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Siege nations Emir directs to provide trying to distort NHRC work $9m aid to Gaza Strip THE PENINSULA

MOHAMED OSMAN The UN Secretary-General António Guterres DOHA: The Chairman of the National THE PENINSULA Human Rights Committee (NHRC), and his Special Envoy Nickolay Mladenov Dr Ali bin Sumaikh Al Marri, criticised DOHA: Based on the directives expressd their gratitude to the State of Qatar the harassment of the blockading of the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim for its prompt and generous contributions to countries in an attempt to distort the bin Hamad Al Thani to provide work of the NHRC and discourage it $9m as emergency aid of medi- the urgent UN appeal aimed at averting an from continuing to expose their cines, medical supplies, food- imminent humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. human rights violations. Al Marri stuffs and fuel to operate called on the global coalition of hospital generators in Gaza National Human Rights Institutions Strip, Chairman of the National generous contributions to the telephone talks about the to monitor these practices that harm Committee for the Recon- urgent UN appeal aimed at critical humanitarian condi- human rights bodies. struction of Gaza, Ambassador averting an imminent humani- tions of the people of Gaza and Dr Al Marri’s yesterday met in H E Mohammed bin Ismail Al tarian catastrophe in Gaza. This the lack of fuel that resulted in Berlin with Dr Bytha Rudolf, Director Emadi, will supervise aid distri- contribution will ensure that the the closure of several hospitals General of the German Foundation bution in Gaza. vulnerable people of Gaza are and clinics. for Human Rights and Chairperson The Emir’s directives that able to access life-saving health, The Emir reaffirmed to the of the Global Alliance of National urgent assistance worth QR33m water and sanitation services, head of the political bureau the Human Rights Institutions, where he ($9m) be provided, including they said. State of Qatar’s constant support reviewed the Gulf crisis and various medicines, medical supplies, As a result of Israeli siege, for the Palestinian people and efforts and movements of the NHRC foodstuffs and fuel for the oper- Gaza’s people are facing the dif- that it will carry on its recon- to defend the rights of victims of the ation of hospital generators in ficult conditions due to the struction projects in Gaza and siege in light of the international laws Gaza Strip to assist the people severe shortage of medicines, working to provide the nec- and regulations of national human of Gaza came in response to the hospital fuel and other essential essary fuel for the different rights institutions and “Paris deteriorating humanitarian sit- materials. sectors. Principles”. uation in the Strip and the UN Meanwhile, the Emir yes- For his part, Dr Haniyah Dr Al Marri called on the German appeals in this regard. terday held via telephone a con- expressed his and the people of parliament to send an official mission The UN Secretary-General versation with Dr Ismail Gaza’s gratitude to H H the Emir to Doha to investigate the impact of António Guterres and his Special Haniyah, head of the political for Qatar’s constant support for the ongoing siege on Qatar and the Envoy Nickolay Mladenov bureau of the Islamic Resistance the Palestinian people and for The State of Qatar renewed forward with reconstruction serious violations committed against expressd their gratitude to the Movement in Palestine (Hamas). the Emir’s response to the its commitment to support the projects in Gaza Strip so as to thousands of citizens and residents State of Qatar for its prompt and The Emir learned during the appeal of the people of Gaza. Palestinian people and move promote peace and stability. in Qatar by the siege countries.

Qatar denies false news about Al Jazeera documentary

QNA conditions for Qatar-based media The report that Al ideas. It seems like their inability outlets to thrive independently Jazeera channel was to compete and gain credibility is DOHA: Qatar has denied it has and objectively. what is driving these campaigns to asked Doha-based Al Jazeera “Accordingly, Qatar denies the asked not to air a defame Qatar and its various channel not to air a documentary false news about requesting the Al documentary on “Israeli positions.” on “Israeli lobby in Washington” Jazeera Network to suspend the lobby in Washington” Al Khater said journalism and and called such news reported by airing of the documentary that was is false, says Foreign media are vital and advanced pro- the Israeli newspaper Haaretz as produced by the latter.” fessions that have their own codes false. Explaining Qatars position, she Ministry spokesperson of ethics, regulations and guide- The Foreign Ministry spokes- said: “We see this news in the H E Lulwah Al Khater. lines as well as they’re governed, person H E Lulwah Al Khater said: context of the blockading countries’ as the situation demands, by both “The State of Qatar realises that tireless attempts to cast scepticism national and international law. the significance and constructive over Qatar’s open and progressive “Should any party have a legit- Circular issued on role of media is conditioned upon model of governance and to make objective of the quartet which owns imate concern based on solid legal media independence. This is pre- a case for repeating their demand dozens of media outlets but seems grounds, they may proceed with the cisely why Qatar’s government to shut down Al Jazeera. Shutting unable to compete with Al Jazeera, agreed upon mechanisms in such commercial use of ensured to create all the right down Al Jazeera has been an in what should be a free market of cases,” she added. State’s public names QNA Visitors flock to Qatar DOHA: The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has issued a circular on the commercial use of symbols and pavilion at OIC trade fair public titles in Qatar. The Ministry has recently uncovered the unregulated use of the image of the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani as well as symbols and public THE PENINSULA seeking to enhance the titles by some traders, suppliers and malls on commercial capacity of national com- goods. (Such as “Tamim Al Majd”, the Arabic for “Glorious DOHA: Visitors and partici- panies and factories and to Tamim”). pants flocked to Qatar’s pavilion support national products in The Ministry explained that the use of a logo or at the special edition of the line with its efforts to promote trademark is restricted to lawful uses. The logo and trade fair of the Organisation of economic development and symbol subject of the trademark should be held in high Islamic Cooperation (OIC) accomplish the Qatar National regard as a public symbol and slogan that should not be Member States in Kuwait. The Vision 2030. disrespected or undermined. It is therefore forbidden to pavilion, organised by the During the exhibition, the use the logo and slogan in a disrespectful manner. Ministry of Economy and Ministry will provide a detailed The Ministry urged the public to respect the symbol Commerce, brought together explanation of the laws and reg- and slogan as a public emblem that should not be disre- representatives of Qatar ulations governing investments spected or undermined. Chamber, Qatar Financial in Qatar as well as the incen- The circular comes within the framework of the min- Center and Economic Zones tives and advantages offered to istry’s efforts to ensure the compliance of suppliers with Company (Manateq) along with investors. their obligations under Article 8 of Law No. 9 of 2002 Ingushetia President leaves Doha executives from 13 Qatari Officials from the Ministry regarding trademarks, trade data and names, geo- private companies. will hold meetings with busi- graphical indicators, logos and industrial designs. President of the Russian Republic of Ingushetia, Yunus-bek Yevkurov, left The Ministry’s participation nessmen and potential investors The law prohibits the registration of a trademark if Doha yesterday after an official visit to the State of Qatar. The President and in the exhibition comes within to familiarise them with it is one of the State’s public titles, symbols and slogans. his accompanying delegation were seen off upon departure from Hamad the framework of its efforts to investment opportunities in The circular also aims at ensuring the compliance of International Airport by the Minister of Municipality and Environment H E showcase the investment Qatar and efforts for the devel- traders with their obligations under Article (14) of Law Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi and the Ambassador of the Russian opportunities in Qatar and opment of a safe investment No. (7) of 2002 regarding the protection of copyright and Federation to Qatar, Nurmakhamad Kholov. highlight the state’s business environment. related rights, which prohibits the depiction or drawing and investment-friendly of official figures for commercial use. climate. The Ministry is also →CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 02 HOME FRIDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2018 Emir issues instruments Minister, Tunisian Ambassador review ties of ratifications on pacts

THE PENINSULA Several instruments of 2017 during the visit of the Emir ratifications approving to Jakarta. DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim The Emir issued yesterday bin Hamad Al Thani issued the agreements and an instrument of ratification yesterday several instruments MoUs between the approving a draft agreement on of ratifications approving the governments of Qatar economic, trade and technical ratifications of agreements and cooperation between the gov- Memorandum of Under- and governments of ernments of the State of Qatar standings (MoU) between the Turkey, Indonesia, and the Republic of Uganda, governments of the State of Malaysia, Singapore, which was signed in Doha on Qatar and governments of the Uganda and Chile April 19, 2017. Republic of Turkey, Indonesia, The Emir issued an Malaysia, Singapore, Uganda issued. instrument of ratification and Chile. approving the ratification of a Minister of Culture and Sports H E Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali with the Ambassador of the Republic The Emir issued instrument draft agreement between the of Tunisia to the State of Qatar, Salah Al Salahi. During the meeting, they discussed aspects of joint of ratification approving the rat- in the field of legal and judicial governments of the State of cooperation between the two countries and ways of boosting them in the fields of culture and sports. ification of an agreement training between the two gov- Qatar and the Republic of Sin- between the governments of the ernments and a MoU to coop- gapore on encouraging and pro- State of Qatar and the Republic erate in the tourism field. The tecting mutual investments, of Turkey including an Memorandum of Under- which was signed in Singapore agreement on mutual legal standings were signed in Doha on October 17, 2017. support on criminal affairs, on November 15, 2017. In addition, the Emir issued Seminar on concept problems between which was signed in Doha on Additionally, the Emir issued an instrument of ratification on November 15, 2017. an instruments of ratifications the ratification of an MoU on humanities and social sciences The Emir also issued instru- approving the ratifications of MoU cooperation in the field of higher ments of ratifications approving between the governments of the education between the govern- QNA internationally, Doha Institute said Thursday in a the ratifications of several Mem- State of Qatar and the Republic ments of the State of Qatar and statement. A number of Arab and German orandum of Understandings of Indonesia to cooperate in the Malaysia, which was signed in DOHA: The Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, researchers in the fields of knowledge and cross- including a MoU between Qatar fields of youth and sports, an MoU Putrajaya on October 16, 2017. in cooperation with Free University of Berlin, will disciplinary studies will attend the seminar, which Media Corporation and Turkish between the State of Qatar’s Min- The Emir also issued an hold a seminar on problems of concepts and termi- will discuss selected concepts in many fields of Radio and Television Corpo- istry of Education and Higher instrument of ratification nology between humanities and social sciences knowledge. ration (TRT), a MoU on cooper- Education and the Republic of approving a draft agreement on from February 18 to 20. The seminar will focus on bringing up these ation in the field of central Indonesia’s Ministry of Education air transport between the gov- The seminar is part of a series of specialised concepts in the system of intellectual, cognitive banks’ operations between the and Culture to cooperate in the ernments of the State of Qatar workshops between the institute and the Free Uni- and cultural challenges facing researchers. Round- Central Bank in the State of field of education. The Memo- and the Republic of Chile, which versity of Berlin based on the mission of Doha tables are scheduled during the seminar to adopt Qatar and the Central Bank of randum of Understandings were was signed in Colombo on Institute, which aims to promote Arab participation a comparative vision to move these concepts across the Republic of Turkey and MoU signed in Jakarta on October 18, December 5, 2017. in the production of knowledge locally and different disciplines, languages and cultures.

Envoy highlights Qatar’s Qatar takes part in Arab investment opportunities League’s meet QNA steps to increase the competitiveness of its national economy so as to ensure COLOGNE: Qatar’s Ambassador to the integration into the global economy and QNA Federal Republic of Germany, H E Sheikh compliance with the current Saud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, developments. CAIRO: The Arab delivered a lecture to a number of busi- Sheikh Saud highlighted the high League’s Economic and nessmen, economists and representa- attention the government of the State of Social Council started tives of German companies at the invi- Qatar gives to investing in human capital, yesterday its 101st tation of Association of German establishing the innovation culture and ordinary session at the Chambers of Industry and Commerce in localising industries. ministerial level at the Cologne in the German state of North The Ambassador said the State of pan-Arab organisation’s Rhine-Westphalia. Qatar is confidently moving forward in headquarters under the The Ambassador presented the eco- terms of achieving its ambitions, and is presidency of Sudan. nomic situation in the State of Qatar, the smartly and uniquely implementing The State of Qatar is rich investment opportunities and the plans of economic transformation to taking part in the session secure investment environment it enjoys. accommodate the new changes. with a delegation led by He also presented in depth the practical After the lecture, he responded to the H E Saif Muqaddam Al steps taken by the State of Qatar towards questions and inquiries of the Qatar’s Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany, H E Sheikh Saud bin Buainein, permanent diversifying its sources of income, its participants. Abdulrahman Al Thani, and other dignitaries in Cologne. representative of Qatar to the Arab League. The agenda of the meeting comprises 20 articles covering dif- ferent economic and QU engages students on smoking cessation social issues, including the secretary general’s THE PENINSULA and was admitted to hospital professional collaboration shall report on following up with exacerbation of her chronic exist. Patient will need social on the implementation DOHA: Over 90 health care obstructive pulmonary disease. support for other non-medical of the 100th session’s students and faculty from Qatar The students followed the issues for example financial decisions as well as the University (QU) and other insti- patient from admission to dis- issues, or clarifications on general secretariat’s tutes engaged in the fourth courage and discussed the con- medical needs, or usage of med- activity in both occurrence of the annual IPE tribution each profession brings ications, or even diet. sessions. activity on Smoking Cessation. to the case study and worked As a doctor, we shall know In addition, the These institutes included, together to make a team decision to whom we shall refer our agenda touches on the colleges of Health Sciences (CHS) regarding the management of patient as patients who decide economic and social and Pharmacy (CPH), Weill the case. to quit smoking will need this aspect of the next Cornell Medicine-Qatar Second-year CPH student collaboration to help them better ordinary Arab summit (WCM-Q), University of Calgary Dhabya Al Khater said: “I have get through the struggle that besides preparation for in Qatar (UCQ) and College of gained an amazing experience could stop them from being suc- the Arab developmental North Atlantic-Qatar (CNA-Q). during the IPE event. This cessful quitters.” economic and social The activity, which was activity opens new doors to the UCQ student Rubeena Toufiq summit in 2019. organized by the QU Health future where we, all health care said: “I think the IPE event was Moreover, the Interprofessional Education providers, work together to very beneficial like always. I was agenda follows up on the Committee (IPEC), started with benefit and provide centered very curious about how health implementation of the an ice-breaker activity titled care to the patient. I hope that care students would collaborate economic and social “The common ground circle” and we get the chance to participate on educating and helping the decisions of the fourth aimed to familiarize the students in this activity every year to learn population in smoking cessation. Arab-African summit in on the concept of inter profes- more and work in collaboration I have learnt a lot especially Malabo 2016. sional education and how to with new health care providers about the different methods that The agenda also share the commonalities and dif- and new cases.” could help patients quit smoking includes an article on ferences of their respective aca- “The Interprofessional Edu- adn the event was very inform- cooperation between the demic disciplines and profes- cation event was interesting and ative and actively engaged all the Arab League and the sional backgrounds. helped us understand the impor- students. I would keep being United Nations, while the The program agenda tance of collaboration between involved in IPE events because summit additionally started with a welcoming different health professions, with I always learn new things during focuses on ways of session by CPH Assistant Dean unique professional roles, to the event.” establishing the Arab for Student Affairs and QU improve patients’ outcomes CNA-Q third-year Respi- trade zone and develop- Health IPEC Chair Dr Alla El- Students working in groups at the the annual IPE activity on through patient-centered care, ratory Therapy student Jesus (MJ) ments of the Arab Awaisi. It was followed by a Smoking Cessation. said Second-year Public Health Lecaros said: “I learned that customs union, besides lecture delivered by CPH Asso- student Aisha Khalid A M health care system is a collabo- touching on investment ciate Professor of Pharmacy Alrumaihi. ration of different professions in Arab countries and Practice Dr Ahmed Awaisu, in collaboration between health of smoking cessation through an Fourth-year WCMQ student that can provide the optimum discussing a draft Arab which he introduced the stu- care professionals to ensure a interactive case. The latter Zahra Hejji said: “To assist the care/treatment when effective charter to develop the dents on the topic of smoking healthier society. involved answering questions patient in all perspectives and communication and awareness small- and medium- cessation, motivational inter- The students were also related to a heavy 65-year-old clearing out the challenges for a of each other’s role is sized enterprises sector. viewing and the importance of engaged in addressing the issue smoker who called paramedics well-balanced health, inter practiced.” FRIDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2018 HOME / MIDDLE EAST 03 ‘My Experience’ event honours participants THE PENINSULA Minister of Energy other offers from Al Jazeera net- and Industry H E Dr work for other programs. DOHA: The Ministry of Culture Mohammed bin Saleh He ventured into several ini- and Sports, the official sponsor tiatives to introduce different of “My Experience” initiative, Al Sada honoured the cultures and visited new coun- organised the third meeting at participants including tries in Asia and Europe to dis- Hamad bin Khalifa University traveller Ali bin Tuwar cover and know more about (HBKU) on Wednesday. Al Kuwari, artist and these countries. The meeting was attended by He pointed out that he Minister of Energy and Industry phographer Muda Al recently signed an agreement H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Hajri, and diver Khalid with Qatar Airways to sponsor Sada and a number of officials Hassan Al Hammadi. Qatari travellers to journey to from the Ministry of Culture and different regions of the world. Sports and HBKU. Dr Al Sada Every time 15 tourists and trav- honoured at the end of the event his travels from Alaska in North ellers are chosen to benefit many the participants including trav- America to Latin America, where young people. eller Ali bin Tuwar Al Kuwari, he visited all its countries as well For her part, artist and the artist and phographer Muda Al as the Caribbean Islands. photographer Muda Al Hajri Minister of Energy and Industry H E Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada honouring participants. Hajri, and diver Khalid Hassan Al Kuwari documented these described her experience as also Al Hammadi. trips to start a new journey with an adventure, where she visited Ali bin Tuwar Al Kuwari the media when he was con- Yemen to learn about its ancient features. Qatari diver Khaled Al versity of Arizona. not dive into the depths and the shared his personal experience tracted by Qatar Media Corpo- civilization. Over the past seven Hammadi, explained that his He pointed out that through period of diving was short, he in which he turned from student ration through Qatar TV to lead years, she recorded different diving trips began during his his research in his field of said. He said he has a global of international relations to trav- a research team to introduce aspects of the life of Yemeni studies in the United States interest, he learned to dive deep diving ranking and is the first eller in order to learn about the Qatar to the world. society, Yemeni geography and where he received a bachelor’s in depths of the ocean but faced diving instructor who trained cultures of peoples. He started He added that he took up its most important and beautiful degree in engineering at the Uni- challenges. At the outset he did 400 people in Qatar. Sri Lanka mission celebrates 70th Independence Day

