ministers in place. would make such demands, be- process allows farmers to com- sell chlorine-washed chicken, workers to come to the UK to take ated chicken was currently il- might expand a scheme allow- When Eustice was asked cause actually chlorine washes pensate for chicken being kept illegal to sell beef treated with up low-paid, low-skilled jobs. BBC legend Support for Assange Dimbleby fl ays ‘arrogant’ PM

Daily Mail wrong or unfair. I don’t believe it London is wrong or unfair. “It is a way of damaging and undermining the BBC that is avid Dimbleby has dangerous and should be resist- launched a savage attack ed forcefully if public broadcast- Don ‘lying’ Boris Johnson’s ing is to survive. Anything that ‘pernicious’ attempt to curb the chips away at what we believe to BBC licence fee. be a good democratic process is The veteran broadcaster ac- dangerous and has to be fought cused the prime minister of us- against. ing the issue to undermine the “It has to be explained why corporation and avoid having his not speaking to people is dan- policies scrutinised. gerous, why not appearing on He said Johnson doesn’t care television is dangerous.” about fairness because his land- However, Dimbleby, who saw slide election victory had made Johnson at close quarters dur- him “arrogant with power”. His ing the election campaign while conduct towards the BBC was making a BBC documentary “childish, peevish and unpleas- about him, went much further ant”, he added. in remarks made in the long in- Dimbleby, 82, said the PM terview with ARD that were not was “apeing Donald Trump” by broadcast. A transcript of the full A protester holds a sign next to the Assange’s father John Shipton while he leaves Belmarsh Prison after visiting Julian Assange, in London yesterday. using the same “political rule- interview shows that he launched book” to try to control the me- a vitriolic personal attack. dia. And he took a fi erce side- According to the transcript he swipe at Johnson’s chief adviser said: “Nobody trusts Johnson. Dominic Cummings, seen as the Who could trust Johnson? He driving force behind Downing St lies everywhere to everyone. He threats to cut the licence fee – or lies to his family. He just makes scrap it altogether. it up, you know. “Johnson’s never governed “Johnson is apeing some of anything, Cummings has never the attitudes of Trump. He is a Pressure on PM to scrap governed anything,” said the diff erent kind of political ani- former Question Time host. mal, like Trump, very similar “They’re ignorant…fl oundering. rulebook. If you are like that the I don’t think they have a strategy.” one thing you don’t want is peo- His comments were disclosed ple questioning what you’re do- after Downing Street mooted ing, which is why he won’t let his a radical overhaul that could ministers go on television or any Heathrow runway plan mean introducing a subscrip- serious programme.” tion model, forcing the sale of “Johnson doesn’t care for in- AFP train journeys between London bulldozers and stop the con- Johnson told parliament that a net-zero carbon emissions most BBC radio stations, cutting dependent analysis, impartial London in southeast England and major struction”, citing environmen- he had “seen no bulldozers at economy. the number of TV stations and judgment on what it (the gov- cities in the north, will also free tal as well as aesthetic concerns. present nor any immediate Regarding the runway’s con- reducing the amount of online ernment) is doing. They’re not up capacity on existing lines Her government argued that prospect of them arriving”. struction, Johnson “will con- content. willing to submit to scrutiny… aving backed Britain’s and aims to help rebalance the the project would provide a To allay environmental con- tinue to prevaricate and put Senior BBC fi gures have been because they’re arrogant with proposed high-speed UK economy. major boost to Britain’s econo- cerns, Heathrow last year said obstacles to progress in the encouraging people to sign a power. And they won’t last. Hrailway HS2, Boris While construction of the my, creating for example up to it planned to reroute rivers and way...before zero emissions are petition demanding the PM “If you’re in the glorious mo- Johnson is under pressure to HS2 line is set to produce vast 114,000 local jobs by 2030. roads as part of the construc- a reality”, independent aviation stops trying to “undermine” ment of supreme power the one keep his pledge to scrap plans amounts of carbon emissions With Johnson now prime tion work. analyst Howard Wheeldon said. the broadcaster. And some Tory thing you don’t want is to be for a third runway at London and destroy ancient woodlands minister, an MP from the small And on Thursday, it added A decision to scrap the project backbenchers have urged John- held to account. You do it your Heathrow airport as climate and wildlife, according to ex- Liberal Democrat party recently that it hopes all the airport’s could be made easier for Johnson, son not to “pick a fi ght” with the way. Johnson, above all politi- fears intensify. perts, its electric trains are set asked the Conservative leader if buildings and infrastructure however, thanks to legal action by corporation, saying it still plays a cians, does it his way. He doesn’t Prime Minister Johnson, to be far more environmentally he would carry through with his will be zero carbon by around clear opponents of the project. key role in national life. take any notice of what people who wants big infrastructure friendly than planes making 2015 bulldozer promise. 2035. One case has been brought by In an interview broadcast by say. He doesn’t care what people projects to help drive Britain’s similar trips. Johnson appeared to sit on Building of the runway is ex- a team including Greenpeace, Germany’s ARD state TV chan- think. He just wants to be prime post-Brexit economy, said ear- Johnson’s predecessor the fence with his answer re- pected to start in 2022 and take local London councils and the nel, Dimbleby said: “The BBC is minister.” lier this month that the country Theresa May in 2018 approved garding the runway, which un- four years. capital’s mayor Sadiq Khan. under threat in a way it has never But he claimed the tactic would would shortly begin full con- a new runway at Heathrow, like HS2, will be funded almost New terminals will not be They are appealing against a been before. The pernicious backfi re, and said that moment struction work on HS2, dis- Europe’s busiest airport, three entirely privately. ready however until around high court loss last May. route they (the government) are could occur when Johnson’s Brexit missing soaring costs. years after Johnson had prom- Replying to the question by 2050, when the government The new verdict is expected using is to say the licence fee is strategy started to go wrong. The project, while quickening ised to “lie down in front of... Liberal MP Munira Wilson, hopes the country will have shortly. I am the best person Harry and Meghan defi ant on ‘royal’ ban to lead SNP: Sturgeon Guardian News and Media ganisation, given the specifi c UK London government rules surrounding use of the word ‘royal’ it has been Guardian News and Media ditions were required for her who plans to step down next therefore agreed that their non- London to remain as leader: “First you year. he freeze in relations be- profi t organisation, when it is an- have to have support not just of Cherry, a prominent MP who tween the Duke and Duch- nounced this spring, will not be party but of country and I would last year garnered plaudits for Tess of Sussex and Bucking- named Sussex Royal Foundation. icola Sturgeon has said say humbly that I’ve just led my leading the successful legal chal- ham Palace has become apparent “The Duke and Duchess of she believes “emphati- party to another landslide elec- lenge to the prorogation of par- after the couple were forced to Sussex do not intend to use ‘Sus- Ncally” that she remains tion victory, the sixth election liament, confi rmed she would drop plans to use the brand “Sus- sexRoyal’ in any territory post- the best person to lead the SNP, victory I’ve led my party to in my be seeking the candidacy – just sexRoyal”. spring 2020.” as two party heavyweights both fi ve years as party leader and fi rst days after Robertson, the party’s Posts on the couple’s offi cial The spokeswoman explained tipped as future fi rst ministers minister. But secondly I have to former leader at Westminster, website suggest they are angry at that trademark applications, which commence their battle to return be sure that I want to do this job, did so. the way the decision was reached were fi led as protective measures to the Scottish parliament in the think I’m the best person to do While the outcome of the se- and how they have been treated “acting on advice from and follow- 2021 elections. this job and have the drive and lection will refl ect local loyal- compared with other royals. ing the same model for the Royal Sturgeon was quizzed on energy and that is emphatically ties, it must also be viewed in the A statement suggested that Foundation”, had been removed. BBC1’s The Andrew Marr Show the case.” context of ongoing arguments a blanket ban on the use of the The couple’s lives as working roy- about increasingly public criti- about party strategy as well as word “royal” was unenforceable als will end on March 31 when they cisms from SNP politicians “I do think the issues of anxieties about the impact of abroad. “There is not,” it noted, stop representing the Queen and about her independence strate- frustration can be slightly Alex Salmond’s trial for alleged “any jurisdiction by the monarchy become fi nancially independent. gy, after Boris Johnson ruled out overblown in this very sexual off ences, which begins in or Cabinet Offi ce over the use of Their website has been updated granting the legal powers neces- heated world we live in” March. the word ‘royal’ overseas.” to provide further details of the sary to hold a second referendum Robertson, the respected par- The couple’s Instagram ac- new agreement. “While there is in perpetuity. Sturgeon’s comments come ty veteran and a close supporter count uses the name SussexRoyal, not any jurisdiction by the mon- She replied: “I do think the as two of the SNP’s most influ- of Sturgeon, is known to favour as does a website they set up fol- archy or cabinet offi ce over the issues of frustration can be ential figures, Joanna Cherry a more gradualist approach, tell- lowing their shock decision to use of the word ‘royal’ overseas, slightly overblown in this very and Angus Robertson, an- ing the Guardian last October stop carrying out offi cial royal du- the Duke and Duchess of Sussex heated world we live in,” while nounced their bids for nomi- that support for independence ties in favour of fi nancial freedom. do not intend to use ‘Sussex Royal’ confi rming she intended to lead nation to contest the coveted was at “a pivot point”, but warn- Both will have to be rebranded. or any iteration of the word ‘royal’ her party to victory at next year’s Holyrood parliament seat of ing: “People also say they want A spokeswoman for the Sus- in any territory (either within the Holyrood elections and return as Edinburgh Central, currently to see the impact of Brexit be- sexes said: “While the duke and UK or otherwise) when the tran- fi rst minster. held by the former Scottish fore they decide to do something duchess are focused on plans to sition occurs spring 2020,” said a She told Marr that two con- Tory leader Ruth Davidson, else.” Nicola Sturgeon: facing criticisms on independence strategy. establish a new non-profi t or- statement. Gulf Times Monday, February 24, 2020 17 EUROPE

