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Thursday 30 March 2017 | 2 Rajab 1438 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Volume 22 | Number 7116 | 2 Riyals

Emir stresses need for Arab solidarity

Arab League Summit Convention Centre in the Dead the principle of a two-state solu- Sea area in Jordan yesterday, tion to ensure the establishment The Emir added that the Emir said that a genuine of a Palestinian State on the bor- “the differences in our Arab solidarity is necessary for ders of June 4, 1967 with East visions and attitudes achieving the aspirations of the Jerusalem as its capital, and the towards some political Arab people while its absence right of return of the Palestinian issues facing our has negative effects. refugees and ending the Israeli Ummah have led to The Emir said the gravity of occupation of all Arab territories, negative effects on the phase that “our pan-Arab including the Syrian Golan. homeland and the whole region The Emir said unifying of the other non-political are going through, and the obsta- Palestinian ranks is an essential areas of cooperation". cles on way of realising the element in ending the occupa- aspirations of our peoples in tion. There is no meaning and no The Emir stressed that development, security and sta- point in a dispute over an author- the firm stance of bility require a lot from us in ity that is devoid of sovereignty, Qatar on the terms of realism, frankness, in light of the occupation of the Palestinian issue awareness, and conformity of Palestinian territories, as no Pal- reflects the committed words and deeds to spare our estinian State shall be founded Arab stance that the Arab Ummah the dangers.” without Gaza, and no State in peace process be The Emir added that “the Gaza shall be established either. based on a differences in our visions and "Therefore, the State of Qatar comprehensive, just attitudes towards some politi- is pursuing its efforts to end the and lasting settlement. cal issues facing our Ummah state of division and restore unity have led to negative effects on to the national Palestinian action, other non-political areas of in accordance with the Doha and The Peninsula cooperation. This indicates that Cairo accords. the problem does not always lie We call on all Palestinian mir H H Sheikh Tamim in the disagreement itself, but leaders to be endowed with wis- bin Hamad Al Thani in how to tackle it, and in the dom and give priority to the said yesterday that spillover of a political dispute to supreme national interest by Qatar will keep its everything else.” ending divisions, setting up a pledge not to spare any "In fact, we can unify visions government of national unity to Eeffort in participating effectively and confront various challenges carry out the constitutional and in the joint Arab action to real- and surpass the current situa- executive tasks for restoring ise the security, stability and tions, since there are no national unity to enable the Pal- sustainable development of the intractable differences or disa- estinian people achieve their Arab peoples. greements between brothers, Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani attending the Arab League Summit at the King legitimate aspirations for free- Addressing the 28th Ordi- and even if some happened, Hussein bin Talal Convention Centre in the Dead Sea area in Jordan, yesterday. dom and independence and to nary Session of the despite all efforts, they should build their independent State Summit-level Meeting of the not impact the areas of cooper- the Emir. The Emir stressed that committed Arab stance that the settlement in accordance with with East Jerusalem as its capi- Council of the Arab League at ation that are of interest to our the firm stance of Qatar on the peace process be based on a international legitimacy and the tal,” said the Emir. the King Hussein bin Talal citizens and our societies,” said Palestinian issue reflects the comprehensive, just and lasting Arab peace initiative based on → Continued on page 3 Britain triggers School for autistic children to open next year divorce with EU The Peninsula said. H E Dr Mohammed Abdul education,” said Fawziya Al grade 9 to 12 students. Meanwhile, going to review the files of the Bloomberg Wahed Ali Al Hammadi, Minis- Khater, the Assistant Undersecre- a stream for technology is applicants to select the best atar is set to have a school ter of Education and Higher tary for Educational Affairs, during expected to be introduced in addi- teachers for filling the shortage rime Minister Theresa dedicated to students with Education, yesterday held a the meeting held yesterday. tion to the existing art and science in schools, said Al Khater. May set the UK on Qautism from the next aca- meeting with school principals “The Ministry is set to open streams in high schools. The pro- “The Ministry is going to Pcourse for leaving the demic year. Seven new schools, and operators at the ministry seven new schools in addition to posal indicated addition of science evaluate, for the first time, math- EU in two years time, a new streams, changes in subject headquarters. one school for individuals with subjects at technical schools. ematics, science, Arabic divorce that will end dec- timings and evaluation of teach- “The Ministry of Education autism during the coming aca- Meanwhile, science will be Language and English language ades of deepening political ers are also expected from the and Higher Education has a plan demic year,” said Al Khater. introduced to the religious insti- teachers of grades one to three integration on the coming academic year, a senior to increase the streams in the The official also stressed that tute stream at the high school to find out their weakness,” she continent. official of the Ministry of Educa- Qatari education system by add- there is a proposal to establish sci- level, making it science and reli- announced. → See also page 17 tion and Higher Education has ing new streams to general ence and technology academy for gious stream. The Ministry is → Continued on page 7

TravelT & Tourismm Food festival opens Qatar to host concert for PAGE | 2 PAGE | 4 PAGE | 8 Qatar Qatar Airways unveils ‘QSuite’ HIA ranked Sixth IInternationalnte Food — a revolutionary new ‘First in Best Airport in Festival opens Business Class' experience the World SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT SPONSORS XXXXXXDAY XX MARCH 2017 helping Syrian refugees

Fazeena Saleem Arabic music at the Qatar Doha Festival City all set for grand opening The facility, located adjacent to IKEA Qatar, is expected to The Peninsula National Convention Center welcome around 20 million visitors per year. (QNCC) on February 1, 2018. Included with today’s atar will host a tribute It will be also part of com- edition is an 8-page concert to famous Italian memorations of the 10th death Qtenor Luciano Pavarotti, anniversary of Pavarotti, who supplement on aimed at raising funds to sup- is known as one of the finest Travel & Tourism. port Syrian refugees in tenors of the 20th century. Jordan. The Pavarotti Foundation The concert ‘Brave New together with Rosso Italiano World’ is a message of solidar- and the Italian Embassy in

THURSDAY 30 MARCH 2017 ity and a symbolic partnership Doha yesterday launched

Maura Judkis The Washington Post between Italy and Qatar join- ‘Brave New World’ at St Regis irst there was latte art, then Cronuts, Made-for-Instagram ramen burgers, sushi burritos, rainbow food and rolled ice cream. Now, the lat- est hyper-visual Frankenfood to take over your Instagram account: Sushi food: Sushi doughnuts doughnuts. F"I'm aware that it's not the most practical way to eat sushi," says Sam Murphy, 24. The Melbourne-based ing to support displaced Syrian Hotel. vegan cookbook author says she invented the dish last summer, just playing around with a doughnut mold. But in the past week, it's gone viral in the United States, with several restaurants attempting the dish. Expect it to rapidly surpass the sushi burrito in Instagrammability. There's Project Poke Co. in Fountain Valley, Cal- ifornia, which tops them with salmon, cucumber and cabbage. A South Carolina restaurant, Oktopi, has a families and children currently Guido De Sanctis, Italian similar recipe. Combining two trends, California Sushi Donuts is a pop-up project that dyes the sushi rice rainbow colours. Square Fish in Toronto calls it "Doshi." But before all of those places caught on, there was apparently Murphy, whose initial version of the dish was vegan. "I take it as a bit of flattery," she said. "Of course, I can't expect everyone in the food world to credit living in refugee camps in Jor- Ambassador, Nicoletta Man- me." She makes hers by chilling three cups of cooked sushi rice, then pressing it firmly into a silicone dough- dan, said organisers tovani; President and Founder A special 4-page yesterday. of Luciano Pavarotti Founda- The first-of-its-kind con- tion and wife of the late Italian supplement Dazzling fireworks light up the sky on the opening day of the Qatar International Food cert in the Middle East will maestro, Esaa Al Zeyara; and Festival (QIFF), yesterday. Pic: Abdul Basit / The Peninsula feature Italian, local, regional CEO, Rosso Italiano, Al Al Haj, on food. and international artistes and were present. a blend of Western and → Continued on page 5 02 HOME THURSDAY 30 MARCH 2017 THURSDAY 30 MARCH 2017 HOME 03 Terrorism remains a serious threat to our region: Emir

Continued from page 1 "While welcoming the ceasefire agreement in Syria, we stress the significance of acting to make it real and not a selective one that allows for displacements, in order to alleviate the suffering of the brotherly Syrian people, ensure the safety of civilians and speed up human aid access, since a lasting and comprehensive cease-fire represents a step towards the desired political solution”. "We also firmly reassert that putting an end to the dis- aster of the brotherly Syrian people depends on adopting actions and decisions that bind the Syrian regime to imple- ment the Geneva Conference (1) resolutions which stipulate the formation of a transitional governing body with full authorities, as well as the rel- evant resolutions of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with other Arab leaders at the 28th Ordinary Session of Arab League summit held at the King Hussein bin Talal international legitimacy, Convention Centre in the Dead Sea area in Jordan, yesterday. which meet the aspirations of the Syrian people and allow them determine their future and our support for the con- This issue is too dangerous to according to their choices,” Libyan solution stitutional legitimacy vested be subjected to differences, "We must not forget that Emir said the Libyan in His Excellency President political interests, and a tug-of- the Syrian people have not brothers have no Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi. We war between the regimes. been displaced by a natural also reaffirm our support for "Second, terrorism is not choice other than disaster, but because the the mission of the United confined to a particular religion dialogue, consensus, regime launched an all-out Nations Special Envoy to or creed, there are terrorist war against them, historically and adherence to the Yemen and the efforts to militias from different creeds unprecedented, simply the political accord. resume the political consulta- that commit crimes against because they expressed their tions to reach a political civilians and civil facilities for aspirations for freedom and We should not be settlement according to the political purposes, with the dignity, turning the peaceful silent when populist terms of reference of the Gulf knowledge, and sometimes revolution into a civil war. forces in the west Initiative, the Yemeni national consent, of their governments. Therefore, it is not possible to compete to spread dialogue outcomes and the This is typical terrorism.. separate our humanitarian hate against Muslims. resolutions of international Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin and political duty towards this legitimacy,” said the Emir. Hamad Al Thani added that people,” he added. The Emir said that terror- radical propaganda that dis- The Emir said that the Lib- interests, disputes over leader- ism still remains one of the most guises under religious cloaks to yan brothers have no choice ship and narcissism. These serious threats to our Arab target young people under other than dialogue, consen- matters should not constitute region that targets its security these circumstances should not sus, and adherence to the an obstacle when the destiny of and stability. be exonerated. outcome of the political their country is in the balance. "In my view, it is necessary "In this context, I add that accord signed in Skhirat, and Building of the State and its to point out two observations we should not be silent when moving forward on the path institutions is the major chal- in this respect: First, if we are parties and populist forces in of political settlement to lenge facing Libya. This is the serious about focusing efforts the west compete to incite include all political forces in mission! The national respon- on armed terrorist organisa- against our Arab and Islamic Libya without exclusion, with sibility is to be measured now tions, is it fair to make an effort civilisation and spread the the rejection of chaos and by contributing to this effort. to brand political movements poison of hate against Mus- reinstatement of dictatorship, Under this criterion, the attitude that we disagree with as terror- lims. Some politicians may ask which are two sides of the towards the active forces in ist ones, although they are not. us to understand the circum- same coin. Libya is determined,” said the Is it a goal for us to increase the stances of election campaigns, "In this context, some of the Emir. number of terrorists in this and that they do not mean Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met with Sayyid Asaad brothers in Libya must refrain "Concerning Yemen, and world? what they said. But this is an from using pretexts to avoid as part of the Arab alliance, we "The fight against terrorism excuse uglier than a guilt, bin Tariq bin Taimur Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for International participating in the final polit- reaffirm our commitment to is a strategic issue with social, because it makes the hatred Relations, Affairs and Cooperation and Special Representative of ical solution because of the unity, territorial integrity economic, cultural, and, of of Muslims a popular H M Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman, on the sidelines of the Arab differences of opinion, personal and independence of Yemen, course, security dimensions. subject." League summit.

Emir's message New MoI service centre at The Pearl-Qatar to President of Bulgaria Sidi Mohamed CEO of UDC said, “The opening The Peninsula of the Pearl Service Center is part EMIR H H Sheikh Tamim bin of the commitment of UDC as the Hamad Al Thani yesterday sent ringing government master developer of Pearl-Qatar a written message to the Presi- services closer to res- to provide integrated services dent of the Republic of Bulgaria, idents, the Ministry of with high quality, reliability and Rumen Radev, pertaining to Interior (MoI) yester- efficiency to the people of the bilateral relations between the day opened a new island and its institutions in an two countries and means of Bservices complex and Services easy and convenient manner at boosting and developing them. Centre at The Pearl-Qatar. the required level and excellence Qatar's Ambassador to Bul- Several services related to in business services within the garia Rashid bin Ali Al Khater the Passports and other seven island.” handed the message as he met Ministries will be available at the “The center provides all the Bulgarian president yes- new complex. transactions which General terday. The complex was inaugu- Directorate of Passports provide rated by Brigadier Muhammad including visit visa, permanent Qatar condemns Ahmad Al Ateeq, Director Gen- visa, Commercial Registration, Houthi attacks eral of the General Directorate issuing and renewal of Qatari of Passports in the presence of Passport and ID, in addition to on Saudi cities directors of departments at MoI many other services provided by and representatives of various other ministries,” Major THE State of Qatar expressed ministries, government bodies Mohamed Zayed Al Khayaren, strong condemnation and and the United Development head of the centre said. denunciation of the continu- Company (UDC), master devel- The new services centre ation of Al Houthi militias in oper of The Pearl-Qatar. operates in two floors. The targeting Saudi Arabian cities Brigadier Muhammad Ahmad Al Ateeq, Director General of the General Directorate of Passports, “The new services centre ground floor is for the services with ballistic missiles. inaugurating the service centre in the presence of directors of departments at MoI and was the 23rd centre, while we of other ministries and the first In a statement, the Foreign have similar centres located in floor is set for services of the representatives of various ministries, government bodies and UDC) officials, yesterday. Ministry considered these different parts of the country in Ministry of Interior. The centre attacks clear evidence of the order to facilitate the public to has been facilitated with spa- Ministry of Administrative Municipality and Environment, said that the Pearl Government continuation of the Houthi access MoI services from the cious hall and special areas for Development, Labour and Social Ministry of Justice and Kahrmaa Services Centre will provide sev- militias' violations and their nearest places,” said Al Ateeq. people with special needs and Affairs, Muslim Muhammad Al and in the future it will include eral services of the Ministry for refusal to adhere to the reso- He also added that “All staffs 16 counters that can complete Rashidee said that the new cen- more of ministries. MoI Services the citizens and residents such lutions of the international in the new centre are well the services within shorter time. tre will provide services of seven Centre offers different services as documents attestation and community and their hamper- trained to provide the best serv- Special offices have been accom- ministries including Ministry of of MOI such as passport, visa, RP notarial certification. ing of all efforts to reach a ices for clients, and the centre modated to provide services of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Edu- and Finger print among the He also added that the most political solution to the Yem- will be open now only in the Nationality Department for men cation and Higher Education, others. visitors to the Ministry come to eni crisis. The Foreign Ministry morning hours, from 7 AM to and women separately, he Ministry of Administrative Ambassador Muhammad for attestation of documents affirmed Qatar's solidarity with 1PM. Work in two shifts will be added. Development, Labour and Social Abdullah Al Sobaie, Director of and that is why the ministry has the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia determined after assessment." The Director of Services Affairs, Ministry of Economy and Consular Affairs Department at more than one counter in the in its measures to maintain its Ibrahim Jassim al Othman Complex Department at the Commerce, Ministry of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs centre. security and stability. 04 HOME THURSDAY 30 MARCH 2017

Prime Minister meets Boris Johnson and Amber Rudd

QNA

rime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdul- Plah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani met at his residence in Lon- don yesterday with the UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, on the occasion of the Qatar-UK Business and Investment Forum held in London and Birmingham. Talks during the meeting dealt with bilateral relations between the two countries and means of Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani with the UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson (left) and Home Secretary enhancing and promoting them Amber Rudd, in London yesterday. in all fields to achieve the com- mon interests of both sides. A number of regional and cooperation and coordination maintaining security in the State and money laundering. Minister yesterday visited the Interiors. international issues of common between the ministries of inte- of Qatar and the United The Prime Minister and the Joint Terrorism Analysis Center The Prime Minister also met concern were also reviewed. rior of both countries, expressing Kingdom. British Home Secretary witnessed (JTAC) in London. The Prime with the Director General of the The Prime Minister also met hope that the continuous meet- The UK Home Secretary the signing of two security coop- Minister met with Head of JTAC Security Service Andrew Parker at the Home Office in London ings between the two sides praised coordination between the eration agreements for the 2022 Susan Parker and discussed and reviewed relations anc with Home Secretary Amber would lead to higher levels of two ministries in security issues, FIFA World Cup in Qatar. cooperation between the center cooperationin the security and Rudd. He praised the level of cooperation and contribute to especially in combating terrorism Meanwhile, the Prime and Qatar's Ministry of information exchange fields. Unesco to organise YouthMobile workshop