FAZEENA SALEEM also held as part of celebrations. further enhanced with the recent THE PENINSULA Further, on behalf of Sri Lankan visit of President Maithripala government, Award of Excellence Sirisena, during which seven was presented to Ambassador agreements in different areas were DOHA: The Sri Lankan mission in Fakhroo in recognition of his signed. “Sri Lanka, under the Doha hosted a diplomatic recep- service. Also two prominent Sri present government, has built tion yesterday to celebrate the Lankans were honoured during excellent international coopera- country’s 70th Independence Day, the event in recognition of their tion in all areas...We have devel- at the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort contribution to the society. oped a strong bond with Qatar,” & Convention Hotel. Minister of Addressing the guests, Liya- he said. Administrative Development, nage said that bilateral relations He also thanked Emir H H Labour and Social Affairs H E Dr between Qatar and Sri Lanka were Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi; Thani for the opportunities given Minister of Municipality and Envi- Minister of Administrative to Sri Lanka. ronment H E Mohamed bin Development, Labour and Social A short documentary on the Abdullah Al Rumaihi; Director of Affairs H E Dr Issa bin Saad Al diversity and beauty of Sri Lanka the Protocol Department Ambas- Jafali Al Nuaimi; Minister of was also screened for the guests. sador H E Ibrahim Yousif Abdullah Municipality and Environment On February 4, Sri Lanka Fakhroo and Sri Lankan Ambas- H E Mohamed bin Abdullah Al marked its 70th anniversary of sador to Qatar, ASP Liyanage Rumaihi; Director of the Protocol Independence and several events graced the celebrations. Department Ambassador H E are being held in Doha to celebrate They were joined by Heads of Ibrahim Yousif Abdullah Fakhroo the occasion. Missions, representatives of var- and Sri Lankan Ambassador to Around 120,000 Sri Lankans ious organisations and members Qatar, ASP Liyanage at the event. are employed in Qatar. The dip- of the Sri Lankan community. PIC: ABDUL BASIT/THE PENINSULA lomatic relations between the two A cake cutting ceremony was countries were established in 1976.

Kashmir Solidarity Death toll tops 220 in 4-day Syria regime assault

Day observed ERBIN: Syrian regime jets pounded Eastern Ghouta yesterday, sending the death toll for the four-day assault THE PENINSULA obligations to the Kashmiri on the rebel enclave on the outskirts of Damascus soaring people. The right to self deter- past 220. Violence also flared in eastern Syria, where the DOHA: Kashmir Solidarity Day mination, the right to self US-led coalition said it killed at least 100 pro-regime is observed on February 5, expression and the protection fighters to fend off an attack on its Kurdish allies. every year in Pakistan and by of human rights are universal The clash marked a fresh escalation between Wash- Kashmiri nationalists. rights accepted in modern ington, which has threatened the regime over its alleged Since partition in 1947, society and should be available use of chemical weapons, and Damascus, which labelled Pakistan has given moral, dip- to all. The world has chosen to the latest incident in eastern Syria a “war crime”. lomatic and political support to ignore the plight of the The United States threw its support behind a United the cause of the Kashmiri Kashmiris. Nations plea for a ceasefire in Eastern Ghouta. “These people, for their right to self “We ask the world to take attacks must end now,” State Department spokeswoman determination, as enshrined in note and not forget the plight Heather Nauert said. the United Nations resolutions of our Kashmiri brothers and In Eastern Ghouta, which lies east of the capital and on the issue. The event serves sisters who are fighting for their has been besieged since 2013, residents had no time to Shahzad Ahmad, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Qatar, and other dignitaries at the as a reminder to the interna- basic and fundamental rights,” mourn their dead or treat their wounded from the pre- Kashmir Solidarity Day event. tional community of their the Embassy statement said. vious day’s bombardment. “These are the worst four days that Eastern Ghouta has ever gone through,” said Hamza, an overwhelmed doctor at the Erbin clinic who was treating wounded patients. Visitors flock to Qatar pavilion at OIC trade fair Turkey arrests 3 over terror CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Shaker Al Ansari, General Manager of Abdurrahman Abdullah Al Ansari, Chief Exec- Doha Plastic Company, said his partici- propaganda on social media utive Officer of Qatar Industrial Manufacturing pation in the exhibition is in line with the Company, said that QIMC is a local joint stock com- company’s policy of introducing and ISTANBUL: At least three suspects were arrested in Turkey pany comprising 20 different factories in various opening up new international markets for over charges of spreading terror propaganda on the social sectors such as construction materials, infrastruc- Qatari products. The company statrted media, police sources said. Turkish police arrested Mehmet ture, petrochemicals and food. “We believe that producing new agricultural equipment Zeki Kilic, the co-chair of the Peoples’ Democratic Party’s the Kuwaiti market is key in terms of our import such as drip irrigation pipes as well as (HDP) Sancaktepe district representation in Istanbul, said and export activity. We are currently presenting manufacturing greenhouses since 2014, a source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions our various high quality products in a bid to access in addition to all other green house agri- on talking to the media. the Kuwaiti market. Through this participation, culture-related products. Kilic is accused of spreading propaganda of the PKK we are also seeking new sources to import raw Mohammed Maher, Foreign Exhi- terrorist group on social media. materials directly to our factories,” he added. bitions Officer at Asak Group, said: “We In the northwestern province of Tekirdag, police Saeed Abdullah Al Tawa Al Hajeri, Chairman are participating in the exhibition to arrested two people over terror propaganda against Tur- of Al Ikhtyaar German Upvc Windows & Doors, present Mona Food Products, which Vistors at the OIC trade fair. key’s Operation Olive Branch on social media. noted on the other hand, that through his partic- produces a range of Qatari products. A Turkish court remanded in custody one of the sus- ipation in the exhibition he aims at promoting and “We are participating in the exhibition pects, the source said. introducing Qatari products to participants. for several reasons, most importantly to ink Manager of Bin Aman Plastic Industries, said Meanwhile, in Turkey’s southeastern province of Diya- Dr Ahmed Bin Mohammed Al Sulaiti, Chairman export deals, introduce our products in neigh- that through his participation in the exhibition rbakir, a court remanded in custody Mehmet Arslan, the of Qatar Pharma Factory, said his company’s par- boring markets and demonstrate the ability of he aims at introducing and opening up new mar- co-chair of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) over ticipation in the exhibition is aimed at presenting Qatari factories to produce high-quality prod- kets for Qatari industries which have demon- making terror propaganda on social media and his state- new products that have yet to be exported to ucts comparable to their counterparts in the strated their success. Such exhibitions provide ments on Turkey’s operation in Syria. Kuwait, highlighting the company’s ownership of world.” a platform for Qatari manufacturers to shed light He is accused of being a member of an armed ter- patents for products such as Biohair among others. Faraj Moftah Aman Al Hamad, General on the quality of Qatari industries, he added. rorist organization, the source added. 04 ISLAM FRIDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2018 Modesty in a cosmetic society SAHAR JAHANI For Muslim women, the ability to wear the hijab not properly, diverts one’s gaze from phys- to know one another” (Quran 49:13). ical appearances and allows for a Islam declares that both men and sk a Muslim: What is the only signifies freedom but it also empowers them with woman to be appreciated for her intel- women are entitled to human rights meaning of Islamic hijab? the responsibility of representing Islam at all times. lect and ideas, rather than the way she equally and that they will both be held Why do Muslim women and Essentially, it is the women in Islam who carry the flag of looks. accountable for their actions in this life. men adhere to these rules of the religion that they embody, and for that, they are at the The western notion of beauty, how- With this said, the notion that hijab is a modesty? “What colour is ever, lies within the examples that tool of oppression is ludicrous to women yourA hair? Do you shower with that forefront of fighting ignorance and stereotypes. leading actresses in movies and televi- all over the world who choose to wear thing on? Aren’t you really hot wearing sion, supermodels, and popular singers the headscarf everyday. that?” These are some of the questions emit, essentially selling their bodies in For Muslim women, the ability to that I have been asked over the years order to become famous or to keep up wear the hijab not only signifies freedom while wearing the Islamic headscarf, or with appearances. but it also empowers them with the “hijab.” And if you are a Muslim woman The media feeds into the stereotypes responsibility of representing Islam at living in the west, you have probably that society has imprinted upon women all times. Essentially, it is the women in encountered similar inquiries as well. and what beauty is supposed to mean, Islam who carry the flag of the religion Personally, I rarely become offended so much so that women, especially that they embody, and for that, they are when I’m mistaken for a nun or asked young girls, are under more scrutiny and at the forefront of fighting ignorance and whether or not I can go swimming with pressure to look good and “fit in.” A stereotypes. my headscarf, because I know that every study done by the National Institute of Perhaps you are still doubtful of the question is an opportunity to educate Mental Health recently observed that connotations that come with practicing others. 53% of American girls are “unhappy with this Islamic doctrine, and maybe you But it was when president Barack their bodies.” This grows to 78% by the think that the hijab limits daily activi- Obama mispronounced the term “hijab,” time young adults reach seventeen. ties or physical potentials that women calling it instead a “hajeeb,” in his Researchers estimate that approx- reach without wearing the headscarf. address to the Muslim world at Cairo imately 5 million individuals in the This mentality however, is also a University, that really awakened me to United States are affected by eating dis- major misconception. Muslim women the enormity of lack of knowledge that orders every year as a result of such all over the world are contributing to still exists about this Islamic doctrine. pressures to look good and to be skinny, various disciplines and fields, including Perhaps his advisors failed to in order to fit in with the western notion athletics, law enforcement and instruct him adequately on this matter, of “beauty.” Women and men all over politics. or maybe he just forgot how to say the everyday life, the hijab requires both of the opposite sex by refraining from the world are compelled by what they At the 2004 summer Olympics in word, either way, this incident has made men and women to follow a modest physical interactions until marriage. see in the media and thus strive to look Athens, for example, a woman wearing me realise that few people are aware of dress code. It has commanded, “Say to Muslims commonly use the phrase, like the models and actresses that dom- a track singlet and a hijab, its white hood the accurate meaning of “hijab” and the believing men [and women] that “lowering your gaze,” in reference to inate the headlines in magazines and in imprinted with the flag of Bahrain, set what this doctrine entails. they should lower their gaze and guard the practice of hijab. This does not mean corporate ads that people are bom- a national record in the 100-meter qual- The term “hijab” was originally their modesty: that will make for greater that men and women are prohibited to barded with all the time. These unreal- ifying heats. So did a woman from derived from the Arabic word “hajaba,” purity for them: And Allah is well interact on a day-to-day basis for school istic images that the media portrays of Afghanistan, the first to represent her which means to “conceal” or to “cover.” acquainted with all that they do” (Quran or work; rather Islam sets certain guide- women and beauty have impacted our nation in the Olympics, who ran in The western notion of hijab is most 24:30-31). These rules of modesty have lines for interacting with the opposite society at large, so much so that in the loose-fitting pants and a T-shirt. In Vic- dominantly associated with the veil or both physical implications and must also gender so as to create a proper environ- 2004 study done by the Dove Campaign toria, British Columbia, Constable Maha headscarf that many Muslim women be abided by in every day ment conducive to maintaining the for Real Beauty, only 2% of women Sukkar became the first women in the wear in public, although this concept interactions. Islamic hijab. around the world believed that they police force to wear the hijab as part of goes far beyond the average dress code. For women, the requirements for Although a negative image of hijab were actually beautiful. her uniform, going so far as to making All Muslims, men and women, are attire emphasize covering all parts of may persist for those who are unfamiliar With all these statistics however, a Velcro attachment that would allow taught to practice a lifestyle that is the body except the face and hands, with the practices of Muslims. People many women in the west still pride her to release the head piece if she were adopted with the conception of hijab. wearing loose and opaque clothing so see Muslim women portrayed as themselves with the idea that they are to get into a scuffle. This requires Muslims to not only dress as to not reveal the outline of the body, oppressed in the media and assume that somehow more “free” because they can Muslim women are not only major modestly but to also behave in a way and wearing outfits that would refrain Islam indoctrinates all Muslims to con- dress anyway they choose and are thus contributors to societies in the west but that promotes humility and respect from drawing too much attention. In trol women. But this lies within the mis- liberated from the shackles of society also a dominant force in the political arena towards the opposite gender. addition, it is recommended that Muslim conception that women are oppressed that men have imposed upon them of nations around the world, including Nonetheless, the dominant feature, women should not appear to dress as under the requirements of Islamic law. through out history. Islamic countries like Kuwait, whose con- and perhaps the most obvious practice men nor should they attempt to attract The hijab itself is not a tool of It is evident however, that women stituents recently elected four women to of hijab is the dressing of Muslim attention with an excess of extravagance oppression; what is oppressive is the are still subjugated to act and dress the the parliament. Thus, it is evident that women. With the Islamic dress code or with the excess of raggedness, so as abuse of power utilised by rouge author- way society desires. Islam, however, has Muslim women, especially those who comes many assumptions and stereo- to draw sympathy. ities to enforce and subjugate a partic- been at the forefront of the battle for practice wearing the hijab,are just as types about the way Islam treats women Muslim men must also adhere to ular kind of practice to further their own women’s right sever since the Quran was active and equally contributive to our soci- and men. clothing requirements, although to a dif- political motives. Just because a gov- revealed to the Prophet Muhammad eties as any other individual. It is not surprising to hear the mis- ferent degree than applies to Muslim ernment forces something upon a (PBUH) in 610 A.D. Many think that wearing a headscarf conceptions that many associate with women. The hijab requires men to dress society does not make the practice itself In the era of pre-Islamic society, is the hardest aspect of being a Muslim. Islam, including the notions that from the area of the navel to the knee evil or oppressive. women were considered to have less For me however, hijab has been the eas- “women are oppressed,” and that they and to wear clothes that are not too tight Muslim women around the world worth than livestock; it was a time in iest practice because it is a now so are “forced to wear the head scarf” by or provocative. believe that wearing the hijab liberates which parents buried their baby daugh- deeply embedded in my lifestyle that I their husbands or fathers. These corporal rules are applicable them from the standards that western ters alive simply because they were born cannot ever imagine myself without it. Even those who practice Islam often for individuals when they are front of society sets for women in terms of the wrong gender and would bring Of course encounters with ignorant times have a skewed interpretation of others who are considered “non-mah- beauty and dress. The hijab is most com- shame and disgrace upon the family. In people who might ridicule you for the concept of modesty, in which the rams” or those whom a Muslim would monly associated with protection from this era, men had absolute rights over wearing a “towel” around your head are term “hijab” is continually associated be allowed to marry. male scrutiny and physical women in marriage, divorce, inherit- unavoidable sometimes, but for the most with women only. When witnessing the Men must not attempt to dress sim- suppression. ance and essentially every other aspect part, the people I have talked to about proper application of these rules how- ilarly to women and they are prohibited This measure of protection is of life. Islam radically redefined the the hijab have been amazed at the level ever, it is evident that Islam does not from wearing gold or silk. explained in the Quran as well: Allah the position of women in society, uplifting of commitment Muslim women have intend to limit women or subjugate its The rules of behavioural hijab how- Almighty prescribes for women to cover them to the status of men immediately: for their faith, and they respect us for adherents to a restricted lifestyle. ever, have the same implications for themselves so that they can live in “con- “O mankind, we created you all from a having the courage to practice our reli- As stated in the Qur’an, the holy both sexes and should be adhered to at venience” and not be “molested” by male and female, and made you into gion to the fullest. book revealed to guide Muslims in all times: having respect for individuals others (Quran 33:59). The hijab, if worn nations and tribes, so that you may come Source: Alkalima