Storm blows away Venice Carnival cut short festivals

DPA Dusseldorf over coronavirus crisis

DPA prising Milan, Italy’s second- igh winds and heavy Rome largest city and its business and rains from Storm Yulia fashion capital. Hhave wreaked havoc on Milan’s La Scala, one of the Carnival plans across Germany talian authorities, grappling most famous opera houses in as well as in the Netherlands. with Europe’s worst out- the world, suspended perform- The German Meteorological Ibreak of the novel coronavi- ances, and a Giorgio Armani Service (DWD) warned yester- rus, were taking drastic action event for the city’s fashion week day of high winds and almost yesterday to contain the spread was held in an empty theatre and non-stop rain throughout the of the potentially deadly disease. shown livestreamed. states of North Rhine Westphalia Since two clusters were iden- Universities were closed in and Lower Saxony, across cen- tifi ed this week in the northern both Lombardy and Veneto, as tral Germany to Saxony. regions of Lombardy and Vene- well as in other parts of northern A much-loved Carnival pa- to, the COVID-19 disease caused Italy, including the city of Genoa rade in the western German city by the virus has killed two peo- and the regions of Piedmont and of Dusseldorf was cancelled yes- ple. Emilia-Romagna. terday amid the threat of high A further 130 are infected with The head of the Civil Protec- winds, but today’s parade re- the virus, with numbers chang- tion Agency, Angelo Borrelli, mains on schedule, the organis- ing by the minute. gave the total number of infect- ing committee said. “We have to adopt drastic ed as 132, including the two dead In Cologne, where hundreds measures,” Veneto’s regional and three older cases in Rome. of thousands were expected to President Luca Zaia told report- Beyond 89 cases in Lombardy attend the Carnival celebra- ers, indicating that he would and 25 in Veneto, Borrelli listed tions that mark the start of the cancel all public events, includ- six infections in Piedmont and Christian fasting season of Lent, ing Venice’s famous carnival. nine in Emilia-Romagna, re- parades were trimmed down but As he spoke, festivities were gions that respectively border still on yesterday. already in full swing, with people Lombardy to the west and south. Several smaller parades were revelling on St Mark’s Square. In Rome, one of three COV- also cancelled or cut short. Zaia indicated that the ban ID-19 patients has fully recov- The Cologne Carnival Festival would be enforced at the end of ered and was dismissed on Sat- Committee said it expects to be the day’s carnival programme, urday. able to parade through the city as originally due to last until to- A couple of Chinese tourists planned. morrow. remained hospitalised. The Cologne procession on The Veneto president also Deputy Health Minister Pier- Shrove Monday, known as Rose closed all museums and schools, paolo Sileri told the SkyTG24 Monday in Germany, is less sus- markets and fairs in a region that news channel that outbreak ceptible to storms than the one counts 5mn inhabitants and is numbers were likely to rise fur- Tourists wearing surgical masks wait for a gondola ride to start in Venice. in Dusseldorf, known for its tall one of Italy’s industrial power- ther. fl oats. houses. “I expect more cases,” he government decided overnight bardy towns, was quoted as According to the World Health COVID-19-type symptoms, The DWD warned of gusts “It’s the last thing the presi- said. “It’s clear that we will have to block access to around a saying by the Ansa news agency. Organisation (WHO), no coun- even if they have no known links of up to 100kph in the central dent of a region would like to more.” dozen towns at the centre of the “Shops are closed, only su- try in Europe has more COV- with China or with other infect- state of Thuringia, with hurri- sign, but there are no alterna- Authorities were still search- outbreak, forcibly confi ning tens permarkets are open for a few ID-19 cases than Italy. ed patients. cane-force winds possible in the tives,” Zaia said, predicting that ing for so-called “patient zero” of thousands of people. hours, they let us in in batches, Germany has 16, France 12, Ticino is a neighbour of Italy’s mountains above 800m. other regions would follow suit. examples, meaning the persons The measure concerns 10 but they have run out of meat with one dead, and Britain three. virus-aff ected Lombardy region. The largest Thuringian Carni- In a sign of a spreading con- who brought the China-origi- towns in Lombardy’s Lodi prov- and they don’t know when they Overnight, Prime Minister Some 68,000 people com- val procession, however, passed tagion, the fi rst COVID-19 cases nated virus to northern Italy. ince, about 60km southeast of will get more,” he said. Giuseppe Conte ruled out re- mute from Italy to Ticino for through Erfurt as planned yes- were reported in central Venice. In Lombardy, the fi rst case Milan, where around 50,000 The government also called introducing border controls work every day. terday. Two people aged almost 90 was detected on a hospital pa- people live, and Vo’, a town of off all sports events yesterday in with European neighbours, in In Austria’s Carinthia prov- However, the traditional were under intensive care in the tient, an Italian man, with no around 3,000 in Veneto’s Padua Lombardy and Veneto, including suspension of the EU’s Schen- ince, Governor Peter Kaiser has street parade in Heiligenstadt lagoon city’s hospital. obvious connection to China. province. three Serie A football games: In- gen rules. advised the region’s population was cancelled, according to po- Similar anti-contagion meas- From there, the virus spread to “It’s like a war-time situa- ter Milan v Sampdoria, Atalanta But in Switzerland, the canton to avoid travelling to Italy’s vi- lice reports, and locals instead ures were taken in Lombardy, medical staff and other patients. tion,” a man from Casalpuster- Bergamo v Sassuolo and Verona of Ticino said its hospitals would rus-aff ected regions for the time celebrated in the town hall. home to 10mn people and com- In response to the crisis, the lengo, one of the aff ected Lom- v Cagliari. isolate and test all patients with being. The Carnival organisers in Il- menau and Diedorf in Thuringia also pulled the plug. “There are things between heaven and earth that even we cannot infl uence,” the Diedorfer Germany’s SPD leads in Hamburg state vote Hungarians march Carnival Association said on its Facebook page. Dozens of Carnival parades DPA from 12.3% last time around. The AfD’s 6.1% polling in he was confi dent it would top to protest premier’s were also called off in the Neth- Hamburg Chancellor Angela Merkel’s 2015 saw it enter its fi rst west- 60%. erlands due to high winds. Christian Democrats Union ern parliament; until then it was In 2015, voter turnout reached In the southern provinces (CDU) look set to suff er their only represented what was the a historic low of just 56.5%. ‘anti-Roma’ policy of Limburg and Brabant alone, ermany’s centre-left worst regional parliament result former East Germany. Hamburg is the only regional about 80 parades were can- Social Democrats (SPD) for almost 70 years, scraping 11- It is now represented in all 16 election in Germany this year celled, local media reported. Ghave come out on top in 11.5% compared to an already states. and it seems to have delivered Reuters Protesters held up banners That included the parade the Hamburg regional election, dismal 15.9% in 2015. The liberal FDP – under pres- the SPD a rare electoral success. Budapest saying “No one is above the in Oldenzaal, which attracts according to initial forecasts by The hard-left Die Linke (The sure locally since a political cri- Nationally, the SPD has been law” and “The future cannot 100,000 people each year. public broadcasters ARD and Left) managed to increase its sis in the central state of Thur- in a tailspin, so success in Ham- be built on hatred”. In Maastricht, the Carnival ZDF. vote slightly from 8.5% to be- ingia – is predicted to gain 5% of burg would give the ailing party ore than 2,000 Hun- Orban has been in pow- parade happened without the The Greens, who have been in tween 9-9.5%. the votes, just on the threshold. a much-needed boost. garians, including er since 2010 and his ruling traditional big fl oats. coalition with the SPD for the The far-right anti-immigrant Last time around it won 7.4%. Meanwhile, the Greens have MRoma families and Fidesz party is leading in opin- Many municipalities moved past fi ve years in the northern Alternative for Germany (AfD) The election of FDP politician been riding high, often coming civil groups, marched to par- ion polls because of its anti- their parades to Shrove Monday German port city, came second, and pro-business Free Demo- Thomas Kemmerich to the post in second in national surveys to liament yesterday to protest immigration stance. or tomorrow. having doubled their vote from crats (FDP) are hovering around of Thuringia state premier with Merkel’s conservative bloc. against the government’s re- However, Fidesz suff ered a Storm Yulia is to be followed the last election in 2015. the 5% threshold to enter par- votes from the CDU and the AfD Fifteen parties were compet- fusal to pay compensation to surprise setback in a municipal promptly by the next low-pres- The result means the coali- liament and may be kicked out seems to have harmed all three ing for the 121 seats in the Ham- Roma children who had been election last October, losing sure system, named Zehra, to- tion is likely to continue. by the time the fi nal results parties; it was the fi rst time a burg parliament, two more than unlawfully segregated in a Budapest to the opposition. day, the DWD said. The ARD/ZDF forecasts give come in. state premier was elected with in the election fi ve years ago. school in eastern Hungary. Orban has said “a court Germany can expect more rain the Social Democrats between The AfD were predicted to votes from the AfD. Polling stations were open Nationalist Prime Minister ruling citing segregation has and some thunderstorms to- 37.5-38% of the vote, down from reach 4.6-4.8%, which would Turnout was up despite the between 8am-6pm (0700-1700 Viktor Orban, who has come stirred up public opinion by morrow and Ash Wednesday as 45.6% in 2015, while the Greens mean the party departing from stormy weather, with state elec- GMT) for the city’s 1.3mn eligi- under fi re from the European awarding large sums of money well as cooling temperatures. appear to have surged to 25.5% its fi rst regional parliament. toral chief Oliver Rudolf saying ble voters. Union for his perceived erosion to some Roma residents”, add- of the rule of law, suggested ing that everyone must work to the state should disobey court receive money. orders to pay compensation to He has also said “business- Roma children in the village savvy lawyers” exploited over- of Gyongyospata and provide crowded prison conditions to Quake in southeast training instead. launch 12,000 lawsuits against Lower courts have ordered the government for breaking the state to pay damages in a EU prison standards. lawsuit that has been dragging Senior lawyers said Orban Turkey kills nine on for almost a decade. was undermining the rule of Hungary’s top court is due to law. make a fi nal ruling soon. Fidesz has said people con- Reuters including a larger tremor meas- With the economy slow- nected with Hungarian-born Istanbul uring 6.0 magnitude that struck ing, and his anti-immigration billionaire George Soros helped nearby 10 hours later. campaign losing steam, ana- Roma launch the lawsuits. There were no immediate re- lysts say Orban is seeking to The party has campaigned ine people were killed ports of damage or casualties mobilise voters by targeting for years against Soros, who and buildings collapsed from that quake, which was also independent courts, the Roma promotes liberal causes. Nacross southeastern Tur- fairly shallow and potentially minority, and NGOs. By the day yesterday, close to key yesterday when a magnitude dangerous. “The meddling of the gov- 500 psychologists had signed a 5.7 earthquake struck near the Crisscrossed by major fault ernment in the Gyongyospata petition saying that the gov- border with Iran, injuring more lines, Iran and Turkey are among restitution issue is unlawful ernment campaign could fuel than a hundred in villages and the most earthquake-prone and violates the rule of law hatred between Roma and towns in both countries, govern- countries in the world. and the independence of the non-Roma. ment offi cials said. After the initial tremor, Turk- A child kneels by a destroyed house in Baskale, in the Van province. courts,” protest organisers said Roma make up 5-7% of In Turkey, three of the dead ish TV footage showed people on Facebook. Hungary’s population. were children, and 50 people digging with shovels and their “There is destruction in all districts of Baskale, Saray and cording to state TV. were injured, including nine crit- hands in the rubble, as well as four villages” he visited yester- Gurpinar sustained minor dam- An earthquake last month in ically, the health ministry said. furniture and belongings strewn day morning, he added. age. eastern Turkey killed more than Thousand join latest rally in Hanau The shallow tremor caused on cracked and snowy roads. The European Mediterranean Turkey’s Disaster and Emer- 40 people while another in Iran more than 1,000 buildings to In one village the ground Seismological Centre (EMSC) gency Management Authority did structural damage to homes Four days after the deadly suspected racist attack in the western collapse in Turkey, prompting a cratered under several build- said the quake, which hit at (AFAD) has begun rescue work without causing any fatalities. German town of Hanau, several thousand people came together brief rescue eff ort to fi nd those ings, while in others residents 8.53am (05:53 GMT), had a depth in villages including in Ozpinar, An Iranian offi cial told state TV there to commemorate the victims yesterday. trapped under rubble. were wrapped in blankets out- of 5km (3.1 miles). about 25km south of the epicen- that rescue teams had been dis- “It is important for us to fly the flag – against terrorism, xenophobia The quake damaged buildings side homes with crumbled and The second big quake struck at tre, said Interior Minister Suley- patched to the area in Iran’s West and anti-Muslim racism,” co-organiser Teyfik Oezcan said. “Our some 90km (56 miles) to the west cracked exterior walls, fallen 7pm. man Soylu. Azarbaijan province. message is: We are Germany. We belong together.” in the Turkish city of Van, and to metal roofs and twisted wiring. Broadcasters and government The AFAD measured the initial Another local offi cial said the An initiative made up of associations from Hanau had called for the the east in dozens of villages in “The damage caused loss of offi cials said dozens of villages tremor at 5.9 magnitude. earthquake was felt in several commemoration of the victims yesterday at a rally and a march Iran, where state TV said 75 peo- life,” the governor of Van, Meh- were rattled in Turkey. The United States Geological towns including Urmiah and Sal- from the crime scene in Kurt Schumacher Platz to the town’s ple were injured including six in met Bilmez, told reporters stand- Nearly 150 tents were sent to Survey put the epicentre 47km mas, and many villages including market square. hospital. ing in front of a pile of cinder shelter families in the region, west of the Iranian city of Khoy, some that suff ered “100% dam- According to initial police estimates, around 6,000 took part in the There were several aftershocks blocks and sheet metal. where several schools in the where people felt the eff ects, ac- age”, state TV reported. march. Gulf Times 18 Monday, February 24, 2020 INDIA

POLITICS DEMAND EDUCATION PROTEST TRAGEDY Veerappan’s daughter Tripura teachers facing School students to learn BSNL employees plan Three children die as heap joins BJP in Tamil Nadu termination hold protest English at hi-tech IT labs hunger strike today of straw catches fire

