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TUESDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 11085 February 5, 2019 Jumada I 30, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Qatar, seek ways to fortify ties O Amir and Sheikh Sabah hold off icial talks in Kuwait City

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah holding off icial talks at His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad yesterday. al-Jaber al-Sabah ahead of their off icial talks at Bayan Palace yesterday.

QNA Minister, First Deputy Prime Minister Kuwait City and Minister of Defence Sheikh Nasser Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of is Highness the Amir Sheikh the Interior Sheikh Khalid al-Jarrah al- Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Sabah, and a number of sheikhs, min- HKuwaiti Amir Sheikh Sabah al- isters and senior civil and military of- Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah held offi cial fi cials. talks yesterday morning at Bayan Palace. The Amir returned to in the During the meeting, they reviewed evening. He was seen off at Kuwait bilateral relations and means of boost- International Airport by the Crown ing them to serve the interests of the two Prince, the Kuwaiti National Assembly brotherly peoples. Speaker, the Prime Minister, the First Also, the two sides exchanged views Deputy Prime Minister and Defence on the most important issues and cur- Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and rent regional and international develop- Minister of Interior, a number sheikhs ments. from Kuwait, Qatar’s ambassador to The meeting was attended by His Kuwait Bandar bin Mohamed al-At- Highness Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al- tiyah, Kuwait’s ambassador to Qatar Thani, Personal Representative of His Hafeez Mohamed al-Ajmi and mem- Highness the Amir, and members of the bers of the Qatari embassy. delegation accompanying the Amir. In the morning when the Amir arrived From the Kuwaiti side, Crown Prince in Kuwait City he was welcomed by the Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al- Amir of Kuwait. Sabah, Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber al- Also present to welcome the Amir Mubarak al-Hamad al-Sabah and senior were the Crown Prince, the Speaker offi cials attended the meeting. of the National Assembly, the Deputy The Amir later attended a luncheon Head of the National Guard Sheikh banquet hosted by the Kuwaiti Amir at Mishal al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, Bayan Palace. the Prime Minister, the First Deputy From the Kuwait side, the banquet Prime Minister and Minister of De- was attended by the Crown Prince, Ku- fence, the Deputy Prime Minister and waiti National Assembly Speaker Mar- Interior Minister and a number of zouq Ali al-Ghanim, Deputy Chief of sheikhs and ministers and senior civil Kuwait National Guard Sheikh Mishaal and military offi cials besides the two al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, the Prime countries’ ambassadors. The Amir presenting a jersey signed by the players of Al Annabi football team to the Kuwaiti Amir to mark Qatar winning the AFC Asian Cup. Page 2 Qatar- Year of Culture starts with Bollywood show

By Joseph Varghese countries and a large number of VIP “This year, we are pleased to partner “We are also marking the 150th birth Staff Reporter guests. with India. It is impossible to touch upon anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, father Launched in 2012 by QM chairperson all the aspects of India’s rich culture and of the nation. These celebrations in- HE Sheikha al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin heritage in this limited time provided to deed off er our two countries a unique he Qatar-India 2019 Year of Cul- Khalifa al-Thani, the Years of Culture me; however, if I had to describe it in one opportunity of renewing and revitalis- ture was launched yesterday with initiative aims to introduce Qatar’s rich word it would be “diversity” – a rich di- ing our special bonds of cultural herit- Tthe award-winning ‘Ticket to cultural off erings to partner countries, versity of both landscapes and history. age and help enhance the quality of our Bollywood’ performance at the Opera all the while bringing local audiences a At the same time, I cannot forget the engagement at the people-to-people House of Katara Cultural Village. This taste of some of the world’s most excit- important and close relationship that level.” comes as part of Qatar Museums’ Years ing and inspiring cultural acts. our two countries share, particularly He also said there will be a number of Culture initiative. Al-Namla highlighted the importance considering that a large Indian commu- of performances in the coming days The opening ceremony was at- and objectives of the initiative. nity resides in Qatar and calls it home,” which include fashion shows, cultural tended by QM acting CEO Ahmad al- “The Years of Culture programme he added. performances, musicals and exhibitions Namla, Ministry of Culture and Sports aims to build bridges of mutual under- Ambassador Kumaran said the ‘Year among others. representative Faleh Mubarak al-Ajlan standing between nations through an of Culture’ assumes a special signifi - “We will have a musical evening al-Hajiri, Indian ambassador P Ku- exchange of art, culture and heritage,” cance for India, as this is also the 70th by the famous Bollywood composers maran, other diplomats from various A scene from the ‘Ticket to Bollywood’ performance. PICTURE: Jayan Orma he said. Year of India’s arrival as a republic. Vishal-Shekhar,” he said. To Page 24 Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, February 5, 2019 QATAR

Amir and Kuwaiti leader chair official talks at Bayan Palace

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah chairing the off icial talks at Bayan Palace yesterday. Amir accorded ceremonial welcome His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani with Crown Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah yesterday.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani being received by Kuwaiti off icials at Bayan Palace yesterday.

His Highness Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani, Personal Representative of His Highness the Amir, being received by the His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani with the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah during the off icial reception ceremony at Bayan Palace yesterday. yesterday.

Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, February 5, 2019 QATAR

Qatar condemns PM, Tajikistan minister review bilateral ties blast in Mogadishu CAA, Matar sign contract Qatar has expressed its strong condemnation and denunciation of the explosion that took place in a market in southern Somali capital to operate, manage HIA Mogadishu, killing several people. In a statement issued yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs reiterated he Civil Aviation Au- Qatar’s firm stance on rejecting thority (CAA) has violence and terrorism regardless of Tsigned a contract the motives and causes. with the Qatari Company The statement expressed Qatar’s for Airports Operation and condolences to the families of the Management (Matar) on the victims and the government and management, operation and people of Somalia. maintenance of Hamad In- ternational Airport (HIA). The contract was signed Sidra Medicine to host by CAA president Abdulla bin Nasser Turki al-Subaey workshop on cancer and HE Akbar al-Baker of immunotherapy the Qatari Company (Ma- tar). Sidra Medicine will host Qatar’s Under the terms of the first “Engineered Immune Cells in contract, the Qatari Compa- Cancer Immunotherapy” (EICCI) ny (Matar) granted the rights workshop from February 15 to 16 HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani to operate and manage HIA at its auditorium. met yesterday with Republic of Tajikistan Minister of Labour, Migration and Employment and maintain its facilities The workshop theme ‘From Tagoyzoda Sumangul and the accompanying delegation on the occasion of their visit to Qatar. under the direct supervision Discovery to Off -the-shelf During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations and ways of developing them in addition to of the CAA, to ensure regular development’ is aimed at bringing a number of issues of common interest. and continuous operation of Abdulla bin Nasser Turki al-Subaey and HE Akbar al-Baker at the the rapidly evolving field of immune the airport. (QNA) signing ceremony. cell-based cancer therapies to the forefront in Qatar and making them accessible to paediatric and adult cancer patients in the country. Dr Cristina Maccalli, staff scientist at Sidra Medicine and EICCI workshop’s chair, said: “We are PHCC expands cancer screening suite looking forward to welcoming some of the leading experts in this field rimary Health Care Corpo- creating awareness in Qatar on to Qatar and to Sidra Medicine. ration (PHCC) has expanded the timely screening of breast and It is the right platform for us to Pits existing cancer screening bowel cancer where in 2018 we share case studies, best practice suite in Leabaib Health Centre. provided breast screening for 7,623 methodologies and knowledge that As a result, breast cancer women, and bowel screening for will ultimately benefit collaboration screening will now take only 20 9,351 participants. The programme and patient care in the field of cell- minutes for each appointment. A since its launch in 2016 has based cancer immunotherapy.” second mammogram room is also screened more than 50,000 people EICCI will bring together added doubling the capacity of the Senior off icials after launching the new screening clinic in Leabaib and we are overwhelmed with the local and worldwide experts screening suite to reach 90 visitors Health Centre. amazing response received so far.” in immunology, oncology, per day and 450 visitors per week. Dr Shaikha said, “PHCC haematology, gene and For bowel screening, the to- ing director, PHCC; Sheikh Dr Mo- ing rooms and follow up rooms through Screen for Life Pro- cell therapy while unveiling tal capacity per day is now sig- hamed bin Hamad al-Thani, direc- with extended working hours, in gramme has been aiming to off er breakthrough clinical successes nifi cantly higher, as it reaches tor, department of public health at addition to separate male and fe- the best screening services for the and technologies to help 96 visitors per day and 480 per the Ministry of Public Health; Dr male entrances. nation of Qatar and the expan- implement the eff icacy and week. The appointments are Shaikha Abu Shaikha, manager of This expansion is part of PH- sion strategy augurs well towards manufacturing of cell therapies. even shorter than those in breast Screening Programmes at PHCC; CC’s approach to off er bigger achieving our mission of screening “Sidra Medicine, is prioritising screening clinics since the par- and other offi cials took part in the space and increase the screen- all the eligible population of Qa- several research programmes ticipant will take the screening kit opening ceremony. ing capacity in the clinics start- tar in dedicated suites that apply a that will help us embark on home where they will do the FIT In the expanded suite, all the ing with Leabaib Health Centre, very smooth fl ow. We are confi dent the path to personalised and test. The bowel screening cen- steps of screening will take place which will be followed by an ex- that the year 2019 will prove to be precision medicine. We are tre will also have two assessment in the same space. The suite is pansion plan in Rawdat Al Khail extremely benefi cial in spreading currently developing immune clinics for both men and women characterised by a higher capacity Health Centre later in the year. our motive at various parts of Qa- cell-based cancer therapies for with specifi c opening hours. that reaches 180 visitors per day, Dr Abdulmalik said, “It has been tar, thereby eventually making it our paediatric cancer patients,” Dr Mariam Abdulmalik, manag- more nurses rooms, more screen- an eventful journey for PHCC in the healthiest region to live in.” Dr Maccalli added. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 5, 2019 5 QATAR/REGION PM chairs SC executive committee meeting

QNA Doha

E the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nass- Her bin Khalifa al-Thani chaired the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Lega- cy at its headquarters yesterday. The meeting discussed the progress of works in the projects of FIFA World Cup (Qatar 2022), especially in the light of the transition from the stage of preparing the necessary infrastructure for the tourna- ment, to the stage of organisation and deliv- ery and focus on the operational plans of the HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani chaired the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy yesterday. tournament. The prime minister directed to take the ties to ensure the organisation of a extraordi- Following the meeting, he toured the Leg- preme Committee for Delivery and Legacy at operational plans necessary to prepare for the necessary steps to overcome all the difficul- nary edition of the World Cup. acy Pavilion at the headquarters of the Su- Al Bidda Tower where he was briefed on the championship. UK MPs decry Minister meets European Commission official Saudi torture of female activists

By Anthony Harwood told one of the eight women detainees: male guardianship system. London Correspondent “I’ll do whatever I like to you, and then In , women need per- dissolve you and fl ush you down the mission of a man – either a father, toilet.” husband or even a son – to do things women’s rights activist who The Detention Review Panel (DRP) like getting a job, travelling or getting appeared in a Vanity Fair photo report says al-Qahtani was frequently married. Ashoot with the Duchess of Sus- present during Loujain’s torture, “at The report was released after re- sex is being beaten, waterboarded and times laughing at her or threatening to peated requests from the three politi- given electric shocks in a Saudi Arabi- rape and kill her.” cians for permission to visit the wom- HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti met here yesterday with Henrik an jail, according to a cross party panel During the murder of Khashoggi he en in jail were ignored. Hololei, the European Commission’s Director-General for Mobility and Transport. The meeting discussed aspects of of MPs. was said to have ordered the journal- DRP chairman, Crispin Blunt, said: co-operation between the State of Qatar and the European Commission in the fields of transport and civil aviation, A parliamentary report said Lou- ist’s killing on Skype with the words: “Our conclusions are stark. The Saudi and means of further enhancing them. The two sides also hailed the outcome of bilateral talks between the jain-al-Hathloul, 29, is being held “Bring me the head of the dog.” women activist detainees have been European Union and the State of Qatar in the field of air transport that took place here last week. in solitary confi nement, beaten and Khashoggi’s body has never been treated so badly as to sustain an inter- threatened with rape and murder for found and it’s believed his dismem- national investigation for torture. calling for an end to the country’s re- bered parts were dissolved in acid and “Denied proper access to medical strictive male guardianship system. either fl ushed away or buried in woods. care, legal advice or visits from their Three years ago Loujain appeared The DRP report said one detainee families, their solitary confi nement with the then-Meghan Markle in a was photographed naked and the pic- and mistreatment are severe enough Vanity Fair photoshoot in Canada for ture then put on a table in front of her to meet the international defi nitions One Young World. during questioning. of torture. The supervisory chain of At the time of the summit, Meg- It went on: “At least one of the de- command up to the highest levels of han wrote: “One Young World invites tainees was stripped naked in front of Saudi authority would be responsible young adults from all over the road several of the interrogators, touched in for this.” who are actively working to transform intimate places while handcuff ed and Loujain’s brother talked about the the socio-political landscape. repeatedly taunted with phrases such horrifi c ordeal his sister is being sub- “They are delegates who are speak- as: ‘Where are the human rights de- jected to. Walid-al-Hathloul said: ing out against human rights viola- fenders to help you?’” “Whenever Loujain spoke about the tions, environmental crises, gender The three MPs, Crispin Blunt, Layla torture sessions with my parents, her equality issues, discrimination and in- Moran and Paul Williams, said “Saudi hands shook uncontrollably. I fear the justice. They are the change.” authorities at the highest levels could, pain will stay with her forever. The report said that one of Loujain’s in principle, be responsible for the My own baby sister said she is be- torturers is the same man named as the crime of torture.” ing whipped, beaten, electrocuted and leader of the hit squad which murdered The detainees have been vocal sup- harassed on a frequent basis. She said Jamal Khashoggi. porters of women’s right to drive, an- that sometimes there are masked men In an echo of what befell the Wash- nounced by the authorities last year, who wake her up in the middle of the ington Post journalist, Saud al-Qahtani and have also pushed for an end to the night to shout unimaginable threats.”

Ministry completes ‘linear park’ in Al Hilal area

The Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME)’s Public Parks Department, in co-operation with the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), has completed a ‘linear park’ in the Al Hilal area of Doha, near The Mall and the headquarters of Qatar Charity. The park is 1.5km long, 50 metres wide, and has a total space of 75,000sqm, the MME has said in a statement. The park marks “the launch of a new idea that involves making use of the space along the sides of roads and highways and converting them into green areas and environment-friendly spaces where people can enjoy walking”, the statement noted.

Aspire Zone reveals activities for National Sport Day

Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) has announced a detailed The National Sport Day is scheduled on the second Tuesday of schedule of more than 27 diff erent sporting activities on the February, and it is an opportunity for all members of the com- occasion of the National Sport Day, QNA reported. munity to experience new and enjoyable activities. Aspire will open its doors for women and girls to participate in The Foundation will organise a series of sports events in Aspire a variety of activities in the covered hall including gymnastics, Dome, by Aspire Academy and its specialised football divisions, volleyball, basketball and aerobics activities, as well as their under the supervision of experts who have trained Qatar’s star participation in all open activities of their choice. players at the Academy. Aspire Zone activities will witness the Aspire Zone and the organising members take special care return of climbing activity from the age of five years and above. of all the details of sporting activities that are diverse, so that One of the most prominent events taking place in Aspire Zone, sport in all age-groups can be established as a healthy lifestyle specifically on the outdoor stadium 10 is the Russian martial art especially for girls and women to enjoy the sport in a spirit of “Sambo.” For the third year in a row, Aspire Zone will organise a privacy. show of Japan’s most famous martial arts, “Kendo.” Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, February 5, 2019 QATAR Official meets Pakistan envoy Pilot programme to train finance professionals

atar Financial Centre (QFC) has partnered with Qatar Fi- Qnance and Business Academy (QFBA) to run the pilot programme for the fi rst batch of generation 2030 in pursuit of off ering the best in class fi nancial courses to Qatari executives and new age professionals. The programme, targeting new joiners as well as employees who have been on the job for up to three HE the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Ahmed bin Hassan years, will help the professionals al-Hammadi yesterday met Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the master the latest trends and chal- State of Qatar Syed Ahsan Raza Shah. The meeting discussed bilateral relations and lenges in the fi nancial sector and ways of supporting and developing them, in addition to issues of common concern. thereby allow them to further hone their skills. The training mod- ules will be spread over four to six months, with coaching and mentor- ing in between. The pilot session of this pro- gramme took place at QFBA and involved participation of Qatari em- ployees from all QFC entities. “The QFC is dedicated to sup- porting the development of profes- sionals by creating the framework QFC-QFBA Generation 2030 programme participants at the session. that facilitates and enables their long-term professional growth. We The new programme underlines guidance and business etiquette. al-Horr, chief executive, QFBA said, are therefore delighted to host the QFBA’s commitment to contrib- “The “Generation 2030” pro- adding the aim of this programme is pilot session of Generation 2030, ute to the development of a knowl- gramme has been launched after iden- to prepare future generations for the which closely aligns with our com- edge-based economy in Qatar and to tifying the needs within the economy utmost uncertain environs. mitment to take our investment in strengthen corporate competitiveness in general and the specifi c needs of “Generation 2030” is supported human capital to the next level,” said in the region. It serves as a blended the relevant organisations to design by selected certifi ed trainers who QFC Authority chief executive You- learning solution that delivers fi nan- a product that they deem fi t for their are on board to arm the participants suf Mohamed al-Jaida. cial knowledge, self-management, organisational growth,” Dr Khalid with all needed requirements.

Ooredoo opens outlet at Palms Mall Ooredoo yesterday announced the opening of its latest shop at Palms Mall in Muaither. Ooredoo’s new shop will be open from 10am to 1pm, Saturday to Thursday, and from 2pm to 10pm on Friday. Customers will be able to access all Ooredoo’s services at the new shop, with fully trained, experienced staff on hand to answer questions and provide assistance. Manar Khalifa al-Muraikhi, director, PR and Corporate Communications at Ooredoo, said: “We’re pleased to be extending our network of shops with this latest opening and hope customers will enjoy visiting soon.”

Safari fetes draw winners

The prize handover ceremony for winners of the third lucky draw of Safari Group’s ‘Win 10kg Gold’ promotion was held at Safari Mall, Abu Hamour, on February 2. The winners received the prizes from Safari Group director and general manager Zainul Abideen and director of finance Surendranath. While Salah Latheef (coupon No 1739496) was the winner of the first prize of 1kg gold, Mumtaz Ahmed (1914707) bagged the second prize of 500gm gold, Jaison Joseph (2887563) the third prize of 300gm gold and Niyas H (2429078) the fourth prize of 200gm gold, Safari Group said in a statement.

Mabrook Qatar, says gas forum secretary general he Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) secretary general Dr Yury Senty- Turin (pictured) has congratulated Qatar on the tremendous eff orts and results achieved by Qatar in winning the Asian Cup. In a statement issued yesterday, he said: “This is truly a historic and landmark achievement for the people of Qatar and yet another confi rma- tion of the country’s leadership qualities. “Not to mention a highly encouraging ac- complishment with the 2022 FIFA World Cup in mind. “Mabrook Qatar, it is well-deserved and I wish for many more successes to come!”

Chrysler models recalled over safety concerns he Ministry of Commerce and In- forts to protect consumers and ensure that dustry, in co-operation with United car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and TCars Almana, announced the recall repairs. of Chrysler 200 C and 300 C vehicles mod- The Ministry said that it will co-ordinate els of 2005-2017 due to a potential defect in with the dealer to follow up on the mainte- the plastic handles of fi re extinguishers. nance and repair works and will communi- The recall campaign comes within the cate with customers to ensure that the nec- framework of the Ministry’s continuous ef- essary repairs are carried out.

Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, February 5, 2019 QATAR Saudi, Emirati Internet users worry about online surveillance: survey ore Saudi and Emirati dia consumption patterns, atti- survey was conducted face-to- Arab nationals are more likely surveyed countries than in the Internet users worry tudes and content preferences. face (phone in Qatar) among now than in 2014 to say fi lms United States, where it is 77%. Mabout online surveil- The participating countries – 7,635 respondents across seven and TV content from the US and Nearly 100% of nationals in Qa- lance, either by companies Saudi Arabia (KSA), the United countries. The survey was con- Europe are good for morality. tar and UAE own a smartphone, (62%, 61%) or government Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, ducted by The Harris Poll from Meanwhile, considerably fewer as do more than nine in ten in HE the Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi (58%, 47%), compared to other Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, and July 10 to December 30, 2018. nationals say fi lms and TV from Saudi Arabia and Lebanon. met separately yesterday with Poland’s Minister of Foreign Aff airs Jacek Middle East countries, accord- Tunisia – represent a cultural Other key fi ndings from the Arab countries are good for More Arab nationals are Czaputowicz and Cyprus Minister of Foreign Aff airs Nikos Christodoulidis, ing to a media use survey by and geopolitical cross-section 2018 study include that trust in morality. watching TV online than in on the sidelines of the Arab-European ministerial meeting, being held Northwestern University in of the Mena region. mass media in most Arab coun- The percentage of VPN (Vir- 2016, with Saudi Arabia home in the Belgian capital, Brussels. During the meetings, they discussed Qatar (NU-Q). “NU-Q’s annual media usage tries is falling, and in 2018 the tual Private Network) users to the highest percentage of on- bilateral relations and ways to boost and develop them, in addition to a The results of NU-Q’s sixth surveys are widely cited by schol- share of nationals in Jordan and spiked in Qatar from 6% in 2016 line viewers (51%). Majorities in number of topics of common interest. annual Middle East Media Use ars, industry experts, and other Tunisia (42% and 39% respective- to 39% in 2018) and Saudi Ara- the Gulf countries use stream- survey have been released on thought leaders who seek to ex- ly) who trust their national me- bia (7% in 2016 to 54% in 2018), ing services, with Shahid the its interactive website, mide- plain regional developments to a dia dropped below that reported among Internet users. In Egypt, leader followed by Netfl ix. astmedia.org The full report, broader audience,” said Everette by US residents (45%). Lebanon, Jordan, and Tuni- Binge-watching is also on the in English and , will be E Dennis, dean and CEO of NU- More than half of Arab na- sia, that fi gure remains at 10% rise, with the most dramatic in- Qatar attends released in March. Q. “Mideastmedia.org is an eas- tionals in all countries surveyed or less. crease in Qatar where 54% re- The survey points out that ily searchable, information-rich say they come across political Among social media and port doing so in 2018, compared only 16% of Qatari Internet us- website for policy-makers, media news stories online they think messaging apps, 29% of na- to only 24% in 2016. ers are concerned about either professionals, and institutional are mostly made up, either tionals said WhatsApp provides Football is by far the most Arab-European online corporate or govern- leaders wanting to better under- sometimes or often. Rough- the most privacy, although one popular sport to watch on TV ment surveillance. In contrast, stand a rapidly changing Middle ly three-quarters of Qataris, in four (23%) said no platform or online. Two thirds of nation- 67% of Americans worry about East media environment. We be- Lebanese, and Saudis say they aff ords privacy. als reported watching soccer in corporate surveillance and 57% lieve the latest survey fi ndings are come across patently false news Smartphone ownership rates the last 12 months (64%), likely ministerial meet government surveillance. illuminating and, in some cases, items sometimes or often — are among the highest in the infl uenced by the 2018 FIFA The comprehensive 2018 surprising.” similar to the rate in the United world, with ownership per- World Cup (watched by 63% of survey looks at changes in me- The sixth annual media use States (74%). centages higher in almost all nationals). QNA Palestinian issue to prevent the Brussels collapse of the two-state solu- tion and to fi nd a political solu- NHRC, OHCHR to tion to the crisis in Syria. atar participated in the Sudanese Foreign Minis- enhance ties fi fth Arab-European ter Dardari Mohamed Ahmed, HMC department honours 250 volunteers Qministerial meeting, whose country holds the current National Human Rights which started in the Belgium presidency of the Arab League, Committee (NHRC) Chairman capital Brussels yesterday. stressed the urgent need for per- amad Medical Cor- as part of a number of health HE Dr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri HE the State Minister for For- manent action aimed at estab- poration’s (HMC) promotion campaigns, in- met yesterday with Mohammed eign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al- lishing peace and achieving the Hcorporate commu- cluding events for World Kid- Alnsour, chief of the Mena Muraikhi chaired the Qatar del- economic goals of peoples. nications department re- ney Day, World Obesity Day, section at the Off ice of High egation to the meeting, which Arab League Secretary-Gen- cently hosted its ‘Volunteers’ World Diabetes Day, and Qatar Commissioner for Human Rights discussed aspects of co-operation eral Ahmed Aboul Gheit called Recognition Day’ to recog- National Day. (OHCHR). between the two sides and prepa- for Arab-European co-oper- nise over 250 individuals for Mohamed al-Dosari, as- The meeting reviewed ways of rations for the fi rst Arab-European ation to deal with the growing supporting its community sistant executive director, enhancing co-operation and summit scheduled for February 24. numbers of crises and problems engagement activities. Public Relations, led the partnership between NHRC and Speaking at the opening of the threatening the Middle East. The event acknowledged A section of the volunteers who were recognised by HMC. ceremony on behalf of the OHCHR. meeting, Vice-President of the He pointed out that the real key volunteers who have dedi- Corporate Communica- They also discussed the vision European Commission and High to successful and fruitful rela- cated their time and energy munications offi cer, Corporate voluntary organisations in the tions Department, present- of the two parties to develop the Representative of the European tions between the two sides is the to support HMC in success- Communications Depart- country. ing attendees with a cer- partnership between NHRC and Union for Foreign Aff airs and mutual recognition of the con- fully hosting various commu- ment, HMC, said a key objec- The volunteers from various tificate of appreciation and the UN Center for Training and Security Policy, Federica Mogh- cerns of each party, and the sin- nity engagement eventsduring tive of the recognition event non-profi t organisations were a small gift. He applauded Documentation in the Field of erini, called on Europe and the cere desire to reach an equation 2018. was to strengthen the rela- recognised for their support the volunteers and thanked Human Rights for South-West Asia Arab world to work to resolve the that achieves the interest of all. Ali al-Khater, chief com- tionship between HMC and of community activities held them for their service. and the Arab Region, in Doha. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 5, 2019 9 QATAR

Al-Hammadi meets UN special envoy on youth

Off icials, dignitaries and guests attending Qatar British Festival.

