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Aamal Stage set for posts QR1.28bn LGCT season revenue opener at Al for 2018 Shaqab Arena

Thursday 28 February 2019 | 23 Jumada II 1440 www.thepeninsula.qa Volume 23 | Number 7816 | 2 Riyals

The big Ooredoo Your home internet will now be Supernet boost up to 5x faster for FREE! Terms & conditions apply Amir directs to support Somali budget with QR73m

Qatar plays an luncheon banquet yesterday in important role in the honour of President of the implementation of Federal Republic of and many vital projects the delegation accompanying him, at the Amiri Diwan. The for development, banquet was attended by Their reconstruction and Excellencies the Ministers. rehabilitation in The delegation accompa- Somalia. nying President Farmaajo includes ministers of the federal government; Minister of Finance Abdirahman Duale Beyle and QNA Minister of Ports and Marine Transport Mariam Aweis Jama. has strong relations Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin with Somalia which are an Hamad Al Thani discussed with example of the strong ties the President of the Federal inherent in the two countries’ Republic of Somalia, Mohamed common history. The mutual Abdullahi Farmaajo, the strong visits of senior officials of the two bilateral relations between both countries have strengthen these countries and ways to boost ties. and develop them in various The two countries’ relations fields. enjoy full support by the two During the talks held yes- countries’ leaderships as part of terday at the Amiri Diwan, the their keenness to develop developments in Somalia were bilateral cooperation in the fields reviewed and H H the Amir of trade, economy, investment, directed to support the Somali culture and others. government budget for 2019 with Relations between the two QR73m. countries are based on a combi- The discussions covered a nation of common ties, founda- number of regional and interna- tions, interests, aspirations and tional issues of common interest. objectives. Amir H H Sheikh with the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, at The discussions were attended These relations are governed the Amir Diwan, yesterday. by a number of Their Excel- by a range of agreements, lencies the ministers. including agreements to avoid economic, trade and technical youth economically, by securing witnessing a remarkable devel- of both sides. From the Somali side, the double taxation, prevent cooperation and a convention on more than 75,000 jobs in opment, which is reflected in the Qatar plays an important role discussions were attended by financial evasion, promote and the employment of Somali Somalia. mutual coordination between the in the implementation of many members of the official dele- protect mutual investments, a workers in Qatar. The political relations two sides in regional and inter- vital projects for development, gation the President. convention on maritime In addition, there are three between the State of Qatar and national forums on issues of reconstruction and rehabilitation H H the Amir hosted a transport, an agreement on agreements to empower Somali the Republic of Somalia are also mutual interest for the interests in Somalia. IPU General Assembly to focus on education Qatar urges India

IRFAN BUKHARI and Qatar’s embassies and dip- THE PENINSULA lomatic missions abroad. and to “I look forward to hosting Speaker of Shura Council, Their Excellencies Heads of Par- H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid liaments and participating del- exercise restraint Al Mahmoud, has said that prep- egations, in order to work with arations for hosting 140th them on achieving the goals of QNA to shoulder their responsibility session of the General Assembly the IPU and to enhance cooper- DOHA as great powers to safeguard of the Inter-Parliamentary Union ation and friendship ties between regional and international peace (IPU) in Qatar from April 6 to 10 all parliaments of the world,” he The State of Qatar has and security and the interests of were complete. added. announced that it is monitoring both peoples,” the statement H E the Speaker said that the Talking to The Peninsula on the developments in the added. theme of 140th session of the the sidelines of the event, the Republic of India and the Islamic General Assembly of the IPU will Ambassadors of various coun- Republic of Pakistan with great FLIGHTS SUSPENDED be ‘parliaments as platforms to tries appreciated Qatar’s hosting concern and called on all parties Meanwhile in a related enhance education for peace, of IPU General Assembly session. to exercise restraint and to give development, Qatar Civil Avi- security and the rule of law’ in Ambassador of to voice to wisdom. ation Authority (QCAA) order to highlight the importance Qatar, Fikret Ozer, said that it In a statement yesterday, the announced yesterday the sus- of education. Speaker of Shura Council, H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al would be a big event which Ministry of Foreign Affairs wel- pension of all commercial flights H E the Speaker of Shura Mahmoud, addressing guests at the reception. would prove important for all comed the calls made by offi- from the State of Qatar to the PIC:SALIM MATRAMKOT/THE PENINSULA Council yesterday met with nations. “I am happy that Qatar cials in both countries, stressing Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Ambassadors and Heads of dip- is hosting IPU session which will that they did not want further The decision was made lomatic missions as part of the session would contribute to parliaments in representing the be beneficial for all participating escalation. The statement called based on a NOTAM notification ongoing preparations for holding strengthening international hopes and aspirations of people,” countries including Turkey,” he for an endeavour to resolve the issued by Pakistan saying that the 140th session of the General cooperation, establish peace and the Speaker said added. existing dispute through diplo- its airspace is closed to com- Assembly of the Inter-Parlia- prosperity worldwide. H E the Speaker said that Ewa Polano, Ambassador of matic and political channels and mercial flights. mentary Union. “The complicated conditions formal invitations to parliaments Sweden to Qatar said that she non-escalation. The authority said that it will He said that the preparations that many regions around the had been dispatched through a was glad that Qatar was hosting “Both countries have great monitor the situation and take would provide all that was world face today require a high- mechanism of IPU and Qatar the IPU General Assembly weight and influence in their the appropriate measures required to ensure a positive level international participation would also sent copies of those session which she said showed surroundings. Therefore, the regarding them in order to outcome of the joint parlia- in this year’s general assembly invitations to all embassies Qatar’s interest to reach out to State of Qatar wishes the gov- ensure the safety of passengers mentary work. He said that the in order to reflect the role of accredited to the State of Qatar the world. `P4 ernments of the two countries and planes. `P14, 15

Public Health Cabinet approves draft law on biometric signature SPONSORS ‘Better The Physical and Together’ Rehabilitation initiative Medicine at by PHCC Al-Ahli Hospital

MAIN SPONSOR QNA at using modern science tools Jafali Al Nuaimi stated that the of the provisions of Decision combating and preventing all PAGE | 2 PAGE | 4-5 DOHA to control and detect the perpe- Cabinet reviewed topics on its No. 40 of 2017 concerning the kinds of drugs, supporting and SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2019 trators through the estab- meeting’s agenda. establishment of the National coordinating the efforts of the The Cabinet, in its meeting that lishment of a database for The Cabinet approved a Committee for Combating State’s various organs in this ‘I can, we can’ - beat cancer burden was chaired by the Prime biometric identification of draft law amending some pro- Drugs. field, coordinating with the Minister and Interior Minister voice, eye, face, hand, teeth and visions of Decree Law No. 14 This committee, which is Ministry of Public Health H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser others. for 1993 concerning passports established at the Ministry of regarding its plans and pro- Included with bin Khalifa Al Thani, yesterday Following the meeting, and to refer it to the Shura the Interior, is specialized in grams in combating and pre- today’s edition is a approved a draft law on Minister of Justice and Acting Council. setting up public policy, coor- venting drugs and treating and biometric signature. The prep- Minister of State for Cabinet The Cabinet approved a dinating official and non- rehabilitating of drug abusers. special supplement aration of the draft law is aimed Affairs H E Dr. Issa bin Saad Al draft decision to amend some official efforts in the field of `P6 02 HOME THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2019

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everyday new deals THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2019 HOME 03 Qatar and Iraq review bilateral relations

Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani met yesterday with the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Republic of Iraq, Dr Qusai Al Suhail, and his accompanying delegation, on the occasion of their visit to the country. During the meeting, they reviewed relations between both countries and ways to boost and develop them, especially in the fields of education and scientific research, in addition to a number of topics of common interest.

Workshop highlights Qatar’s obligations under its accession to Rights Covenants

QNA constitute a strong structure for the development of human rights DOHA understanding and consolidating standards and formed the basis the contents of the two interna- for the adoption of a number of The National Human Rights tional covenants, pointing out the subsequent human rights conven- Committee (NHRC) concluded a participants have reached an tions, such as the Convention workshop on Qatar’s obligations important meaning, and that there against Torture and Other Cruel, under its accession to both the is something worthy to be placed Inhuman or Degrading Treatment International Covenant on Civil in the spotlight is the accession of or Punishment or the rights of a and Political Rights and the Inter- Qatar to the International Cove- particular group such as the Con- national Covenant on Economic, nants. He noted this accession vention on the Elimination of All Social and Cultural Rights. constitutes an advanced step in Forms of Discrimination against The workshop organised in the State’s interest in protecting Women (CEDAW). partnership with the UN Office for and promoting human rights and The Deputy Director of the UN the Training and Documentation safeguarding the rights of citizens Office for Training and Documen- of Human Rights in South-West and residents on its territory. tation for South-West Asia and the Asia and the Arab Region. Al Mughaiseeb added that the Arab Region, Alaa Qaoud, said the NHRC member Dr Abdulaziz two International Covenants workshop aims at educating Al Mughaiseeb, said in a press enjoyed a distinguished place in employees of government insti- statement that the workshop was international human rights law, tutions on the rights and guar- rich in working papers that where their texts contributed to antees of the two Covenants. 04 HOME THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2019

Amir congratulates President of Nigeria

QNA / DOHA

Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani sent yesterday a cable of congratulations to President Muhammadu Buhari on the occasion of his re-election as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Deputy Amir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani also sent cables of congratulations to President Muhammadu Buhari on the occasion of his re-election. Semi-govt firms can process visas at centres abroad The Ambassadors during a reception by Speaker of Shura Council, H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud, on the occasion of 140th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and Associated Meetings yesterday. PIC: SALIM MATRAMKOT/THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA DOHA

IPU General Assembly to focus on education The Visa Support Services Department at the General Directorate of Passports FROM PAGE 1 The Ambassador said that the and the theme of this year’s Qatar, Hans-Udo Muzel, said that yesterday organised a seminar “It will be a big event and the Swedish members of the par- session is very good which high- a strong delegation of members for semi-governmental theme of the IPU Assembly is also liament would also hold separate lights importance of education.” of the parliament of companies to introduce their great. What Qatar already done meeting with some ministers in She said that five members would attend the IPU Assembly. work visa procedures through in field of education is highly Qatar. of parliament from The Nether- “Vice President of German Par- Qatar Visa Centers abroad. through an integrated impressive,” she said, adding that Bahia Tahzib-Lie, Ambas- lands would attend the Assembly liament will also participate in the During the seminar, Major recruitment system after regis- a delegation of 11 to 12 parliamen- sador of The Netherlands to Qatar, which she said would be a very IPU Assembly with 8 to 10 General Abdullah Khalifa Al tering with the Ministry of tarians from Sweden would par- said: “I am happy that Qatar is ‘rewarding programme’. members of the parliament,” he Mohannadi (pictured), Director Interior and obtaining the ref- ticipate in the session. hosting the IPU General Assembly Ambassador of Germany to added. of Visa Support Services erence number for the expa- Department, provided an expla- triate to complete its procedures nation to the representatives of through the Center. Marine shooting the semi-governmental com- The first phase of the project panies about the Qatar Visa is focusing on expats from eight range to be active Burns Unit uses the latest Center abroad and the proce- countries that will host 20 from March 3 to May 1 dures related to recruitment. centers. Those countries are Sri He also said that the QVCs Lanka, Indonesia, Nepal, equipment and techniques abroad, come within the Tunisia, Pakistan, India, Bang- QNA framework of the keenness of ladesh, and Philippines. Al DOHA FAZEENA SALEEM comprehensive burn care to HMC’s efforts to transform many Qatar to protect the rights of Mohannadi said that private and THE PENINSULA patients of all ages. We treat of its key clinical services in expatriates and facilitate their semi-governmental companies General patients from the time of acute response to managing the work procedures in a simplified ought to bring expats to Qatar Command announced Qatar’s only dedicated Burns injury through to long-term healthcare requirements of and effective manner. through those visa centres. yesterday that the marine Unit, located at Hamad Medical rehabilitation. Many of our Qatar’s growing population. The “The Center project abroad The services available at those shooting range (O.T.D-28) Corporation’s (HMC) Al Wakra patients are transferred from modern, purpose-built facility provides services including fin- centres are taking fingerprints, located in the East of Mesaieed Hospital, receives 10,000 other hospitals across the uses the latest equipment and gerprinting for the expatriate recording vital statistics, per- near Fasht Al Hadid will be patients at its outpatient clinics country,” said Dr Noora Ahmed techniques to treat both severely worker, registration of vital data, forming medical examinations, active starting March 3 to May annually. Al Thamimi, Consultant Plastic burned patients and those with medical examinations and and signing employment con- 1, daily from 6am to 5pm. Also 130 patients with burn and Burn Rumailah Hospital, minor burn related injuries. Sit- signing of the employment con- tracts. He said that all the steps The area is 40km east of related injuries who were Burn Unit, Al Wakra Hospital, uated over two floors at Al Waka tract, he mentioned. required to submit applications Mesaieed at a 105 degrees East treated in the pediatric unit, 240 speaking to media recently. Hospital, the Burns Unit has a Al Mohannadi said through through the Qatar Visa Center of Mesaied port near Fasht Al patients who required surgical “We offer the advanced dedicated operating room, inpa- the Centers, both the employer abroad are available on the Hadid and extends all the way intervention and 270 patients treatment and plastic surgery tient rooms, an occupational and the expatriate will be able website of the Ministry of Interior to the south of Shuraawa island. who were treated as methods such as allograft and therapy room, consulting rooms to play their role accurately and its Metrash 2 service. The Qatari Armed Forces inpatients. fat graft depending on the con- for outpatients, and reception General Command warned those Burns Unit uses the latest dition of the patient ,” she added. and recovery spaces. who frequent the area to take equipment and techniques to The Burns Unit at Al Wakra Patients treated at the Burns Qatar participates in Council of precautions for their own safety. treat both severely burned Hospital was relocated from Unit are supported around the patients and those with minor Rumailah Hospital in 2014. The clock by physicians from dif- Arab Ministers of Health meeting Souq Waqif honey burn related injuries. state-of-the-art facility was ferent medical and surgical spe- “The Burns Unit provides moved to Al Wakra as part of cialties. They work together as QNA legislation in Arab countries, exhibition opens today a team to assess a patient’s DOHA pioneering experiences in the injuries and develop the most health field of the State of Qatar, QNA appropriate course of care. The State of Qatar will partic- Palestine, and the State of DOHA “The care a patient needs ipate in the meetings of the 51st , the establishment of the depends upon the severity of the Ordinary Session of the Council Arab Center Cooperation and The second Souq Waqif Honey burn. More serious injuries will of Arab Ministers of Health, set Research on HIV / AIDS and the Exhibition 2019, organised in require treatment by a larger to be held today at the General establishment of the Arab Center cooperation with the Ministry multidisciplinary team,” said Dr Secretariat of the League of Arab for Medical Research. of Commerce and Industry and Al Thamimi. States in . The participants will also with the participation of the “A patient who is critically ill The delegation of the State discuss topics related to the Arab Ministry of Municipality and or having trauma related injuries of Qatar will be chaired by Authority for Blood Transfusion Environment, will begin today. may first be monitored at the Assistant Minister of Health Services, the Arab Board for The event will conclude on Medical Intensive Care Unit at Affairs at the Ministry of Public Health Specialties, the Arab March 7. A total of 124 com- Hamad General Hospital, before Health H E Dr Saleh Ali Al Marri. Fund for Health Development, panies from 20 countries are being transferred to the Burns The meetings will discuss a and the annual Arab Ministerial taking part in the second Unit once their condition stabi- number of important topics, Forum on Organ Transplan- The patient room at Burns Unit of HMC’s Al Wakra Hospital. edition. lizes,” she added. notably the unifying of health tation, Tissue and Human Cells. Huawei elicits massive response at MWC 2019 RAYNALD C RIVERA new ICT products and operations & maintenance THE PENINSULA IN BARCELONA solutions. (O&M) are among the end-to- Obviously, Huawei Mate X, end 5G products and solutions As curtains come down today on said to be the world’s fastest 5G Huawei is showcasing at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) foldable phone launched on the event, offerings set to help oper- Barcelona 2019, Chinese tech eve of MWC19 opening, is the ators quickly deploy 5G net- giant Huawei has once again star of the show. Visitors, who works on a large scale. Huawei proved its formidable presence turn up in large numbers to see has also launched the SoftCOM at one of the world’s largest the phone behind a glass case, AI solution, which will help build annual event on the mobile tech- couldn’t wait when it goes on autonomous driving networks nology industry attracting thou- sale second quarter of this year. of the future and maximize the sands of visitors to its vast exhi- “It’s the most head-turning value of telecom networks. bition space. foldable phone I’ve seen to date The industry’s fastest The biggest among hundreds and it’s so unique because it’s the OceanStor Dorado series all flash of participating exhibitors, Hua- only one with 5G,” said Chris storage, the world’s first AI- wei’s elaborately designed main Smith, one of the visitors who powered data center switch, the pavilion has been a major expressed interest to be one of world’s first Wi-Fi 6 access point crowd-puller at the four-day the first proud owners of the (AP) for commercial use, and the event being held at Fira de Bar- phone. X series cameras – the world’s celona under the banner “Intel- With its attractive design and first AI-powered software- ligent Connections.” multitude of features and func- defined cameras were among Many of the visitors who tions, Smith believes it’s defi- the multitude of products on thronged the different sections nitely worth the 2,299 euros show at Huawei’s main pavilion. of Huawei’s massive pavilion price tag. Apart from the exhibitions, were in awe of the sheer number Foldable phones, IoT, Huawei also hosts forums and and variety of emerging tech- immersive content and 5G are keynotes as well as hold a wide nologies on show — from 5G and among the main themes at this range of discussions with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to year’s congress. operator customers and partners Visitors take photos of recently unveiled Huawei Mate X at Huawei’s main pavilion at the Mobile World Internet of Things (IoT) and Simplified 5G sites, archi- from around the world at Congress 2019 which concludes today. PIC: RAYNALD C RIVERA/THE PENINSULA Cloud, in addition to its brand tecture, protocols, and MWC19. THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2019 HOME 05 06 HOME THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2019 Qatar, League of Arab States discuss issues Ooredoo launches Mobile Data Plan Management System