The daughter of slain sandalwood and ivory Over 10,000 Tripura government teachers, The Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for The All Unions and Associations of BSNL (AUAB) Three children died and another suff ered exten- smuggler Veerappan has joined the Bharatiya facing termination due to a court verdict, Education (KITE) has launched E3 (Enjoy, Enhance & has decided to organise a countrywide hunger sive burns when a heap of straw caught fire in a Janata Party (BJP) in Tamil Nadu. Vidya Rani yesterday held a sit-in demonstration in Agar- Enrich), an ambitious project for enhancing and en- strike today for early implementation of cabinet village in Odisha’s Ganjam district yesterday. The was part of many others who joined the BJP on tala demanding the setting up of alternative riching the English language proficiency of students decisions on the Bharat Sanchar Nigam’s revival. incident occurred at Khairachhata village under Saturday at Krishnagiri in the presence of party arrangements to protect their jobs, a leader of by making use of hi-tech lab facilities in schools, an The strike is also aimed at putting pressure for Polasara block of Ganjam, police said. The four general secretary Muralidhar Rao, former central the teacher’s organisation said. ‘Amra 10,323’ off icial said. The programme is apart from the Kerala the speedy settlement of employees’ grievances, children were playing near the heap of straw minister Pon Radhakrishnan and others. Vidya (Us 10,323) organisation convener Dalia Das government’s Public Education Rejuvenation Mis- according to an AUAB statement yesterday. Last in the village when it caught fire. Three died of Rani said the she joined the party to serve the said so far 50 teachers had “died of psychologi- sion, as successive governments in the state have year the cabinet approved a Rs690bn revival injuries at MKCG Medical College and Hospital people. She said her father also wanted to serve cal trauma and anxiety”. She said the teachers, been working on it. K Anvar Sadath, CEO of KITE package for both BSNL and MTNL. The main in Berhampur. The victims, aged below 10, have the people, though took a wrong route. Veerap- both men and women, held a mass demonstra- said the project aims to enhance and enrich English features of the package included allotment of 4G been identified as Deepak Goud, Sairam Jena pan, who kidnapped Kanada actor Rajkumar in tion yesterday demanding continuation of their learning of students in an enjoyable atmosphere spectrum, issuing sovereign guarantee for raising and Itishree Jena. Alok Jena is struggling for life 2000 and former Karnataka minister H Nagappa jobs. “The Tripura government should provide a eff ectively making use of technology in schools. Rs150bn funds via long-term bonds, monetisation at the hospital. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in 2002, was killed in a police encounter in 2004. job to the family members of those 50 teachers “This is achieved using three components - Samagra of assets and implementation of voluntary retire- announced a compensation of Rs400,000 to Meanwhile the Tamil Nadu BJP yesterday said its who either committed suicide or died of psy- e-Library, e-Language lab and e-Broadcast. Over ment scheme. Of these, only the VRS has been families of the three dead and free medical treat- members will take out a procession in all districts chological trauma and anxiety,” Das said. There 100,000 teachers will be trained during the summer implemented and 78,569 BSNL employees have ment for the injured. He also expressed his deep on February 28 to demand action against those are around 12,000 vacant posts of teachers in vacation and the project will be implemented in the been sent home. The BSNL has not been allotted sympathy to the bereaved families and wished who support anti-national activities. government schools in Tripura. new academic year,” said Sadath. 4G spectrum. speedy recovery of the injured.

Over 400 tribal families fear losing homes Police step in in Sonbhadra

IANS Sonbhadra as clashes over

ore than 400 tribal fami- lies in Sonbhadra district Mof Uttar Pradesh have already started fearing homeless- ness, after the Geological Survey citizenship law of India (GSI) discovered gold deposits of around 3,000 tonnes worth Rs12 lakh crore, which is almost fi ve times India’s current reserve of the yellow metal. The offi cial process of e-ten- erupt in Delhi dering has started after the GSI on Saturday confi rmed the gold Agencies The clarifi cation comes in the tunity to activate all the opposi- deposits found in Son Pahadi and New Delhi wake of the Maulana’s name be- tion leaders and assemble them Hardi areas of the district. ing linked to the shutdown call. on one platform to take on the Sonbhadra’s name may come Meanwhile, the Congress is government on the CAA, said a on the country’s top list and world olice used tear gas to dis- riding high on the popularity of leader. due to the gold deposits, but the perse large crowds in New student leader Kanhaiya Kumar Kumar is drawing huge crowds other aspect of it is that around PDelhi yesterday in the lat- who is leading the anti-CAA in his protest, despite a number 250 families of Panari village and est eruption of violence at pro- protest in Bihar which started of attacks on him. 200 families of Dohar and Pipa- tests over a new citizenship law, from Champaran on January 30. “Every district has a co-or- rahwa villages will be displaced. police offi cials said. Party secretary Shakil Khan, dination committee to work on Sonbhadra is a tribal-dominat- Hundreds of people support- who is also a former Jawahar- and in each district, all the local ed area and Baiga and Gond tribes ing the Citizenship Amendment lal Nehru University Students’ MLAs and offi ce bearers are in- make their living from agriculture Act clashed with those oppos- Union president, is also with vited to participate in the public and hunting. If they are rendered ing it, with the two groups pelt- Kumar in this movement which rally to be addressed by Kanhaiya homeless, it is certain that apart ing each other with stones in the will end up with a massive rally Kumar,” Khan said. from their houses, they will also Maujpur area in the northeastern in Gandhi Maidan in Patna on With still eight months left lose their lands. However, on part of the city. February 27. for assembly elections in Bihar, behalf of the state government, “There must be some miscre- Khan termed Kumar the the CAA shadow appears to loom the administration has promised ants who want to spoil the peace “roohe-rawan (soul)” of the large as all political parties in the them of compensation. in the area. We will identify them movement, which is drawing state have started gearing up to Rameshwar Gond, a former vil- and take action against them,” huge crowds across the state. blow the bugle to its tune. lage head said, “Pandariksh Gram Alok Kumar, a senior Delhi police “All opposition leaders have Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Panchayat area consists of Hardi, offi cial, told reporters about the been invited for the grand rally Kumar has supported the CAA Pindara Dohar and Pipparhawa vil- protest. and we will pressure the gov- which is making Mulim leaders lages. Most of the Baiga and Gond “The situation is under control ernment to pass an anti-CAA of the Janata Dal (United) nerv- tribal communities live here. Hardi now,” he added. resolution as the assembly is in ous. is situated on three sides of the hill. The protest comes just a day session,” Khan, who is also a leg- Sources say that many of the The tribals will surely be displaced before US President Donald islator, said. unhappy Muslim leaders of the from this area now.” Trump begins a two-day visit He also stressed that “this JD-U are in two minds whether Gond feels that displacement to India, where he is expected to movement is for a cause and to continue in the party or jump will pose a crisis of livelihood. raise the issue of religious free- there is no politics into it”. ship. “The government will give a dom in the country with Prime The rally on February 27 could A political analyst and senior fi xed amount of compensation, but Minister Narendra Modi. see the presence of all leaders journalist in Patna said, “The it is impossible to buy agricultural Yesterday, a separate protest who have been at the front of CAA is aff ecting the politics in land again. It would be better if the also erupted in the northern anti-CAA movement, as Ma- the whole country. The recently- government gives land for land and city of Aligarh, where protesters hatma Gandhi’s great-grandson held elections in Delhi saw a total house for house for compensation.” threw stones at the police, state Tushar Gandhi, Jignesh Mevani, polarisation of the Muslim votes. However, the District Magis- administration offi cial Chandra Sadaf Jafar, and current JNUSU Bihar cannot remain aloof.” trate S K Rajalingam told IANS Bhushan Singh said. president Aishe Ghosh have been The CAA, which eases the path on Saturda:, “Gold has been con- The Internet in the area had invited. for non-Muslims from neigh- fi rmed for now. There is a lot of been suspended until midnight, The Congress is trying to bouring Muslim-majority na- time left for the mining process he added. build pressure on the govern- tions to gain citizenship, has to begin. When the displacement Maujpur is near Jaff rabad, ment to withdraw the contro- triggered weeks of sometimes comes, the tribals will be relocat- where anti-CAA protesters have versial law. violent protests against Modi’s ed as per the rules and resettled.” barricaded the road since Sat- Khan, asked why he was with government. Also about 10,000 villagers in urday night in support of the Kumar, said: “The Congress The law is seen by opponents the district have become disabled shutdown call given by Chan- Working Committee has passed as discriminating against Mus- due to fl uorosis reportedly caused drasekhar Azad of Bhim Army. a resolution on this issue...the lims and has deepened concerns by air and water pollution. In Lucknow, Shia Muslim body party’s stand is very clear and that Modi’s administration is Despite the intervention of the ‘Majlis-e-Ulama-e-Hind’, has our leader Rahul Gandhi has ad- undermining India’s secular tra- National Green Authority (NGT), refuted reports that its general dressed several (anti-CAA) pub- ditions. the state government or district secretary Maulana Kalbe Jawad lic meetings. We also sat on pro- The ruling Bharatiya Janata administration has not taken any Demonstrators shout slogans during a protest against the government’s Citizenship Amendment Act Naqvi had any role in the shut- test at Rajghat.” Party denies any bias against the eff ective steps. (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) at Jaff rabad area in New Delhi yesterday. down call. The Congress eyes an oppor- country’s 180mn Muslims.

Wall art Underworld don Ravi Pujari Chief justice says privacy a concern extradited from South Africa IANS national judicial data grid.” New Delhi “In India, we are utilising IANS to South Africa last week. Pujari, Earlier last year Pujari, living technology in innovative ways to New Delhi 52, wanted in over 200 cases of under the identity of Anthony facilitate and assist the delivery heinous crimes, including murder had jumped bail from a Senegal hief Justice S A Bobde of justice”, he said. and extortion, was detained with court through fraudulent means. said the widespread use Citing the relationship be- readed underworld don the help of South African agencies. Pujari now goes under the name Cof technology has also tween environmental issues and Ravi Pujari, operating Sources in Mumbai police said of Anthony Fernandes and is a brought with it concerns over the judiciary, the chief justice Dfrom overseas, has been that Pujari’s arrest has not yet citizen of Burkina Faso, a West mass data collection and an indi- said the environmental issues extradited to India from South been confi rmed offi cially but the African country, his date of birth vidual’s right to privacy. cannot be hindered by national Africa where he was arrested. Ministry of External Aff airs is in is shown as 25.1.1961. Speaking on the second day and international borders. Pujari, who parted ways with touch with its mission in South Pujari, a movie junkie was of the International Judicial “Water and wind fl ow seam- another gangster Chhota Rajan, Africa. An offi cial in MEA refused infl uenced by Bollywood icon Conference 2020 on Saturday, lessly across the earth and even had jumped bail from Senegal last to speak on the issue. Senegal’s Amitabh Bachchan’s portrayal Bobde said: “The two facets of under it. The growth of vegeta- year and escaped to South Africa, embassy in New Delhi also did as Anthony Gonsalves in the globalisation that have posed the tion aff ects the animals and the where he was involved in big-time not respond to IANS’ queries. fi lm Amar Akbar Anthony. The greatest challenges to the judi- man both. Perhaps there is the drug traffi cking and extortion. The gangster fi rst hit the head- passport showed his profession ciaries across the world are the greatest need for single system of Pujari would be fl own to Ben- lines in early 2000 when he started as Agent Commercial which rise of global supply chains and laws in this regard. It is said that galuru. He is being brought to In- extorting huge amounts from fa- means that he is designated as a the proliferation of information human beings are seeds as well dia by the Karnataka police on an mous Bollywood personalities and businessman running a chain of technology.” as parasites to the earth. We take Air France fl ight via Paris. builders. He was involved in an at- restaurants called ‘Namaste In- Citing the importance of judi- much more than we give back to Sources in Indian intelligence tempt to murder case, aimed at kill- dia’ in Senegal, Burkina Faso and cial data grid, the chief justice said the earth”, he said. said that Pujari, who was hiding ing a prominent lawyer of Mumbai. neighbouring countries. as part of the e-courts project in He emphasised on environ- with a false identity as Anthony Pujari’s wife Padma and three Pujari’s lawyers in Senegal had India, “we have ensured that no mental issues stating that “as we Fernandes, a Burkina Faso pass- children also fl ed India and some argued in the court citing that he is matter where a judicial offi cer is look to the future, a signifi cant port holder, was caught in a re- of them hold Burkina Faso pass- Anthony Fernandes, a businessman located, from the remote moun- consideration in the delivery mote village in South Africa. ports. His son who recently got from Burkina Faso as mentioned Residents walk past murals painted on buildings at a slum taintops of the Himalayas to the of justice is the protection and On a tip-off from Indian intel- married in Australia reportedly in his passport and not a fugitive as clearance board residential community in Chennai. sandy beaches of Kerala, they are preservation of the environment ligence, the Senegal police rushed holds an Australian passport. claimed by the Indian government. electronically connected to the in the dispensation of justice.” Gulf Times Monday, February 24, 2020 19 INDIA