QATARGAS OPERATING COMPANY LIMITED PublicPublic AnnouncementAnnouncement Turn to Allah for forgiveness ToTo aallll Ships,Ships, FishermenFishermen aandnd MMarinersariners AcquisitionAcquis“ition ofof ggeophysical,eophysical, eenvironmental,nvironmental, aandnd ggeotechnicaleotechnical ssurveys”urveys” NAIMA SHAIKH forgiveness. They are as pleased with him, once was Allah! No duaa (supplication to follow: “I seek forgiveness traveling and needed to stay God) I made except that it was staghfirullah is the act from Allah, my Lord, from somewhere overnight. When answered but one.” “And what of seeking forgiveness every sin I committed know- he went to the masjid, the is that duaa?” asked Imam Afrom Allah. This is ingly or unknowingly, guard (not recognising Imam Ahmed. done by repeating the Arabic secretly or openly, and I turn Ahmed) denied him entrance. “To be able to see the words astaghfirullah, towards Him from the sin that Imam Ahmed tried numerous famed Imam Ahmed ibn meaning “I seek forgiveness I know and from the sin that times, but the guard did not Hanbal!” Imam Ahmed inter- from Allah”. I do not know. Certainly You, accept his requests. Frustrated, jected, “I am Ahmed ibn The Prophet Muhammed You (are) the knower of the Imam Ahmed resolved to Hanbal!” He then went on to (peace be upon him) was hidden things and the Con- spend the night in the masjid add: “By Allah! I was dragged masoum (innocent) and the cealer (of) the mistakes and yard. The guard became to your place so that you can most virtuous human being the Forgiver (of) the sins. And furious and dragged him away, have your duaa/wish come alive yet he used to ask Allah (there is) no power and no despite the old age and frailty true.” for forgiveness more than sev- strength except from Allah, of Imam Ahmed. Thus, constant reciting of enty times a day (Sahih the Most High, the Most A baker, whose shop was astaghfirullah has numerous Bukhari Volume 8, Book 75, Great.” nearby, watched this scene and benefits. Also asking Allah for Number 39). In Tafseer Al Qurtubi took pity on Imam Ahmed. He forgiveness is very pleasing Sometimes we make mis- (18/301-302) it says “Ask for- invited the Imam to stay with to him, it says in the sahih takes we are not even aware giveness from your Lord, him for the night. While there, Bukhari (Volume 8, Book 75, of and at other times in trying verily, He is Oft Forgiving; He Imam Ahmed noticed that the Number 321) narrated by our best to help, we cause will send rain to you in abun- baker continually made istigh- Anas bin Malik Allah’s Apostle some kind of harm(s). For dance. And give you increase faar (asking for Allah’s forgive- said: example: a doctor in providing in wealth and children, and ness) while working, and in the “Allah is more pleased with a cure for a disease may cause bestow on you gardens and morning, the Imam eagerly the repentance of His slave some distress along with the bestow on you rivers.” asked his host about the lat- than anyone of you is pleased cure such as in surgery or According to a narration ter’s continual seeking of for- with finding his camel which giving a medication that may regarding Imam Ahmad Ibn giveness. The baker said it had he had lost in the desert.” So, have adverse effects. In all Hanbal and the Baker, Astagh- become like second nature, let’s please Allah and reap the these situations and more, it is firullah is beneficial for having and Imam Ahmed then asked benefits of asking Allah for for- good to turn to Allah for all of one’s duas (supplications whether the man had experi- giveness by making it a habit forgiveness. made to God) come true. enced any reward from this to recite Astaghfirullah as often Astaghfar provides beau- The narration is as follows: practice. as possible. tiful words with which to seek Imam Ahmed, may God be The baker answered: “By www.islamcity.org FRIDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2018 ASIA 05 Khaleda Zia jailed for corruption

REUTERS Khaleda Zia and her Bangladesh DHAKA: Bangladesh opposi- Nationalist Party tion leader and former prime minister Khaleda Zia was jailed (BNP) say the charges yesterday for corruption but are part of a plot to plans to appeal her five-year keep her and her term, her lawyer said, as thou- family out of politics. sands of supporters took to the streets to protest her inno- Party leaders said cence. more than , Khaleda, 72, her son and supporters have been aides were convicted of stealing Police charge towards activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party protesting following a verdict 21m taka ($253,000) in foreign detained over the against opposition leader Khaleda Zia, in Dhaka, yesterday. donations received by an Bangladesh opposition leader past few days. orphanage trust set up when she and former prime minister was last prime minister, from Khaleda Zia Bangladesh for more than two senior leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi the judiciary,” said Mirza Fakhrul 2001 to 2006, lawyers said. a case that lasted nearly 10 decades, and they have nursed a denounced the sentence, calling it Islam Alamgir, secretary general “She was given a shorter leader of Khaleda’s legal team, years. long and bitter rivalry as they. “an attempt to eliminate the of the BNP. term considering her health and told reporters. Khaleda and her Bangladesh Hasina’s Awami League came to opponent”. Khaleda’s conviction “proves social status,” Judge Mohammad After the verdict, Khaleda Nationalist Party (BNP) say the power for a second consecutive Her son Rahman, who lives that Bangladesh has the rule of law Akhteruzzaman said, as he was escorted to the central jail charges are part of a plot to keep term after a bloody parliamen- in exile in London, was convicted and that no one is above the law,” passed sentence in a packed in the capital, a three-storey her and her family out of poli- tary election that was boycotted in a case of money laundering in Law Minister Anisul Huq told courtroom amid tight security. red-brick structure with barred tics. Party leaders said more by Khaleda’s party. 2016. Her party announced a reporters after the decision. “She Khaleda plans to appeal windows surrounded by trees, than 3,500 supporters have The renewed tension between plan for protests on Friday and can challenge the ruling in the High against her conviction, lawyers to begin serving her sentence in been detained over the past few them raises the spectre of a long, Saturday against what it called Court after getting a certified copy said, and is likely to be freed on two rooms set aside for her, jail days. Prime Minister Sheikh destabilising spell of unrest for a “biased and compromised” of the verdict,” he said. “She can also bail during that process. officials said. Hasina and Khaleda, both Bangladesh and its economy. Kha- ruling. seek bail.” Five people were injured “We didn’t get justice. We’ll Khaleda’s son, Tarique related to former national leda is due to run in parliamentary “This verdict will deepen the when police fired rubber bullets at go to the higher court,” Rahman, and four others were leaders, have dominated poli- polls set for December and can still country’s existing political crisis protesters in the northeastern city Khandker Mahbub Hossain, the jailed for 10 years at the end of tics in poverty-stricken do so if an appeal is pending. BNP and will damage people’s faith in of Sylhet, witnesses said.

Indian cabinet okays auction of 60 more small oil and gas fields Gulf, West Asia key priority for India: Modi

NEW DELHI: The government has approved inviting bids to develop IANS Modi said he was looking bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice From Dubai, Modi will reach 60 more discovered oil and gas fields under the second round of forward to discussions with Pal- President and Prime Minister of Muscat on February 11 in what the Discovered Small Fields (DSF) auction this year, Petroleum NEW DELHI: Ahead of his estinian President Mahmoud UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His will be the first prime ministe- Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced yesterday. The Cabinet three-nation tour to the Gulf and Abbas and “reaffirming our sup- Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin rial from India to Oman in 10 approved the auction to be held under the DSF second round in West Asia, Prime Minister port for the Palestinian people Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince years since the visit of then order to speedily into production these fields estimated to hold Narendra Modi said yesterday and the development of of Abu Dhabi,” the Prime Min- Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reserves of 195 million tonnes (MT) of oil and oil equivalent gas. that the region is a key priority Palestine”. ister said. in 2008. for India’s foreign policy. This will be the fourth Modi will hold talks with the “Oman is a close maritime Rafale deal echoes in parliament “I will be undertaking bilat- meeting between Modi and Crown Prince soon after his neighbour with whom we enjoy eral visits to Palestine, United Abbas after their meetings on the arrival following which several excellent relations,” the Prime NEW DELHI: The Rafale deal echoed in the Indian parliament Arab Emirates and Oman from sidelines of the UN General agreements will be signed. The Minister said, adding that India once again yesterday, with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley claiming February 9 to 12,” Modi said in a Assembly in 2015 and at the next day, he will meet members and Oman have thriving links the Congress was “manufacturing” allegations on the defence deal, pre-departure statement here. Paris climate summit later that of the Indian community and lay rooted in centuries old people- leading to opposition protests and adjournment of the House and “I am happy to visit the Gulf year and the Palestinian Presi- the foundation stone of a temple to-people exchanges. cutting short of his reply. Shortly before the House was adjourned, and West Asian region for the dent’s visit to India last year. via video link. Modi will hold talks with members from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), who had been fifth time since 2015. This region The visit will reaffirm India’s From Abu Dhabi, Modi will Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said standing near the Speaker’s podium with placards throughout is a key priority in our external foreign policy position that its proceed to Dubai where he will and also meet Deputy Prime Jaitley’s reply so far, surrounded his seat to listen to his announce- engagement,” he said, adding relationship with one country is deliver the keynote address at Minister for the Council of Min- ments regarding Andhra Pradesh, while members from the India enjoys “vibrant multi- independent of its ties with a the Sixth World Government isters Sayyid Fahd and Deputy Congress raised slogans, and other MPs from opposition parties dimensional ties” with its third country and will de- Summit. Prime Minister for International supported the Congress from their seats. countries. hyphenate Israel and Palestine “At the invitation of the lead- Relations and Cooperation Modi will leave for Amman after Modi’s standalone visit to ership of the UAE, I will be Affairs Sayyid Asad. Court seeks answers on Taj Mahal protection today from where he will transit Israel in July last year. addressing the 6th edition of the “We will review bilateral to Ramallah tomorrow in what From Palestine, Modi will World Government Summit in cooperation and steps to further NEW DELHI: India’s top court demanded a detailed plan for the will be the first ever Prime Min- reach Abu Dhabi, the capital of Dubai, where India is the guest enhance our traditionally strong future of the Taj Mahal, warning the state government’s “ad hoc” isterial visit from India to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), country of honour. “There will links,” he said. approach jeopardised the centuries-old monument to love. Smog Palestine. on February 10 evening in what be interactions with leading UAE “On February 12, I will has been slowly yellowing the Taj’s brilliant marble and conser- “I am grateful to His Majesty will be his second visit to the and Arab CEOs in Dubai on the interact with leading busi- vationists have long fought to close polluting industries near the King Abdullah II of Jordan for nation since his visit in August vast economic opportunities in nesspersons of Oman on devel- 17th-century icon. But years of interventions — including using facilitating the transit,” he said. 2015. India and what more can be oping stronger economic and mudpacks to draw the stain from the stone — have failed to arrest “I look forward to meeting him “In UAE, I will hold talks with done together to increase busi- business links with India,” he the slow decay of India’s biggest attraction. in Amman on February 9.” His Highness Sheikh Mohammed ness collaboration.” added.

Communist Maldives President sends envoys QATARGAS OPERATING COMPANY LIMITED LIMITED PublicPublic AnnouncementAnnouncement parties poised ToTo allall Ships,Ships, FishermenFishermen andand MarinersMariners to take power to China and Saudi for support AAcquisitioncquis“ition ooff geophysical,geophysical, environmental,environmental, aandnd ggeotechnicaleotechnical surveys”surveys” in Nepal REUTERS AFP MALE: The embattled presi- KATHMANDU: Nepal’s dent of the Maldives has sent Communist parties have envoys to friendly nations such secured a majority of seats in as China, Pakistan and Saudi the upper house of parlia- Arabia to brief them on a polit- ment, the election commis- ical crisis in the Indian Ocean sion said Thursday, paving nation that spurred the impo- the way for the leftist alliance sition of a state of emergency, to form the next government his office said. two months after historic Abdulla Yameen left out key general elections. regional power India, which The under-construction China-Maldives Friendship Bridge is The alliance of the main had joined Britain, the United pictured near the city of Male, yesterday. Communist party and former States and the United Nations Maoist rebels won a strong in calling for the lifting of the presence in the country of Abdul Gayoom, will visit majority in the indirectly emergency and the freeing of 400,000 people, most of them friendly nations of the Mal- elected upper house, two supreme court judges Muslims. Since the crisis dives and provide updates on according to results whose ruling against Yameen erupted, Maldivian opposition the current situation,” it added. announced Thursday. sparked new instability. leaders have urged New Delhi The government wanted The results of the national The Maldives, best known to intervene. to send a special envoy to India vote held late last year have for luxury tourist resorts, has Yameen sent his economic as well, said Ahmed Mohamed, not yet been confirmed, but become another arena of con- development minister, the Maldives’ ambassador to an incomplete tally suggests test for India and China after Mohamed Saeed, to China, the India. the alliance also secured a it signed up to Beijing’s Belt foreign minister, Mohamed The Maldives has been in majority in the directly and Road initiative to build Asim, to Pakistan and farming crisis since last week, when the elected lower house. trade and transport links and fisheries minister Supreme Court quashed con- Last year’s landmark elec- across Asia and beyond. Mohamed Shainee to Saudi victions ranging from corrup- tions capped Nepal’s rocky India, which has had long- Arabia, according to a posting tion to terrorism of nine oppo- 11-year transition from mon- standing political and security on his website late on sition figures, including former archy to federal democracy ties to the islands about 400 km Wednesday. “Members of the president Mohamed Nasheed, after a brutal civil war between away, has sought to push back cabinet, on the direction of its first democratically elected Maoist guerrillas and the state. against China’s expanding President Abdulla Yameen leader. 06 ASIA FRIDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2018