Irfan Bukhari education, science, culture and Mangroves" project launched a Workshop on Combating Illicit The Peninsula communication and information few years ago in Qatar, Paolini Trafficking of Cultural Artifacts". in close partnership with mem- said that unfortunately Unesco Paolini said that Unesco cluster nesco Doha Office is ber states, the private sector and Doha was not working on the office was working across 7 organising a Youth- civil society,” said Anna Paolini, project now. “Though it was a countries with the United Mobile coding Director Unesco Doha Office, very good project and its pilot Nations and regional partners workshop in Qatar while briefing the media on the study was also very successful, including “Digital Transforma- next month under its agency's functioning and we are not on it,” she added. tion in Education” in Bahrain, Uinitiative “YouthMobile” through achievements. Qatar had launched an inno- “Children and the Safe Use of which young people are intro- The two-day workshop will vative "Floating Mangroves" ICT” in Kuwait, “Cultural Sum- duced to computer science be held in Doha from April 5-6, project at Lusail Marina. The mit” in UAE, “Big Tree Society” programming (learning-to-code) 2017. Under the YouthMobile ini- project was initiated in March in Kuwait, “Arab States Summit and problem solving tiative, Unesco and its partners 2012 to explore the use of man- of Ethics and Bioethics Commit- (coding-to-learn). strive to provide young people groves for capturing carbon tees” in Oman and “NGO Forum” “Unesco Doha Office is a with the high-level skills and emissions, or sequestration, in Saudi Arabia. cluster office for GCC countries confidence to develop, promote, helping to reduce atmospheric Faryal Khan, Education Pro- and Yemen which works with a and sell locally relevant mobile carbon levels. Project partners gramme Specialist at Unesco vision to empower women and apps that solve local issues of included the Unesco, Lusail City Doha Office, highlighted the stra- men of the region, in particular sustainable development and and Qatar University’s Environ- tegic objectives of Education the youth, with the capacities to provide employment. mental Club. 2030. She said the vision of the Anna Paolini, Director, Unesco Regional office in Doha, contribute to knowledge-based Responding to a question From April 2-5, 2017, Unesco programme was to “ensure addressing the media at the Unesco premises in Doha societies through regarding Unesco’s "Floating is also organising “GCC inclusive and equitable quality yesterday. Pic: Salim Matramkot / The Peninsula education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.” agenda and was included in other In the natural sciences field, The global education agenda targets like ending poverty, health, Paolini said that Unesco Doha (Education 2030) is part of the gender equity, decent work, was looking after Al Reem – Man 17 UN Sustainable Development responsible consumption, climate and Biosphere Reserve. The Goals (SDGs). The global goals change and peace, justice and reserve covers almost 10 percent and targets aim to stimulate strong institutions. of the total land area of Qatar action over the next 15 years in Faryal said that Unesco Doha and was declared a Biosphere the Five Ps of critical importance: Office was working in the region Reserve under the Unesco Man People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace on ‘capacity development for and the Biosphere (MAB) pro- and Partnership. The success of educational policy and planning gramme in 2007. these goals is driven by the edu- for ED 2030’ and ‘educational A biosphere reserve is a cation goal. The SDGs reflect the quality and improved learning unique concept which includes important role of education by outcomes’. She said that “GCC a protected area and surround- encapsulating targets in a stand- Conference on Green Schools ing land that are managed to alone goal. Education for Sustainable Devel- combine both conservation and She said that education had opment” will be held in Jeddah sustainable use of natural implications across the entire SDG from April 19-20, 2017. resources.

Qatar Court discusses ties with Dubai Courts

atar International Court and Dispute QResolution Center dis- cussed yesterday aspects of boosting cooperation with Dubai Courts and Dubai International Financial Cen- tre (DIFC) Courts. The talks took place as a delegation from Qatar Inter- national Court and Dispute Resolution Center, led by CEO Faisal Rashid Al Sahouti, vis- ited Dubai Courts and had a first-hand look at the powers of courts and their features and achievements in elec- tronic judiciary as well as will registry for non-Muslims. The two sides stressed the importance of the visit that comes as part of boost- ing cooperation between the two institutions. The dele- gation also visited DIFC Courts, a visit that aims to enhance mutual cooperation and comes within the exchange of visits between the two entities. THURSDAY 30 MARCH 2017 HOME 05 Qatar witnesses 5% increase in population

The Peninsula February 2017 reached 6,225, International Airport, the total a monthly decrease of 21.2% number of vacant lands sold by Fewer violations down by 13.7 percent compared number of Arrivals has reached compared to January 2017. 8.7%. As the total number of atar’s population Traffic violations came to January , when t 7,213 new about 1.5 million passengers dur- The total number of sold vacant lands sold during Febru- reached over 2.6 mil- down by 16 percent at vehicles were registered. As many ing February 2017, while the total properties has reached only 289 ary 2017 amounted to 162 lands lion at end of February 158,213 violations last as 485 traffic accidents were number of Departures totaled properties during February 2017, with a total value over QR565m, 2017, with an annual month compared to reported during February down more than 1.4 million passengers and thus recorded a 30% while the total number of vacant Qincrease of 5 percent 14.2 percent in comparison to Jan- during the same period. Thus, the decrease in comparison to Jan- lands sold during past January January. The report compared to the same period last uary. Six people died in accidents total number of Arrivals recorded uary 2017 where the total 2017 amounted to 149 lands with also shows a year, according to a monthly during the period. an annual rise of 9.8%, while the number of sold properties has a total value of QR683m. In con- significant decrease in report issued by the Ministry of The report showed a monthly total number of Departures reached 414 properties. The bul- trast, the bulletin showed a Development Planning and the number of radar decrease of 13 percent in elec- recorded an annual rise of 12.2%. letin shows a decrease in number decrease in number of residen- Statistics. violations in tricity consumption, with over In the same context, the total of sold properties in all munici- tial housing sold by 80%. As the A total of 1,867 babies born February 2017. two million Mega Watt/Hour number of Arrivals to Doha palities except for Al Wakra and total number of residential and 191 people died last month during February 2017 and a reached approximately 437,000 Al Shamal municipalities. The houses sold during February and at least, 279 marriages and decrease by 10 percent in the passengers, and scored a total value of properties sold 2017 amounted to 39 houses with 97 divorces took place. decrease in the number of radar total water consumption with monthly decrease of 10.1% com- amounted to approximately a total value of QR181m, while Traffic violations came down violations during February 2017 39,831 m3 during the same pared to January 2017. The total QR1.6bn during February 2017. the total number of residential by 16 percent at 158,213 violations in comparison to the previous period. number of Departures from In regard to the type of sold housing sold during past Janu- last month compared to January. month, when it reached 106,360. In regard to passengers Doha reached approximately properties, the bulletin has ary 2017 amounted to 211 houses The report also shows a significant New vehicles registered in movement at Hamad 376,000 passengers, and scored showed an increase in the with a total value of QR790.8m. Qatari composer dedicates song to Syrian refugees

Continued from page 1 supporter of the Syrian cause. The through years of suffering as ref- Also present were COO of arts and Opera are uniting us for ugees of the Syrian conflict. The Rosso Italiano, Dana Al Fardan, a good cause. Brave New World logo is deliberately composed Composor of the song ‘Brave is a unique opportunity for all of with a character that has cuts and New World’, Laura Somma, us to do our part and to stand up flows illustrating the difficult sit- Managing Director, Co-founder for Syrian refugees.” uation faced by refuges. of Rosso Italiano & Executive Local composer Dana has Nicoletta said, “Luciano Producer of Brave New World, written and composed the song Pavarotti has always encour- who led this project and secured ‘Brave New World’ for the cause aged and supported young commitments from all partners of Syrian refugees. The song people around the world. My between Italy and Qatar, Abdul- originally written in English, the husband believed in power of rahman Al Ajail, Deputy Director orchestration includes Arabic arts and culture to bring peace events and Marketing, QNCC instrumentation as well. An Ara- to the world and to unite nations Organisers inform about Brave New World Concert Tribute to Luciano Pavarotti at St. Regis and Deep Kumar, Director Sales bic version of the song too will and people. Brave New World Hotel yesterday. at St.Regies Hotel were present be performed at the concert, truly encapsulates this idea by Pic: Baher Amin / The Peninsula at the event. according to Dana. Also local bringing this incredible fusion De Sanctis said, “It is a real artists Ali Abdulsattar and Fahad of music from the West and the action to join us on this journey.” Terra. In addition to providing proud to be host the concert here. privilege to welcome the Pavar- Al Kubaisi will be contributing Arab World. The Pavarotti Foun- The funds raised during Brave psychological support to help the This is just the beginning of the otti Foundation here in Doha and to the concert. dation is proud to partner with New World will be used to sup- refugees overcome the trauma journey. This concert is a clear to be part of this challenging The logo of the concert illus- Rosso Italiano and Italian port existing psycho-social from the war, a wide variety of and strong message to give hope project to help displaced Syrian trates and embodies the courage Embassy in Qatar. Brave New education programmes for chil- educational and creative activi- and optimism to Syrian refugees. people recover from the on-going to peruse a new world. It creates World is a hope for a better dren and families living in refugee ties will be provided. We will do our best to give them conflict. Italy is a strong advocate a message with solidarity with tomorrow, a message of optimism camps in Jordan, under the “Qatar is a nation extending their dignity and help as much as for education and an active families and children, living for Syrian people and a call to umbrella of Italian NGO Vento di humanitarian work and we are we can,” said Somma. 06 HOME THURSDAY 30 MARCH 2017

Gulf Craft Chairman Mohammed Hussein Al Shaali addressing the mediapersons in one of the cruises. RIGHT: The Gulf Craft fleet arriving in Qatar. Gulf Craft celebrates 35 years of craftsmanship

The Peninsula berths for private boats and ships percent of Qatar’s market share vast seascape, but with the added main deck. Meanwhile, two Cruising ahead across four harbours: Al Ruwais, for leisure craft, Gulf Craft is cel- luxury and comfort offered by hydraulic extendable balconies rowing private wealth The company is Al Khor, Al Zakhira, and Al Wakra. ebrating its 35-year anniversary indoor living. So whether pas- fixed on both ends of the back- and marine develop- As an iconic man-made with the largest display it has sengers are looking for added seating area offer passengers an witnessing an ments in the country island, The Pearl - Qatar contin- ever presented in the country. privacy or protection from effortless al-fresco experience increased interest for and across the region ues to be an obvious destination The impressive showcase com- weather conditions, they can while still having quick and are combining to cre- recreational cruising for boating enthusiasts, with its prises 16 yachts and boats, enjoy an uninterrupted cruising immediate access to the craft’s Gate a thriving leisure boating among Qatari’s affluent pleasant waters, safe beaches, ranging from 31 feet to 125 feet experience. Those looking for main indoor living and entertain- community in Qatar, according millennials, said Gulf world-class equipment and in length, and includes the coun- some fresh air can simply slide ment areas. to the country’s market leader Craft Chairman award-winning marina try debut of the builder’s latest down the glass panels and open Gulf Craft’s display also for yachts and boats, Gulf Craft. Mohammed Hussein Al infrastructure. masterpiece, the Majesty 100. the folding doors fully, enabling includes the luxurious 38-metre Speaking at the award-win- Shaali. “Our presence in Qatar is The first in Gulf Craft’s immediate and seamless access Majesty 125, as well as latest ning builder’s 6th annual part of our commitment to serv- superyacht collection to have a to the outdoors. debuts in shipyard’s line of Silver- Exclusive Preview event at The ing the country’s growing partially enclosed fly-bridge, the With stunning exteriors, inte- craft fishing boats and family Pearl - Qatar, Gulf Craft Chair- only by spending power, but also community of passionate boat- Majesty 100 is a shining exam- riors, naval architecture and cruisers, and selections from man Mohammed Hussein Al by rapid developments in the ers, and represents our ability to ple of the builder’s legacy of design courtesy Gulf Craft’s very builder’s long-range Nomad Shaali said the company is wit- region’s leisure marine sector. consistently deliver a diverse maximising the use of onboard own in-house Design Studio, the Yachts and Oryx sport cruisers. nessing an increased interest for Among these developments is range of world-class craft with space. This unique feature allows Majesty 100 features sweeping Guests can experience Gulf Craft’s recreational cruising among the recently announced plan by excellent seakeeping perform- guests sitting within the copious floor-to-ceiling windows that innovations from March 29 to 31 Qatari’s affluent millennials – a the Ministry of Transport and ance,” Al Shaali said. fly-bridge sky lounge area to allow natural light to flow abun- at its exclusive preview event at trend that is being propelled not Communications to add 1,000 Accounting for more than 40 enjoy breathtaking views of the dantly through the superyacht’s The Pearl, Marina Gate 5. Aigner launches Spring & Summer 2017 collection at The-Pearl

The Peninsula the manifold possibilities for individu- the collection was inspired by the nine- ality in the collection. Forms ties when it came to the cuts and igner, renowned luxury fashion reassembling themselves continuously, silhouettes. The result are glamorous house, along with Blue Salon, from different perspectives, with diver- and cool models, that are elegant and ARenowned luxury fashion and sity and plenty of facets. feminine at the same time. merchandise retailer, celebrated the The collection’s graphic forms and The colours of the collection: dark launch of the house’s latest Spring & patterns were highlighted through very plum, light mauve, neutral tan and soft Summer collection at the house’s flag- different colours as well as with metal smoke grey, are contrasted by strong ship store at The-Pearl. appliqués, leather embossments and in accents like lime, lapis green, mellow The launch ceremony was attended an indirect way also with the clasps and pink and cranberry red and lend an by Qatar’s most fashionable, as well as, decorative elements. authentic summer feeling to the collec- members of the press. The inspiration for the Spring & tion. The feel of the materials is equally The new Spring & Summer 2017 col- Summer 17 Collection came from two rich in contrast, light fabrics like tulle lection, called Kaleidoscopia, stands for different eras: on the one hand, the col- and lace make for lightness, while colour diversity, playing with forms and ours and materials remind us of the late leather, suede and nappa as well as vel- being fascinated with magic. seventies with their disco flair as well vet and cork, bringing necessary Guests during the launch of Summer & Spring collection by Aigner. The kaleidoscope’s pattern reflects as of Studio 54 and on the other hand, coolness to the collection. Several awareness events to mark World Autism Day

The Peninsula

number of awareness activities will be held including walks and educational programmes at different places Athroughout April to educate people about autism and individuals living with the condition. Activities will be held to coincide World Autism Day on April 2 and Autism Awareness Month. The Ministry of Public Health and several other healthcare and educational institu- tions will organise awareness and recreational activities throughout April. The activities will include education for par- ents of children with autism, general public as well as training for healthcare professionals. Activities will highlight the impact Autism can have on individuals and their families. In 2007 the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution, tabled by Qatar and with the support of H H Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser, declaring April 2 as the official World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD). This year’s World Autism Awareness Month campaign in Qatar will begin with a family event organised on April 1 at Al Shaqab, Doha’s premier equestrian center, from 10am to 2 pm. Activities are open to all families impacted by autism; they will be able to enjoy horseback riding, sports and other recreational activities. Additional events will be organised by Hamad Med- ical Corporation, Primary Health Care Corporation, Sidra Medical and Research Center, World Health Innovation Sum- mit (WISH), Qatar Autism Families Association, Nomas Center under the Ministry of Culture and Sports, Renad Academy, Qatar Institute for Speech and Hearing (QISH), Ontario Center for Special Education, Step by Step Centre for special Needs, and Mind Institute. THURSDAY 30 MARCH 2017 HOME 07 More than 130 stalls cater to food lovers at QIFF