THE PENINSULA Google Assistant. aimed to strengthen Ooredoo DOHA In order to keep Hala cus- Qatar’s global technology and tomers fully informed about innovation leadership, and Ooredoo announced yesterday their mobile data balance, cus- transforming our customer at Mobile World Congress a new tomers will receive an auto- experience.” partnership with Google to matic notification when they are Supporting widespread become the MENA region’s first about to run out of data. take-up, Hala customers who telecommunications company Waleed Al Sayed, Chief recharge their mobile data plans to launch a data plan Executive Officer, Ooredoo with Google can receive double management system. The Qatar, said: “Ooredoo continues data for a limited time through service can be accessed by voice to deliver at the forefront of the introductory campaign with the Google Assistant, digital transformation, and period. Bonus data is available enhancing the experiences of Mobile World Congress is a until midnight the next day after millions of customers by making perfect platform to announce recharging. it easier and faster to check and our collaboration with Google. Currently, Hala customers recharge prepaid mobile data. The news today will make it can choose from three different Thanks to the partnership, easier for our customers to recharge values: QR5, which Ooredoo Qatar’s prepaid Hala manage their data plans. provides 210 MB of mobile data customers will be able to check As more of our customers until midnight, QR10, which and top up their mobile data need mobile data for work and provides 500 MB of mobile data plans from Settings on their leisure, the collaboration with until midnight, or QR30, which Android phones or by using Google on data plan man- provides 1 GB of mobile data voice commands from the agement is one of many projects available until midnight. The Secretary-General of League of Arab States, Ahmed Abo Al Ghait, met yesterday with Qatar’s Permanent Representative to the League of Arab States, Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al Sahlawi. The meeting dealt with the latest Arab-world developments, in addition to discussing issues of joint interest. Cabinet approves draft law on biometric signature

FROM PAGE 1 implementation of the general The Cabinet also approved the The Cabinet moreover policy of the two awards and proposal of the Ministry of Edu- approved a proposal to reform the declaring the two awards and the cation and Higher Education on committee of the Board of schedule for accepting nomina- the dates of study and holidays in Trustees of the State’s Recognition tions. It will be evaluating the schools for the academic years and Encouragement Awards. intellectual and creative per- 2020/2021, 2021/2022 and This committee, established formance of the candidates for the 2022/2023. at the Ministry of Culture and State’s Recognition Award, iden- It also approved a draft air Sports, is responsible for super- tifying the winners, and services agreement between the vising the awards issues in order announcing the final result and Government of the State of Qatar to achieve their goals. proposing the necessary financial and the Government of the The officials at the event pose for a picture. It will be supervising the allocations for the two awards. Republic of Haiti. Education Minister of Iraq praises Qatar’s educational system

QNA cooperation between the two sides in the between the two countries and the pos- demographic size, but to their political role DOHA application of international standards and sibility of signing memoranda of under- and influence, he said, noting that the State the promotion of this cooperation to serve standing and scientific agreements in this of Qatar has demonstrated during the last The Minister of Higher Education and mutual interests at the international level. field. He said the atmosphere they have period its good moral impact in the overall Scientific Research of the Republic of Iraq, The Minister stressed that both coun- seen and experienced during the visit is events in the region. It is appropriate for Dr Qusai Al Suhail (pictured), hailed the tries are also interested in strengthening positive, and the brothers in Qatar have States with such a heavyweight to meet, strong brotherly relations between Iraq mechanisms of joint scientific research expressed their willingness to enhance coordinate and engage in a dialogue that and Qatar, noting that the mutual visits and finding suitable opportunities for aca- opportunities for scientific cooperation would serve all peoples of the region in between the officials in Doha and Baghdad demic training between the two sides, thus with Iraq. The Minister expressed hope to terms of political, economic and social at the highest level reflect the common contributing to the establishment of joint have joint studies on specific aspects, considerations. He stressed that Iraq is desire to consolidate and strengthen the research centers between Qatar and Iraq. including environmental and marine open to all its brotherly countries which bonds of cooperation between the Dr Al Suhail praised the educational issues, and some research, as there is a have to return to it, expressing hope that brothers in both countries. system in Qatar, and said it deserves good progress made in areas such as there will be practical steps to promote In an exclusive interview with Qatar praise, admiration and the exchange of nuclear engineering and life techniques, this return and dialogue between all. News Agency (QNA) on the occasion of experiences with it, because it is based on stressing that they are serious to work with On the outcome of the Iraq recon- his current visit to the country, Dr Al Suhail visit to Doha will focus on aspects related solid scientific foundations and various the brothers in Qatar in everything that struction conference hosted by the State said that Qatar and Iraq have a common to education and the capabilities of the international experiences that placed it in will explore, promote and develop rela- of Kuwait in February 2018, Dr Al Suhail desire to strengthen their previous coop- Qatari educational institutions in order to advanced positions at the level of the tions between the various relevant Qatari said that all donors have been waiting until eration agreements. He pointed out that identify opportunities for future cooper- region and the Middle East, even when institutions. the formation of the new Iraqi government the Qatari-Iraqi Committee will be acti- ation in these areas. He underlined that compared with some international The Iraqi Minister said that the region to take practical steps, noting that Iraqis vated significantly during the next phase the Iraqi Ministry is committed to the centres. Whether it is important in light particularly need mechanisms to coop- appreciate any economic, political or to achieve mutual benefits of the two implementation of the government of the Qatari-Iraqi cooperation to establish erate and promote an atmosphere of dia- moral role in support for their country. countries and their two brotherly peoples. program that emphasizes the inclusion of a committee for educational cooperation logue and understanding between all He also stressed that the role played He added that cooperation between Qatar Iraqi universities into the global classifi- between the two countries, the Iraqi Min- parties, and stressed that the State of Qatar by the State of Qatar is good in this and Iraq began to move forward for the cations, noting that brothers in Qatar have ister of Education and Scientific Research plays an important role in this system. direction, and that the future prospects interests of both sides. an excellent experience in this field. said that they came to Doha to explore the The effects of countries are not are open to both sides towards further The Iraqi Minister said that his current Certainly, he added, there is a serious prospects of scientific cooperation measured by their geographical and cooperation. Cultural events for Sheikh Hamad Award to be held in Jordan THE PENINSULA This year the award The aim of interactive dialogue and open that it has started accepting DOHA selected Russian as the the seminar is to discussing with students of the nominations for the 2019 edition disseminate the Faculty of Languages at the and will continue receiving Sheikh Hamad Award for Trans- second major language culture of scien- German University, along a sym- works until end of July. lation and International Under- alongside English, with tific translation posium at the Arab Thought The award, established in standing is going to organise five new languages from and into Forum on Wednesday, March 5. 2015 as a global award, seeks to several cultural events in Jordan being selected in the language. The symposium title is “Trans- honour translators and appre- next week to address issues and In the same lation and cultural dialogue, ciate their role in strengthening problems related to translation. achievement category: framework, the Sheikh Hamad Award as the bonds of friendship and The events also aimed at Uzbek, Portuguese, team will hold a example,” in addition to a special cooperation between the nations introducing the launch of the Bahasa Indonesia, symposium. visit to the English Langauge and peoples of the world. fifth edition of 2019 awards and The second teachers association at the Arab This year the award selected languages selected for the Somali and Malayalam. seminar under Universities in Amman, Jordan Russian as the second major lan- season. The award’s media team the theme of A memnerdoum of under- guage alongside English, with touring Jordan from March 2 to seminar on Monday at the ‘translation, standing will be signed with the five new languages being 6 will hold the award’s cultural Shoman Foundation Shoman global language, Arab Thought Forum, to promote selected in the achievement cat- events elaborating the vision, Cultural Forum on translation the path of cultural cooperation and egory: Uzbek, Portuguese, philosophy and objectives of the and the role of Sheikh Hamad understanding exchange of experiences Bahasa Indonesia, Somali and award in its fifth season. The Award in the development and and the role of between the two sides, as well Malayalam. Works will be sub- team will also discuss the lan- extension of bridges for easing Dr Hanan Al Fayyad, spokesperson of the Award. International conducting several visits and mitted through the award guages introduced for this year. human communication. awards in the holding official meetings of the website www.hta.qa. Form This tour is part of the tour The speakers at the seminar staff at Qatar University and advancement of translation’, will President of the Jordanian Arabic should be filled in accordance to being carried by the board of will include Valentina Con- member of Award’s media team, be held at the Faculty of Lan- Language Academy and the the candidate category. trustees of the Award in many stantine, Chairperson of Shoman Dr Jihad Hamdan, Chairman of guages at the University of Presidents of the University of The total value of the award is Arab and foreign countries to Forum, Dr Hanan Al Fayyad, the Association of Professors of Jordan. A number of academics Jordan and the German $2m divided into three categories: introduce the award to expand (pictured) Professor at Qatar English Language and Trans- will address issues related to University. Translation Prizes $800,000, the cycle of participation of University and spokesperson of lation at Arab Universities, and translation from Arabic to dif- Meanwhile, the Board of Achievement Prizes $1,000,000, interested translators. the Award, Dr Emtinan Al Dr Walid Al Suwairki the trans- ferent languages and vis-versa. Trustees of the Award and prize for International Under- The Jordan visit will include Samadi, member of teaching lator and academic. The tour will also includes announced earlier this February standing $200,000. THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2019 HOME 07 Al Baker stresses need for global repositioning of Africa’s aviation sector THE PENINSULA how Africa’s aviation market is Qatar Airways operates a DOHA positioned in order to maximise Boeing B787 Dreamliner to Kigali, its full potential. Governments which features 22 Business Class Qatar Airways Group Chief Exec- should leave behind protectionist seats and 232 seats in Economy utive, Akbar Al Baker, highlighted approaches to regulating aviation Class. The aircraft offers a smooth the need for a global repositioning and embrace liberalisation, flying experience and a spacious of Africa’s aviation industry as because when such policies are cabin, enabling passengers to rest well as the changing political adopted, countries benefit from and arrive at their destination approach to aviation in the region improved connectivity and a pos- feeling refreshed. The airline at the Aviation Africa Summit & itive impact on trade, tourism and operates a daily flight between Exhibition, taking place from employment. Doha and Kigali via Entebbe, with February 27-28, in Kigali, “Qatar Airways’ vision is the return flight from Kigali to Rwanda. about freedom, collaboration and Doha non-stop. Speaking to an audience that long-term sustainable invest- In December 2018, Qatar included the President of the ments in African infrastructure, Airways became the only Gulf Republic of Rwanda, Paul human capital, and capacity- airline to provide direct flights to Kagame, as well as senior gov- building. We strongly believe in Mombasa, Kenya, the airline’s ernment ministers, aviation Africa’s aviation potential, and we second gateway into the country. industry executives and guests of are ready to offer a solid and long- The launch of this new service is honour, Al Baker addressed the term partnership.” part of the airline’s continued need for liberalisation of aviation The two-day Aviation Africa expansion plans in Africa, and a regulations in Africa to bring Summit & Exhibition brings demonstration of its ongoing improved connectivity to trav- together senior airline executives, commitment to the region. Qatar ellers, as well as significant ben- Civil Aviation Authority members Airways now serves 21 destina- Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker addressing the Aviation Africa Summit & Exhibition. efits in trade, tourism and and key aviation leaders to discuss tions in 15 African countries; in employment. Al Baker noted that the challenges facing the aviation addition, Qatar Airways Cargo although Africa makes up 16 it only captures approximately 3.1 travellers. Executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: industry in Africa and the future provides freighter services to percent of the world’s population, per cent of the world’s air Qatar Airways Group Chief “Now is the time to reconsider development plans for the market. seven countries. Qatar’s participation at Muscat International Sanea Bus begins school trip to teach innovation Book Fair promotes cultural exchange THE PENINSULA transform their ideas into concrete creations,” THE PENINSULA Tuesday that the Qatari partic- DOHA said Fatima Al Sulaiti, Principal of Juwairiya DOHA ipation in this edition of the Bint Al Harith Primary School for Girls. Muscat International Book Fair The Sanea Bus, a mobile fab lab visited She said that the school was keen to The Qatari participation in the is strong and the Ministry of Juwairiya Bint Al Harith Primary School for support students who are excellent in scien- 24th Muscat International Book Culture and Sports is keen to Girls yesterday on its first trip under an initi- tific projects and activities, and provide them Fair continues to be very present its various publications ative to foster a culture of making and discovery opportunity to implement their projects effective as it witnessed a in addition to the publications for students. The trip was organised by the through their participation in scientific remarkable turnout from the of Dar Lusail publishing house. School Affairs Department at the Ministry of competitions. exhibition’s visitors, which Al Buainain said that the Education and Higher Education in collabo- Lami Abuita, an academic representative started on February 21 and Qatari pavilion hosted by the ration with IbTECHar Digital Solutions at the Juwairiya Bint Al Harith Primary School continues until March 2. Ministry of Culture and Sports company to utilize the Sanea Bus to introduce for Girls, pointed out that a bus manufactured The Qatari pavilion, held by was visited by dignitaries who school students the basics of making and inno- consists of a complete laboratory equipped the Ministry of Culture and expressed their happiness with vation. The learning trips will be held Under with 3D printers, milling machines, electronic Sports, includes many literary, Qatari participation, the Qatari the supervision of the Information Technology kits and other tools. historical, cultural and intel- pavilion’s quality of design Department of the Department of Educational She said that the students of the school lectual publications, which adding that they listened to the Guidance and the Department of School were taught how to connect the electricity and attract visitors to the exhibition. explanation about the Qatari Programs and Activities at the Department of the work of a circuit of electricity to help them The Ministry of Culture and publications. School Affairs. to apply the exercise (bell) in science, and how Sports is keen to reflect the her- He pointed out that the dig- “This move comes within the framework to connect that circuit using the battery itage of Qatar and its remarkable nitaries were given a number of of the Ministry of Education and Higher Edu- The academic representative said that the cultural momentum. Qatari publications. He pointed cation’s keenness to support gifted and cre- school supports all students in various sub- Students of Juwairiya Bint Al Harith Primary Director of the Doha Inter- out that the Qatari pavilion has ative students and to enhance their abilities to jects, not only highlighting a particular skill or School for Girls getting lessons of innovation in national Book Fair Jassem Al received intensive turnout from innovate, manufacture and design, and to talent, all the talents are important for the Sanea Bus during its visit to school yesterday. Buainain said in remarks on the exhibition’s visitors. provide an appropriate opportunity to school. 08 HOME THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2019 WISE Accelerator 2019-20 invites innovative submissions THE PENINSULA aims to support children from DOHA underprivileged communities by providing access to quality edu- The World Innovation Summit cational content in digital format. for Education (WISE), an initi- The WISE Accelerator Nayla Fahed, its Founder and ative of (QF), supports innovative CEO, said: “The WISE Accelerator has opened submissions for its education technology is not only about accelerating latest accelerator programme. initiatives that show your business; it is mostly about The WISE Accelerator sup- accelerating your mind. You will ports innovative education tech- high potential for never think in the same way after nology initiatives that show high scalability and positive a few sessions with your potential for scalability and pos- impact. mentor.” itive impact. ‘CamBioScience’, another Each year, members of edtech member of last year’s selected initiatives are chosen to knowledge and gain the support cohort, uses artificial intelligence This file picture shows participants examining a Virtual Reality initiative during the Wise Accelerator join the one-year programme, of potential partners, donors, and to provide personalised learning programme last year. which offers tailor-made support investors during international in the medical field. designed to address challenges events organised by WISE. Par- Chibeza Agley, Co-founder that hinder their growth and the ticipants will also be paired with and CEO, said, “The WISE Accel- a key business advisor, explored 30. A committee comprised of 2019. The programme will com- scaling-up process. mentors who are experts in edu- erator has had a profound effect crucial international markets, leading experts in education and mence at the WISE 2019 Summit In addition, the WISE Accel- cation and education technology on the development and scale- and received advice on how to social entrepreneurship will to be held in Qatar in November erator connects participants to and are leaders in their field. up of ‘CamBioScience. As a result refine our international scale-up support the WISE Accelerator 2019. an international network of edu- The Lebanon-based initiative of the accelerator, we success- strategy.” The submission period team during the selection Applications can be sub- cation stakeholders, creating ‘Tabshoura in a Box’, which was fully raised our seed funding for 2019-20 WISE Accelerator process, and selected initiatives mitted at www.wise-qatar.org/ opportunities to share part of the 2017-18 programme, round, identified and appointed will close at 4pm GMT on April will be announced in September wise-accelerator

will be highlighted in this concert QA is Official Airline that will acknowledge the uni- versal language of music shared between both the nations.” Partner for Qatar-India FAB Entertainment Chief Executive Officer, Fauzia Adeel Butt, said “After the spectacular success of Fashion Weekend Music Extravaganza International, we are delighted THE PENINSULA to again be partnering with DOHA a bespoke ensemble by global Qatar Airways for this concert fashion designer Manish which will see the first-ever Malhotra. Indian-Qatari voice collabo- Qatar Airways is the Official This Qatari-Indian duet per- ration, with Fahad Al Kubaisi Airline Partner for the Qatar- formance will take place as part taking the stage with Vishal and India Music Extravaganza, a spec- of the Qatar-India Year of Culture Shekhar. 2019 is a special year tacular event that will see Bolly- 2019, a year-long collaboration indeed, where Qatar and India wood’s ‘Sultans of Swag’ Vishal that sees both nations jointly cel- celebrate an entire year of cul- Dadlani and Shekhar Ravjiani ebrate their unique cultural leg- tural exchange. We at FAB are perform live for the first time ever acies. The concert will feature proud to be associated with in Doha, Qatar. globally-acclaimed Indian singer- Qatar-India Year of Culture The concert will be presented songwriter duo Vishal and FROM LEFT: Vishal Dadlani, Fahad Al Kubaisi and Shekhar Ravjiani 2019 and are curating events to by FAB Entertainment and will Shekhar, who are known for showcase the very best of India take place at the state-of-the-art delivering chart-toppers ever on to reach nearly 700 million Airways Senior Vice-President – Vishal and Shekhar, in an event in Qatar.” Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena year for the Indian music views. The pair have composed Marketing and Corporate Com- that will draw thousands of spec- Vishal Dadlani is an Indian in Doha on March 1 2019. industry. music for more than 60 films, munications, said: “We are tators and fans of all ages. As the singer, music record producer, The much-anticipated Their biggest hit, “Swag Se released more than 300 songs, delighted to be the Official Airline Official Airline Partner, Qatar composer, and performer and concert will also include a special Swagat”, became the world’s and have performed in more than Partner for the ‘Qatar-India Music Airways looks forward to being Shekhar Ravjiani is an Indian performance by Qatari singer fastest song to hit 100 million 500 live concerts. Extravaganza’ featuring one of the bridge between Qatar and music composer, trained clas- Fahad Al Kubaisi, who will wear views on YouTube before going Salam Al Shawa, Qatar Bollywood’s most celebrated duos India, whose close partnership sical singer and lyricist. The Pearl-Qatar to host HDC’s first-of-its-kind live cooking show