Travelex takes part in Qatar HE the Secretary-General of Ministry of Foreign Aff airs Dr Ahmed bin Hassan al-Hammadi met yesterday with UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth Jayathma Wickramanayake, who is on a visit to Qatar. The meeting discussed enhancing co-operation prospects in addition to matters of mutual British Festival to foster ties interest.

ravelex Qatar partici- the best contemporary British pated in the recently held arts, while helping families dis- TQatar British Festival, cover the fun side of culture and MME issues three model where it was able to raise aware- learn something new. ness about new launches and Travelex has been one of the reveal plans to expand in this most infl uential British compa- fast-growing market. nies in forex and we are happy contract regulation forms The fi fth annual Qatar British that it has shown keen inter- Festival was offi cially launched est to be a part of this much- by Ajay Sharma, British ambas- awaited festival that binds the he Ministry of Municipal- These guiding model contracts rights and duties of each party to sador to Qatar; along with Dr culture, education and sport of ity and Environment’s En- were prepared by the MME based the contract. Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, two countries together. Tgineers and Engineering on the relevant recommenda- The new model contracts cov- general manager of Katara-the “In the coming years, we are Offi ces Accrediting and Classify- tions of the Central Municipal er the services of the consultative Cultural Village Foundation; confi dent that more and more ing Committee has issued three Council. offi ces in the fi elds of design and and Sam Ayton, director, British A scene from the festival. organisations will come forward model contract forms in Arabic Applicants can download a supervision, the duties and limi- Council Qatar. to be a part of Qatar’s growth to regulate engineering designs copy of the contract forms from tations of the consultative offi ce Travelex Qatar is a subsidiary Building upon four successful tion of each country’s culture, in culture and sports sectors and the supervision of the execu- the MME website, which in- and the contractor. of the leading British forex com- editions, the British Festival’s achievements and heritage. By through this platform.” tion of works. clude: Agreement contract for Further it covers the responsi- pany Travelex. The Qatar British fi fth edition featured 20 live participating in this festival, we This year, the festival reached These contracts regulate the supplying engineering services bilities of the consultative offi ce Festival, organised by the British events, panel discussions and a further strengthen our position 60,000 people in Qatar build- relation between citizens and (supervision – villa), agreement and the contractor on their work, Council in partnership with the Guinness World Records public in enhancing ties with Qatar and ing on existing partnerships contractors indicating the mini- contract for supplying engineer- the obligations and liabilities of British embassy, is a celebration artwork. expand our business in this dy- and forging new collabora- mum number of clauses to be ing services (supervision – villa), the owner towards them, con- of the long-standing relation- Tom Fane, managing direc- namic country...” tions, Travelex Qatar said in a included. and a contracting agreement tract execution duration and de- ship between Qatar and the UK. tor of Travelex Middle East and On her part, Ayton said: “The statement. There are Travelex The forms are to be considered contract (building a villa). lay penalties, fees and due instal- Each year, the festival gives at- , said: “The British Fes- British Council is proud to bring stores in fi ve locations in Qa- as guidelines when signing the The Engineers and Engineer- ments of the consultative offi ce tendees an opportunity to enjoy tival in Qatar aims to forge new the fi fth British Festival to au- tar — Hamad International contracts to design, supervise ing Offi ces Accrediting and Clas- and the contractor, ownership of a series of fun, educational and relations and support existing diences in Qatar. Through this Airport, Doha Port, Industrial and construct villas, making the sifying Committee has stressed the documents and related pa- creative events through culture, partnerships, while promot- festival, we aim to connect au- Area, Doha Souq Al Badi and process simple while maintain- that these model contract forms perwork, settlement of disputes sports, business and more. ing awareness and apprecia- diences in Qatar with some of Mesaieed. ing the lowest possible cost. aim to safeguard and defi ne the and termination of the contract. Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, February 5, 2019 QATAR/REGION/ARAB WORLD/AFRICA Ashghal commences excavation of outfall tunnel for Mesaimeer project

he Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has announced Tthe commencement of the actual excavation of a 10km- long outfall tunnel as part of Me- saimeer Pumping Station and Outfall project that started in May last year. This marks an important step towards providing a sustainable solution for the discharge of sur- face and storm water in the coun- try, Ashghal has said in a state- ment. During a site visit to the project on Sunday, Ashghal inaugurated the operational commencement of the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) that will be used for the tunnel excavation. In attendance was Dr Saad bin Ahmad al-Muhannadi, president of the Public Works Au- thority; Khalid al-Khayarin, man- ager of the Drainage Networks Projects Department; other Ash- ghal offi cials and representatives of the supervising consultants and contractors. On this occasion, Dr al-Mu- Group photo during the commencement event for Mesaimeer outfall tunnel excavation works. hannadi said: “The commence- ment of the excavation of the out- fall tunnel is an important stage within the Mesaimeer Tunnel project, which is one of the most important projects implemented by Ashghal, and that will accom- modate surface and storm water volumes received from the drain- age networks located in diff erent areas in Doha. The water is treated according to the highest interna- tionally approved specifi cations, and then pumped 10km away from the seashore via the Mesaimeer pumping station and outfall tun- nel, which is one of the longest outfall tunnels in the world.” Al-Khayarin said the excava- tion of the outfall tunnel would be at a depth of 15m below the seabed A photo from the location of the Mesaimeer Pumping Station and and about 3.7m in diameter, and is Outfall project. considered a “major construction challenge due to the variable geol- tion of Mesaimeer Pumping Sta- tive of Mesaimeer Tunnel, which ogy that increases the exposure to tion is scheduled to be completed aims to discharge the surface and unexpected conditions”. by Q4, 2021, at a total cost of about stormwater, thereby decreasing Such excavation works require QR920mn. the surface water level and reduc- a drilling machine and crew with The contractor is obligated to ing pumping costs in construction special capabilities, Ashghal has Infographic on the TBM. maintain and operate the project projects around the country. It will stressed. for a period of at least three years. also preserve the foundations of The excavation will be done “closed mode” feature, used in nel south of Hamad International The project is being implemented buildings, and reduce land subsid- using a highly specialised TBM the case of ground deterioration Airport. The pumping station will by a joint venture of Hamad Bin ence due to rain. that uses a technique called Earth to prevent water from entering the operate at a capacity of 19.7 cubic Khalid Contracting Company and Mesaimeer Tunnel, completed Pressure Balance and is designed tunnel and thus protect the work- metres per second to pump water PORR Qatar Construction Com- in late-2016, is one of the projects to operate in a range of ground ers, in addition to rescue cham- from Mesaimeer Tunnel, which pany. The project management implemented by Ashghal in the conditions in Qatar, and along the bers that protect personnel during was completed in 2016, to the new services have been assigned to fi eld of drainage networks devel- variable geology along the tunnel, emergencies, fi re detection and outfall tunnel. Mott Macdonald Ltd, which will opment. the statement noted. suppression, as well as emergency The project is designed to en- oversee the design, implementa- The tunnel extends below F- The TBM machine incorporates electricity generation systems, ac- sure the preservation of the ma- tion and operation of the project. Ring Road for 10km with a depth advanced technologies that en- cording to Ashghal. rine environment, as the water Mesaimeer Surface and of about 30m below the ground sure the effi ciency of the drilling Mesaimeer Pumping Station that will be pumped complies with Storm Water Drainage Tunnel surface. This main tunnel is linked process, providing the maximum and Outfall project the environmental assessment Project to the existing and planned drain- safety standards for tunnel work- The second part of the project standards, and it is discharged Mesaimeer Pumping Station age networks in the areas that ers and operators, as well as moni- includes a pumping station with 10km off shore to reduce the eff ect and Outfall is the second phase of traverse through, and will collect toring the work execution through 10 pumps and auxiliary facilities. on the marine environment. the Mesaimeer Surface and Storm and discharge surface water from all its stages. The pumping station will be locat- The excavation works of the Water Drainage Tunnel Project approximately 170sq km of catch- The safety features include a ed at the end of Mesaimeer Tun- outfall tunnel and the construc- implemented to achieve the objec- ment area.

Pope decries ‘armed power’ in Mideast confl icts WISE

Reuters most 16mn people facing severe hunger. fl agship Abu Dhabi The confl ict pits the Saudi-led coalition loyal to ousted President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi against the Houthi group. The United summit ope Francis denounced the “logic of Nations is trying to implement a fragile cease- armed power” in Yemen, Syria and other fi re deal in the country’s main Hodeidah port, PMiddle East wars yesterday on a land- a lifeline for millions and the site of some of the from Nov 19 mark visit to the Arabian peninsula, telling war’s fi ercest battles. Christians and Muslims that confl icts brought It hopes the deal will pave the way for talks nothing but misery and death. to end the war. Francis used his regular Sunday he World Innovation Francis, the fi rst pontiff to set foot on the address in Vatican City to urge all sides to im- Summit for Education peninsula, was speaking during a trip to the plement the deal and help deliver aid. T(WISE), an initiative of , which is playing a lead- The Grand Imam, the most senior Muslim Qatar Foundation (QF), has an- ing role in Yemen’s confl ict as part of a Saudi- fi gure taking part in the visit, called on Mus- nounced the dates for the next led military coalition. Pope Francis and Egypt’s Al-Azhar Grand lims in the Middle East to “embrace” local edition of its flagship bien- “War cannot create anything but misery, Imam Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb greet each Christian communities, describing them as nial summit, which will take weapons bring nothing but death,” he said in a other as they exchange documents during part of the nation and not a minority. place from November 19 to 21 speech after meeting UAE leaders in the capital the Human Fraternity Meeting in Abu Dhabi, “You are citizens with full rights and re- in Doha. Abu Dhabi yesterday, the fi rst full day of a trip yesterday. sponsibilities,” said Sheikh Tayeb, whose Al- The biennial WISE Sum- he hopes will foster peace through religious Azhar university represents one of the main mit brings together more than dialogue. “Its fateful consequences are before dress on the trip after meeting with Sheikh seats of learning of Sunnis. 2,000 thought leaders, deci- our eyes. I am thinking in particular of Yemen, Ahmed al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Egypt’s He also called on Muslims in the West to inte- sion makers and practitioners Syria, Iraq and Libya,” he said at an inter-reli- Al-Azhar mosque who called on Muslims in grate in their host nations and respect local laws. from a variety of sectors around gious meeting at the UAE Founder’s Memorial. the Middle East to embrace Christians. Sheikh Tayeb and the Pope signed a docu- the world – including business, “Let us commit ourselves against the logic The nearly four-year-old war in Yemen, has ment of “human fraternity” which carried a politics, civil society and media of armed power,” he said in his fi rst public ad- killed tens of thousands of people and left al- message against religious extremism. – to contribute to shaping the future of global education. Past keynote speakers at the UNREST TERROR WISE Summit include then- Troops shoot dead Somalia port boss killed, car bomb leaves nine dead US First Lady Michelle Obama, former UK Prime Minister Gor- Palestinian in West Bank Somalia’s Al Shebaab militants shot dead the said. A witness, Abdukadir Weheliye, said he don Brown; former Australian Maltese manager of a major northern port and heard several shots coming from inside the port Prime Minister Julia Gillard Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian and detonated a car bomb in the capital yesterday, and then saw the body of a white man being tak- and Antonio Guterres, Secre- wounded another in the occupied West Bank killing nine people, in a deadly day for the restive en away in an ambulance. The Dubai government tary-General of the United Na- yesterday, medical off icials said. The army nation. A gunman shot Maltese national Paul confirmed the death in a statement on and tions. said the two had been carrying out a bomb Anthony Formosa at the Bossasso port, in semi- said the circumstances of the incident was being in- WISE was established in attack. There were no military casualties in autonomous Puntland state, while he was at work vestigated. The attack was claimed by Al Shebaab, 2009 as an international, mul- the incident near the Palestinian city of Jenin. for P&O Ports, a subsidiary of the Dubai-based which said in a statement it was “part of broader ti-sectoral platform for crea- A Jenin hospital where the two Palestinians global operator DP World. Soon after nine people operations targeting the mercenary companies that tive thinking, debate and pur- were admitted said a 19-year-old died of his were killed as a result of a powerful explosion loot the Somali resources”. Shebaab also claimed poseful action. wounds and the other was in stable condition from a car bomb, which rocked the busy Hamar- responsibility for the car bomb in Mogadishu, The initiative’s programmes, after being shot in the lower back. A military weyne market in the capital Mogadishu, in the via a statement on a pro-Shebaab website. “The research and advocacy work statement said troops had opened fire at “two latest attack by the Al Qaeda aff iliate plaguing the blast occurred close to Mogadishu mall and it has offers the global education fighters (who) hurled an explosive device”. The country. “An armed man shot and killed Paul An- caused death and destruction. Nine civilians were community the opportunity West Bank is among territories where Palestin- thony Formosa who was the construction project confirmed dead and several others are wounded,” to meet, share and grow in- ians seek statehood, and has seen simmering manager for DP World. He was killed inside the police off icer Ahmed Moalin Ali said. “The terrorists novative practices that ad- violence since US-sponsored negotiations port and the security forces also shot the killer on parked a vehicle loaded with explosives in the vicin- dress pressing challenges in the with Israel broke down in 2014. the spot”, local security off icial, Mohamed Dahir, ity of the mall to kill the innocent civilians.” sphere of education. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 5, 2019 11 AMERICA

Trump says talk of impeachment is a sign Democrats cannot win in 2020

By Martin Pengelly Guardian News & Media

alk of impeachment, Donald Trump said in remarks broad- cast yesterday, is a sign Democrats know they cannot beat Thim in 2020. In an interview with CBS Face the Nation, recorded last week and fi rst broadcast on Super Bowl Sunday, Trump said: “The only way they can win, because they can’t win the election, is to bring out the artifi cial way of impeachment.” Impeachment would begin in the House, which Democrats control, but success would require a two-thirds majority in the Republican-held Senate, a vastly unlikely outcome. Nonetheless, eff orts to initiate proceedings have been pushed by elements of the House Democratic caucus. The billionaire Tom Steyer, who fl irted with a presidential run, is funding a drive from outside Congress. Most calls for Trump’s impeachment and removal centre around the work of Robert Mueller, the special counsel investi- gating Russian election interference, ties between Trump aides and Moscow and potential obstruction of justice by the president. Numerous Trump aides have been indicted or convicted and Leak of daily schedule some former close associates infuriates White House of the president are co operat- ing with the investigation. Act- Donald Trump’s typical day ing attorney general Mathew starts late and is spent mostly Whitaker said last month Mu- watching TV, browsing news- eller’s work was nearly done. papers and tweeting, accord- In the same CBS interview, ing to a leak of the president’s Trump said it would be up to confidential schedule. William Barr, his nominee for The weekend report on the permanent role, to release news site axios.com angered Mueller’s report or not, pre- the White House, which did not suming he is confi rmed. deny the details of what ap- A man puts out fire on a piece of debris from a plane that crashed into a house in a residential neighbourhood in Yorba Linda, California. Retreading a familiar ar- pears to be a rather easy typical gument, Trump said: “The day at the off ice for the world’s problem is you can’t impeach most powerful man. somebody for doing the best Most days, Trump has no off i- job of any president, in the cial work before 11am, according history of our country, for to the daily guidance given to the fi rst two years. And peo- the media by the press off ice. ple have seen and people have That usually begins with the watched what we’ve done.” president receiving his intel- 5 dead as plane crashes Asked if he was saying im- ligence briefing. peachment would be a politi- According to detailed private cal call, he said it would be and schedules published by Axios, added of the constitutional things don’t get much more language governing the proc- hectic after that. ess: “But you know, it’s sup- About 60% of the president’s posed to be high crimes and work life is categorized as into California home misdemeanours. Well, there “executive time,” meaning un- was no high crime. There was structured time to make phone DPA The wreckage spanned four He soon learned that a propel- Her husband, Jim, had also The house shook. “It’s an no misdemeanour. There was calls, read newspapers, tweet Los Angeles blocks. ler had landed in the front yard taken cover elsewhere in their earthquake,” Ahern yelled out to no problem whatsoever.” and watch television. A call about the crash in the of a house three doors down, home of 12 years. her husband. Then came at least Trump then said Demo- Trump’s personal secretary, 19000 block of Crestknoll Drive smashing windows but not “And then it felt like a bomb two explosions. cratic candidates to fi ght Madeleine Westerhout, was not small plane slammed came in at 1.45pm, said Carrie harming anyone inside. went off through the front of the “No, a plane crashed into our the election against him amused by the embarrassing into a two-story house Braun, a spokeswoman for the Seven doors down, a house was house,” Mehl said. neighbour’s house,” her husband were “horrible” on abortion report. Ain the Californian city of Orange County Sheriff ’s Depart- on fi re. A piece of the plane’s engine said. rights — apparently a refer- “What a disgraceful breach Yorba Linda on Sunday, killing ment. She did not have informa- Nelson said he’s not used to had knocked down a pillar on “A plane is on fi re. Call 911!” ence to recent remarks by of trust to leak schedules,” she fi ve people including the pilot, tion about what may have led to seeing many of his neighbours in the front porch, ricocheted and “Are they OK? Can you get Ralph Northam, the scandal- tweeted, adding that the leaked and creating a chaotic scene as the crash. his quiet community. torpedoed through a fi rst-fl oor people out of the house?” their plagued Democratic governor documents in Axios don’t show neighbours ran out to discover The Cessna 414 had just taken But when the plane crashed, window with such momentum daughter asked. of Virginia — and on border “the hundreds of calls and the home on fi re and pieces of the off from the Fullerton Municipal residents seemed to spill out of that it fl ew through two rooms There was nothing she and her security, and wanted “to cut meetings @realDonaldTrump aircraft strewn across their yards. Airport at 1.35pm, NTSB spokes- their homes in unison. before landing in a bathroom. husband could do. our military, they want to take takes everyday.” Two men and two women were man Peter Knudson said. Around 4pm, Nelson’s street Fragments of exhaust pipe “The whole house, I mean our wealth and give it away”. “This POTUS is working killed inside the burning home, He said his agency is investi- was sectioned off with caution crashed through a second-fl oor within a matter of seconds, was Seemingly referring to calls harder for the American people the Orange County Sheriff ’s De- gating the crash along with the tape and choked with news and window and melted into the car- burning,” Ahern said. among Democrats for tax rises than anyone in recent history,” partment confi rmed. Federal Aviation Administration. fi re trucks. pet. They didn’t know whether an- on the very rich to pay for such she tweeted. The pilot was the plane’s sole A person who answered the His family cancelled their Su- A propeller thumped onto the yone was in the house. policies as Medicare for all, he occupant. phone at Fullerton Airport Op- per Bowl party. driveway. Her husband ran outside and added: “They want to tax peo- Two other people were taken erations, but declined to give his “I would never expect any- “One of the fi rst things I did grabbed a hose to try to put out ple. Not 70%. It’s 100%. Because what they want to do, you’d have to a hospital with mild to moder- name, said the pilot frequently thing like this to happen here,” when I saw the damage was get the fi re. to quadruple taxes. You wouldn’t have enough money anywhere, ate burns, said fi re Capt. Cameron fl ew out of the airport. he said. on my knees and thank God,” A fl aming plane wing landed in throughout the whole world you wouldn’t have enough money. Rossman, a spokesman for the Joshua Nelson, 28, said he was Neighbour Nancy Mehl, 65, Mehl said. “Talk about being Ahern’s front yard and continued “So, if you look at what they’re running on, they can’t win. So Orange County Fire Authority. about to take a nap when he heard was in her kitchen when she spared.” to burn, but the rain helped put it the only way they could possibly beat me, because they’re not go- A fi refi ghter suff ered a minor a shrill whistling sound and a heard what sounded like the Down the street, Sarah Ahern out. ing to win the election, (is impeachment).” ankle injury, he said. loud bang outside his home on high-pitched whine of a plane was blow drying her 7-year-old After law enforcement showed The US economy is by most measures booming, Friday bringing Radar shows that the plane Crestknoll Drive. preparing for takeoff . daughter’s hair for a Super Bowl up, offi cers asked people to leave, further impressive numbers in terms of jobs creation. But on the took a left turn after takeoff and He hopped out of bed, ran out She said she could sense that party when she felt the ground Ahern said. eve of a State of the Union address delayed by a historic govern- began its rapid descent 10 miles the front door and saw a plume of something bad was about to shake beneath her feet. She gathered her children and ment shutdown for which most Americans blame the president, into the trip, National Transpor- black smoke. happen, so she grabbed her two The mother scooped up her hurried down the street a few Trump’s popularity rating is drastically low. The website tation Safety Board investigator Nelson began recording a vid- Labradors and sprinted to the daughter and 9-year-old son and homes to where her parents live. fi vethirtyeight.com puts it at an average of 39.5%. Last week, 56% Eliott Simpson said at an evening eo on his phone before he had any far back corner of her house on took cover in the hallway of their Her husband stayed behind to of respondents in an ABC News/Washington Post poll said they news conference. clue what was going on. Crestknoll Drive. home. help. defi nitely would not vote for Trump.