Raynald C Rivera festival under the theme “A dif- Mashal Shahbik, Director of champion of British food and enjoy special live cooking and din- The Peninsula Different side of food ferent side of food.” Festivals and Tourism Events family-style cooking is set to take ing experiences with Restaurants at hotels Festival-goers are spoilt for commented, “The QIFF Cooking to the stage for three consecu- internationally-acclaimed chefs. ood enthusiasts all over and malls which have options with a variety of signa- Theatre is a long-standing feature tive days. Fans can catch him Other attractions at the festi- Qatar and other GCC made their mark in the ture dining experiences including of the Festival and we are excited presenting live on Monday at val are the signature Live Cooking countries have extra culinary scene along Dinner in the Sky, Garden Pic- to bring it back this year with a 9pm then on Tuesday at 8pm and Theatre, fireworks display, and opportunity to enjoy with up and coming nics and High-Tea/Fine Dining. slew of world-renowned chefs. finally on Wednesday at 9pm. screenings of food-related and sampling some of the Food and beverages offered The variety of cuisines, skills and The QIFF Cooking Theatre international movies by Doha Film food outlets have Fbest culinary masterpieces in the at the stalls, food trucks and carts techniques offers something for will also feature chefs from and Institute, Siraj - Qatar Foun- joined this edition of country’s burgeoning food scene are priced between QR5 to QR35, everyone. It is truly a space for neighbouring countries such as dation’s new 3D animation as Qatar International Food Fes- the festival under the while Dinner in the sky is avail- connoisseurs and novices alike to Kuwaiti Cook, Fawaz AlOmaim edutainment TV series and tival (QIFF) opened its longest theme “A different able at QR500. learn all about how to handle, pre- and Queen of the Arabian Baraem shows by Jeem TV. edition yet yesterday. side of food.” Some the world’s top chefs are pare, cook, present and even Kitchen, Chef Manal Al Alem. Festival organisers have With over 130 food stalls, featured at QIFF Cooking Theatre photograph food.” Adding a dash of oriental spice, partnered with UBER to provide trucks and carts dotting the which attracts foodies from which runs live demonstrations Elliot, who is one of the most Indian celebrity Chef, Sanjeev registered QIFF-goers 20 per- 80,000sqm scenic Hotel Park neighbouring countries. daily from 4pm to 9.30pm. Food recognised cooks in America Kapoor will also appear on the cent discount using the which provides a fresh take on Restaurants at hotels and Network’s Andy Bates and Gra- today, will take to the Cooking Theatre. promocode QIFF2017 through- the festival’s eight-year journey malls which have made their ham Elliot are among the celebrity Theatre stage twice on the first A series of Chef’s Table events out the festival. Additionally, towards becoming the most mark in the culinary scene along chefs who will take to the stage to weekend of QIFF: tomorrow 8pm are being held at select five-star first-time users of the applica- anticipated and biggest culinary with up and coming food outlets share their secret ingredients and and again on Saturday at 7pm. hotel restaurants, giving residents tion will receive up to a QR40 off extravaganza in the country have joined this edition of the techniques. Later in the week, Bates, a and visitors an opportunity to on their first trip to the festival. Ministry to introduce changes in school timings Continued fom page 1 However, the ministry, in 2017/2018 academic year, will intro- duce some changes in the preparatory and primary schools timings and lessons. There will be change in the time allocated for sub- jects , break will be 30 minutes, and 20 minutes for prayer break. Participants at the 4th Humanities Conference. An addition of one hour will be made for social science sub- jects, two hours for visual arts, one Role of humanities in nation's hour for library mainly focusing on English and Arabic Language said Al Khater. One hour every week will be allocated for outdoor development vital: Expert activities and two for physical education and one hour for projects alternately between Eng- Officials attending the meeting. The Peninsula arrangements which is essential has is significant in terms of its lish and Science she stressed. for success of the conference. facilities, academic programmes The meeting comes within the framework subjects at the primary and preparatory levels he 4th Humanities Confer- The company pay significant and educational opportunities it of preparation for the next academic year 2017- will be adjusted next year together with the dis- ence under the theme “A attention to education and research has created for students. 2018 to discuss the optimal daily school tribution of the school timetable in the TNation in Transition” kicked sectors in line with goals of The first day sessions covered workflow, especially as the allocations for the aforementioned stages. off yesterday at the City Centre National Vision 2030 aiming to a number of issues related to Rotana, Doha. change Qatari society into knowl- nation in transition; including The conference is organised edge based society said Manar impact of Qatar Vision 2030 on by Community College of Qatar Khalifa Al Muraikhi, Director of changes and transition of the (CCQ) and attended by trustees Public Relation at Ooredoo. state, analytical concept for Arab council of the college, represent- Keynote speaker included US Spring, influence of social media atives from Qatar University, Ambassador to Qatar Dana Shell on societies at the stage of tran- Ooredoo, RasGas, QAPCO, and a Smith who delivered speech on sition, role of higher education in number of researchers in the a “How Qatar’s 2030 Vision will the transition process, role of area of humanities. affect transition in Qatar and women and Islamic view about In his opening speech, Dr beyond”. Smith highlighted the changes and transition, and lan- Ibrahim Al Naimi, President of development Qatar has witnessed guage policies at transitions. CCQ, emphasised the vital role of in the process of transition mov- The conference will continue humanities on nation’s develop- ing towards knowledge economy, today from 9:00 am to 3:0 pm ment, where Qatar has technology and big role for social focusing on women in the Islamic successfully managed to realise media opening wider dialogue World, transitions in the developed quality achievements in key sec- between peoples and impacting countries, influence of technology tors like education he said. political transitions in the world. on education, dialogue and setting He appreciated role of spon- She also lauded the development up policies encouraging economic sors of the conference for distinct of CCQ which according to her development.

Ministry recalls Mercede-Benz S Class model

The Peninsula

THE Ministry of Econ- omy and Commerce, in collaboration with Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles, dealer of Mercedes Benz vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Mercedes-Benz S Class 2016 model because the stud at the linkage of the trunk partition may not correspond to factory specification. The ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to pro- tect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs. The ministry said that it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will commu- nicate to the customers to ensure that the neces- sary repairs are carried out. 08 HOME THURSDAY 30 MARCH 2017

HBKU delegates QA Cargo flies 50 horses to Nebraska attend GALA

The Peninsula 2017 meet in Rare voyuage Amsterdam ifty of the finest Euro- The 50 horses on board pean equine guests the cargo carrier’s The Peninsula were treated with Boeing 777 freighter exceptional care and received world-class attention as they were TWO representatives from Ftransported to Eppley Airfield in treatment and expert Hamad Bin Khalifa Univer- Omaha, Nebraska, where the handling. sity gave presentations at this world’s best riders and horses On board the aircraft, week’s Globalisation and will compete at the Longines FEI an ambient Localisation Association World Cup Jumping and FEI temperature of 12 – 15 (GALA 2017) conference in World Cup Dressage Finals from Amsterdam, an event organ- degrees Celsius in the March 29 to 2 April. Qatar Air- ised by world’s leading trade cargo bay during the ways Cargo provided the utmost association for the language care and ensured the safety and flight ensured a industry. comfort of the horses through- comfortable journey for Nada out their journey from the horses travelling in Melhem Amsterdam to Omaha. their horse stalls. from The 50 horses on board the Transla- cargo carrier’s Boeing 777 tion and freighter received world-class said, “Qatar Airways Cargo Interpre- treatment and expert handling. accomplished another successful Qatar Airways Cargo staff taking a horse to the aircraft. tation Each horse stall on the freighter equine charter. We place great Institute was loaded with two horses, with emphasis on care and safety in live 777 freighter, chartered from especially horses. In 2016-17, the and modern fleet of freighters. (TII) and a total of 11 grooms accompany- animal transportation, particularly Amsterdam to Omaha. cargo carrier transported over Qatar Airways Cargo recently Majd ing the equine guests. The horses which require specialist Edwin Hofstede, Director at 2300 horses, a 10 per cent received its twelfth Boeing 777 Abbar (pictured) from Qatar freighter also carried 20 tonnes service and well-trained staff. We ECS Livestock B.V, the cargo car- increase over 2015-16. Qatar Air- freighter, offering increased Computing Research Institute of equine equipment. On board offer personalised solutions, high rier’s customer said, “Transporting ways Cargo transports a variety capacity and access to any major (QCRI) presented their ideas the aircraft, an ambient temper- quality operations and an excel- the horses globally is always a of animals in accordance with air freight market across the at the event. ature of 12 – 15 degrees Celsius lent record of on-time delivery, challenge and involves proper International Air Transport Asso- world. Melhem’s short talk, titled in the cargo bay during the flight making us premier carrier of live coordination between all con- ciation (IATA) Live Animal The cargo carrier will receive “Creating a Remote Interpret- ensured a comfortable journey animals.” cerned involved. The successful Regulations. Horses are trans- another Boeing 777 freighter ing Unit for Education City for the horses travelling in their Leveraging its world-class charter is testament to Qatar Air- ported primarily between the later this year, increasing its (Qatar)”, explored the ration- horse stalls. The cargo carrier product QR Live, Qatar Airways ways Cargo’s wealth of experience Middle East and Europe, and freighter fleet to a total of 22 air- ale behind creation of such a will also fly equine superstars Cargo transported over 2,300 in transporting star-performing between Europe and the USA. craft by the end of 2017. Qatar unit, the challenges and diffi- back to Amsterdam after the FEI horses in the past 12 months. horses around the world.” QR Charter service offers Airways Cargo was also awarded culties faced during planning World Cup Finals. 50 thoroughbreds were Qatar Airways Cargo has quality, reliable and cost-effec- Global Cargo Airline of the Year phase, the phases leading to Ulrich Ogiermann, Chief flown in exceptional comfort on seen a recent upsurge in the tive global charter solutions award at Air Cargo Africa in Feb- pilot remote interpreting ses- Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways Qatar Airways Cargo’s Boeing transportation of live animals, through cargo carrier’s young ruary this year. sion, and what needs to be done to change mindset of interpreters and event organ- isers about effectiveness of remote interpreting compared Bedaya holds Mehna Café gathering to other traditional interpret- ing equipment. The Peninsula Al Obaidly, Director of Doha professions. During each session, Abbar’s presentation Fire Station “Matafi” offered the center hosts a professional included full suite of advanced edaya Center for Entrepre- insights into how he pursued his who talks about the different Arabic language technologies, neurship and Career passion for photography along aspects of his/her profession. The specifically NLP, machine BDevelopment (Bedaya with his daily job. He spoke on programme aims to help those translation, segmentation, Center), a joint initiative by Qatar how he transformed this hobby who are interested in a particu- parsing, normalisation, diacri- Development Bank and Silatech, into a profession, which took him lar career and to meet a pioneer tisation, speech recognition held its second Mehna Café (career one step closer to universality. He to have a closer look on their pro- among others and some of the café) meet, recently. The event was also discussed in length different fession that would help them implementations in real-world held at café #999 at Doha Fire Sta- types of photography like fash- define their options in line with solutions, and reliance on tion “Matafi”, and included a ion, nature and wild life, black their future aspirations.” machine learning for all the session with professional photog- and white, travel and adventure Commenting on the event, technologies presented. rapher Khalifa Al Obaidli. and aerial shots. He offered the Khalifa Al Obaidly said:” I am “QCRI is one of the top Al Obaidly highlighted differ- audience tips and technics that delighted to attend this session of research institutes in the ent aspects in art of photography will help them improve their pho- Mehna Café and meet up with a world dealing with Arabic like - how to harness technology tography skills. bunch of interested young peo- language technologies, so I to give a message to the viewer On the occasion, Reem Al ple who want to pursue a career was pleased to showcase in a technical and artistic format, Suwaidi, General Manager of in photography, which in my these technologies at the big- the diverse characteristics that Bedaya Center, said,” Mehna Café opinion is becoming very popu- gest language solutions Guests and participants at the second Mehna Café meet may help a photographer in cap- (career café) is one of Bedaya’s lar in our community. It was a conference,” Abbar said. organised by Bedaya Center. turing the best shot such as latest programmes designed to unique, interesting and out of “There was great interest in angles, lights, lenses and others. highlight all careers and ordinary gathering. ” what was presented.” HMC announces keynote speakers for ME Forum

The Peninsula past 30 years, he has been delegates with a unique view on teaching and conducting working with technology and amad Medical Corpora- research on risk reduction and how risks can be managed. tion (HMC) has reliability enhancement of com- Dr Ron Wyatt, HMC’s Chief Hannounced two keynote plex technological systems, Quality Officer said: “When we speakers for this year’s Middle including nuclear power, avia- think about quality and safety in East Forum on Quality and Safety tion, petrochemical, and healthcare, we often think about in Healthcare who will offer del- transportation industries. it from the view of a healthcare egates different perspective on He was technical advisor on provider. Whilst this is helpful and healthcare provision. two national panels in the a lot can be learned through One of the keynote speak- United States investigating speaking with colleagues, shar- ers is a life-long patient, Tiffany major recent accidents: The ing best practice and lessons Christensen, who was diagnosed NAS/NRC Committee “Lessons learned. But it won’t give us the with cystic fibrosis when she Learned from the Fukushima full picture. We need to under- was six-months old. At 12 years Nuclear Accident for Improving stand the patient perspective to of age, she had her first stay in Safety and Security of US be able to continuously improve Maldova's Ambassador to Qatar, Valeriu Tihonov (left), with General Manager of Cultural a hospital. She has lived with Nuclear Plants” (2012-2014); quality of care we provide. I am chronic, acute and terminal ill- and the NAE/NRC “Committee delighted that Tiffany is speaking Village Foundation- Katara, Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti. ness – overcoming obstacles. on the Analysis of Causes of the at this year’s Forum and I know Christensen has written two Deepwater Horizon Explosion, delegates will find her talk books and presented over a Fire, and Oil Spill to Identify inspiring. Moldovan Ambassador visits Katara thousand lectures to healthcare Measures to Prevent Similar “We are also lucky to have providers, patients, and fami- Accidents in the Future” Professor Meshkati sharing his The Peninsula people from all walks of life. In Dr Al Sulaiti exuded his appreci- lies. She works to better connect (2010-2011). insights on human technical addition, the ambassador, ation and gratitude to the healthcare systems and patients, Professor Meshkati has interface. He has worked to inves- he General Manager of recalled previous success of a Moldovan Ambassador, for the helping patients, and their fam- inspected several petrochemical tigate some of the most infamous Cultural Village Founda- concert by Moldovan traditional latter’s keen interest in encour- ilies, navigate physical, and nuclear power plants around technological incidents of recent Ttion- Katara, Dr Khalid bin performers at Katara in June aging efforts of Katara, by emotional, and spiritual terrain the world, including Chernobyl times and hearing from him will Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, met Ambas- 2014, proposed a similar cultural extending proposals for more they face. She will share her (1997), Fukushima Daiichi, and be invaluable to gain better sador of Republic of Moldova to event presenting the Moldovan Moldovan concerts and perform- experience at the conference Daini (2012). He has worked with understanding of risks that can Qatar, Valeriu Tihonov, yester- culture in-the-near-future. ances at the Cultural Village. with the aim of bridging gap the US Chemical Safety and Haz- arise through human interactions day with an aim to boost mutual The Moldovan envoy praised Katara’s chief added, “The between patient perspective and ard Investigation Board as an with technology,” Dr. Wyatt said. ties amongst the cultural enti- unceasing efforts of Cultural Vil- proposals will be taken into seri- the provider experience. expert on human factors and The fifth Middle East Forum ties in both countries. lage Foundation- Katara to ous consideration, as Katara is Another speaker on safety safety culture and on the investi- on Quality and Safety in Health- During the visit, Valeriu expose the public to various cul- keen on building communica- is Professor Najmedin Meshkati, gation of the BP Refinery care will take place from May 5 Tihonov said the Cultural Vil- tures from the region and beyond. tion bridges with the aim of an expert on interface between explosion in Texas City (2005). to 7, 2017 at Qatar National Con- lage Foundation- Katara acts as General Manager of the Cul- sharing culture, heritage and humans and technology. For the He will be able to provide vention Centre, Doha. a cultural hub that connects tural Village Foundation- Katara, traditions of all countries.” THURSDAY 30 MARCH 2017 HOME 09 QC launches emergency relief campaign in Kenya