THE PENINSULA influencer. The events will be DOHA offering an inspiring journey into the culinary world where Hospitality Development chefs will serve their signature Company (HDC), a subsidiary dishes and interact with the of United Development audience and attendees. Company (UDC) and one of the The shows are presented by leading hospitality and fine Hospitality Development dining companies in Qatar, is Company (HDC). Following gearing up to host the first-of- each of the celebrity chefs’ its-kind live cooking show on shows, HDC will be presenting The Pearl-Qatar Island, at The selected recipes from their Amphitheater, 30 La Croisette, flagship F&B outlets: Burj Al Porto Arabia. Hamam, Megu, Isla, Urban Jazz “Aisha Al Tamimi”, one of Kitchen, Arabesque & Chocolate Qatar’s top chefs and host of Bar. Aisha Al Tamimi, Qatari Chef Fawaz Al Omaim, Kuwaiti Chef Richard Khoury, Lebanese Chef Vineet Bhatia, Indian Chef prominent TV cooking shows, The event reflects HDC’s will be presenting the two-hour commitment to enrich the expe- event today. “Aisha Al Tamimi”, food enthusiasts through an “Richard Khoury” on March 1 March 8. It is worth mentioning has been named as ‘Chef of the rience of its customers at its who had the opportunity to rep- inspirational cooking journey. and the leading Indian Chef that Chef “Richard Khoury” has Year 2004’. In addition, Chef various restaurants and through resent Qatar at the globally In addition to the first event, “Vineet Bhatia” on March 7. The hosted cooking shows across “Fawaz Al Omaim” has been its innovative events in line with leading Expo Milano 2015, will three other lively culinary last cooking show will be hosted numerous TV channels in the recognized for his passion for its mission to develop and engage with the audience while shows will be hosted; the first by popular Kuwaiti Chef “Fawaz , while award blending flavors and for being operate world-class hospitality preparing her dishes, taking two by the Lebanese Chef Al Omaim”, on winning Chef “Vineet Bhatia”, a distinguished social media businesses. Al Rifaa Intersection becomes temporary roundabout At CCQ lecture, Qatar Charity points THE PENINSULA DOHA to difficulties facing firms, workers The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has announced that it THE PENINSULA faced by workers in the charity children throughout the world. will convert Al Rifaa Intersection DOHA sector. At the beginning of the Qatar Charity, through its (Sana’a Signals) into a temporary lecture, Al Ghamdi gave a brief ‘Rofaqa’ initiative, sponsored roundabout, in addition to Qatar Charity (QC) recently introduction on Qatar Charity, over 156,000 orphans around diverting traffic on part of the participated in a lecture on the reviewing the challenges facing the world, focusing on realising A-Ring Road in both directions, ‘Challenges Facing Organisa- charitable and humanitarian the concept of social solidarity from after Ras Bu Abboud Bridge tions and Individuals Working work, especially the challenges in the field of orphan care in a up to Dar Al Kutub Roundabout, in the Field of Charity’, which of working in conflict zones way that serves humanity and into a parallel diversion road with was organised by the and disasters-hit places. achieves sustainable social the same number of lanes, as Community College of Qatar Al Ghamdi also addressed development, Al Ghamdi men- shown in the attached map. (CCQ). the challenges of the refugee tioned during the lecture. The diversion will start today The lecture, which was issue, especially Syrian ref- Al Ghamdi also pointed to evening for a period of three delivered by Mohammed Ali Al ugees in Lebanon, Jordan and the difference between devel- months, in coordination with the Ghamdi, Assistant to the CEO Turkey, referring to refugee opment work and humani- General Directorate of Traffic. heading from Ali bin Omar Al Attiya (towards Al-Doha Al-Jadeeda in the Governance and Institu- education and the World tarian work. Development During this period, Ashghal will Street towards Al Rifaa Intersection Intersection) and vice versa, as tional Development Sector at Refugee School (WRS) assistance is the financial aid also close the part of Ali bin Omar can use Al Dostour Street leading to shown in the attached map. It Qatar Charity, covered main initiative. provided by governments, Al Attiya Street that leads to and Dar Al-Kutub Roundabout and then aims to enable expansion and concepts of charitable work In this regard, he noted that NGOs and other agencies to from Al Rifaa Intersection, so traffic to Al Rifaa Intersection. upgrading works on Al Rifaa and their differences, high- the refugee education initiative support the social, economic heading from the intersection to Ali This is in addition to diverting Intersection and installation of lighting the most prominent was aimed at providing high and political development in bin Omar Al Attiya Street can use a the right-turn leading from the traffic lights, as part of the A-Ring difficulties, whether physical, quality continuing education developing countries in the temporary parallel road. Traffic A-Ring Road to the B-Ring Road Road Development Project. logistical or humanitarian, to refugee and displaced long term. THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2019 HOME 09 Four Qatari artists to create public art pieces for new museum

THE PENINSULA The Museum’s DOHA exhibition galleries and public spaces Qatar Museums (QM) yesterday include a multitude of announced that four Qatari personal histories and Wisdom of a Nation (left), a wall installation by Qatari artist Ali Hassan, and Motherland (right), a large-scale sculpture, byQatari artist artists have created commis- Sheikh Hassan bin Mohammed Al Thani. sioned pieces that will be interpretations of Qatari displayed inside the new identity, among which histories and memories to create image of the Qatari flag with an in Residence programme and outside of the NMoQ near the National Museum of Qatar are pieces by some of site-specific pieces that will excerpt from a poem by the participant in the interna- historic Palace of Sheikh (NMoQ) as part of QM’s vast the country’s brightest connect visitors to the story of founder of modern-day Qatar, tionally-acclaimed Contem- Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani is Public Art Programme. artistic talents. The Qatar and its people in unex- Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammad porary Art Qatar exhibitions. a sculptural group by French The announcement provides commissioned artworks pected ways. Al Thani. Standing before the Bouthayna Al Muftah, one of artist Roch Vandromme, which further insight into the way the Sheikha Amna bint Abul Aziz entrance to the permanent gal- Qatar’s most popular emerging evokes the long history of NMoQ will tell the story of will play a central Al Thani, Director of the National leries is a large-scale sculpture, artists, called on the heritage of nomadic lifestyle and trade. Qatar’s past, present and future role in this by offering Museum of Qatar, said: “It is Motherland, by Qatari artist Qatari jewelry to create her Set to open to the public on through an immersive, multi- unique perspectives important to us to use the Sheikh Hassan bin Mohammed installation, Kan Ya Ma Kaan, March 28, 2019, the immersive layered experience. on treasured Qatari opening of the new National Al Thani, which evokes the con- which is located in the café and experiential museum will be The Museum’s exhibition gal- traditions and the life of Museum, which embodies our nections between the land, named after the work, Café 875. organised in three “chapters” — leries and public spaces include the Qatari people. heritage and gives voice to our motherhood and national The work takes inspiration from Beginnings, Life in Qatar, and a multitude of personal histories aspirations, to showcase the identity. traditional Qatari jewelry and Building the Nation — presented and interpretations of Qatari work of our local artists. Each of Within the VIP Lounge, vis- “Thahab” or 875 gold (21 karat). in eleven galleries. identity, among which are pieces Following an extensive their extraordinary creations is itors will encounter a work by The installation has been The visitor’s chronological by some of the country’s search, Qatari artists Aisha a unique and moving contri- Aisha Nasser Al Sowaidi, Central designed to complement the journey, which extends through brightest artistic talents. The Nasser Al Sowaidi, Ali Hassan, bution to the breathtaking expe- Midkhan, which takes the idea museum’s contemporary more than 1.5 km of experi- commissioned artworks will play Bouthayna Al Muftah and Sheikh rience that the museum offers.” of a traditional and local ritual architecture. ences, will start in the geo- a central role in this by offering Hassan bin Mohammed Al Thani Welcoming visitors inside the and transforms it into a global A number of international logical period long before the unique perspectives on treasured were chosen based on their body NMoQ is a wall installation by the concept of home systems. Al artists have also been commis- peninsula was inhabited by Qatari traditions and the life of of work and artistic vision. Qatari artist Ali Hassan, Wisdom Sowaidi is a graduate of the pres- sioned to develop site-specific humans and continues to the the Qatari people. Each one has taken personal of a Nation, which draws on the tigious Fire Station: Artist works for the NMoQ. Standing present day. Ooredoo accelerates 5G network transformation with artificial intelligence THE PENINSULA our operations, spurring our With the roll-out, DOHA operating companies’ digital hundreds of millions of transformation, supporting our Ooredoo customers in the Ooredoo Group, one of the vision of enriching people’s company’s operations in region’s leading ICT providers, digital lives and enabling our announced yesterday at Mobile customers to more fully enjoy the Middle East, North Africa, World Congress that it is accel- Internet.” and South East Asia erating its 5G network transfor- Ooredoo Group and P.I. are now experiencing mation across the Middle East, Works originally started imple- significantly enhanced North Africa, and South East Asia menting the real-time, Artificial network coverage and with Artificial Intelligence solu- Intelligence-powered network connectivity, more tions from P.I. Works. management solutions for Following the successful Ooredoo Group’s operations in advanced mobile apps, deployment of P.I. Works’ Cen- Myanmar and Indonesia in 2018. enhanced capacity during tralised Self-Organising Network After seeing the benefits in Asia, mega-events, and the (C-SON) solutions in Indonesia the companies decided to expand enablement of 5G-based and Myanmar, which delivered the upgrade to the rest of Oore- Internet of Things strong results in optimising doo’s operations. innovations. network efficiency and costs in Başar Akpınar, CEO & Co- a short amount of time, Ooredoo Founder of P.I. Works, said: Group has rolled out the tech- “Ooredoo Group and P.I. Works P.I. Works’ uSON platform nology across all operations. achieved a world first by using includes standard and advanced Officials posing for group photo. With the roll-out, hundreds artificial intelligence and auto- closed-loop C-SON functions for of millions of Ooredoo customers mation to unleash the full 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G mobile net- in the company’s operations in potential of Ooredoo’s entire works. P.I. Works also provides Middle East, North Africa, and enablement of 5G-based Internet work together in harmony. This to our partnership with artificial network, including 2G, 3G, 4G its HetNet aware optimisation South East Asia are now experi- of Things innovations. ensures that Ooredoo can deploy intelligence leader, P.I. Works, and 5G. Our extensive capabilities, which can help encing significantly enhanced In Qatar specifically, 5G throughout the country to our customers around the world deployment is helping Ooredoo Ooredoo Group operating com- network coverage and connec- Ooredoo Group worked with P.I. facilitate new experiences. will enjoy superior digital expe- to manage its growing mobile panies to plan and manage the tivity, more advanced mobile Works to automate its live 5G Sheikh Saud bin Nasser Al riences. It is especially exciting traffic, reduce network com- sites needed for small and macro apps, enhanced capacity during network, a development that will Thani, Group Chief Executive that this network transformation plexity and transform customer cell deployments to further mega-events, and the help 4G and 5G technologies Officer, Ooredoo, said: “Thanks accelerates 5G roll-out across experiences.” enhance network coverage. CNA-Q instructor co-chairs international engineering standards meeting in Paris