US forces attack Tougher US strategy brings Afghan gains anti-China militants in REUTERS numbers because they know The “number of Afghanistan in 2017 shot up to Afghanistan Analysts Network they’d all get killed. Without air weapons released” 4,361, according to US data, com- think-tank said there were limits Afghanistan JALALABAD: A more aggres- support we’d be struggling.” The pared with 1,337 the previous to what air power could achieve, sive U S strategy in Afghanistan Taliban made gains after Nato in US air strikes in year. while pointing out that the REUTERS has put the Taliban on the back withdrew most combat troops Afghanistan in 2017 Nato’s Resolute Support mis- number of civilian casualties had foot, soldiers and police say, but in late 2014. Two years later, they shot up to 4,361, sion said on Tuesday the air risen, which could be used by the KABUL: U S forces in Afghan- bloody recent attacks in Kabul were threatening several district according to US data, campaign had been expanded in Taliban for propaganda. istan have attacked networks show the insurgency remains centres and even two provincial the north with B-52 bombers “Pushing the Taliban back of anti-China militants in potent and a prolonged stale- capitals including Kunduz, in the compared with 1,337 striking Taliban positions. is not victory over them,” he action likely to please Beijing mate looms. north, which was captured the previous year. “The Taliban have nowhere said. “The Taliban have proven which had called for Western President Donald Trump in briefly. to hide,” said mission com- that they are able to adjust and cooperation in its fight against August unveiled a more hawkish Now the militants no longer mander General John Nicholson, out-wait such campaigns the group it says wants to split military approach, including a threaten the city, said Kunduz plant roadside bombs and carry adding that the militants could before.” Escalating violence, off its Xinjiang region. surge in air strikes, aimed at police chief Abul Hameed out suicide attacks,” said soldier not win on the battlefield. including clashes with Islamic The strikes in northern forcing the Taliban to the nego- Hamidi. Abdul Karim. A Taliban spokesman denied State militants, forced 360,000 Afghanistan’s Badakhshan tiating table. Air strikes had been a “game In Helmand province in the that air strikes had forced people from their homes in province destroyed Taliban While Afghan security forces changer”, he said, along with a south, the Taliban have been fighters to flee, saying they were 2017, with more than 2,600 training camps which support say the impact has been signifi- revived campaign of “night pushed back 30km from the pro- still operating in district centres civilians killed, according to the militant operations in cant, the Taliban still roam huge raids” aimed at capturing mili- vincial capital, Lashkar Gar, said and across the countryside. United Nations. Afghanistan as well as oper- swathes of the country and, with tant leaders, which previous governor Hayatullah Hayat, who According to a recent BBC “NO END” Trump rejected ations by the East Turkestan foreign troop levels at about President Hamid Karzai banned also credited air strikes. study, the Taliban are openly talks with the Taliban after a Jan. Islamic Movement (ETIM) in 15,000 compared with 140,000 because they were so There were fears last year active in 70 percent of districts. 27 bomb in Kabul killed 103 the border region with China in 2014, there appears little hope unpopular. that the town could fall. A spokesman for the Nato mis- people, a week after a raid on a and Tajikistan, Afghanistan’s of outright military victory. Soldiers and police in dis- Helmand policeman Baz Gul sion said the BBC estimate over- hotel killed some 30 people, Nato-led mission said in a “The American air strikes tricts outside Kunduz that were said the air strikes had “changed stated the militants’ “influence including four Americans. But release yesterday. have broken their back,” said contested a year ago said the war the picture completely” and impact” and only about 12 per- the long-term U S aim remains “The US strikes in support Nasrullah a soldier in Kunar had tilted in their favour. morale was high. cent of the population was under to force the militants into a set- Afghanistan in reassuring its province on the Pakistani border. “They can’t face us and The “number of weapons full Taliban control. tlement, a top U S official said neighbours that it is not a safe “They don’t dare attack in large instead hide among civilians, released” in US air strikes in Thomas Ruttig of the later. sanctuary for terrorists who want to carry out cross- border operations,” it said. The force gave no more details about the attacks or PML-N and PPP intensify any estimate of casualties but it said the ETIM was behind attacks both inside and out- side China and two of its efforts for Senate elections members had been involved in a 2002 plot to bomb the U INTERNEWS an MNA. He is also father-in-law Iqbal Chilianwala had been S Embassy in Kyrgyzstan. of daughter of PML-N leader elected an MNA many times “They pose a threat to ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Nawaz Sharif. Senator Kamran while her husband Jaffer Iqbal China and enjoy support from Muslim League-Nawaz (PML- Michel was earlier elected an was deputy speaker of the the Taliban in Badakhshan N), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPA on a minority seat and was National Assembly. They are and throughout the border (PTI) and Pakistan People’s made provincial minister and among close aides Nawaz Sharif. region,” the force said. Party (PPP) have finalised their then elected as senator and His daughter Zaib Jafri is a The group is drawn from candidates for Senate elections enjoys the portfolio of federal Member of the National members of China’s Uighur to be held on March 7. minister. Assembly and son Umer Jaffer minority, a mostly Muslim The PML-N and the PPP are Mushahid Hussain Syed has is a Member of the Punjab Turkic-speaking people who trying their best to ensure the been the PML-Q secretary gen- Assembly whereas Begum Teh- inhabit the Xinjiang region in win of a maximum number of eral and senator until recently. He mina Daultana is a a Member of China’s far west. candidates. For the Senate has been a close aide to Nawaz the National Assembly. China has long been con- chairman, the real contest is Sharif but during the period of the She belongs to a big political cerned that instability in between the two major political Sharif family’s exile, he was family of Vehari. She is niece of Afghanistan could spill over parties. among friends of Pervez Mush- former Chief Minister Mumtaz into Xinjiang. The target of the two parties arraf and also served as a federal Muhammad Daultana and Hundreds of people have is members of the Balochistan information. daughter of the late MNA Mian been killed in violence in Assembly, whose votes have Now he has rejoined the Riaz Daultana. She has been recent years in Xinjiang. Bei- become more important after a PML-N after quitting the PML-Q. elected MNA many times. jing blames the bloodshed on political change in the Mushahid Hussain is playing a Senator Zafarullah Danh- Islamist militants and sepa- province. key role in Pakistan-China dala belongs to Bhakkar. He was ratists, though rights groups However, the PML-N will friendship. an MNA in 2012 he was elected say the unrest is more a reac- have an edge over other parties Senator Asif Saeed Kirmani as a senator for the first time. Ch tion to repressive Chinese in Punjab, the PPP in Sindh and is son of Syed Ahmed Saeed Kir- Muhammad Serwar of the PTI policies. the PTI in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa mani, who had been a minister is a former Punjab governor. King Abdullah visits Pakistan The United States, Britain (KP) in the Senate elections. in President Ayub’s cabinet. He He came to Pakistan after and the United Nations have Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain (right) greeting Jordan Votes of Balochistan and is a confidant of Nawaz Sharif. giving up his British nationality. listed the ETIM as a terrorist FAT parliamentarians will also He was elected to the Senate He was also a Member of the King Abdullah II at the Chaklala military airbase in Islamabad. group. play a key role in making the after a seat was vacated by the British Parliament. PML-N or PPP candidates suc- PPP’s Dr Zahiruddin Baber a few PML-Q candidate Kamil Ali cessful. That is why both parties months back. Agha was the mayor of Lahore are making an all-out effort to Senator Saood Majid belongs in the first tenure of the PML-N support of FATA and Balochistan to Bahawalpur. His father Abdul government. Pakistan plans to broaden tax base Assembly members. Majid Chaudhry had been a Now he is the PML-Q infor- The PML-N can win 11 out member of the Punjab Assembly mation secretary and was INTERNEWS valuation, lower individual tax lowest globally, the report said. of 12 seats in Punjab while the and mayor of Bahawalpur. elected as a senator in 2012. Pir rates and offer an amnesty In the past, it said attempts opposition will get only one seat. He was elected to the Senate Sabir Ali Shah belongs to KP. He ISLAMABAD: Pakistan plans to programme. to force people to pay taxes have From Punjab, Ishaq Dar, Asif after Punjab Governor Malik Rafiq is an aspirant of a PML-N ticket. use its national identity database The Bloomberg report been met with resistance and Kirmani, Kamran Michel, Saood Rajwana vacated his seat. Among He comes from a religious to build profiles of potential pointed out that less than one strikes by businesses, while var- Majid and Syed Mushahid Hus- women, Begum Ishrat Ashraf and family of Sirikot. He remained taxpayers in a renewed bid to per cent of Pakistan’s popula- ious amnesty plans announced sain are most likely to get Begum Tehmina Daultana are PML-N KP president and chief broaden its tax base, Prime tion of 210 million pays taxes. - including one eight months PML-N tickets; however, the strong candidates. minister. Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Lenders including the ago - failed to boost revenues. party’s parliamentary board will Begum Ishrat Ashraf has Rubina Khalid is a hopeful said. International Monetary Fund Now Abbasi wants officials make the final decision. been the PML-N women wing of a PPP ticket from KP. She was In an interview with (IMF) have repeatedly shown to build taxpayer profiles Ishaq Dar has been a sen- president. She belongs to a close to the late Prime Minister Bloomberg, he said the plan concern over Pakistan’s tax- through the National Database ator and federal finance min- family of seasoned politicians. Benazir Bhutto. She is a senator seeks to plug leakages, to-GDP ratio of about 12 per and Registration Authority, the ister since 2003. Earlier, he was Her father-in-law Chaudhry of the PPP. encourage correct property cent, which is among the report added.

8 dead, 3 missing after China Malaysia: No mystery over road collapse ‘missing’ MH370 search ship AFP

BEIJING: Eight people died AFP worried about. We urge family and three were missing in members not to listen to southern China after a water KUALA Lumpur: Malaysia rumours or fake news,” Trans- leak inside a subway station yesterday quashed rumours port Minister Liow Tiong Lai construction site caused a swirling after a ship searching said. He said the Seabed Con- major road to cave in, author- for Malaysia Airlines flight structor “is doing fine” and that ities said yesterday. MH370 disappeared from “the search will continue as The sudden leak flooded tracking screens, saying it had planned”. the underground site and led simply made a refuelling stop MH370 disappeared in to the multi-lane road’s col- in Australia and would resume March 2014 with 239 people — lapse in downtown Foshan, the hunt. mostly from China — on board Guangdong province, on The Seabed Constructor, while en route from Kuala Wednesday night, the city gov- hired in January for a fresh Lumpur to Beijing. ernment said in a statement. search for the missing plane, An earlier Australia-led “A total of nine construc- turned off its location trans- search scoured 120,000 tion workers were rescued, ponder for three days without square kilometres of a and... rescue and rehabilitation explanation early this month, remote region of the Indian work is still underway,” the sparking a slew of speculation, Ocean for 28 months but statement said. It was unclear including that it had gone on a found no trace of the aircraft, A Chinese employee investigates the scene of accident after a road collapse in Foshan in China’s whether the dead and missing treasure hunt. and the hunt was suspended southern Guangdong province yesterday. were all construction workers. “There is nothing to be last January. FRIDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2018 ASIA 07 No plan to meet US officials: North Korea

REUTERS U S Vice-President expanded for this to happen, Mike Pence, who has Wang said. SEOUL: North Korea has no “You can’t have it that one intention of meeting U S officials described North Korea person opens the door and during the Winter Olympics that as the world’s most another closes it,” he said. start in South Korea yesterday, tyrannical regime, North and South Korea are state media said, dampening spoke with Moon technically still at war because hopes the Games will help resolve their 1950-53 conflict ended in a a tense standoff over the North’s yesterday ahead of the truce, not a peace treaty. The nuclear weapons programme. opening ceremony in North defends its weapons pro- However, the North’s high- the mountain resort of grammes as necessary to counter ranking delegation, including the Pyeongchang. U S aggression. The South hosts younger sister of its leader Kim 28,500 U S troops, a legacy of the Jong Un, will meet South Korean war. President Moon Jae-in and have “Explicitly speaking, we have North Korea marked the lunch with him tomorrow. no intention to meet with the U S founding anniversary of its army Such a meeting would be the side during the stay in South with a large military parade in first such event between a South Korea... Our delegation’s visit to Pyongyang yesterday broadcast Korean head of state and a South Korea is only to take part by state media, having last month South Korean supporters wave “Unification flags” as they welcome North Korea’s art performers member of the Kim family since in the Olympics and hail its suc- changed the date of the celebra- outside the Gangneung Art Centre in Gangneung, yesterday. a 2007 summit meeting of Kim cessful holding.” The United tion to the eve of the Olympics. Jong Il and late South Korean States had not requested talks Kim Jong Un, in a black hat president Roh Moo-hyun. with North Korea, but Pence left and matching coat, saluted troops Pyongyang holds military U S Vice-President Mike open the possibility of some con- while his wife walked beside him, Pence, who has described North tact although his message for television images showed. One Korea as the world’s most tyran- denuclearisation remained of Kim’s close aides, Choe Ryong parade on eve of Olympics nical regime, spoke with Moon unchanged. Hae, and Kim Yong Nam were yesterday ahead of the opening In opening remarks during his also in attendance. ceremony in the mountain resort meeting with Moon, Pence said The North’s state media also AFP artillery, tanks and finally four long black coat and black of Pyeongchang, just 80km from the United States would never showed what appeared to be giant Hwasong-15 ICBMs — as fedora. the heavily armed border with the waver in its goal of getting North intercontinental ballistic missiles SEOUL: North Korea staged a well as a band forming the The military should remain reclusive North. Korea to give up its nuclear and on launchers as thousands of military parade in Pyongyang Korean word for “Victory”. on high alert to ensure that Today’s ceremony will be ballistic missile programme North Koreans filled Kim Il Sung yesterday to mark the 70th Unlike the North’s last invaders could not violate the attended by North Korea’s dele- through strong pressure, an aim Square, named after Kim Jong anniversary of its armed forces, parade in April 2017 state tele- North’s sovereignty “even by gation, including its nominal head shared with South Korea. Un’s grandfather, in Pyongyang. putting its intercontinental vision did not show the event 0.001mm”, he said. of state, Kim Yong Nam. Pence has said Washington “We have destroyed the ene- ballistic missiles on show just a live, instead airing it hours later. “Long live!” cried the assem- Kim Yo Jong, the sister of the would soon unveil “the toughest my’s risk-taking provocations at day before the Winter Olympics Fireworks went off as leader bled troops, their breath con- North’s leader, and her entourage, and most aggressive round of every move,” Kim Jong Un said open in the South. Kim Jong Un took his place on densing in the subzero temper- will travel by private jet to Seoul’s economic sanctions on North in a speech. He did not mention The nuclear-armed North is on the rostrum to watch the dis- atures and some of them in tears Incheon International Airport on Korea ever” while South Korea the United States, which North an Olympics-linked charm offen- play, along with his wife Ri Sol at the sight of the leader. Friday, North Korea told the wants to use the Olympics to re- Korea considers its main enemy sive — sending a troupe of per- Ju and ceremonial head of state Analysts say that with the South. engage with the North. and regularly threatens to destroy formers, hundreds of female cheer- Kim Yong Nam — who will head dual approach, the North is “We have never begged for In Beijing, Chinese Foreign in a sea of flames. Analysts said leaders, and the sister of leader Kim Pyongyang’s delegation to the looking to normalise its status dialogue with the US nor in the Minister Wang Yi told reporters the parade seemed smaller than Jong Un to South Korea. Olympics today. as a “de facto nuclear state”, and future, too,” the North’s KCNA all sides, not just the two Koreas, those of previous years, but was But regiments of soldiers “We... have become capable could be trying to weaken sanc- news agency said, citing Jo Yong needed to work hard and dia- still focused on the North’s goal goose-stepped in formation of showcasing our stature as a tions against it or drive a wedge Sam, a director-general in the logue between the United States of strengthening its nuclear mis- through Kim Il Sung Square yes- world-class military power to between the South and its ally North’s foreign ministry. and North Korea should be sile capabilities. terday, followed by trucks, the world,” said Kim, wearing a the US.