‘America First’ vs ‘Make in India’ tussle takes a toll on trade ties

AFP Trump said of India ahead of the and fearing yet more cheap Chi- locally have also irked US busi- on steel and aluminium from In- vember - want greater access for watching the sunset at the Taj New Delhi 36-hour trip to Ahmedabad, nese imports, Modi in November nesses, as have e-commerce dia and other countries. their products. Mahal. Agra and New Delhi accompa- baulked at joining the Regional regulations hitting fi rms like India is the world’s third-larg- India says it is worried Ameri- But the main “deliverable” that nied by Commerce Secretary Comprehensive Economic Part- Amazon and Walmart. est steelmaker, and its exports can cows have been fed bovine both men want is a big trade deal, rade ties between the Wilbur Ross and others. nership (RCEP), a trade pact in- Modi’s ‘Make in India’ drive is of steel products have tumbled extracts - a no-no in a country and in its absence they might in- United States and India Here, AFP looks at the main cluding Asia’s main economies aimed at getting foreign compa- 46% according to the Peterson where most Hindus believe the stead strike a smaller agreement, Thave long been problem- issues of contention between the and China. nies to manufacture in the coun- Institute for International Eco- animals are sacred. according to press reports. atic but under ‘America First’ two countries on trade, which In recent months, the gov- try and so reduce imports - mir- nomics. Modi relies heavily on support This could include India low- President Donald Trump and hit almost $145bn in 2018, with ernment has hiked duties on US roring Trump’s ‘America First’ Exporters of mechanical and from his farmers too. ering duties on large-engine ‘Make in India’ Prime Minister the US defi cit of $25bn - much to imports, including on $600mn mantra. electrical machinery and auto Harley-Davidson motorcycles - Narendra Modi, they have wors- Trump’s annoyance: worth of Californian almonds as New Delhi’s actions “have parts have also suff ered. zEasy rider? long a bugbear of Trump - and ened. well as apples, steel and chemi- made the protectionism con- Last year, Trump added to the United by mistrust of China, farm products like alfalfa hay and While eclipsed by his trade zProtectionism cals coming into India. cerns in India even greater”, a pain by suspending India’s privi- Trump’s visit will see deals in pecans, according to Bloomberg war with China, Trump’s tus- India has long had a penchant In its recent budget, the gov- senior US offi cial said ahead of leges under the decades-old US defence and other areas, includ- News. sle with India, and New Delhi’s for protectionism. Its import ernment raised tariff s on items Trump’s arrival. Generalised System of Preferenc- ing potentially the supply of six “We would not like to rush into prickly reaction, has made a tariff s are among the world’s such as shoes, children’s tricy- es programme that had allowed it nuclear reactors, the fruit of a a deal, as the issues involved are major pact unlikely during the highest. cles and furniture, irking Wash- zSteel and holy cows to ship $6bn in goods duty-free. landmark atomic accord in 2008. complicated and there are many American president’s visit to the Under Modi, facing slowing ington which cancelled a visit by However, many of India’s The US wants to sell more The visit will be big on optics, decisions which actually could world’s fi fth-largest economy growth, accelerating infl ation trade envoy Robert Lighthizer, recent moves have been in re- medical devices like stents to with Modi and Trump appear- aff ect or impact the lives of mil- from today. and a widening budget defi cit, reports said. sponse to actions by the Trump India while US dairy farmers - a ing at a rally at the world’s larg- lions of people on the ground,” “They’ve been hitting us very, this hasn’t changed. Plans to force foreign fi rms administration, starting with its key voter base for Trump ahead est cricket stadium and the US cautioned an Indian government very hard for many, many years,” Under pressure from farmers to store Indian consumers’ data 2018 decision to impose tariff s of his re-election push in No- president and First Lady Melania spokesman. Cities spruced up as crack team keeps dogs and monkeys at bay

AFP of monkeys out of Air Force Ahmedabad One’s way on the runway at Ahmedabad airport. “In the past 10 days, we have S President Donald caught 45-odd monkeys. They Trump makes his first come in search of food,” Raag Uofficial visit to India Patel from the Nature Conserva- today and work has been going tion Foundation said. on around the clock to spruce The captive monkeys are put things up - to the annoyance in cages with food, sent to a of some locals as well as mon- “distant location” and released, keys. Patel said. The photo opportunity high- Next stop for the Trumps will lights of the 36-hour trip include be sunset at the Taj Mahal in a rally of 100,000 people at the Agra, and here too workers have world’s largest cricket stadium been busy making the world- Girls perform a folk dance in front of cutouts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Donald Trump along a road, during a rehearsal ahead of the US president’s visit in Ahmedabad and watching the sunset with famous mausoleum more beau- yesterday. First Lady Melania at the Taj tiful still. Mahal. Back in the 17th century, some Scores of banners and hoard- 20,000 labourers, sculptors, ings with pictures of Trump, calligraphers and stone cutters, Modi and Melania Trump have along with 1,000 elephants, took been put up across the city, pro- 16 years to construct the white jecting the “Namaste Trump” marble monument. rally as a historic event in US- Time, and also air pollution, India relations. have however taken their toll, 10,000 police deployed turning parts of the Taj Mahal A local NGO and the state yellow, necessitating several forest department have rounds of treatment with coat- also been roped in to ings of mud packs that are then keep birds and bands of peeled off . monkeys out of Air Force For the Trumps, the replicas One’s way on the runway at of the graves of Mughal emperor ahead of Trump’s visit Ahmedabad airport Shah Jahan and his favourite wife Mumtaz Mahal - for whom the Reuters 6ft high in places will block a “(But) the beauty of the yesterday morning due to high us - at least the basics should be The route will be lined with Taj Mahal was built - are getting Ahmedabad slum from Trump’s view. Ashram is in its simplicity.” winds, police said, though it was provided,” said Sanjay Saraniya, thousands of people - well short the beauty treatment too, and for Prime Minister Narendra The modest complex is a pos- quickly repaired. a 27-year-old father of three, of the 6-10mn Trump says he the fi rst time. Modi has made grand visits sible 15-minute stop for Trump, There is enthusiasm among yards from the glossy tarmac of has been told will attend - as well “We completed the mud-pack ndia deployed more than to his home state of Gujarat a whose New York penthouse is many in India for Trump’s ar- a newly-paved road and at least as stages for performers and im- treatment on Thursday,” Vasant 10,000 police and gave a signature of his time in power, decorated in gold in the style of rival, but others have been an- a dozen large billboards featur- ages of Mahatma Gandhi. Swarnkar from the Archaeologi- Ifacelift to the former home with the leaders of Japan and French king Louis XIV. gered at the cost - nearly $12mn ing Modi, Trump and his wife Ahmedabad offi cials are also cal Survey of India told AFP. of Mahatma Gandhi yesterday China both taking similar trips Sarabhai said that should for a three-hour visit, according Melania. keen to avoid a repeat of when “It was already planned but on the eve of a visit by US Pres- to Ahmedabad, the state’s larg- Trump visit, he is likely to be to offi cials. “I wake up every morning and then-US secretary of state John the treatment was brought for- ident Donald Trump, whose est city. given a charkha, a traditional At the Saraniya Vas slum, think about how I am going to Kerry’s cavalcade hit one of In- ward for Trump’s visit.” two-day trip aims to repair But the arrival of Trump, spinning wheel used by Gandhi, authorities have built a wall earn enough money to feed my dia’s ubiquitous stray dogs dur- Authorities have also released bilateral relations after a trade residents and offi cials say, is un- as well as a copy of his autobiog- at least 6ft-high in places, children.” ing a 2015 visit. vast volumes of water into the spat. precedented in scale. raphy. shielding the settlement from Half-a-dozen people said they The local Cattle and Dog Nui- Yamuna river fl owing adjacent Trump lands in the western Yesterday, more than 10,000 “We are also considering gift- Trump’s view. had been off ered Rs200 ($2.78) sance Control Department (CD- to the Taj in order to lessen the city of Ahmedabad today, where police - some mounted on cam- ing a set of (Gandhi’s) Three Many residents - who receive each by Modi’s ruling Bharatiya NCD) has constituted a crack usual whiff of raw sewage and he will address a rally of more els - fanned out across the city. Monkeys, which stress on not water for 90 minutes per day at Janata Party to attend the road- team to remove dogs and errant industrial effl uent. than 100,000 in a newly-built At the Sabermati Ashram, the seeing, hearing, or speaking communal taps - earn around show - a claim that Dashrath cows - another common sight in “This move may not make the cricket stadium, before a visit former home of Mahatma Gan- evil,” Sarabhai added. Rs7,500 ($104.36) per month Saraniya, a party worker in the Indian cities - in a 3km radius of Yamuna’s water fi t for drinking, to Agra’s renowned Taj Mahal dhi, labourers watered lawns and Preparations have not been sharpening knives for hotels, slum, denied. the route. but could reduce foul smell from and a summit with Indian of- painted walls. without problems. and are from the Saraniya com- “He is our guest and we will A local NGO and the state for- the river,” said Arvind Kumar, an fi cials and business leaders in “A general facelift is being A 30ft arch by the VIP en- munity that gives the slum its welcome him - if we can see est department have also been engineer from the Uttar Pradesh New Delhi. done,” said Kartikeya Sarabhai, a trance to the stadium expected name. him,” Sanjay Saraniya said of the roped in to keep birds and bands Pollution Control Board. In Ahmedabad, a wall at least trustee of the organisation. to be used by Trump collapsed “Priority should be given to visit. Azad gets invitation for Trump reception Billboards and cutouts of Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, has been invited to attend a reception of US President leaders dot Agra streets Donald Trump at Rashtrapati Bhavan tomorrow, a source said yesterday. IANS fi nal touches to the 17th century reads ‘His Excellency Donald The source, however, could not Agra monument was completed yes- Trump, President of the Unit- confirm if Azad would attend terday evening. ed States of America, Her Ex- the function as he is out of The work of putting up hoard- cellency Melania Trump First Delhi. day ahead of Donald ings - with welcome messages Lady of the United States of “It would be confirmed after he Trump’s brief visit to for the visiting dignitary and his America, Welcoming you on returns tomorrow.” Athe city of the Taj, huge entourage - as well as cutouts behalf of the 1.35bn people of Earlier, Leader of Opposition billboards and cutouts of the was still on and expected to be India’. in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan US president and Prime Min- completed by early today morn- Trump arrives in India today Chowdhury, had declined ister Narendra Modi dotted the ing. and 25 along with wife Melania, the invitation to attend the historic city yesterday, includ- A senior offi cer said: “We are daughter Ivanka, and son-in- presidential banquet saying ing the airport and other public covering underconstruction law Jared Kushner and a galaxy party chief Sonia Gandhi was places. buildings en route with huge of top US offi cials. ignored. According to authorities, billboards to ensure there are no The couple will spend the The floor leaders of both Houses hundreds of hoardings and cut- odd visuals.” fi rst day of the visit in Gujarat’s of Parliament have been invited outs of Trump and Modi had While quite a few billboards Ahmedabad and Uttar Pradesh’s for the banquet to be hosted been put across the city, espe- show Trump and Modi shaking Agra before moving to Delhi for tomorrow. cially the 13km route from the hands and captioned ‘Two great the offi cial reception and bilat- The schedule of the US president airport to the Taj Mahal. nations. One great friendship’ eral talks. has no mention of meeting with The US president and his and ‘Namaste Trump, February This is Trump’s fi rst state visit any opposition leaders. entourage will take the route 24’, others have messages like to India and also the fi rst stan- The Congress had said on Friday today evening to visit the Taj. ‘Trump, welcome to the land of dalone visit by a US president to that it had not received any The US First Family will spend great opportunities’. India. invitation for its leaders to meet about an hour at the world-fa- A huge billboard near the Before Trump, US presi- Trump. mous monument to love before Taj Mahal complex near its dents Bill Clinton visited Agra in “If any invitation comes, we will sunset. eastern gate has the images March 2000 and Dwight D Ei- Monkeys walk as a man feeds birds outside the historic Taj Mahal, where Trump and First Lady Melania take a view on it,” party leader Meanwhile, the work to give of Trump and his wife and senhower in 1959. Trump are expected to visit. Anand Sharma said. Gulf Times 20 Monday, February 24, 2020 LATIN AMERICA

DECISION CORPORATE LEGAL OPINION VIOLENCE Petrobras workers in Brazil Microsoft to invest $1.1bn Court denies public vote March held in support Nicaragua politician end three-week strike in Mexico over five years on halting mining projects of bull, cock fighting ‘killed by gunmen’