THE PENINSULA Envisioning DOHA sustainable future The College of the North Atlantic - Qatar’s Engi- neering faculty member, Hanan Farhat, lead key BEST GRADUATION discussions in Paris recently with regards to devel- oping international standards for the petroleum PROJECT FOR ENERGY and LNG industry. Farhat, Mechanical Engineering instructor, was one of two members that represented Qatar and EFFICIENCY co-chaired the meeting. Farhat represented the College, at the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Technical Committee An Invitation to participate in Tarsheed Working Group meeting in partnership with the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers competition for the Best graduation (IOGP). Corrosion prevention and engineering experts project about energy effeciency for all from different oil and gas producing countries were in attendance to discuss newly developed inter- engineering students in qatar. national standards, and proposed standards. The measures discussed at this meeting will set the standards for all the oil and gas producers around the world. The International Association of Oil and Gas Producers supported this committee meeting which specializes in materials, equipment and off- shore structures for petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas industries. Qatar has been leading and chairing this oil and gas working group since its initiation in 2010. “CNA-Q, being the State’s premier college for technical education and applied research, has a long history of, and a wealth of experience in, th working with industry to better advance the Apply now until 20 March 2019 country. Actively engaging and contributing to such an international standards organization is a natural [email protected] fit for the role of CNA-Q in supporting Qatar’s industries through education, analysis and problem For more information, call: 44846833/30102130 solving,” said Samah Gamar. 10 VIEWS THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2019 Qatar and Somalia: Firm brotherly ties, ESTABLISHED IN 1996 unified interests and aspirations QNA CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI n his third visit to Qatar since his election in February 2017, Pres- EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ident of the sisterly Somali DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI IRepublic, Mohammed Abdullah [email protected] Farmaajo, started a work visit to the country on Tuesday. Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin ACTING MANAGING EDITOR Hamad Al Thani met yesterday at the MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED Emiri Diwan with his brother, the [email protected] President of Somalia, and discussed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen them. DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR The delegation accompanying MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI President Farmaajo includes Ministers [email protected] of the federal government; Minister of Finance, Abdirahman Duale Beyle, and Minister of Ports and Marine Transport Mariam Aweis Jama. Qatar has strong relations with Somalia which are an example of the strong ties inherent in the two coun- A file picture of Hassan Ali Khairi, the Prime Minister of Somalia, laying the foundation EDITORIAL tries’ common history. The mutual stone for two road projects launched by Qatar Fund for Development in Somalia. visits of senior officials of the two countries have strengthen these ties. Our environment is our future The two countries’ relations enjoy memorandums of understanding, State for Foreign Affairs, H E Sultan full support by the two countries’ lead- including a memorandum of under- bin Saad Al Muraikhi before the Minis- atar has always stood in the forefront of global causes. erships as part of their keenness to standing for cooperation in the field of terial meeting of the Organization of In this regard, protection of environment is paramount. develop bilateral cooperation in the ports, a memorandum of under- Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact QUnder the wise leadership of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim fields of trade, economy, investment, standing for the establishment of a Group on Somalia, held in bin Hamad Al Thani, the State of Qatar gives great importance culture and others. joint higher committee, a memo- on October 27. to protecting the Qatari environment, its natural resources Relations between the two coun- randum of understanding for cooper- According to the statement, the and contributing to sustainable development. tries are based on a combination of ation and political consultation State of Qatar has supported the On the occasion of Qatar Environment Day which falls on common ties, foundations, interests, between the Ministries of Foreign development of security capacities, February 26 of every year, Minister of Municipality and Envi- aspirations and objectives. These rela- Affairs of the two countries, a memo- economic empowerment, and job cre- ronment H E Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie said tions are governed by a range of randum of understanding for cooper- ation programs for young people in that this shows the importance attached to the Day that aims agreements, including agreements to ation between the Qatari and Somali Somalia and has supported the trust to ensure the sustainability of a decent life for the Qatari people avoid double diplomatic institutions, a memo- fund for peace and reconciliation. It at present and in the future, in line with Qatar National Vision taxation, randum of understanding for health has also implemented development 2030 and its four pillars in the human, social, economic and prevent cooperation and a memorandum of projects including schools, hospitals, environment fields. And allocating a day to the environment financial understanding to support education clinics, homes for the poor and each year itself is a clear indication of the attention given to sus- evasion, programs in Somalia. income-generating projects. tainable environmental development by the wise leadership. promote and The political relations between the In addition, Qatar Red Crescent It’s a well-know fact that our environment is our future. So Qatar has affirmed protect State of Qatar and the Republic of Society and Qatar Charity carried out it is not only the responsibility of the government or other that it will continue mutual Somalia are also witnessing a humanitarian aid and a package of authorities to take care of the environment, but it’s the duty of to be an essential investments, remarkable development, which is development projects worth $200m, an every individual and institution to take care of the envi- supporter of a convention reflected in the mutual coordination including the construction and reha- ronment. The participation of all communities, especially on maritime between the two sides in regional and bilitation of government buildings and schools and other private organisation is very important in Somalia to achieve transport, an international forums on issues of roads connecting the capital this endeavour. Things such as limiting usage of non-degra- its peoples’ hopes agreement on mutual interest for the interests of Mogadishu to the cities of Jowhar and dable plastics that are commonly and aspirations economic, both sides. The State of Qatar plays an Afgooye. used for shopping are also very in order to build trade and important role in the implementation In recognition of the Qatari contri- important to protect the nature. technical of many vital projects for devel- butions, the Somali President As the Minister said the strategy their state, ensure cooperation opment, reconstruction and rehabili- Mohammed Abdullah Farmaajo also included promoting environ- a prosperous and a con- tation in Somalia. expressed thanks and gratitude to the Allocating a mental awareness and culture, future for its future vention on Qatar has affirmed that it will con- State of Qatar, its government and day to the tinue to be an essential supporter of people under the leadership of the H H monitoring and verifying the com- generations and the environment mitment of the various economic employment Somalia to achieve its peoples’ hopes Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al preserve the unity each year sectors in the country to environ- of Somali and aspirations in order to build their Thani for the development and mental standards, as well as and sovereignty of workers in state, ensure a prosperous future for humanitarian projects provided for itself is a clear working to modernize and develop Somalia. Qatar. In its future generations and preserve the the Republic of Somalia and the indication of the environmental legislation and reg- addition, unity and sovereignty of Somalia. assistance to the people and gov- attention given ulations, in line with global devel- there are The State of Qatar has provided ernment of Somalia in different fields, to sustainable opments and priorities for sus- three agreements to empower Somali aid to the plans and programs of the noting the great gains that his country tainable environmental action and youth economically, by securing more Somali federal government in several will derive from these projects, espe- environmental enhance cooperation and stand- than 75,000 jobs in Somalia. areas. cially road projects, given their pos- development ardisation of environmental and These relations also regulate a This came in the State of Qatar’s itive impact on the Somali economy as by the wise climate change perspectives, on series of statement delivered by Minister of a whole. regional and international levels. leadership. The World Economic Forum in Davos ranked extreme weather, natural disasters, climate change Tech can’t drive the US economy forever. What’s next? and water crises as the top four existential threats in its new Global Risks Report 2019. The UN system’s chief scientist on end up showing next to no more generally. The second and progress. At the same weather and climate warned last week that climate change has net gain in employment this is the political cycle turning time that the US appears to “a multitude of security impacts” and is increasingly regarded decade for the first time from Republicans back to be more cautious when it as a national security threat with global warming records broken since government records Democrats, whose agenda is comes to the excesses of the in 20 of the last 22 years. began. likely to favor more gov- tech industry, , in The Minister also said that the Ministry of Municipality and Instead of broad ernment involvement in the seeking to find a new growth Environment confirms its belief in and commitment to the employment growth, the US economy than we currently model as its working-age CONOR SEN environment and its development so as to sustain it through BLOOMBERG has given the keys to Silicon have. And the third is two population shrinks, is racing implementing the ministry’s specialties, missions and the strat- Valley and hoped for the catalysts that could drive ahead with experimentation. egies of the Second National Development Strategy 2018-2022 hile investors best. In some cases that’s fear and a sense of urgency Should the US feel that and the ministry’s strategic plan and international conven- have breathed meant greater convenience for government action. China’s progress threatens tions and agreements related to the environment. In addition a sigh of relief in the form of on-demand The first is climate America’s national security to various procedures, that plans are also afoot for environ- after the sharp services and a vision of the change. Americans’ concern or American dominance in W over climate change the global economy, Wash- mental projects and programs through preserving gardens, equity rally to start the year, future in the form of electric improving and replanting them and preventing overgrazing there’s an unease about vehicles. In other cases it’s has increased to record ington may decide to take on as well as preventing dumping and land-clearing, through where the next source of meant a hyper-profitable levels, at the same time that China in a technological cleaning campaigns for the gardens with the participation of American secular growth new form of an old service, the new class of congres- arms race. all groups of society. The procedures also include preserving will come from. It’s unreal- like mobile advertisements. sional Democrats has shown Expect the government the ocean and coast by reducing discharge from large indus- istic to expect the ‘FANG’ But it’s also meant a lot of the willingness to speak to have more say in the tech trial establishments, sea dredging, supervising waste dumping technology stocks to lead the experimentation with mixed about it more boldly than race than Silicon Valley and and preventing of marine pollution. In addition to protecting economy forever. A few results and unclear staying their predecessors have. It venture capitalists do. endangered animals, seeking to reproduce them and preserve trends point instead to gov- power -- think of the “daily would not be hard to National security means we their genetic imprint, conserving non-renewable natural ernment as the big driver of deals” craze epitomized by imagine a Democratic presi- can’t afford to have engi- resources and reducing its depletion. economic growth in the Groupon and LivingSocial in dential nominee, whether in neers wasting their time on 2020s. the early part of the decade, 2020 or 2024, setting a goal $400 juicers or direct-to- The growth model of the or $399 juicers from Juicero, for significant action on consumer underwear 2010s has been unusual which was funded by $120 climate change by the end of startups. QUOTE OF THE DAY because of the headwinds million in venture capital. the 2020s, the way Pres- Rarely do growth from the financial crisis. The There hasn’t been much ident John F Kennedy did for models persist from one housing market, rather than top-down direction from the going to the moon in the decade to the next. Few If the British need more being a growth driver for the state when it comes to the 1960s. It’s hard to know would have foreseen in the time to make Brexit, we US economy as it has been economy this decade, but what kind of price tag could mid-2000s while the will examine a request in the past, showed only there are good reasons to accompany such plans, but housing and credit markets for an extension — if tepid improvement as it think that’s going to change. remember that even some- were roaring that the fol- crawled its way back to The first is greater thing ultimately inconse- lowing decade would be it is justified by new normal. Public-sector awareness that the tech sec- quential like the Y2K bug led driven by Silicon Valley. It choices on the part of employment, which tends to tor’s growth this decade has to hundreds of billions of may be similarly hard to the British. grow along with the led to some behaviors that dollars in spending believe the next decade’s economy at large, has been need to be reined in, worldwide. economy could be more Emmanuel Macron constrained both by budget whether it be disingenuous The second catalyst to top-down, government- French President realities at the state and local political ads on Facebook or watch is the tension driven than we’ve seen in level and by political forces the spread of misinfor- between the US and China decades, but the signs are all at the federal level, and will mation on social media on technological innovation around us already. THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2019 OPINION 11 Why did Iran’s Foreign Minister Zarif resign?

ranian Foreign Minister reportedly triggered by the foreign and have effectively enabled the dragging the country into further Mohammad Javad Zarif’s resig- minister’s exclusion from an supreme leader to strengthen his isolation. nation took many by surprise. “I important meeting Syrian President control over key foreign policy port- If this trend continues, and warmly apologise for my inability Bashar Al Assad held in Tehran during folios, overriding Zarif’s authority and moderates like Rouhani and Zarif I efforts. to continue serving [the nation] and his surprise visit on February 25. are completely sidelined, Iran’s for all the shortcomings and negli- This was likely the last straw that At the same time, the Iranian foreign policy will likely see a turn gences during the period of service,” broke the camel’s back and pushed an security agencies have continued with to a more confrontational stance. MAYSAM BEHRAVESH he wrote in a post on his official otherwise patient and experienced their highly problematic subversive While there seems to be a Instagram account. diplomat into a rash decision. pursuits abroad, which have been fragile collective consensus among The short resignation letter was Zarif had reportedly broached the undermining efforts by Iranian dip- Iranian leaders and top decision- posted at night as if to deliberately topic of resignation with the president lomats to contain the fallout of the makers about sticking to the make it harder for President Hassan a number of times in the past, as the Iran deal collapse and improve the nuclear deal, for the time being, Rouhani to dismiss it before the news authority of his ministry was increas- image of the country. Zarif’s departure can tilt this fine would set in and thus present him ingly being attacked and undermined. Perhaps the most disruptive of all balance towards those who have with a fait accompli. Gholamali Jafarzadeh, deputy of them were the foiled assassination been seeking to set the Joint Com- “I hope my resignation will act as a head of the independent fraction in and bombing plots uncovered in prehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) spark for the return of the Ministry of the Iranian parliament, attributed and Denmark and attributed “on fire”. Foreign Affairs to its mandated Zarif’s resignation to “dozens of par- to Iran’s intelligence services. If hardliners, who worry about position in [decision-making on allel trips and talks” by state officials These revelations eroded confi- increased transparency exposing Over the past year, Iran’s] foreign relations,” Zarif told “without any coordination” with the dence among European powers in the lucrative money-laundering Iranian officials close colleagues and local journalists the foreign ministry. Iran’s peaceful intentions - which and sanctions-violating schemes of to the supreme leader following morning. Over the past year, Iranian offi- Zarif and his team had put a lot of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Rouhani expectedly rejected the cials close to the supreme leader work into restoring - and ultimately Corps (IRGC), have their way, initi- undertook work resignation, but this is unlikely to undertook work visits to a number of led to the imposition of EU sanctions atives to build alternative financial visits to a number salvage his cabinet from the deep- countries that are key to Iranian on a number of Iranian officials and mechanisms with EU countries will of countries that are ening crisis it has descended into. foreign policy. Supreme leader Ayat- entities. likely be aborted. key to Iranian foreign Even if Zarif chooses to come back, he ollah Ali Khamenei’s special adviser Hardliners in parliament opposed The IRGC, already largely in will not wield the same authority he on international affairs, Ali Akbar to the Rouhani government have also control of Iranian regional policy policy. Supreme once had under the first Rouhani Velayati, travelled to Damascus in obstructed diplomatic efforts to on Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and leader Ayatollah Ali administration and the fortunes of the April and to Moscow in July last year improve the country’s international Yemen, will also be able to pursue Khamenei’s special current government will certainly not to coordinate Tehran’s Syria policy standing and strengthen economic ties its confrontational policies and improve. with its partners. with the EU that could ease the revisionist ambitions with greater adviser on international Deep fractures and fierce political A few months later, in November, pressure on the Iranian economy after ease, if restraining forces in the affairs, Ali Akbar rivalry in the Iranian corridors of Khamenei’s aide Kamal Kharrazi, who the reimposition of the US sanctions. foreign ministry are removed. Velayati, travelled to power have given rise to parallel is also head of Iran’s Strategic Council They blocked the passage into law of Thus Zarif’s weakening and Damascus in April and structures, which are undermining on Foreign Relations, visited Europe measures proposed by the Financial potential departure will surely Iran’s elected officials and their to hold talks on the ’s Action Task Force (FATF) aimed at clear the way for hardliners to stir to Moscow in July last political power. Zarif’s resignation is a measures to facilitate trade with aligning Iranian law with interna- the country away from diplomatic year to coordinate symptom of a larger malaise currently Tehran after the reimposition of US tional regulations, seeking to combat engagement with the West and Tehran’s Syria policy afflicting the Islamic Republic. sanctions. These visits and negotia- money laundering, terrorism towards a more confrontational with its partners. Parallel structures of power tions seem to have been conducted financing and transnational organised foreign policy. This is definitely bad The abrupt resignation was independently of the foreign ministry crime. The stalling of these important news for the Iranian people and the legislative changes has constituted a international community, as it will major upset for Zarif’s ministry. likely diminish the EU’s ability to In its latest plenary meeting on resist the Trump administration’s February 22, the Paris-based interna- “maximum pressure” policy against tional watchdog once again extended the Islamic Republic and to prevent Tehran’s deadline until June to a regional military escalation. implement these legislative changes; if it fails to, it would be put back on its blacklist of risky countries for business and trade and lose the chance to establish important new financial channels to Europe. A swing to the right The parallel networks of power D-RING ROAD and decision-making undermining POST BOX: 3488 Zarif’s foreign ministry are a struc- DOHA - QATAR tural issue that has also affected a [email protected] number of other state functions, including economic policies, security, intelligence and military affairs. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE It is rooted in the Islamic Repub- TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 lic’s complex system of governance FAX: +974 4455 7758 and the historical tensions between the elected and non-elected bodies of MANAGING EDITOR TEL: the state. Zarif’s resignation is yet 4462 7505 another sign that the hardliners’ resurgence is skewing the balance of DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR TEL: power within the Iranian state in 4455 7769 Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif speaking during the annual Munich Security Conference in Munich, favour of unelected and unac- Germany, recently. countable power structures which are LOCAL NEWS SECTION TEL: 4455 7743

BUSINESS NEWS SECTION ome want to fight till the end Holed up in a death trap of thirties. “Only those who have money TEL: 4462 7535 and others want to flee: a split disease and starvation, the remaining can buy them, but as for us, one day is emerging among jihadists as jihadists are now torn between we eat and one day we don’t.” SPORT NEWS SECTION starvation grips their fighting, fleeing and surrendering to Around 50,000 people -- mostly TEL: 4455 7745 S women and children -- have streamed imploding “caliphate” in eastern Syria. US-backed forces. “Some want to Thousands of men, women and fight, some don’t want to fight, and out of the area since early December, ONLINE SECTION children, including hundreds of some want to escape,” Joura says. “But according to the Britain-based Syrian ROUBA EL HUSSEINI TEL: 4462 7501 jihadists, are believed to be trapped in they don’t have what it takes to put up Observatory for Human Rights. The AFP [email protected] the Islamic State group’s last patch of a fight because there is no food,” he SDF have carried out four rounds of says. “Weapons need strength to be evacuations since last week, trucking PUBLIC RELATIONS carried.” - ‘Guns, bombs and thousands of women, men and children TEL: 4455 7613 out of the ever-shrinking IS enclave. explosive belts’- Staggered rows of [email protected] rudimentary tarpaulin tents and a The Kurdish-led force says it small cluster of buildings are all that wants to pluck all remaining civilians ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Fight or flight: Jihadists remain of IS’s once-sprawling out before launching a final military TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 caliphate declared in 2014 across push. The SDF evacuated around 30 FAX: 4455 7870 large swaths of Syria and neigh- truckloads of people from Baghouz on [email protected] divided in IS Syria holdout bouring Iraq. Tuesday. A few days earlier, the Holdout jihadists roam the set- Hisbah (Islamic police) told those CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT tlement arms in hand. “The fighters trapped inside that they could leave if TEL: 4455 7857 are everywhere,” says Nour Ghroush, they wanted to, especially families [email protected] a 20-year-old Syrian woman from the and the wounded, women who quit territory in the village of Baghouz near northeastern province of Hasakeh. the redoubt said. SUBSCRIPTION & the Iraqi border. “They walk in the streets with According to previous accounts DISTRIBUTION The hundreds evacuated from the their guns, bombs and explosive from evacuees, the IS leadership has TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 riverside hamlet on Tuesday are belts,” she says. A large number of called on women and children to flee FAX: 44557819 gathered at a screening point run by Syrians and Iraqis remain in the the “caliphate”. [email protected] According to previous the US-backed Syrian Democratic Baghouz pocket, but also a significant Ismahan, an Iraqi woman, says accounts from Forces 20 kilometres (12 miles) north number of foreigners, says the Syrian the decision to leave was not an easy evacuees, the IS of the village. Ahmad al-Joura, a woman. one. “Yes, there was hunger inside, 32-year-old man from central Homs “Some were not affected by the but we were convinced with what we All thoughts and views leadership has called province is among the small handful siege, while others have died because were doing,” the mother of three said. on women and children of men that are allowed to speak to of it,” she says. “Some (IS) supporters Israa, a 37-year-old Iraqi woman expressed in these columns to flee the “caliphate”. journalists at the outpost. and foreigners” have a steady supply from Baghdad says she was also are those of the writers, He claims he never fought with of money and resources and “they can reluctant to leave. not of the newspaper. Ismahan, an Iraqi jihadists but says that they “were buy whatever they want,” she says. When asked why she left, she says woman, says the living among us,” in a makeshift camp Syrians, however, “have nothing”, she did so when jihadists called on decision to leave was in Baghouz smaller than a half a she claims. Her sister-in-law sits those inside to head to a nearby All correspondence not an easy one.“Yes, square kilometre. nearby. Aisha Abdulazim, leaves her hilltop, from which the SDF had regarding Views and “The (remaining) territory is so daughter to wail as she speaks with opened a humanitarian corridor. there was hunger Opinion pages should be small that they are forced to live with intent. Pointing to her nephew, she says: sent to editor-in-chief inside, but we were us,” he says, his face covered with a “There are so many families still “There was no milk and he is very ill office or mailed to the convinced with what we scarf. He says conditions inside the inside that we had to use blankets as because of hunger.” “The pre- were doing”. redoubt are dire: food and drinking tents,” she says. “We lack a lot of scribed him cow milk, but there are [email protected] water are scarce. necessities,” says the women in her no cows” in Baghouz. 12 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2019 Little hope for peace in Yemen’s Hodeida