ICC probing alleged Canada helicopters ‘not for attack’, says Manila AFP acquisition,” said Major-General militants in the Muslim south, as disaster response. spokesman said it did not have crimes in Restituto Padilla, the deputy well as against communist guer- “We have separate and ded- a comment to make yesterday. MANILA: The Philippine mili- chief of staff for plans and pro- rillas in other parts of the mainly icated attack helicopters.” Apart Trudeau said in November Philippines tary yesterday denied it planned grammes of the Philippine Catholic Asian nation. from armed insurgencies, the he had called out Duterte over to use 16 Bell helicopters bought armed forces, yesterday. A Philippine defence depart- Philippines is also regularly bat- “human rights, the rule of law, AFP from Canada as attack aircraft “You must understand that ment spokesman said on tered by typhoons. and specifically extrajudicial against local insurgents, these are utility helicopters, not Wednesday its air force would use Bell Helicopter had said the killings”. THE HAGUE: The prosecutor following reports Ottawa was attack helicopters,” Padilla said. the Bell 412EPI aircraft, worth Philippine military will use the Duterte, who has overseen at the International Criminal reviewing the deal. According to the Philippine $234.8m, for disaster response and aircraft “for a variety of missions a crackdown that has left Court yesterday unveiled two Canadian media had defence department, the deal humanitarian missions, but also such as disaster relief, search and nearly 4,000 drug suspects new initial probes focusing on reported overnight on was signed with trade promo- for “anti-terrorism”. rescue, passenger transport and dead at the hands of the police, the deadly war on drugs in Wednesday that Prime Minister tion outfit Canadian Commer- However, Padilla said yes- utility transport”. later described Trudeau’s com- the Philippines and alleged Justin Trudeau’s government cial Corp last December, shortly terday this did not mean they Canadian ambassador to ments as “a personal and offi- abuses during Venezuela’s was reconsidering the sale over after Trudeau clashed with Pres- would be used as “attack Manila John Holmes said on cial insult”. political unrest. fears the aircraft would be used ident Rodrigo Duterte during a helicopters”. Wednesday the versatility of the The Philippine government The unprecedented deci- in internal security operations, Manila visit over Philippine drug “Not at all. They are purely aircraft would improve the says police only shot the suspects sion to launch two inquiries just hours after both govern- war killings. for utility purposes — ergo, “search and rescue and disaster in self-defence and rejects at once comes after ICC pros- ments had announced it in The Philippines employs transport purposes especially relief capabilities” of the Philip- human rights monitors’ descrip- ecutor Fatou Bensouda was public. attack helicopters and planes to during HADR operations,” he pines and would be a “real ben- tion of the crackdown as a crime petitioned by opposition “They must not politicise the support ground troops battling said, using a military term for efit” to its citizens. An embassy against humanity. leaders from the two coun- tries, accusing their hardline governments of crimes against humanity. Bensouda said she had Quake-hit Taiwan city still on edge followed events in the coun- tries closely, and after “a careful, independent and as rescuers hunt for survivors impartial review... I have decided to open a preliminary examination into each REUTERS further, with the lower floors adding that factors such as the situation.” having already caved in. nature of the soil and how quake Both countries have HUALIEN, TAIWAN: Scores of “Everyone was surprised,” waves passed through the signed up to the Rome aftershocks hampered rescue said Huang Chang Po, the building could have played a Statute, underpinning the ICC, efforts yesterday as emergency 58-year-old owner of a unit in part. giving the tribunal authority personnel combed through the building, built in 1994. More than 220 aftershocks to investigate crimes on their collapsed buildings in search of “We have strong earth- followed the main quake, territories. survivors after a powerful earth- quakes all the time in Hualien including a 5.7 quake late on In the Philippines, Ben- quake killed at least 10 people and it’s really bizarre that our Wednesday. A witness said souda’s office would “analyse near Taiwan’s tourist city of building collapsed,” he said. people rushed out of a residen- crimes allegedly committed... Hualien. Up to 100 soldiers, rescuers, tial building and rescue workers since at least 1 July 2016, in The coastal city was hit on police, aid workers and volun- looked up from piles of debris the context of the ‘war on Tuesday by a magnitude 6.4 teers scrambled in the cold and after one such quiver. drugs’ campaign” launched quake just before midnight rain outside to find survivors, as Authorities “would not give by Philippine President Rod- (1600 GMT) that injured 270 excavators cleared away debris. up” on disaster relief efforts, rigo Duterte. people. Four buildings col- At an emergency meeting on Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen She vowed to focus on lapsed, officials said, and seven Thursday, other residents and said during her second visit to allegations that “thousands of people were still missing. owners raised concerns about the quake-hit area yesterday. persons have been killed for Rescuers stepped up efforts possible recent modifications “I didn’t really dare stay at reasons related to their at one of the worst-hit struc- and demanded a structural home,” said Hualien resident alleged involvement in illegal tures, a 12-storey building that check by engineers to determine Yang Yantin. “The area around drug use.” housed apartments and a small the cause of the collapse. my house is actually not that Opened in 2002, the ICC hotel, where authorities believe It was too early to ascertain bad, the houses are all OK but, is the world’s only permanent most of those still missing to the cause, however, said Chang because of the aftershocks, I war crimes court and was set have been, including several Cheng Chen, an engineer from a don’t really want to stay there.” up to prosecute the planet’s foreigners. regional architects’ association. Lin Tzu Wei, an official at worst crimes where national Two earthquake survivors check their belongings at a local Thick steel girders propped “It requires a thorough tech- the Central Weather Bureau, courts are unable or unwilling detention centre in Hualien yesterday, after the city was hit by up the heavily leaning structure nical inspection, which may take said continued vigilance of to proceed. a 6.4-magnitude quake late on February 6. to keep it from collapsing two to three months,” he said, seismic activity was needed. 08 VIEWS FRIDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2018

ESTABLISHED IN 1996 Will 2018 be the year

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI of return to Syria? EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI [email protected]

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED JAN EGELAND [email protected] AL JAZEERA

oday, in government buildings across Europe and the Middle East, officials debate policies Tthat would return millions of EDITORIAL Syrian refugees to their war-ravaged land. Displaced families sit in refugee tents weighing up the risk of returning home, too; the burden weighing heavier Region’s World Cup on their shoulders. Government officials would be unwise to make hasty or reckless deci- IFA President Gianni Infantino has called for sions from the safety and detachment of curtailed and restricted. concerted efforts by all Gulf countries to make their faraway offices, without consulting While many Syrians did return home Qatar  World Cup a success. the very people who endanger their lives last year, a far greater number fled. For The FIFA chief also reiterated that the  by returning. Not doing so would risk every internally displaced Syrian who FWorld Cup will be held in Qatar four years later and another series of misguided policies that returned, three were newly displaced. We need to sit down with there is no disagreement in this matter at all. will lead to more suffering and conflict The figures for refugees are equally politicians and diplomats It will be better for the sports in general and the for Syria. stark. Some 66,000 refugees returned to in Europe and the Middle region in particular if the blockading countries set aside The brutal seven-year war has taken Syria in 2017, but neighbouring coun- East before it is too late their petty jealousies and take pride in the first World a colossal toll on human lives. It has dis- tries closed their borders to about Cup to be held in the Arab world. placed half the country’s prewar 300,000 people trying to escape the and agree on how best Qatar is steaming ahead with preparation for the population. More than six million people war. to assist and protect world event and is well ahead of schedule despite the are displaced inside Syria. Another five Among those who did return, evi- Syrians. Too many fatal illegal siege by Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, million are refugees in neighbouring dence indicates some degree of force Bahrain and Egypt. nations, a million of which have fled to was involved. Other families returned decisions have been A few months into the blockade, a UAE official had Europe. after losing hope that their deteriorating made over their heads admitted openly that they had fabricated the Gulf crisis When my organisation, the Norwe- existence as refugees would ever by others, but ultimately to withdraw the World Cup from Qatar. gian Refugee Council, speaks with improve. suffered by them. The media from these countries had launched many refugees, a clear majority tell us they Much of the Syria that refugees fled, campaigns spreading fake news aimed at  World don’t want to go to Europe or the US. Nor has since been reduced to rubble. About Cup. do they wish to stay in Jordan, Lebanon one-third of all homes and schools, and The international sporting community saw through or Turkey — countries who generously about half of all medical facilities, have equal attention should be given to refu- the scheming plans by the blockading countries and opened their borders to host them. They been damaged or destroyed in the gees wishing to stay and wait for peace, realised that Qatar is not only ready to host the biggest want to go home. This year, many of conflict. as to those who will return. Donors and footballing event but also going to make it a spectacular them likely will. The cost of rebuilding will be as high powers have committed to improving one. However, many parts of Syria con- as $180bn, according to the World Bank. the situation for refugees in neighbour- “We are aiming to make tinue to be torn apart by conflict. Fierce Before any money can be spent, how- ing countries — it is high time they sure that this World Cup fighting in the northwestern province of ever, complicated political agreements honoured those promises. Excessive leaves a legacy for the people Idlib recently forced a quarter of a mil- first need to be made between conflict focus on returning Syrians home cannot of the Middle East and is an lion people to flee. This is on top of a parties and between external donors, to justify the rigid closed-door refugee pol- opportunity to transform our million people already displaced inside provide the security and investment icy of wealthy countries. region towards a sustainable the province. Further south, in the conditions needed. A basic principle of international law and stable future,” Hassan Al besieged enclave of Eastern Ghouta, the Preparing the ground for Syrians to is that refugees should only return home Thawadi, Secretary-General misery of 400,000 starved Syrians has return home must be done carefully. in a voluntary, safe and dignified way. As It will be better of the Supreme Committee spiked to an unimaginable level. This is where aid organisations can help. humanitarians, we pledge to listen, assist for the sports in for Delivery and Legacy, had Both warzones are among four “de- For example, many children born during and monitor such voluntary return. We general and the said in an interview. escalation areas” that were meant to see the war do not have legal papers to also pledge to the civilians we serve, to region in particular Just a few days back, the less violence, more aid and the eventual prove their nationality and risk becom- fight any decisions that will lead to official in charge of the return of displaced communities. ing stateless. rushed and involuntary returns. if the blockading Al-Wakrah Stadium, Instead, they have witnessed only death In addition, many families who lost We need to sit down with politicians countries set designed by celebrated Iraqi- and destruction. deeds to land and property cannot prove and diplomats in Europe and the Middle aside their petty British architect Zaha Hadid, Elsewhere in Syria, suffering is tak- they own the homes they want to return East before it is too late and agree on jealousies and take had said that the project will ing place with less global attention. In to. We can provide legal aid to Syrians how best to assist and protect Syrians. be ready by year-end. Al Bayt regions retaken from the Islamic State of who lost, or do not have these civil doc- Too many fatal decisions have been pride in the first Stadium is also expected to Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in 2017, civil- uments as a result of the conflict, which made over their heads by others, but World Cup to be be completed by December. ians returning home are killed by affects their ability to return. ultimately suffered by them. held in the Arab The Khalifa International explosives on a daily basis. On top of This year, 2018, can be the year that Stadium was completed last that, the movement of these civilians, parties to this conflict finally agree on a The writer is secretary-general of the world. year. This means Qatar has and that of aid organisations, is often better future for Syria. But until they do, Norwegian Refugee Council. built almost half of its proposed eight venues with four years to go for the tournament. All this was achieved despite the blockade, which Chancellor Angela Merkel’s foremost task closed the only land border in a bid to choke the state, as most of the construction materials were coming The larger worry is that, with Merkel’s career to SPD appointees. With SPD cap on refugee admissions of through the Salwa border. widely perceived to be in its twilight, the leader Martin Schulz, a 180,000 to 220,000 a year — What the blockading countries didn’t fathom is the strength of the centrist parties will be further former president of the far below the approximately way the government bodies and private sector quickly eroded during another joint government. European Parliament, some 1 million who arrived in turned around and found multiple suppliers at reported to be headed for the 2015. Having once competitive rates. And Hamad Port played its role as foreign ministry, Germany championed the need for the port of entry. THE WASHINGTON POST the center ultimately may could become more Europe to help people fleeing Qatar’s world-class infrastructure was also praised not hold. amenable to proposals for the carnage of Syria and by another FIFA official, Pierluigi Collina, while ermany’s two big Merkel, chancellor since strengthening EU institutions Afghanistan, Merkel has attending the FIFA World Cup  Referees Workshop. parties have finally 2005, has been a stable and and the euro — to the delight bowed to the populist backlash The FIFA Referees Committee Chairman hailed the Gagreed on a new effective leader for Germany of French President against them, though her outstanding facilities provided by Qatar to host the government under Chancellor and Europe and, in the past Emmanuel Macron. government will remain more event. Angela Merkel, which is both year, a welcome defender of The first shadow on this welcoming to refugees than This shows how Qatar is marching ahead with its good news and grounds for liberal values, including seemingly positive outcome is the Trump administration is. preparation without any hiccups. worry. human rights, in the age of the possibility it will be The larger worry is that, The announcement President Donald Trump. rejected by the SPD’s with Merkel’s career widely comes as a relief for many Germany’s economy has members, who will vote on it perceived to be in its twilight, Germans weary of months grown so strong that the new in the next few weeks. the strength of the centrist of political uncertainty. It is coalition will have a $55 Notably, the party’s youth parties will be further eroded welcome, too, for a billion budget surplus to wing is strenuously opposed during another joint QUOTE OF THE DAY European Union hoping for redistribute on benefits for to a new coalition; like leftist government. As it is, both more robust support from families, tax cuts and young people in Britain and received their lowest shares The Maldives have seen Berlin. But it offers more investments in infrastructure. the United States, young of the vote since the 1940s in in recent years attacks reason for concern about That will be cheered by German progressives are last September’s election. If on political opponents, the future of Western liberal critics who for years have dissatisfied with the the new coalition falters, the on journalists, on civil democracy: That the urged Berlin to spend more compromises of the center. AfD could be the leading society and human right German center-left and as a way of stimulating The principal opposition to beneficiary. defenders, and what center-right were forced to southern European the coalition, meanwhile, will In neighboring Austria, renew a coalition that has economies and better come from the right-wing years of right-left coalitions is happening now is weakened both of them balancing trade flows. Alternative for Germany (AfD) finally led last year to the tantamount to an all-out underlines the growing To win over the left- party, whose very name is a election of a new government assault on democracy. strength of the political leaning Social Democrats rebuff to Merkel’s insistent including the far right. extremes and raises the (SPD), Merkel ended up centrism. The coalition’s Merkel’s most important task Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein specter that in Germany, as handing the finance ministry answer to the AfD’s strident will be to avoid leaving such a UN Rights Chief in other Western nations, as well as the foreign ministry opposition to immigration is a legacy. FRIDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2018 OPINION 09 Turkish and American relations in 2018 N the past 15 years, Turkey proficiency. As a result, the been exercised in: an authori- culminating in the July 2016 hanli, Hatay. has witnessed a political era worst mistakes of the Obama tarian leader massacring his coup attempt. Turkey is the Most of last summer passed with every bit as fascinating and Administration have only been own citizens when they took to region’s only large democracy, the expectation that the Turkish fraught as that of the amplified, tension has the streets to demand their but throughout that four-year Armed Forces (TAF) would enter I period, Turkey did not receive Renaissance Italian city states. But increased, and distrust democratic rights. Afrin. Russian opposition seemed to whereas the Italian peninsula’s intensified. President Obama declined the moral support from the US avert the operation at that point, but alliances were notoriously subject The wider reality of current to establish a no-fly zone or that would normally be Turkish forces did move into the Idlib ADAM MCCONNEL to lightning-quick shifts, Turkey’s Turkey-US affairs is that the US engage in a serious train-and- expected from an ally. In fact, province, south of Afrin and already ANATOLIA most important ally has been the is no longer the global leviathan. equip program for the moderate exactly the opposite of what controlled by Syrian opposition United States for more than 70 Whether this heralds greater Syrian opposition, instead opt- would be expected occurred as forces, several months ago. That years. global political equality or, as ing to join forces with the Syrian a mounting chorus of both offi- established a southern front. Recently, however, Turkish- many political scientists would branch of the PKK, known as cial and civilian voices As regions are cleared of PYD/ American relations experienced suggest, international chaos and the PYD. The first US weapons — notable mostly for their weak PKK elements, Turkish aid workers an unprecedented and dismal war, will only become clear in and supplies were delivered to knowledge of Turkish politics, move in to provide basic necessities string of misfortunes. President the coming decades. For Tur- the PYD in late 2014, and rela- society, and events — emerged to the local inhabitants. Usually As regions are Obama’s second term, and the key’s region, the decline in US tions between a to relentlessly excoriate the within weeks, sometimes sooner, cleared of PYD/PKK egregious mistakes his adminis- influence means that the US no Marxist-Leninist militant organ- Turkish government. local residents who have fled the past elements, Turkish tration made in regard to Syria, longer has the capacity to deter- isation and the US government To distill the situation to its seven years’ fighting are able to aid workers move turned the positive atmosphere mine outcomes. But the blossomed into open essence, we can take this per- return and begin rebuilding their established after his 2009 inau- situation is unlike that of Febru- collaboration. spective: in 2014 the US began a lives and communities. Earlier in in to provide basic guration into thinly ary 1947, when the British When Trump occupied the partnership with a violent mili- January, school children in the necessities to the camouflaged discord. unilaterally handed security White House, his administration tant organisation, designated by Euphrates Shield region received local inhabitants. President Trump’s single responsibilities in the Eastern immediately attempted to rees- the US government as “terror- their report cards after finishing a Usually within year in power has done nothing Mediterranean to the US. tablish the US’s traditional ist,” that has been targeting the school term free of the violence that to mitigate the wrongheaded Rather, the disintegration of working relationships in Tur- Turkish state and Turkish soci- had blighted their communities in weeks, sometimes American attitude towards Tur- US power in Turkey’s region has key’s region. This meant ety for 30 years, and has caused the past years. sooner, local key established in the previous been an extended affair that can overtures to Israel and Saudi around 40,000 deaths; since the Once Operation Olive Branch residents who have four years. On the contrary, rela- be traced back to the George W Arabia as soon as Trump took 2016 coup attempt, the US gov- reaches its conclusion, not only will fled the past seven tions have continued to Bush Administration’s 2003 office. But the region had ernment has made no overt Afrin’s residents finally be in safe deteriorate as Trump purposely invasion of Iraq. That incursion changed since George W Bush steps to extradite its instigator to hands, but Turkish society will be cor- years’ fighting are eviscerated the State Depart- was evil, murderous, and rapa- departed the White House in Turkey. In the same time frame, respondingly more secure. The next able to return and ment, leaving the Pentagon brass cious from its inception. All 2009. Russia was now the the US government and various target will apparently be the region begin rebuilding in charge of US foreign policy in knowledgeable actors were power broker in Syria; Iran, in civilian actors, such as think on the Euphrates River’s west bank, Turkey’s region. Secretary of aware that Saddam Hussein had addition to collaboration with tanks and journalists, directed around Manbij, concerning which the their lives and State Rex Tillerson surfaces occa- no WMDs, but US power made Russia in Syria, now had more harsh, often irrational and mis-/ Obama Administration broke prom- communities. sionally to smile and glad-hand the invasion possible. After- influence and leverage in Wash- uninformed criticism towards ises made to the Turkish government. regional officials, but he is forgot- wards, the US struggled to ington because of the nuclear the Turkish government, its Before Turkish forces and the ten as soon as he departs. establish political order in the deal; in Saudi Arabia, power elected officials, and Turkish Free Syrian Army turn their attention Developments in the past year country, and Iraq’s internal poli- was shifting to a young, untested state institutions. to Manbij, one hopes that US officials made clear to everyone that the tics remain tenuous even today. prince; The amount of knowl- Those developments, plus will come to their senses, withdraw State Department now had little And Iraq’s disorder began to edge that anyone attempting to other incidents in the recent US soldiers from that region, and role in developing and imple- seep into other regional states. formulate official policy for the past, have pushed Turkish offi- cease providing support to the PKK’s menting US foreign policy. Barack Obama swerved US region needed to master bal- cials to act on their own. Several Syrian arm. US officials have already President Trump, for his policy to the exact opposite looned to even greater weeks ago, when the US proclaimed that the struggle against part, has demonstrated no com- course of his predecessor. Stung proportions, and that is far announced the formation of a Daesh in Syria has only weeks to go prehension whatsoever of the by the death of a US ambassa- beyond the Trump Administra- 30,000-man “border force” in before its conclusion, so the excuse many problems gripping the dor in Libya, Obama chose not tion’s apparent capacities. north Syria, the foundations and for maintaining ties with the PYD, Eastern Mediterranean, and no to involve the US in Syria when The US administration’s leadership of which would be flimsy even in the best circum- attention span that would ena- that was exactly the type of situ- behavior, both current and pre- provided by the PYD/PKK. In stances, is about to disappear ble him to gain some ation that US power should have vious, all the more frustrating, this case, however, US decision- altogether. agonising even. Isn’t the situa- makers have displayed neither tion that has unfolded in Syria the prudence nor the humility to over the past seven years see their mistakes, and the past exactly what an ally is for? Isn’t five years have taught the Turk- this sort of regional distress a ish leadership to distrust US perfect scenario in which Nato intentions. Russia was also obvi- D-RING ROAD could turn to Turkey for its ously disturbed by the US step. POST BOX: 3488 regional expertise and leader- With Russian doubts evaporat- ship, to enable the alliance to ing, the campaign to expel the DOHA - QATAR adapt and create better policy? PYD/PKK from Afrin was given [email protected] Turkey’s performance under the an almost immediate go-ahead. Nato aegis in Afghanistan has Operation Olive Branch had EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE been, by all accounts, excellent. been in the works since the con- TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 Syria even borders Turkey, but clusion of Operation Euphrates FAX: +974 4455 7758 the US and Nato, for unknown Shield one year ago. For the past reasons, have never seen Tur- several years, the PYD/PKK has MANAGING EDITOR key’s proficiency and regional used Afrin as a staging region TEL: 4462 7505 knowledge as a vital aspect of for slipping militants into Tur- dealing with the Syrian conflict. key along the Amanos DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR On top of all of the regional Mountains. From time to time, TEL: 4455 7769 crises, Turkey went through its they also lobbed missiles into own serious political distur- the Turkish towns bordering LOCAL NEWS SECTION bances in 2013-2016, Afrin, especially Kilis and Rey- TEL: 4455 7743