Workers at Brazil’s state-owned oil giant Petro- Technology giant Microsoft has announced that Ecuador’s Constitutional Court has denied for a Around 10,000 people demonstrated in sup- Nicaraguan opposition party CxL has de- bras have ended a strike of nearly three weeks it will invest $1.1bn in Mexico over the course second time a request by activists to hold a public port of bull and cock fighting in Lima ahead nounced the killing by gunmen of one of its that left the firm scrambling to avoid a drop in of five years to drive the digital transformation vote on whether to ban mining in the Andean of a Supreme Court decision on their future. leaders in the northeast of the country. “Three production, labour unions said. Around 21,000 of one of Latin America’s largest economies. country’s mineral-rich Azuay province, where sev- Animal rights activists have brought a case to armed men came to kidnap the leader of Ciu- workers — a third of the total workforce — joined “Mexico is well positioned to harness the power eral mining projects are in development. Azuay’s the Constitutional Court asking it to declare dadanos por la Libertad (Citizens for Freedom, the mass walk-out at the start of the month. of new technologies,” Microsoft’s regional prefect, Yaku Perez, who submitted the request, unconstitutional a law that exempts bull and CxL) Jose Lopez, 51, and kill him,” the party They were protesting the closure of subsidiary head Cesar Cernuda said alongside Mexican said gold and copper mines threaten communi- cock fighting from and animal protection laws. said in a statement. It said Lopez was killed ANSA’s decision to close a fertiliser plant in the President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. “It’s a ties’ water sources and damage the environment. The court is due to take a decision on the case in the town of Mulukuku, 250km northeast of southern state of Parana, with around 1,000 total huge opportunity to democratise society.” The The court, which in September ruled against tomorrow. “United for a passion, culture and Managua. His widow Tomasa Vargas said she layoff s. The company met with employee repre- investment plan includes a new cloud data cen- Perez for the first time, unanimously decided that tradition,” read one banner at the rally in central suspected the attack was a “political crime.” sentatives after an arbitration hearing called by tre to serve public institutions, businesses and the public vote proposal was not constitutional. Lima. Bull and cock fighting have been popular CxL is part of a group of Nicaraguan parties a labour court in the capital Brasilia, after which citizens, as well as projects to improve young “Incredible to understand that a genuinely demo- activities in Peru since the Spanish colonisation planning to come together in an opposition the oil workers’ union FUP announced an end to people’s digital skills and support environmen- cratic initiative can be blocked by the mining but animal rights groups have demanded an coalition to be launched next Tuesday ahead of the strike. tal initiatives. empire,” Perez said on Twitter. end to the practices. the 2021 general elections. Coronavirus to Heavy rains wreak havoc hit Chile, Brazil, Peru economies, warn experts

Reuters confi rmed case anywhere in Lat- Brasilia in America of the new coronavi- rus that has spread to some two dozen countries, but investors in he coronavirus outbreak the region are getting worried. in China may be altering Bank of America Merrill Tthe 2020 investment out- Lynch’s (BAML) latest monthly look for Latin America, souring survey of Latin American fund sentiment toward regional free managers showed that 56% say market beacons Chile and Brazil, slowing growth and commodi- while turning heads — and cash ties demand in China is the big- — toward left-leaning Mexico. gest risk to the region. The consensus among econo- Bullishness on Brazil is fad- mists is that while the overall im- ing, with 37% of those polled by pact on Latin American growth BAML forecasting the Bovespa and fi nancial markets from the stock market above 130,000 outbreak will be limited, there points by the end of the year, may be wide divergences across compared with 56% last month. the region. The survey of 52 fund managers Chile’s heavy reliance on the with about $103bn of assets under export of commodities, espe- management also showed that cially copper, make it particular- 27% of respondents say the eco- ly vulnerable to weaker demand nomic situation in Chile will de- from China, its main trading teriorate over the next six months. Heavy rainfall led to a river bursting its bank in Tiquipaya, Cochabamba, in central Bolivia. Caretaker President Jeanine Anez and members of her cabinet visited Cochabamba partner and the world’s largest In January, that was 7%. Chile to observe clean-up eff orts. buyer of commodities. has long been the regional post- It is a similar situation for Peru er-child for free-market eco- and Brazil — a leading iron ore nomic reforms. But even before producer — where almost a third the coronavirus outbreak, its of all exports go to China. status as investors’ darling had In the case of Brazil, growth been threatened by protests that forecasts were already being re- blamed those policies for wide- duced and the currency was slid- spread inequality. ing to all-time lows against the By contrast, 21% reckon the Argentina agrees to IMF dollar before the global ripple Mexican peso will outperform eff ects of the coronavirus began. over the next six months, up “The most exposed economies from 4% in January. are Chile, Peru, and to some ex- So far this year, the peso is up tent Brazil,” said Alberto Ramos, 0.6% against the US dollar while head of Latin American research Brazil’s real has slumped nearly talks on new fi nancing deal at Goldman Sachs. “The key 9%. source of downside risk to Latin Economists and strategists America is a deterioration of the at Citi have constructed a coro- The meeting came days The meeting came days after “I commended the eff orts engagement including through erty and unemployment rise, terms of trade triggered by deep navirus “vulnerability index” after IMF experts concluded IMF experts concluded that Ar- thus far, under the leadership an Article IV Consultation and with infl ation surpassing 50% long-lasting impact of a China modelled on four variables: eco- that Argentina’s debt is gentina’s debt is unsustainable. of...Fernandez, to put in place steps toward a fund-supported over the last year. slowdown on commodity prices.” nomic growth, supply chains, unsustainable Argentine President Alberto programme in the future. Argentina’s ability to service Much will depend on how commodities, and “external” Fernandez hopes to renegoti- “Minister Guzman and “The modalities of these next its debt deteriorated markedly long the outbreak of the fast- market volatility risks. AFP ate $195bn of its $311bn foreign I had a very fruitful steps will continue to be dis- compared to the IMF’s last anal- spreading virus that emerged in Chile, Ecuador and Peru are Buenos Aires debt, including a deeply un- exchange of views on cussed,” Georgieva said. ysis in July 2019, the fund said late December in central China seen as by far the most vulner- popular $57bn IMF bailout loan the country’s challenges, Argentina’s economy minis- earlier, when the amount owed and has killed more 2,100 peo- able countries, with index scores in 2018. and the path forward try issued a similar statement on was manageable. ple lasts, as the world’s second of 100, 98 and 97, respectively. rgentina and the IMF an- Fernandez, who took offi ce in to ensure a more engaging in talks with the global Since then the peso had de- largest economy struggles to get Next are Brazil (66) and Co- nounced they have agreed December, has refused the fi nal sustainable and inclusive fi nancing institution. preciated by over 40%, interna- back on track. lombia (63), while Mexico is sec- Ato start talks aimed at $13bn disbursement of the loan, growth for Argentina” Negotiations will continue tional reserves declined by about Meanwhile investors see Mex- ond bottom of the table with a reaching a new fi nancing agree- leaving Argentina’s exposure at today as Guzman meets with $20bn, and real GDP contracted ico, whose economy contracted score of 27. ment for the heavily indebted $44bn. a set of policies to stabilise the IMF experts in Washington, an more than previously projected. last year for the fi rst time in a dec- “After a dismal 2019, pros- South American nation. “Minister Guzman and I had economy and to reduce poverty.” economy ministry spokesman Argentina is battling to avoid ade under leftist President Andres pects for the region are favour- The announcement in state- a very fruitful exchange of views Georgieva said she discussed said. another situation like 2001 Manuel Lopez Obrador, as far less able, but weak, as accelerating ments by both parties came after on the country’s challenges, and with Guzman plans “to secure a Argentina’s economy shrank when it defaulted on $100bn, exposed to China, either via direct growth is predicated on senti- a meeting between IMF manag- the path forward to ensure a sustainable and orderly resolu- by 2.1% in 2019, the state statis- becoming a market pariah. trade links or from falling com- ment improving for investment ing director Kristalina Georgieva more sustainable and inclusive tion” to his country’s debt situa- tics institute said. The country currently owes modities prices globally. and consumption,” Citi said in a and Argentine Economy Minis- growth for Argentina,” Geor- tion, and welcomed Argentina’s The country has been in re- $311bn — more than 90% of its There has not been a single research note. ter Martin Guzman. gieva said in a statement. commitment “to deepen our cession since mid-2018 as pov- GDP.

Dominicans Crime soars Peru recovers protest poll priceless manuscript suspension AFP Cusco, the old Inca capital, and Lima dedicated his time to preserving Reuters the memory of the Inca empire, Santo Domingo which lasted 100 years between eru unveiled a priceless the 15th and 16th centuries and manuscript containing the covered a vast area from the undreds of Dominicans took to Pmemoirs of former Inca south of Colombia to the centre the streets in fresh protests after leaders that had disappeared of Chile. Hthe abrupt suspension of mu- during Chile’s occupation of The author styled himself nicipal elections that unleashed a politi- Lima during the 1879-84 Pacifi c as “the last descendent of the cal crisis months before the Caribbean War. Inca’s imperial line.” In the island votes for a new president. The manuscript — called manuscript he traced Inca The protests started after the elec- “Memories of the Peruvian history until the arrival in toral institute on February 16 suspended monarchy or outline of the Inca’s South America of the Spanish a nationwide election four hours after history” — was written in the colonisers, using now extinct voting began. 1830s by Justo Apu Sahuaraura documents. The authority said about half of the Inca (1775-1853), a descendent of The text includes informa- machines used in the most populated the Inca emperor Huayna Capac tion about Inca Garcilaso de la municipalities to cast votes electroni- (1493-1525). Vega, the son of a Spanish con- cally had failed. “The value of this document quistador and Inca noblewoman, Across the country, protesters have from 1838 is incalculable. It was thought to be the fi rst mixed- demanded the resignation of the insti- always considered an extremely race person in the history of the tute’s offi cials and an investigation. rare jewel of a document, we Americas. “I’m tired of them always treating us don’t have another of its type,” The manuscript also includes like we’re stupid,” said Melina Adames, Gerardo Trillo, director of the accounts of the Spanish con- who, like many who took to the streets, Protection of Collections at quest of Cusco, as well as an Inca was dressed in black to mourn the death Lima’s National Library, said chronology. “It’s a pretty rare of democracy. about the manuscript that was and strange manuscript because Others banged cauldrons in a tradi- Brazilian soldiers stand guard in the streets of Fortaleza, Ceara state, Brazil. Fifty-one homicides were registered in two days in found in Brazil. it has coloured sheets that rep- tional form of protest.Dominicans will the northeastern state of Ceara after the police went on strike in demand of better salaries. Sahuaraura was a member resent the diff erent Incas,” said vote for a new president on May 17. of the indigenous nobility in Trillo. Gulf Times Monday, February 24, 2020 21 PAKISTAN