AFP HODEIDA UAE obstructing prisoner swap: Houthis

War-weary residents of the ANATOLIA/SANA’A flashpoint Yemeni port city of Hodeida have little hope of The Houthi rebel group yesterday accused the United Arab peace even as the UN regains Emirates (UAE) of hindering implementation of a prisoner- control of vital food aid ware- exchange deal between it and Yemen’s Aden-based government. houses on the front lines. “We have information that the UAE is opposed to the The United Nations has since agreement,” the Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV channel quoted September been unable to reach Abdul Qader Al Murtada, a leading Houthi member, as saying. the Red Sea Mills — carrying Last December, Sweden-hosted peace talks wrapped up with grain estimated to feed 3.7 calls for a ceasefire in Yemen’s coastal Al Hodeida province and million people for a month -- in the exchange of some 15,000 prisoners held by both sides of the Shelling in Idlib a government-controlled area conflict. In 2015, a Saudi-led coalition, including the UAE, launched near the city, just metres (yards) a wide-ranging military campaign in Yemen after the Houthis Smoke rises from buildings during a reported shelling on the town of Khan Sheikhun in the southern away from where the Houthi overran much of the country, including capital Sana’a. countryside of the rebel-held Idlib province in Syria, yesterday. rebels are stationed. The mission on Tuesday came after an agreement struck and the government -- backed “The wheat is infested with on February 17, in which the by a Saudi-led military coalition. weevil, which is something we Stay in your job, Iranian sides in Yemen’s conflict agreed The two parties continuously anticipated. We need to fumigate to redeploy their fighters outside accuse each other of violating the wheat,” said Herve Ver- the ports and away from areas the truce. hoosel, a WFP spokesman, in a President tells FM Zarif crucial to the humanitarian relief Hani, a bus driver in the statement. effort. city, said he did not expect the On Tuesday, a convoy of REUTERS In a letter published by state wants regime change after US Pres- The ports are in the Houthi- situation to change any time white vehicles carrying a WFP DUBAI/LONDON news agency Irna, Rowhani told ident Donald Trump withdrew held west of the country, and the soon. team to assess the wheat headed Zarif: “As the Supreme Leader from the nuclear deal in May last agreement especially set out free “I expect that the humani- towards the grey warehouses, Iranian President Hassan has described you as a ‘trust- year. In many of his speeches at access to the grain warehouses tarian situation will change a where a group of armed pro- Rowhani rejected his foreign worthy, brave and religious’ the time Khamenei stressed that at Red Sea Mills, under the little and aid will reach some cit- government men greeted them. minister’s resignation as “against person in the forefront of unity is paramount, and that control of the Saudi-backed gov- izens, but I don’t think there will Workers and some UN per- national interests” yesterday, resistance against widespread US remains his position as Tehran ernment forces. be major change to the current sonnel wore safety helmets, as bolstering a moderate ally who has pressures, I consider accepting faces reimposed sanctions. Yesterday, however, the situation,” said the 40-year-old. some wheat could be seen long been targeted by hardliners your resignation against national Zarif’s sudden resignation streets of the city were empty “The fighting never stopped in pouring out of the silos. “We in factional struggles over the 2015 interests and reject it.” after months of pressure from amid rising tension as gunfire the first place.” need sustained access to the nuclear deal with the West. Senior Revolutionary Guards hardliners was prompted by his was heard overnight coming The conflict has created mills in order to fumigate the Foreign Minister Mohammad commander Qassem Soleimani indignation of being excluded from the south, residents said. what the UN describes as the wheat and then start milling it,” Javad Zarif, a US-educated said Zarif, who helped craft the from meetings in Tehran “There is no hope as long as world’s worst humanitarian said Verhoosel. “To do that we veteran diplomat, announced his pact that curbed Iran’s nuclear between top Iranian officials and we can hear the sound of crisis, with around 24 million need safe passage to the mills resignation on Monday in what programme in return for sanc- Syrian President Bashar Al gunfire,” said 26-year-old Eman, Yemenis — more than three for WFP staff and the mill an aide said was anger at being tions relief, was the main person Assad, an aide said. a Hodeida resident. quarters of the country’s popu- workers. excluded from meetings that day in charge of foreign policy and Syrian state news agency The Houthi rebels — which lation— now dependent on some “It will take weeks of sus- with Syria’s president, who was he was supported by Khamenei. Sana said that Syrian Foreign took control of the lifeline port form of aid for survival. tained access to the mills to get visiting Tehran. The support came at a time Minister Walid Mouallem had of Hodeida in 2014 — were Ten million are one step the facility back to normal oper- Two days later, he was back when the clerical establishment received a phone call “from his stopping pedestrians as well as away from famine, according to ations.” Both the Houthis and with his position strengthened is in a vulnerable position amid Iranian counterpart” Zarif to motorists and searching their the UN. The UN’s World Food the government forces are by the president’s endorsement growing pressure from the follow up on Assad’s “historic vehicles, another resident said . Programme said that access to accused of failing to protect as well as a chorus of support , and so in need of visit” to Tehran. In another sign Since a ceasefire went into effect the Red Sea Mills was “a great civilians in the conflict in Yemen, from moderate lawmakers, a promoting unity and keeping the Zarif is firmly back in the job, on December 18, there have first step”, adding that samples which has long been the Arab senior Revolutionary Guards reform wing on its side. Assad invited Zarif to visit been intermittent clashes of the wheat were sent to labs to world’s most impoverished commander and, implicitly, Iranian leaders reached the Damascus, state news agency between the Iran-aligned rebels test the quality. country. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. conclusion that Washington Irna reported. PA rejects monthly tax transfer from Israel over prisoners dispute

REUTERS set up following the 1993 Oslo Israel announced a freeze on affairs, told Reuters regarding Baconi of the International Crisis national struggle to end Israeli RAMALLAH accords between the Palestinians about 5 percent of that money the monthly transfer. The Israeli Group think tank. But he said occupation and create an inde- and Israel. affecting stipends the PA pays to finance ministry declined to Israel may reverse its decision pendent state. The Palestinian Authority (PA) has Under the interim accords, families of Palestinian militants comment. rather than risk a PA collapse. The United States passed leg- rejected the first 2019 monthly tax Israel collects taxes on imports killed or jailed by Israel. Some analysts see potential Palestinian Finance Minister islation last year to sharply transfer from Israel because it into the Israeli-occupied West In response, Palestinian danger if PA financial troubles Shukri Bishara said last week the reduce aid to the PA unless it slashed the portion designated for Bank and in the Gaza Strip, an President Mahmoud Abbas said mount in the West Bank, where PA faced “difficult days” in the stopped the pay-outs. financial support to families of enclave under Palestinian the PA itself would keep paying the Authority maintains security coming weeks, hinting it might Washington has slashed militants who are jailed in Israel, Islamist rule since 2007, and the stipends rather than accept cooperation with Israel even as have to cut the salaries of some hundreds of millions of dollars a PA minister said. makes monthly transfers of the a partial tax transfer. Israeli-Palestinian peace talks civil servants. of funding to humanitarian The decision came despite proceeds to the PA. “We have refused to receive have been stalled for years. Israel and the United States organizations and U.N. agencies increasing cash flow troubles, The tax transfers make up the 700m shekel ($194m) “Coupled with other de- say the PA’s stipend policy fans which aid the Palestinians as it caused in part by US aid cuts, that about half of the PA’s budget, transfer after Israel deducted 42 funding measures, stability in the Palestinian violence while the seeks to pressure Abbas to could destabilise the PA, an according to Palestinian Finance million shekels from it,” Hussein West Bank is being compromised Palestinians see the slain and enter peace negotiations with interim self-government body Ministry data. On February 17, Al Sheikh, the PA minister of civil in worrying ways,” said Tareq jailed Palestinians as heroes of a Israel. Erdogan meets Kushner to Buhari triumphs in poll; opposition rejects result discuss Mideast peace

BLOOMBERG from Lagos. “It’s good that Atiku AFP/ANKARA LAGOS specified that he is challenging the results in court.” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with Nigeria’s Muhammadu Buhari The president’s re-election US President Donald Trump’s adviser and son-in-law Jared easily won a second term as pres- will also be tainted by criticism of Kushner during the American official’s regional tour to discuss ident of Africa’s biggest oil producer the balloting by foreign and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Erdogan regards himself as a with promises to revive an anemic domestic observers and violence champion of the Palestinians and Turkey has often been vocal economy and tackle security threats that claimed 39 lives. The vote was in its criticism of the Israeli government and Washington, espe- including a devastating insurgency dramatically delayed by a week cially after Trump recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel by Islamic State. His main opponent hours before polls were meant to and moved the US embassy there last year. Erdogan said late rejected the results. open Feb. 16, in what the oppo- Tuesday that the two men would discuss “economic and regional Atiku Abubakar said yesterday sition said was an attempt by the issues”, at the meeting at the presidential palace in Ankara he’ll go to court to challenge government to ensure low although neither side said Syria was on the agenda.The men official results showing Buhari turnout. The Independent were joined by Erdogan’s son-in-law and Finance Minister Berat won the Feb. 23 ballot by a margin National Electoral Commission Albayrak, according to Turkish presidency images. Kushner’s of 56 percent to 41 percent. He said 36 percent of those registered visit follows from Trump’s shock announcement in December alleged the ruling party used the cast their vote. — welcomed by Ankara — that he would withdraw 2,000 military to harass people in his “It is obvious that the elections American ground troops from northern Syria. strongholds and inflate voting were both free and fair,” Buhari numbers in its own. Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman said Wednesday in a speech in 20 dead in fiery train crash in Cairo “On election day, we saw the Mahmood Yakubu (left), presenting the certificate of election to Abuja. “Now that the elections are implementation of a grand theft of Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari after he was reelected, in over and a winner declared, we AFP/CAIRO the people’s will,” Abubakar, 72, Abuja, yesterday. must all see it as a victory for said in a speech in Abuja, the capital, Nigeria.” Four years ago, Buhari A hurtling locomotive crashed, derailed and caught fire at Cairo’s Wednesday. “This year is my third of Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen investors took in the election became the first opposition figure main train station yesterday, killing at least 20 people in the decade in Nigeria’s struggle for in late January, ostensibly because results. Wall Street banks in the nation’s history to come to latest disaster to strike ’s rundown railways. The coun- democracy. But this is the worst of corruption allegations. The U.S. including Citigroup Inc. had pre- power in what Barack Obama try’s transportation minister resigned hours after the accident. election in those 30 years.” and European Union criticized the dicted a market rally if Abubakar called a “historic step for Nigeria The train engine appeared to have slammed into the buffers Abubakar said his next steps move, while the Nigerian Bar won. Some investors will be cau- and Africa.” Turnout then was at the end of the track at high speed, sparking a major blaze “will be revealed to the public Association said Buhari was trying tious and look out for signs of pos- about 45 percent. “The jury is still that blackened the walls of the Ramses station.Firefighters shortly,” and he urged his sup- to put someone compliant at the sible violence or instability, out on whether vote rigging in its were seen hosing down the charred wreckage of the loco- porters to remain calm and top of the Supreme Court in the including in the key oil-producing various forms was decisive in motive as security forces guarded the site. Twenty people were foreign investors to “keep faith” event of a post-election dispute south, where armed militants swinging the vote in favor of killed and 40 injured, the health ministry said. Ahmed Ibrahim, in Nigeria. over the results. have wreaked havoc in the past, Buhari,” said Malte Liewerscheidt, a jewellery salesman, said he was on his way to work when he The legal fight may be com- The stock market fell 0.7 Ifedayo Olowoporoku, an analyst an analyst at New York-based heard a loud explosion. “I ran to see a lot of people injured. I plicated by Buhari’s suspension percent by close in Lagos as at Vetiva Capital, said by phone Teneo Intelligence. had to carry a young girl with my own hands,” he said. THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2019 HOME 13 14 ASIA THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2019 India demands safe return of pilot in Pakistan custody

AGENCIES contrast to India’s non-military NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD anti-terror pre-emptive strike at a JeM terrorist camp at Balakot in India yesterday said Pakistan has Pakistan early on Tuesday. committed an “unprovoked act of “It is unfortunate that instead aggression” by targeting Indian of fulfilling its international obli- military posts with its air force and gation and bilateral commitment sought immediate and safe return to take credible action against ter- of an Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot rorist entities and individuals in its custody. operating from its soil, Pakistan After an aerial engagement has acted with aggression against in the J&K’s Nowshera sector India,” the statement said. The yesterday, Pakistan claimed that MEA said India expects Pakistan to it has captured one Indian pilot, take immediate and verifiable identified as Wing Commander action against terrorism emanating Abhinandan Varthaman, a MiG from territories under its “control”. 21 Bison pilot. In a related development, Captured pilot Wing Commander An army helicopter hovers near the debris of the Indian military aircraft which crashed in central India has issued a demarche Prime Minister Narendra Modi Abhinandan Varthaman holding Kashmir’s Budgam, yesterday. to Pakistan, objecting to the yesterday met Defence Minister “vulgar display” of the injured IAF a cup of tea in the custody of Nirmala Sitharaman and the three pilot in violation of all norms and Pakistani forces at an undisclosed Services chiefs after the Pakistan said Islamabad must ensure that location. Air Force jets intruded into the Flight operations resume at no harm is done to the Indian Indian territory across the Line of defence personnel in its custody. custody. India also expects his Control. The Prime Minister learnt The Ministry of External Affairs immediate and safe return,” the to have discussed the evolving sit- airports across North India (MEA) also summoned Pakistan’s statement said. uation at the meeting, also acting High Commissioner Syed The Pakistan government’s attended by National Security IANS airspace and that Pakistan’s Air strictly following instructions Haider Shah and lodged a strong official Twitter account released Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval. NEW DELHI Traffic Control (ATC) has from the Air Force. protest at “the unprovoked act of a video of what it claimed was an Sources said the Armed Forces banned any aircraft from flying On their part, the airlines aggression by Pakistan against Indian pilot. The man, whose face have apprised the political lead- Commercial flight operations below 32,000 feet. said they have either refunded India earlier today, including vio- is bloodied and blindfolded, gives ership of available options “along at many airports across North According to the Direc- passengers or re-booked them lation of the Indian air space by his name and service number, with pros and cons”. “The Indian India, disturbed following air torate General of Civil Aviation on other available flights. Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and tar- before telling a man questioning Armed Forces are always ready to space restrictions that were (DGCA), the operational restric- A SpiceJet spokesperson geting of Indian military posts.” It him: “I’m sorry sir, that’s all I’m act for the security and sover- imposed by the Indian Air tions were removed in the early said: “Passengers whose flights also gave Pakistan a dossier with supposed to tell you.” eignty of the country. It is up to the Force (IAF) as a precautionary evening hours. were cancelled today (February specific details of Jaish-e-Moham- In a second video circulating political leadership to take a measure, were resumed after No commercial operations 27) due to airspace restrictions med’s complicity in the February on social media, a screenshot of decision,” the source said. the withdrawal of Notam. took place during the duration have been provided a full 14 Pulwama terror attack, which which was shared by the same A source in the Ministry of The operations, restricted of Notam at these airports. refund or have been re-booked killed 40 CRPF personnel. Pakistan government account, the External Affairs (MEA) said at this early yesterday morning, were Several flights had either been on alternate flights of their The MEA said in a statement it pilot was seen sipping tea while stage it was difficult to say how resumed after the withdrawal diverted or put on hold. choice at no extra charge.” was clearly conveyed to Pakistan praising his treatment by the Paki- the entire scenario would unfold. of the “Notice to Airmen” “Due to airspace restrictions, National carrier Air India that India reserves the right to take stani military. “There is huge difference (Notam) issued by the Air flights to and from Amritsar, Sri- said that inbound and out- firm and decisive action to protect India had, earlier in the day, between the situation yesterday Traffic Control (ATC) under the nagar, Chandigarh and Jammu bound flights from the US and its national security, sovereignty accused Pakistan of targeting the and today. It is difficult to say directions of the IAF. are currently on hold. Customers Europe for Delhi are being re- and territorial integrity against any military installations in response how things would turn out over The development comes a are requested to check flight routed through Ahmedabad act of aggression or cross-border to its counter-terrorism action a the next few days or even hours,” day after IAF jets bombed the status before commencing their and Mumbai. terrorism. day earlier and said an Indian the source said. biggest training camp of the journey to the airport,” Air “Flights landing into India “India also strongly objected MiG-21 Bison pilot was “missing Meanwhile, US Secretary of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) outfit Vistara had tweeted. from US and Europe are being to Pakistan’s vulgar display of an in action.” It said Pakistan has used State Mike Pompeo spoke sepa- in Balakot, Pakistan on With the opening of the air- re-routed via Dubai and injured personnel of the IAF in vio- its air force to target military rately with the foreign ministers Tuesday. The IAF yesterday space, commercial flights have Sharjah and will land into India lation of all norms of International installations on the Indian side and of India and Pakistan and urged chased away intruding Paki- resumed to Jammu, Leh, Sri- with a delay,” the airline said Humanitarian Law and the Geneva in the aerial engagement, one PAF them to avoid “further military stani fighter jets in Jammu and nagar, Amritsar, Pathankot, in a statement. Convention. It was made clear that fighter aircraft was shot down but activity” following Tuesday’s air Kashmir’s Nowshera sector. Dharamsala, Kullu and Shimla “Air India would like to Pakistan would be well advised to a MiG-21 aircraft was also lost. strike. Both China and the Several reports have said airports. Minister of State for inform that no flight are can- ensure that no harm comes to the The MEA said targeting of European Union have also called that Pakistan has banned any Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha told celled and there will be only an Indian defence personnel in its Indian military posts was in for restraint. Indian aircraft from using its the media that the ministry is increase in the flying time.” Controversial land bill Oppn flays BJP’s blatant politicisation of military’s sacrifice passed in Haryana