The Peninsula Initiative praised He pointed out that thou- sands of families in many s a part of their on- David Nkedianye, provinces of Kenya suffer from going efforts, Qatar Kajiado Governor, said a difficult humanitarian situa- Charity (QC) QC’s generous aid to tion as a result of losing launched an emer- drought-affected livelihood sources such as live- gency relief campaign people in Kajiado has stock that died of drought. Mr. inA Kenya aimed at providing food flared up hope among Omar also mentioned that the and medical supplies to at least the local residents and campaign benefited 1300 fami- 10,000 people in the most affected helped the people in lies, and provided them with provinces by the drought. the region. food aid. Within this campaign, The campaign was launched which targeted 10,000 people, at a ceremony attended by Ali bin they offered medical services to Abdullah Al Abdullah, the chargé intervention to confront Kenya’s more than 1000 people and they d’affaires for Qatar, the Gover- drought obviously reflects the promise to continue their efforts nor of Kajiado Province, other strong relationship between the in this field. It is worth mention- officials and a large number of two peoples, depicts the opti- ing that this relief campaign is residents. mised image of humanitarian the second relief work carried Prasing the humanitarian brotherhood, and expresses the out by the Office in Kenya dur- intervention, David Nkedianye, generosity of Qatar, both people ing the past three months. Kajiado Governor, said that QC’s and government, who is used to In response to the drought intervention, through this emer- do great favors through the crisis in the region, QC has gency relief campaign, takes humanitarian and development implemented a drinking water place at an appropriate time due projects which have been a great distribution project benefiting to the magnitude of the damage help indeed for the Kenyan peo- 3,600 residents of the cities of caused by the drought in more ple. “We are all very grateful for Baidoa and Buurhakaba and the than one Kenyan province. the Qatari people and the gov- neighboring villages, which suf- He mentioned that QC’s gen- ernment for their support in this fer from severe drinking water erous aid to drought-affected huge crisis.”, he concluded. shortages resulted in the death people in Kajiado has flared up of many people. hope inside the residents and A HARSH SITUATION Believing that water is the helped the region’s residents, who Mohammed Hussain Omar, pulse of life, QC has used three have begun to migrate seeking the QC’s Regional Office Director, tankers to supply the residents main necessities of life after los- assured that QC’s relief campaign with water throughout the period ing their livestock and failing to was a part of their enormous before the rainy season, and this cultivate their fields because of efforts in Horn of Africa to help is a motive for settling-down for water scarcity, settle again. drought-affected people, espe- the population of the most He added that QC’s cially in Kenya and Somalia. affected region. People getting aid from the Qatar Charity's relief campaign. GSC programe focuses exclusively on Gulf region WPS helps reduce The Peninsula issues related to GCC countries, and advance a level of scholar- ounded in 2011, the Gulf ship on Gulf issues that is hours long duty Studies Center (GSC) at much-needed at this time. He FQatar University College of said: “Students have the unprec- Arts and Sciences (QU-CAS) is edented opportunity to engage of workers committed to advancing cutting- with leading academics and edge research and scholarship practitioners in the field through on the Gulf region. The Center classes and coursework, confer- Sanaullah Ataullah The employers told The offers faculty and students a rare ences, special seminars, guest The Peninsula Peninsula that they noticed opportunity to be exposed to lectures, research and extracur- significant improvement in academic research in the field ricular activities.” he Wage Protec- the productivity of labour- of Gulf studies. Dr Mahjoob Zweiri further tion System ers due to cut of overtime The GSC engages in interdis- Dr Abdullah Baabood Dr Mahjoob Zweiri noted that both programs draw (WPS), success- duty and mandatory weekly ciplinary, Gulf-focused studies on an interdisciplinary curricu- fully implemented rest. and research in three main areas: the GSC developed further and to one of world’s most rapidly lum to provide a holistic by the Ministry of “It is natural that a fresh Energy and Economics, Politics established a Research Center developing regions while instill- examination of the member TAdministrative Develop- and healthy worker to be and Security, and Social Issues. in the Fall of 2013.” ing a solid foundation for lifelong states of the Gulf Cooperation ment, Labour and Social more productive than when Led by the director Dr Abdullah The MA and PhD programs learning. They also provide stu- Council (GCC) as well as Iran, Affairs has forced employ- they have fatigue and rest- Baabood, the Center offers a MA were developed in response to dents with internship and Iraq and Yemen. T ers to stop the practice of less,” said a site manager of and a PhD programs in Gulf Stud- growing need among stakehold- assistantship opportunities on a PhD student Buthaina long overtime working a construction company. ies. Registration for both programs ers in the region for highly competitive basis to gain work Alkhelaifi said: “The Gulf Studies hours, which leaves work- “My company is very strict started on January 2 and will con- qualified graduates in field of Gulf experience and off-set tuition program provides us with an ers exhausted at the end of on implementing the rules tinue until April 3, 2017. studies and vastly growing gen- costs, preparing them to excel in opportunity to learn many new the day, say industry sources. regarding the overtime duty As the Gulf countries emerge eral interest and focus on Gulf their future professional and aspects about the GCC region. It Several companies have and Friday off. We have only major international players, region, Dr Abdullah Baabood said. academic pursuits.” also prepares us to help our coun- been forced to hire addi- two hours overtime and there is a growing need for in- He added: “The programs aim to Dr Mahjoob Zweiri noted the tries to find answers to challenges tional workers to reduce the rarely take the workers to depth research and scholarship provide students with an in-depth MA (launched in Fall 2011) and and issues in the region.” hours-long overtime work, the site on Friday. And Fri- on the Gulf, Dr Abdullah Baa- and interdisciplinary understand- PhD (launched in Fall 2015) are MA student Betul Dogan said: following some provisions day duty is optional. Some bood said, adding, “the field of ing of issues related to the the first of their kind in the “The Gulf Studies program offers in the Labour Law that have workers even wanted to Gulf studies is one that is wide- contemporary states of the Gulf.” region. “The programs offer stu- given opportunity to learn in an restricted regular work work on off day to earn ranging from issues of politics Commenting on the pro- dents a unique opportunity to international environment. Eve- hours at maximum eight additional money but we and regional security, labor grams, GSC Associate Professor study the Gulf while living in the ryone brings a different voice to hours and overtime work at would not send unless there migration and education to in Contemporary History and region itself”, he said. the classroom discussions. This maximum two hours. were some urgency. The resource management and sus- Politics Dr Mahjoob Zweiri said: He also noted that the pro- is really important for both local “WPS requires compa- management realised the tainable development. Due to “The MA and PhD programs in grams provide an advanced and international students as it nies to submit payment benefit for giving proper rest the increasing regional and glo- Gulf Studies provide students interdisciplinary understanding helps them to develop their cul- sheet in detail including to workers as it is in the bal interest in this strategic area, with opportunities to contribute and in-depth knowledge of ture and communication skills.” wages and overtimes of their favour of the company,” he workers on monthly basis in added. a very transparent way,” Workers expressed their manger of a construction satisfation over the new company told The move of the companies. NTSC meet discusses plan Peninsula. “Gone are days when we “No company could dare worked for long hours com- to enhance traffic safety to tamper with the payment pletely tired and worn out. sheets, else, they would be Now some workers wish to get caught by the system. The overtime duty during working The Peninsula companies are afraid that days and off day to make extra they could be black listed money,” said Ramu Kharbind, he first meeting of the media and awareness team of banning them to recruit new a Nepali worker of a major National Traffic Safety Committee (NTSC) was held workers. They have no other construction company accom- Tat Public Works Authority (Ashghal) Tower to discuss option except to limit the modating in Labour City told plan related to enhancing traffic safety. overtime hours as per the The Peninsula. The meeting was attended by General Secretary of the law,” said the manager. “Now we have only two National Committee for Traffic Safety Brigadier Mohamed “We have hired about 20 hours overtime and gradu- Al Malki and Brigadier Mohammed Marafi, Director, Traf- percent more workers in a ally it will be gone because fic Safety and Engineering Department in addition to number bid to cut the overtime to summer is coming,” said of representative from authorities concerned. two hours as per the rule. Mohamad Husain, an Indian Al Malki gave a brief about new team and its impor- The additional workers worker. tance, mentioning that the first phase of the strategy had helped us to do a complete Regarding new rules completed 70 plans which aimed at reducing traffic acci- shut-down of work-site on issued for the welfare of dents and deaths. “The meetings which recently held by Friday giving a weekly off to workers, Husain said “we the committee resulted of establishing a number of teams the workers. Earlier we were saw significant changes in like traffic accidents team and traffic investigation and traf- forced to run the site on the situation of workers. We fic jam team,” Al Malki added. weekly off days with full or are being provided comfort- He also mentioned that they have hosted a number half capacity because of able accommodation, experts from Sweden because it was among the best coun- workload . Now we send cooked foods, AC buses and tries in field of awareness and traffic engineering. only few workers on Friday salary on time. Now it is The attendees have stressed upon the importance of for works in case of much better from the past,” using social media in the raising awareness because ‘it is urgency,” said the manger. he added. Officials at the first meeting of National Trafic Safety Committee. very close to people especially youth’. 10 HOME THURSDAY 30 MARCH 2017

RAF dispatches urgent aid to drought-hit Kenya

The Peninsula were distributed to the benefi- shortage of food leading to deaths ciaries. They were also provided and malnutrition on a large scale. heikh Thani bin Abdul- clean drinking water though People have been leaving lah Foundation for water tankers. their homes to neighbouring cit- Humanitarian Services The aid distribution covered ies by foot causing health (RAF) has started dis- five areas including Ijara, problems and malnutrition, patching urgent Haluqu, Sangailu, Wafati and especially among children and Shumanitarian aid to drought-hit Tanariva that came under Karisia senior citizens. African countries. province, north-east of Kenya. RAF conducted a survey in The RAF has already allo- The baskets comprised basic collaboration with Al Furqan cated QR2m for the initiative food items for a family compris- organization, its partner in Kenya, under a massive programme to ing five to seven members for at to find out the most affected areas help the affected people fighting least three months. It included and assess the needs of people. A RAF team inspecting food baskets at a distribution centre in Kenya. for survival in Somalia, Kenya rice, sugar, flour, edible oil, milk Priority was given to places hav- and Ethiopia. powder, salt among others. ing big number of children, people response to a social programme are facing food security problem Corn is the main food for Kenyans Under phase-I of the project, RAF started the projects in with disabilities, patients requir- for urgent aid after the declara- and the number of children, and they were forced to move to more than 5,000 people received these areas because they were the ing urgent treatments. They were tion of emergency on February 10, pregnant women, and breast different areas looking for water. food baskets and clean water at worst hit due to lack of rain for provided food baskets, drinking 2017 in 23 provinces of Kenya of feeding mothers suffering from They lost their cattle due to lack five places in Kenya. A team from past several years. A large number water in collaboration with local a total 47 provinces hit by drought. malnutrition reached 357,000. of water and fodder. RAF supervised the distribution of animals died and crops in large authority under the supervision According to the report of UN The production of corn The campaign aims at col- of aid. areas were destroyed due to of a RAF team. Human Rights Office issued on reduced by 99 percent in coastal lecting QR5m to provide aid to More than 700 food baskets drought. There was a severe The initiative was launched in February 2017, more than 2.7m areas of Kenya due to the drought. the people battling for survival. Four water wells dug in Morocco

heikh Thani bin Abdullah Founda- near the wells for the storage of water tion for Humanitarian Services and to supply it to neighboring houses. S(RAF) has dug four surface-water More than 250 homes received water wells in the rural areas of Morocco. connection from a single well. The well More than 1,000 poor families ben- will also provide water to small farms. efited from the project. A delegation led The villagers walked for long to by Dr Ayed bin Dabssan Al Qahtani, bring water, said Dr Ibrhaim Talwi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and Chairman of Al Salam Social Develop- General Director of RAF, inaugurated ment Association, RAF’s partner in the project. Morocco. The project provided drink- The project was financed by the ing water to the residents and saved the Endowment Fund of Sheikh Thani bin time of children who often reached their Abdullah for charity works. schools late as they went to fetch water, Cemented water tanks were built said Talwi. 4 million textbooks distributed to Syrian refugee students

Dr Ayed bin Dabssan Al Qahtani, Chairman, Board of Trustees and General Director, RAF, handing over a bag of textbooks to a Syrian child in Turkey.

The Peninsula Al Qahtani was speaking at to provide educational facilities a ceremony held in Turkey to to Syrian students in the past six AF has supplied four mil- mark the achievement of the years. More than 413,000 Syr- lion textbooks at a cost of project. The event was attended ian students displaced inside the RQR8.2m to Syrian students by Mehmet Gormez, Head of country and those taking shel- sheltering in Turkey. Turkey's Religious Affairs ter in neighbouring countries More than 314,000 students Directorate. benefited from the projects. benefited from the project in 22 The project was imple- The move came in line with governorates of Turkey. mented by RAF’ office in Turkey the initiative of Qatar for pro- The initiative was part of the in collaboration with Turkish viding educational opportunities massive educational projects religious endowment under the to 400,000 Syrian refugees and launched by RAF for Syrian ref- supervision of Turkish Educa- those displaced inside the ugees. It is aimed at providing tion Ministry. country. educational opportunities to The textbooks covered all The "Qatar Upholding Edu- Syrian students who dropped types of syllabus required for cation for Syrians' Trust, QUEST, out of schools due to displace- 314,000 students of Syrian ref- initiative was announced in Sep- ment and those seeking asylum ugees for all school grades tember last year. The initiative abroad, said Dr Ayed bin Dab- including primary, preparatory aims at ensuring that children and ssan Al Qahtani, Chairman, and secondary. The books cov- young people who have suffered Board of Trustees, and General ered subjects like Arabic in the Syrian war are able to get Director, RAF. language, science, mathemat- the necessary education and skills The project was financed by ics, chemistry, and physics, that enable them to move to for- the endowment fund of Sheikh among others. mal education and find good jobs Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani for The RAF has implemented in the future to be active mem- charity works, he added. 23 projects at a cost of QR18.4m bers of their community. THURSDAY 30 MARCH 2017 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA 11

King Salman Four Syrian invites Egyptian President to towns to be Saudi Arabia Cairo Reuters evacuated ustodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Sal- Cman bin Abdulaziz Al 30,000 to benefit The deal reached late Tues- Saud of Saudi Arabia has day involves Zabadani and invited Egyptian President The residents of Madaya, besieged by regime Abdel Fattah Al Sisi to visit his Zabadani, Madaya, fighters near Damascus, and country, a public show of Fuaa, and Kafraya are Shia-majority Fuaa and Kafraya good relations following to quit their in northwest Syria that are months of tension between hometowns over the encircled by rebels. the Arab world’s most popu- course of 60 days Such evacuations have lous state and its richest. starting next week. been touted by President Sisi welcomed the invita- Bashar Al Assad as a way to end tion and in turn invited King his country's six-year war, but Salman back, his office said Syrian Arab Red Crescent members and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) yesterday inspect the The agreement is his opponents say the regime in a statement yesterday. damage to the Tabqa Dam which has been recently partially recaptured by US-backed SDF as expected to involve is redrawing Syria's map with The two leaders met at an part of their battle for the Islamic State group's stronghold in nearby Raqqa. more than 30,000 forced displacement. Arab summit in Jordan and people, the Syrian The conflict has killed more discussed improving rela- Observatory for than 320,000 people and Zabadani would empty the towns government, said a total of initial agreement, has admitted tions, the statement said. The forced millions more from their completely. 16,000 people would quit Fuaa that the "tit-for-tat arrangement" two countries have disagreed Human Rights said. homes. Part of the Yarmuk Palestin- and Kafraya "in two waves." has complicated efforts to get aid over Syria and the transfer of In the central city of Homs, ian camp south of Damascus is "Everyone will be evacuated. in. The UN's humanitarian office two Red Sea islands from where evacuations from the last also to be evacuated. They will be transported by in Damascus said that it was not Egypt to Saudi Arabia. Beirut rebel-held district resumed last "The evacuations are not ground via Aleppo, then to Lata- involved in the negotiations, “King Salman promised AFP month, a bomb struck a bus expected to begin until April 4 kia and Damascus," he said while the Syrian Arab Red Cres- to visit Egypt in the very near yesterday, killing five people, but, as a goodwill measure, a yesterday. At least 600,000 peo- cent confirmed it would take part future based on an invitation our Syrian towns are state media said. ceasefire for the towns came into ple are living under siege in Syria, in evacuations. from President Abdel Fattah to be evacuated under The Observatory, a British- effect overnight," said Observa- according to the United Nations, The new deal also stipulates Al Sisi,” the statement also an agreement based monitor, said the tory chief Rami Abdel Rahman, with another four million people that Syria's government release said. between pro-govern- residents of Zabadani, Madaya, adding that the truce would last in so-called "hard-to-reach" 1,500 prisoners held for political Even though officials ment forces and Fuaa, and Kafraya are to quit nine months. areas. activism since the uprising began from both sides have denied Frebels, in the latest of a series their hometowns over the Islamist rebels in the north- The four towns are part of an in 2011 but gives no time frame. the existence of tensions or of deals to end crippling years- course of 60 days starting next west province of Idlib have existing deal reached in 2015 that The regime has been accused disagreements between the long sieges. week. approved the deal, under which has seen simultaneous evacua- by rights groups of the torture two countries, the two have The agreement is expected All of the residents of Fuaa 32,000 people are expected to tions and aid deliveries, the last and summary executions of thou- been at odds on a number of to involve more than 30,000 and Kafraya are expected to be evacuated, Abdel Raman said. of which took place in sands of people in its prisons and political issues. people, the Syrian Observatory leave, while it was unclear if the Hassan Sharaf, who is coor- November. intelligence services Egypt voted in favour of for Human Rights said. evacuations of Madaya and dinating the deal on behalf of the The UN, which oversaw the headquarters. a Russian-backed but Saudi- opposed UN resolution on Syria in October, which excluded calls to stop bomb- ing Aleppo. South Africa ruling party split over finance minister's fate In January an Egyptian court rejected a government plan to transfer two uninhab- Johannesburg sources said. But Deputy Presi- the backing of the top six ANC Zuma ordered Gordhan to aban- his fate. The currency then ited Red Sea islands to Saudi Reuters dent Cyril Ramaphosa, members to fire ministers, open don an investor roadshow in weakened as much as 0.5 per- Arabia. Secretary-General Gwede Man- criticism might undermine his Britain and fly home. Zuma has cent. After attending Kathrada’s The Kingdom agreed in outh Africa’s ruling African tashe and Treasurer-General own position within the party. not given a reason for the recall. funeral, Gordhan said that he will April last year to provide National Congress party is Zweli Mkhize want Gordhan to “The three have told Zuma The rand extended losses “open a new chapter” of his life Egypt with 700,000 tonnes Ssplit at the top over whether remain and have expressed their he’s making a mistake,” a senior early yesterday as speculation if speculation that Zuma is set to of refined oil products a Finance Minister Pravin Gord- opinion to Zuma, according to party source said. As Gordhan’s grew Zuma would sack Gordhan sack him possibly later in the day month for five years, but the han should be sacked, sources the sources. future hung in the balance, more after the funeral of anti-apart- proves correct. cargoes stopped arriving in said yesterday. The rift at the top comes volatile trading in the rand cur- heid hero Ahmed Kathrada and “You deal with it in a profes- early October. President Jacob Zuma wants amid party divisions over the rency underlined his reputation a cabinet meeting due in the sional way ... and if one is told Shipments resumed this to replace Gordhan and has the finance minister's plans to rein as an emblem of South Africa’s afternoon. It later strengthened one’s services are not required month, however, and Egypt’s support of party Chairwoman in spending as the economy stag- stability among investors. against the dollar in response to any longer, that’s the end of one Petroleum Ministry said they Baleka Mbete and Deputy Sec- nates, analysts say. Local assets have been under the first media reports that the chapter, and we open a new had only been stopped for retary-General Jessie Duarte, the While Zuma does not need pressure since Monday when party’s leadership was split over chapter,” he said. commercial reasons.