3,750 more troops to deploy to Virginia governor battles fallout from racist photo

Mexico border: Pentagon Reuters should perform Jackson’s signa- Richmond ture moonwalk dance moves be- fore the cameras before accepting AFP mately 150 miles of concertina wire between his wife’s advice not to. Washington ports of entry.” irginia lawmakers were due The moments of levity, and his The news comes ahead of a February 15 to meet yesterday for the suggestion that blackface was less ta- deadline that President Donald Trump set for Vfi rst time since the revela- boo in the 1980s, drew fresh criticism. he United States will send an additional Congress to agree on funding for building a tion of a racist photo on Governor “It was one of the most bizarre 3,750 troops to its frontier with Mexico, border wall which he made a key pledge in his Ralph Northam’s medical school weekends I’ve witnessed,” Der- Tthe Pentagon said Sunday, as President election campaign. yearbook page sparked widespread rick Johnson, the president of the Donald Trump doubled down on his call for a The president says that existing sections of calls from fellow Democrats for the civil rights group the National As- wall to boost border security. walls should be extended along the border to fi rst-term governor to resign. sociation for the Advancement of Soldiers were originally deployed to the stop what he describes as an uncontrolled in- Northam apologised on Friday Colored People, or NAACP, told border under an order President Donald vasion of criminals. and said he was one of the two MSNBC yesterday. Trump gave before midterm elections in No- Trump underscored these claims Sunday. people in the 1984 photo, which “What happened Saturday was vember as “caravans” of migrants made their “With Caravans marching through Mexico depicts one person in blackface an unfortunate display, and rather way to the border to seek asylum from vio- and toward our Country, Republicans must standing next to another dressed tone-deaf to what the impact re- lence and poverty in their own countries. be prepared to do whatever is necessary for in the white robes of the Ku Klux ally is.” But the mission, under which troops as- STRONG Border Security,” he tweeted. Klan. Johnson said the NAACP would sist civilian border patrol agents by providing “Dems do nothing. If there is no Wall, there The next day he denied he was in continue to pressure Northam to logistical support and installing concertina- is no Security. Human Traffi cking, Drugs and the photograph. resign, echoing calls from promi- wire fencing, has been described by oppo- Criminals of all dimensions — KEEP OUT!” The admission drew immediate nent members of Northam’s party. nents as a political stunt designed to create Democrats, who control the lower house, demands for Northam’s resigna- Northam continued to meet the illusion of a crisis. have repeatedly rejected Trump’s funding tion from the NAACP civil rights with advisers over the weekend “The Department of Defense will deploy demands, saying that he has made the wall group and at least fi ve of the Dem- about his future, the Washington approximately 3,750 additional US forces to project a political crusade to demonise immi- ocratic candidates seeking the par- Post reported. provide the additional support to CBP (Cus- grants and to satisfy his base. ty’s 2020 nomination for the White Should he resign, Virginia’s lieu- toms and Border Protection) at the southwest He previously tried to pressure Congress House, including US Senators Cory Protesters rally against Virginia Governor Ralph Northam outside of the tenant governor, Justin Fairfax, border that Acting Secretary of Defense (Pat) into backing his idea by refusing to sign off Booker and Kamala Harris, both of governors mansion in downtown Richmond yesterday. would become governor. Shanahan approved January 11,” a statement on budgets for swathes of the federal gov- whom are black. Fairfax, 39, would be the second said. This additional deployment is for three ernment, leading to a fi ve-week shutdown of It was not immediately clear ing he had donned blackface on an- themselves in black grease paint to black governor of Virginia, where months, the statement added, and will bring some 800,000 government jobs. how or if the Republican-control- other occasion to portray pop star caricature slaves. his great-great-great grandfather to 4,350 the total number of troops at the bor- The border troop deployment was one of led state legislature would address Michael Jackson in a dance compe- During the news conference on was held as a slave. der. several issues on which Trump and former the matter in its formal session in tition while a medical student. Saturday, Northam made light- Fairfax said he was “shocked and Their tasks will include “a mobile surveil- defense secretary Jim Mattis disagreed before Richmond. The origins of blackface date hearted remarks about how hard it saddened” by the yearbook photo- lance capability through the end of September he quit in December after Trump’s shock de- Northam resisted calls over the back to 19th-century minstrel is to clean black shoe polish from graph and that Northam had apol- 2019, as well as the emplacement of approxi- cision to pull troops from Syria. weekend to resign, even after say- shows, when white actors covered one’s face and whether or not he ogised to him personally. Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, February 5, 2019 ASIA Jolie visits Rohingya camps in Bangladesh

Thomson Reuters A spokesman for the United came ahead of the launch of Dhaka Nations refugee agency UNHCR a new appeal seeking to raise said Jolie, a special envoy for the $920mn to continue meeting organisation, would spend three the basic needs of the Rohingya. ollywood actress An- days visiting the camps to “as- Last year UN agencies launched gelina Jolie yesterday sess” the needs of the Rohingya a $950.8mn appeal for the Ro- Hvisited the world’s larg- and the challenges that Bangla- hingya infl ux. While this was Jo- est refugee settlement, home desh faced as a host country. lie’s fi rst visit to Bangladesh, she to nearly 1mn Rohingya Mus- Jolie, 43, will also meet Prime met Rohingya refugees in Myan- lims, in a bid to put their plight Minister Sheikh Hasina, who mar in 2015 and India in 2006. back in the headlines ahead of a has garnered global praise for The Refugee, Relief and Re- United Nations $920mn funding committing not to repatriate patriation Commission (RRRC), appeal. any Rohingya unwillingly, and a government organisation cre- More than 730,000 Rohingya the Foreign Minister AK Abdul ated to deal with the Rohingya fl ed Buddhist-dominated My- Momen. The UNHCR spokes- crisis, welcomed Jolie’s visit. anmar 18 months ago in the man said Jolie’s talks would “(Jolie) will defi nitely have a wake of a army crackdown de- centre around “the need for safe message to take back from here. scribed as “ethnic cleansing” by and sustainable solutions to the We hope that the humanitar- UN investigators and they are plight of one of the world’s most ian community understands the now living in camps in neigh- persecuted minorities, the Ro- kind of crisis the Rohingya are bouring Bangladesh with no hingya”. in through her,” RRRC commis- US actress and humanitarian Angelina Jolie, a special envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), arrives at sign of moving. The spokesman said the visit sioner Abul Kalam. the airport in Cox’s Bazar in southern Bangladesh yesterday. Don’t send me to Bahrain, Politicos register pleads refugee in Bangkok

AFP Hakeem, Australia is with you, semi-professional club Pascoe Bangkok mate,” Foster shouted. The Vale FC. “We believe if Hakeem court said Araibi would be given is not released there have to be 60 days to object to the extradi- some sanctions levied on Bah- for Thailand’s fi rst refugee footballer fi ght- tion request and would need to rain and Thailand,” interna- ing an extradition re- present his case in April when tional players’ union FIFPro’s Aquest appealed for his the judges reconvene. vice president Francis Awar- freedom yesterday, pleading Along with the objection itefe, a former Australian foot- “please don’t send me to Bah- papers, the footballer’s lawyer ball player, told reporters out- rain” as he arrived in shackles Nadthasiri Bergman said they side the court. at a Bangkok court, which ex- needed to submit evidence “to Both countries “should at poll since coup tended his detention by another show the court that Hakeem’s least be excluded from be- two months. extradition to Bahrain will pose ing able to host” international AFP Hakeem al-Araibi, a Bahraini danger to his life.” matches, he added. Bangkok refugee and Australian resident, Outside the court, Foster, FIFA’s head of sustainability fears torture and even death if who has been leading a protest and diversity, Federico Addiechi he is returned to his homeland. in the football community for — who was present for the undreds of aspiring Araibi was convicted in ab- Araibi’s freedom, said the case hearing — told reporters FIFA politicians, including a sentia on charges of vandalising was politically motivated and has had numerous exchanges Hmasked costumed hero, a police station in Bahrain, but represented “retribution from at a “formal and informal level” registered yesterday for Thai- says he was out of the country Bahrain to Hakeem”. with Bahrain, Thailand, Aus- land’s fi rst election since the playing in a match at the time of “We continue to call on the tralia and the AFC. 2014 coup, promising a colour- the alleged off ence. Thai prime minister to show “We want to show our sup- ful cast of candidates stumping The player has said he be- some mercy ... Don’t be pushed port to him ... to ensure the for political parties both old and lieves he is being targeted over around by Bahrain and just let right thing happens and (Ha- new. Since the coup, the military his criticism of Asian Football him go home,” Foster said. keem) goes back to Australia has rewritten the constitution, Confederation (AFC) president Australian premier Scott as soon as possible,” Addiechi clamped down on dissent and ap- Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al- Morrison has previously called said. pointed allies across the bureauc- Khalifa, a member of Bahrain’s on his Thai counterpart to re- The detention of a recog- racy. ruling family. lease the 25-year-old, saying nised refugee such as Hakeem But recent days have seen ech- Araibi was stopped at Bah- that returning him to Bahrain sends the message to the world oes of Thailand’s formerly ram- rain’s request at a Bangkok would infringe on his rights un- that Thailand is “not safe for bunctious politics, with outdoor airport in November when he der international law. refugees,” said Human Rights political announcements, cam- arrived in Thailand for his hon- “We are asking the Prime Watch’s Phil Robertson. Bah- paign posters and loudspeakers eymoon. Minister to allow Hakeem al- rain’s Ministry of Foreign Af- on vans touting political slogans He has been held in detention Araibi to return to Australia,” fairs said Sunday in a statement as the country gears up for the since then as Thai courts de- Australian ambassador-desig- that Araibi had fl ed the country much-anticipated election after cide whether to send him back nate Allan McKinnon reiterated while awaiting trial on charges more than four years of junta rule. Supporters of Pheu Thai Party gather outside as their party candidates for members of parliament for to the Gulf state. “Please don’t yesterday outside the court, of arson and “possessing in- Yesterday’s registration was Narathiwat province arrive for registration with the election commission yesterday in southern Thailand. send me to Bahrain,” he pleaded adding that representatives of cendiary devices. It added that marked by a festive atmosphere, as he arrived at the court where 15 other countries were present issuing an international war- with supporters of dozens of ciple to stop the continuing pow- Both live in self-exile to avoid such as universal healthcare and former Australian football cap- to observe the proceedings. rant for his arrest is “standard groups waving neon banners and er of the (military government),” what they say are politically mo- debt relief for farmers. Less than tain Craig Foster and other Araibi had played for Bah- practice”. party fl ags as they entered a sta- said Thanathorn Juangroongru- tivated court charges. But their ten weeks from the election, it campaigners were on hand to rain’s national youth team be- Araibi violated the terms of dium in central Bangkok. angkit, head of upstart party Fu- names will still be on the bal- remains unclear if junta leader lend support to the embattled fore he fl ed his homeland and his bail the statement said and While familiar faces abound, ture Forward which advocates for lot: Thaksin-aligned Pheu Chart Prayut Chan-O-Cha will stand player. was granted asylum in Aus- has “the right to appeal” his such as leaders from political the military to be divorced from Party currently has over a dozen as a candidate for prime minister. “Your wife sends her love! tralia, where he plays for the conviction. powerhouse Pheu Thai and the politics. registered candidates who le- Even if the junta’s rivals are army-aligned Phalang Pracharat, “On March 24, the Thai peo- gally changed their fi rst names to successful in the polls, any new there were also quirky entrants, ple must raise their voice to stop mimic the siblings. civilian government is expected including a member of an obscure the military regime.” Pheu Thai, “Right now, there are 15 mem- to be hamstrung by the military- new party Phalang Prachatipatai Thailand’s biggest political party, bers who changed their names ... scripted constitution. Salute to Sri Lankan peacekeepers — or “Power of Democracy”— also wants a “free and fair (elec- 10 men who changed to Thak- Meanwhile, the pro-army who dressed as American pop tion) without any interference sin and fi ve women to Yingluck,” Phalang Pracharat on Monday culture icon the “Lone Ranger”. from the government”, said party party spokeswoman Ketpreeya branded itself as “the best choice Another hopeful for the Ac- stalwart Sudarat Keyuraphan. Kaewsanmuang told AFP, adding for Thais who want to move past tion Coalition for Thailand party In the last election, the party the party was surprised to hear confl icts”, said leader Uttama Sa- carried posters of himself dressed backed ousted premier Yingluck of the name changes. “It’s their vanayana, who recently resigned as Superman. But the levity dis- Shinawatra, and it remains to personal choice... you can call it a as industry minister. played by some belied an under- be seen if it will be able to capi- gimmick as well.” Phalang Pracharat last week lying resolve to restore a demo- talise on previous electoral suc- The move is likely to attract formally invited junta leader cratically elected government cesses without the star power of votes from hardcore Thaksin Prayut to stand as its candidate after former premier Yingluck Yingluck and her older broth- supporters in certain parts of the for prime minister. Shinawatra was ousted by the er Thaksin, who was himself country, where the billionaire The gruff general must for- military. pushed out in a military takeover is still revered for the populist mally submit his interest to the “We stand fi rm with our prin- in 2006. policies he enacted as premier, Election Commission by Friday.

Papua highway imperils indigenous rights, rainforests

Thomson Reuters and much of this land is not ti- concerns persist. Security forces solve competing claims, locking Bangkok tled,” said Kartini Samon, a cam- in Papua have unlawfully killed at in grievances and unrest. It is like paigner with advocacy group least 95 people in the eight years pouring gasoline on a campfi re,” GRAIN. “It raises concerns about to 2018 with almost no account- he said. Sri Lankan army off icers carry one of the two caskets of Sri Lankan UN Peacekeepers Captain highway under construc- indigenous peoples whose liveli- ability, rights group Amnesty In December, a separatist HWD Jayawickrama and Corporal SS Wijekumara, who were killed when their convoy came tion in Indonesia’s Papua hoods depend on the land and the International said in a report last group was accused of killing at under an Improvised Explosive Device attack in Mali, at the parade during the handover Aprovince is hurting the forests which are being cleared,” year. A long-standing grievance least 19 workers building a bridge ceremony at Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake, Sri Lanka, yesterday. environment and stoking con- she told the Thomson Reuters is the settlement of land claims. to connect the Trans Papua road, fl ict by threatening indigenous Foundation. Widodo has vowed to return in one of the worst outbreaks of land rights, analysts and activists Across developing nations, an- 12.7mn hectares of land to in- violence. As work was suspend- said. The Trans Papua highway is alysts say large road projects are digenous and rural communities ed, Widodo said construction of Sri Lanka keeps firebrand Buddhist monk behind bars part of Indonesian President Joko destroying forests and hurting nationwide, following a 2013 rul- the road “will never be stopped”. Widodo’s plan to develop the im- local communities who are often ing that removed such land from Last week, government offi - Sri Lanka’s president resisted concurrent jail sentences over Upuldeniya said. An association poverished eastern province, and not consulted or compensated state control and formalised local cials said the Indonesian military calls from the island’s Buddhist disruptive behaviour in court of lawyers had warned that open up access to its abundant for their loss. Papua has suff ered peoples’ rights over them. will take over construction of the hierarchy to release a jailed and intimidating a woman releasing Gnanasara would natural resources. a simmering separatist confl ict But of the millions of hec- road, with hundreds of extra se- firebrand monk yesterday, litigant. Sri Lanka’s Buddhist amount to a snub of the But the 4,000km of highway since it was incorporated into In- tares of customary claims under curity personnel to be deployed even as 518 other convicts hierarchy had pressed President judiciary. The monk has denied that will link hubs of agricul- donesia after a widely criticised review, “virtually none” are in in the area. were released to mark the Maithripala Sirisena to grant involvement in anti-Muslim riots ture, mining, and oil and gas, will UN-backed referendum in 1969. Papua, said William Laurance, But with the project far from island nation’s Independence an independence day reprieve in 2014 that left four people encroach indigenous land and Since coming to power in 2014, a professor at James Cook Uni- complete, the rebels have vowed Day. Galagodaatte Gnanasara but this was rejected. “The dead. Gnanasara maintains destroy tropical rainforests in- Widodo has tried to ease ten- versity in Australia, and a Papua more attacks. The best approach has long been accused of Independence Day amnesty close ties with Wirathu, an cluding Lorentz National Park, sions by addressing some rights expert. “It’s hardly surprising for the government would be instigating hate crimes against applied to those serving short extremist monk based in a World Heritage site, activ- concerns, while also stepping up some indigenous groups are up to “greatly condense” the road minority Muslims in Buddhist- periods of time and only those Myanmar, whose hate speech ists said. “The highway passes investment with projects such in arms,” he said. “This road net- network, and focus on existing majority Sri Lanka. Since convicted for minor off ences,” has stoked religious tensions in through many customary lands, as the Trans Papua highway. But work limits the potential to re- roads, said Laurance. December he has been serving prisons spokesman Thusahra that country. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 5, 2019 13 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Military deployed to battle devastating fl oods in Australia

AFP Cairns

ustralia’s military has been deployed to tackle Army vehicles enter Townsville to help evacuate flood-aff ected people. Adevastating “once-in- a-century” fl oods that have aszczuk warned the communi- inundated homes, schools and ties face more diffi culties ahead. airports in the country’s north- Schools and courts remain east, forcing hundreds to fl ee closed, more rain and high winds and bringing crocodiles onto the are on the way and emergency streets. warnings still in eff ect for more The Australian Defence Forces than a dozen rivers. Up to 20,000 delivered 70,000 sandbags, de- homes are at risk of being inun- ployed amphibious cargo vehi- dated if the rains continue, offi - cles and helped pluck fl ashlight- cials said. “It’s basically not just wielding residents from their a one in 20-year event, it’s a one- rooftops yesterday, as monsoon in-100-year event,” said Pal- rains drenched the northern state aszczuk. “This is unprecedented, of Queensland. we’ve never seen anything like Australia’s tropical north this before,” she said. typically experiences heavy rains Ergon Energy’s spokesperson during the monsoon season, but Emma Oliveri told the AFP that the recent downpour has seen more than 16,000 people were some areas get a year’s worth of without power, with the supplier An inundated house is seen in Townsville’s floodwaters. rainfall in a week. The authori- unable to say when the lights will ties were forced to open fl ood- An aerial picture shows flooding in Townsville. come back on. The main trans- continue to do all we can to get already born its fair share of ex- gates of a major dam late Sun- port artery linking the north of stock into Far North Queens- treme weather recently, with un- day, unleashing what they called to come but the rain just doesn’t thought of coming face to face 1,100 people calling for help and Australia with the rest of the east land while the roads are cut,” she precedented bushfi res, drought, “dangerous and high velocity stop.” with a crocodile isn’t deterrent 18 “swift water rescues” con- coast was also aff ected, prompt- said. The Bureau of Meteorol- heatwave, a cyclone, and now fl ows.” Desperate residents had to enough, before you start playing ducted overnight. “Small boats ing concerns about food short- ogy’s Adam Blazak told AFP the intense rainfall and fl ood,” said In hard-hit Townsville, cars contend not only with fl ash in fl ood waters you should always worked through the night to ages. downpours could continue until Richard Thornton of the Bushfi re were mostly submerged, with fl ooding, landslides and power remember the distinct possibil- evacuate members of the com- Woolworths Northern Thursday, while fl oodwaters will and Natural Hazards Cooperative picket fences barely poking blackouts, but also several salt- ity you could be wading in your munity,” said local commander Queensland Operations Manager take some time to recede even Research Centre. through waist-deep fl ood waters. water crocodile sightings in neighbour’s faeces”, the state- Brigadier Scott Winter. Around Tina Anandji said the company when the rains lessen. He warned resources “are now “We’ve never seen so much water residential roads and cul-de- ment said. 400 Townsville residents have had “secured two charter planes A silver lining to the deluge being stretched beyond normal in our lives,” said local radio jour- sacs. Queensland Police issued Emergency services have sought shelter at nearby Lavarak to carry 3,000 tonnes of fresh is that it has boosted drought- with the severe weather seasons nalist Gabi Elgood. “You think a blunt warning for people to struggled to respond to the scale military barracks. food and essential items” to the stricken farmers in western getting longer and more com- there can’t possibly be any more stay out of fl oodwaters. “If the of the disaster, with more than State premier Annastacia Pal- northern city of Cairns. “We’ll Queensland. “Queensland has plex”. Mongolians send children away Rights campaigners seek UN to escape choking winter smog probe on Xinjiang camps Reuters Reuters grandchildren are breathing age 70 micrograms last year, in Ulaanbaatar were ignored, Geneva Ulaanbaatar more easily after fl eeing the down 15.7% from 2017. The the group decided to focus on capital. World Health Organisation rec- encouraging residents to take “Fresh air and sun are most ommends a concentration of no action to protect themselves, ights activists urged Euro- ongolia has extended important for kids to grow more than 10 micrograms. said Mandakhjargal Tumur, a pean and Muslim nations school winter holidays healthy and robust,” says Jant- The WHO said 80% of Ul- group co-ordinator. “I don’t Ryesterday to take the lead Min the world’s cold- sandulam, 57, making milk tea aanbaatar’s smog was caused by believe the government will do in establishing a UN investiga- est capital and many families for her grandchildren in her coal burning in “ger” districts, enough to reduce pollution in tion into China’s detention and have sent children to live with home, a thickly padded felt hut where thousands of rural mi- coming years,” she said. “That’s what they call its “forced indoc- relatives in the vast, windswept known as a “ger”, or in Russian, grants, used to a nomadic life- why we are now focusing on trination” of up to 1mn Uighurs grasslands to escape choking a “yurt”. style, have pitched huts. It esti- raising awareness.” and other Muslims in Xinjiang smog and respiratory diseases “This little one had fl u when mates air pollution causes more At the Bayangol hospital, province. such as pneumonia. he came here but the fresh air than 4,000 premature deaths a Ulzii-Orshikh Otgon, 34, was Beijing, which faces growing The temperature was expect- has treated him well,” she said, year. forced to bring her 10-month- international concern over its ed to drop to -32C in Ulaanbaa- pointing at her fi ve-year-old A joint study by the UN Inter- old daughter Achmaa in with “de-radicalisation” programme tar yesterday night, as residents grandson. The children are national Children’s Emergency pneumonia for the second time for Muslims in its far west- burn coal and trash to try to nearing the end of a two-month Fund (Unicef) and Mongolia’s in a month. “I believe it’s be- ern province, said last month it keep warm and concentrations break, with schools due to reo- National Centre for Public cause of the pollution,” she said, would welcome UN offi cials if of smog particles known as pen next Monday. About 60% Health said children living in adding that home air purifi ers they avoided “interfering in do- PM2.5 routinely exceed 500 mg of Mongolia is covered by grass- one smog-prone district of Ul- did little to help. “Just by open- mestic matters”. per cu m, 50 times the level con- land, where the mining of cop- aanbaatar had 40% less lung ing the door, our home fi lls with Groups including Human sidered safe by the WHO. per, gold, coal and other miner- function than those living in the smog,” she said while breast- Rights Watch and Amnesty In- Mongolia, a former Soviet als provides employment, while countryside. feeding Achmaa in the waiting ternational appealed to the Unit- In this file picture, Islamic studies students attend a class at the Xinjiang satellite landlocked between the Gobi desert envelops the “Air pollution aggravates res- room. ed Nations Human Rights Coun- Islamic Institute during a government organised trip in Urumqi, Xinjiang Russia and China, has invested South. piratory diseases and children Doctors advised her to take cil, which opens its main annual Uighur Autonomous Region, China. public money and foreign aid to But almost half the popula- under fi ve are most vulnerable her children out of Ulaanbaatar session on Feb 25, to send an in- tackle pollution, but improve- tion live in Ulaanbataar. as their organs are still not ma- but she has no relatives in the ternational fact-fi nding mission Campaigners say 1mn Ui- lence there. ment has been slow, with resi- Reuters calculations based on ture,” said Bolormaa Bumbaa, countryside and rent is expen- to Xinjiang. ghurs, Kazakhs and other Mus- China is currently a member dents saying inaction has been US Embassy data show annual a doctor at Bayangol District’s sive. “The abuse in Xinjiang today lim minorities — nearly 10% of of the 47-nation Geneva forum, compounded by a corruption average PM2.5 concentrations Children’s hospital in Ulaan- “Decision makers have said is so severe that it cries out for Xinjiang’s total population — are where it often leads opposition to scandal that has paralysed par- hit 100 micrograms in Ulaan- baatar. for years they are fi ghting pollu- international action,” Kenneth being held in mass detention, setting up investigations into al- liament. baatar in 2018. They soared Families have already set up a tion,” she said. “They just wast- Roth, executive director of Hu- deprived of any legal rights and legations of rights abuses in spe- In a crowded township more to 270 in December. PM2.5 in pressure group known as Moms ed billions of tugriks on use- man Rights Watch, told a briefi ng subjected to mistreatment. cifi c countries. than 40 miles from Ulaanbaa- China’s most polluted city of and Dads Against Smog, but af- less stoves and processed coal, at the Geneva Press Club. “Today Xinjiang has become The Organisation of Islamic tar, Jantsandulam Bold’s fi ve Shijiazhuang stood at an aver- ter the protests they organised which don’t change anything.” “The purpose of this detention an open-air prison — a place Co-operation (OIC), which acts is to erase the ethnic and religious where Orwellian high-tech sur- as the collective voice of the identities of Turkic Muslims and veillance, political indoctrina- Muslim world, worked with the ensure their loyalty to only the tion, forced cultural assimilation, European Union last September Chinese government, the Com- arbitrary arrests and disappear- to launch a UN body to prepare Beijing deserted for New Year munist Party and the would-be ances have turned ethnic minor- evidence of crimes in Myanmar leader for life, (President) Xi Jin- ities into strangers in their own against Muslim Rohingya, in- ping,” he said. land,” Kumi Naidoo, secretary- cluding possible genocide, for China denies such accusa- general of Amnesty Internation- any future prosecution. tions. In January, Beijing organ- al, said by video. “Member states “In our view Xinjiang de- ised a visit to three facilities, must not be cowed by China’s mands a similar response,” Roth which it calls vocational educa- economic and political clout,” he said. Michael Ineichen of the tion training centres, for foreign said. International Service for Hu- reporters including Reuters. In China says it protects the re- man Rights said: “It is really a the centres, Turkic-speaking Ui- ligion and culture of its ethnic test of the credibility of the Hu- ghur students learned in Manda- minorities and that security man Rights Council... We think rin about the dangers of Islamist measures in Xinjiang are needed it is time that membership also ideas. to counter groups that incite vio- comes with scrutiny.”