BUSINESS NEWS SECTION TEL: 4462 7535 N the fashionable Poblenou district of Laptop per Child (OLPC) continues to hand not going to be able to use the devices,” he Barcelona, hipsters and entrepreneurs out free laptops to children in developing added. Not just a laptop OLPC, a US non-profit SPORT NEWS SECTION rub shoulders with homeless people countries, while Google promised in 2017 to founded in 2005, provides children in devel- TEL: 4455 7745 and immigrants, as the city authorities teach online skills to 10 million Africans over oping countries with a low-cost, low-power I ONLINE SECTION try to reduce digital inequality. The futuristic the next five years. computer that is connected to the internet. Media-TIC building is one of several venues The catch with some of these initiatives, More than 3 million laptops have been TEL: 4462 7501 SOPHIE DAVIES around the city where disadvantaged people however, is that they only work if people are distributed to children, said Leah Shadle, legal [email protected] REUTERS can sign up for free courses to improve their already connected to the internet or own the associate with OLPC. “(It) has always been an online literacy skills under a “Barcelona, necessary technology, experts say. “Poor peo- educational programme, not just a laptop pro- PUBLIC RELATIONS Digital City” plan launched last year. ple are the ones most likely to be left outside gramme,” she told the Thomson Reuters TEL: 4455 7613 The programme, which runs until 2020, of the digital sphere,” said Darrell West, direc- Foundation. Schools are offered teacher train- [email protected] is needed because access to technology has tor of governance studies at the Brookings ing and technical training, among other Institution, a Washington-based services, she said. In Uruguay, OLPC’s edu- ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT think-tank. cation programme has been adopted on a TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 New Yorkers wanting to use LinkNYC’s pri- national scale. According to the UN Economic FAX: 4455 7870 vate internet connection, for example, need Commission for Latin America and the Car- [email protected] As the world goes one of Apple’s latest iPhones. Critics say this ibbean, around 60 percent of households in excludes low-income users who are most likely Uruguay are connected to the internet, the CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT to need free Wi-Fi because they cannot afford highest of any country in the region. TEL: 4455 7857 digital, is there a hack a home broadband connection. Digital Divide In other, richer parts of the world, the [email protected] 2.0 The so-called “digital divide” has tradition- issue of digital inequality is more nuanced ally referred to the gap between those who have than it was a few decades ago, said Mark SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION for inequality? access to computers and the internet, and those Warschauer, professor of education and infor- TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 with limited or no access. matics at the University of California, Irvine. FAX: 44557819 become a “new source of social fracture” for Globally, around 3.2 billion people are Amplifying difference In the United States, [email protected] cities in an increasingly computerised world, using the internet, according to the Interna- for instance, most people have a smartphone the council of Spain’s second-largest city said tional Telecommunication Union, a UN agency. and a data plan, “and are pretty adept at using on its website. Of the roughly 4.3 billion people who are not that”, even among urban populations with All thoughts and views Initiatives are springing up around the connected, about half live in India and China, high levels of poorer non-white communi- globe to teach online skills, in an effort to according to the Brookings Institution. But dig- ties, as in Los Angeles, he said. expressed in these Initiatives are smooth access to jobs and education, and inte- ital inequality can no longer be viewed simply The issue is what digital devices people columns are those of the springing up around grate people better into society. But questions as the gap between those with physical access are using — and how. Lower-income fami- writers, not of the are being raised about how well such schemes to devices and those without, experts say. In lies tend to use smart phones more than newspaper. the globe to teach can reach those most in need. today’s world, there are many different dig- laptops, and if they do have a computer at online skills, in an Berlin-based non-profit Kiron Open ital divides, they argue — and various ways of home it may be shared by several family effort to smooth Higher Education provides free web-based trying to overcome them. members, Warschauer noted. All correspondence access to jobs and courses for refugees with internet access any- Prohibitive connection charges are a Children from wealthier backgrounds are regarding Views and where in the world. In New York, thousands major cause of digital inequality, especially using technology to gain knowledge, whereas Opinion pages should be education, and of kiosks offering free Wi-Fi are being rolled in emerging economies, said West of the children from poorer families focus more on integrate people out across the city under the LinkNYC scheme Brookings Institution. “The problem is that if chatting and playing, he added. send to editor-in-chief better into society. to help people of all income levels go online. you provide a free computer but don’t address Digital media “tends to amplify existing office or mailed to the Meanwhile, Miami-based organisation One high telecommunications charges, people are discrepancies” in society, he said. [email protected] 10 EUROPE FRIDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2018 Few cheers for new coalition in Germany REUTERS SPD bets on first female chair BERLIN: Angela Merkel’s German coalition deal with the Social Democrats (SPD) was greeted with more scepticism in 154 years to revive fortunes than joy yesterday, as some said the loveless alliance, born of REUTERS If she were to run for chancellor desperation, showed the then, Nahles would also have the conservative chancellor’s time BERLIN: Andrea Nahles, the plain-speaking 47-year- advantage, as a non-member of the was coming to an end. old leader of the Social Democrats in Germany’s parlia- cabinet, of not being too closely The deal, reached in record ment, is set to be given the task of re-energising a time to end months of political 154-year-old party that has alienated much of its tradi- associated with the new government. paralysis after Merkel had failed tional voter base — workers and young people. Nahles wrote in her school yearbook to form a coalition with two Martin Schulz is stepping aside as leader after his that she wanted to be “housewife or smaller parties, faces its first test campaign to become chancellor earned the SPD its chancellor”. when the SPD’s membership worst result in the postwar era. If its leadership follow vote from February 20 on his advice, Nahles will become the party’s first female whether to ratify a deal many chairwoman. A former labour minister described by also reformed the pension system to allow some never wanted. Head of Social Democratic party Martin Schulz (left) and SPD the mass-circulation daily Bild as “the only real guy people to retire at 63 — a project she defended by But Merkel’s camp was also parliamentary group leader Andrea Nahles. in the SPD”, Nahles is credited with marshalling sup- referring to the shoulder, back and knee problems forced to defend a deal that sees port in her party for a renewal of the ‘grand coalition’ her father suffered after a lifetime working in the conservatives cede the cru- A survey of 5,127 voters con- will be persuaded by his with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives that construction. cial finance minister post in ducted by pollster Civey on response that the SPD will con- has governed Germany since 2013. Known as a straight-talker, Nahles grabbed head- exchange for a fourth term in Wednesday for t-online indi- trol top ministries including Now she will be leading the charge to win approval lines in September — when the SPD was still hoping office for the woman who has cated that almost 60 percent of finance, foreign affairs and of the terms of the deal from the party’s 464,000 mem- to stay in opposition — by bluntly vowing to hit con- dominated European politics for SPD supporters want the par- labour. bers, many of whom remain deeply sceptical about servatives “squarely in the jaw” after four years as the past 12 years. ty’s members to back the coali- Schulz’s defenders empha- another tie-up with Merkel. She will face strong oppo- their junior partner. But she has also won respect from Christian von Stetten, a law- tion deal. But the same poll sise commitments on welfare sition from 28-year-old Kevin Kuehnert, the formi- conservatives including Merkel for her expertise and maker from Merkel’s own Chris- found that a clear majority of spending, housing and pensions, dable leader of the SPD’s more radical youth wing — ability to find compromises, not least during the two tian Democrats (CDU), said the Germans overall wanted party and worker-friendly labour law a job she held in the 1990s. Kuehnert has railed against previous ‘grand coalitions’ since 2005. allocation of cabinet posts, members to reject it. reforms. the coalition for weeks, and on Wednesday accused Participants in the latest coalition talks said her notably the finance ministry, The centre-left SPD saw its An SPD source said law- Schulz of trying to hijack debate about the substance negotiating prowess had proved a sharp contrast to had been “a political mistake”. previous four years in “grand makers had read out emails of the agreement with his move on Nahles. Schulz’s long-winded monologues. “Andrea Nahles Both camps had to make coalition” rewarded with its from SPD supporters at a party Nahles emerged as Schulz’s heir apparent last is both a hammer and an anvil - she can dish it out sacrifices to secure a deal. The worst result in decades in Sep- meeting on Wednesday, with month after he made a lacklustre 57-minute speech but she can also take it,” Schulz, 62, said as he nomi- agreement promises an unusual tember’s national election, and some emails saying they had not in which he boasted about having a phone call with nated her, saying the party needed younger leaders half-time review after two years the slide has continued. backed Schulz as party chair French President Emmanuel Macron as he urged SPD to reinvent itself before the next election in 2021. — already being seen as a pos- The SPD registered 18 per- only for him to switch to the for- delegates to agree to let coalition talks proceed. If she were to run for chancellor then, Nahles sible opportunity for Merkel cent in a GMS poll conducted eign ministry, as he plans to do. Then came Nahles. Like a sports coach ripping would also have the advantage, as a non-member of finally to step down. before the deal was announced, There was unanimous approval into her team after a poor first half, she cursed, the cabinet, of not being too closely associated with “If it happens, the fourth the lowest reading GMS had ever for the coalition contract though, pounded her chest, thumped the podium and implored the new government. Merkel cabinet will in some recorded, and only four points the source said. — almost ordered — the delegates to back the coali- Nahles wrote in her school yearbook that she respects resemble the last cab- ahead of the far-right Alterna- Paradoxically, the political tion talks. “We will negotiate until the other side wanted to be “housewife or chancellor”. inets of Helmut Kohl and tive for Germany (AfD). right’s dismay could win over squeals!” she screamed to cheers from the delegates, She joined the SPD at 18 and helped found a branch Helmut Schmidt,” wrote Kurt Together, the two grand coali- more reluctant SPD members. who then voted by 362 to 279 to press ahead with in her small village of Weiler in the hilly Eifel region Kister, editor of the Sueddeut- tion parties, which have The mass-selling daily Bild said negotiations. Bild wrote that Nahles was the only in western Germany before rising through the party’s sche Zeitung newspaper. “This between them shaped Germa- Merkel had sold out. “Chancellor person in the SPD to show leadership, “while the men ranks, and taking over as its general secretary in 2009. government could be captioned ny’s postwar politics, barely at any price,” Bild wrote on its around her just watch”. The newspaper Die Zeit lauded After September’s election, she became the SPD’s ‘Won’t last long’.” SPD MEM- scored 50 percent. front page. “Merkel gifts the SPD her vigour and energy and compared her to US tele- parliamentary floor leader, the first woman to hold BERS’ VOTE Even that may Opponents of the deal say the government.” vision star Oprah Winfrey. that role for the party. prove optimistic if SPD leader Schulz’s team failed to put a left- But the ill temper in Ger- She made improving the rights of workers a hall- A Roman Catholic mother of one, but separated Martin Schulz fails to persuade wing stamp on the programme, many was not matched in other mark of her tenure in the Labour Ministry in the ‘grand from her art historian husband, Nahles studied German his party’s 464,000 members to which continues to promise the capitals, where news of a pro- coalition’ of 2009-2013 and spearheaded some of that literature and politics, writing her master’s thesis on ratify the deal in a postal ballot, budget discipline that has been spective end to four months of government’s key projects such as introducing Ger- the role of catastrophes in love stories. In 2009, she whose result will be announced the hallmark of Merkel’s three uncertainty was greeted with many’s first nationwide minimum wage. Keen to show wrote a book with the title: “Woman, Devout, Left- on March 4. governments. It is unclear if they relief. she understands the needs of manual workers, Nahles Leaning - What’s important to me”.