IANS Jaish-e-Mohammed’s (JeM) IANS/CHANDIGARH NEW DELHI biggest training camp at Balakot in Pakistan. Despite the opposition parties Amid escalating India-Pakistan The parties in a joint alleging that the BJP government tensions, the opposition statement said that national in Haryana was trying to favour yesterday collectively flayed the security transcends “narrow private builders and land sharks, ruling BJP for “blatant politici- political considerations. “The 21 the Haryana Assembly passed sation” of the armed forces’ parties expressed their deep the controversial Punjab Land sacrifices and hit out at Prime anguish over the blatant politi- Preservation (Haryana Minister Narendra Modi for not cisation of the sacrifices made Amendment) Bill, 2019. convening an all-party meeting. by our armed forces by leaders The new Bill has been On a day when India shot of the ruling party. passed to amend the Punjab down a Pakistani jet and lost one “National security must tran- Land Preservation Act of its MiG-21 jets, 21 opposition scend narrow political consider- (PLPA),1900, in its application parties met here and expressed ations,” said Gandhi while reading to the state of Haryana. their concerns over the emerging out the statement to the media. At Once cleared, the Bill will security situation. the meeting, the parties attacked open up thousands of acres to Attended by Congress Pres- Modi and BJP President Amit Shah real estate and other non-forest ident Rahul Gandhi, Trinamool for “using” the IAF action to build activity that were protected Congress chief Mamata Banerjee a narrative for the Bharatiya under the earlier Act for the and CPI-M General Secretary Janata Party ahead of the Lok past 119 years (since year 1900). An armed soldier stands guard outside India’s Defence Ministry building in New Delhi, yesterday. Sitaram Yechury, the meeting Sabha elections. Opposition Indian National followed the capture of an Indian After the air strike in Lok Dal (INLD) and Congress Air Force (IAF) pilot by Pakistan Pakistan, Modi told a rally in strong determination and zero tol- armed forces for their narrow Indian military installations and legislators alleged that the Bill and the downing of a Pakistani Rajasthan that India was in safe erance policy against terrorism. political considerations,” said loss of one fighter aircraft, the had been passed by Chief Min- aircraft by India —events arising hands while Shah declared Modi “Modi and Shah have been shame- Yechury. Referring to the gov- leaders condemned the Pakistani ister Manohar Lal Khattar’s from the IAF bombing of the was the “only world leader” with lessly using the sacrifices of our ernment confirming targeting of misadventure. government to favour private builders and the mining mafia. They demanded that the gov- Kerala State Film Awards: Jayasurya and ernment should withdraw the Centre moves SC, seeks modification in Bill and that it should be Soubin best actors; Nimisha best actress examined by a House committee. order on eviction of tribals from forest areas Opposition leaders alleged IANS/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM IANS The Centre in its modifi- people and forests, a primary that forest cover was depleting Popular actor Jayasurya shared the best actor Kerala State Film Award NEW DELHI cation application has urged the task of all agencies responsible in the state and the amendment along with upcoming actor Soubin Shahir, while Nimisha Sajayan court to “pass an order modi- for forest management, will allow construction even in walked away with the best actress honour here. State Minister for The Centre yesterday moved the fying order dated 13.2.2019 and including the forest development areas where it was banned Cinema A K Balan announced the 49th Kerala State Film Awards. Supreme Court seeking modifi- directing the state governments corporations, should be to asso- under the earlier Act. The oppo- For Jayasurya, this is the first state award that he is getting for cation of its February 13 order to file detailed affidavits ciate the tribal people closely in sition staged a walkout over the best actor. He has won it for his roles in “Captain” and “Njan directing the states to evict regarding the procedure fol- the protection, regeneration and issue as the treasury benches Marykutty”, while Shahir got it for his stellar performance in the “forest-dwelling scheduled lowed and details of the rejection development of forests, as well went ahead with the passing of film “Sudani from Nigeria”, which was his first full-length lead role. tribes” (FDSTs) and “other tradi- of claims of FDSTs and OTFDs” as to provide gainful the Bill. Sajayan shot into prominence after her 2017 film “Thondi- tional forest dwellers” (OTFDs) under the 2006 Act. employment to people living in The BJP itself has been muthalum Driksakshiyum”, and after that she has had her hands from the forest areas. The Centre has pointed to and around the forest”. accusing previous Congress and full. She got the award for her performance in the films “Chola” The February 13 order of the the historical proximity of the The Centre has submitted INLD governments in Haryana and “Oru Kuprasidha Payan”. The best film award went to “Kanthan apex court order is applicable for forest-dwelling communities that the statute was enacted to of massive corruption in land - The Lover of Colour”, directed by Sherief. It tells the tale of Adi- the forest-dwelling scheduled including tribes with forest lands “correct the historical process by dealings. Khattar defended the vasis. The best director’s award was bagged by veteran film maker tribes and other traditional forest and referred to the National which tribal and other forest- move to bring in the Bill saying Shyamaprasad for his film “Oru Njayarazhcha”, which even bagged dwellers whose claims have been Forest Police (NFP)’s view to but- dwelling communities in the that it was as per the require- the second best film award. K U Mohan bagged the best cam- rejected under the Scheduled tress its contention. country were alienated from ments of the present. He said eraman award for his work in the film “Carbon”, while Vijay Tribes and Other Traditional The NFP says that “having their right to habitation and right that the earlier Act was very old Yesudas, son of legendary singer K J Yesudas, won the best male Forest Dwellers (Recognition of regard to the symbiotic rela- to occupy and hold forest land and its provisions needed a singer award. Forest Rights) Act, 2006. tionship between the tribal and forest produce”. change. THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2019 ASIA 15

Major airports in Pakistan Imran again invites India for talks, suspend flight operations

INTERNEWS “A flight from Guangzhou, says better sense should prevail LAHORE China has been sent back,” the official further said. Sources Flight operations were sus- said a passenger air plane was INTERNEWS pended across major airports in stopped from taking off from ISLAMABAD Pakistani provinces of Punjab Bacha Khan International and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa yes- Airport in Peshawar on the Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan yes- terday, in the wake of escalating orders of Civil Aviation terday once again invited India for talks and border tensions. Authority. urged better sense should prevail. Flight operations at Lahore, The Civil Aviation Authority Addressing the nation in the wake of Multan, Faisalabad, Sialkot and said in a notification that all Pakistan Air Force (PAF) shooting down two Islamabad airports were sus- flight operations in Pakistan will Indian aircraft inside Pakistani airspace, the pended, after the Pakistan Air remain suspended till today Premier said, “I wanted to take you into con- Force (PAF) shot down two midnight. fidence regarding the situation arising since Indian aircraft inside Pakistani The authority, in a notifi- yesterday. We offered India that we are ready airspace earlier yesterday and cation, announced it has offi- to cooperate with them in any kind of inves- arrested an Indian pilot on cially closed its airspace till tigation after the Pulwama attack. ground. tomorrow midnight, in the wake “We know how the families of those According to Lahore airport of escalating border tensions. killed in Pulwama incident must have felt. manager, all incoming and out- The CAA tweeted a few We have been the victims of war for decades. going local and international hours later that the Pakistani I have been to hospitals visiting survivors of flights have been suspended airspace had been closed until bomb attacks, the ones who are left behind, until further orders. further notice. who are maimed and left crippled. “We know what war means. Since the beginning, we have asked India to share OIC flays India’s violation actionable evidence with us. It is nowhere A man watches the speech of the Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, in Lahore yesterday. in the interest of Pakistan for it to be used as a base for militancy,” he said. and PAF had no choice but to respond, DG countries have the capability and capacity of LoC; calls for restraint “But I had a hunch that India would ISPR said the question was “how to respond” but war is the failure of policy which India ANATOLIA responsibly..., and to seek escalate, and that is why in my earlier speech whether in “a similar manner as India or as needs to understand. ISTANBUL peaceful solution to current I had stated that if India plays war games, a responsible country”. “We do not want to escalate and follow crisis without resort to use of we will retaliate. We waited, and today we “Pakistan’s armed forces have capability, a path which leads to peace. The people of The world’s premier Islamic bloc force”. took action. It was our plan to not cause any will, resolve and nation’s support. But both countries and region at large have a yesterday condemned India’s The OIC call came amid collateral damage, and not to cause any cas- because we are a responsible state and want right to live and live in peace. War is not the violation of the “line of control” reports that Pakistan and India ualties. We simply wanted to show capa- peace, we decided first of all that we won’t solution to problems. India should think with with Pakistan, calling on the two claimed they had shot down bility,” the Premier explained. take any military targets. “Secondly, we a cool head on this offer from Pakistan. neighbours to exercise restraint. each other’s fighter jets. PM Imran continued: “Two Indian MiGs decided that there be no loss of life or col- “Today’s action was in self defence, we In a statement, the Organi- Tension between the two crossed Pakistan’s borders, and we shot lateral damage in our engaging of targets,” don’t want to claim any victory. There are zation of Islamic Cooperation nuclear neighbors rose after them down. I also want to state that the Major General Ghafoor added. “Our planes no victors in war. I request media to report (OIC)’s General Secretariat Indian jets intruded into Paki- pilot is with us.” locked targets, then in open air we carried objectively, responsibly, to go towards peace. denounced “this action against stan’s airspace early on Tuesday. “I want to now address India and say let out strikes,” he continued. Our message is for peace. Starting a war is an OIC founding member state”. India claimed its jets had sanity prevail. Let’s think sensibly. All wars “We locked all targets with accuracy, and easy, but where it ends, nobody knows.” It also “urged India and killed “several terrorists” in in the world have been started on miscalcu- when we had option to fire, we acted respon- Calling on the international community Pakistan to exercise restraint “pre-emptive action” on a Jaish- lations on the time and the human cost of sibly from a safe distance. We have capa- to play its role, DG ISPR said, “Pakistan is and avoid any steps that would e-Mohammed (JeM) camp, a war. This was the same with the First World bility to do anything, but we don’t want esca- sending a message of peace and they should endanger peace and security in group that Islamabad listed as a War, with the Second World War, the war lation. We don’t want to go towards war,” he also come forward and see how the envi- the region.” terrorist organization in 2002. on terror, the Vietnam War. The history of asserted. “After PAF decided on targets, two ronment between India and Pakistan are a The -based grouping Pakistani officials have the world shows us wars have always been Indian jets entered Pakistani airspace and threat to peace and development not only to also called on both parties to “act rejected the claim. miscalculation,” he asserted. the PAF faced them. the two countries but the region and beyond.” “I ask India; with our weapons capability The two planes were shot down one fell Major General Ghafoor added, “Pakistan’s Britain worried about rising tensions on both sides, can we afford a miscalcu- in our space and the other on their side. Two response is not a retaliation per se, but a lation? It will neither be in my control or pilots were arrested one of them was injured demonstration of our capability, responsi- LONDON: The UK is “deeply concerned” about rising tensions Modi’s. The hurt that has been caused due to and has been taken to CMH and will be given bility and will. It is now up to India whether between Pakistan and India and is urging restraint, British Prime the Pulwama attack, we want to come to the proper care. Another is in our custody,” the they go towards peace, which is a Minister Theresa May said yesterday. Speaking at a weekly question table and talk about terrorism that affects us DG ISPR shared. requirement of the region. But if forced, we session in the House of Commons, May said the British government both. We are ready. Let better sense prevail,” Refuting Indian media reports that a will respond.” is monitoring developments closely, and they hope tensions can be the Premier urged. Pakistani F-16 jet was shot down, Major In response to a question, Major General de-escalated. Earlier in the day, the Director-General General Ghafoor said, “Pakistan did not use Ghafoor said, “Pakistan is not pushing for of the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) F-16 in any activity today.” war. We engaged our targets in open air, we Qureshi, Iran’s Zarif hold phone talks Major General Asif Ghafoor addressed a press The Pakistan military spokesperson deliberately avoided escalation. We could conference and said Pakistan wants peace stressed, “The state, government, armed easily have taken the original targets, but we LONDON: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif spoke and India needs to understand war is a failure forces and people of Pakistan have always did not do that.” Regarding the airspace being yesterday on phone with his Pakistani counterpart, Shah of policy. conveyed a message of peace to India. The closed, the DG ISPR said, “It has been closed Mahmood Qureshi, and offered mediation between India and Stating that the road to peace goes through dialogue. Both due to the environment.” Pakistan, after rising tensions between the two countries. Bangladesh Nepal tourism minister among 7 dead in chopper crash shuts down AFP home affairs ministry spokesman made it difficult for the choppers in the region. The exact causes corners of the country where blogging site KATHMANDU Ram Krishna Subedi said. The to land. A search and rescue team of the crash remain unknown. road access is limited or minister’s personal bodyguard was deployed to the area after It is just the latest aviation non-existent. AFP Nepal’s tourism minister has been identified as among the locals alerted authorities to accident to plague Nepal, an In September last year, six DHAKA Rabindra Adhikari was among dead. The owner of the heli- flames and smoke rising from a impoverished Himalayan nation people including a Japanese seven people killed yesterday copter company was also aboard hillside. “The helicopter is in with a poor air safety record. tourist were killed in a helicopter Bangladesh’s most popular when a helicopter crashed in the but his body has not been for- pieces, and scattered all over. Nepal has some of the crash. A US-Bangla Airways Bengali blog platform has been country’s hilly east, officials said. mally identified. Everything was in flames,” said world’s most remote and tricky plane crashed near the capital’s blocked by telecom regulators Rescue workers retrieved the Subedi said two army heli- Suraj Bhattarai, a witness who runways, flanked by snow- airport in March, killing 51 in what critics yesterday bodies of Adhikari, 49, the pilot copters had been dispatched to saw the debris. capped peaks with approaches people. Nepal-based airlines are denounced as an assault on and five other passengers from bring the bodies back to the The helicopter crashed into that pose a challenge for even banned from flying in European freedom of expression. a hillside in Taplejung district capital Kathmandu. Two other the hillside minutes after taking accomplished pilots. Union airspace. Its poor air safety The somewhereinblog.net where the Air Dynasty chopper private helicopters had also been off from a nearby temple, a local The country has a booming record is largely blamed on inad- platform was among more than went down. “The respected min- sent to assist but local author- official said. The minister was on private helicopter industry, flying equate maintenance and sub- 20,000 websites that Internet ister’s body has been identified,” ities said snowy weather had a trip to scope out a new airstrip tourists and goods to remote standard management. service providers were ordered to shut down as part of a crackdown on online pornog- raphy and gambling. Myanmar holds But the platform, which hosts more than 250,000 reg- istered bloggers, said it does not allow any obscene content, rare rally to call for adding the crackdown was a clear attempt at censorship. The sweep also blocked the Bengali version of Google Books constitution reform as well as popular social media apps such as TikTok and Bigo. AFP military control over security “We were stunned after dis- YANGON ministries, and gifts them with covering our blog was black- a quarter of parliamentary seats listed and blocked,” said Hundreds gathered yesterday — effectively allowing them to Mozaddid Al Fasani, a mod- in downtown Yangon for a rally veto any constitutional change erator and spokesman for urging reform of Myanmar’s proposed. somewhereinblog.net “Our controversial constitution The committee’s formation platform, in no way, supports gifting the army sweeping — voted in by a parliament or spreads obscene material powers, a move Aung San Suu dominated by Suu Kyi’s and we always stay on a high Kyi’s civilian government will National League for Democracy alert regarding content that discuss ahead of 2020 elections. party (NLD) — pits her in open might hamper national security The event follows the for- opposition against the powerful or sovereignty.” The spokesman mation of a committee last army, with which she has been described reported allegations week to discuss amending the in an uneasy power-sharing A man holds a poster reading: “Amend the 2008 constitution” in support of constitutional reform, by the telecoms minister that military-scripted constitution, agreement since the 2015 elec- near Sule Pagoda, central Yangon, Myanmar, yesterday. the site promotes atheism as an unprecedented move as tions. Yesterday’s rally, fea- “disheartening”. debates over it are highly turing a band and speeches Telecoms Minister Mustafa sensitive. from pro-reform activists, drew — NLD’s signature colours — cannot accept the constitution Aye, a prominent pro- Jabbar said that it was closed Authored by the junta in hundreds to the iconic Sule and T-shirts saying as it was not written by the rep- democracy leader, told the due to objectionable content. 2008, the charter allows the Pagoda sporting red headbands “#WeWantChanges”. “We resentatives of the people,” Mya crowd. 16 ASIA THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2019

Vietnamese children wave flags of Vietnam and the US before the arrival of US President Donald Trump at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi yesterday. RIGHT: Donald Trump shakes hands with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un before a meeting at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel in Hanoi. Trump meets Kim in second historic summit

REUTERS Today, the two leaders Ho. Today, the two leaders will demand for complete and irre- HANOI hold a series of meetings, the versible denuclearisation by North Leaders mind body language will hold a series of White House said. The venue has Korea, and risked squandering North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meetings, the White not been announced. leverage if he gave away too with a handshake of equals and US President Donald Trump House said. The “We’re going to have a very much, too quickly. met in Vietnam yesterday for a venue has not been busy day tomorrow,” said a Asked if he would declare a SINGAPORE: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US Pres- second summit that the United smiling, relaxed-looking Trump, formal end to the Korean War, ident Donald Trump were at pains to show they were getting States hopes will persuade North announced. seated beside Kim at a round table which North Korea has long called along in the well-choreographed first moments of their Korea to give up its nuclear with the other four officials and for, Trump said: “We’ll see.” North meeting in Hanoi, body language experts said. weapons in exchange for two interpreters. “Our relationship and South Korea have been tech- The first images of their meeting in the Vietnamese capital promises of peace and devel- Kim said they had overcome is a very special relationship.” nically at war since their 1950-53 showed them both walking towards each other against a opment. obstacles to hold their second In the run-up to this summit, conflict, with the Americans backdrop of intertwined flags hands outstretched, before Kim and Trump shook hands summit and praised Trump for his Trump has indicated a more backing the South, ended in a they clasped and turned in sync to face the flashes of the and smiled briefly in front of a row “courageous decision” to begin a flexible stance, saying he was in truce, not a treaty. The two sides assembled media. of their national flags at the dialogue. “Now that we’re meeting no rush to secure North Korea’s have discussed specific and ver- “They are both making an effort to show their relationship Metropole hotel in the Vietnamese here again like this, I’m confident denuclearisation. He repeated that ifiable denuclearisation measures, has improved since the last time,” said Allan Pease, an Aus- capital, Hanoi, before heading to that there will be an excellent yesterday, saying while some such as allowing inspectors to tralian body language expert and author of several books on dinner together. outcome that everyone welcomes, people believed the talks should observe the dismantlement of the topic. “The mirroring between them is quite strong.” Pease Trump said he thought the and I’ll do my best to make it be moving more quickly, he was North Korea’s Yongbyon nuclear said “mirroring” was how people who want to show that they talks would be very successful, happen,” Kim said. satisfied. reactor, US.and South Korean offi- have a rapport imitate each other’s body language to put the and asked if he was “walking Trump and Kim held a He has also said he would be cials say. Despite little progress on other at ease. Both of the leaders sought to project a sense of back” on denuclearisation, said 20-minute, one-on-one chat happy as long as North Korea, his goal of ridding North Korea of command with “alpha male” handshakes when they met in “no”. At their historic first summit before sitting down to dinner with which has not tested a nuclear its weapons programmes, Trump Singapore eight months ago, but displayed some anxiety in in Singapore last June, Trump and US Secretary of State Mike weapon or intercontinental bal- appeared to be betting on his per- their first moments. Kim looked far more confident com- Kim pledged to work towards Pompeo Trump’s acting Chief of listic missile since 2017, main- sonal relationship with Kim, and pared to their last meeting in Singapore, while Trump wel- denuclearisation and permanent Staff Mick Mulvaney, Kim’s top tained that freeze. Some critics the economic incentive after 70 comed Kim with his palm facing up — a sign, said body lan- peace on the Korean peninsula envoy, Kim Yong Chol, and North have said Trump appeared to be years of hostility between their guage expert Karen Leong, that was almost supplicatory. but little progress has been made. Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong wavering on a long-standing US countries.