Malaysian police detain busking couple for ‘abusing’ baby

A Russian couple accused of vio- over the alleged abuse of their A woman believed to be his wife lently swinging their four-month- four-month-old baby girl,” Mazlan was seen sitting on the floor with old baby during a street perform- Lazim, the Kuala Lumpur police a placard that read: “We are travel- ance to fund their world tour have chief, told AFP. ling around the world...” been detained, Malaysian police A 90-second video clip of the A crowd of curious onlookers said yesterday. incident, which went viral on Face- gathered to watch the perform- The buskers, a 28-year-old man book on Sunday, showed a man ance but a man is overheard and his 27-year-old wife, were in blue shorts and a white T-shirt in the video saying: “It’s stupid. picked up after trying to woo swinging the infant between his You cannot do this.” The Russian A electric bus goes on a usually busy main road in the Sanlitun shopping district after the city emptied ahead of Chinese New Year spectators in the heart of the capi- legs and lifting her above his head couple had entered Malaysia from in Beijing, yesterday. tal Kuala Lumpur. “We detained to the beat of some music in the neighbouring Thailand on Friday, them on Monday for questioning background. police said. Gulf Times 14 Tuesday, February 5, 2019 BRITAIN/IRELAND Five teens jailed for murder of youth in east London ive youths have been jailed Ephraim Idris, 17 at the time of who were sentenced to 18 years, with at least one knife. ers, judge Zoe Smith said: “You During the trial, Alan Kent and frenzied knife attack. He died for the murder of a teenager the attack, was wearing an elec- and Anton Muir (17 years). A fi fth Nkenda was stabbed in the cornered him against a van and QC, prosecuting, said: “There alone and cold in the middle of Fwho was run down by a car tronic monitoring tag after being youth, who was 14 at the time and head, face, chest, upper arm and there he was stabbed. He had 15 would appears to be a signifi cant the street. We never have got to before his attackers – including convicted of so called “county cannot be named for legal rea- thigh, and died where he fell de- separate stab wound injuries and degree of planning or premedita- say goodbye to him. We never got one wearing an electronic moni- lines” drug-dealing in Exeter, sons, was sentenced to 14 years. spite attempts by paramedics to a number of them were very deep tion. They turned off their mobile to tell him how much we loved toring tag – chased him down Devon. Nkenda, 17, who hoped to be a save him. wounds. handsets in order to avoid detec- and cared for him. and stabbed him to death on a It is believed the vicious attack musician, was walking with two The youths had stolen the “In the fi nal seconds of the at- tion by cell site data.” “Since the death of Promise, we London street. may have been a case of mistaken friends on the pavement when BMW from a woman two hours tack, the CCTV shows that you, The murder caused devas- have all become shadows of our Lord Promise Nkenda was identity as detectives could fi nd the group of fi ve turned the sto- earlier and, in a sign of how Abdille, came from behind the tation for the families left be- former selves. We are devastated. stabbed 15 times on February 14, nothing to connect the victim len car into a weapon, the Old premeditated the attack was, van and you can be seen stabbing hind. Abdille’s mother, who has We feel empty and numb, but most 2018, in Newham, east London, and his attackers. Bailey heard. donned latex gloves beforehand at Promise three or four times. worked for nearly 20 years as a of all incredibly sad. A part of us all by a gang aged 14-17, in a sus- Idris was sentenced to 16 years He was thrown up on to the hoping not to leave fi ngerprints Why this pedestrian was targeted nurse saving lives in the NHS, died with him, alone on that east pected case of mistaken identity. yesterday. Three other attackers bonnet but managed to get up or DNA to connect them to the is not known. The crown does was left distraught. London street. The impact of this They carjacked the BMW ear- were aged 17 at the time: She- and run as the youths burst out crime. not exclude this as being a case of The victim’s brother, Patrick, day has had a lasting eff ect on us a lier in the day. One of the group, mar Dawes and Ishad Abdille, of the car and chased him armed Sentencing the fi ve teenag- mistaken identity.” said: “Promise died in a sustained family and individually.” Mum pleads with missing daughter to return home

Daily Mail gling to walk in a straight line.” London Police leading the operation to fi nd Libby said they were “ex- tremely concerned for her wel- issing student Libby fare.” Squire was “too drunk Offi cers recovered a screw- Mto walk properly” when driver, hammer and lip gloss dis- she disappeared in freezing con- carded in undergrowth around ditions after a night out. 40 yards from the park bench. The 21-year-old has not been The screwdriver was placed in a seen since Thursday night after tube and taken away by investi- (Left-right) Conservative MP’s Theresa Villiers, Nicky Morgan, Damian Green, Iain Duncan Smith and Owen Paterson leave the Cabinet Office on Whitehall in central she wandered away from her stu- gators “as a precaution”. London yesterday. Prime Minister Theresa May is now seeking to renegotiate her EU Withdrawal deal, particularly its contentious “backstop” provision to keep the Irish dent house. More than 70 offi cers were border free-flowing, in a bid to secure parliament’s support. May invited hardline eurosceptics and Remain supporters within her Conservative Party yesterday to come Forensic police have recovered joined by around 250 students up with possible alternatives to the backstop. a lip gloss and a screwdriver from over the weekend and the Coast- bushes opposite where she was guard has now joined the hunt by last seen. searching the River Hull, while Meanwhile, her “broken” fi remen have broken through mother begged her to come ice on a nearby pond. Tempera- home. tures fell as low as -3C in Hull on Libby was captured on CCTV Thursday night. at 11.45pm sitting on a bench at Offi cers have spoken to a mo- MPs unmoved by EU hint the side of a main road a short torist who got out of his car to walk away from her house. ask Libby if she was okay as she She had earlier been refused sat on the bench, and said he entry to a nightclub for being too had “really helped out” with the drunk and got into a taxi at 11pm. probe. The cab delivered her home The second-year philosophy safely, but two fellow Hull Uni- student’s friends have made ap- at assurance on backstop versity students said that instead peals on social media in an at- of going in, she started walking tempt to fi nd her. Guardian News and Media convinced “the EU did well to pasted into a protocol and shoved tional text or something that can MPs were … inconclusive … The off down the street. One, Rachel Christi, posted London start its no-deal preparations in into the withdrawal agreement,” bring comfort on this issue, but meeting confi rmed that the EU Tom Tully and Leon Caplin live pictures of herself with Libby December 2017”. Kinnock said. “It is defi nitely (a the idea that the backstop is go- did well to start its no-deal prep- opposite Libby and were waiting and wrote: “Please help us fi nd The committee’s chairman, case of ) reopening to quickly slip ing to go away is for the birds.” arations in December 2017.” for a taxi of their own when they my oldest and best friend. Please suggestion by one of the Hilary Benn, said he had left with something in and close it very The leading Tory Brexiter and On a visit to Japan, the Ger- saw her being dropped off at her help us bring her home x.” EU’s most powerful of- “the impression that (the EU) quickly. I would term it unzip- former Cabinet minister, John man chancellor, Angela Merkel, door. Lauren Goodman wrote on Afi cials of possible further might be prepared to consider ping.” Whittingdale, said Selmayr had expressed her hopes of fi nding Tully, 20, said: “She was too Twitter: “I beg that no one legal assurances on the Irish some additional statement or le- Stephen Crabb, a Conservative asked “whether or not a let- a compromise despite the EU’s drunk to be on her own. She was gives up until she is found. backstop has failed to win over gal protocol” to sweeten the 585- former work and pensions secre- ter which was legally binding position of ruling out a renego- very drunk. She was dressed all She’s been my best friend for Brexiter MPs, leading to height- page draft treaty. tary, said: “We talked around the might be suffi cient. But I think tiation. She said: “To solve this in black. The taxi dropped her the best part of a decade now, ened talk of the UK leaving the The Labour MP Stephen Kin- idea of the Tusk letter being writ- we would need to see what that point you have to be creative and off . She got out and was walking and we’ve been through so bloc with no deal. nock said Brussels appeared open ten into some sort of legal proto- contains and to have an absolute listen to each other, and such down the street. She fell over a much together.” After a meeting with Martin to converting into legal text a col but every time someone asked assurance that it does give us an discussions can and must be couple of times. We asked her if Another friend, Ryan Twed- Selmayr yesterday, the cross- letter of assurance published by him if it is something he could exit.” conducted. she was all right and she mum- dle, said Libby had been in good party Brexit select committee Juncker and his European council do, he said: ‘First of all, it’s not However, as MPs gave their “We can still use the time to bled something incomprehen- spirits on Thursday and was “a emerged clear that the European counterpart, Donald Tusk, before me negotiating, and secondly, let account of the meeting, Selmayr come to an agreement over the sible. She started walking away bit drunk and hugging everyone”. commission secretary general the last Commons vote. That let- me turn around the question: if tweeted a clarifi cation and issued things that are standing in our from her front door. She was He added: “We went to get had fl oated the possibility of a le- ter had off ered swift trade ne- we were to do that would you be a warning to Westminster. way, if everyone shows goodwill.” stumbling. It was really cold. It some cash out and when we got gally binding adjunct to the with- gotiations and a rapid search for guaranteed to vote for the deal?’ “On the EU side, nobody is Theresa May is due in Belfast was below zero.” to the Welly nightclub she had drawal agreement. technological solutions to the “That’s where some of the considering this,” Selmayr said of today before returning to Brus- Caplin added: “Our taxi came already not made it in and was However, Selmayr, a trusted Irish border issue to ensure the more Brexiteer members of the a legal addition to the withdrawal sels for talks about her demands and we had to go. We wish now in a taxi back home. Her disap- aide of the commission presi- backstop would be temporarily, if committee wouldn’t say.” agreement. “Asked whether any for a renegotiation of the with- we had stayed. We asked if she pearance does not seem real and dent, Jean-Claude Juncker, ever, enforced. Crabb added: “I’ve come away assurance would help to get the drawal agreement in an attempt was okay but she just looked at it feels like something out of a tweeted that after the 90-minute “The Juncker and Tusk letter with the belief that they’re up for withdrawal agreement through to replace the backstop with “al- us. She was wobbling and strug- movie.” discussions in Brussels he was would in essence be copied and a discussion around some addi- the Commons, the answers of ternative arrangements”. Households ‘lose feel-good Regret backing Blair, factor amid rising debt’ Cameron, says Emin Guardian News and Media and I don’t understand why London they fell for it; I don’t under- Guardian News and Media have slipped further into the red which have risen only slowly, stand why they did it. London to maintain their spending as liv- while households that own their “It really aggrieves me to ing costs rise. home outright receive a larger racey Emin has spoken know that I supported both of Spending by households proportion of income from pen- of her anger at Tony these men. All I know is that ritish households have surged to a 13-year high in the sions, which have risen more TBlair and David Cam- with both of these actions, we grown more pessimis- year ending March 2018 as rising strongly. eron, two politicians she sup- are in such a mess.” Btic about the state of the transport and housing costs, and John McDonnell, the shadow ported who “will be remem- She said she could not think economy and their own personal higher food bills took their toll, chancellor, argued that the data bered in history for doing the “of anything more hideous” fi nances, according to offi cial according to offi cial fi gures pub- showed the “unequal nature of most terrible things”. than Brexit. fi gures, amid rising debt levels lished last week. the economy under the Tories”. The artist was a Labour sup- “It is really insane. If we and faster income growth for the Glenn Everett, the head of in- He said: “This should come porter until switching her al- leave Europe and it turns out richest in society. equalities at the ONS, said: “De- as a wake-up call to a compla- legiance to the Tories about OK and we’re happy eating Pulling together an assess- spite high levels of employment, cent and out-of-touch govern- 10 years ago, attending recep- our cabbages and we’re happy ment of personal and economic rising incomes and spending ment recklessly heading towards tions, off ering her thought on living on an island with our wellbeing data for the fi rst time, across UK households, people are a catastrophic no-deal Brexit arts policy to ministers and ac- island mentality then fi ne, I’ll the Offi ce for National Statis- not reporting increases in their while households are having to cepting an invitation to install go along with that. But I don’t tics said the benefi ts from parts wellbeing. go into the red to get by.” House- a neon artwork in Downing think it’s going to work out like of the British economy that are “This may be due to worries hold spending has risen since the Street. that,” she said. performing strongly are not be- about rising debt repayments, middle of 2016, helped by all- But fi rst Iraq and now Brexit Emin, who supports a sec- ing felt by all. which could be driving concerns time-high debt levels, although had changed her opinions, she ond referendum, said Theresa Despite unemployment be- about their future fi nancial situ- income levels have remained fl at, said yesterday. May was not her kind of prime ing at the lowest level since the ation.” the ONS said. It added that this Blair and Cameron have ru- minister, adding: “But I don’t mid-1970s and the return of real The ONS also said that between was refl ected in fl atter life sat- ined their reputations “by do- see any men jumping in and growth in household disposable 2011 and 2016 average income for isfaction, happiness and worth- ing the most stupid thing in wanting to do the job. I saw income, measurements of per- the bottom fi fth of households in- while ratings in the UK. politics that anyone could ever twits like Boris Johnson run sonal wellbeing are in stagnation, creased by 4.8%, while it rose at a Although the Whitehall statis- do”. when it actually dawned on while people’s perception of the faster rate of 6.7% for the richest ticians did not draw a direct link Emin said: “Both of these him what he was doing.” Emin future has been worsening. fi fth in Britain. with the EU referendum, the fi g- men, who are fi ne politicians was speaking at the opening According to the ONS, house- It also found that households ures refl ect the period since the and essentially good people, of an exhibition at the White hold debt per head stood at 133% living in social-rented accom- Brexit vote, which economists Tracey Emin takes a photo on her phone during the launch of “A will be remembered in his- Cube gallery in Bermondsey, of income in the third quarter modation received 50% of their have said hit the standard of liv- Fortnight of Tears”, an exhibition of new works by the artist on tory for doing the most terrible her fi rst show in London for of 2018, refl ecting how families income from cash benefi ts, ing across the country. display at White Cube gallery in London yesterday. things to our political system fi ve years. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 5, 2019 15 BRITAIN

Man facing deportation to Jamaica set to win last-gasp reprieve

Guardian News and Media Offi ce suspended the fl ights last moval centre and had been told ing removal on tomorrow’s binding summons will prevent depressed,” he told the Guardian. a protest outside the Jamaican London April after the Windrush scan- he would be put the fl ight after fl ight, is also a witness. their deportation on tomorrow’s The organisation Movement high commission yesterday. dal. being convicted of a violent of- The senior coroner for Lin- fl ight. for Justice said it had spoken to Campaigners against the se- After the scandal broke, Sajid fence against his former wife. colnshire, Timothy Brennand Nembhard said he was re- many of those due to fl y tomor- cretive charter fl ight called on man who came to the Javid eventually said at least 63 He was preparing an appeal has issued a summons for Nem- lieved but devastated that while row. Of them, 13 came to the UK Jamaica’s high commission to UK from the Caribbean people had been wrongly de- against his conviction. bhard and Richards to attend a he was in detention he was sepa- as children, 12 have been in the stop helping the deportation of Aas a teenager is set to be ported to Jamaica. Nembhard is a key witness pre-inquest review on March 11 rated from his partner who is 24 UK for more than 19 years and people by issuing emergency granted an 11th-hour reprieve Joseph Nembhard, 37, who in the inquest into the death so the Home Offi ce will not be weeks pregnant with the cou- 18 have Windrush-generation travel documents to the Home from being placed on a deporta- moved to the UK from Jamaica at of another Jamaican detainee, able to deport him on Wednes- ple’s second child and from their connections. Thirty-six British Offi ce. tion fl ight to Jamaica. the age of 18 in 1999 and whose Carlington Spencer, one of four day. Had the coroner not issued four-year-old daughter. children will lose their fathers if End Deportations wants peo- About 50 people are thought grandmother and several aunts people who died at Morton Hall the summons yesterday, Nem- “A lot of the guys in here who all the deportations go ahead and ple to contact their MPs asking to have been booked on tomor- were part of the Windrush gen- immigration removal centre in bhard would be unlikely to be are due to be put on that fl ight two of the men, including Nem- them to request that the Home row’s secretive charter fl ight, the eration, has been held at Har- Lincoln in 2017. A second man, present in the UK for the hear- are worried that they will get ill- bhard, have babies on the way. Offi ce stop the deportation or- fi rst to Jamaica since the Home mondsworth immigration re- Christopher Richards, also fac- ing. Both men hope the legally treated. Many of them are very Movement for Justice staged ders for their constituents.

Billionaire Scotland shivers hits out at Dementia opposition to fracking patients to be Daily Mail London

ritain’s richest man has launched a blistering at- Btack on Dame Vivienne tracked by Westwood over her opposition to fracking. Chemicals tycoon Sir Jim Rat- cliff e – who is worth £21bn – said the designer did not care about the jobs it would create, and accused her of living in a London bubble. smart meters Dame Vivienne, 77, hit back, calling Sir Jim, 66, a liar bent on Daily Mail ber. This will test the ability of Trust, added: “With dementia destroying the environment. London the meters to monitor patients’ patients, one of their biggest His fi rm, Ineos, is a key player health and the general progres- problems is a failure to carry out in the dash for shale gas. The fuel sion of their disease. If success- daily activities. Nearly a third of is extracted through fracking – a he NHS is to use energy ful, the trial will be extended to dementia patients live on their controversial process in which smart meters to monitor involve 1,000 patients across own and they may have carers high-pressure water, sand and Tdementia patients in their four NHS trusts. or they may have family mem- chemicals are blasted into rocks homes. The smart meters involved in bers who visit a couple of times deep underground to release The devices will track pa- the dementia study can moni- a week and monitor them. We trapped fossil fuels. Critics claim tients’ daily routines, such as tor patients’ energy use every 10 often fi nd it takes a week or two the process causes earthquakes when they boil the kettle, cook seconds. They will be connected before someone notices if they and increases pollution. dinner or turn the washing ma- to a central computer system deteriorate. If you can intervene Dame Vivienne, a pioneer of chine on. which will learn patients’ daily early, put in the care package, 1970s punk fashion, has been a They will fl ag up any sud- routines, such as when they nor- then the patient would not need vocal campaigner against frack- den change in behaviour which mally use certain electrical ap- to go into a care home. ing, which she wants to be banned. could indicate an illness, a fall or pliances. “It’s preventing both hospital But Sir Jim – whose company a decline in their mental state. Any sudden changes – such as admissions and placements in has been granted the rights to look The meters will be able to send not boiling the kettle at the same care homes, both of which are for shale gas in North and South alerts to family members or car- time each morning or turning extremely expensive.” Yorkshire, Cheshire and the East ers, who can pop round to check lights on in the middle of the The trial will initially involve Midlands – said she was stand- if the patient is all right. night – will trigger an alert. dementia patients who live on ing in the way of progress. “It’s Experts say the devices will Dr Carl Chalmers, of Liver- their own in the Merseyside re- ridiculous we’re not allowed to enable patients to live independ- pool John Moores University, gion. do the science to fi nd out if we’re ently for longer without going who is leading the trial, said Researchers have applied for sat on decent shale gas deposits,” into care, and prevent avoidable the devices had ‘huge potential’ funding from the department of he said. “There are a lot of people admissions to A&E. to improve dementia patients’ health and will learn in April if in the north of England who are Smart meters monitor house- lives. About 850,000 people in they have been successful. They not very well off and they’re not holds’ energy use in real time the UK have dementia and this plan to launch the trial either going to have jobs and there’s no and send the readings directly to number is expected to double way as they have interest from investment. So it’s all very well suppliers, putting an end to esti- over the next 30 years as the private companies willing to pay the politicians who live in Chelsea mated bills. population ages. Up to 70% of the costs. and Knightsbridge pooh-poohing Ministers have promised care home residents have the Sally Copley, of the Alzhe- shale, and Vivienne Westwood to install the devices in every condition and an estimated imer’s Society, said: “Pioneering (wanting to show) a fi lm every home by 2020 to reduce energy 50,000 dementia patients are ideas like smart meters are to be fashion show about how she’s consumption, but the rollout admitted to A&E each year as a welcomed. However, while tech- anti-shale ... but she doesn’t have is massively over budget and result of preventable illnesses. nology can be invaluable it must to live in the north of England and behind schedule. Privacy cam- Dr Chalmers said: “This is complement rather than replace she isn’t without a job.” paigners warn that the meters probably the most convincing the human touch to enhance The comments by Sir Jim, will hand suppliers a ‘honeypot’ piece of technology I have seen. quality of life of people with de- whose fi rm is a major plastics of data which could be sold on to This is massive, the potential mentia.” producer, prompted a furious marketing fi rms or fall into the of this is huge. It’s not just for Martyn James, a consumer response from Dame Vivienne. hands of hackers. dementia but anybody with rights expert, said: “Finding She said: “There will be no jobs Researchers at Liverpool John long-term medical conditions new and creative ways to sup- for anyone once Ineos’s fracking Moores University and the Mer- such as depression or schizo- port vulnerable people in their the UK for plastic sees the Earth’s A Red deer roams near Buachaille Etive Mor, Scotland. A snow and ice warning still sey Care NHS Trust plan to carry phrenia.” own homes is a good thing, but climate increase by 5C – making continues in Scotland even as temperatures across parts of the UK got milder. out the initial dementia trial on Dr Sudip Sikdar, a consultant this proposal opens the door to a the Earth totally uninhabitable.” 50 patients, beginning in Octo- psychiatrist at Mersey Care NHS huge range of privacy concerns. Migrants ‘paying gangs Photo exhibition Police chief to be to clear citizenship tests’ anti-slavery tsar Guardian News and Media concern over the independence of London the commissioner’s post, said the Daily Mail director of the Ideal Learning Former immigration offi cer appointment was “so surprising” London Academy in east London. In- Jay Sudra told the BBC: “The that he would be seeking to insti- stead of off ering tuition to pass Home Offi ce need to look into Ps have expressed sur- gate parliamentary scrutiny of the the test, Masud is seen asking this urgently. How many citi- prise over the appoint- role, post-appointment. igrants are paying fi x- the reporter for £2,000 to help zens do we have in the UK that Mment of one of Britain’s Field, Lady Butler-Sloss and ers to help them cheat him cheat. have fraudulently obtained a most senior police offi cers as Maria Miller, MP, who published Min citizenship tests to Handed a tiny earpiece, the test certifi cate? It potentially Theresa May’s anti-slavery com- an interim review in December, win the right to stay in Britain. undercover reporter is not runs into thousands. missioner, eight months after the urged the government to give Undercover footage shows searched before he sits the “You have to question the previous postholder resigned cit- up its search for a new anti- how lax security lets criminals multiple-choice test in a west security of the entire proc- ing government interference. slavery chief and address con- feed their ‘customers’ the right London centre. Once inside, he ess. For them to get to a stage Sara Thornton, chair of the cerns about the independence answers via tiny earpieces. is allowed to choose whether where they obtain permanent National Police Chiefs’ Council, of the role before re-advertising. The scam, exposed by BBC he reads the questions, or lis- residency, where they obtain a will take up the post later this They had recommended the ap- London News, is the latest in tens to them via headphones. British passport, it’s truly, truly year, the Sunday Times reported, pointment should be subject to a string of frauds designed to He picks the latter option – and shocking.” although the Home Offi ce did parliamentary scrutiny, at pre- help migrants pass the much- his small earpiece then picks In 2014, the Mail revealed a not confi rm the appointment. A appointment hearings, but that maligned Life In The UK test. up the sound from the head- citizenship scam in which mi- candidate would be “announced had not happened, Field said. Critics of security at test phones, relaying the questions grants who spoke no English shortly” it said. “It is so surprising, this ap- centres say elaborate schemes to the waiting accomplice. This were able to buy a certifi cate for Thornton, a former chief con- pointment, that I will be seek- may have allowed thousands to allows them to tell the reporter £500 stating they had passed a stable for Thames Valley police, ing agreement of Yvette Cooper fraudulently win British citi- which answers to choose. language test. is seen as a controversial ap- that it carries out such scrutiny,” zenship. One migrant worker After passing the exam, the That same year, migrants pointment. She was forced to Field said. said panic over being kicked undercover reporter said of the were found to be driving hun- apologise for the force’s failings Cooper, the chair of the home out of the country after Brexit scam: “He heard the questions, dreds of miles to a specifi c test in a child sex slavery scandal in aff airs select committee, is un- led her to cheat. he answered the questions for centre. An offi cial report found Oxford in 2013, when hundreds dertaking a review of policy One in four applicants fail the me... Third question, he said staff there “were colluding with of girls who were later found to related to modern slavery. The test, which covers topics ranging C, fourth he said D. They really applicants in committing fraud”. have been groomed and sexu- Home Offi ce is currently review- from the constitution and medi- seemed professional in a way.” In response, the Home Of- ally abused were not initially be- ing the Modern Slavery Act. eval history to art and sport. One subject brags of his cheat- fi ce tried to tighten the rules Visitors look at photographs by British photographer Don lieved by Thames Valley offi cers. Field voiced concern that the In the expose, broadcast yes- ing, saying: “I did Birmingham, by making migrants take citi- McCullin during a press preview of a retrospective exhibition Frank Field, MP, one of three appointment was once again a po- terday, an undercover reporter Manchester. I’ve been here for zenship tests at sites near their of McCullin’s work at Tate Britain in London yesterday. politicians who reviewed the lice offi cer, which emphasised the meets with Abdul Reza Masud, fi ve years and no one gets caught.” homes. Modern Slavery Act and expressed enforcement nature of the role. Gulf Times 16 Tuesday, February 5, 2019 EUROPE