Polish spending Spain pledges Brexit won’t on healthcare change daily Gibraltar life to rise after doctors’ protest AFP Madrid has long wanted it back. land border between Spain and As such, authorities in the ter- Gibraltar is a longtime flashpoint AFP MADRID: Spain’s foreign minister ritory fear Spain will influence the in the row. Spain’s dictator Fran- pledged that daily life in Gibraltar complex negotiations between cisco Franco went as far as closing WARSAW: Poland’s new would not be affected by Brexit, the EU and Britain over its depar- the crossing in 1969, all but Health Minister Lukasz easing fears that Madrid would ture from the bloc to try to gain stranding inhabitants who had to Szumowski reached a hard- use Britain’s exit from the EU to authority over Gibraltar or com- rely on air and boat links until it fought agreement with young gain authority over the overseas plicate daily life there. was fully reopened in 1985. doctors calling for increased territory. Alfonso Dastis insisted “Nothing will change” after Relations have ebbed and spending on public health- however that Madrid and London Britain leaves, Dastis said, adding flowed since, but the past years care. The right-wing Law and resolve “small irritating prob- that Brexit would not affect the have seen a regain in tension Justice (PiS) party govern- Roundtable meeting lems” before allowing any post- daily to-and-fro between the two under Spain’s conservative gov- ment agreed to boost health- Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May hosts a roundtable meeting Brexit deal to be applied to the sides, crucial for the livelihood of ernment, which apart from sov- care spending to six percent with senior representative from Japanese companies at 10 tiny rocky outcrop nestled on thousands of workers who make ereignty claims also bristles at of gross domestic product by Downing Street in London, yesterday. Spain’s southern tip. the land crossing to Gibraltar tobacco smuggling across the 2024 — a year earlier than Gibraltar has been under every day, and for the economy border and accuses Gibraltar of planned — from the current British control since 1713 but of the territory itself. The small being a corporate tax haven. 4.7 percent. But the deal falls short of the 6.8 percent of GDP within three years that the doctors had been calling for since October. In exchange for the EU lawmakers urge review increased spending, including on salaries, doctors must remain in Poland to work for of summer clock changes at least two years after com- pleting their specialisation. The measures, which take REUTERS a public petition that secured the European Parliament effect on July 1, are meant to more than 70,000 signatures. debated the issue, with voices remedy Poland’s medical brain BRUSSELS: EU lawmakers Critics of the system say it both for and against a change in drain, which has seen young backed a motion yesterday can cause long-term health the law. doctors move to the West in calling for an assessment of problems, especially among French lawmaker Karima search of better salaries. whether Europe should stop young children and elderly Delli said the shift to summer The white-coated pro- moving clocks forward and back people. Research has shown that time left people tired, causing testers launched their protest between summer and winter the time change disrupts sleep traffic accidents. Snow-covered Paris in October with a month-long time, following a call from schedules and can impact pro- But Belgian lawmaker Hilde The snow-covered rooftops with the Eiffel Tower in the background hunger strike in which some Finland. ductivity at work. Vautmans argued that elimi- in Paris yesterday. 80 doctors took turns fasting EU law since the 1990s has Supporters say the extra nating the clock change would at a Warsaw hospital. coordinated the shift to summer morning daylight in winter and mean either losing an hour of time, laying down that citizens evening light in summer can light at the end of the day for in all 28 EU countries move their help reduce traffic accidents and seven months in summer, or clocks an hour forward on the save energy. The European Par- sending children to school in the Popular French Minister denies harassment rumours last Sunday in March and switch liament voted by 384 to 153 for dark for five months in winter. back to winter time on the final a motion calling on the Euro- Outside the EU, a handful of PARIS: France’s Environment Minister Nicolas Macron’s most popular ministers, appeared close Sunday in October. pean Commission to study the European countries have Hulot furiously fended off rumours of harassment to tears in a TV interview as he denied the Finland, with the most effects of switching clocks and, stopped switching between yesterday two weeks after another member of “shameful” rumours. “It hurts, when it’s wrongful northerly EU national capital, if necessary, to come up with a summer and winter time, President Emmanuel Macron’s cabinet was and unfounded. Yesterday my children were in called in January for the EU to plan for a revision. including Russia, Turkey, accused of rape. tears,” the 62-year-old said, describing the situ- scrap clock switches, spurred by Before the vote, members of Belarus and Iceland. Hulot, a celebrity green activist who is one of ation as “a nightmare”. FRIDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2018 AMERICAS 11 Congress set to vote to avert shutdown

AFP With party unity government by 13 percent is not fraying in the lower what the voters sent us here to WASHINGTON: US lawmakers chamber over do,” the group said on Twitter. braced for crunch votes yesterday Liberal stalwarts were also on a deal to keep the federal the deal, House in revolt because the deal does government open past a midnight Speaker Paul Ryan nothing to protect young undoc- deadline, as rebellion simmered appeared to shrug off umented immigrants from among both Republicans and deportation. Democrats over the bipartisan concerns that several Democrats have long pur- budget agreement struck to end Republicans might sued a strategy to link the fed- the logjam. oppose the deal. eral funding debate to a perma- Senators were expected to nent solution for hundreds of take up and pass the break- thousands of “Dreamer” immi- through bill later yesterday, and until March 1 next year. grants who were brought to the then send it to the House of Rep- That would break the cycle country illegally as children. resentatives — which will barely of showdowns over government Top House Democrat Nancy Standing tall have time to debate it before funding in time for what is Pelosi highlighted the concerns US President Donald Trump is applauded during the National Prayer Breakfast at a hotel in government funding expires at expected to be a bruising cam- Wednesday with an extraordinary Washington, DC, yesterday. midnight. paign season ahead of Novem- eight-hour address, the chamber’s The measure’s fate in the ber’s mid-term elections. longest in more than a century, House is uncertain, raising ten- The bill also provides a mas- in which she called on Ryan to sions in Washington as Congress sive $90bn in disaster relief fol- take action on immigration. “Our scrambles to avoid what would lowing deadly 2017 storms in Dreamers hang in limbo, with a be a second government shut- Puerto Rico, Florida and Texas, cruel cloud of fear and uncer- down in three weeks. and funding to address the tainty above them,” Pelosi said. With party unity fraying in the nationwide opioid abuse crisis. The Dreamers were shielded Top Trump aide resigns lower chamber over the deal, “Not only will it end this from deportation under the House Speaker Paul Ryan appeared series of... fiscal crises that have Obama-era program called to shrug off concerns that several gridlocked this body, it will also Deferred Action for Childhood after abuse allegations Republicans might oppose the deal. deliver a large investment in our Arrivals (DACA). But Trump “I feel good about it,” Ryan military and robust funding of ended the program last Sep- AFP Holderness with a badly bruised but is often seen on travels with said in a radio interview about middle-class programs,” the tember, and set March 5 as a eye, which she claimed was the the president outside Washington the upcoming vote. “I think Senate’s top Democrat Chuck deadline for resolving the issue. WASHINGTON: White House result of being punched by Porter. and in White House meetings. we’re going to be fine.” Earlier Schumer told colleagues. Facing tightening numbers staff secretary Rob Porter — a The Intercept reported that In recent weeks, he was Thursday, the Senate voted to “It’s a strong signal that we for yesterday’s vote, Ryan near-constant fixture at Presi- the FBI became aware of the closely involved in preparations block a separate defence can break the gridlock that has assured that he was prepared to dent Donald Trump’s side — has allegations when conducting for Trump’s address to business spending measure — that also overwhelmed this body and work address the immigration issue resigned from his post, after two background checks for Porter’s leaders in Davos, Switzerland. included short-term federal together for the good of the head on. “I know that there is a ex-wives publicly accused him security clearance. The Daily Mail had recently funding — largely because it country.” The measure is widely real commitment to solving the of domestic abuse. Kelly in a statement said he suggested he was in a relation- failed to fund domestic pro- expected to pass the Senate, but DACA challenge in both polit- The White House said Porter was “shocked” by the allega- ship with Trump’s communica- grams along with the military. could face stiff blowback in the ical parties. That’s a commit- denied the allegations and tions, saying “there is no place tions advisor Hope Hicks. “The So it will now take up a House, where fiscal conservatives ment that I share,” Ryan told retains the confidence of Trump for domestic violence in our President and chief of staff have revised six-week temporary may balk at adding billions of dol- reporters yesterday. and his chief of staff John Kelly, society.” “I stand by my previous had full confidence and trust in spending bill that includes the lars to the national debt two “To anyone who doubts my but would be leaving his post at comments of the Rob Porter that his abilities and his performance,” major budget deal struck on months after passing a $1.5 tril- intention to solve this problem an undetermined time. I have come to know since Sanders said on Wednesday. Wednesday between Senate lion tax cut package. and bring up a DACA and immi- His resignation comes after becoming Chief of Staff, and She then read a statement leaders on both sides of the On Wednesday, the House gration reform bill: do not.” The reports in the Daily Mail and The believe every individual from Porter, in which he said political aisle. Freedom Caucus of far-right White House plan — which would Intercept, in which Porter’s ex- deserves the right to defend “these outrageous allegations are That agreement includes a Republicans foretold possible put 1.8 million immigrants on a wives Colbie Holderness and their reputation,” he said. simply false.” “I took the photos significant $300bn increase to roadblocks ahead, officially path to citizenship, boost border Jennifer Willoughby docu- “I accepted his resignation given to the media nearly 15 years both military and non-military opposing the budget caps deal. security, and dramatically curtail mented alleged physical and earlier today, and will ensure a ago, and the reality behind them spending limits for this year and “We support funding our legal immigration — has been psychological abuse. swift and orderly transition.” is nowhere close to what is being 2019, and raises the debt ceiling troops, but growing the size of panned by Democrats. A pair of photos showed Porter is not well known publicly described.”

Trump military parade might Venezuela oppn ponders whether to fight Maduro not be in REUTERS driver and union leader is run- are both unable to run; Henrique squabbling opposition will split over Venezuela’s United Socialist Party Washington ning despite his widespread Capriles is barred from office strategy, with some boycotting the (PSUV) to create a new movement CARACAS: Venezuela’s opposi- unpopularity and a devastating while Leopoldo Lopez is under vote and others backing several dif- called We Are Venezuela. Chavez, REUTERS tion was to huddle yesterday and economic crisis that has house arrest. Several countries, ferent candidates. who died of cancer five years ago, debate whether to participate in spawned malnutrition, disease, including major Latin American Maduro, meanwhile, has is also barely featured in Madu- WASHINGTON: The a controversial April presiden- hyperinflation and emigration. countries, have already said the been reveling in near-daily cam- ro’s campaign, unlike in the 2013 Pentagon yesterday said it tial vote despite the barring of After surviving months of vote will lack legitimacy. paign speeches. During hours- election where Maduro pitched was not certain that the its best two candidates and an massive street protests last year, But other opposition activ- long events broadcast on state himself as the “son” of the former Washington-area would host electoral board favouring Pres- Maduro has consolidated his ists say they have to keep up television, cheering red-shirted president. a parade requested by Pres- ident Nicolas Maduro. power by creating a new legis- pressure by voting, and an upset supporters sing his campaign Opposition activists say ident Donald Trump to Electoral authorities on lative superbody and sidelining could occur given public disgust jingle “Everyone with Maduro” Maduro’s focus on campaign honour the U S military. Wednesday set the election for opposition parties. His foes are at growing national penury. while he dances salsa with first aesthetics show he is an uncaring “We don’t know that. April 22 after mediation talks in split about whether they should Opposition leader Julio lady Cilia Flores, whom he calls tyrant vying to amass power There are options and we will the Dominican Republic between run against him. Borges said the coalition would the “First Combatant.” Maduro even if it risks pushing Venezuela explore those and the presi- the unpopular leftist government Some say participating in meet Thursday afternoon. has also been distancing himself into a full-blown humanitarian dent will ultimately decide,” and an opposition coalition col- what they consider a sham elec- “We’re talking... of hours until we from his charismatic prede- crisis. Maduro, meanwhile, says said Pentagon spokeswoman lapsed, leaving Maduro the tion will merely lend legitimacy respond to the nation,” he told cessor, the late Hugo Chavez. opposition leaders are feckless Dana White, adding that the favourite for re-election. to an authoritarian government. local radio. He and his allies have exited right-wing elites who get their U S Army was taking the lead The 55-year old former bus The most popular figureheads There is a risk the perennially the Chavez-era party known as orders from Washington. in creating options for the event. The White House has asked the Pentagon to explore a celebration of “America’s Ohio delays execution after ex-juror great service members,” after the Republican president seeks reprieve for death row inmate marveled at the Bastille Day military parade he attended REUTERS question Tibbetts committed the in Paris last year. murders but that factors about the Critics have argued that a AUSTRIN: Ohio Governor John defendant’s upbringing were parade could cost millions of Kasich yesterday postponed omitted or distorted by prosecu- dollars, at a time the Pentagon next week’s scheduled execu- tors in the trial’s sentencing phase. wants more stable funding for tion of a convicted double Tibbetts was convicted of an over-stretched military. murderer in light of a letter fatally beating and stabbing his When asked who would from a juror in the man’s trial wife, Judith Crawford, and pay for the cost of the parade, asking that he not be put to fatally stabbing Fred Hicks, a White said the Pentagon was death because the jury was not man for whom she provided still in the planning phase. given information pertinent to care. On Wednesday, the his sentencing about his trou- Geiger said the defense pre- Council of the District of bled childhood. sented only one witness in the Columbia ridiculed the idea Kasich, a Republican, issued sentencing phase, a psychiatrist of a parade on Pennsylvania a temporary reprieve to Ray- who testified Tibbetts had a Avenue, the 1.2-mile (1.9-km) mond Tibbetts, moving the exe- tough upbringing related to stretch between the Capitol cution date from February 13 inattentive parents and poor and the White House that is to October 17 and asking the foster care. also the site of the Trump state’s Parole Board to hold a Prosecutors then told jurors International Hotel. “Tanks hearing in the meantime to many people with tough child- but no tanks!” it tweeted. Southern Command Opioid Summit consider the letter’s contents, hoods turn out fine, including One option under consid- the governor’s office said in a Tibbetts’ four siblings, and that US Attorney General Jeff Sessions (centre) joins with US Navy Admiral Kurt Tidd, SOUTHCOM’s eration is for a parade on Nov. statement. placing the convicted murderer Commander (left) and Anthony Williams, US Drug Enforcement Administration Associate Administrator, 11 - which would be the 100th In the letter sent to the gov- in foster care as a child was the anniversary of the end of during the opening remarks at the US Southern Command Opioid Summit in Doral, Florida, yesterday. ernor on January 30, former juror best thing for him, the letter World War One. Ross Geiger said there was no said. 12 CLASSIFIEDS FRIDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2018

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For advertisements, call: 44557857 Pen.Mag Every Sunday - Thursday 14 HOME FRIDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2018 Committee formed for QIA Champions League 2018

THE PENINSULA tournament’s organisation, during the 2018 QIA Champions alongside Arman, Hamsa, Nihad, League, which will kick off on DOHA: The Qatar Indian Asso- Sippy, Hyder Chungathara, March 8 and go on until May 4. ciation for Sports and Games Shaheen MP and Adv Jafar Khan. In all, 12 teams representing dif- (QIA) has announced the forma- V Abdul Aziz, Saeed Naseer, ferent clubs and organisations tion of the organising committee Basheer TK and KC Abdul- will battle it out in the fourth edi- for the 2018 edition of its annual rahman are the vice chairmen. tion of what has become a highly QIA Champions League football Riyas, Rafeeq C, Marzooq, competitive tournament. tournament, which is held in Shabeer, Arjun, Safwan, Helmi, The tournament will be coordination with the Qatar Muhsin and Ranjith have also played in a league format with a Football Association (QFA). been appointed as heads of total of 36 matches. The tournament aims to cel- sub-committees. Apart from Kerala, teams ebrate the bond between India Yasir KC, Sathar, Shafeeq Ali, representing Goa, Chennai, West and Qatar, while also showing Sadiq C, Shoukath, Aslam, Bengal and Maharashtra are also support for Indian expats for Shareef (Facilities), Shamlan, expected to participate in this Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA Kabeer CT, Bassam, Fasal, year’s QIA Champions League. World Cup. Ahmed (Media), Shahbaz, The opening ceremony for EP Abdulrahman (Chairman), Ramees, Junais, Aksar, Sali, Ibra- the tournament is slated to be Safeer (General Convener), Jenny himkutty, Rajiv and Abbas (Game held on March 9 and the organ- Antony (Convener - BD) and management) will be ising committee has lined up Sheji Valiyakath (Convener - members. prominent personalities from Finance) have been chosen to Expat footballers from all India and Qatar to grace the oversee various aspects of the over India will take to the pitch occasion.