Attackers kidnap, murder two cops in southern Thailand IN SHORT Several dissidents AP night in Narathiwat province a house where they were social- the three southernmost prov- deputy investigator of the HAT YAI, THAILAND involved a personal dispute or ising on Tuesday evening. They inces of Pattani, Yala and Nar- Banangsta police station. He said detained in Hanoi were part of a militant insur- also stole a rifle and two pistols athiwat, the only ones with the ranger was patrolling the Two police officers in southern gency that has claimed about belonging to the officers before Muslim majorities in the pre- area on foot when the device HANOI: Several dissidents Thailand were abducted and 7,000 lives since 2004. escaping in the pickup truck. dominantly Buddhist country. exploded. were detained in Hanoi yes- later found dead in a ditch, with Pol. Lt. Sarayuth Kachawong, Police later discovered the In a separate incident on There has been an upsurge terday as North Korea’s Kim the pick-up truck of one of the deputy investigator of the Joh I bodies of the officers in a ditch Tuesday morning, a remotely of violence in recent months Jong Un and US President officers stolen and set on fire, Rong district station, said four with gunshot wounds, and then detonated explosive device killed attributed to a hardcore sepa- Donald Trump kicked off police said yesterday. heavily armed attackers clad in found the pickup truck in flames a paramilitary ranger and injured ratist faction seeking to derail their second summit in the Police are investigating black and camouflage outfits at the entrance to a nearby two others in Yala province, said peace talks between the gov- Vietnamese capital. whether the killings on Tuesday kidnapped the two officers from village. The insurgency affects police Capt. Narongchai Vechnil, ernment and other factions. Vietnam, a one-party state with little tolerance for dis- sent, is working hard to control every aspect of the Dozens buried in Indonesia closely-watched meeting to avoid even the most minor embarrassment on the world stage. as illegal gold mine collapses At least three dissidents were hauled off by police AFP injuries, according to officials. routinely flouted. Some of the yesterday as they tried to NORTH SULAWESI, INDONESIA “Dozens of people were mining still-buried victims were catch a glimpse of the lead- for gold at this location when responding to rescuers’ calls but ers’ motorcades in the Indonesian rescuers scrambled suddenly beams and supporting it was not clear how many were streets of Hanoi. yesterday to find dozens buried boards broke due to unstable still alive. in the collapse of an illegal gold soil conditions,” said disaster Ground conditions at the Australian man mine that killed at least four agency spokesman Sutopo mine were unstable due to the sentenced in Bali people, the disaster agency said. Purwo Nugroho. large number of holes dug by the The effort to save survivors More than three dozen miners, officials said. DENPASAR, Indonesia : A at the remote site on Sulawesi people may still be trapped at “We still have hope. When court in Bali has sentenced an island was hampered by steep the site in the Bolaang Mon- we called them they still Australian man and his Indone- terrain and unstable soil condi- gondow region of North responded from down there, sian girlfriend to five years and tions after the collapse triggered Sulawesi, where some five asking for help,” local disaster four months in prison each for a landslide on Tuesday evening, miners were killed in December agency official Abdul Muin possessing illegal drug. it said. after an illegal gold mine Paputungan said. Presiding Judge Ketut Kimi- Four people have been accident. The mineral-rich “We can’t use heavy arsa told the court yesterday Indonesian people carry a survivor following a mine collapse at found dead while 19 others were Southeast Asian nation has machinery because the location that the panel of judges had the Bakan village, Lolayan subdistrict in Bolaang Mongondow, in pulled from the rubble alive yes- scores of unlicensed mining sites is very steep... it could endanger exercised leniency in their terday with minor and serious and safety regulations are the victims,” Paputungan said. Indonesia, yesterday. sentencing, based on both defendants having no prior criminal records and express- ing regret for their crime. Smugglers held in Malaysia with over 3,000 rare turtles Brandon Johnson, from Bris- bane, and his girlfriend, Remi Purwanti, were arrested with AFP animals. This haul comes two The seized turtles were esti- the south of Indonesia’s Papua area and is heavily threatened 11.6 grams of cocaine sepa- KUALA LUMPUR weeks after authorities seized a mated to be worth about and Papua New Guinea as well by trade. “There is a need to look rated into 13 plastic bags. record 30 tonnes of pangolins 150,000 ringgit ($37,000) and as in northern Australia. The into whether there is a demand Kimiarsa said the crime Smugglers were arrested in and their scales. The two uniden- the case is now being handled species is in high demand in Sin- for these pets here and whether was serious because it Malaysia yesterday with some tified smugglers were stopped by wildlife officials, he said in a gapore and China, where they it would be sent further on to went against the govern- 3,300 endangered turtles aboard by the coastguard just after mid- statement. Othman did not say are sold as exotic pets and some- other markets,” said the group’s ment’s programme to their boat, officials said, as the night off the southern state of where the smugglers might have times end up in food markets. senior communications officer combat the spread of narcot- country battles to clamp down Johor. “Seven packages con- come from. The animals were Wildlife trafficking watchdog Elizabeth John. ics and damaged the image on the burgeoning illicit wildlife taining about 3,300 turtles were identified as the pig-nosed turtle, Traffic Southeast Asia called the “We hope the investigation of Indonesia’s main tour- trade. believed to be... brought in to be a freshwater species classified number of turtles seized into the case leads to more intel ist destination. Johnson and Malaysia has in recent years sold in the country,” senior as “endangered” by The Inter- “incredible”, adding that it was on smuggling patterns from Purwanti, who were each developed a reputation as a coastguard official Commander national Union for Conservation a big concern for the species, Indonesia and neighbouring fined $57,000. transit point for trafficked Mohammad Othman said. of Nature (IUCN), and found in which is only found in a limited countries,” she said. THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2019 EUROPE 17

Swedish police Macron urges UK to arrest Russia spy suspect AFP justify delaying Brexit STOCKHOLM A technology worker suspected REUTERS lawmakers and rebels in May’s of spying for Russia has been PARIS Conservative Party had planned arrested in Stockholm, the to demand more control to rule Swedish authorities said French President Emmanuel If Britain needs some out leaving with no deal. yesterday. Macron said yesterday that the British lawmakers were still The person was believed to European Union would only more time, we won’t due to vote on other possible have been “recruited as an agree to extend the Brexit refuse but we are measures later on Wednesday, agent by a Russian intelligence deadline beyond March 29 if striving for an orderly such as an opposition Labour officer posing as a diplomat in Britain justified a delay with a Party proposal for a permanent Sweden”, head of counter intel- clear objective and new choices. solution i.e. an orderly customs union with the EU. ligence at Sweden’s security The is due exit of Britain from Labour, which until now has for- service Daniel Stenling said. to leave in 30 days but Prime the European Union: mally backed Brexit, has said this The suspect works in “high- Minister Theresa May has so far Angela Merkel week that if its motion fails it will tech” and has access to “infor- failed to get parliament to ratify swing behind calls for a new ref- mation likely to be of interest the deal she agreed in November, erendum, a major shift by oppo- to foreign intelligence so on Tuesday she opened up the sides but needed more time to sition leader Jeremy Corbyn. agencies”, the public prosecu- possibility of a delay until the be finalised. That could give opponents tor’s office and Sweden’s end of June. Merkel said she was “totally of exiting the EU their biggest security service said in a European leaders want to on the same line” as Macron but chance to stop it since the 2016 statement. avoid a disorderly no-deal Brexit appeared more willing to show vote in which 52 percent of Police also arrested a that would send shockwaves flexibility. Britons backed leaving. second person during the oper- through the $16 trillion economy “If Britain needs some more The big shifts on Brexit by ation on Tuesday, who was later of the EU 27, though they are also time, we won’t refuse but we are both May and Corbyn this week released after claiming diplo- exasperated at Britain’s labyrin- striving for an orderly solution come amid deepening divisions matic immunity, Swedish daily thine divorce crisis and want to i.e. an orderly exit of Britain from within both major parties as the Expressen said. move on. the European Union,” she said. Brexit deadline approaches. Stockholm is particularly “If the British need more “We regret this step but it is Eight former Labour law- Jump shot worried about attempts to time, we would support an reality and we must now find a makers and three Conservatives influence elections and public extension request if it was jus- good solution.” quit their parties last week to set A tourist jumps for pictures in front of the main building of the debate, for example through tified by new choices from the After months of saying that up a new anti-Brexit movement Moscow State University in Moscow, yesterday. disinformation on social media. British,” Macron told a joint news Britain must leave the EU on in parliament. briefing with Germany’s Chan- time on March 29, either with May said the vote on her deal cellor Angela Merkel in Paris. her deal or with no deal at all, will take place by March 12 at the “But we would in no way May made major shifts on latest, and if there is a delay to Venice to charge admission fees for tourists accept an extension without a Tuesday under pressure from Brexit it will not be beyond the REUTERS no income to local businesses. Luigi Brugnaro. clear view on the objective lawmakers who accused her of end of June and almost certainly VENICE Councillors overwhelmingly The city council has not spelt pursued,” he added. “As our running out the clock. a one-off. endorsed the entrance fee at a out exactly how they will collect negotiator Michel Barnier said, She will hold a vote within When asked in parliament Venice council has voted to meeting, saying day-trippers the money at first, but Brugnaro we don’t need more time, we two weeks on her deal, and said about Macron’s comments, May’s impose an entrance fee for visitors would now have to pay $3.42 has suggested that eventually the need decisions.” that if it fails she will offer law- de-facto deputy, David Lid- to help pay for the upkeep of the each this year to enter Venice. transport companies bringing in French officials have said makers chances to vote on ington, said that EU member much-visited World Heritage Site The sum will rise to between visitors will add the amount to Paris would agree to delay Brexit whether to leave with no deal, states have made clear they in a first for an Italian city. 6-10 euros from the start of 2020, the cost of the ticket. only if that came with a credible or to ask the EU for a delay. would want to know the purpose Around 25 million tourists depending on whether tourists Exempted from the fee will solution, for example if Britain Those concessions took much of any extension of Brexit. “So I pour into the lagoon city each come in high or low season. be tourists who spend the night called an election, held a second of the heat out of a series of votes don’t think that anything that year, of whom around 14 million “This is a significant turning in local hotels, which already referendum, or presented a new in parliament planned for yes- President Macron said today spend just one day there. Many point in the management of Ven- apply visitor taxes to their rates, plan that was acceptable to all terday, in which opposition comes as a shock to us.” take picnics with them, bringing ice’s tourist flows,” said Mayor and children under the age of six. Russia presses Romania’s anti-graft crusader case for greater scores win in bid to top EU job control over BLOOMBERG The committee voted yes- its Internet BUCHAREST terday in Brussels for Kovesi over two rival candidates: Jean- AP A Romanian anti-graft crusader Francois Bohnert of France and MOSCOW won support from a key panel Andres Ritter of Germany. The of European Union lawmakers recommendation sets up a clash The Kremlin spokesman said to become the bloc’s first chief with EU governments because that reports that the US military prosecutor, highlighting EU they’ve endorsed Bohnert for the carried out a cyberattack in concerns about the erosion of job, which will involve investi- Russia ahead of the US midterm democracy in the country. gating and prosecuting crimes elections proves that the Laura Codruta Kovesi, who such as fraud against the EU’s country needs to create its own, was fired by Romania’s ruling $160bn annual budget. self-controlled segment of the Socialist Democrats after she put The support for Kovesi in the internet. dozens of corrupt politicians EU Parliament shows how con- Russia’s parliament passed behind bars, gained the backing cerns about disregard for the the first reading of a bill that of the European Parliament’s rule of law in member countries, proposes all internet traffic be committee on civil liberties, especially in former communist routed through servers in justice and home affairs for the eastern Europe, have risen to the Former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy leaves a Supreme Court after testifying as a witness Russia. Opponents fear the EU appointment. top of EU political agenda. during the trial of jailed Catalan separatist leaders in , yesterday. measure would lead to wide- spread censorship. Dmitry Peskov was reacting to a recent report in The Wash- Former Spanish PM testifies in Catalan trial Wildfires rage across UK ington Post that quoted REUTERS Laura Boocock, West York- unnamed US officials as saying AFP (PP). He was replaced by socialist court. Defence lawyers had yet DIGGLE shire Fire Service’s incident that the US military remotely MADRID rival Pedro Sanchez. to question him. commander, told the BBC it was blocked Internet access to a The 63-year-old appeared Before him, his former right- Firefighters battled a series of “one of the biggest moorland Russian “troll farm” ahead of Spain’s former prime minister at Madrid’s Supreme Court as a hand woman Soraya Saenz de wildfires in Britain yesterday, fires we’ve ever had to deal the 2018 midterm elections. Mariano Rajoy, in power when witness in the trial of 12 sepa- Santamaria testified, accusing including a large moorland blaze with”. Several employees of the Catalonia’s executive tried to ratist leaders and activists — separatist leaders of persisting outside the northern English city Separately, on Tuesday a troll farm — a group that tries secede, yesterday accused sepa- nine of them on rebellion in organising the referendum on of Manchester, as the country wildfire started in woodland to sow discord through the ratist leaders of wanting to charges — for pushing the ref- October 1, 2017 despite a court experienced its warmest winter made famous in AA Milne’s internet, often with a political “liquidate national sovereignty” erendum in October 2017 and ban and “knowing that violence weather on record. Winnie the Pooh stories. motive — have been indicted in by organising a banned refer- for a subsequent short-lived would take place”. A fire started on Tuesday Ashdown Forest in East the US Special counsel Robert endum as he testified in their declaration of independence. Visibly angry, the former evening on Saddleworth Moor. Sussex suffered two fires that Mueller has charged 13 indi- trial. “They were fully aware that... deputy prime minister said: It has since spread to an area began within an hour of each viduals with a conspiracy to Rajoy governed Spain from as long as Mariano Rajoy was “Everyone can have their own about one-and-a-half square other. spread disinformation on social 2011 until he was ousted in June prime minister, there would be opinion and express it, but you kilometres. Large flames could In Scotland, firefighters media and mobilize supporters last year by a no-confidence vote no (legal) referendum to liq- can’t violate the law and judicial be seen rising from the hillside battled through the night to of Donald Trump during his over a corruption trial that hit uidate national sovereignty,” the decisions and generate violent as witnesses described “apoca- extinguish a large gorse fire on successful presidential bid. his conservative Popular Party former leader defiantly told the incidents.” lyptic” scenes. Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh. Greek court refuses to UK students dropping foreign languages en masse: Study extradite dissident to Iran AFP The BBC polled students who attributed the drop to the per- The study’s results alarmed AP a form of political and religious LONDON take standard General Certificate ception of languages as a dif- UK executives, with the Confed- THESSALONIKI persecution, her Greek lawyer of Secondary Education (GCSE) ficult subject. eration of British Industry (CBI) Thodoris Karagiannis said. The number of British children courses, which culminate in Shrinking class sizes have big business lobby calling on the A Greek court has refused to Naderikia, who won asylum taking foreign language classes exams around the age of 16. led some schools to shut down government to step in. extradite to Iran a political in after entering illegally has nearly halved since 2000, a The total number taking courses in order to meet strict “The decline in language dissident and wanted in her from Turkey with her husband BBC analysis showed yesterday, foreign language classes was budgets, the BBC said. learning in schools must be country for alleged drugs-smug- and daughter, was an aide of with those learning French and down 45 percent, said the study. “If we have classes of 25 in reversed, or else the United gling, citing fears that she might Iran’s reformist ex-Prime Min- German down nearly two-thirds. German was down the most other subjects, it’s really hard to Kingdom will be less compet- face torture if returned. ister Mir-Hossein Mousavi. The study was published at 67 percent and French fell 63 justify small classes in other itive globally and young people The court in the northern The court said Iran’s extra- with the island nation preparing percent but Spanish was up 75 subjects,” Mike Hill, a principal less prepared for the modern city of Thessaloniki ruled that dition request stated Naderikia for withdrawal from the EU percent. of a school near Liverpool, was world,” Matthew Fell, CBI’s UK the accusations were brought had been convicted of opium- after 46 years of membership. The BBC said most schools quoted as saying. policy director, said. against Farnaz Naderikia, 31, as smuggling. She denied that. 18 AMERICAS THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2019 Cohen accuses Trump of misdeeds at hearing