Saudi police Anti-apartheid icon laid to rest Iraq forces edge shoot dead two gunmen closer to mosque Mosul City area, where militants are Riyadh Reuters hiding among residents and AFP using the alleyways, traditional raqi special forces and family homes and snaking audi police shot dead police fought Islamic State narrow roads to their two gunmen after they Imilitants to edge closer to advantage, fleeing residents Sopened fire on security the Al Nuri mosque in western say. forces during a raid in a flash- Mosul yesterday, tightening “Federal police forces have point Shia community, the their control around the land- imposed full control over the interior ministry said mark site in the battle to Qadheeb Al Ban area and the yesterday. recapture Iraq’s second city. Al Malab sports stadium in the Four other Saudis who The close-quarters fighting western wing of Old Mosul and also had "criminal records is focused on the Old City are besieging militants around and have taken part in terror surrounding the mosque, the Al Nuri mosque,” federal acts" were arrested following where Islamic State leader Abu police chief Lieutenant General Helpers put the body of late South African anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada into the clash on Tuesday morn- Bakr Al Baghdadi proclaimed Raed Shaker Jawdat said in a ing, the ministry said in a the grave as South African ruling party African National Congress (ANC) leadership, a caliphate nearly three years statement. statement carried by state opposition leaders, and family members attend the funeral at the Westpark Cemetery in ago across territory controlled Rapid Response elite news agency SPA. Police Johannesburg, South Africa, yesterday. The funeral of the celebrated anti-apartheid activist by the group in both Iraq and interior ministry troops were found ammunition near the was transformed into a rally against President Zuma, who had been barred from the event. Syria. advancing on the edge of the town of Awamiya. Thousands of residents Old City, clambering over have fled from IS-held areas garden walls. Islamic State inside Mosul, the militants’ responded with rocket fire, biggest remaining stronghold streaking the sky with white in Iraq. But tens of thousands smoke plumes. Bahrain court sentences two citizens to death more are still trapped inside “There are teams going into homes, caught in the fighting, the Old City since yesterday,” shelling and air strikes as Iraqi said Rapid Response official Dubai terms ranging from six months been among a group detained caused by the blast. forces backed by a US-led Abd Al Amir. Reuters to 10 years, while two more were in connection with an explosion The rulings are subject to coalition advance in the west. Iraqi troops shot down at cleared, the prosecutor said in a the previous month outside a appeal. Helicopters circling west least one suspected IS drone. Bahraini court yesterday statement. girls school in Sitra village, east Bahrain in January exe- Mosul strafed IS positions The militants have been using sentenced two citizens to The Al Wasat newspaper of the capital Manama, that cuted three men convicted of beyond the city train station, small commercial models to Adeath over a 2015 bomb identified the two men sen- killed two policemen and killing three policemen, includ- the site of heavy back-and- spy and drop munitions on attack that killed two police tenced to death as Mohammed wounded six. ing an officer from the United forth fighting in recent days, Iraqi military positions. officers and wounded six oth- Ibrahim Al Touq and Moham- The court also revoked the Arab Emirates, in a 2014 bomb and thick black smoke rose With the battle entering the ers, the public prosecutor said. med Qadhi Abdullah. citizenship of eight members attack. into the sky, Reuters reporters densely populated areas of The High Criminal Court also They had been named in an of the group and ordered seven They were the first such exe- on the ground said. western Mosul, civilian sentenced five other people to August 2015 report by state others to pay 6,640 dinar cutions in over two decades and Heavy sustained gunfire casualties are becoming more life in jail and 15 more to prison news agency BNA as having ($17,616) to cover damages led to protests in the country. could be heard from the Old of a risk. 12 VIEWS THURSDAY 30 MARCH 2017

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI [email protected]

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected]

EDITORIAL Justice for Palestinians

he one-day Arab League summit held in Amman yesterday will be remembered for bringing the Palestinian issue to the fore at Ta time when the Arab world is facing multiple challenges and conflicts. The leaders reaffirmed their strong commitment to a two- state solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict amid Arab summit to endorse Palestinian growing unease over the stance of the newly elected US President Donald Trump who infamously upended the decades-old US policy on Middle East with his unequivocal support for Israel. Trump had infuriated positions with eye on United States Arab countries in February indicating that he was open to even a one-state solution, which came after two other controversial decisions from him: a plan to resolutions, several dealing with Mosques King Salman bin shift the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Karin Laub & Mohammed the Palestinian issue. The state- Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia ments, subject to last-minute slipped out of the summit session Jerusalem, and the appointment of David Friedman Daraghmeh AP as the new US ambassador to Israel. Friedman is so change, were previously endorsed for face-to-face talks, signaling an controversial (he supports the most extreme elements by Arab foreign ministers. The attempt at possible reconciliation. in Israel’s settler movement) even ordinary Jews have draft resolutions condemn Israeli A photo handout by the Egyp- opposed his nomination. Tens of thousands of liberal policies, including settlement con- tian delegation showed the two American Jews signed a petition opposing his rab leaders held their annual struction, that are “aimed at leaders sitting next to each other in nomination, and many Jewish organisations also summit yesterday, poised to endorse key Pal- eliminating the two-state solution white cushion chairs. objected. estinian positions in the conflict with Israel and replacing it with apartheid.” Relations between the two The Palestinian issue was the highest on the — a signal to President Donald Trump that a They also warned against mov- countries have been tense in agenda at the summit, which is a remarkable deal on Palestinian statehood must precede ing diplomatic missions to recent months. Saudi Arabia is a anyA Israeli-Arab normalization. The Palestinian quest for contested Jerusalem, whose east- leading supporter of the Syrian achievement considering that the issue has been on the backburner for some time after repeated attempts independence also served as a showcase for Arab unity ern sector is sought by the opposition, while Egypt, fearful of to restart the peace process failed, even as some Arab in a fractured region, where leaders find themselves on Palestinians as a capital. Trump Islamic militants among the rebels’ opposite sides of long-running conflicts, particularly Syr- has said he would move the US ranks, has pushed for a political countries plunged into ia’s six-year-old civil war. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, but solution that might keep Assad in turmoil. The renewed The 21 kings, presidents and top officials gathered relocation no longer appears power. interest would help on the Jordanian side of the Dead Sea, with a clear view imminent. change the narrative in The Arab League of the Israeli-occupied West Bank on the opposite Jordan’s king told the summit’s has brought favour of Palestine. shore. opening session that there can be the Palestinian Addressing the leaders, Despite demands for urgent political reform to no peace or stability in the region the summit host, King issue to the fore tackle the region’s challenges, including high unem- without setting up a Palestinian Abdullah II ofJordan said: ployment and widespread gender inequality, the optics state alongside Israel. Jordan has a by reaffirming “Israel is continuing to of the summit signalled business as usual. The leaders large Palestinian population and its commitment expand settlements and around the conference table were all men, most of them also serves as custodian of a major to a two-state wreck chances of peace ... elderly. Muslim-run shrine in Jerusalem There is no peace or The Palestinian quest solution. Syrian President Bashar Assad was absent — he that is also Judaism’s holiest site. stability in the region hasn’t been invited since Syria’s suspension from the The Al Aqsa Mosque compound, for independence also without a just and 22-member Arab League following his crackdown on a known to Jews as the Temple served as a showcase comprehensive solution to 2011 uprising that quickly turned into a brutal civil war. Mount, has been a scene of fre- for Arab unity in a the Palestinian cause The gathering came ahead of White House meetings quent Israeli-Palestinian tensions, through a two-state solution.” There are also reports in coming weeks between Trump and three Arab lead- including clashes. fractured region, where that the Arab League is considering revival of the old ers — Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Egyptian President Palestinians fear Israel wants leaders find themselves Arab Peace Initiative which calls for full Israeli Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and Palestinian President Mah- to divide it, a charge Israel denies. on opposite sides of withdrawal from the Arab territories occupied in 1967 moud Abbas. Jordan’s monarch said “we will long-running conflicts, in return for “normal relations” between Israel and Trump hasn’t yet formulated a policy on the Israeli- continue to fight any attempts to the Arab states. Palestinian conflict, but has suggested the change the status quo” at the site. particularly Syria’s six- As Trump and his team begin the work on a internationally backed idea of a two-state solution isn’t The Egyptian president and the year-old civil war. solution to the conflict which is certain to be tilted in the only option on the table. His international envoy, Custodian of the Two Holy favour of Israel, a united Arab position can help Jason Greenblatt, held meetings with Abbas and the for- protect the interest of Palestinians. As President eign ministers of Qatar and Egypt on the sidelines of the Mahmoud Abbas said at the summit, he Israeli summit. government has been working on wrecking the two- The Palestinians want to set up a state in the West state solution since 2009 by accelerating the Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem, lands Israel cap- construction of settlements and the confiscation of tured in the 1967 Mideast war. land. Yesterday, the leaders were expected to reaffirm a Trump is still vague on his plans for any peace 2002 Arab peace plan that offers Israel normalization deal and the negotiation skills of the president have with dozens of Arab and Muslim countries if it cedes the come under a cloud after the healthcare reform war-won lands for the creation of a Palestinian state. This would undercut Israel’s proposal of a regional fiasco. Any deal, to be called a deal, would require the peace in which normalization with some Arab countries consent of all parties involved. And no leader can sign would precede a deal with the Palestinians. a deal that tramples on the rights of his people. Abbas objects to reopening the Arab plan to negoti- ations, fearing it would further weaken the Palestinian position vis-a-vis Israel. He said yesterday that the summit resolutions will “send a clear message to the world” of a united Arab stance. QUOTE OF THE DAY Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not formally abandoned his stated support for the two-state solution, but has stopped mentioning it in his speeches since Trump was elected. Instead, he has made vague There is no reason to statements about seeking a region-wide agreement. Netanyahu frequently boasts of strong behind-the- pretend today is a happy scenes alliances with unidentified Arab countries. In a day, neither in Brussels nor speech this week to AIPAC, the pro-Israel American in London. There is nothing lobby group, Netanyahu once again alluded to a region- to win in this process and wide approach, saying that “common dangers faced by I’m talking about both Israel and many of our Arab neighbours now offer a rare opportunity to build bridges toward a better sides. In essence this is future.” about damage control. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said the summit’s focus on the Palestinians is a Donald Tusk ploy to divert from the real issues. “We are the ultimate Leaders attending the talks of the Arab League summit in the Jordanian European Council President fig leaf for all Arab abuses and failures,” he wrote in a Twitter post. The Arab summit was to adopt a series of Dead Sea resort of Sweimeh, yesterday. THURSDAY 30 MARCH 2017 OPINION 13 May triggers Brexit but doesn’t reveal her cards

no clue whether their demands will Elizabeth Piper be met. Reuters “There is a backlog,” the departmental aide said, adding that May’s desire for detail means that all reports are sent to her office at Downing Street and looked over by fter nine months of preparation, bitter herself and her two most trusted public argument and a battle with parlia- aides, Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill. ment, British Prime Minister Theresa May She still has some time to refine is launching talks with the European her strategy since the EU will spend Union armed with a plan she hopes will the coming weeks agreeing a nego- secureA a better divorce deal than many expect. tiating stance. But what is it? Although May has published a pol- Before horse-trading starts in icy document outlining a 12-point approach to the earnest, the two sides are expected talks that will reshape the future of Britain and the to try to settle two issues - how EU, many companies, investors and voters are not much Britain owes to the bloc and quite clear about her strategy. the future status of British citizens The British leader has been reticent about what living in the EU and EU citizens liv- she hopes to achieve so as not to give her hand away. ing in Britain. But government officials, lawmakers and analysts May says she wants the latter to say privately that May believes she has some strong be settled early in the talks but may cards to play, while also hoping that EU officials will face difficulties over the former as favour pragmatism over punishment. some of her pro-Brexit lawmakers “Now is the time for us to come together and be do not believe that Britain should united across this house and across this country to pay at all. One has suggested she ensure that we work for the best possible deal for the should remind Germany about the An anti-Brexit protester holds up an EU flag near the Houses of Parliament in London, yesterday. United Kingdom and the best possible future for us cancellation of some of its debt all,” May told parliament. after World War Two. Earlier, her letter to European Council President transitional agreement and is preparing to copy the they describe as an interfering and wasteful union. But as the leading civil servant Donald Tusk had triggered Article 50 of the EU’s Lis- body of EU law over into British legislation to mini- There is little chance they will allow May to back- in the newly created Brexit ministry bon Treaty to start up to two years of talks on mise uncertainty. track on her commitment to break with the said, plans can always come Britain’s departure from the bloc. While trying to inspire goodwill before the talks, European Court of Justice and end the supremacy of unstuck. May and her ministers have ambitious goals in the British government will also try to exploit rifts in EU law, possibly tying her hands over what she can “The other thing is to have the talks. They want “frictionless” trade, control over the European Union, making much of troop deploy- or cannot compromise on. The balancing act is peril- expected the unexpected,” Sarah immigration and restoration of sovereignty while ments on the bloc’s eastern border against an ous. With the majority of lawmakers in parliament Healey, director general at the maintaining as much cooperation as possible with increasingly assertive Russia. pro-EU, May’s slim majority will all but depend on Department for Exiting the Euro- Britain’s nearest neighbours. But while May’s focus is winning what she calls the eurosceptic Conservative MPs, with additional pean Union, told the Institute for But the 12 priorities she set out in January are the “best possible deal” for Brexit, her government is pressure from well-financed ‘leave’ lobby groups Government this month. broad enough to allow room for manoeuvre, and also looking beyond, courting the United States, India and the UK Independence Party promising to be the “External events will have a big May hopes to leverage Britain’s strengths in security, and China while trying to attract technology and cre- “guard dog of Brexit”. impact on what happens on the defence, criminal justice and international aid to help ative industries to a country which one minister said On the other side are nationalists in Scotland and department and we just need to be negotiate her main demand for a free trade deal, sev- needed to market itself. Northern Ireland. The Scottish government wants a flexible and able to respond to eral government sources said. “What we are going to do is be ambitious in our new independence referendum, encouraging calls that.” She is also willing to pay into EU programmes negotiation,” May told parliament late last year, a for a similar vote in Northern Ireland, which voted to that Britain may otherwise be excluded from by mantra to reassure business she would try to get the remain in the EU. Brexit, has signalled that she expects some kind of maximum possible access to the EU’s single market. May has refused to allow Scotland a new referen- PITFALLS dum in the time scale demanded by First Minister The message is upbeat despite May’s aides saying Nicola Sturgeon and stood firm on her refusal to she will not reveal any details of the government’s share her negotiating stance, which the Scottish gov- “Now is the time for negotiating stance before negotiations start. ernment has described as “intransigence”. D-RING ROAD us to come together But behind the scenes, civil servants have been On past experience, May is unlikely to give POST BOX: 3488 told not only to draft a plan A but also a plan B, an ground. and be united across aide in one government department told Reuters, The stakes are high for her personally as the suc- DOHA - QATAR this house and across aware the EU is in no mood to offer generous terms cess or failure of the talks will determine her political [email protected] this country to ensure that could encourage other members to bolt for the legacy and her ability to win an election. that we work for the door. She has been riding high in opinion polls since The aide said each department has been told to taking over as prime minister from David Cameron, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE best possible deal for find areas where they could compromise. But any who quit after the Brexit referendum, and the oppo- TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 the United Kingdom hint that May might break Brexit promises in areas sition Labour Party is in chaos, but she has no FAX: +974 4455 7758 and the best possible such as fishing rights could turn public opinion experience of leading her party in an election. future for us all,” May against the prime minister and split her party. What is as yet unclear is whether she has settled MANAGING EDITOR For many veteran eurosceptics in the ruling Con- on her own list of priorities for the talks. After spend- TEL: 4462 7505 told parliament. servative Party, Wednesday’s triggering of Article 50 ing months asking companies, universities, hospitals is the culmination of years of lobbying against what and banks among others what they want, most have DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR TEL: 4455 7769

LOCAL NEWS SECTION TEL: 4455 7743

Clearing the air in China and India BUSINESS NEWS SECTION TEL: 4462 7535 and de-dusting equipment at existing coal-fired Among its causes are “toxic carrots” given by the govern- By Ivetta Gerasimchuk, Lucy electricity plants in order to curb harmful emissions. ments. In China, the energy policy is conflicting. While some SPORT NEWS SECTION Kitson & Lourdes Sanchez Both China and India have applied emission stand- policies seek to curb coal capacity, others guarantee coal- TEL: 4455 7745 IANS ards to their electricity, transport and industrial fired power plants a certain number of hours of operation. sectors. However, compliance with these standards Thus, the value of wind curtailment in Liaoning, Jilin, Hei ONLINE SECTION remains a major challenge. Beijing, for instance, is Long Jian and East Inner Mongolia was estimated at 6.9 bil- TEL: 4462 7501 Common problems potentially still believed to be at least a decade away from blue lion yuan ($1 billion) in 2016, driven partly by the priority [email protected] require common solutions, and skies, whereas India lags still further behind. given to the use of coal power. the need for a dialogue. This is To complement command-and-control regula- In India, renewable energy developers enjoyed a gener- PUBLIC RELATIONS true in the case of China and tions such as emission standards, “the stick”, China ous accelerated depreciation allowance, but were not given a India when it comes to their is also using a “carrot” by offering a premium sale guarantee for generation or dispatch. However, India has TEL: 4455 7613 Cchallenge of tackling air pollution and price to coal-fired generators that have installed capped this allowance at 40 per cent and wind power is [email protected] switching to clean energy. emission abatement equipment. The value of this being developed through the reverse auction mechanism Poor air quality has become a major “carrot” was estimated at around 100 billion yuan whereby the bid is won by the seller quoting the lowest price. ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT political concern in both the countries. It per annum ($14.5 billion) in 2014 and 2015. These few examples illustrate that there is a lot of money TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 was a headline topic at the opening of the Given its lower level of economic development and regulations already on the table. What is missing is a sys- FAX: 4455 7870 National People’s Congress on March 5, and budgetary constraints, India cannot afford tem that traces the efficacy of both carrot and stick policies [email protected] 2017, with Chinese Prime Minister Li using such expensive carrots to encourage reduc- on energy waste and air quality in a way that is simple for Keqiang reaffirming the government’s tion of pollution from coal plants. India prioritises governments and other stakeholders to use. CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT commitment to clearing the skies through provision of affordable electricity to its population Given increasing budgetary pressures, identifying, quan- TEL: 4455 7857 increased investment in clean energy and and improving energy access for the 20 per cent of tifying and evaluating policies that assist or interfere with [email protected] implementing tougher sanctions for people that still do not have electricity in their clean energy transition could help China and India assess the polluters. homes. This is very different from China, a country best use of public resources. SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION In India, independent estimates of the with an electrification rate of 100 per cent that is One way of doing so would be a voluntary peer review TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 devastating health impacts of emissions addressing a major challenge of over-capacity in with an expert organisation or another country -- bilaterally FAX: 44557819 from electricity plants, industry and trans- coal-fired generation. or within such forums as G20 or BRICS. For example, many port cause non-stop public controversies. India also levies a cess on coal use that is par- members of the organisation of the Asia-Pacific Cooperation [email protected] In order to effectively tackle the pollu- tially allocated to support clean technologies. have undertaken voluntary peer reviews on energy tion crises, technologies that support clean Charged at Rs 400 ($6) per tonne of coal, the cess (a efficiency. air, water and soil in both China and India form of carbon tax) has seen an eightfold increase Another opportunity is the voluntary review of fossil fuel All thoughts and views must gradually replace polluting alterna- since 2014. Between 2011 and 2016 an estimated Rs subsidies within G20 that China completed jointly with the expressed in these columns tives. Implementation of this transition 13,616 crore (over $2 billion) from the coal cess rev- US when it was hosting G20 summit in 2016. The purpose of will largely depend on local factors. So enue was transferred to the National Clean Energy this review was identifying toxic carrots -- those measures of are those of the writers, not what is the best approach for each govern- Fund. government support in the energy sector that result in waste- of the newspaper. ment to take in promoting these Feed-in tariffs and other carrots for renewable ful consumption of energy. China’s review listed nine technologies: the stick or carrot? And energy have driven a rapid increase in installed subsidies worth $14.5 billion and included a timeline for their All correspondence which incentives, or disincentives, are the renewable energy capacity in both China and India. phase-out. regarding Views and most effective? However, this additional capacity will only enable a India will host the G20 summit in 2019 and as more G20 Opinion pages should be Both the countries face similar chal- switch to cleaner energy if it is used, and in both countries (Germany, Mexico and Indonesia at the time of lenges. Each has prioritised the installation China and India, some of the new wind capacity has writing) volunteer for peer review, there are increasing mailed to the of de-sulfurising, de-nitrating faced curtailment problems. expectations of India to do the same. [email protected] 14 ASIA THURSDAY 30 MARCH 2017 North Korea 'readying' another nuclear test