QAU among top 100 Emergency is declared in institutes

Internews Islamabad areas at border with Iran

AFP/Internews people in Qom, a city south of and health department are es- tended a meeting in Islamabad children from China at their he Quaid-e-Azam Uni- Islamabad the capital. tablishing a 100-bed tent hospi- to discuss the issue with refer- own expense and that they only versity has been ranked Baluchistan Chief Minister tal at Taftan to provide medical ence to the deaths in Iran due to wanted permission from the Tamongst the top 100 uni- Jam Kamal Alyani spoke with treatment to the suspected pas- coronavirus. government. versities from emerging coun- akistan has declared Prime Minister Imran Khan on sengers,” he said. “Within no time four per- Meanwhile, Afghanistan sus- tries in the Times Higher Educa- emergency in the areas Saturday to discuss the steps his Sources said that special sons have died in Qom [located pended travel to neighbouring tion University Rankings. Pbordering Iran amid fears government is taking to control teams of the National Institute 140km to the south of Tehran] Iran as fears across the region It is at the top of the pack of 14 of transfer of coronavirus into the virus spreading over the bor- of Health (NIH) were scheduled and virus has reached there. We continued to grow over an in- universities from Pakistan that the country. der into the province. to arrive in Baluchistan to give need to be on toes as the virus crease in new coronavirus in- have been included in the list of Iran on Saturday ordered the “Had communication with training to the health staff and can enter Pakistan due to porous fections. 533 universities from 47 coun- closure of schools, universities PM and federal health minister the doctors regarding safety pre- border,” he said. Millions of Afghan refugees tries. and cultural centres after the on coronavirus from fi rst day cautions. Meanwhile, parents and rela- currently live in the Islamic Re- This is up from the nine Paki- number of people infected with all precautionary steps being Special Assistant to the Prime tives of Pakistanis stranded in public – raising fears that the vi- stani universities that featured the deadly virus rose to 28 with taken,” he tweeted, adding that Minister on Health Dr Zafar China held a news conference rus could easily spread over the on the rankings last year. fi ve fatal cases. dedicated teams were fully vigi- Mirza also reached out to the in Islamabad and said their chil- border. The 2020 list sees the Quaid- Due to the fear of COVID-19 lant with all precautions in place Baluchistan chief minister and dren would die out of fear if not “To prevent the spread of the e-Azam University (QAU)’s re- epidemic transferring to the for an emergency. assured all help and co-opera- due to the virus. novel #coronavirus and protect turn to the rankings after being country, the Baluchistan gov- Khan told the chief minister tion with the provincial govern- They urged the government the public, Afghanistan sus- absent last year. ernment declared an emergency to take all protective measures ment. to bring back Pakistanis without pends all passenger movement However, when compared to in the border districts. in the province along the porous Mirza: has reached out to the The provincial health depart- any delay. (air and ground) to and from 2018, the last time the QAU was Staff and medical equipment border with Iran. Baluchistan chief minister and ment has issued directives for They also appealed to the Iran,” the offi ce of the National on the ranking, its position re- have also been sent to the border Alyani said that he is su- assured help and co-operation the pilgrims returning from Iran chief justice of Pakistan and the Security Council of Afghanistan mains virtually the same. town of Taftan, through which pervising all safety measures with the provincial government. to carry out their medical check- army chief to play their role in said in a statement posted on That year, the university hundreds of people cross into adopted by the provincial gov- up in nearby hospitals, if they are bringing back Pakistanis from Twitter. shared the spot with the Dal- the city daily. ernment. in view of reports about two suff ering from cough and high China. Desperate and jobless Afghans ian University of Technology of According to the provincial Offi cial sources said the pro- deaths in Iran due to corona- temperature. They alleged that the ministry have crossed the porous border China. health department, a team has vincial health department had virus, a team of seven doctors The sources said that doctors of national health services was with Iran for years in search of The other universities that been sent from Quetta to the city established an emergency centre equipped with thermal guns had would also be sent to other bor- deliberately delaying the issue, work to support their struggling made it to the list are the to train local offi cials. and a control room at the bor- been deployed at Taftan to carry dering districts of Baluchistan claiming that their children in families back home. Comsats University, the Inter- A camp has also been set up. dering town of Taftan. out screening of pilgrims and with Iran, including Gwadar, China did not even have drink- But hundreds of thousands national Islamic University Is- The COVID-19 outbreak in “Two doctors are already other people crossing into Paki- Turbat, Panjgur and Mashkeel. ing water. of Afghans have returned home lamabad (IIUI), the University Iran fi rst surfaced on Wednes- working at the control room at stan from Iran. NIH executive director Ma- Rubina Riaz, a relative of a in recent years as US sanctions of Agriculture (UAF), the La- day, when authorities said it Taftan,” said an offi cial of the “The Provincial Disaster jor-General Dr Aamer Ikram student in China, said that the have battered the Iranian econ- hore University of Management claimed the lives of two elderly health department, adding that Management Authority (PDMA) said that all stakeholders had at- parents are ready to bring their omy. Sciences (LUMS), the National University of Sciences and Tech- nology (NUST), the University of Punjab, the University of En- All in a day’s work gineering Technology (UET), the University of Peshawar (UoP), the Bahauddin Zakariya Univer- sity, the Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University (PMA- SAAU), the University of Vet- erinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), the Government Col- lege University, and the Univer- sity of Sargodha. The Comsats was ranked at 159, along with the Indian Insti- tute of Technology and the Uni- Prime Minister Khan: I want the youth to listen carefully and to versity of International Business know how important planting trees is for their future. Climate and Economics from China. change will destroy our future. This is down from the 137 ranking it had occupied in 2019. Similarly, the IIUI came in at 221 in the rankings. It was not ranked last year. PM inaugurates The UAF was ranked at 252, slightly lower than the 251 rank- ing it had occupied last year. The LUMS and the NUST major drive for came in at 271 and 275, respec- tively. The LUMS was not in- cluded in the ranking last year while the NUST slid from the A farmer ploughs his field with a pair of bulls in Mardan. tree plantation 233th spot it occupied in 2019.

Climate change ministry to our forests and trees destroyed, plant 250mn saplings and the land encroached upon,” Khan said. “I want the Internews Punjab chief minister to take Afghan treaty to be signed in Pakistan’s presence: Qureshi Islamabad action against those who have encroached upon the land of the forests and to treat them as Internews eign minister said. violence before signing of the rime Minister Imran criminals.” Islamabad Qureshi said Pakistan played agreement. Khan has reiterated the It is a crime against our a key role in resumption of the He said not only the US, but Pimportance of plant- children and their future, the peace process, which had been also the entire world acknowl- ing trees, adding that climate prime minister said, adding oreign Minister Shah Meh- suspended since US President edged and appreciated Pakistan’s change is a threat to our future. that it is now the responsibility mood Qureshi has said that Trump announced the suspen- role in the resolution of the Af- The prime minister made of the residents of Kundian to Fthe Afghan peace treaty sion of the Afghan peace process ghan issue. these remarks yesterday while preserve the forests. would be signed in Pakistan’s after the deaths of American sol- The foreign minister added US addressing the inauguration “These forests will give presence. diers in Afghanistan. special envoy on Afghan Aff airs, ceremony of a tree plantation you jobs and other resources, Speaking to the media in Mul- Pakistan made positive eff orts Zalmay Khalilzad, in his recent drive in Mianwali. which you will realise in a few tan, he said that eff orts for the for an early resumption of dia- visit to Islamabad, held a detailed The “Revival of Kundian years,” he said, citing the ex- success of the Afghan peace logue, he added. discussion and consultation with Plantation under 10 Billion ample of DI Khan where trees process are a Herculean task. The foreign minister further Prime Minister Imran Khan to Tree Tsunami” is aimed at re- had been planted on barren Pakistan, he said, is taking ef- said Pakistan played a key role in fi nalise a roadmap for the peace storing forests and controlling land. fort to constitute an extensive the release of two abductees and process. wilderness, a statement issued The ministry of climate delegation after February 29 to helped in the resumption of dia- Qureshi said he had informed by the Prime Minister’s Offi ce change earlier announced that promote intra-Afghan dialogue. logue in Doha, which was not an Khalilzad that some forces were read. it will plant 250mn saplings in The treaty is to be signed on Qureshi: It was hard to convince the Taliban for the peace process, easy task. conspiring to sabotage the peace “I want all the schools across spring season. February 29. but Pakistan made them join the process. Qureshi said the signs were process. Pakistan to teach the impor- Prime Minister’s Adviser on “It was not an easy task, and positive as both parties in the Af- He had told the visiting offi - tance of tree planting. Our Climate Change Malik Amin Pakistan’s honest eff orts made that Afghan peace was only pos- solution to the Afghan problem ghan peace process had declared cials that the conspirators were youth still does not have any Aslam said: “Forests have been the process fi nally successful and sible through peace talks and not through dialogue. It was hard settling of aff airs and reaching an direct benefi ciaries of the war in awareness about the impor- recognised as the most eff ec- result-oriented,” he said. war. to convince the Taliban for the agreement. Afghanistan, and that the US and tance of tree plantation,” the tive, cheapest way to tackle The foreign minister added “Pakistan convinced the world peace process, but Pakistan made He underlined the need for its allies should focus on them as prime minister said. fallouts of global warming- Pakistan made the world realise to make eff orts for a political them join the process,” the for- addressing the issue of reducing well. “The forests that the English caused climate change on the left behind have completely country’s critical socio-eco- been destroyed today. There nomic sectors, particularly were forests on 20,000 acres of agriculture, water, energy and land in Kundian. Today while health.” coming here via the helicopter, The campaign will continue High Court to hear case against social media rules today I could not see any trees in the across the country until June forests,” the prime minister la- 30. mented. Aslam said that a target of Internews and [in] violation of fundamen- The applicant further con- She pleaded that the sub-stat- view, and not the entirety of the Khan added that the nation around 250mn tree saplings Lahore tal constitutional rights,” argued tended that the federal govern- utory rules could not impose or record. does not know the importance had been fi xed for the spring the application moved by digital ment had very limited rule-mak- create new restrictions beyond This limitation, she believed, of trees. 2020 season with the aim to rights activist Jannat Ali. ing powers under sections of the the scope of the parent law. had the eff ect of not providing a “I want the youth to listen re-invigorate the country’s ail- ahore High Court Chief Through her counsel Usama PECA and the PTA Act. However, she said, the im- right of appeal to citizens whose carefully and to know how ing forestry sector. Justice Mamoon Rashid Khawar Ghumman, the applicant “Neither these sections confer pugned “Online Harm Rules” in- fundamental rights, including important planting trees is for These saplings would be LSheikh will hear today an pleaded that the PECA, the par- powers upon the federal govern- troduced a new, extremely broad freedom of expression, right to their future. Climate change planted across the country, application assailing the legiti- ent law, conferred limited powers ment to frame rules that can em- and vague defi nition of “extrem- access to information, right to will destroy our future,” he most of them in new vacant ar- macy of new social media regu- to “remove or block or issue di- power its delegated functionaries ism” with penal consequences dignity and privacy, would have said. eas as well as degraded forests, lations published by ministry of rections for removal or blocking to frame rules having the eff ect of infringing upon the fundamental been infringed upon. The prime minister noted he added. information, technology and tel- of access to information through law, nor the power to delegate is rights of citizens. She said this limitation would that Pakistan is the only coun- “Trees help protect soil from ecommunication. any information system”. to be read as a part of the power Ali pointed out that the remedy also be a violation of the right to a try that had been blessed with degradation and regulate wa- “The regulations prima facie She said the parent law did not to frame rules,” she said, adding for review and appeal provided fair trial and access to justice. 12 seasons. ter on farms, mitigate fl oods, appear to be illegal and ultra vires give the Pakistan Telecommuni- that the constitutional courts of under the impugned regulations Through the application, the “No other country in the regulate weather and enrich for contravening and exceeding cation Authority (PTA) the power the country also did not allow was very limited and narrow. activist also sought the court’s world has 12 seasons or the re- biodiversity. Besides, crops the scope of Pakistan Telecom- to sub-delegate any of its powers such excessive delegation and She said a high court, under permission to become a party to a sources that we have, and we grown in agro-forestry sys- munication Reorganisation Act to a National Co-ordinator – a already declared such practices the regulations, while hearing an pending petition in favour of the should be thankful for that,” he tems are often more resilient to 1996 and the Prevention of Elec- person appointed by the govern- to be an exercise in excessive del- appeal would be limited to adju- impugned regulations and urged added. drought, excess rain and erratic tronic Crime Act 2016 (PECA), ment. egation liable to be struck down. dication upon grounds of the re- the court to dismiss the same. “In my lifetime I have seen weather patterns,” Aslam said. Gulf Times 22 Monday, February 24, 2020 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Floating Petri dishes? Coronavirus puts cruise industry in the dock