Merkel, Abe agree to expand Soldiers to stay defence, security co-operation DPA European Union, the role played who is to step down from the Tokyo by Japan and Germany has be- Chrysanthemum throne on April come more and more important,” 30 in the fi rst such abdication in Abe told reporters when the two about 200 years. isiting German Chancel- leaders met at the prime minis- The German chancellor also lor Angela Merkel and ter’s offi ce. plans to meet Crown Prince in Lithuania, VJapanese Prime Minister Merkel said that she wanted Naruhito, who is set to ascend Shinzo Abe have agreed that the to strengthen German-Japanese the throne on May 1. two countries would expand bi- economic and scientifi c ties. She is also expected to meet lateral defence and security co- They were not starting from students at Tokyo’s Keio Univer- operation, the premier said. scratch, she said, but could ex- sity. As part of the eff ort, Merkel pand on the commitment of Her fi nal appointment is set and Abe reached a broad agree- 450 German companies already to be a visit to a company fo- ment on the handling of classi- working in Japan. cused on the use of artifi cial in- vows Germany fi ed information to facilitate the The two leaders also dis- telligence in the new 5G mobile exchange of tip-off s relating to cussed China’s assertiveness at phone standard. Defence minister urges new She said that the debate over international crimes, including sea, North Korea’s nuclear pro- Merkel is travelling with a approach to nuclear missile the treaty should not resort to terrorism. gramme and Britain’s exit from group of people representing treaty arguments dating back to the Merkel, who arrived in Tokyo the European Union. German business interests from Cold War. earlier in the day for a two-day The chancellor off ered to col- a wide variety of fi elds, includ- Reuters “We are agreed in Nato that visit, said that a free trade pact laborate on the Japanese agenda ing electronics, artifi cial intel- Rukla, Lithuania we cannot simply transfer the between Japan and the European for the G20 summit in Osaka in ligence, pharmaceuticals and arguments of the 1970s and Union, which took eff ect on Fri- late June. fi nancial services. 1980s to today,” von der Leyen day, will “send an important sig- Japan plans to take up the is- Japan is a key German trading ermany will invest a total said. “We need new answers and nal to the world”. sues of “society 5.0” and deal partner: the trading volume be- of €110mn until 2021 in new solutions.” The Economic Partnership with data security and ethics. tween the two countries totalled Gimproving military bases Over the weekend, the Unit- Agreement covers a third of the “These are topics that also €42.5bn ($48.8bn) in 2017, up in Lithuania, its defence minis- ed States and Russia both an- global economy. weigh on our minds,” Merkel from €37.2bn in 2015. ter said yesterday, underlining nounced their withdrawal from “As a protectionism trend has said. Japan is the second-largest Berlin’s continued commitment the INF, each accusing the other spread in the world and Britain Today she is scheduled to hold trading partner for Germany in to the defence of its Nato allies of violations. is heading for its exit from the a meeting with Emperor Akihito, the region, after China. in the Baltic region. The withdrawal period is six Germany leads a Nato force of months, during which time the 1,200 troops from 10 countries treaty can be salvaged. sent to Lithuania two years ago Von der Leyen, member of as part of alliance’s eff ort to beef German Chancellor Angela up defences along eastern Eu- Merkel’s Christian Democrats rope’s borders with Russia after (CDU), declined to take a posi- its 2014 annexation of the Cri- tion on a controversy within mea region of Ukraine. Germany’s broad coalition over “We want to make clear that how to approach termination of Lithuania is not alone and will Von der Leyen with Grybauskaite at the news conference in the INF. never stand alone. It will never Lithuania’s Rukla military base. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas again have to sacrifi ce its free- of the Social Democrats (SPD) dom and independence,” Ur- other facilities, with spending and a number of other ex-com- has come out strongly against sula von der Leyen told report- to total €110mn by 2021, von Der munist nations in 2004. stationing intermediate-range ers during a visit to the German Leyen said. The three Baltic states, which missiles in Europe, drawing forces. “We will stay here with Welcoming her comments, were forcibly annexed by the criticism from CDU members, the Bundeswehr (German armed Lithuanian Defence Minister Soviet Union in 1940 and se- who are calling for all options to forces) as long as we’re needed, Raimundas Karoblis said: “This cured their independence only be left on the table. and as long as the security situ- is the fi rst time we have heard with the fall of communism, The INF treaty was signed by ation requires it.” so clearly and from such a high were rattled by Russia’s annexa- the US and the Soviet Union in She said that the German de- political level that Germany is tion of Crimea and its support 1987 and ratifi ed the following ployment had bolstered joint here for the long term, until the for pro-Moscow separatists in year. training eff orts and improved security situation changes.” eastern Ukraine. As successor state to the So- the ability to deploy on missions Lithuania, a former Soviet re- Von der Leyen also spoke on viet Union, Russia took over the if needed. public, joined the North Atlan- developments regarding the obligations relating to the INF, Germany will invest €50mn tic Treaty Organisation (Nato) Intermediate-Range Nuclear which eliminates land-based this year in a joint barracks along with the two other Baltic Forces (INF) disarmament trea- missiles with ranges between shared by Nato forces and in states – Latvia and Estonia – ty. 500km and 5,500km. Merkel and Abe at their joint news conference in Tokyo. Research links depression to digestive bacteria

By Patrick Galey, AFP Flemish Gut Flora Project, exam- Leuven University, in Belgium. depression. So, our hypothesis than 500 types of gut bacteria Paris ined depression data and stool “Until now, most of the studies is that somehow these two are and analysed their ability to pro- samples from more than 1,000 were or in mice or in small-scale linked,” said Raes. duce a set of neuroactive com- people and found that two types human studies, with mixed and Depression – a treatable but pounds – chemicals shown to acteria in the gut may af- of bacteria were “consistently contradictory results,” he told debilitating condition that af- aff ect brain function. fect our mental well-being depleted” in those who suff ered AFP. fects how an individual behaves They found several that could Band could be linked to de- from depression. The team repeated the study and feels – is sometimes re- produce compounds linked to a Zelensky: portrays the president on TV. pression, researchers said yester- This held true even if patients on 1,063 people from the Neth- ferred to as a “silent epidemic”, variety of mental processes. day after conducting the largest were on anti-depressants. erlands and a third group of and is a major driver of the some Raes said that recent techno- study of its kind so far. Scientists’ understanding of clinically depressed patients in 800,000 suicides that occur each logical and medical advances had The World Health Organisa- how the gut and brain are linked Belgium, and got similar results. year worldwide. allowed researchers to zero in on tion (WHO) says an estimated is in its early stages, and the re- Raes stressed, however, that Anti-depressants are now the the gut when looking into pos- Actor-comedian 300mn people suff er from de- searchers acknowledged that while the experiment showed a most common prescribed drug in sible causes of mental health is- pression, and there are known their fi ndings, published in the clear link between the levels of many countries and Raes said his sues. links between a patient’s physical journal Nature Microbiology, certain bacteria in the gut and an team’s research could pave the “The fi eld went for the obvious and mental health. could be considered controver- individual’s mental well-being, way for new, smarter treatments diseases fi rst – obesity, diabetes, ahead in Ukraine Scientists in Belgium now be- sial. that didn’t mean that one thing for the illness. colon cancer, irritable bowel syn- lieve that a wide range of gut bac- “The notion that microbial directly caused the other. “I really think there is a future drome,” he said. teria can produce chemicals that metabolites can interact with The two microbe groups, co- in this: using cocktails of hu- “But then evidence started signifi cantly impact the brain, our brain – and thus behaviour prococcus and dialister, are man-derived bacteria as treat- coming in from animal studies,” presidential poll including several microorgan- and feelings – is intriguing,” said known to have anti-infl ammato- ment – bugs as drugs, as they he added. “The last few years, isms linked – positively or nega- the lead researcher, Jeroen Raes, ry properties. say,” he said. the gut-brain axis fi eld really ex- tively – to mental health. from the Department of Micro- “We also know that neuro- The team behind the research ploded. It’s really, really exciting AFP passive” supporters were likely The experiment, known as the biology and Immunology at KU infl ammation is important in studied the genomes of more at the moment.” Kyiv to not turn out, predicting his fi nal share of the vote would be lower. Ukrainian comedian Zelensky, already a popular who plays the country’s comedian, has in recent years Apresident in a TV series won further fans with his por- Flights cancelled as workers UN says Finland has is currently the favourite to trayal of the country’s leader in take on the real-life role in this a sitcom called Sluga Narodu – spring’s election, recent polls which translates as “Servant of violated indigenous show. the People”. strike at Hamburg Airport As the deadline for candi- But he has also rallied largely date nomination expired over- young supporters to his own Sami political rights night, surveys showed Volody- political cause. DPA increase of €275 ($315) for 1,000 Noack said that newly-em- myr Zelensky ahead of former Others, however, highlight Hamburg ground staff who work in aircraft ployed staff earned more than the prime minister Yulia Tymosh- his lack of experience and fl ag servicing, baggage handling, and minimum wage and those with AFP an “arbitrary” fashion. enko and incumbent Petro Po- up his ties to Poroshenko’s bil- bus services. the company for a longer period Geneva “The Human Rights Com- roshenko. lionaire foe Igor Kolomoisky, day-long strike by ground “In the collective bargaining earned more than skilled workers mittee found that Finland has However, with a record who owns the television chan- staff in support of a pay we were told that €140 more per elsewhere. improperly intervened in the number of candidates in the nel on which Zelensky stars. Ademand resulted in the plane would be required,” the The airport association ADV inland has breached the complainers’ rights to political race, the vote remains highly Observers say the race is too cancellation of 220 of 338 take- Verdi spokeswoman said. also sharply criticised the strike political rights of its participation regarding their unpredictable. close to call. off s and landings and all but With an average of 124 pas- action. FSami population, the specifi c rights as an indigenous “Thirty people have been “It’s very unpredictable at brought Hamburg Airport to a sengers per fl ight, this amounts “I have no understanding for UN Human Rights Commit- people,” a panel statement registered, this is an all-time this stage who might actu- standstill yesterday. to only about €1 per passenger in Verdi pushing its interests on tee ruled yesterday, charging said. high,” commission spokesper- ally win,” US ambassador Kurt Up to 50,000 passengers were order to fully meet the demands the backs of travellers,” said ADV that Helsinki had violated the The Sami, formerly known son Kostyantyn Khivrenko told Volker told journalists last aff ected, 12,000 of whom were of the union. chief executive Ralph Beisel, indigenous people’s right to as Lapps, live in parts of Swe- AFP, saying the documents of week, stressing that Washing- completely unable to take off . “Thirty-fi ve people work on adding: “The short-term nature “internal self-determination”. den, Finland and Norway and about 40 potential candidates ton would work with which- All landings were cancelled in the dispatch of one plane. People of the announced strike should Tiina Sanila-Aikio, presi- the Russian Kola peninsula, in are also being considered. ever democratically-elected the afternoon. have to think about how much be particularly harshly con- dent of Finland’s Sami parlia- a region known as Lapland. Zelensky, 40, has tapped leader emerged from the vote. Both fl ights to domestic air- they pay for their ticket,” she demned.” ment, and 25 other lawmakers According to the Finnish into widespread frustrations Poroshenko, a 53-year-old ports and to destinations such as said. Verdi’s “recklessness” is de- complained to the committee Sami parliament, there are with the country’s political chocolate tycoon, sailed to Zurich, “An unannounced 24-hour stroying the basis for negotiat- in October 2015, saying that 10,000 Sami in Finland. class and the slow pace of re- victory in a May 2014 election Vienna, Copenhagen and warning strike is completely ex- ing, he said. Helsinki had unlawfully inter- In the statement, commit- forms. after a popular uprising ousted Stockholm were hit. cessive and disproportionate,” “It is unacceptable that a small fered in their people’s right to tee chair Yuval Shany stressed Various recent polls put him the Moscow-backed regime of A spokeswoman from the airport spokeswoman Katja Bro- professional group paralyses an decide who can participate in that “the right to internal self- at between 19% and 23%, with Viktor Yanukovych. Verdi union confi rmed that the mm said. entire airport and completely elections to their house of rep- determination requires that Tymoshenko and Poroshenko Tymoshenko, the runner up, industrial action began at 3am Christian Noack, chief execu- messes up the wage structure resentatives. indigenous peoples be aff orded several points behind – vary- rose to international promi- (0200 GMT) as scheduled when tive of the HAM Ground Han- through inappropriate special They said Finland’s Supreme with the capacity to defi ne ing between second and third nence through her role in the workers from the early shift re- dling company, described the interests,” Beisel said. Court had granted 93 people group membership”. place. 2004 “Orange Revolution”. fused to work. strike as pointless at the current The strike comes just two the right to vote in the Sami The committee said it had But political analyst Anatoly Voting will take place on The union called the warn- stage of wage talks. weeks after a strike action by parliamentary elections, de- asked Helsinki to inform it Oktysiuk from Kyiv’s Democ- March 31, with a second round ing strike in response to stall- “Verdi is demanding more security personnel at Hamburg spite the fact that the house it- within six months about what racy House told AFP that Ze- three weeks later if no candi- ing negotiations surrounding than our company can aff ord,” he Airport led to massive disrup- self had found them ineligible. measures it was taking to rec- lensky’s largely “young, often date takes more than 50%. its demand for a monthly salary said. tion. It had also rejected others in tify the situation. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 5, 2019 17 EUROPE

Child’s suicide seen as EU experts begin probe possible case of into Polish beef scandal bullying Countries cutting Polish beef “The audit is being carried out meat being distributed and sold. praisal of the meat revealed that case and announced stricter have started to cut the amount imports after meat scare: here at the Chief Veterinary In- The TV report said dealers it does not pose a health risk. controls at slaughterhouses, in- of beef they import from Poland lobby spectorate. In the coming days it bought lame or sick cattle at He added that Poland had cluding the introduction of 24- following the TVN24 report. DPA will be continued on the ground” much lower prices than healthy learnt the meat had been ex- hour video surveillance. No countries had cancelled Berlin DPA/AFP/Reuters and will conclude on Friday, he animals. ported to two other countries Poland is a leading producer meat imports from Poland, the Warsaw told reporters. A journalist working under- – Greece and Slovenia – in addi- and exporter of meat in Europe. head of the Polish Meat Asso- The investigation will target cover at the abattoir used a hid- tion to those already known. The country produces around ciation, Witold Choinski, told fter the death of an local veterinary authorities and den camera to fi lm the secret late A total of 2.7 tonnes of the 600,000 tonnes of beef per year reporters. 11-year-old primary uropean Commission ex- slaughterhouses, a commission night slaughter when veterinary suspect beef was exported to and exports the majority of it, “But many countries are lim- Aschoolgirl in Berlin in an perts began an investiga- spokeswoman in Brussels added. authorities were unlikely to visit. them, plus the Czech Republic, mainly to the European Union, iting their imports,” he added. apparent suicide, the police have Etion into tainted Polish European Commission Poland immediately shut Estonia, Finland, France, Ger- according to meat producer as- He did not name any coun- said yesterday that they will beef yesterday, amid a food spokeswoman Anca Paduraru down the abattoir in Kalinowo, many, Hungary, Portugal, Ro- sociations. tries or give details on the size of probably announce more details. scandal sparked by the discovery confi rmed that the team had ar- a village some 100km (60 miles) mania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, The European Union has been the cuts. The authorities are carrying of illegal practices at a plant in rived in Poland, telling reporters northeast of Warsaw. Latvia, and Lithuania. shaken by several food scandals The separate Polish asso- out a homicide investigation as northeastern Poland. that “the report will be ready in According to Polish authori- The Polish police and public in recent years, including the ciation of beef producers and is usual in such cases. The Brussels delegation will about a month”. ties, approximately 9.5 tonnes prosecutor’s offi ce are also in- detection of an insecticide in breeders (PZHiPBM) said yes- The government of the state analyse the situation on the An investigative report by of the tainted beef has been cir- vestigating the case. millions of eggs in 2017 and the terday that local beef prices had of Berlin wants to pursue allega- ground for fi ve days in co-op- Polish broadcaster TVN24, culated in Poland and other EU The meat is being traced and use of undeclared horse meat in fallen sharply in recent days and, tions that the girl was being bul- eration with Polish authorities, shown last month, found that countries. removed from the market. food preparations in 2013. if the trend continued, Polish lied. said Pawel Niemczuk, head of sick animals were being slaugh- The commission has said at Poland’s Agriculture Minister Meanwhile, the head of the producers could lose as much as The Berlin Senate Offi ce for Poland’s veterinary inspector- tered in secret at a plant in least 15 countries are aff ected. Jan Krzysztof Ardanowski has meat producers lobby said yes- 600mn zlotys ($160.27mn) this Education, Youth and Family has ate. northeastern Poland, and the Niemczuk said that an ap- called the scandal an isolated terday that several countries year. also involved the school inspec- torate, a spokesman for the offi ce told DPA. On Saturday, the death of the 11-year-old pupil from Berlin’s Reinickendorf district came to light. French ‘yellow vest’ anger won’t be contained She had been attending the district’s Hausotter primary school. By Anne Chaon, AFP According to the Berlin-based Montargis, France Tagesspiegel daily, the girl is be- lieved to have made a suicide at- tempt a few days ago and later n hour south of Paris in died of the consequences in hos- the town of Montargis, pital. A“yellow vest” demon- There is suspicion of bullying strators like Isa Duchesne have at her school, but so far there has no intention of stopping their neither been offi cial confi rma- 12-week protest against Presi- tion of the suicide, nor has the dent Emmanuel Macron or being exact background been clarifi ed. drawn into his “great national School principal Daniela Wal- debate”. ter resolutely defended herself At a roundabout in the south against allegations by a father of the town, where violent pro- from the parents’ council that tests have taken place since problems had been hushed up at November, the 57-year-old fac- the school. tory worker dismissed the gov- Of course, there are incidents, ernment’s two-month debate for example on the playground, which has seen dozens of town she told the evening news pro- hall meetings held since the gramme of Berlin’s RBB broad- middle of January. caster. “Macron is preparing for the Walter told the RBB that there European elections,” she said were pupils trained in confl ict bitterly. “He couldn’t care less resolution in the school. about us.” In addition, there is a “very It’s a charge made by many of well-equipped school social Macron’s opponents who see the support programme”. debate as a tactic to distract at- Nothing is hushed up or swept tention from the “yellow vest” People take part in a meeting that is part of the ‘Great National Debate’, designed to find ways to calm under the carpet, she said. movement which has roiled the the ‘yellow vest’ (gilet jaune) movement protest, at a meeting-room provided by the municipality, in country and caused the biggest Montargis, some 130km south of Paris. crisis of Macron’s 20-month Fire at apartment presidency. “The anger won’t go back at the last count, roughly four from hand to hand, with each Announced in December, the into the bottle,” Marc Pochon, percentage points higher than person given their chance to building in central national debate has so far pro- a 64-year-old retiree in Mon- the national average. speak. Moscow kills eight vided both an outlet for angry targis, predicted. “There are “The ‘yellow vest’ movement Marie-Reine Poulin, who voters to air their grievances – so many people today who are is still strong here, supported by works in a school canteen, The death toll from an overnight and a stage on which Macron can suff ering. They don’t want any a large part of the population,” brought up falling living stand- fire at a central Moscow perform ahead of the EU parlia- more talking.” said the head of the Montargis ards for low-income workers apartment building rose to eight ment elections in May. He demonstrated for fi ve urban area, Franck Supplisson. – the spark that ignited the pro- yesterday as a child’s body was After months of plummeting straight weeks in Montargis The fi rst of four debates in the tests back in November when discovered in the wreckage, state approval ratings, the 40-year- “with the elderly, single moth- town, a former production cen- a planned rise in fuel prices media reported. old head of state has clawed ers, retired folk, people who have tre for the leather industry, took threatened to hit their spending The blaze in a brick building in back some lost ground in recent knocked on every door but can’t place last Thursday. power. the Russian capital’s prestigious weeks thanks to a series of pub- make it work”. Around 45 people gathered in She appeared unimpressed by Nikitsky Boulevard is believed to lic appearances that have sought But he believes the demon- a public hall in a working-class tax cuts on overtime and a rise in have started on the fifth floor. to stress his more humble side. strations should now come to a area of the town where many of the minimum wage which were The fire lasted more than three The number of “yellow vests” halt. the familiar complaints from the announced by Macron in De- hours, engulfing 1,500sq m over has also fallen sharply nation- “We’ve got a chance to discuss “yellow vest” protesters were cember, and echoed the feeling several floors of the seven-storey wide, with fewer and fewer now, let’s seize it,” he added. raised. found among many protesters ‘Yellow vest’ protesters wave during a demonstration called by building, state news agency Tass roundabouts occupied, while “But I say to the president ‘re- They include Macron’s tax that the political and economic unions to protest against cuts in pension due to government reported, citing authorities. the mass demonstrations held spond now to the plight of the cuts for high-earners, shortages system was stacked against reforms, on the sidelines of their occupation of a roundabout in More than 40 people were every Saturday have dwindled working poor. Don’t wait for the of doctors in rural areas, public them. Montargis. evacuated. in scale. end of the debate’.” transport cutbacks and the diffi - “I don’t think it’ll change The deceased included several Most observers agree the cri- Montargis, known for its 130 culty of fi nding stable full-time much. Those who have the pow- Jeremy Clement, a 41-year- How can we accept that people women, a man, a child aged sis is likely to be a turning point bridges across its numerous ca- jobs, forcing many people to er don’t want to lose it,” Poulin old with a construction busi- cannot live off their work?” he five or six, and a baby, the news in Macron’s presidency, having nals and the Loing river, is like take several short-term jobs at said, adding: “But we women ness, said he had travelled to told the room. “In the big cities, agency said. highlighted the extent of anger many small towns in France that the same time just to make ends need to be there, on the rounda- Paris six weekends in a row to people don’t realise. But if we Investigators have opened a among low-income families in have been hit by factory closures meet. bouts, because we are the ones join the protests. don’t change, we’re headed for criminal case on negligence rural and small-town France. and rising unemployment – 13% The microphone was passed that are most vulnerable.” “We live in a rich country. disaster.” charges. The possible cause of the fire has not been disclosed. The building at 12 Nikitsky Boulevard was constructed in 1914. Self-shredding Banksy painting Authorities feared the structure could collapse. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin expressed goes on display in Germany condolences to the victims’ families. Two victims were hospitalised Reuters shredded half the painting, shredding, and has now loaned and expected to survive their Baden-Baden, Germany which had just been sold for it to the Frieder Burda Museum injuries, over £1mn. in Baden-Baden for a month. Sobyanin said in a statement. Museum director Henning The museum will not charge ove is in the Bin, the work Schaper said they had been the public to see the painting. by graffi ti artist Banksy anxious to avoid being the vic- Schaper said that since Bank- Authorities arrest Lthat shredded itself live tim of another of the “subver- sy is an advocate of the democ- after it was sold at auction sive, clever” artist’s practical ratisation of art and a street art- 218 migrants last year, went on display at a jokes and seeing the rest of the ist, it would be wrong to make German museum – after offi - painting shred itself while it was the public pay to see it. Turkish authorities have arrested cials had made sure its shred- in their charge. “We wanted to engage with 218 migrants attempting to cross ding mechanism was no longer “We opened up the frame and his philosophy by hanging the into Europe, Turkish security working. found the shredder machinery, art work where people don’t sources said. The painting was originally the battery holders, the wires have to pay to get in and can ex- Turkish security sources said auctioned as Girl with Balloon, and satisfi ed ourselves that the perience Banksy’s art and join yesterday that the gendarmerie the image of a young girl hold- batteries had been removed and us in a critical debate on devel- and border guards detained 167 ing a heart-shaped red balloon the wires cut,” he said after cu- opments on the art market,” he migrants in northwestern Edirne, that has become the artist’s rators had carefully hung the said. according to Turkey’s Anadolu most popular since it was fi rst work in its new place. The painting will be on dis- agency. sprayed on to London’s Water- The owner, an anonymous play in the southwestern city In a separate operation, loo Bridge in 2002. European art collector, agreed until March 3 before it is moved 51 migrants were held by However, the moment the to go through with the purchase to the Staatsgalerie in Stuttgart, gendarmerie forces in Cesme in Employees hang up the artwork Love is in the Bin by British street artist Banksy at the Frieder Burda auctioneer’s gavel fell, a hidden of the painting, which the art- which will also not charge to the Aegean province of Izmir. Museum in Baden-Baden, southwestern Germany, yesterday. mechanism inside the frame ist offi cially renamed after its view it. Gulf Times 18 Tuesday February 5, 2019 INDIA

COMMENT LAW AND ORDER CONTROVERSY OFFBEAT LEGAL BJP used me in Complaints against CPI-M, Nair community Owl found in Jet plane Court rejects Swamy’s 2014, says Hazare tweets on Priyanka filed cross swords in Kerala cockpit at Mumbai airport plea in Tharoor case

Activist Anna Hazare yesterday said he was The Congress filed police complaints in Delhi and A war of words has broken out between the A wide-eyed owl found its way into the cockpit of A Delhi Court yesterday rejected the application “used by the Bharatiya (BJP)” to across the country seeking action over obscene CPI-M and the Nair Service Society (NSS) – the a Jet Airways Boeing 777 that was parked for the of MP Subramanian Swamy in a case against Con- win the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. “Yes. The BJP and off ensive posts in social media targeting socio-cultural arm of the Hindu Nair community. night at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International gress MP Shashi Tharoor, accused of abetment used me in 2014. Everybody knows that it was party’s general secretary Priyanka -Marxist (CPI-M) state Airport, off icials said yesterday. The nocturnal to suicide of his wife Sunanda Pushkar. The court my agitation for Lokpal that catapulted the BJP Gandhi and also pointed to some BJP leaders secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said: “Socio- bird was discovered when some airline staff ers also transferred the case to the sessions court, and also the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to power. making “sexist remarks” against her. The party has cultural organisations need not dabble in politics. entered the aircraft yesterday morning to pre- which will hear the matter on February 21. In his Now I have lost all regards for them,” Hazare blamed the BJP for triggering the campaign and If the NSS wants, let them form a political party. pare it for the day’s flight operations. When they plea, the (BJP) member of told the media in his Ralegan-Siddhi village. also written to Delhi Police commissioner Amulya If they want to dabble in politics, let them take a stepped inside the cockpit, they were surprised Parliament had sought to assist the court and to He said the government led by Prime Minister Patnaik alleging that “opposing forces have un- stand. They should openly state whether they to see the beige-white coloured owl perched bring on record the Delhi Police’s vigilance report Narendra Modi “is only misleading the people of leashed a campaign to diminish Priyanka’s cred- are supporting the BJP or the Congress.” The comfortably adjacent to the flight commander’s on tampering of evidence in the case, for framing the country and leading the country to autoc- ibility”. In the complaint filed by the All India Mahila Left leader’s comments came a day after NSS seat, said Jet off icials. Later, as a staff er ap- of additional charges. Pushkar, 51, died under mys- racy” and added that the BJP-led Maharashtra Congress (AIMC), the party alleged that off ensive general secretary G Sukumaran Nair said that it proached it, the owl allowed itself to be removed terious circumstances in a hotel room in south government was speaking “lies” over the past and obscene posts were being circulated in social does not have to learn the principles of renais- without a fuss and was soon released after some Delhi on January 17, 2014, days after she alleged four years. media in pursuance of a conspiracy. sance from the CPI-M. other excited colleagues clicked selfies with it. that Tharoor was having an aff air with a journalist.