Washington Nuclear ambition missile "won't happen." instrumentation,". AFP The North carried out mul- But they warned that there A spokesman tiple missile launches in 2016, was "no definitive evidence", Call to enhance capability atellite images suggest reiterated its view and earlier this month sent up adding: "Since North Korea North Korea could be in that "North Korea is four rockets in what it said was knows the world is watching and to strike Japan's enemy the final stages of prep- prepared to conduct a drill for an attack on US bases is capable of deception, caution arations for a new nuclear tests any time in Japan. should be used before declaring Tokyo overlook," a Liberal Democratic nuclear test according when its leader Soon afterwards new US that a nuclear test is AFP Party (LDP) security panel said Sto US-based analysts, who ech- decides to do so. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson imminent." in a proposal to be submitted to oed similar conclusions by the visited the region and said that Seoul's defence ministry apan's ruling party said yes- Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. US military. 20 years of efforts to denuclear- would not be drawn on details terday the government The panel called on the The images, taken on Satur- ise the North had "failed". of the latest report, but said it Jshould consider developing government immediately to day, show up to four vehicles or reached similar conclusions He promised a new was "keeping a close watch over the capability to strike enemy study ways to strike enemy equipment trailers continuously after observing activity at the approach, without offering the North, using surveillance bases if the country is attacked, bases if attacked, including present at the entrance to the hermit state's nuclear sites. specifics. assets of both South Korea and citing North Korea's missile and through the deployment of Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, Pyongyang is on a quest to The 38 North researchers the United States". nuclear threats. cruise missiles. with communications cables develop a long-range missile noted on Tuesday that water was A spokesman reiterated its For years Tokyo has har- It also urged the govern- likely laid on the ground. capable of hitting the US main- being pumped out of the portal view that "North Korea is pre- boured deep suspicion of ment to "immediately consider" "This equipment would land with a nuclear warhead, at Punggye-ri and drained pared to conduct nuclear tests Pyongyang and seen itself as if it should introduce the US likely be used to initiate the test, and has so far staged five nuclear downhill to keep the tunnel dry any time when its leader decides increasingly vulnerable to its Terminal High Altitude Area collect data from the explosion tests, two of them last year. for monitoring or communica- to do so." nuclear and missile Defense and shore-based Aegis and process the data," said 38 Another blast would be a tions equipment. Despite a string of United ambitions. missile defence systems. North, a project of the US-Korea fresh challenge for new US Pres- "The combination of these Nations sanctions since it first "North Korea's provocative "We can't waste a moment Institute at Johns Hopkins ident Donald Trump, who has factors strongly suggests that test tested a nuclear device in 2006, acts are reaching levels our to strengthen our ballistic mis- University. tweeted that its goal of possess- preparations are well under way, Pyongyang has insisted it will country can simply no longer sile defence," it said. Last week, the US military ing an intercontinental ballistic including the installation of continue its programme.

Indonesian's body Boosting relations Media flays govt over Sewol found inside python ferry 'remains'

Mamuju village official, who like many Seoul AFP Indonesians goes by only one AFP name. n Indonesian farmer has Worried relatives launched SOUTH Korean authorities been discovered inside a search for Akbar after he faced a deluge of criticism Athe belly of a giant failed to return home from a yesterday for announcing python after the swollen snake trip to the family's plantation that human remains had been was caught near where the man on Sunday. found from the sunken Sewol vanished while harvesting his Junaidi also said that the ferry, only to correct them- crops, an official said snake had swallowed the selves within hours to say they yesterday. farmer whole, adding that it were animal bones. The body of 25-year-old was the only such fatality Newspapers said relatives Akbar was found when local recorded in the region. of the missing had been put people cut open the seven The breed of snake, which through "heaven and hell" metre python after it was found regularly tops 20 feet, is com- and accused the maritime bloated and slithering awk- monly found in Indonesia and ministry of recklessness. wardly in the village of Salubiro, the Philippines. Nine of the 304 people on the eastern island of While the serpents have killed nearly three years ago Sulawesi on Monday. been known to attack small in one of the South's worst "We were immediately sus- animals, attempts to eat people maritime disasters have picious that the snake had are rare. never been found. swallowed Akbar because In 2013, a security guard on The maritime ministry French President Francois Hollande (right) and Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo around the site we found palm the tourist island of Bali was raised their hopes Tuesday fruit, his harvesting tool and a killed by a python at a luxury during the welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, yesterday. when it said human remains boot," said Junaidi, a senior beachfront hotel. had been found by workers and were "suspected to be one of the missing victims". Little more than five hours later it withdrew the assertion, New group of breeding tigers found in Thai jungle saying the pieces had been confirmed to be seven animal Bangkok Poaching for the skin and Thailand and Myanmar, figures from four females. have all of our eggs in one bas- bone fragments. Reuters body parts of tigers, used in tra- from the International Union for Wildlife officials hailed the ket," Eric Ash, a conservation In a front-page headline ditional Chinese medicine, is a Conservation of Nature (IUCN) pictures as the first evidence of project manager at Freeland, said. yesterday, the Hankook Ilbo mages of Indochinese tigers multi-million dollar business in showed in 2011. tigers breeding in Thailand's "That really can only happen declared: "Maritime ministry and cubs captured on cam- Asia that has driven the animals Images from 156 camera eastern region in more than 15 if tigers have effective, sufficient gives relatives double punch". Iera in Thailand's eastern to the brink of extinction in the traps installed by Thai wildlife years, highlighting the success amount of prey and if they have "Relatives of missing peo- jungle have confirmed the exist- wild. authorities along with Freeland, of authorities' patrol and protec- sufficient protection." ple had to undergo heaven ence of the world's second Of about 3,900 tigers a group that fights wildlife traf- tion efforts against illegal Western Thailand was the and hell in one swoop as the breeding population of the crit- believed to be left in the wild glo- ficking, and Panthera, a global poaching and logging. site of the only previously known government recklessly went ically endangered animals, bally, just about 350 belonged to wild cat conservation group, "It provides a little bit of hope breeding population of Indochi- ahead with an announcement wildlife conservationists said. the Indochinese species living in documented at least six cubs that potentially, we no longer nese tigers. without checking basic facts".

Cambodia govt claims oppn Muslims to stage Avalanche tragedy anti-Jakarta leadership election illegal governor rally

Phnom Penh Jakarta Reuters Reuters

ambodia's interior minis- INDONESIAN Muslims led by try yesterday told the hardline groups plan to march Cmain opposition party its to the presidential palace in leader had been elected illegally the capital Jakarta tomorrow, and it must change its campaign calling for the city's Christian slogan ahead of local governor to be sacked for sus- elections. pected blasphemy. Rivals and human rights Religious and political groups accuse Prime Minister tensions have been running Hun Sen of unfair manoeuvring high ahead of a second and to keep his three-decade-old final round of the Jakarta gov- grip on power at a general elec- Eng Chhay Eang Deputy President of the Cambodia National ernor election on April 19. tion next year for which the local Rescue Party (CNRP) after a meeting with the Interior Ministry Incumbent Basuki Tjahaja ballot in June will be a officials, in Phnom Penh, yesterday. Purnama, who is on trial for springboard. blasphemy, is running against The opposition Cambodia breached an internal party rule suggestion of a change and said a Muslim candidate. National Rescue Party (CNRP) which required an 18-month "this is a private matter". The rally is expected to be chose Kem Sokha as its new waiting period. But the party agreed to stop the biggest demonstration leader this month after his pred- "The congress was illegal," using a local election slogan that since mass prayers in the ecessor, Sam Rainsy, resigned Prak Sam Oeun said. the interior ministry branded grand mosque just days before in the face of a possible ban on He did not say what action unconstitutional. the election's first round in Flowers for the victims sit near the site of an avalanche the party if he had stayed on. it would take if the party leader It had promised to "replace February, and the latest in a An interior ministry official is not changed. commune chiefs who serve the series of protests that have that killed seven Japanese high school students and a told the opposition party that its The party's deputy president, political party with ones who tested religious and ethnic tol- teacher, in the town of Nasu, yesterday. leadership election had Eng Chhay Eang, rejected any serve the people." erance in Indonesia. THURSDAY 30 MARCH 2017 ASIA 15 Kabul to double special forces as threats grow Kabul Waziri declined to give exact Reuters Army strategy numbers, saying only that the Special forces have special operations division fghanistan plans to been carrying out would be increased to the level double the number nearly 70 percent of of an army corps. of elite special forces But three Afghan and West- the army's offensive from 17,000 troops, ern officials, speaking on operations across the officials said, part of condition of anonymity, said that aA long-term strategy to bolster country, underlining under current plans, special units stretched and exhausted by Afghanistan's heavy forces would be doubled and the persistent attacks from Taliban reliance on them. government was talking to for- insurgents and other militants. eign donors about contributing Special forces, who represent Officials said that through funding and other a small fraction of the under current plans, assistance. 300,000-strong armed forces, special forces would "Recruitment in recent have been carrying out nearly 70 be doubled and the months has focused on replac- percent of the army's offensive ing special forces troops lost government was New recruits to the Afghan Army Special Forces take part in a military exercise in Rishkhur operations across the country, during last year's fighting, mean- district outside Kabul. underlining Afghanistan's heavy talking to foreign ing the drive to "substantially" reliance on them. donors about increase numbers would take While regular forces, includ- contributing through longer," said Nato coalition forces support units like medi- in our operations, but we will militant cells to clearing towns ing police, are deployed largely funding and other spokesman Captain Bill Salvin. cal care, intelligence, logistics keep up our efforts," said Fawad seized by insurgents. to defend positions, special assistance. "It's going to take several and communications," he added. Kamal, a special forces com- "There is a huge need for the forces are taking the battle to years to grow to the level that On exercises at the Afghan mander. "There hasn't been any number of commandos and spe- militants from Kunduz in the (Afghan President Ashraf) Ghani army's special operations train- interruption." cial forces to increase in the north to Helmand in the south, to be strengthened and have to currently envisions," Salvin said. ing base just outside Kabul, When they reach the battle- country," said Mohammed Arif, a sometimes working in tandem be better equipped," Defence "Recruitment and training soldiers were confident that they field, newly trained troops will new commando recruit. "As long with US counterparts. Ministry spokesman Dawlat was already underway for more could handle the workload. likely be conducting offensive as they are well equipped, they can "Our commando forces have Waziri said. commandos, as well as special "There has been an increase operations, from tracking defend the country very well."

Pakistan halts Philippines and China to hold direct talks on sea row extradition of Manila "China this week offered to economic and political leverage Both nations were still final- AFP host a meeting in May of a "bilat- in a region dependent on Chi- ising the agenda, dates and level American terror eral consultation mechanism" to nese trade. of representation, he added. hina and the Philippines tackle issues related to the sea Jose said the Chinese invita- Duterte's spokesman hailed plot accused will hold direct talks on row," the Philippine foreign tion for the May bilateral talks the proposed meeting. Ctheir maritime dispute in department said. set no preconditions. "Through this bilateral Islamabad May, Filipino officials said yes- "This is a new proposal, a "What is important is we mechanism, mutual trust and AFP terday, as President Rodrigo bilateral consultation mecha- have a peaceful means (to maritime cooperation will be Duterte seeks stronger economic nism specifically on the South resolve the dispute)," he added. forged and misunderstandings PAKISTANI court has tempo- ties with Beijing. China Sea," spokesman Charles Duterte, 72, has repeatedly will be avoided," Ernesto Abella rarily barred the extradition of Last year a United Nations- Jose (pictured) said. said he does not want to go to said. a US citizen of Pakistani origin backed international tribunal China rejects the tribunal's war with Beijing over the sea Duterte last week heaped who is accused of planning a rejected Beijing's claims to most ruling and asserts sovereignty row. praise on China for improving terrorist attack in New York, of the South China Sea, includ- over almost all of the South China has always favoured After his election he pivoted trade relations and for suppos- a lawyer said yesterday. ing disputed areas close to the China Sea, despite partial coun- bilateral talks with each rival his nation's foreign policy away edly committing not to build on Justice Shaukat Aziz Sid- coasts of its neighbours. ter-claims from Brunei, Taiwan, claimant instead of negotiations from traditional ally the United another disputed shoal that lies diqui of Islamabad High Court But Duterte, elected last year, Malaysia, the Philippines and involving all six, as was previ- States towards China. even closer to the Philippines suspended the extradition has played down that ruling and Vietnam. ously favoured by the Jose said the direct talks than the reclaimed reefs. order against Talha Haroon, pushed for rapprochement with It has extensively reclaimed Philippines. would be the "platform" where "China has a word of hon- 19, who is currently jailed in China as he seeks billions of dol- reefs and installed military and Analysts say direct talks with the Philippines could raise issues our," Duterte said. "Whatever Rawalpindi pending his lars in trade and investment other facilities including airstrips smaller neighbours would allow like China's construction of arti- China says, in good stead, it will repatriation. from it. on some outcrops. China to exert its massive ficial islands. really do." Lawyer Tariq Asad, who petitioned the Islamabad High Court against the order, said he had won a stay. Siddiqui also summoned Senate okays revival of military courts officials from the interior ministry for the next court Karachi Only three members had a mere formality in Pakistan," hearing on April 11, accord- Anatolia opposed the bill, while remain- lawyer Ismat Mehdi said. ing to an order. ing 23 either abstained or did The issue of military courts, "The allegation was that akistani Senate approved not attend the session. which were established in 2015 he was planning an armed the extension of contro- The right-wing political for a two-year period and abol- operation against a public Pversial military courts for party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, and ished in January after place in New York with IS," another two years by a two- the left-wing, Pakhtunkhwa Milli completion of their term, had Asad said. thirds majority in Islamabad, Awami Party and Balochistan been a bone of contention He said Haroon had according to state-run Pakistan National Party opposed the bill. between the government and returned from the US to Paki- Television. The parliament’s lower the main opposition Pakistan stan more than a year ago. A total of 78 out of 104 sen- house, National Assembly, had Peoples Party (PPP). Pakistan has a bilateral ators voted in the upper house already passed the amendment The PPP, apparently angry extradition treaty with the US of parliament in favour of the last week. with alleged persecution of its that was signed before South 28th constitutional amendment "The bill will now go to the leaders on terrorism charges, Asian country gained inde- An army vehicle drives through floodwaters near the bill seeking extension of the president’s office for final had tabled nine demands for pendence from Britain in Queensland town of Bowen, yesterday. courts. approval -- a move considered supporting the extension. 1947. Australia begins clean-up Fog grounds after cyclone Debbie flights in Widodo open to death penalty review Ayr to major river flooding over a Jakarta would be difficult to secure AFP boad area this week," it said. Wellington AFP parliamentary backing with- Emergency crews began out clear public support in a owns remained cut off in assessing the damage but Wellington ndonesia's President Joko conservative, Muslim-major- northern Australia yester- blocked roads and flash flood- Reuters Widodo (pictured) said he ity country where voters are Tday after being ing hampered efforts, as Iwould restore a moratorium deeply concerned about high pummelled by a powerful soldiers, military helicopters THICK fog blanketed the on the death penalty if he won levels of addiction. cyclone that washed battered and planes started deploying to New Zealand capital yester- the backing of the people, after He cited a 2015 survey by yachts ashore and ripped roofs help restore infrastructure and day, leading to the cancellation a spate of executions that drew a private pollster that found 85 off houses, as the military supply emergency food, water of more than 100 flights and international condemnation. percent of Indonesians support mobilised to help with the and fuel. leaving travellers stranded. Widodo declared an anti- the death penalty for drug clean-up. Queensland Premier "Fog and low cloud are drugs campaign soon after traffickers. The category four storm Annastacia Palaszczuk flew by also currently forecast in the coming to power in 2014 and Since Widodo came to slammed into the coast of helicopter to Bowen, which Wellington area for tomor- refused all requests for par- "If my people say OK, they power, Indonesia has hauled Queensland state between bore much of the brunt, and row (Thursday) morning," Air dons from death-row drug say yes, I will start to prepare," 18 people -- 15 of them for- Bowen and Airlie Beach on said mass evacuations helped New Zealand said in an convicts, ending a four-year he said. eigners -- before the firing Tuesday afternoon. save lives. emailed statement, adding it moratorium. A moratorium could be the squad for drug trafficking. It has since been down- Tens of thousands of peo- would decide today whether But in recent months he first step towards abolishing They include a group of graded to a tropical low but the ple moved to higher ground or it can resume services. has softened his position. the death penalty, a move eight -- two Australians, a Bra- Bureau of Meteorology still cyclone shelters before Cyclone "Airport officials were Asked in an interview with which needs approval in par- zilian, an Indonesian and four warned of damaging wind gusts Debbie made landfall. offering free bottled water, whether he would consider a liament which has been Nigerians -- who were put to with "intense" rain, sparking The premier was due to head blankets and snacks to any- moratorium, Widodo said: discussing the issue for the past death in a single night in April flooding fears as river levels to the town of Proserpine where body forced to stay at the "Why not? But I must ask my year. 2015 on the prison island of rise. "we expect there to be some terminal overnight," media people. However, Widodo said it Nusakambangan. "This rainfall is likely to lead more widespread damage". said. 16 ASIA THURSDAY 30 MARCH 2017 Lok Sabha approves Unrest all four GST Bills New Delhi Tax the petroleum products though IANS they have been included under Jaitley said that goods GST, will remain zero rated as he Lok Sabha yester- may become "slightly of now. day passed the cheaper" once all "The Council decided that much-awaited Cen- other taxes are we will take up the issue of tral Goods and removed after petroleum products in a year Services Tax (GST) implementation of after implementation of GST. TBill, Integrated GST Bill, Com- GST. Today, constitutionally petro- pensation GST Bill and Union leum products are under GST, Territory GST Bill 2017, after but will be zero rated. So once "Once implemented negating all the amendments put Council decides it can be taxed forward by the Opposition. GST will have a under GST, we won't need to The four GST Bills were significant impact on amend the Constitution," he Protesters clash with police during a rally against the overhaul of the military and civil passed after an eight-hour mar- the taxation system said. service pension fund in Taipei, yesterday. athon debate in the Lower as the entire system Jaitley said that once imple- House. will be restructured." mented GST will have a The government is target- significant impact on the taxa- ing the roll-out date of July 1 for tion system as the entire system the new indirect tax regime. and state governments are pool- will be restructured. Finance Minister Arun Jait- ing their sovereignty to have this He said that the nature of Bhagwat not interested in President post ley said that goods may become tax regime, Jaitley noted that economic activity today is "slightly cheaper" once all other India, despite being one politi- changing and the objective of Nagpur post. Such news is only for strong case for the 66-year-old taxes are removed after imple- cal entity, remained different GST is to have "free flow of IANS entertainment. That is never Bhagwat for the country's top mentation of GST. economic entities with states goods and services pan-India, going to happen.. So treat it as post and said the issue had been Replying to a debate on the having different taxes. with one tax and one interface n a sharp rebuttal of the Shiv entertainment and forget it," discussed even with party Pres- four bills in the Lok Sabha, he "Centre and states both with one assessing officer". Sena's proposal, Rashtriya Bhagwat said. ident Uddhav Thackeray who said all other taxes like entry tax pooled sovereignty into one "The IT backbone must be ISwayamsevak Sangh chief The ruling Bharatiya Janata held a similar views. in states will be removed once Council. It is India's first federal such that self assessments hap- Mohan Bhagwat yesterday made Party's ally Shiv Sena earlier in Justifying it, he said that a the GST is in place. decision making authority," he pen in maximum cases," he it clear that he was not in the the week urged the Narendra staunch Hindu nationalist leader "Once all other taxes are said. added. race for the President of India's Modi government to consider Narendra Modi is the Prime removed, the cascading effect Clarifying on the tax rate on "The system will be more post and asserted he will not Bhagwat for the post of Minister, and now another Hin- is removed, goods will become petroleum products in the efficient, which is not easy to accept it even if he was President. dutva proponent Adityanath slightly cheaper," he said. regime, Jaitley said yesterday breach and has higher compli- nominated. Sena's Rajya Sabha MP San- Yogi has become Chief Minister Noting that both the central that the Council has decided that ance," Jaitley said. "I am not interested in that jay Raut on Monday made a of Uttar Pradesh. Nepal urges climbers to clean Mt Everest Kathmandu a series of earthquakes in 2015 The helicopters operate metres above sea level above Reuters that killed a total of 9,000 during the climbing season that the treacherous Khumbu Ice- people. typically runs from March to fall known for crevasses and epal is urging climbers "Ten huge canvas bags each May to dump climbing ropes. avalanches, is a major camp- on Mount Everest, the capable of holding 80kg of "Sherpas would be paid to ing site for climbers of Mount Nworld's highest peak, to trash are to be placed at the pick up the trash," said veteran Everest and Lhotse, the world's help remove garbage from a ruined site of Camp Two on climber Russell Brice, a New Zea- fourth highest peak. camp abandoned two years ago Mount Everest for climbers to lander who runs the Himalayan More than 600 people after an earthquake triggered deposit garbage they have Experience guiding company. scaled the 8,850-metre Ever- avalanches killing 18 people, as retrieved," said Tourism "We will pay $2 for each est summit last year from the officials prepare to handle a Department official Durga kilo of trash the sherpas bring Nepali and Chinese sides. rush of climbers. Dutta Dhakal. down," Brice said. Mountain- Hiking officials expect the Tourism and mountain "This way we hope to bring eers have removed more than number to swell this season as Li Ching-yu (centre), holds photos of her husband, Taiwanese climbing are the main sources down the trash without any 16 tonnes of trash from Everest many mountaineers, whose human rights activist Li Ming-che during a news conference of income for the Himalayan extra cost, using helicopters in the past, but there are no $11,000 per-person permits in Taipei, yesterday. nation and make up four per- that return empty after dump- estimates of how much still lit- received two-year extensions cent of its economy. ing climbing ropes at the high ters the mountain. after the quake, are expected China detains missing Climbing is recovering from camp," he said yesterday. Camp Two, located at 6,400 to return.