Deadly viruses, chickenpox outbreaks and mass cases of the runs: sometimes luxury cruise ship holidays are not the trips of a lifetime elderly passengers had hoped for. Cruise-goers have fallen sick en masse in the past, their predicament on the high seas coming into sharp focus because the holidays can cost thousands of dollars and are often marketed as trips of a lifetime. “Cruise ships are very prone to outbreaks of common cold and the vomiting virus,” said John Oxford, professor of virology at Queen Mary University of London. “Invariably the ships are overcrowded and with so many Brexit’s stealthy rationality passengers, hygiene levels can slip.” The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) By Yanis Varoufakis Brexit will, most likely, lose out, while came close to imploding in 2011, the the millions of continental Europeans logged eight outbreaks aboard cruise ships last year of the Athens many others will profi t handsomely. The EU’s decision-makers did the opposite fl eeing to a UK economy that had been highly contagious norovirus, which causes vomiting and working-class neo-Tories who enabled of what Kohl, Mitterrand, and Thatcher re-fl oated by the Bank of England, the this historical rupture will suff er in had anticipated. With the critical Brexit referendum would have gone the diarrhoea — hardly the stuff of a dream holiday. t pivotal historical moments, quiet desperation the consequences of junction approaching and confronting other way. Measles, E coli, chickenpox and salmonella poisoning have rational political ruptures their choice. them with the federate-or-disintegrate Nixon and Johnson’s ruptures all broken out on cruises in recent years. often are brought about for all But is there, as with the Nixon shock, dilemma, the locomotive’s drivers confi rm that whatever is unsustainable “Unfortunately, Athe wrong reasons. UK Prime a singular underlying historical factor demonstrated that they preferred eventually fi nds the political agents Minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit may that explains Brexit? There is: the derailment. That was the moment when of its collapse. Such ruptures can be “When viruses the more elderly prove to be a case in point. creation of the euro. Brexit acquired a stealthy rationality. simultaneously detrimental to most demographic found on When US President Richard Portraying necessity as a virtue, Every historical force needs a people’s interests and intrinsically are introduced, a typical liner are more Nixon ditched the Bretton Woods euro-loyalist politicians, opinion multitude of agents to give it purchase. rational and self-perpetuating. likely to be susceptible system in August 1971, his reasons makers, and bureaucrats extol the Brexit’s greatest agents were, ironically, In the United States, the long-term cruise lines have were shortsighted. Overwhelmed European Union’s fl exibility by two people who opposed it: Gordon diminution of blue-collar workers’ to anything which might by domestic pressures to impose describing the eurozone as a union Brown and Angela Merkel. prospects was counter-balanced by various protocols present a serious health ineffective price controls and placate within a union, or a club within a club. As UK Prime Minister Tony Blair’s the stupendous gains of the top 10% challenge,” warned his blue-collar supporters, Nixon took While this description is formally Chancellor of the Exchequer, Brown and the expansion of America’s global and procedures Dr Simon Clarke, an his eye off the larger picture. Still, correct, it fails to capture the centrifugal became an enabler of Brexit by keeping, hegemony. In this sense, the Nixon he was following a sound instinct: forces that the euro unleashed. Once for a variety of excellent reasons, the shock passed the test of history, even to clean ships and associate professor at historical forces had ruled against the single currency was created, in the United Kingdom out of the eurozone. if it diminished most Americans’ life Britain’s University of the sustainability of that remarkable designed absence of common debt Had he acceded to Blair’s preference prospects. prevent further Reading. post-war global monetary system. instruments and a common deposit to adopt the euro, events would have Brexit may well be similarly With global concerns Once America went from being a insurance facility, the EU train was unfolded very diff erently. Given the size vindicated. If Johnson ends austerity spreading of the net global creditor to being a debtor put on a track leading inexorably to a of the City of London, no EU bailout and succeeds in attracting investment mounting about the economy in sustained deficit to the junction. There, it could turn sharply could have re-fl oated Britain’s banks in artifi cial intelligence and green virus” threat of the new rest of the capitalist world, Bretton toward federation or continue on the after the 2008 fi nancial crisis without energy (which the EU is failing seriously coronavirus, an elderly Woods was condemned to extinction, same route until, running out of track, it ditching the euro’s rulebook and to fund), Brexit may come to be viewed Japanese man and woman died on Thursday having been on because the Federal Reserve could no disintegrated. without forcing an immediate, clean the same way as Brown’s decision to longer guarantee a fixed exchange rate The euro’s fathers, German decision: federate or return to national keep the UK out of the eurozone is the virus-stricken Diamond Princess. with the Deutsche Mark, yen, franc, Chancellor Helmut Kohl and French currencies. today: a smart move. The vessel, moored in Yokohama, was by far the biggest and so on. President François Mitterrand, knew Brown thus became the unwitting Taking a broader view, there are coronavirus cluster outside the epicentre in China. To be sure, the median American this. They were convinced that once enabler of Merkel’s penchant for international systems that have the Some have pointed the fi nger at Japan’s authorities for how worker’s income and living standards the fork was reached, their successors kicking the can down the road. By potential to deliver massive benefits have never recovered from the so- would bow to the inevitable and keeping the UK out of the euro, Brown for majorities in every participating they handled the 14-day quarantine of hundreds of passengers. called Nixon shock, and the resulting steer, however reluctantly, toward enabled Germany to continue resisting country. Bretton Woods and the For now, US authorities have recommended that travellers fi nancialisation of capitalism has been federation. That was also the view of federation while ensuring that Brexit EU are prime examples. But when “reconsider” cruises to or in Asia, citing the risk of detrimental to humanity. But that does UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, remained a relatively low-cost option political leaders fail to consolidate coronavirus-linked travel restrictions and quarantines. not take anything away from the deeper who, observing the construction of for the British. such systems, their tragic (in the rationality of Nixon’s decision. a European central bank, began to Unburdened by the mammoth Ancient Greek sense) disintegration Stewart Chiron, a leading industry expert, says that cruise The motives and thinking behind ring the alarm bells that summoned task of bailing out the City, Merkel eventually takes on a rationality of its ships are nothing like the hotbed of viruses that they are Brexit were even less worthy than those a renewed euroscepticism and, concentrated on suspending democracy own, thus coming to seem inevitable painted out to be and cruise lines take “extensive precautions behind Nixon’s move. Nurtured by ultimately, Brexit. in defi cit member states such as and, equally important, irreversible. - to keep ships clean”. austerity-fuelled discontent, trading on Ironically, Kohl, Mitterrand, and Ireland, Greece, and Italy, in order to Project Syndicate xenophobia, and riding on the coattails Thatcher made the same mistake. All impose, with the help of the European “When viruses are introduced, cruise lines have various of false promises, Brexit and its backers three leaders assumed that the euro was, Central Bank, years of austerity that z Yanis Varoufakis, a former protocols and procedures to clean ships and prevent further won the day for many bad reasons. And, as Thatcher put it, an eff ort to build ended up miring the entire eurozone in fi nance minister of Greece, is leader spreading of the virus,” he added. like the Nixon shock, most of those who “a federal Europe by the back door.” It permanent stagnation. Without that of the MeRA25 party and Professor of US-based Chiron says that the image of thousands of voted for the man who implemented wasn’t. As we now know, when the euro ugly suppression of democracy, and Economics at the University of Athens. people crammed together on board — ripe conditions for the spread of illness — is also wide of the mark. “Cruise ships are much larger than most people realise. There’s plenty of space for passengers to spread out in to have enjoyable, healthy experiences,” he said. According to Chiron, citing CDC fi gures, of the more than 31mn people who holidayed on cruise ships last year, there were 1,038 cases of norovirus, or 0.003%. Chiron and other experts say that the cruise industry has successfully shrugged off past negative headlines and will quickly bounce back once the coronavirus passes. Cruise Lines International Association, the world’s largest cruise industry trade organisation, says 17.8mn people took an ocean cruise in 2009, compared with last year’s 31mn, demonstrating its continually growing popularity. About half of all passengers are from North America and analysts say they are unlikely to be perturbed by events on vessels in Asia.

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during his first cabinet meeting next to a new appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, following a reshuff le the day before, © 2020 Gulf Times. All rights reserved at Downing Street in London. Gulf Times Monday, February 24, 2020 23 COMMENT Citizens of nowhere: Trump ban raises fear for US Rohingya

AFP After getting a green card fi ve Eff ectively putting a halt to entries Chicago years ago, she attended classes at the from those nations, it is not supposed Rohingya Cultural Centre in Chicago, a to bar refugees fl eeing persecution, the Midwestern city that is home to around State Department said. refugee from Myanmar’s a quarter of America’s Rohingya. But Azeem Ibrahim, director of the tyrannised Rohingya At its height, the Rohingya displacement and migration program minority, Lila Mubarak population numbered about 800,000 at the Center for Global Policy, believes Aembodies perfectly the “poor, in Myanmar, a small fraction of the the message from the White House is huddled masses” welcomed to the country’s mostly Buddhist population clear. United States for more than a century of 54mn. “Somebody in this administration by a bronze plaque at the foot of the Mistreated for generations, they probably realised that this is among Statue of Liberty. were stripped of their citizenship the largest refugee population in The 27-year-old beams as she in 1982 and denied education and the world,” said the author of The recounts her diffi cult path to healthcare. Rohingyas: Inside Myanmar’s Hidden citizenship a few short years after Then in 2013, religious tensions Genocide. fl eeing persecution in her homeland to heightened and many Rohingya “So if you want to stop refugees make a new life in America’s third city, villages were torched, forcing nearly you’re going to include one of the Chicago. 200,000 into camps. largest populations.” “I’m so happy to be an American Myanmar’s army has been accused Back at the Chicago Rohingya center, citizen because I was stateless. This of mass murder, systematic rape and English and citizenship teacher Susan is a fi rst for me,” Mubarak said after other abuse amounting to what the Chestnut says that when she started becoming naturalised a few days ago. US Holocaust Memorial Museum two years ago she was shocked at the But fears are growing in America’s describes as compelling evidence low level of literacy among those she 8,000-strong community of Rohingya of ethnic cleansing, crimes against was helping. — a Muslim ethnic group described as humanity and genocide. “Imagine not knowing how to use a one of the world’s most oppressed — Abdul Jabbar Amanullah, who fl ed in pencil. that they might be among the last to 2012, works as a senior case manager Most of them never had been in benefi t from American largesse. at the Rohingya center, helping new school until they started my classes,” President Donald Trump’s inclusion arrivals get work. the Chicago-area native told AFP. of Myanmar beginning Friday on a Many are employed to clean O’Hare Chestnut too believes that Trump’s list of countries with harsh US entry International Airport or wash dishes at Lila Mubarak receives a certificate of naturalisation during a ceremony in Chicago. visa restrictions are intended to convey restrictions has laid bare the frailty of a nearby casino. Washington’s enmity to a people the community’s prospects for peace. “The jobs are good for new Rohingya of village life back home. harmony. That’s it.” twisted the words last summer. whose “resilience and courage” amazes Mubarak’s journey to the shores residents because they don’t require He talks online to his parents and Poet Emma Lazarus’s 1883 sonnet “Give me your tired and your poor her daily. of Lake Michigan — she came via much English at all and the pay isn’t several siblings who remain — cell on the Statue of Liberty enjoins the who can stand on their own two feet “They are not terrorists, they are not Malaysia — mirrors the stories of many bad,” Amanullah said, adding that phones are illegal for Rohingya in downtrodden Old World: “Give me your and who will not become a public bad people. They don’t understand. I Rohingya. while many work for $15 an hour, a few Myanmar — and hopes one day to see tired, your poor, your huddled masses charge,” he said. teach them that, as a citizen, one of the Growing up, she never imagined have been able to buy their own homes. them again. yearning to breathe free, the wretched The president’s infamous “travel most important things you can do is exile in America because she had no The centre’s director Nasir Zakaria, “We just want to live like other refuse of your teeming shore.” ban” places tight visa controls on 13 vote, having a voice,” she said. reason to fl ee her southeast Asian who escaped Myanmar as a 14-year- people. We want citizenship rights, For many, acting Homeland Security countries, including the newly added “They’ve never had that. They don’t homeland, formerly known as Burma old by paddling to Bangladesh, says freedom of religion, freedom of Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli Myanmar, Nigeria, Eritrea, Sudan and know what it means to be a citizen. before the country’s ruling junta made the Rohingya love their adoptive speech. We want to live together distilled Washington’s shift in attitude Tanzania, as well as former Soviet state They are citizens of nowhere but they the switch in 1989. community, which has the familiarity with other groups here in peace and to refugees under Trump when he Kyrgyzstan. consider America their country.”