Farmers up in arms govt, Centre stand-off over police chief issue continues

IANS Banerjee claimed she was get- Kolkata/New Delhi ting support from across the country and said the demonstra- tion might continue till February he unprecedented stand- 8. Interestingly, Modi is sched- off between the Narendra uled to address a public meeting in TModi government and the north Bengal on that day. Mamata Banerjee government in national vice West Bengal stretched to the sec- president Kiranmoy Nanda joined ond day yesterday as the feisty Banerjee at the sit-in for some chief minister continued her sit-in time, and dubbed the CBI action at the city hub, while central para- as a “conspiracy”. Later, Rashtriya military force troopers kept vigil at leader Tejashwi the CBI offi ces. and Dravida Munnetra Kazhag- Meanwhile, Kolkata police sent am’s Kanimozhi also came to ex- notice to a top Central Bureau of tend solidarity to Banerjee. Investigation (CBI)offi cer in an old Meanwhile, the strength of case. the Central Reserve Police Force The centre-state showdown troopers deployed at the CBI of- that began on Sunday evening fi ces at Nizam Palace and the CGO when CBI offi cials showed up near Complex in Salt Lake on Sunday the Loudon Street residence of night, was bolstered yesterday Kolkata Police Commissioner Ra- with one more company pressed jeev Kumar for questioning him in into service. Farmers in Amritsar take part in a protest against the alleged anti-farmer policies imposed by the central and state government and demand a complete farm connection with the probe into the “We have come here to provide debt waiver. ponzi scheme scam, also rocked security to the CBI personnel and Parliament and reached the legal the documents kept here,” said corridors in both New Delhi and a CRPF trooper on condition of the eastern metropolis. anonymity. Banerjee, fl anked by her sen- On the other hand, in a tit for tat ior ministers and top Trinamool move, the Kolkata Police served Congress leaders, skipped dinner a notice to CBI joint director and and stayed up the entire night on head of zone (Kolkata) Pankaj Ku- a makeshift dais in the Dharamtala mar Srivastava in connection with area, near the Metro Y Channel af- “wrongful restraint” and “wrong- ter beginning the protest around ful confi nement” of two business- UK government clears 9pm on Sunday. men in August last year. Banerjee yesterday seemed Srivastava, who left for Delhi completely at ease doing what she during the day with documents to has always revelled in – street pro- help CBI lawyers in the legal fi ght test – as she took the mike from at the Supreme Court, said he time to time, gave brief speeches, would consult his lawyers before attacking the BJP-ruled centre, responding to the notice. Mallya’s extradition with Prime Minister Modi and BJP In New Delhi, solicitor general chief Amit Shah being her special Tushar Mehta sought an urgent IANS Mallya has 14 days’ time to ap- conspiracy to defraud, making ate loan recovery proceedings “While we welcome the UK targets. apex court hearing yesterday itself New Delhi peal against his extradition in a false representations and money against him. Proceedings are on government’s decision in the She claimed the sit-in was on a CBI plea describing the situ- higher court. Application for the laundering off ences. He has 14 before the Mumbai Special Court matter, we await the early com- “non-political” and not against ation as “extraordinary”, and fear- right to appeal before the Su- days from to apply for leave to against Mallya under the Fugitive pletion of the legal process for an individual agency but to oppose ing “evidence will be destroyed”, n a shot in the arm for the preme Court alone takes at least appeal.” The Westminster Magis- Economic Off enders Act. his extradition,” a source said. the “anarchic moves” by the Modi but chief justice Ranjan Gogoi Central Bureau of Investi- six weeks. By the time the court trates Court in the UK on Decem- Late in 2017, India fi led ex- Reacting to the news Union government to destroy democracy. declined it saying “there’s no evi- Igation, the British govern- decides, he may get close to a ber 10 gave the ruling to extradite tradition proceedings against minister Arun Jaitley tweeted “Our satyagraha is not against dence of what you’re saying right ment yesterday approved the year to plan his defence. Mallya following a prolonged liti- Mallya which he has contested. “Modi government clears one any individual agency. Our protest now”. extradition of fugitive baron A note issued by press of- gation. He is currently out on bail in more step to get Mallya extra- is against the attempts to divide Defending CBI action against Vijay Mallya to India where he is fi cer Bethany Ditzel citing a UK Mallya, 63, left India on London. The Indian government dited while opposition rallies the country and spread hate, in- the Kolkata police commissioner, wanted in a Rs90bn Kingfi sher Home Offi ce spokesperson said: March 2, 2016, after defaulting yesterday Monday welcomed around the Saradha scamsters” timidation and terror among peo- Union Home Minister Rajnath Airline loan default case. “On February 3, the secretary of on loan amounting to Rs90bn he the decision by the British gov- The opposition has accused ple,” she said, as her party activists Singh yesterday said the move to UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid state, having carefully consid- had taken for his now-defunct ernment to extradite Mallya. the BJP-led government of aid- put up rail and road blockades at stop the central probe agency from yesterday signed the order to ex- ered all relevant matters, signed Kingfi sher Airlines. Government sources here said ing and abetting fugitive ty- various parts of the state, took out performing its duties is a threat to tradite Mallya which has already the order for Vijay Mally’s extra- A consortium of 13 banks – led that they have taken note of the coons like Mallya, celebrity protest rallies with back fl ags and the federal political system of the been allowed by a lower court. dition to India. by the State Bank of India (SBI) decision of British Home Secre- jeweller Nirav Modi and his aide burnt Modi’s effi gy. country. However, experts said that “Mallya is accused in India of – has been preparing to initi- tary Sajid Javid. Mehul Choksi.

World Cancer Day Only two women entered Custody of accused in Sabarimala, says minister chopper case extended IANS court that Saxena has already New Delhi identifi ed certain individuals. By Ashraf Padanna review petitions challenging its Ammini and Durga trekked The directorate told the court Thiruvananthapuram September 28 verdict allowing to the temple in the early hours that Saxena’s further custodial women of all ages to enter the of January 2 under heavy police he enforcement directorate grilling was need for the purpose temple. protection and with their faces (ED) yesterday told a Delhi of validating the data, which is he Kerala government The petitioners who have covered. They also evaded the Tcourt that custodial inter- under process and analysis in the still appears confused lined up a battery of senior law- priests and returned clandes- rogation of Dubai-based busi- lab. Ton the total number of yers, including K K Venugopal tinely. nessman Rajiv Saxena will help in According to the ED, in con- women of who have actually and Gopal Subramaniam, ex- A week later Chief Minister identifying other co-accused and nivance with lawyer Gautam entered the Sabarimala temple pect a favourable verdict up- Pinarayi Vijayan claimed a Sri he is to be confronted with ap- Khaitan, Saxena provided a cor- after the Supreme Court lifted holding the temple’s age-old Lankan pilgrim Sasikala, 48, proximately 20GB of data pertain- porate structure across the globe the ban on September 28. customs and traditions. also had followed suit. But her ing to the AgustaWestland case. to launder money paid to various Kadakampally Surendran, the “I wish the court had under- name was not there on the list, After hearing the ED submis- politicians, bureaucrats and Air state’s minister for temple af- stood that there’s no gender which the court refused to ac- sion, special judge Arvind Kumar Force offi cials to infl uence the fairs, told the legislative assem- discrimination, but age re- cept. allowed the directorate to quiz contract for supplying 12 VVIP bly yesterday that only Bindu strictions,” said Hindu activist The opposition Congress and Saxena for another four days. helicopters in favour of Agus- Ammini, 41, and Kanaka Durga, Rahul Easwar. “We hope major BJP had criticised the govern- The ED had sought 10 days’ cus- taWestland. 40, visited the temple. political parties will now come ment for submitting a “fake tody of Saxena. The ED told the court Saxena Last month, the state had together and bring in appropri- statement” to the apex court. Saxena was presented be- was co-operating in the investi- submitted an affidavit in the ate legislation. Prime Minister The Sabarimala Karma Sami- fore the court on expiry of his gation and he needed to be grilled apex court with details of 51 Narendra Modi and Congress ti, an apex body comprising four-day ED custody, which was alongside Khaitan. “women” in the “barred” party chief Rahul Gandhi un- many Hindu outfits, has sought granted by the court on January Saxena’s defence counsel and age group of 10-50 who they derstands our feelings, and they an apology from Chief Minister 31. He was extradited from the senior advocate Geeta Luthra claimed entered the temple. will support us,” he claimed. Pinarayi Vijayan. UAE the previous day. opposed the ED’s plea seeking Later the state government re- Surendran, in the Assembly, Many believe the ruling com- Special public prosecutor D P further extension of his custody duced the list to 17 after many said the temple executive of- munists will suffer heavily in A college student holds her hair donated to make Singh and ED lawyer N K Matta and claimed his arrest was illegal on the list said they were aged ficer had submitted a report the parliamentary elections two wigs for cancer survivors who lost their hair during told the court that Saxena’s cus- as he had been illegally extradit- above 50, and some even turned stating only two women had months away, with recent sur- treatment at a awareness rally on World Cancer Day tody was essential to unearth the ed by the ED. The senior counsel out to be men. entered the temple. When op- veys predicting a huge slump in Chennai yesterday. World Cancer Day is marked sequence of events and the role also told the court that Saxena The latest U-turn came two position members asked about in their vote share, more than on February 4 to raise awareness of cancer and to of individuals involved in the was suff ering from various med- days before the Supreme Court the earlier list, he remained 10%, while the Congress is ex- encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment. money trail. ical problems and needed proper is expected to take up a bunch of mum. pected to sweep the polls. The ED counsel also told the medical care. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 5, 2019 19 LATIN AMERICA

UN will Venezuela opposition leader not join any group talks: chief gets backing of 11 EU nations AFP United Nations Reuters in the process of facilitating and violent approach in each of our Madrid/Caracas reinforcing dialogue.” struggles,” Guaido said in a video. Although the United States United Nations Secretary- he United Nations will not has broached the idea of an General Antonio Guterres said join any group of nations ajor European na- oil embargo on Venezuela, the UN offi cials would not partici- Tpromoting initiatives to tions joined the United 14-nation Lima Group, meet- pate in any international ini- resolve the crisis in Venezuela, MStates yesterday in ing in Ottawa, looked set to hold tiatives on Venezuela in order to the UN chief said yesterday, in- recognising opposition leader off imposing more sanctions on remain neutral. dicating he will not attend a Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s le- Maduro’s government, sources Maduro said in an interview meeting in Uruguay this week of gitimate head of state, as a sepa- briefed on the matter said. that aired on Spanish television several countries. rate regional bloc met in Canada Most members of the group, channel Antena 3 on Sunday: Mexico and Uruguay had hoped to pressure socialist President which includes Canada and “We don’t accept ultimatums that UN Secretary-General Anto- Nicolas Maduro. Brazil but not the United States, from anyone,” adding: “I refuse nio Guterres would attend a con- The co-ordinated move by 11 have said Maduro should quit in to call for elections now – there ference in Montevideo on Thurs- nations including Britain, Ger- favour of Guaido and are calling will be elections in 2024.” day aimed at promoting dialogue many, France, Spain and seven for a new presidential election. The meeting in Ottawa will between Venezuela’s self-pro- more European Union mem- The challenge for participants also discuss how to aid the peo- claimed president Juan Guaido bers followed the expiration of is that Mexico, a member of the ple of Venezuela, including and leader Nicolas Maduro. an ultimatum for Maduro to group, opposes any measures to through immediate humani- “The UN secretariat has de- call a new presidential election, oust Maduro, who also has the tarian assistance, according to cided not to be part of any of aligning them with Washington backing of Turkey in addition to the offi ce of Canadian Prime these groups in order to give and against Russia and China. Russia and China. Minister Justin Trudeau. credibility to our continued off er “From today, we will spare no The United States also wants Last month, the Lima Group of good offi ces to the parties to be eff ort in helping all Venezuelans Maduro gone. announced a travel ban on senior able at their request to help fi nd a achieve freedom, prosperity and “How can we continue to sup- Venezuelan offi cials and a freeze political solution,” Guterres told harmony,” Spanish Prime Min- port the opposition to keep the on their foreign assets. reporters. ister Pedro Sanchez said, refer- pressure up on the regime and The Canadian source, who re- Guterres said he was follow- ring to the decision to recognise push for new elections? Cer- quested anonymity given the sen- ing the crisis in Venezuela “with a Guaido as president. Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido speaks during a news conference at the National Assembly in tainly that’s something we’ll be sitivity of the situation, declined to lot of concern,” adding that he had Maduro’s government, over- Caracas yesterday. looking at,” a Canadian govern- comment when asked whether more discussed the various initiatives put seeing an economic collapse ment offi cial said ahead of the punitive measures could be im- forward with the countries involved. that has prompted 3mn Ven- government of President Nicolas him of staging a US-directed President Donald Trump. meeting in Ottawa. posed. Two sources briefed on the The UN chief met with Mex- ezuelans to fl ee the oil-rich Maduro.” coup. Maduro has been in power The sitting Venezuelan presi- Guaido thanked the Lima talks said such an announcement ico’s ambassador to the United country, lashed out at the EU Maduro’s government singled since 2013. dent has written a letter to Pope Group for its “constant support was unlikely for now. Nations Juan Jose Gomez Ca- nations and said the move would out Spain for acting “cowardly.” Maduro, who has maintained Francis requesting a renewal of of democracy in Venezuela, our Trump’s administration last macho last week who said the aff ect relations with Caracas. Other EU nations taking simi- the critical support of the mili- dialogue in the crisis, the Vati- constitution and the struggle week issued sanctions on Vene- Montevideo conference was to In a statement, Venezuela’s lar action included: Austria, the tary, is facing widespread calls can Secretary of State, Cardinal that the Venezuelan people have zuelan state-owned oil fi rm PDV- “off er a chance for dialogue to all government said it “expresses Czech Republic, Denmark, Esto- from some of Venezuela’s neigh- Pietro Parolin, said in Abu Dhabi been going through.” SA in a move likely to cut revenues parties involved.” its most energetic rejection of nia, Poland, Portugal, and Sweden. bours and others to resign after yesterday. “We are very close to reaching for a country hard hit by medicine Venezuela has suff ered an the decision adopted by some Guaido, the head of Venezue- last year’s disputed presidential In an interview with Ital- freedom and that is the result of shortages and malnutrition. economic meltdown marked by European governments, in la’s National Assembly, declared vote in the Opec nation of 30mn ian broadcaster Sky TG24, of the international support we have Trump, in an interview that hyperinfl ation and shortages of which they offi cially submit to himself last month as the South people. He has defi ed European which excerpts were released received and the recognition of aired on Sunday, said military basic necessities that the op- the US administration’s strat- American nation’s president. heads of state and called them earlier yesterday, Maduro said this process of respecting the intervention in Venezuela was position blames on the Maduro egy to overthrow the legitimate Maduro’s government accuses sycophants for following US he had sent the letter “for help rule of law and of having a non- “an option.” government. Colombian rebel Nayib Bukele elected leader had ties to Maduro: president El Salvador president Reuters Reuters than a year, also nurtured by the San Salvador Bogota patronage of some sectors close to Venezuela’s dictatorship,” Duque told reporters, referring Colombia’s President Ivan Duque addresses the media during a news former mayor cam- Colombian rebel com- to eff orts the government says conference in Bogota yesterday. paigning on an anti- mander killed over the Cadete was making to form new Acorruption ticket swept Aweekend had ties to rebel factions. Aragon, was a long-time mem- ground combat, the minister said. to victory in El Salvador’s pres- Venezuela’s embattled leader Maduro is embroiled in a ber of the Farc rebel group, which The dissidents have an esti- idential election on Sunday, Nicolas Maduro, President Ivan showdown with opposition demobilised in 2017 after a peace mated 1,800 combatants spread bringing an end to a two-party Duque said yesterday. leader Juan Guaido, who has deal with the government, Defence across about 30 units. Some system that has held sway over Duque did not provide de- declared himself Venezuela’s le- Minister Guillermo Botero said. 13,000 Farc members, including the violence-plagued Central tails on the connection between gitimate president. Cadete originally partici- 6,000 combatants, demobilised American country for three the guerrilla, a member of a Colombia, along with the pated in the demobilisation but under the peace accord. decades. dissident faction of the Revo- United States, Canada, most months later returned to fac- The group is now a political Nayib Bukele, the 37-year- lutionary Armed Forces of Co- of Latin America and at least tions of the Farc that rejected the party, with 10 seats in Congress old former mayor of the capital, lombia (Farc) known by his nom 10 European countries, has of- accord, Botero added. guaranteed through 2026. San Salvador, won 54% of votes El Salvador presidential candidate Nayib Bukele of the Great de guerre Rodrigo Cadete, and fi cially recognised Guaido as At least 13 other guerrilla The Farc fought the govern- with returns counted from 88% National Alliance (GANA), right, and vice presidential candidate Maduro’s administration. Venezuela’s leader. fi ghters have been killed during ment for more than fi ve decades of polling stations, said Julio Felix Ulloa celebrate their victory in the presidential election in “Rodrigo Cadete had been The 51-year-old Cadete, whose the operation, which is ongoing in a confl ict that has killed more Olivo, the head of the electoral San Salvador yesterday. creating organisations for more birth name was Mesias Salgado and has included bombings and than 260,000 people. tribunal. Bukele won more votes than that a third-party politician eration Front (FMLN) and its all other candidates combined will usher in changes to im- rival, conservative Nationalist Brazil unveils in his fi rst-round sweep, high- prove a sluggish economy and Republican Alliance (ARENA). lighting deep voter frustration widespread poverty. Though he describes him- tougher measures over the failure of the two main “Let’s see if he can do what self as from the left and was ex- against crime, graft Body found underwater in parties to tackle violence and he’s promised for us,” said a pelled from the FMLN, Bukele corruption. jubilant supporter, Baltazar has formed a coalition including Brazilian Justice Minister Sergio “This day is historic for our Sanchez, 30, at Bukele’s victory a right-wing party that together Moro unveiled yesterday a series country. This day El Salvador speech. has just 11 seats in the legislature, of measures designed to battle wreckage of Sala’s plane destroyed the two-party sys- “After 30 years of two par- which consists of 84 people. crime, corruption and violence tem,” Bukele told hundreds ties, we’ve been dealt the best Outside the hotel in San in Latin America’s biggest of Salvadorans who danced, hand.” Salvador where Bukele waited country, acting on President AFP crowd-funding campaign for waved fl ags and blew whistles Gang violence has made tiny for the results, a group of sup- Jair Bolsonaro’s law-and-order London a private search, which raised in a San Salvador plaza that El Salvador one of the world’s porters set off fi reworks, beat agenda. over 300,000 euros. Bukele revitalised when he was most murderous countries in drums and danced as early The measures include a bill ritish investigators said They hired shipwreck hunter mayor from 2015 to 2018. the past few years, driving Sal- fi gures came in. allowing police to use their yesterday they had spot- David Mearns, whose vessel His two rivals from the vadorans to fl ee to the north. “Yes, we did it! Yes, we did weapons in “legitimate defence” Bted a body in the wreck- used sonar equipment to iden- mainstream political parties Among his campaign prom- it!” they chanted. if facing a risk of “armed conflict” age of a plane that disappeared tify the plane wreckage on Sun- conceded defeat. ises, Bukele, an avid social me- FMLN candidate Hugo Mar- that puts lives in danger. in the Channel two weeks ago day morning within a few hours Bukele must now contend dia user who snapped a selfi e tinez conceded defeat shortly Bolsonaro, a right-wing former carrying Argentine footballer of starting the search. with US President Donald with supporters before declar- after Bukele’s victory speech paratrooper, has taken a hard line Emiliano Sala and his pilot. Another vessel, hired by the Trump’s frequent threats to cut ing his win, said he would push while ARENA candidate Carlos on crime in Brazil, where more Sala, 28, was fl ying from Emiliano Sala AAIB, then used its remotely oper- aid to El Salvador – as well as infrastructure projects to limit Calleja said he recognised the than 64,000 murders a year are France to join his new club, Pre- ated vehicle to survey the seabed. neighbouring Guatemala and such migration. election results and would call committed. mier League side Cardiff City, Sala’s father Horacio ear- “Based on analysis of ROV Honduras – if they do not do Since the end of its civil war Bukele to off er congratulations. Moro, a former star anti- when the light aircraft disap- lier spoke of his shock that the video footage, the AAIB in- more to curb migration to the in 1992, El Salvador has been Defi nitive results would be corruption judge, also called for peared on January 21 north of plane had been found, after a vestigators on board the ves- United States. governed by the ruling leftist announced within two days, more severe punishment for the island of Guernsey. private search organised by the sel concluded that the object At home, supporters hope Farabundo Marti National Lib- Olivo said. illegal campaign financing. A wreck was found on the family. is wreckage from the miss- He also proposes to make the seabed on Sunday and closer in- “I can’t believe it. It’s a bad ing Piper Malibu aircraft,” the law state explicitly that anyone spection by a remotely operated dream,” he told Cronica TV AAIB said yesterday. convicted of a crime must be vehicle (ROV) confi rmed both from his home in Progreso, Ar- Suspected debris from the incarcerated after they have lost that it was the missing plane, gentina, before the news about plane washed up on the Nor- their first appeal. Currently, the and that a body was inside. the body was announced. mandy coastline in France last 28 Haitians dead after ship sinks decision of when to begin serving “Tragically, in video footage Sala was fl ying to Cardiff Wednesday, further dampening a sentence is left to the judge. from the ROV, one occupant is after transferring from French any hopes of fi nding the foot- AFP two days of dive operations, bodies in the sunken vessel. That was an issue in the case visible amidst the wreckage,” team Nantes in a 17mn euro baller and his pilot alive. Miami the Royal Bahamas Defence In a tweet, the US embassy of former president Luiz the British government’s Air ($19.3mn) move – a record deal “This is about the best result Force said. in Haiti described the ship as Inacio Lula da Silva, who was Accident Investigation Branch for the Welsh team. we could have hoped for the The incident unfolded on a vessel traffi cking people out sentenced to 12 years in prison (AAIB) said in a statement. The plane, a Piper PA-46 families,” Mearns had earlier t least 28 Haitians have Saturday when the ship carry- of Haiti, adding: “No journey on corruption charges but sought “The AAIB is now considering Malibu, vanished from radar told Sky News. drowned off the coast of ing the Haitians sank near Fowl is worth risking lives – please unsuccessfully to stay out of jail the next steps, in consultation around 20km (12 miles) north Top footballers were among more AAbaco in the Bahamas, Cay, six miles (10km) off the urge families and communi- while appeals were pending so he with the families of the pilot and of Guernsey, with British pilot than 4,500 contributors to a crowd- offi cials said, the latest tragedy coast of Marsh Harbour, Abaco. ties: Illegal migrant & smug- could run for president. passenger, and the police.” David Ibbotson the only other funding page to look for the wreck- at sea for migrants seeking to Fifteen survivors and 13 dead gling operations are dangerous Brazilian courts ruled against The AAIB also released a person aboard. age, launched by Sala’s family. leave the Caribbean’s poorest bodies were recovered on Sat- and frequently end in tragedy.” him but the Supreme Court is grainy image showing a part of Local police called off the Horacio was the only relative economy. urday in a joint mission be- The RBDF added that this expected to take up the issue in the fuselage with the aircraft search after a few days, saying it to stay behind in Argentina as “Thus far, a total of 17 per- tween the RBDF and US Coast year alone, some 300 Haitians April, and give a definitive ruling registration. The depth indi- was very unlikely anyone would the others rushed to France and sons have been rescued alive Guard. On Sunday, two more had been apprehended for il- that could impact thousands of cated on the image was 67.7m still be found alive. Guernsey to try to help with the and 28 bodies have been re- survivors were found alive on legal entry during four separate inmates, including Lula. (AFP) (222ft). But Sala’s family launched a search. covered from the water” after a nearby cay in addition to 15 incidents. Gulf Times 20 Tuesday, February 5, 2019 PAKISTAN