Cultural event marks OPAQ’s 8th anniversary THE PENINSULA organisation, established in 2010. celebration, OPAQ organised an The association is affiliated with annual Cultural Programme DOHA: Onattukara Pravasi Asso- Indian Cultural Center (ICC) under called ‘UTHSAV 2018’ on the same ciation Qatar (OPAQ) recently the aegis of Embassy of India, day at Ashoka Hall, Indian Cul- marked its 8th annual celebra- Doha- Qatar. From humble tural Center (ICC), Qatar. tion on February 2 with colourful beginnings, it is growing as one OPAQ distributed its Merit traditional programs held at of the largest Travancore area Awards to those students who Ashoka Hall, Indian Cultural organisation having around 400 were performed an outstanding Center – Doha-Qatar. Over 400 members by the natives from achievement during 2017 public members attended the function. Taluks of Karunagappally, examinations. Samreen Sathar, Onattukara Pravasi Associa- Karthikappally, Mavelikara, Abhijith Shaji, Amruta Liz Binoy tion Qatar (OPAQ) is a well- Thiruvalla and Adoor. and Haritha Venu received the known socio cultural Along with its 8th anniversary merit awards. DPS-MIS takes part in THIMUN (Q) 2018

ment Goal (SDG5): Gender open to new ideas and sharing THE PENINSULA Equality and Women Empower- one’s own opinions. Keynote ment. Speaker for this conference, Tricia DOHA: In all, 83 students from The DPS MUNers represented Shetty, founder of the Indian non- DPS-Modern Indian School the point of views of member profit ‘SheSays’, highlighted the participated in the 7th Annual states in the United Nations. Stu- need to educate and empower THIMUN (Q) 2018 Conference dents debated 68 topics across 18 women to stand up to violence in held recently at Qatar National committees to solve present day their everyday lives. Conventional Center, Doha. issues. Delegates learned to make Delegates from over 45 THE Conferences’ theme was on the most of this conference by national and International schools the Fifth Sustainable Develop- learning from each other, being participated in the conference.

CROSSWORD NOVO Pearl Qatar ROYAL PLAZA VILLAGGIO & CITY CENTER 2:30, 8:45 & 11:30pm The 15.17 To Paris (2D/Drama) 10:00am, 12:00noon, 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00, Pad Man (2D/Hindi) 10:00pm & 12:00midnight Throne of Elves (2D/Animation) 2:30 & 5:00pm Den of Thieves (2D/Action) 10:30am, 1:00, 2:00, 3:30, 6:00, 7:00, 8:30, Daivame Kaithozham K Kumarakanam (2D/Malayalam) 11:00pm & 12:00midnight Winchester(2D/Horror) 10:00, 11:45am, 2:15pm Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2D/Action) 4:30pm 12:00noon, 2:00, 4:00, 4:45, 6:00, 8:00, 9:45, 10:00pm &12:00midnight Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle (2D/Action) 5:00pm All The Money In The World (2D/Drama) 10:00am, 3:30 & 9:00pm Den of Thieves (2D/Action) 7:30pm Maze Runner: The Death Curve (2D/Action) 12:45, 6:15 & 11:45pm The 15.17 To Paris (2D/Drama) 9:45pm Pad Man (2D/Hindi) 11:00am, 2:00, 5:00, 8:00 & 11:00pm Braven (Action) 7:00 & 11:30pm Winchester (Horror) 7:00 Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle(2D/Action)10:00am, 2:15,6:30&10:45pm & 11:45pm Kalakalappu 2 (2D/Tamil) 9:00pm Space Chicken (2D) 12:15, 4:30 & 8:45pm Phantom Thread (2D) 11:00am, 3:45 & 8:30pm The Post (2D/Biography) 1:30, 6:15 & 11:00pm ASIAN TOWN Braven (2D/Action) 10:00am, 12:00noon, 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00, 10:00pm & 12:00midnight Pad Man (Hindi) 1:00, 3:45, 6:30, 9:15pm & 12:00midnight Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2D IMAX/Action) 10:15am, 1:00, 3:45, 6:30, Toli Prema (Telugu) 12:30pm 9:15pm & 12:00midnight Kalakalappu 2 (Tamil) 3:15, 6:15, 915pm & 12:15am Carbon (Malayalam) 12:30, 6:00 & 11:30pm MALL Queen (Malayalam) 3:15, 8:45pm & 02:00am Daivame (Malayalam) 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 10:00pm & 01:00am Tholiprema (Telugu) 2:30pm Throne of Elves (2D/Animation) 2:30 & 5:15pm AL KHOR Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2D/Action) 8:45pm Pad Man (Hindi) 11:30am, 2:30, 5:30, 8:30 & 11:00pm Pad Man (2D/Hindi) 3:00, 9:00 & 11:30pm Kalakalappu (Tamil) 11:15am, 2:15, 5:15, 8:15 & 11:15pm Daivame Kaithozham K Kumarakanam (2D/Malayalam) Winchester (Horror) 11:00am, 3:15, 7:30 & 11:45pm 4:30pm Braven (Action) 7:15pm Braven (Action) 1:15, 5:30 & 9:45pm Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle (2D/Action) 5:30pm Winchester (Horror) 7:00 & 11:30pm The 15.17 To Paris (2D/Drama) 7:30pm ROXY Den of Thieves (2D/Action) 9:15pm Throne of Elves (Animation) 10:30am, 12:30, 2:30, 4:30 & 6:30pm Kalakalappu 2 (2D/Tamil) 11:30pm Aadhi (Thriller) 10:30am, 1:30, 4:30, 7:30 & 10:30pm The 15:17 Paris (Action) 1:20, 3:20, 7:20 & 9:20pm LANDMARK Pad Man (Hindi) 10:30am, 1:20, 4:20, 7:20, 8:30,10:20 & 11:20pm Pad Man (2D/Hindi) 2:30, 6:00 & 11:00pm Braven (2D/Comedy) 10:30am, 5:20 & 11:20pm

Throne of Elves (2D/Animation) 2:30 & 4:15pm Note: Programme is subject to change without prior notice. Daivame Kaithozham K Kumarakanam (2D/Malayalam) 3:00pm Winchester (Horror) 7:30 & 9:15pm Tholiprema (Telugu) 5:00pm Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2D/Action) 8:30pm Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle (2D/Action) 6:00pm The 15.17 To Paris (2D/Drama) 8:00pm Braven (Action) 9:45pm Kalakalappu 2 (2D/Tamil) 11:00pm Den of Thieves (Action)11:30pm

The movie is a comic take on gender role reversal between K Kumar and his wife to experience life of one another, with God’s permission. FRIDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2018 HOME 15 16 MORNING BREAK FRIDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2018

PRAYER TIMINGS FAJR 04.55am Students join Team Qatar in Fun Run SHOROOK 06.13 am THE PENINSULA ZUHR 11.48 am MAGHRIB 05.25pm The event organised ASR 03.00 pm ISHA 06.55pm DOHA: Independent School children by the Qatar Olympic joined Team Qatar to spread spirit of Committee in coordination WEATHER TODAY the Asian Games in ‘Fun Run’ around Aspire Park yesterday. with the Olympic Council As the countdown to the 2018 of Asia is part of an official Asian Games begins, Team Qatar Asian Games Fun Run united with 300 school children and Programme being held participated in an inspirational Fun Run around Aspire Park. The event across Asia to promote organised by the Qatar Olympic Com- the continent’s biggest mittee (QOC) in coordination with the sporting event and Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is part bring all of its countries of an official Asian Games Fun Run Programme being held across Asia to together through sport. promote the continent’s biggest sporting event and bring all of its coun- tries together through sport. gest sports gathering in Asia.” Also participating in yesterday’s “The QOC is honoured to have sup- QOC Secretary-General Jassim Al Buenain presenting schoolchildren their medals. event was Director General of the OCA, ported the OCA in this fantastic initi- Husain Al Musallam, and QOC ative as we join together with all other biggest sporting event ever to be hosted participated. employees led by Secretary-General, Olympic Committees in Asia to unite in the Middle East and kick-started “I came here to represent para- Jassim Al Buenain. our continent and inspire our future Doha’s significant sporting develop- sport, and especially wheelchair At the Fun Run event, Jassim Al generations through sport,” he added. ment on multiple levels. racing, and I am keen for everyone to Buenain said: “It gives me great Al Buenain extended his gratitude Examples include the development know more about our sport. Most pleasure to have joined schoolchildren to the event’s partners by saying:“I of state-of-the-art facilities such as the importantly, I was so happy to join our participating in the 2018 Asian Games would like to pass our sincere thanks Anti-Doping Laboratory Qatar and Qatari youth in this great event that Official Fun Run in the beautiful Aspire to the Aspire Zone for, as always, being Aspetar, the introduction of pioneering was full of joy and energy. The Fun Run Park today. We witnessed the huge a fantastic host and first-class venue initiatives including the Schools was a great opportunity for children o o success that Qatar had from hosting for today’s event, to Al Meera Group Olympic Program and National Sport to learn more about the Asian Games, the 2006 Asian Games, which was the for their support and contribution, and Day, the hosting of multiple further and I personally really enjoyed it. I’m 14 C 27 C catalyst for Qatar’s development into finally to the Qatar Armed Forces Band major sports events, and the produc- excited for further similar events to be Minimum Maximum the Global Sports Hub that it is today. Regiment for being a lively addition to tion of a new generation of athletes organised in Qatar in the future,” said We are so proud to see this legacy still our Fun Run.” who are achieving success on the Al Kubaisi after the run. Hazy to misty / foggy at places at first be- in action as our young athletes joined The Fun Run comes over 11 years global stage. Doha’s Fun Run was the fourth to comes moderate temperature with some Team Qatar to spread the spirit of the after Doha hosted the 2006 Asian Many of Team Qatar’s world-class be hosted so far following events in clouds, cold by night. Asian Games and contribute to the big- Games, which at the time was the athletes will be competing in the 2018 Lahore, Dhakar and Dubai. The Fun Asian Games and looking to build on Run will next travel to the Maldives on

HIGH TIDE 01:00 – 10:15 06:15 – 18:00 their excellent success in 2014 when February 10th and Lebanon on Feb- COURTESY: Qatar Meteorology Department Qatar won 10 gold and four bronze ruary 25th. The Asian Games is the medals, finishing 10th in the overall second largest multi-sport event in the medals table. world with over 10 thousand athletes Amongst the Team Qatar athletes from 45 countries competing in 40 in attendance yesterday were Paral- sports across 462 events. The 2018 edi- ympian Mohammed Al Kubaisi tion will take place in Jakarta and Pale- together with his team-mates, World mbang in Indonesia from August 18 Champion 3x3 basketball player until September 2. Yaseen Ismail and members of Qatar’s Keep up to date with all news and Fencing team joined them as well, a progress on Team Qatar’s preparations number of other athletes and coaches for the Asian Games on the Team Qatar including Mubarak Mustafa, Ahmed social media channels, as well as by Khalil, Abdulaziz Hassan, Hussain Al signing up to the Team Qatar Club, Rumaihi, Majed Mohammed, Abdulla where you will also have access to Al Aydan, Yousef Al Nouby, Abdulla exclusive content, offers and compe- Khalil, Wael Jumaa and Ahmed titions. It is free and easy to sign up – Mubarak. The athletes were a true just head to www.olympic.qa/en/ Children in action during the Fun Run. inspiration to all the children that teamqatarclub.

‘Monster fatberg’ Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra to goes on public perform ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ display in London

RAYNALD C RIVERA weeks before his AFP THE PENINSULA 35th birthday, and exactly 11 months LONDON: History enthusiasts before his death. with strong stomachs can now DOHA: Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra Largely lyrical, is come face-to-face with part of is all set for yet another bravura said to be the most the 130-tonne “monster performance, this time playing music deeply personal of fatberg” found last year clog- inspired by poetry and paintings all the concertos of ging a Victorian-era sewer, in featuring award-winning German this musical gen- a new London exhibit. pianist Christopher Park under the baton ius who started his The rock-solid mass of of world-renowned Russian maestro career as a com- food fat and sanitary wipes Dmitrij Kitajenko. poser at a tender was found in drains under a Pink Floyd star To be staged at the majestic Katara age and whose life major road in Whitechapel, Opera House, “Pictures at an Exhibition” ended far too soon. east London, in September, drums up funds will shine the spotlight on three great The show and part of it is to go on show composers of the classical and roman- climaxes with Mus- at the nearby Museum of to help charities tic eras including Wolfgang Amadeus sorgsky’s piano suite Dmitrij Kitajenko. London from today. Mozart, Paul Dukas and Modest Petro- Pictures at an Exhi- “The fatberg tells a story REUTERS vich Mussorgsky. bition, inspired by the death of his friend time equally esteemed in eastern and about how modern London The concert opens with “The Victor Hartmann. He took his inspiration western Europe. He regularly conducts is changing,” explained LONDON: Former Pink Floyd drummer Sorcerer’s Apprentice” by Dukas –a from paintings and watercolours by artist- prestigious orchestras like the Berlin Sharon Robinson-Calver, the Nick Mason has joined a growing list of well-known French composer, music architect Hartmann which were exhibited Philharmonic Orchestra, the Leipzig museum’s head of Conserva- celebrities investing in businesses that aim critic and professor of composition at the Academy of Fine Arts in St Peters- Gewandhaus Orchestra, the Vienna tion and Collection Care. to address social problems — by backing whose fame rests on this single orches- burg in 1874. Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia “The museum’s collection a social media tool that helps charities tral work inspired by one of Johann Park is expected to captivate the Orchestra London and the Orchestre already contains objects from reach a wider audience. Wolfgang von Goethe’s most famous audience with his ‘fascinating technical Philharmonique de Radio France. when London’s Victorian Mason, 74, a founding member of the poems of the same title. mastery, astounding musical maturity, Tomorrow’s concert is one of Qatar sewer system was built. British rock group, and retired British It will be followed by Mozart’s and a particularly intense performance Philharmonic’s fascinating shows “Now, our sewers are racing driver Dario Franchitti have helped last “Piano Concerto No. 27 in B Flat style’ as he was described by the jury by lined up for this month starting with threatened by a modern crisis. provide funding of £4m ($5.6m) for Major, KV 595” he completed three the Stiftung Schleswig-Holstein Music last night’s chamber music concert Eight times every hour a Thames Lightful, a platform aiming to tackle neg- Festival upon win- at Museum of Islamic Art featuring Water customer suffers a ativity surrounding social media. ning the renowned compositions of Antonio Vivaldi and blockage caused by items being “Many charities have been hampered Leonard Bernstein Johann Sebastian Bach. flushed away or put down the by time consuming tasks and budget con- Award 2014, in Other shows this month include drain which shouldn’t be.” A straints which inhibit progress,” Mason which he joins the “Philharmonic at the Library: Flute booming population and oilier said in a statement. ranks of notewor- with Strings” on February 15 at Qatar diets have made the blockages Franchitti, 44, a four time IndyCar thy musicians such National Library, “Kitajenko Conducts a persistent problem in recent Series champion, said this was needed as as Lang Lang, Lisa Shostakovich 10” on February 17 at years, but the 250-metre-long media was changing rapidly.\ “It’s vital that Batiashvili and Mar- Katara Opera House featuring Ger- beast shocked even hardened charities learn to connect with their audi- tin Grubinger, who man cellist Daniel Mueller-Schott, and fatberg hunters. ences in a way which is simple, yet effec- all started their the critically acclaimed “Video Games “It’s a total monster and tive,” he said in a statement. careers with this Live 2018” which returns to Doha for taking a lot of manpower and Vinay Nair, co-founder of Lightful, said internationally the third time at Qatar National Con- machinery to remove as it’s set technology was a way to strengthen rela- sought-after award. vention Centre on February 23. hard,” Matt Rimmer, Thames tionships with people.\ “Charities and Named Qatar Tickets for “Pictures at an Exhibi- Water’s head of waste, said at the social enterprises have some of the best Philharmonic’s tion” concert are priced between QR75 to time. “It’s basically like trying stories to tell, and we are excited that Conductor of Honor QR200 and are available at http://qatar- to break up concrete.” The Lightful can help grow the potential of in 2015, Kitajenko philharmonicorchestra.org/concerts/ festering exhibit presented a using social media for social good,” he told is one of the great purchase_tickets unique set of challenges for the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Christopher Park. conductors of our museum staff.