Taiwan rights activist Dhaka police Beijing in activities endangering Black Eagles in action AFP national security, the investi- gation is being handled raid militant hina said yesterday it has according to judicial proce- detained a Taiwanese dures," TAO spokesman Ma hideouts Crights activist who went Xiaoguang said. missing during a visit and is "Lee is in good physical Dhaka investigating him for suspected condition". AFP activities "endangering national Ma added that Taiwanese security." travelling to the mainland for BANGLADESH police came The confirmation, which "normal activities" should not under grenade attack when sparked strong criticism from worry about their legal rights. they raided two suspected rights groups, came a day after "We will not place personal extremist hideouts yesterday, Lee Ming-cheh's wife said he restrictions on Taiwan compa- days after a major anti-mili- had been detained by Chinese triots without reason," he said. tant drive in which 10 people security units. Human rights groups and were killed. The 42-year-old NGO Lee's wife called for his imme- Police said counter-ter- worker "lost contact" on March diate release and for the rorism officers raided two 19 after he entered the south- Chinese government to disclose houses in Moulvibazar district eastern Chinese city of Zhuhai where he is being held. in the northeast after receiv- from Macau, according to Tai- "A Taiwanese who entered ing a tip-off that extremists wan's government. China legally should not be were sheltering there. While confirming the probe, arrested and detained at will for "A stand-off ensued, with China's Taiwan Affairs Office nine days without notifying rel- those inside the houses (TAO) gave no further details of atives or legal counsel," they The South Korean Air Force "Black Eagles" aerobatic team flies past Malaysia's Petronas throwing grenades, local Lee's allegedly illegal activities. said in a joint statement issued Twin Towers, in Kuala Lumpur, yesterday. police chief Rashedul Islam "On suspicion of engaging yesterday. said. "In one of the houses, we suspect there are eight to nine of them," he said, adding the houses were owned by a Former Maldives leader vows fightback after vote chaos Bangladeshi-origin British citizen. The raids came after army Colombo been unable to secure "outright when soldiers took away 13 exposed the government's shaky "The end game is to ensure commandos stormed a five- AFP victory" in his attempt to seize opposition MPs and the rest majority and strengthened his free and fair elections," Nasheed storey building in the nearby control of parliament by enter- walked out in protest. resolve to try again. said. city of Sylhet, triggering a vio- xiled Maldives opposition ing into a pact with the current The scenes, captured on "I am not disappointed". "I want to be able to go back lent three-day stand-off. leader Mohamed Nasheed president's half-brother, former camera and circulated on social "I don't think there was a and contest elections. I will con- At least four extremists Evowed yesterday to keep strongman president Maumoon media, prompted the US failure, but we did not come out test elections." died and another six people up the pressure on the govern- Abdul Gayoom. embassy to urge Male to "restore with an outright victory," he Nasheed became the Mal- including two officers were ment after it deployed troops to A vote of no confidence in faith in democratic processes". added. dives' first democratically killed when two bombs went remove his MPs from parliament, the house speaker, intended to Nasheed, who has pledged Nasheed accused the gov- elected president in 2008, but off on Saturday near a crowd drawing a warning from destabilise President Abdulla to return to the honeymoon ernment of using intimidation to was narrowly defeated by watching the operation. Washington. Yameen before elections next islands to contest the 2018 elec- prevent its MPs from defecting Yameen in a controversial 2013 The IS group claimed the Nasheed admitted he had year, ended in defeat Monday tion, said the incident had to the opposition side. election run-off. twin bomb attacks. THURSDAY 30 MARCH 2017 EUROPE 17 Britain launches EU exit process

London Historic move rest of the talks. “That will be the AFP first bone of contention,” said “This is an historic Anand Menon, European politics ritain launched the moment from which professor at King’s College Lon- process to leave the there can be no don, warning that discussions European Union yes- turning back,” Prime over the money may undermine terday, saying there Minister Theresa May yesterday’s conciliatory tone. was “no turning back” told MPs. Both sides also want to Bfrom the historic move that has resolve the post-Brexit status of split the country and thrown the more than three million Euro- The EU is determined bloc’s future into question. pean nationals living in Britain, to preserve its unity Just days after the EU’s 60th and one million British expats in birthday, Britain became the first and has said that any the EU. Forging a new trade country ever to seek a divorce Brexit deal must not agreement and tensions in from the 28-nation bloc, strik- encourage other Northern Ireland — which will ing a blow at the heart of an countries to follow have the UK’s only hard border alliance forged from the ashes of Britain out of the with the EU — will also cause World War II. door. major headaches. “This is an historic moment Many business leaders are from which there can be no turn- deeply uneasy about May’s deci- ing back,” Prime Minister outstanding bills and sion to leave Europe’s single Theresa May told MPs. Nine immigration. market, a free trade area of 500 months after the shock referen- German Foreign Minister million people, fearing its impact dum vote for Brexit, Britain Sigmar Gabriel acknowledged on jobs and economic growth. triggered Article 50 of the EU’s that the talks would “certainly The Brexit vote sent the pound Lisbon Treaty, starting the two- not be easy for both sides”. While plunging, although the economy year countdown to leaving. the EU scrambles to contain the has been largely stable since “We already miss you,” EU fallout from Britain’s departure then. “The polite opening to President Donald Tusk said in after four decades of member- negotiations has helped suppress Brussels, after receiving the let- ship, May is also battling to keep volatility and limit market reac- ter formally notifying him of her deeply divided nation tion,” said Kathleen Brooks. Britain’s intention to leave. But together. The June vote for Brexit Tens of thousands marched French President Francois Hol- was only won by a narrow 52-48 through London on Saturday lande warned that Brexit “will margin, and many Britons still demanding Britain keep its be painful for the British”. oppose leaving, while Scotland’s 44-year-old EU membership, The EU is determined to pre- nationalist government is now with one banner urging politi- serve its unity and has said that calling for a fresh referendum on cians to “stop this madness”. But any Brexit deal must not encour- independence. many were elated after waiting age other countries to follow “As we face the opportuni- years for this moment, including Britain out of the door. ties ahead of us on this 66-year-old pensioner Christine The six-page letter, signed by momentous journey, our shared Garrett, shopping at an east Lon- May and delivered in person by values, interests and ambitions don street market. British ambassador Tim Barrow can — and must — bring us “We could stand on our own in Brussels, struck a conciliatory together,” May told MPs. two feet as a country. What do tone and called for a “deep and It could be weeks before for- they do for us? Nothing,” she special partnership” with Brus- mal talks start, as the leaders of said. Pushing her pram nearby sels. May emphasised in the other 27 EU nations will meet was Julia Rogers, 38, who disa- particular the importance of on April 29 to forge their greed, saying: “It’s going to be a security ties, warning that fail- response. disaster”. In the City of London ure to reach an agreement would In her letter, May repeated financial hub, some were wor- mean “cooperation in the fight that the vote for Brexit was not ried about the implications of against crime and terrorism intended to harm the EU. But Brexit. “It’s quite a sorry state of would be weakened”. Tusk said: “In essence this is affairs,” said Daniel Smith, 41. She confirmed her intention about damage control.” As with The famously partisan Brit- to seek a new relationship and a many divorces, negotiations ish press reflected this division new trade deal in the next two could rapidly turn nasty over as the historic day dawned. The Guardian mocked up an EU jig- rebuffed the Scottish parlia- market — the price of control- years, and said a no deal scenario money. fiercely eurosceptic Sun beamed saw with Britain missing and the ment’s call for a second ling immigration. “Today, the PM was “not the outcome that either The priority is settling Brit- “Dover and Out” and “See EU headline: “Today Britain steps independence referendum. will take the UK over a cliff with side should seek”. The letter sets ain’s outstanding bills, estimated Later” on the White Cliffs of into the unknown.” Scots overwhelmingly voted no idea of the landing place. the stage for months of pro- at between €55bn and €60bn Dover, Britain’s closest point to As she begins Brexit, May is for Britain to remain in the EU Scotland didn’t vote for it and our tracted and difficult negotiations ($59bn-$65bn) -- an early bat- the continent. On the other side also battling to keep the United and are particularly worried voice has been ignored,” First — not just on trade, but also over tle that could set the tone for the of the divide, the left-leaning Kingdom together and has about leaving Europe’s single Minister Nicola Sturgeon said.

Hopes and fears on a train through Brexit country REACTIONS Here are some key reactions and com- mentary following Britain’s launch of the London process to leave the European Union: AFP EU President Donald Tusk: “We already ngland’s longest train journey goes from the miss you... There is no reason to pretend this industrial heartlands of the northeast to the is a happy day.” Efishing villages of the southwest—a swathe German Chancellor Angela Merkel: “The of the country that voted mainly to leave the Euro- negotiations must first clarify how we will dis- pean Union. The men, women, students, pensioners, entangle our interlinked relationship... and only businessmen and youngsters who get on board the when this question is dealt with, can we, hope- Cross Country Route are all heading for one final fully soon after, begin talking about our future destination—Brexit—but their views are as varied relationship.” as the views outside. French President Francois Hollande: As Britain is the first EU member state to begin While Brexit is “sentimentally painful” for the departure proceedings, ordinary Britons can only Europeans, it would be “economically pain- imagine what the future might have in store. ful” for the British. But “it is not our intention The Cross Country train has already spent sev- to punish (the British) for the principle”. eral hours winding through Scotland before it European Parliament chief Antonio arrives at the picturesque English cathedral city of Tajani: “Today isn’t a good day. #Brexit marks Durham, a former hub of Britain’s coal-mining a new chapter in our Union’s history, but we’re industry. ready, we’ll move on, hoping UK remains (a) A dozen or so passengers get on the 200-seat close partner.” train, including 38-year-old environmental con- Manfred Weber, head of European Peo- sultant Philip Raynor, who said he hoped Britain ple’s Party: “The politicians who fought for A Member of Britain's UK Independence Party poses with a cake celebrating the official triggering would eventually go back on its decision to leave #Brexit were allowed to grow up in a free Europe. the EU. The EU “has it faults, but what doesn’t?” he of Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the Brexit, in Brussels, yesterday. Today they are building new walls... History will says, as the four-carriage Bombardier Voyager show that Brexit is a tremendous mistake. It will begins its 800-kilometre (500-mile), 30-stop jour- Marples, 30, bought himself a sandwich, a hot drink a little more confidence in the UK,” the retiree said. create a lot of damage for both sides.” ney through the English countryside. and some sweets. He was getting off at Chesterfield, “Yes, no doubt, it will be difficult, costly. You don’t Former UKIP leader and prominent In England, which makes up around 85 per- central England, where he works in marketing and get something for nothing,” she said, certain of leav- “Leave” campaigner Nigel Farage: “The cent of Britain’s population, 53.3 percent voted to communication at a university. The Derbyshire town, ing her children “a better Britain”. impossible dream is happening. Today we pass leave in the EU referendum last June—slightly more famous for its church with a crooked spire, voted 60 The train terminates at 8:54 pm in the Corn- the point of no return.” than the 51.9 percent across the entire kingdom. percent “Leave”. Marples voted “Remain”, but accepts wall fishing port town of Penzance, the last stop in Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders: “The alternative of... turning our back on Europe the referendum result and thinks the government England, 15km from Land’s End. Brexit-voting “The Netherlands are committed to avoiding and looking towards America, particularly when should now get on with it. Cornwall pokes out into the Atlantic Ocean and a divorce and building another friendship” with it’s being run by Donald Trump... I think that is the “We made a decision, it should happen a lot from here, Canada is marginally closer than Cyprus, Britain. “We want to prevent others from wrong thing to do,” Raynor says. “I think Brexit quicker,” he said, adding: “You never know, it might the furthest EU member state. awarding themselves the biggest parts of the would hurt the UK horribly.” be a good thing!” The prospect of Brexit is still a The local fishermen are not going to miss the cake... Let’s stay calm, be realistic and As the train rumbles southwards from Durham, worry, however, since “a lot of funding we draw membership terms of the Brussels club. Brexit negotiate.” life drifts by as if in slow motion, the carriages clack- down is European-based. means “more money” staying in Britain and will Portuguese Finance Minister Mario Cen- ing like a metronome. Some put their coats on and “One of the biggest fears in our sector is where allow the country to “get rid” of foreigners, said teno: “It is a historic day that will mark Europe’s get off at the next stop. Some travel on for several that money is going to come from?” By mid-after- one of the group which is working to repair a entry onto a path still unknown.” I hope that hours, passing the time with a book, a tablet or their noon, the train is approaching Birmingham, trawler. “There’s nothing against the other Euro- “European citizens will come out with mobile phones. Some look out over the countryside England’s industrial second-biggest city, which pean countries,” said 41-year-old James, who advantages.” through the windows. Others stop the refreshments voted “Leave” by a narrow margin. Maida Pugh, declined to give his surname. “We just want to trolley service when it is wheeled up the aisle. James 67, is among those getting off. “People should have regain control,” he said. 18 EUROPE THURSDAY 30 MARCH 2017 French ‘human hen’ artist has a crack at hatching eggs