National Assembly Poll body ‘incomplete’ session to be held in following retirements two weeks Internews amendment to the relevant law and Baluchistan will retire in Article 215 of the Constitution National Assembly (NA) from treasury benches and half Internews Islamabad to make it mandatory to start the 2024 after completion of their in its amended form reads: “The Speaker Asad Qaiser had con- from opposition parties, based Islamabad process of appointment of chief fi ve-year term. Commissioner [and a member] stituted the parliamentary com- on their strength in parliament, election commissioner (CEC) The ECP offi cial said that the shall, subject to this Article, mittee on appointment of the to be nominated by their respec- he Election Commis- and ECP members, two months delay in appointments each time hold offi ce for a term of ve fi years CEC and ECP members even tive parliamentary leaders. he government of Paki- sion of Pakistan (ECP) before their retirement date, would lead to a vacuum. from the day he enters upon his before the retirement of the two In case a consensus cannot be stan has decided to sum- Thas been incomplete for and fi nalise the process at least The mechanism for the retire- offi ce.” members, but Prime Minister reached between the prime min- Tmon the 8th session of a week after the retirement of a week before the creation of va- ment of two members after their A proviso to the article reads: Imran Khan has yet to start the ister and the opposition leader, the National Assembly on Feb- two members, and is set to suff er cancy in the constitutional body. half-term in offi ce was put in “Provided that two of the mem- process for consultation with the law says that each will for- ruary18, and it is likely that the from the intermittent vacuum. Under the Constitution, the place through the 22nd Amend- bers shall retire after the expira- the detained Leader of the Op- ward separate lists to the parlia- session will take up the supple- A senior ECP offi cial said ECP comprises a chief election ment, to ensure the continuity of tion of fi rst two and a half years position in the National Assem- mentary committee for consid- mentary budget presented by the that it had swiftly acted to de- commissioner and four mem- the electoral body. and two shall retire after the bly, Shehbaz Sharif. eration. government last month. cide, through a draw, which bers – one from each province. The amendment was made to expiration of the next two and a Under Articles 213 and 218 The strength of the parlia- The session was prorogued two members would retire on The offi cial feared that the avoid the repetition of the expe- half years: Provided further that of the Constitution, the prime mentary committee must be 12 unprecedentedly on the follow- January 26, to give 45 days to the phenomenon of delay in fi lling rience of 2010, when four mem- the Commission shall for the minister, in consultation with members, one-third of whom ing day of the introduction of the government for appointment of vacancies and subsequent vacu- bers retired at the same time, fi rst term of offi ce of members the opposition leader, forwards will be from the Senate. budget proposals and fi nance replacements for the members um would continue to aff ect the and the commission remained draw a lot as to which two mem- three names for the appoint- An offi cial said that the proc- bill. from Sindh and Baluchistan. ECP in days ahead. virtually non-functional for bers shall retire after the fi rst ment of a CEC or commission ess of consultation between the The united opposition in the He said that the commission He pointed out that Chief months. two and a half years.” member to a parliamentary prime minister and the opposi- Parliament will take a decision had a long list of activities for Election Commissioner Justice Consequently, the legality of However, under the amended committee for confi rmation of tion leader, and deliberations at regarding submitting requisition the coming months warranting (retired) Sardar Mohamed Raza around two dozen by-elections law, it was a one-time arrange- one name. the level of the parliamentary of the session after consulta- the immediate appointment of will retire in December, and two held by the then-chief election ment meaning that in future all The parliamentary com- committee, might take time, tions. two members. members on July 26, 2021. commissioner, in the absence of members will complete their mittee, constituted by the NA particularly if a diff erence of It has already made up its The offi cial proposed an The new members from Sindh members, faced legal challenges. fi ve-year tenure. speaker, draws half its members opinion arose. mind to go for requisition ses- sion but lack of extensive con- sultations delayed pressing the request in this regard immedi- Big kitty ate after adjournment of the last (7th) session of the National As- Short fi lms and documentaries on sembly. The sources said that the united opposition has decided transgender issues to be screened to make eff orts for blocking the adoption of the fi nance bill, if its amendments in the proposed Internews the fi rst time in the country that Shehzad explains. “The short supplementary budget are not Lahore fi lms on such topics will be ex- fi lms and documentaries will be entertained. hibited. centred on the issues faced by The opposition had strat- “The purpose of the festival is transgender individuals.” egised for the purpose during or the fi rst time in Paki- to highlight and show transgen- “These include diffi culties in last session, but the govern- stan, international and na- der people the diff erent oppor- acquiring government docu- ment frustrated its scheme by Ftional fi lms on transgender tunities that are available to them ments, inheritance and prop- adjourning the session sine die rights, concerns and issues will so that they are able to positively erty issues, sexual harassment (meaning, without giving a date be screened during a festival or- contribute to society,” he stated. and discrimination in their own for resumption). ganised by the non-government All entries have to be between homes and in educational insti- Meanwhile, the Senate stand- organisation (NGO) the Gender seven to 15 minutes in length, he tutes,” he said. ing committee on fi nance, under Guardian, Express News report- expressed. The organisers maintained Senator Frook Naik, has fi nalised ed. Further, Shehzad revealed that that they will also try to include recommendations for the budget The fi lm festival will be hosted a fi lm on a transgender person fi lms and documentaries made in proposals and the same will be at Alhamra Hall in June. studying at the Gender Guardian neighbouring countries, such as transmitted to the National As- Speaking with Express News, is also in the works. India, where the topic has been sembly this week after their ap- Asif Shehzad, the man behind This particular short fi lm is discussed in a wide array of me- proval by the house, the sources the organisation, said that en- being produced by the NGO’s diums. added. tries from all over the world will team, and will be screened at the The winner of the fi ve- The recommendations of the be screened at the one-of-a- fi lm festival. minute short fi lm will be given Senate are not binding on the kind festival. Real life events that the person Rs50,000, while the winner of National Assembly, but they “The festival will screen short encountered in Lahore will be re- the 15-minute short fi lm will be have advisory capacity. fi lms and documentaries on top- enacted in the fi lm. given Rs100,000 and a certifi - The sources said that the for- ics such as transgender rights, “A few years ago, a transgen- cate. mal announcement of the for- issues and their achievements in der individual went to a govern- Shehzad added that fi lms are mation of standing committees diff erent spheres of life,” he ex- ment hospital where the female currently being accepted for the and special committees of the plained. doctor on duty refused to treat festival, with the deadline being National Assembly will be an- Shehzad claimed that this is her, claiming that she was male,” the end of May. nounced before the commence- ment of the session. The house had authorised Federal government announces 14 public holidays for 2019 Speaker Asad Qaisar unani- mously to designate members of The federal government of Pakistan has announced Kashmir Day, Pakistan Day, Labour Day, Eid al-Fitr, Eid the committees. a total of 14 public holidays for the year 2019. al-Adha, Independence Day, Ashura, and Quaid-e- The National Assembly will The announcement came through a notification Azam Day. also discuss the presidential issued by the ministry of interior. The banking sector has been allotted three A caretaker plays with a pet lion in an enclosure built in a house on the outskirts of Peshawar. address made by Dr Arif Alvi in It listed dates and days of the holidays, including additional holidays: January 1, May 7, and July 1. September last year. The house will pass vote of thanks for the presidential ad- dress on the culmination of the discussion. The Senate has already passed Sahiwal ‘encounter’ shows how social media the vote of thanks for the presi- is changing people’s relationship with power dential address. Anti-terror court extends TLP By Gohar Abbas, AFP to pull out three crying children. Authorities have since back- country’s beleaguered Pashtun Islamabad The footage fi lmed by shocked tracked as furore grew, with the community. leaders’ remand witnesses to the killing went prime minister vowing to mete The movement it spawned – viral, sending Prime Minis- out “exemplary punishment” to the Pashtun Protection Move- Police have arrested dozens of ive police offi cers raise ter Imran Khan scrambling to the guilty. ment, or PTM – has been largely Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) their guns and fi re dozens quell anger over a police culture Five offi cers were hit with sustained by social media and workers after they tried to block Fof times into a parked car of impunity that is now being murder charges and protests videos captured on mobiles, pil- an armoured vehicle transporting at point-blank range in Pakistan. threatened by social media. erupted in nearby Lahore. ing even more pressure on au- party chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi, Then they reach inside, Thousands have been gunned “People ... know that a video thorities. who was produced by the law around the bodies of the dead, down in recent years across Pa- they make from their cellphone But the killings continue, with enforcement agencies before an kistan in so-called “encounter can have far more impact than analysts saying that reforms are anti-terrorism court in Lahore. Left: In this picture taken on killings” – incidents where sus- the camera of a news channel,” needed to challenge impunity in Several TLP workers had January 20, mourners block a pects allegedly resist arrest, are said Pakistani digital rights ac- the police ranks. gathered outside the court in road in protest in Lahore, after slain, then later identifi ed as ter- tivist Haroon Baloch. “Had the “It’s a culture of the police in Lahore, where Rizvi had been members of a family were killed rorists to boost statistics. nearby people not fi lmed the Pakistan to kill people and make brought for the hearing of a case by police in an ‘encounter’ in This latest “encounter” saw Sahiwal incident, nobody would it look it like an ‘encounter’,” registered against him and five Sahiwal. a family gunned down in broad have noticed the extrajudicial Mehdi Hasan – chairperson of other party leaders, for damaging daylight in the eastern city of killing.” the independent Human Rights property and vandalism during Sahiwal last month, leaving four The incident is the latest in- Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) last year’s violent protests that people dead including two par- stance of how phones are radi- – told AFP. the TLP held following a Supreme ents and their teenage daughter. cally changing Pakistanis’ rela- Data compiled by the HRCP Court verdict that acquitted Aasia Three children survived the tionship with power. showed that 4,803 people were Bibi of blasphemy. incident, including nine-year- During elections over the killed in these “encounters” in The TLP leaders, including Afzal old Umair Khalil who later told summer, a host of videos went Pakistan within the past three Qadri, Pir Ejaz Ashrafi, Farooqul journalists that police shot at viral, showing angry voters years alone. Hasan, Shafqat Jamil and Waheed the family as their father off ered hounding elected representa- “The police need to be prop- Noor, appeared amid heavy the cops a bribe, pleading to let tives over their failure to serve erly trained if such incidents security before admin judge them go. their constituents. are to be avoided in the future,” Sheikh Sajjad after the expiration “My father told them to take And it’s not limited to Paki- Hasan added. of their 14-day judicial remand. our money and not to shoot their stan. Security analyst Amir Rana The court extended their judicial guns. But they started fi ring,” In the US, the Black Lives Mat- however argued that increased remand until February 8. Umair said in the video broad- ter movement coalesced as out- police accountability and judi- After the hearing was over, cast widely across Pakistan news rage exploded following a series cial reform are key to cementing TLP workers tried to block an outlets and social media. of viral videos allegedly showing lasting change. armoured vehicle taking Rizvi Police initially defended their police killing black Americans, “This culture has existed in away, leading the police to arrest response, saying that terrorists bringing greater scrutiny to ra- the police force for decades,” multiple workers. with links to the Islamic State cial profi ling and pushing some Rana explained, saying that Pa- Rizvi was taken into “protective (IS) group were in the car using police departments to outfi t pa- kistan’s mammoth backlog of custody” by the police on the family as a human shield. trol offi cers with body cams. legal cases overloading its judi- November 23, 2018 in a massive However, this “encounter” The Sahiwal incident comes ciary was part of the problem. crackdown against TLP workers. was fundamentally diff erent to almost exactly a year after a “(Police) want quick results The crackdown came two days others – it was fi lmed on cell- similar killing of a young social and they try to avoid ... lengthy before the TLP was going to In this picture taken on January 20, mourners at a funeral in Lahore carry the coff in of a victim, who was phones and the videos posted media star in Karachi ignited an legal procedures which leads to resume its protest against the part of a family who were gunned down in a police ‘encounter’ in Sahiwal. online. ethnic rights movement by the staging encounters.” Bibi’s acquittal. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 5, 2019 21 PHILIPPINES Protest against lowering age of criminal responsibility Two mayors cleared of drug links

By William J Garcia the names of Flores and de Manila Times Guzman, as well as Pangasi- nan lawmaker Jesus Celeste, stricken off Duterte’s narco- wo mayors in La Union list. who were included in A documented copy of the TPresident Rodrigo Du- report was submitted to Du- terte’s list of narco-politicians terte for approval. were cleared of any involve- The president earlier men- ment in illegal drug activities. tioned Flores as a high value In a confi dential report target (HVT), while de Guz- submitted to Malacanang by man was among four politi- the Regional Peace and Order cians named in the president’s Council of Region 1, mem- narco-list. bers of the RPOC Revalidation Flores was mayor when au- Subcommittee who investi- thorities discovered in June gated the narco-politicians 2008 one of the biggest shabu unanimously recommended laboratories with confi scated that the names of long-be- drugs and paraphernalia as- leaguered Naguilian Mayor sessed in trillions of pesos in Reynaldo Flores and Bauang Upper Bimotobot Village in Mayor Eulogio Clarence de Naguilian town. Guzman 3rd be deleted from Claiming to have been one the president’s narco-list. of those who exposed the Activists holding placards rally against the lowering of the minimum age of criminal responsibility in front of the Senate building in Manila, yesterday. Children as young as 12 After deliberation and in- presence of the lab, he said he years old could be incarcerated under a bill backed by Philippine lawmakers on January 24 which has been attacked by the UN and rights monitors. The current age at which tensive examination of results was surprised when, in 2017, children are held criminally liable in the Philippines is 15. of diff erent investigations the president named him as conducted by the Philippine an HVT, which he and de Guz- Drug Enforcement Agency, man strongly denied, saying Philippine National Police they were mistakenly identi- (PNP), National Bureau of fi ed. Investigation, Military Intel- A police superintendent, ligence Group, National Intel- Dionicio Borromeo, was im- ligence Co-ordinating Agency plicated and eventually sen- and the Department of the tenced to life imprisonment, Interior and Local Govern- and several lab caretakers were Five militants surrender ment, the committee ordered also jailed. Call to restore budget over church bombing for teachers on poll duty Reuters donesian couple in the Jan 27 Kammah denied involvement in into the church bombing in Sulu, sions may have been a suicide Manila suicide attack, gave himself up the twin bombings at the Jolo a known stronghold of the Abu attack, military and police said to government troops, Oscar Al- cathedral that killed 23 people, Sayyaf group, is “far from over,” the bombs within and outside By William Depasupil Castillon Buena issued the call bayalde said. including civilians and soldiers, he added. the church appeared to have Manila Times to the lawmakers after the De- senior Abu Sayyaf opera- “He was forced to surrender,” but eyewitnesses’ accounts Abu Sayyaf is a militant or- been detonated remotely. partment of Budget and Man- tive and four members of Albayalde told a media briefi ng. showed he escorted the Indone- ganisation notorious for kidnap- A few days later, Duterte’s in- agement (DBM) has slashed it Athe militant group be- “He probably didn’t want to die sian couple. pings and extremist factions and terior minister, Eduardo Ano, he Commission on to P1.9bn or by 40.625%. lieved to be behind the deadly during the military off ensive.” Security forces also retrieved has pledged allegiance to Islamic said that suicide attack was car- Elections (Comelec) has “I don’t understand why bombing of a church in the Philippine troops killed three an improvised explosive device State. ried out by an Indonesian couple Tasked the Senate-House Budget department slashed it southern Philippines surren- suspected Abu Sayyaf militants (IED) and components from his “There are more pieces of evi- with the help of Abu Sayyaf. bilateral budget committee to to P1.9bn from P3.2bn, con- dered to authorities over the and suff ered fi ve fatalities in a home, Albayalde added. dence that need to carefully ex- That would be in line with a reinstate the P3.2bn budget for sidering that it was supported weekend, the national police fi refi ght on Saturday in Patikul, The fi ve suspects will face amined,” Albayalde said. claim of responsibility by Is- teachers who will serve in the by documents. It was based on chief said yesterday. a town in the province of Sulu as multiple murder charges, among Before Philippine President lamic State via its Amaq news midterm elections in May. headcount, on the number of Kammah Pae, whom authori- troops pursued those behind the others, Albayalde said. Rodrigo Duterte suggested on agency early yesterday. Comelec spokesman James teachers that will serve in the ties believe to have aided an In- church attack. Albayalde said However, the investigation Tuesday that the twin explo- Jimenez and Director Zita elections,” Jimenez explained. Go pledges more Seasonal sale benefi ts for elderly

Manila Times tions, said he would look into commission would be given Manila the possibility of increasing the ample funds. He also proposed 20% discount for senior citi- granting more funds to the De- zens or giving free medicines to partment of Social Welfare and ormer special assistant the elderly if there is adequate Development (DSWD), so that to the President Chris- funding for it. it could raise the social pension Ftopher Lawrence “Bong” “If we can fi nd a way, I hope of the elderly. Go has vowed to improve the that they will get free medi- Go reminded senior citizens benefi ts being enjoyed by the cines and increase their social that if they need medical treat- elderly, saying senior citizens pension,” Go said. ment, they could go to the near- should be given love and re- He welcomed the approval est Malasakit Center, a one- spect. on third and fi nal reading of stop shop housing concerned Senatorial candidate Chris- Senate Bill 2159 that seeks the agencies like the Department topher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go as- creation of the National Com- of Health, DSWD, Philippine sures the elderly of his support. mission of Senior Citizens. Charity Sweepstakes Offi ce “Senior citizens should be The proposed commission and Philippine Health Insur- given love and care. It is sad will ensure the eff ective imple- ance Corp, to ensure easier and to know that many of our eld- mentation of laws, policies, pro- faster assistance to patients. erly can hardly support them- grammes and projects to pro- As part of his legislative selves,” Go said in a radio inter- mote and protect the rights and agenda, Go is pushing that eve- view. well-being of senior citizens. ry province and urban centre Go, who is seeking a Sen- If elected, Go said he would would have its own Malasakit ate seat in the May 2019 elec- see to it that the proposed Center.

A woman exits a store selling Lunar New Year decorations in the Chinatown district of Manila, yesterday.

Fire destroys 50 houses in Cebu

By Rhea Ruth Rosell ment received the fire alarm at he suffered burns on his body. 100 metres away from the main Manila Times 8:59am and it was raised to Christian Jade Solonia, and road. third alarm at 9.15am. Renedic Solonia also suffered “Firefighters had difficulty Chief Inspector Noel burns on their bodies and were penetrating (the fire scene) be- t least 50 houses were Nelson Ababon, fi re marshal brought to a Cebu City hospi- cause the pathway is narrow,” gutted and three per- of the Cebu City Fire Depart- tal. he said. Asons were injured after ment said the fi re was placed un- Ababon told Manila Times Damage to property is esti- a huge blaze hit a residential der control at 10:09am. that most of the houses were mated at P1.2mn. area in Sitio Tabok-Canal, Ababon added the fire origi- made from light materials and No casualties were reported Barangay Pardo, Cebu City on nated from the house of Mario were located in an interior por- as of press time. Sunday. Tabura, who was rushed to the tion between N Bacalso Av- Ababon said the cause of fire Senatorial candidate Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go assures the elderly of his support. The Cebu City Fire Depart- Cebu City Medical Center after enue and Tagunol Street, about was under investigation. Gulf Times 22 Tuesday, February 5, 2019 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Old guard stands fi rm as Brady and Pats excel Those watching the Super Bowl on Sunday to see a passing of the torch instead saw the old guard stand fi rm as the New England Patriots won a battle of the generations 13-3 over the Los Angeles Rams ensuring their dynasty will carry on. The National Football League will mark its 100th season in 2019 and the Patriots will be right at the centre of the celebrations after another Super Bowl performance that was literally one for the ages with 41-year-old Tom Brady and 66-year-old Bill Belichick entering the record books as the oldest quarterback and coach to hoist the Vince Lombardi trophy. “It’s sweet,” said Belichick. “Everybody counted us out A third of Himalayan from the beginning of the season, the midseason but we’re still here.” For many it must seem as if the Patriots have been dominating and winning titles since they fi rst pumped air into a ball. ice cap doomed: report They have made 11 Super Bowl appearances, three more than their nearest rivals in Dallas, Denver and Pittsburgh temperatures have risen. But the HKH The new report highlights how while their six victories moves them into a share of the all- By Damian Carrington more populous, the HKH region had Environment editor received less attention than other range is 3,500km long and the impact vulnerable many mountain people are, time mark with the Steelers. places, such as low-lying island states of warming is variable. Some glaciers with one-third living on less than $1.90 The Patriots have aged into a rare vintage having reached and the Arctic, that are also highly in Afghanistan and Pakistan are stable a day and far away from help if climate the NFL showcase four of the last fi ve years returning home t least a third of the huge vulnerable to global warming. and a few are even gaining ice, most disaster strikes. with the trophy on three occasions. ice fi elds in Asia’s towering Professor Jemma Wadham, at the probably due to increased cloud cover Political tensions between mountain chain are doomed University of Bristol, said: “This is a that shields the sun and changed winds neighbouring nations such as It marked the third consecutive year that the Patriots and to melt due to climate change, landmark piece of work focused on that bring more snow. But even these India and Pakistan could add to the Brady had gotten to the championship game and the story A according to a landmark report, with a region that is a hotspot for climate will start melting with future warming, difficulties. “There are rocky times line running through each of them was the same — when will serious consequences for almost 2bn change impacts.” Wester said. ahead for the region. Because many Brady retire? people. The new report, requested by the The melting glaciers will increase of the disasters and sudden changes It was one of the fi rst Even if carbon emissions are eight nations the mountains span, is river fl ows through to 2050 to 2060, will play out across country borders, questions put to Brady on dramatically and rapidly cut and intended to change that. More than 200 he said, pushing up the risk of high- conflict among the region’s countries The Patriots succeed in limiting global warming to scientists worked on the report over altitude lakes bursting their banks and could easily flare up,” said Eklabya his arrival in Atlanta and 1.5C, 36% of the glaciers along in the fi ve years, with another 125 experts peer engulfi ng communities. But from the Sharma, the deputy director general have made 11 one of the last asked of him Hindu Kush and Himalaya range will reviewing their work. Until recently 2060s, river fl ows will go into decline. of Icimod. Sunday. “What’s next (for have gone by 2100. If emissions are not the impact of climate change on the The Indus and central Asian rivers will Hamish Pritchard, a glaciologist Super Bowl me) is Monday and some cut, the loss soars to two-thirds, the ice in the HKH region was uncertain be most aff ected. “Those areas will be at the British Antarctic Survey and rest,” laughed Brady when report found. said Wester. “But we really do know hard hit,” said Wester. not part of the report, said it is “a appearances, The glaciers are a critical water store enough now to take action, and action is Lower fl ows will cut the power from substantial piece of work” that takes questioned about his future. for the 250mn people who live in the urgently needed,” he added. the hydrodams that generate much of due note of the uncertainties resulting three more than “I’m looking forward to Hindu Kush-Himalaya (HKH) region, and The HKH region runs from the region’s electricity. But the most from the limited snowfall and ice getting some rest.” 1.65bn people rely on the great rivers that Afghanistan to Myanmar and is the serious impact will be on farmers in the measurements in the high mountains. their nearest The Patriots’ three pillars fl ow from the peaks into India, Pakistan, planet’s “third pole”, harbouring foothills and downstream. They rely He said glaciers currently provide of Brady, Belichick and China and other nations. more ice than anywhere outside on predictable water supplies to grow an essential buff ering role as their rivals in Dallas “This is the climate crisis you haven’t Arctic and Antarctica. Limiting the the crops that feed the nations in the meltwater fl ows into the rivers during owner Robert Kraft have heard of,” said Philippus Wester of the global temperature rise to 1.5C above mountains’ shadows. the summer, which is when water is made it clear they are not yet ready to pass the torch. International Centre for Integrated pre-industrial levels requires cutting But the changes to spring melting in greatest demand downstream and In the AFC championship game the Brady and the Patriots Mountain Development (Icimod), who emissions to zero by 2050. This is felt already appear to be causing the periodic droughts have the deadliest saw off the Kansas City Chiefs and their brilliant young led the report. “In the best of possible to be extremely optimistic by many pre-monsoon river fl ow to fall just impacts on populations. “Take quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who was named the NFL’s worlds, if we get really ambitious [in but still sees a third of the ice lost, when farmers are planting their crops. the ice away and those people are tackling climate change], even then we according to the report. If the global rise Worse, said Wester, the monsoon is also exposed to serious water stress and most valuable player on Saturday. will lose one-third of the glaciers and be is 2C, half of the glaciers are projected becoming more erratic and prone to the consequences of that are local, Brady was once again the quarterback on top on Sunday in trouble. That for us was the shocking to melt away by 2100. extreme downpours. “One-in-100 year regional and potentially global, in terms out-duelling Rams’ 24-year-old sensation Jared Goff to fi nding.” Since the 1970s, about 15% of the ice fl oods are starting to happen every 50 of confl ict and migration,” he said. — become the fi rst to win six Super Bowl rings as a player. Wester said that, despite being far in the HKH region has disappeared as years,” he said. Guardian News & Media The supporting cast may change but Brady, Belichick and Kraft have provided a winning foundation and championship template. While Sunday’s game was the fi rst of Brady’s nine Super Bowls in which he did not throw at least one touchdown pass, his fi ngerprints were all over New England’s victory cracking open a tight 3-3 defensive battle late in the fourth quarter when he hit Rob Gronkowski with a 29-yard strike to set up a two-yard touchdown run by Sony Michel. The Rams had looked poised to hit right back when Goff marched Los Angeles into New England territory only to be intercepted on the four-yard line. With the Rams reeling, Brady moved in for the kill with another drive to set up kicker Stephen Gostkowski who nailed a 41-yarder with 72 seconds remaining to clinch the win. “I just felt like we needed to grind it out all night,” said Brady, after the lowest scoring Super Bowl ever. “We couldn’t take our foot off the gas pedal, we were playing a great football team.” Brady and Patriots fans would be wanting an encore.