Three-day forecast

White extremists on the rise ODAY T Maximum Temperature : 270c Minimum Temperature : 190c AFP One attack “encourages and inspires Replacement theory, based on the DGSI domestic intelligence service Paris another, creating a growing ‘canon’ title of a 2011 book by French writer Nicolas Lerner told investigators the TUESDAY of ‘saints’ and ‘martyrs’ for others Renaud Camus. chances were “extremely limited” Maximum Temperature : 280c to emulate,” he wrote — noting that Anais Voy-Gillis, an extreme right that these movements would have the Minimum Temperature : 220c ability to work together at a European hey may lack centralised or- Norwegian neo-Nazi Anders Behring specialist at the French Institute WEDNESDAY ganisation or even a common Breivik, who massacred 77 people in of Geopolitics, said: “The current level. Maximum Temperature : 250c goal, but white supremacists 2011, had become “an aspirational context, with notably the migrant But within a country’s borders, the Minimum Temperature : 160c encouraged by the exploits fi gure” for many. crisis of 2015, has surely contributed to threat is real. T Fisherman's forecast of extremist “heroes” canonised on According to the Soufan Centre, the radicalisation of many people who German Interior Minister Horst social media pose an ever-growing a global security think-tank, white are now ready to cross over to action.” Seehofer said on Friday that right- WARNING security threat, analysts say. supremacism has entered a phase Not only fringe sites are used to wing extremism was the “biggest Inshore : Poor visibility expected over some most areas After nine people in Germany were of globalisation driven by niche spread messages of fear, hate, and security threat” facing his country, as at first killed by a gunman with “a very deeply websites popular among neo-Nazis, racial superiority. he announced a more visible police Offshore : Expected poor visibility racist attitude,” the country’s interior such as Gab and 8chan, and even The gunman who attacked two presence and bolstered surveillance at at some places at first WEATHER minister on Friday warned that the far the so-called “white power” music mosques in Christchurch, New mosques, train stations, airports and Inshore : Misty to foggy over right still posed a “very high” security scene. Zealand, last March, killing 51 Muslim borders. most areas at first threat. “White supremacy extremists worshippers, live-streamed his attack In the United States, an FBI report becomes moderate last November showed that 65% of temperature daytime The shootings on Wednesday at rely on a diverse set of techniques to live on Facebook. with some clouds, a shisha bar and a cafe in the city of radicalise potential recruits,” it said A few months later, an anti-Semitic “lone wolf” perpetrators of terror relatively cold by night Hanau were the latest in a growing list in a recent report, with attackers attack in the east German city of Halle, attacks where white. Offshore : Misty at times and of attacks in the West attributed to “lionised” on such platforms which claimed two lives, was posted Nearly a fi fth (19%) of 52 such some clouds with chance of fog self-appointed defenders of a “white “as heroes, martyrs, ‘saints,’ on the streaming platform Twitch. attacks committed in the United States WIND race” perceived to be under threat ‘commanders’ and other honorifi cs.” “There are many radical groups between 1972 and 2015 were motivated Inshore : Mainly Southeasterly from migration, globalisation and White extremists do not share a in the world and the internet is a by ideologies “advocating for the 05-15 /18KT Offshore : Southeasterly-Easterly Islam. single, common goal — some seek self facilitator for them to get together superiority of the white race,” it found. 03-12/15 KT From Christchurch to Pittsburg, rule, others the expulsion of minorities nationally and even internationally,” It was the same percentage as Visibility : 4-8/2 KM Halle to El Paso, militants have been — but all believe their “race” to be Voy-Gillis said. attackers motivated by radical Islamist Offshore : 1-3/4 FT emboldened by a narrative of hatred under threat. In Europe, a well-organised co- doctrine. spread on the Internet with an ease “Many adherents to transnational ordination of far-right eff orts seems “For almost two decades, the Around the region that observers fi nd worrying. white supremacy extremism hold unlikely, for now. United States has pointed abroad Weather Weather “This digital ecosystem is fuelling a millenarian and apocalyptic beliefs Last June, a French parliamentary at countries who are exporters of today Max/min tomorrow Max/min cumulative momentum, which serves about an imminent race war, with committee conducted an analysis extreme Islamist ideology,” Russell Baghdad Cloudy 26/16 Rain 22/11 to lower ‘thresholds’ to violence for some ardent believers in the end of of far-right groups in the country, Travers, acting director of the National Kuwait City M Cloudy 24/18 Cloudy 27/14 those engaged in this space, both in time and infl uenced by elements of including attempts to make contact Counterterrorism Centre, said in Manama P Cloudy 27/19 P Cloudy 29/19 the United States and elsewhere,” Christian identity,” Soufan said. with like-minded organisations November. Muscat P Cloudy 28/22 Sunny 30/23 Graham Macklin, assistant professor Some believe their governments elsewhere in Europe, notably in “We are now being seen as the Tehran M Cloudy 16/09 Rain 12/07 at the Centre for Research on are conspiring with minority Germany, Greece, Belgium, Italy, exporters of white supremacist Extremism at the University of Oslo, populations to bring about their Britain, Spain and Austria. ideology; that’s a reality with which we said in a recent article. demise — the so-called Great At the time, the boss of France’s are going to have to deal,” he said.

Live issues In brains of dead athletes, researchers seek clues to head trauma Around the world Weather Weather By Angela Moore research by former football players or adopted its concussion protocol to pledged $100mn towards player safety today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Boston their families. assess head injuries, and players were amid concerns about concussions. Athens Sunny 18/08 Sunny 18/08 That centre’s research is vital to “taught to be tough” and “you just A 2018 report showed the NFL had Beirut M Sunny 17/13 S Showers 18/13 learning about a degenerative brain kind of just dealt with it,” he said. approved more than $500mn in Bangkok Sunny 35/23 M Sunny 35/24 r Ann McKee of Boston disease known as chronic traumatic Marshall suff ered mood swings concussion-claims settlements. Berlin S Showers 08/03 P Cloudy 08/02 University studies the encephalopathy (CTE), she said, which and memory losses for years after he Dr Ann McKee, Chief of Cairo S Showers 17/10 P Cloudy 20/10 brains of deceased football can only be defi nitively diagnosed retired from the NFL at the end of the Neuropathology, VA Boston Cape Town Sunny 27/16 Sunny 28/17 Dplayers at the world’s postmortem. 1994 season. examines the brain of a 47-year Colombo P Cloudy 31/25 M Sunny 30/26 largest brain bank, hoping to learn Among those who hope her research “I drove seven miles to a Publix old former college football player Dhaka P Cloudy 29/19 Showers 26/18 about the long-term impact of may help is Leonard Marshall, 58, star grocery store. I had no idea why I looking for signs of CTE in Boston, Hong Kong P Cloudy 21/19 P Cloudy 23/19 repeated head traumas for people player for the New York Giants from drove there,” he said. Massachusetts, US on January 16, Istanbul M Cloudy 13/04 Sunny 13/07 ranging from professional athletes to 1983-1992, who may be best known While McKee’s critics have accused 2020. Jakarta T Storm 29/24 S T Storms 30/25 victims of domestic abuse. for a hard hit on San Francisco 49ers her of trying to ruin football, she said She said repetitive head trauma Karachi Sunny 29/18 P Cloudy 29/18 “For the last 12 years, we’ve really quarterback Joe Montana during the that on the contrary, “I’m trying to victims include “hockey players, London Rain 12/04 S Showers 09/02 focused on the long-term eff ects of NFC Championship Game in 1990. save football players.” soccer players, rugby, military Manila M Sunny 32/23 M Sunny 32/23 head trauma, including what we call Montana would not play another “To see them come in with this veterans, as well as victims of Moscow M Cloudy 04/-3 P Cloudy 02/-4 repetitive head trauma,” where the regular season game for almost two disease and to see their lives cut short domestic abuse.” New Delhi Fog 26/14 Sunny 26/14 impact doesn’t cause a concussion, years, and Marshall also was badly and to see them declining at such early Symptoms of the disease may begin New York P Cloudy 13/07 Showers 09/07 said McKee, chief of neuropathology hurt. ages. That’s what really hits me. And with headaches and a loss of focus, Paris P Cloudy 14/07 S Showers 11/03 at VA Boston University and director of In a recent interview with Reuters that’s what I want to stop,” she said. and progress to depression, mood Sao Paulo S Showers 26/19 S T Storms 28/21 the CTE Centre of Boston University. from his New Jersey home, Marshall NFL greats Dave Duerson and swings and short-term memory Seoul P Cloudy 13/01 Rain 09/03 The VA-Boston University- said after the impact, he didn’t Junior Seau were diagnosed with CTE loss. Other symptoms include visual Singapore S T Storms 31/26 P Cloudy 32/26 Concussion Legacy Foundation Brain “remember ever getting up off the after killing themselves. In 2016, the or spatial diffi culties, aggression, Sydney P Cloudy 24/18 M Sunny 26/20 Bank in Boston houses 850 human ground.” league allotted $40 million in funding impulsivity, suicidal tendencies and Tokyo Clear 15/04 Cloudy 16/05 brains, most of them donated for This was long before the NFL towards neuroscience research, and dementia. - Reuters Gulf Times 24 Monday, February 24, 2020 QATAR

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and King Abdullah II of Jordan holding off icial talks at Al Husseiniya Palace in Amman yesterday. Amir, King Abdullah hold official talks From Page 1 al-Hussein; Prince Faisal bin al-Hussein, Representatives Atef Tarawneh; a lineup Adviser to the King and Chairman of of ministers and senior military and civil The talks were attended on the the National Policies Council; Prince off icials; ambassador of Qatar to Jordan Jordanian side by President of the Jordan Ali bin al-Hussein, President of Jordan Sheikh Saud bin Nasser bin Jassim Football Association Prince Ali bin al- Football Association; Prince Hashim al-Thani; Jordan’s ambassador to Qatar Hussein, Prime Minister Dr Omar Razzaz, bin al-Hussein ,Chief Royal Councillor; Zaid Mufleh al-Lawzi and members of and a number of ministers, advisers at a lineup of princes; Prime Minister of the Qatari embassy in Jordan. the Royal Hashemite Court, and ranking Jordan Dr Omar Razzaz; Chief of the His Highness the Amir was accorded an military off icials. Royal Hashemite Court Yousef al- off icial reception ceremony at the airport, Earlier upon arrival at the Queen Alia Isawi; Minister of Foreign Aff airs and which included the 21-cannon salute and International Airport for a two-day Expatriates Ayman Safadi; President playing the national anthems of the two His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and King Abdullah II of Jordan review the guard of honour at off icial visit, His Highness the Amir of the Jordanian Senate Dr Faisal al- countries. The Amir is accompanied by Queen Alia International Airport in Amman yesterday. was welcomed by King Abdullah II bin Fayez; Speaker of Jordan’s House of an off icial delegation. Amir’s visit to Jordan to enhance mutual investment opportunities

QNA ties. In an interview with Qatari the delegations of the private ue, the chairman of Qatar Cham- Sheikh Khalifa clarifi ed that the President of Jordanian Senate hails ties Doha newspaper (Lusail) published sector, noting that a high-level ber stressed. Qatari investments in Jordan are yesterday, HE Sheikh Khalifa Qatari trade visit will be organ- HE Sheikh Khalifa added that diverse and include many dif- President of Jordanian Senate Dr Faisal al-Fayez aff irmed the depth said that Jordan is an important ised to the Jordanian capital soon the trade exchange between the ferent sectors, and focus on the of the brotherly Jordanian-Qatari relations, saying that it is based on E the Chairman of Qatar country for the Qatari economy, to enhance co-operation and two countries achieved 18% energy, real estate, tourism, fi - mutual respect and serving the interests of the two fraternal countries Chamber Sheikh Kha- and therefore there is an eff ort achieve everything that serves growth in 2018, amounting to nancial and stock sectors. He and peoples. Speaking to QNA, Dr al-Fayez stressed that the leaders of Hlifa bin Jassim al-Thani to improve relations to serve the the economies of the two coun- about 1.3bn riyals, compared to also added that the Qatari mar- the two countries are keen on developing these close relations. affi rmed that His Highness the economies of both countries. He tries. He underlined that there 1.1bn riyals in 2017, noting that ket witnessed the entry of about In Jordan, the leadership and the people, believe that the security and Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad pointed out that the visit will will be a direct refl ection of the the two sides are looking for a 175 new Jordanian companies stability of the Arab Gulf states is part of Jordan’s national security al-Thani’s visit to Jordan will have an impact on increasing Qa- results of this visit on the volume greater increase in intra-regional during the fi rst nine months of and Jordan rejects any interference in their aff airs, he pointed have economic and commer- tari investments in the kingdom of Qatari investments in Jor- trade in line with the capabili- 2019 through partnerships and out. He stressed the importance of building on the relations of the cial returns in the private sector in the coming period. dan, as it is expected to witness ties available in both Qatar and alliances with Qatari companies, two brotherly countries, especially in the diff icult circumstances in the two brotherly countries, The Qatar Chamber chairman an increase during the coming Jordan. bringing the number of Qatari- experienced by the Arab nation, which needs to unify the joint eff orts to pointing out that the Amir’s indicated that the communica- period in the various Jordanian With regard to investments Jordanian joint companies oper- face the dangers and challenges. tours always open wide horizons tion between the Jordanian and economic sectors. between the two countries and ating in the Qatari market to 1,725 He also indicated that Jordan, based on its fraternal relations with for the private sector to enhance Qatari private sector continues The fl ow of Jordanian goods to the sectors in which these in- companies, compared to 1,550 Qatar, is aspiring for the increase of Qatari investments to create mutual investment opportuni- during the mutual visits between Qatar and vice versa will contin- vestments are concentrated, HE companies by the end of 2018. opportunities for Jordanian labour.