BLOOMBERG Every day, most of us WASHINGTON knew we were coming in and we were going Michael Cohen laid out a litany to lie for him (Trump) of allegations against his former boss Donald Trump, staying on something. And emphatic and calm as Repub- that became the norm, licans on a congressional and that’s exactly committee assailed him as a what’s happening convicted liar out to gain publicity and hurt the president. right now in this “Everybody’s job at the country: Cohen Trump Organization is to protect Mr Trump,” Cohen, the presi- because Trump didn’t give him dent’s former lawyer and fixer, a White House job after the told the House Oversight and election, an assertion Cohen Reform Committee. “Every day, denied. Other Republicans sug- most of us knew we were coming gested he was angling for book Michael Cohen testifies before the House Oversight Committee in and we were going to lie for and movie deals. on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, yesterday. RIGHT: A copy of a him on something. And that Cohen’s testimony touched $35,000 cheque, which Donald Trump’s former personal attorney became the norm, and that’s on numerous potential legal Michael Cohen says is a reimbursement issued to him for hush exactly what’s happening right threads that could concern the money payments. now in this country.” president, from hush money paid The nationally televised to an actress before the election said Trump was aware that his But he acknowledged he had hearing was the most dramatic to allegations of overstating his company also submitted phony no direct evidence of Trump col- public inquiry into Trump’s per- net worth for loans, insurance valuations to insurance com- luding with Russia, a central sonal and business affairs since and tax purposes. But it’s unclear panies to reduce premiums. question in Special Counsel Democrats won control of the how much added legal jeopardy He claimed he was an eye- Robert Mueller’s probe of House in midterm election. the president may find himself witness to other events, including Russian election interference. Republicans on the panel used as result of Cohen’s testimony. a phone call where longtime In June 2016, Cohen said, every opportunity to denounce it The ex-fixer produced doc- adviser Roger Stone informed Donald Trump Jr, “leaning over Stephanie Clifford, the porn star in 2016 when the efforts actually as a forum for a criminal who has uments to back up some of his Trump about the coming release to his father and speaking in a also known as Stormy Daniels, continued well into that election pleaded to nine felonies — claims — an alleged hush-money of stolen Democratic e-mails by low voice,” said “the meeting is who alleged she had an affair year. Cohen said Trump “knew including lying to Congress pre- check signed by Trump and a WikiLeaks. US intelligence all set.” That was the month with Trump. Cohen has pleaded of and directed” negotiations for viously behind closed doors —and financial statement that Cohen agencies have found the hack Trump Jr and others met with guilty to charges of illegal cam- the project in Moscow is due to report to prison in May. said was fraudulent. He sug- was executed by Russia as part Russians dangling the prospect paign contributions related to the “throughout the campaign and “You have a history of lying gested Trump committed loan of an effort to hurt Democrat of dirt on Clinton. payments. lied about it.” over and over and over again,” fraud by submitting inflated Hillary Clinton and ultimately Cohen gave the committee a Cohen also pleaded guilty to He also said Trump com- Representative Jim Jordan of financial statements, including help Trump win presidency. copy of a check that he said lying to Congress about a pro- mitted illegal acts that won’t be Ohio, the Oversight panel’s top to Deutsche Bank to get a loan “He is a racist. He is a con Trump signed after he became posed Trump tower in Moscow, discussed in the hearing because Republican, told Cohen. He sug- when he was trying to buy the man. He is a cheat,” Cohen said president as reimbursement for saying the Trump Organization they’re being looked at by federal gested Cohen had grown bitter Buffalo Bills football team. He of Trump. hush money paid to silence stopped pursuing the deal early prosecutors in New York. Diplomats walk out after Don’t be surprised if I run for president: Biden envoy calls for Maduro & AP political future since he left the “There’s a consensus that I fully prepared to do it,” he said. WASHINGTON Obama administration in 2017. should, that they — they, the For instance, he noted, when Trump talks at UN meet Biden spoke of his family most important people in my life he ran as Barack Obama’s Former vice-president Joe Biden deliberations along with consid- — want me to run,” Biden said. running mate in 2008, digital year. But the American envoy to strongly signalled that he could erations about how he’d fund a “I’m certain about where the political organising and fund- the UN’s Conference on Disar- soon launch a campaign for the campaign and the new tech- family is.” raising was just taking off, and mament (CoD) Robert Wood 2020 Democratic nomination. nology that would be required With that issue resolved, Twitter was in its infancy. walked out of that chamber as “I haven’t made the final to wage a modern bid for the Biden said he is now evaluating “Between then and now the another Venezuelan diplomat, decision,” he said, “but don’t be Democratic nomination. whether he can mount a high- whole issue of social media and Felix Plasencia, took the podium. surprised.” He said the most critical powered campaign to win the use of social media has funda- Several Latin American, During an appearance at the question surrounding a potential nomination and defeat President mentally changed,” he said. European and other diplomats University of Delaware, Biden candidacy — the support of his Donald Trump. “I don’t want this Meanwhile, Biden said he also joined Wood’s walkout. still gave himself room to decide family — has been decided. to be a fool’s errand.” wants to be able to raise the Asked later about the pros- against a run. But his comments Describing a recent meeting with “I want to make sure that if money required to compete and pects of a Trump-Maduro offered the most expansive his grandchildren, he said his we do this, and we’re very close win, while also adhering to per- summit, Wood said: “President insight into his thinking about his family fully backs a campaign. to getting to a decision, that I am sonal conditions. Trump is prepared to meet with the rightful president of Vene- zuela and that is Juan Guaido.” Nicaragua govt Arreaza denounced what he train collision leaves 9 injured described as a campaign of AFP frees ‘political’ AP GENEVA “aggression” being perpetrated back of another at 6:50am local that the eight other injured by the US against Venezuela, RIO DE JANEIRO time at the Sao Cristovao station, people were brought to hos- prisoners as Venezuela’s foreign minister including an international local train authorities said. pitals. The cause of the accident yesterday called for direct talks assault on the government’s Two commuter trains collided The Rio fire department said is under investigation. dialogue starts between President Nicolas foreign assets. just north of downtown Rio de Maduro and his US counterpart He said Washington’s Janeiro yesterday, leaving nine REUTERS Donald Trump to help ease the actions were depriving ordinary injured. MANAGUA crisis in the country. Venezuelans of food and med- Firefighters worked for over The call from Venezuela’s icine, and called on the rights six hours to rescue the train’s The Nicaraguan government top diplomat Jorge Arreaza (pic- council to “raise its voice” driver, who was caught under released dozens of people the tured) came in an address to the against the American the wreckage. opposition considers political UN Human Rights Council that “blockade.” About a dozen firefighters prisoners, a human rights group was boycotted by multiple dip- Wood said it was a “dis- crowded around the point where said, hours before government lomats including from Latin grace” that Maduro’s represent- the two trains were mashed and opposition leaders were America and Europe. atives were being allowed to together, working over a narrow due to restart talks aimed at “We are proposing the path address UN bodies. opening to free the driver. ending a national crisis. of dialogue, even with the United Yesterday’s walkouts in the The Rio fire department con- Pablo Cuevas, an attorney States... Why shouldn’t they rights council and disarmament firmed the driver was still alive. for the Permanent Commission meet, President Trump and chamber “sent a very powerful According to Globo television, of Human Rights, a non-gov- President Maduro?” Arreaza message,” he added. the driver was attached to an ernmental organisation, said said. “The former Maduro regime oxygen balloon to help him the detainees began leaving The US does not sit in the should not be allowed to try to breath and his family was penitentiaries in the morning. rights council following Trump’s continue to represent the Ven- present at the station. Firefighters trying to rescue a train driver during a collision between Nicaragua has been in a decision to quit the body last ezuelan people,” Wood said. One train smashed into the passenger trains in Rio de Janeiro, yesterday. deep political crisis since Pres- ident Daniel Ortega attempted social security reform last year, leading to massive protests. The US to demolish prototypes of border wall in San Diego ensuing chaos put the Central American nation in recession. Ortega, a Cold War era AP Trump’s top priorities, and he Artists displayed light shows used elsewhere on the border. dollars that Trump wants to former guerilla fighter who won SAN DIEGO visited the location a year ago to on the walls with messages such The new barrier vaguely spend by declaring a national elected office in 2006, see the installations firsthand. as “Refugees Welcome Here” resembles some of the steel pro- emergency on the nation’s unleashed a brutal government The government is demolishing For Trump’s allies, the tow- next to an image of the Statue of totypes but looks nothing like the southern border. crackdown. Some 320 people eight prototypes of Donald ering models were a show of his Liberty. solid concrete panels, which The prototypes are coming were killed and more than 600 Trump’s prized border wall that commitment to border security People climbed piles of trash were widely panned because down during the same week that imprisoned, according to the instantly became powerful and fulfilling a core campaign against a short border fence that border agents can’t see what’s the House voted to block Inter-American Commission on symbols of his presidency when promise. For detractors, they has since been replaced to get a happening on the other side. Trump’s emergency Human Rights. they were built nine months after were monuments to wasted tax- clear view from Mexico. Some The nearly $3bn that Con- declaration. In retaliation, the US has he took office. payer dollars and a misguided asylum-seekers hoisted their gress has provided for barriers The eight prototypes, which ramped up sanctions on The Trump administration display of aggression toward children over the fence in front during the first half of Trump’s cost $300,000 to $500,000 each Ortega’s allies and family and said elements of the prototypes Mexico and immigrants seeking of construction crews to turn term requires that money be to build, vary by slopes, thickness limited Nicaragua’s access to have been melded into current a new home in the United States. themselves in to agents. spent on designs that were in and curves. financing. border fence designs and they Public access to the proto- Their removal, slated to place before May 2017, effec- Bidding guidelines called Television images showed have served their purpose. types was blocked from the San begin today, makes way to tively prohibiting the prototypes from them to withstand at least mini-buses apparently carrying The four concrete and four Diego side, turning an impover- extend a second layer of barrier from being used and denying an hour of punishment from a released prisoners in the streets steel panels, spaced closely ished Tijuana neighborhood into with steel bollards, similar to Trump bragging rights to say he sledgehammer, pickaxe, torch, of the capital, Managua. together steps from an existing a popular spot for journalists, slats, topped by a metal plate built his wall. chisel or battery-operated tools Another rights group said some barrier separating San Diego and demonstrators and curious rising 9.1 metres from the It’s unclear if the restriction and to prevent use of climbing of the released prisoners would Tijuana, Mexico, were one of observers. ground, the same design being would apply to the billions of aids such as grappling hooks. remain under house arrest. THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2019 HOME 19 DIFI concludes ‘Family Wellbeing’ research forum

THE PENINSULA Over the course of the DOHA event, experts, policy makers, service providers, The Doha International Family and representatives from Institute (DIFI), a member of leading organisations Qatar Foundation (QF), in Qatar examined yesterday concluded its two-day research forum ‘Family contextual challenges Wellbeing: Towards Evidence- facing the development Based Family Policies,’ which and implementation was held at Qatar National of related policies, Convention Center. highlighted local, regional, Over the course of the event, and international best experts, policy makers, service providers, and representatives practices, and proposed from leading organisations in realistic and effective Qatar examined contextual policy options and challenges facing the devel- program interventions. opment and implementation of related policies, highlighted local, regional, and interna- of Families living with Autism’ tional best practices, and pro- in Qatar, where we discussed posed realistic and effective the key quantitative and qual- policy options and program itative evidence provided by interventions. DIFI’s recent study on the The dignitaries pose for a group photo at ‘Family Wellbeing’ research forum. In line of DIFI’s efforts to subject that examined various ensure that family issues are a challenges and obstacles. DIFI key priority for policymakers will continue to support the “Our second day examined session titled ‘Families and of Education and Higher Edu- Shafallah Center. in Qatar, the first day of the Qatar National Autism Plan to a DIFI study that addressed National Policies on Autism’, cation; the Ministry of Public The second day of the event focused on ‘The Wellbeing address the needs of children existing work-family balance moderated by Dr Sharifa Al Health; Kuwait Center for forum featured discussions of Families Living with Autism’, with autism and their families, policies in Qatar and included Emadi, which was followed by Autism; Primary Health Care titled ‘Research and Policy while the second day of the and work to improve their lives a proposal featuring various two panels – ‘Service Providers Corporation; Rumailah Hos- Debate on Leave Policies’, ‘Con- event concentrated on ‘Work- by addressing their needs in options that aim to facilitate and Families Living with pital; Hamad Medical Corpo- tribution of Child Care Arrange- Family Balance’. areas such as raising awareness, better reconciliation of work Autism’ and ‘Avenues of Support ration; QF partner university ments to Work-Family Dr Sharifa Al Emadi, Exec- receiving early diagnosis, and responsibilities and family for Families Living with Autism’. Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar; Balance’, and ‘Research and utive Director, DIFI, said: “Our accessing treatment and commitments.” The day was attended by rep- QF’s Pre-University Education Policy Debate on Flexible first topic was ‘The Wellbeing education.” The first day opened with a resentatives from the Ministry school, Renad Academy; and Working Arrangements’. Friends of the Environment Center marks Qatar Environment Day

THE PENINSULA DOHA

The Friends of the Envi- ronment Center has celebrated the Qatar Environment Day which falls on February 26, in partnership with the Youth Students attending the information sessions at QU. Club of Jumailiya, the Department of Agricultural Affairs and the Department of HBKU holds information sessions at QU Hygiene. The event, attended by 250 THE PENINSULA Faculty and staff representing HBKU’s five people, focused on the pro- DOHA interdisciplinary colleges and its three research tection of natural resources of centres were present at the event to familiarise the country as part of the lead- Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) recently students with the multidisciplinary master’s and ership’s efforts to implement concluded a series of information sessions at Qatar doctoral programs offered by HBKU. the fourth pillar of Qatar University (QU), which offered prospective students Earlier in the month, HBKU also participated National Vision to achieve sus- the chance to learn about the wide range of in the Qatar University (QU) Open Day for Graduate tainable environmental devel- research-focused graduate programs it provides. Programs. opment and to implement the The information sessions demonstrated the Attendees were introduced to HBKU’s spe- national approach aimed at opportunities for students seeking to pursue cialised research and teaching capabilities, which making Qatar an advanced Students planting flower plants to mark Qatar Environment Day. graduate studies to explore the unique paths for cultivate excellence and innovation, and offer stu- country. furthering their academic interests within HBKU’s dents the opportunity to actively contribute to The Center also organised thriving research and learning community. solving challenges for Qatar and the world. exhibitions in Al Salam Primary Environment Center, stressed the importance of preserving Independent School for Girls that preserving the envi- the environment and mainte- and Al Markhia Primary School ronment is the responsibility nance of its components and for Girls to introduce students of each individual in his per- not to harm them and protect Nissan Altima models of 2016-2017 recalled to the importance of preserving sonal capacity as well as the them for present and future the environment. responsibility of the generations,” said Al Hajri. THE PENINSULA of Nissan Altima models of 2016- vehicle defects and repairs. During the event lectures institutions. He pointed out that the DOHA 2017 over a potential defect in The Ministry said that it will were given on the most He pointed out that the objective of Qatar Environment the rear door lock. coordinate with the dealer to important plants that grow in duties of individuals and insti- Day is to spread the culture of The Ministry of Commerce and The Ministry said the recall follow up on the maintenance the Qatari environment, such tutions towards the envi- individual responsibility Industry, in collaboration with campaign comes within the and repair works and will com- as Shafallah, Kalman, Sidr and ronment are two legislative and towards their environment, and Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Co, framework of its ongoing efforts municate with customers to many others. behavioural aspects. this is an active contribution to dealer of Nissan vehicles in to protect consumers and ensure ensure that the necessary repairs Farhoud Al Hajri, Chairman “And each flower spring achieve Qatar National Vision Qatar, has announced the recall that car dealers follow up on are carried out. of the Friends of the program always emphasises 2030. Texas A&M at Qatar students participate in worldwide engineering competition

THE PENINSULA went to the team of Farah Ramadan, DOHA Saad Moazam, Mowad Alaradi and Saly Mohamad for Expert Hire, an app that Engineering students from Texas A&M provides meaningful work to senior University at Qatar recently spent 48 citizens. Expert Hire will now perfect hours designing, building and their presentation before submitting presenting ideas and technologies of a video to be judged remotely for a benefit to the world during Invent for chance to be named the overall winner the Planet. at a ceremony in April at the main Started by Texas A&M University’s campus. main campus in College Station, Texas Ramadan said, “As an engineer, (USA), Invent for the Planet asked stu- Invent for The Planet benefitted us a dents from 36 participating univer- lot. It gave us the ability to apply our sities around the world to tackle the education in a very open-ended most challenging issues facing the fashion. We successfully collaborated world today in just 48 hours. with each other and we got to At each location, teams were implement all the facilities and tools formed based on a shared interest in available to us. Additionally, we got a The winners of the competition with the officials. one of the available need statements. chance to learn from our expert Then over the following two days, the mentors throughout the process.” teams researched their topic, collab- Omar Mustafa, Raghad Al Sulaiti, went to Abdullah Al Tamimi, Arvin manager Dr Yasser Al Hamidi said, out the best solution to a global issue orated with mentors, came up with a Safin Bayes, Reem Faraj and Almiqdad Crisme, Syed Mustafa Husain and “Invent for the Planet encourages provides our students with a full plan and built a simple prototype. Each Elzein placed second for a graphene Abdulrahman El Moussa for a rolling student innovation and creativity by understanding of the design process team then presented its product to a sheet concept to provide clean tent prototype that prevents hail engaging them in an intensive design cycle and the necessary soft skills to panel of judges. drinking water affordably and usable damage to aircraft. experience and challenges them to successfully present your ideas, First place and a $1,0000 prize anywhere in the world. Third place Student engineering enrichment tackle real-word problems. Figuring research and end products.” 20 HOME THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2019