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© 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Melting ice on Khumbu glacier in the Everest-Khumbu region. Himalayan glaciers are a water source for 250mn people. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 5, 2019 23 COMMENT Reimagining Davos forum

By Mohamed A El-Erian of global growth in years. What’s its participants – would do a much New York more, activity was picking up in better job by making three changes to virtually every country around the the way the event is managed. world. As they heard about one First, the meeting should actively do not attend the annual another’s experiences, the Davos propose alternative scenarios for meeting of the World Economic delegates embraced the notion serious discussion. This year’s Forum in Davos. But my sense that the world had entered a period agenda, for example, should have I is that, as in previous years, of synchronised growth in which included a possible return in 2019 to this year’s participants ended up positive feedback loops would divergent growth and the associated extrapolating more from the recent turbocharge the process. They gave risks and opportunities. In addition, past than genuinely looking into little attention to the fact that, Davos should collect and discuss best the future for pivots and tipping with the notable exception of the practices for dealing with usual levels points. This was true both at the United States, most countries were of uncertainty for both businesses macro level and in terms of the key experiencing largely one-off growth and government policymaking. individual issues that attracted the drivers. Finally, when it comes to short-term most attention, according to multiple At this year’s Davos meeting, by prospects, the event needs to spend media reports (and the media are contrast, the macro mood is said a lot more time on other themes that extremely well represented at this to have been much gloomier. The I suspect will prove more important event). As a result, this globally consensus was that we are heading than either Brexit or China-US trade renowned gathering of influential for a synchronised slowdown in tensions in the period ahead. These government and corporate leaders global growth, with a heightened include the changing attitude toward appears to have missed, once again, risk of self-feeding vicious cycles. regionalism, central-bank policy an opportunity fully to realise its But again, this fails to distinguish challenges, and the scope for more considerable potential. between one-off factors whose government-policy coordination There is a reason why Davos tends impact is temporary and largely among advanced economies. to be backward-looking. Leaders reversible – such as the partial The annual Davos gathering is too naturally come to it focused on what US government shutdown and an big an opportunity not to be exploited they have experienced most recently. episode of miscommunication by properly. Yet year after year the focus If others have experienced the same the Federal reserve – and the sort has ended up more backward-looking thing, the Davos echo chamber of secular weakness that Europe is than forward-looking, and the just- amplifies the themes so that they experiencing. concluded iteration appears to have dominate conversations about both Most of the issue-specific been no exception. A revamp would recent developments and future discussions this year focused on play an important role in fulfi lling the prospects. China-US trade tensions and Brexit. stated objective of Davos: engaging The two meetings before the 2008 Here again, the temptation was to “the foremost political, business global financial crisis had a rather extrapolate future developments and other leaders of society to shape optimistic tone, dismissing the based excessively on what had just global, regional and industry agendas.” warnings of the few who sensed that happened. And it would ensure that more of the the “great moderation” and the era The Davos consensus seemed to be participants go looking for actionable, of unfettered finance were likely to that China-US trade disputes would substantive content rather than ending come to a painful end. The January intensify during 2019. But the likelier up being there primarily to see and be 2009 meeting was the complete scenario is that tensions diminish Roberto Azevedo, director general of the WTO, gestures as he speaks during a panel session during the World Economic seen. - Project Syndicate opposite, projecting crisis and global as China realises what South Korea, Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on January 24. recession well into the future. Mexico, and Canada already did in z Mohamed A El-Erian, Chief Such misreadings of what lies dealing with the US administration: – such as joint-venture requirements United Kingdom from the European So is the probability, albeit lower, Economic Adviser at Allianz, was ahead haven’t been limited to periods rather than a tit-for-tat tariff – and the theft of intellectual Union. Yet, because this has already of a second referendum, which was Chairman of US President Barack surrounding crises. Just consider escalation, the best approach for a property. proved to be a very “slow Brexit” once thought an unlikely, if not Obama’s Global Development what happened at the previous country’s short-term growth and On Brexit, the central scenarios process, with Britain’s Parliament unthinkable outcome. Council. He is the author of two gathering, in January 2018, and longer-term development is to make at Davos focused on either a repeatedly unable to agree on a Simply extrapolating the future bestselling books, most recently, The compare it to this year. concessions to the US on issues of continuation of the current replacement for the current EU-UK from what has just occurred usually Only Game in Town: Central Banks, A year ago, most leaders had genuine grievance. These include no-peace-no-war process or, relationship, the probability of a leads Davos delegates down false Instability, and Avoiding the Next just come off the strongest quarter rules that force technology transfers alternatively, a hard exit for the soft Brexit is materially increasing. trails. Davos – both its organisers and Collapse.

Three-day forecast Global health versus online trolls TODAY Maximum Temperature : 230c Minimum Temperature : 150c By Junaid Nabi resort to extreme measures, such as United Kingdom’s Brexit vote is clear. start. CAPTCHA technology requiring Boston arresting unco-operative parents, to Now they have aff ected global health users to identify images of cars or WEDNESDAY ensure that vulnerable communities as well. If we don’t take robust and street signs – something humans can Maximum Temperature : 230c are vaccinated. coordinated steps to address this do better than machines (for now, at Minimum Temperature : 140c he most frustrating part of This is just one regional example alarming trend, we may lose out on a least) – can also limit automated sign- THURSDAY my job as a public health of the global threat that online century’s worth of successes in health ups and bot activity. Maximum Temperature : 230c scientist is the spread of false misinformation poses to public health. communication and vaccination, both These precautions are unlikely to Minimum Temperature : 140c information – usually online In the United States, a recent study of which depend on public trust. infringe upon any individual’s right T Fisherman's forecast – that overrides years of empirical in the American Journal of Public We can take several steps to start to voice an opinion. Public health research. It is diffi cult enough for Health reported how Twitter bots reversing the damage. For starters, offi cials must err on the side of caution WARNING health offi cials and experts in both when weighing free-speech rights doctors to counter medical falsehoods and Russian trolls have skewed the Inshore : Nil in face-to-face conversations with public debate on vaccine eff ectiveness. developed and developing countries against outright falsehoods that patients. It becomes even harder to do Having examined 1.8mn tweets over a need to understand how this online endanger public welfare. Abusing the Offshore : Expected strong wind so when such fakery is transmitted via three-year period from 2014 to 2017, misinformation is eroding public anonymity provided by the Internet, with high sea till night. WEATHER the Internet. the study concluded that the purpose trust in health programs. They also spam accounts, bots, and trolls Inshore : Mild daytime with I recently witnessed this pattern fi rst of these automated accounts was to need to engage actively with global serve to disrupt and pollute available some clouds. Cold by hand in Kashmir, where I was raised. create enough anti-vaccine content social media giants such as Facebook, information and confuse people. Taking night. There, parents of young children trusted online to develop a false equivalence in Twitter, and Google, as well as major prudent action to avert situations where Offshore : Fine with some clouds videos and messages on Facebook, the vaccination debate. regional players including WeChat and lives are at stake is a moral imperative. YouTube, or WhatsApp that spread Such misinformation programs Viber. This means working in tandem Global public health took huge WIND Inshore : Northwesterly 07-17/20 false rumours that modern medications succeed for a reason. In March 2018, to create guidelines and protocols for strides forward during the twentieth KT and vaccines were harmful, or even researchers from the Massachusetts how information of public interest can century. Further progress in the that they were funded by foreigners Institute of Technology reported be disseminated safely. twenty-fi rst will come not only Offshrore : Northwesterly 15-25/33 with ulterior motives. Discussions with that false stories on Twitter spread In addition, social media companies through ground-breaking research and KT local colleagues in paediatrics revealed signifi cantly faster than true ones. can work with scientists to identify community work, but also through Visibility : 4-8 KM how a single video or instant message Their analysis revealed how the human patterns and behaviours of spam online engagement. The next battle with false information was enough need for novelty, and the information’s accounts that try to disseminate false for global health may be fought on Offshore : 4-8/12 FT information on important public- the Internet. And by acting quickly to dissuade parents from believing in ability to evoke an emotional response, Around the region medical therapies. are vital in spreading false stories. health issues. Twitter, for example, enough to defeat the trolls, we can Weather Physicians in other parts of The Internet amplifi es the damage has already started using machine- prevent avoidable illnesses and deaths Weather tomorrow Max/min India and Pakistan have reported caused by these “alternative facts,” learning technology to limit activity around the world. – Project Syndicate today Max/min M Sunny 19/06 numerous cases in which parents, because it can disseminate them at from spam accounts, bots, and trolls. Baghdad Sunny 19/04 Sunny 21/09 many of them well educated, refuse massive scale and speed – a few fake More rigorous verifi cation of z Junaid Nabi is a public health Kuwait CitySunny 21/09 Sunny 22/16 polio vaccinations for their children. or troll accounts are enough to spread accounts, from the moment of signing researcher at Brigham and Women’s Manama Sunny 21/16 M Sunny 21/16 Reports that the CIA once organised misinformation to millions. And once up, will also be a powerful deterrent Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Muscat M Sunny 23/18 Sunny 10/02 a fake vaccination drive to spy on it spreads, it is virtually impossible to to the further expansion of automated Boston. The opinions expressed in Tehran Sunny 08/0 militants in Pakistan have added to retract. accounts. Two-factor authentication, this article are his own and do not mistrust in the region. Given the high The role of Twitter bots and trolls using an email address or phone necessarily refl ect those of Brigham and stakes involved, states sometimes in the 2016 US elections and the number when signing up, is a prudent Women’s Hospital.

Live issues

Around the world Pregnant women advised to get a fl u shot Weather Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min By Lisa Rapaport more than four times as likely to have Among women in the study with with sick people, and cleaning and Athens Rain 18/09 S Showers 15/08 Reuters Health underweight infants, the study found. confi rmed or suspected fl u infections, 82 disinfecting surfaces where germs can Beirut Sunny 22/17 Cloudy 21/16 Women admitted to the ICU were were so sick they were admitted to the ICU lurk can also help slow the spread of Bangkok M Sunny 34/27 M Sunny 33/27 also more than eight times as likely to or died. Another 338 were hospitalised, germs that cause respiratory illnesses Berlin Cloudy 04/-1 Cloudy 04/0 regnant women so sick with have babies with low Apgar scores, an but not in the ICU, and 70 were not like the fl u, Newsome advised. Cairo M Sunny 31/14 Showers 18/10 infl uenza that they’re admitted assessment of overall wellbeing done hospitalised. Except for the 82 severe The fl u virus spreads from person to Cape Town Cloudy 25/18 Cloudy 26/19 to the intensive care unit right after birth. cases, none of the women with less-severe person through droplets from coughing, Colombo S T Storms 31/23 S T Storms 31/23 P(ICU) are more likely to have “This study supports data from fl u had higher rates of poor birth outcomes sneezing or talking close to infected Dhaka M Sunny 28/14 Sunny 28/16 premature and underweight babies than previous studies that have shown compared to women without fl u. individuals, and can be picked up from Hong Kong P Cloudy 20/18 S Showers 21/18 expectant mothers with milder fl u and increased risks for infants born to This isn’t surprising. But it off ers surfaces like doorknobs where these Istanbul Sunny 13/07 Showers 11/07 those who don’t catch fl u at all, a recent pregnant women who are severely ill fresh insight into how the illness can droplets can linger, according to the Jakarta S T Storms 31/24 S T Storms 31/24 study suggests. with fl u,” said lead study author Kim impact birth outcomes, Newsome said CDC. Karachi Sunny 25/14 Sunny 21/12 Researcher compared birth outcomes Newsome of the US Centres for Disease by e-mail. Symptoms can include fever, cough, London Showers 10/08 Rain 11/06 for 490 pregnant women in fi ve states Control and Prevention (CDC) in “The fi rst and most important step for sore throat, runny or stuff y nose, Manila Sunny 32/21 P Cloudy 31/22 who contracted the H1N1 strain of Atlanta. pregnant women and those who might aches and pains, headaches, chills Moscow P Cloudy 01/-11 Snow -4/-8 infl uenza-A in 2009, as well as 1,451 Severe fl u infections in pregnant be considering pregnancy to reduce and fatigue. While most people with New Delhi P Cloudy 23/13 S T Storms 24/14 women without the fl u who gave birth women are generally rare. But the their health risks and risks to their the fl u can recover without medical New York P Cloudy 15/01 M Cloudy 07/04 that year and 1,446 women without fl u increased risk they present for these infants is getting a fl u shot,” Newsome treatment, some people develop Paris P Cloudy 07/05 Cloudy 11/08 who gave birth the previous year. poor health outcomes in babies said. “In addition, it’s important serious complications that require Sao Paulo S Showers 23/18 S T Storms 24/19 Compared to women who either didn’t highlights the importance of vaccinating for pregnant women to get prompt hospitalisation. Pregnant women, Seoul M Sunny 08/-6 P Cloudy 09/-4 get the fl u or had mild cases, women pregnant women against the fl u and treatment with antiviral medications if infants, the elderly, and people with Singapore S Showers 32/24 M Cloudy 32/25 admitted to the ICU with severe H1N1 treating their fl u cases with antivirals they get sick.” certain chronic medical problems Sydney M Cloudy 26/21 M Sunny 26/21 infections were almost four times more early to avert severe illness, the study Other everyday things like are particularly vulnerable to fl u Tokyo Clear 11/03 Rain 07/04 likely to have premature babies and team writes in Birth Defects Research. handwashing, avoiding close contact complications. Gulf Times 24 Tuesday, February 5, 2019 QATAR Sheikha Moza attends HBKU’s ‘Renaissance Questions’ event er Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, chair- Hperson of Qatar Founda- tion (QF), attended the opening ceremony of the Renaissance Questions international confer- ence, hosted by the College of Islamic Studies (CIS) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), which was held from Saturday in Education City. The conference, which con- cluded yesterday, marked the 70th anniversary of the publica- tion of The Conditions of the Ren- aissance, written by the revered Algerian author and philosopher Malek Bennabi, whose work has inspired countless leaders and scholars. During the three-day event, notable Qatari and international dignitaries, scholars, researchers and thought leaders in the Mus- lim Ummah engaged in academic dialogue centred on Bennabi’s renaissance project. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Ahmet Davutoglu and Sheikh Rached Ghannouchi listen to HBKU president The Algerian scholar’s works Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, chairperson of QF, at the opening ceremony of the conference. Dr Ahmad M Hasnah’s opening address. was examined in the context of global laws (Sunan), which he intellectual project. Together, The conference commenced Speaking at the conference, Dr youth and civic institutions,” Dr them to develop a contemporary sance; Malek Bennabi’s Ideas incorporated into his method- attendees considered ways in with an opening address by Dr Shahin suggested the adoption of Shahin said. framework for a renewed renais- on Occidentalism; and Western ology and study of intellectual, which Bennabi’s theories can be Hasnah, after which Datuk Seri the Nahda project, as originally “As part of our enhanced vi- sance or nahda.” Civilisation in Malek Bennabi’s cultural, social and civilisational applied to modern-day realities Anwar Ibrahim, former deputy featured in Bennabi’s work. sion, CIS seeks to connect - Throughout the confer- Thought. phenomena. to achieve civilisational advance- prime minister of Malaysia, Ah- “Doha would be the birth- ic ideas to reality and develop ap- ence, attendees examined sev- HBKU is a multidisciplinary Dr Ahmad M Hasnah, presi- ment. HBKU provides a platform met Davutoglu, former prime place of the project, with its hub plied solutions to the challenges eral themes relating to Bennabi’s university founded on the in- dent of HBKU, said: “The con- to explore present day studies minister of Turkey, and Sheikh formed of the four cities repre- that are facing Muslim societies work through various papers stitutional pillars of innovation, ference presented an opportune through a historical prism. In Rached Ghannouchi, co-founder sented here today – Doha, Is- today. It gave us great pleas- presented by leading scholars, excellence, people and partners. time for HBKU and CIS to cele- turn, HBKU’s CIS is thoroughly of the Ennahdha Party in Tunisia, tanbul, Kuala Lumpur and Tu- ure to convene leading scholars including Parallel Structures Its mission is driven by stra- brate the 70th anniversary of the invested in Islamic renewal and participated in the Guest of Hon- nis – who would every one or to impart their knowledge of of Civilisational and Scientifi c tegic partnerships and graduate publication of this book, which development in the region and our panel, moderated by Dr Emad two years convene to formulate Malek Bennabi’s insights on Is- Processes; Religion and Faith in programmes, off ering students an signalled the birth of a great beyond.” El-Din Shahin, dean of CIS. an applied approach involving lamic thought, while building on the Conditions of the Renais- integrated learning experience. DFI partners MAMI for Qatar-India 2019 Year of Culture

he Doha Film Institute (DFI) an- initiative and presenting with them “such an nounced its cultural partnership with incredible opportunity.” Tthe Mumbai Academy of Moving Im- “Just like DFI, MAMI also believes in age (MAMI), India’s leading platform for a single world connected by stories and cinematic disruption and discovery, to cel- empathy.“A culture year that focuses on In- ebrate Qatar-India 2019 Year of Culture. dia, bringing two cultures, two countries to- A Qatar Museums (QM) initiative, the Year gether by fi lm is the fi rst big step in the long of Culture is a year-long programme devel- relationship we hope to forge with DFI to oped to deepen understanding between na- discover new talent in each other’s countries Off icials and other dignitaries at the opening ceremony of the Qatar-India 2019 Year of Culture yesterday. PICTURE: Jayan Orma tions through mutual exchanges of arts, cul- and present them to the world,” Kiran said. ture, heritage and sport. As part of the exchange, a special Made in MAMI celebrated its 20th anni- “The cultural and business connection Qatar fi lm showcase will screen at the 2019 versary in 2018 and has recently ap- between Qatar and India are historic,” said Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star pointed leading actor Deepika Padu- DFI CEO Fatma Hassan al-Remaihi. “The and a Made in India, a selection of short kone as its new chairperson. Qatar-India 2019 Year of Culture recognises fi lms, will be reciprocally screened at the 7th DFI is an independent, not-for- the contribution of the Indian community to Ajyal Film Festival 2019 in Doha. profi t cultural organisation that Qatar and reinforces the deep cultural rela- MAMI will also nominate two Indian ju- supports the growth of the local fi lm tionship between our nations.” rors to participate in the annual event that community through cultivating fi lm “As a cinematic powerhouse, India has al- brings people of all generations together to appreciation, enhancing industry ways been a dominant infl uence – in Qatar, celebrate the magic of cinema. knowledge and contributing to the where Indian fi lms have not only entertained Additionally, Qatari talents will have the development of sustainable creative us but also helped us celebrate and explore opportunity to interact with Indian talents industries in Qatar. common values between each of our cul- at the next MAMI to showcase their crea- Qatar-India 2019 Year of Culture, tures, breaking down barriers and opening tivity and present stories from Qatar, while organised by QM, sponsored by Qa- minds,” she noted. Indian fi lms will be invited to DFI Cinema’s tar Airways, the offi cial airline, was “We look forward to an exciting year of ac- year-round screening programmes in Doha. planned in collaboration with lead- tivities with our partners at MAMI, focused More details on the partnership will be an- ing institutions in Qatar and India, on strengthening the bond between Qatari nounced throughout the year. including the embassy of Qatar in and Indian fi lm creatives through apprecia- Founded in 1997 by fi lm industry advo- New Delhi, the embassy of India in tion, education and collaboration,” al-Remaihi cates and led by the late Hrishikesh Mukher- Doha, Qatar’s Ministry of Culture added. jee, MAMI is a change agent emboldening and Sport, Qatar foundation, Na- MAMI creative director Smriti Kiran theatre, audiences and industry in India to tional Tourism Council, DFI, and DFI CEO Fatma al-Remaihi with MAMI board member Kiran Rao, festival director Anupama Chopra and creative thanked al-Remaihi and DFI for taking the embrace the undiscovered gems of cinema. many more. director Smriti Kiran.

‘ArcheoMed3D Exhibition’ opens today at Bin Jelmood House Katara Studios to

he embassy of Italy and that can be downloaded from An- Yemen and hosting Alessandro hold mega music Msheireb Museums, in co- droid or iOS Appstores. Furlan, founder of Altair4, Profes- Toperation with the Unesco “The exhibition is really enjoy- sor Thomas Leisten, acting chief Regional Offi ce in Doha and Al- able as it wisely combines culture offi cer of Cultural Heritage at Qa- event: Indian envoy tair4, an Italian company spe- and technology especially for the tar Museums and architect Raf- cialised in 3D reconstructions young generations and students faello Furlan, assistant professor From Page 1 Pravarsen Yesambare. Suc- of archaeological sites, have an- who are passionate about 3D and of Architecture and Urban Design cessfully performed 700 nounced the opening of ‘Arch- Augmented Reality,” said Italian at Qatar University’s College of “We are trying to organ- times in 18 countries across eoMed3D Exhibition’ today at Bin Ambassador Pasquale Salzano in a Engineering. ise a combined perform- America, China, the Carib- Jelmood House. press statement. “Virtual reconstruction of cul- ance of the duo with the bean, Europe and Asia, the Supported by the Italian Minis- “An exciting journey through tural and historical sites done in a celebrated Qatari singer internationally acclaimed try of Foreign Aff airs and Interna- the centuries into the past to the scientifi c way encourages people Fahad al-Kubaisi. In March, three-act performance tional Co-operation, the exhibi- discovery of ancient civilisations to connect with the past, learn on Katara Studios is organising brings to life both India and tion aims to promote the immense and cultural identities,” the envoy how past shaped present and help a mega-music event which Bollywood. In a harmoni- and rich archaeological heritage noted. understanding the importance of will witness a performance ous blend of genres, regions of the Mediterranean Basin and “The exhibition aims to share conservation of heritage sites to by Oscar Award-winning and eras, it presents audi- the Arabian Gulf by showcasing knowledge in an innovative way protect them for the future,” Dr Indian composer A R Reh- ences with a visual treat, a great variety of Unesco listed and strengthen cultural co-op- Paolini said. man, who will record some allowing them to time trav- World Heritage Sites. Al Zubarah fort. eration and dialogue among peo- “This exhibition is an important compositions in partner- el between the intensity of The exhibition is formed by ples.” occasion to remind us about the ship with the famous Qatari ancient India and the glam- panels dedicated to the history (Krak des Chevaliers), Palestine Every panel, which contains a The opening of the exhibition at need to care about the heritage of composer Dana Alfardan,” our of modern Bollywood. of a selection of archaeological (Church of the Nativity in Bethle- description of the archaeological 6.15pm will be followed by a pan- the past.” Kumaran said. The fi rst segment of the wonders from several countries: hem), Lebanon (Baalbek), Turkey sites and images, reports also a QR el discussion entitled ‘Reviving After the opening, the Arche- The ‘Ticket to Bollywood’ performance was presented Italy (Temple of Zeus in Agrigento (Hagia Sophia), Jordan (Petra), code which allows visitors to enjoy Ancient Heritage Sites Through oMed3D Exhibition will be open to was produced and directed by about 70 students from and Pompeii), Qatar (Al Zuba- Libya (Leptis Magna), United Arab exclusive 3D contents and videos Virtual Reality’, moderated by Dr public until March 9 at the Com- by award-winning director the Birla Public School, cho- rah), Morocco (Volubilis), Tunisia Emirates (Al Ain), Bahrain (Qal’at on their smartphones or tablets by Anna Paolini, Unesco representa- pany House, Temporary Exhibi- Shubhra Bhardwaj and cho- sen by the Indian embassy to (El Jem), Algeria (Djemila), Syria al-Bahrain) and Egypt (Phile). using the free App “ArcheoMed” tive in the Arab States of Gulf and tion Gallery, Msheireb Museums. reographed by the talented participate in the show.