Paris describing the experience of observing “Normally there is a moment when AFP his son through the vitrine as “like your anxiety mounts, but with the rock watching him on TV”. He revealed that that didn’t happen. I was almost anx- he French artist who spent a week when Poincheval was a child he had a ious about not being anxious,” he said. entombed inside a rock began an pet chicken, and promised that any After talking to geologists, he put that Teven more bizarre feat yesterday “hen-men and hen-women” his son down to the “extreme calmness” of the — sitting on a dozen eggs until they brings into the world will be allowed to limestone. “I learned it had been laid hatch. live out their natural lives on his small- down gently, layer by layer, over thou- Abraham Poincheval aims to holding in the west of France. sands of years, and had never been become a “human hen” by sitting and “I have prepared everything to wel- tormented.” laying on the eggs inside a glass vitrine come the chicks including a luxury Even though the rock is also egg- at a Paris modern art museum until the chicken coop. I can assure you that they shaped, Poincheval said the two chicks emerge. will never be the centrepiece of a grand performances were not directly linked. The performance, called “Egg”, could feast,” said Christian Poincheval, an When he emerged from the rock, how- last three to four weeks, with the artist inventor best known for pills that make ever, Chinese students told him the story getting only a half-hour break every 24 flatulence smell of roses and even choc- of Sun Wukong, the Monkey King who hours to keep him from cracking. He is olate. He saw the performance as a was born from a stone egg. also on a special diet rich in ginger so meditation on “the cycles of life. The Often described as France’s most he can keep the eggs at a minimum of cycle from egg to chick takes roughly 21 extreme artist, Poincheval is no stranger 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees to 26 days, which correspondents almost to bizarre performances. He once spent Fahrenheit). French artist Abraham Poincheval sitting on real chicken eggs until they to a woman’s (menstrual) cycle.” His a fortnight inside a stuffed bear eating Poincheval, 44, made headlines ear- hatch during a performance at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, yesterday. son had said earlier that he was inspired worms and insects; was buried under a lier this month after declaring his seven by a tragicomic short story by the French rock for eight days; and navigated days inside a rock a mind-altering “trip”. stop him from accidentally crushing the something. But every performance is a writer Guy de Maupassant. France’s Rhone river inside a giant This time, however, he looked distinctly eggs. first,” he said. In “Toine”, a bad-tempered farm- corked bottle. ill at ease as he stepped into the vitrine While Poincheval described his time His father Christian acknowledged er’s wife gets revenge on her idle bon He also spent a week last year on in the Palais de Tokyo museum in his inside the limestone rock as blissful, he that it was a test of his mental strength, vivant husband by using his body to top of a 20-metre (65-foot) pole outside socks. acknowledged that sitting on the eggs with the usually amiable Poincheval keep her chickens’ eggs warm when he a Paris train station. His big dream, how- He quickly wrapped himself in a for such a long time had him worried. avoiding eye contact with the crowds is paralysed by a mysterious malady. ever, is to walk on the clouds. “I have heavy traditional Korean cape and sat “I have never been so directly exposed gathered around the glass case. “He is “Being inside the rock didn’t bother me been working on it for five years, but it on a “laying table” specially designed to to the public before. Usually I am inside going into himself,” his father said, at all,” he added. is not quite there yet,” he said.

Poland shuts Boat capsize: consulates in 146 migrants Ukraine Kiev/Warsaw Reuters

oland temporarily closed feared dead its consulates in Ukraine Pafter a grenade attack overnight at one of its build- Rome Shipwreck ings near the Polish border that Reuters Kiev said was intended to A Spanish frigate, the harm bilateral ties with War- rubber boat packed Canarias, found the saw. Relations between Poland with 147 migrants sole survivor — a and Ukraine have deteriorated sank in the Mediter- 16-year-old Gambian in the past year in a row over ranean sea and all boy — hanging onto a World War Two atrocities, but one of its pas- piece of debris in the although Warsaw still strongly sengersA drowned, the sole supports Western sanctions sea. survivor - a 16-year-old Gam- imposed on Russia for the 2014 bian boy - told rescuers, the annexation of Ukraine’s Cri- International Migration Organ- So far this year mea Peninsula. ization (IOM) said yesterday. nearly 600 migrants Ukraine’s President Petro A Spanish frigate, the have died trying to Poroshenko and Polish pres- Canarias, found the boy hang- reach Italy from ident Andrzej Duda both ing onto a piece of debris in the North Africa, IOM condemned the attack, which sea on Tuesday. He was trans- estimates, after took place in the early hours ferred to an Italian Coast Guard some 4,600 deaths on Wednesday in the town of ship and brought to the Sicilian last year. Lutsk near the border. No one island of Lampedusa early was hurt but the roof of the yesterday. Polish consulate there and “He was very tired when reach Italy from North Africa, some windows were dam- they found him. He’s resting IOM estimates, after some aged. Ukraine’s Security now, so we’ll have more details 4,600 deaths last year. Migrant Service said the weapon used later,” said IOM spokesman Fla- arrivals to Italy are up more appeared to be a rocket from vio Di Giacomo in Rome, after than 50 percent this year on the an RPG-26, a disposable anti- speaking to staff in Lampedusa. same period of last year. tank launcher developed by “The boy said they left Early on Wednesday the the Soviet Union. Sabratha, Libya, a couple days Golfo Azzurro, a humanitarian “The investigation consid- ago on a rubber boat with 147 vessel, rescued about 400 ers several options of the sub-Saharan Africans on board, migrants - mainly from incident, including act of ter- including five children and Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Gam- rorism,” the security service some pregnant women,” Di bia and Bangladesh - including said in a statement. Giacomo said. In the past two 16 women and two children. days, rescuers have picked up They were found drifting in more than 1,100 migrants at a wooden boat without power sea, and recovered one body, about 16 kilometres (10 miles) Italy’s Coast Guard said. The off the coast of Sabratha, the Soros-backed university under threat in Hungary Coast Guard did not comment most frequently used departure on the latest shipwreck. point currently used by people So far this year nearly 600 smugglers in Libya, and will Budapest their operating licenses only if internationally, offers masters and If the CEU were forced to migrants have died trying to now be transported to Sicily. AFP they met stringent new condi- doctoral courses in social sciences, close, it “would damage Hun- tions including having campuses humanities, law, management garian academic life and he Hungarian govern- and offering similar courses in and public policy, and has staff negatively impact the govern- ment’s battle with George their home country. and students from over 100 ment of Hungary’s relations with TSoros escalated yesterday, The CEU would fall afoul of countries. its neighbours, its EU partners with a respected university these conditions. Its home coun- The university said on Tues- and with the United States,” he founded by the US financier say- try is the United States, but it day that the proposed legislation said. ing proposed legislation would does not have a campus or offer “targets CEU directly and is there- The US charge d’affaires in make it impossible to operate. courses there. An agreement will fore discriminatory and Hungary, David Kostelancik, The English-language Cen- also be required between an unacceptable”. said yesterday that the US was tral European University (CEU), institution’s home government “These amendments would “very concerned” and that the set up in Budapest by Soros in and its Hungarian counterpart. make it impossible for the univer- CEU enjoyed “strong bipartisan” 1991 after the fall of communism, Education state secretary sity to continue its operations,” it support in Washington. has long been seen as a hostile Laszlo Palkovics told reporters said. The CEU already complies “It is a premier academic bastion of liberalism by Prime yesterday that the new rules fully with both Hungarian and US institution with an excellent rep- Minister Viktor Orban’s right- were required after recent law, it added, enabling it to award utation in Hungary and around wing government. checks by the authorities both Hungarian and US-accred- the world, and it stands as an A draft modification to a 2011 revealed “legal infringements” ited degrees. important centre of academic higher education law published at a number of foreign-funded In a letter sent to staff and freedom in the region,” Koste- on the Hungarian parliament institutions, including the CEU. current and former students, lancik said in a statement. website on Tuesday would “It is not an anti-CEU or anti- Michael Ignatieff, the universi- Soros, 86, whose Open Soci- tighten rules on foreign-funded Soros law,” he said. ty’s president and rector since ety Foundations (OSF) has also universities operating in Hun- But if the conditions are not 2016 and a former leader of Can- funded civic groups in Eastern Migrants onboard a drifting overcrowded wooden boat gary, including the CEU, though met by February 2018, an institu- ada’s Liberal Party, said the Europe since the 1980s, has for reacting during a rescue operation by the Spanish NGO it is not mentioned by name. tion will not be able to offer legislation would be contested some time been in the crosshairs Proactiva Open Arms, in central Mediterranean Sea, Institutions awarding diplo- courses the following September, “through every means of Orban’s government and else- yesterday. mas in Hungary would keep he said. The CEU, well-regarded possible”. where in the region. THURSDAY 30 MARCH 2017 EUROPE 19 Valls endorses Macron for French presidency

Paris shock vote to quit the EU and AFP French election Donald Trump’s surprise elec- Valls’ nod comes less tion in the United States no-one rance’s former prime than a month before is ruling out another upset. minister Manuel Valls Hamon won the Socialist the first round of the endorsed the presi- primary on a tide of disaffection election on April 23, dential bid of centrist with the party’s centrist lurch Emmanuel Macron in which polls show under Hollande and Valls. Fyesterday, becoming the most Macron and far-right But he has failed since to high-profile Socialist to back the leader Marine Le Pen rally party heavyweights around ex-banker over the party’s own running his bid. Defence Minister Jean- nominee. neck-and-neck. Yves Le Drian has also come out His support was seen as a in favour of Macron, as has Lyon mixed blessing for Macron, giv- Macron quit the Mayor Gerard Collomb. ing him the backing of a leading Hamon, who has fallen from Socialist government politician but weakening his fourth to fifth place in polls for last year to form his Emmanuel Macron (right), meeting London Mayor Sadiq Khan at his campaign headquarters claim to represent a break with the first round behind Commu- the past. own movement, En nist-backed firebrand Jean-Luc in Paris, yesterday. Macron quit the Socialist Marche (On the Melenchon, has accused them government last year to form his Move), saying he of having “stabbed him in the own movement, En Marche (On wanted to shake up back”. Wife of France’s Fillon also the Move), saying he wanted to the political class. Political analyst Pascal Per- shake up the political class. rineau said the split was proof Valls’ nod comes less than a politics. He has said his door is of Valls’ prediction of a division month before the first round of open to all who want to join his into “two irreconcilable lefts” — charged in fake jobs affair the election on April 23, in which economically liberal pro-EU one that is still wedded to the polls show Macron and far-right movement—but that he will not class struggle and another that Paris The new blow comes less “political assassination”. Last leader Marine Le Pen running be beholden to big-name backs reforms. AFP than four weeks before French week he accused Socialist Pres- neck-and-neck. endorsers. Candidates from all the big voters go to the polls in a two- ident Francois Hollande of using The former premier cited Valls’ choice of Macron is a traditional parties have seen he wife of France’s conserv- stage election on April 23 and the finance ministry to collect the “risks” of a Le Pen victory in further blow for the struggling their campaigns upended by the ative presidential candidate May 7. information on politicians, confirming his support for Socialist candidate Benoit youthful Macron — a fresh face TFrancois Fillon was charged Francois Fillon, whose legal including his former prime min- Macron, in an interview with Hamon, 49, who beat Valls to in staid French politics — and yesterday with complicity in the woes have snowballed since ister Manuel Valls, which was BFM TV. Le Pen pounced on the the party’s nomination in a Jan- the nationalist Le Pen. abuse of public funds in a scan- “Penelopegate” broke in January, then leaked to the press. defection as proof of her claim uary primary. While drawing support from dal that has engulfed her once described his wife as a stal- Fillon, who overcame intense that Macron is effectively a sur- Asked how he would vote, the left Macron has also won husband’s campaign. wart companion who “has been pressure to quit the presidential rogate for outgoing President Valls said he would back his over some politicians on the He has already been charged with me in political life for 30 race early this month, was once Francois Hollande. former economy minister centre and the right turned off in the case involving allegedly fic- years... but always in the the clear favourite, but opinion It showed Macron was a “because I think you should not by the multiple scandals engulf- titious jobs as a parliamentary shadows.” polls now show him failing to get “simple cog in a grand plan to take any risks for the Republic. ing Fillon, 63. aide for which the Welsh-born Revelations by the satirical past the first round. save Hollande’s entourage”, the So, I will vote for Emmanuel The Republicans candidate, Penelope Fillon was paid hun- and investigative newspaper Le If the election were held National Front leader wrote on Macron.” once the favourite to become dreds of thousands of euros. Canard Enchaine turned a harsh today, the May 7 runoff would pit her website. Conservative can- His remarks were seen as a France’s next leader, has seen The 61-year-old Penelope media glare on a woman that no far-right leader Marine Le Pen didate Francois Fillon put it reference to a possible win by his chances founder over an was also charged over a salary one could recall seeing at work against centrist Emmanuel more simply. “Emmanuel 48-year-old Le Pen — a pros- expenses scandal and revela- she received from a literary mag- in the halls of parliament. Macron, polls show. Macron is Francois Hollande,” pect that the upstart Macron, a tions of luxury gifts from the azine owned by a billionaire Though a lawmaker employ- The 39-year-old Macron is he said. relative newcomer to politics, is rich. Charged with misuse of friend of her husband’s, Marc ing a family member is not illegal currently tipped to defeat Le Pen, Macron, 39, thanked Valls seen as best placed to prevent. public funds over payments Ladreit de Lacharriere. in France, Penelope is accused of 48, by a wide margin. for his support but said it did not Macron is currently tipped totalling €680,000 ($739,000) She has told police she never doing little for the 680,000 euros Last week “Penelopegate” mean the ex-premier would to easily beat the anti-immigra- to his wife for a suspected fake stepped foot in the offices of the ($725,000) she received in sal- took a new twist when financial land a job in his cabinet if he tion, anti-EU Le Pen in the job as a parliamentary aide, the Revue des Deux Mondes, accord- ary over a number of years. prosecutors said they were won, stressing that his goal was second round election run-off 63-year-old has slipped back ing to a report in the Journal du Fillon, 63, has repeatedly expanding the fake jobs probe to to “refresh the faces” of French on May 7, but after Britain’s into third place. Dimanche weekly. claimed that he is the victim of a include suspicions of forgery.

New Dutch Royal visit Bob Dylan finally to receive govt before Nobel prize in Stockholm summer: Stockholm permanent secretary of the AFP Academy, wrote in a blog post. Negotiators “The Academy will then usic icon Bob Dylan will hand over Dylan’s Nobel The Hague finally receive his Nobel diploma and the Nobel medal, AFP MLiterature Prize this and congratulate him on the weekend at a meeting with the Nobel Prize in Literature.” utch political leaders Swedish Academy in Stockholm, She added: “The setting will hope to form a new it announced yesterday. But no be small and intimate, and no Dfour-party green-right media will be allowed to cover media will be present; only Bob coalition government for The the meeting, and the famously- Dylan and members of the Netherlands “before the sum- reclusive Dylan will only give a Academy will attend, all mer,” the leader of complex lecture required of him in a according to Dylan’s wishes.” negotiations said yesterday. taped version at a later date. Dylan is set to perform con- The Liberal VVD party of The 75-year-old kept silent certs on Saturday and Sunday outgoing Prime Minister Mark for weeks after he was in Stockholm, the first stop on Rutte won the largest number announced as the Nobel liter- his European tour. Danius of seats in the March 15 elec- ature laureate in October, and didn’t specify if the meeting tions, with 33 MPs. snubbed a ceremony in Decem- would be held before or after But that falls far short of ber to receive the prize. the concerts. But Dylan, the the 76 majority needed to Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark and King Philippe of Belgium try a train simulator at “The good news is that the first songwriter to win the pres- control the 150-seat lower Banedanmark railway company, during the Belgian Royal Couple's two-day state visit, Swedish Academy and Bob tigious prize, will not hold the house of the Dutch parlia- in Copenhagen, yesterday. Dylan have decided to meet this traditional Nobel lecture dur- ment, and formal talks are weekend,” Sara Danius, ing the meeting, she said. now underway with three other parties. Veteran politician Edith Schippers has been tasked with leading the negotiations, Quadriplegic man regains use of arm in medical first which include the VVD as well as the conservative Paris paralysis directly using their own his nose and eat mashed pota- brain to the body’s muscles. and it goes.” Christian Democratic Appel AFP brain activity to move their own toes in laboratory tests. Previous efforts have also But the technology has lim- and the progressive Democ- arm and hand to perform func- To overcome gravity that used prostheses. One reported on itations, including that Kochevar racy Party (D66), which both decade after a bike crash tional movements,” lead study would otherwise prevent him last year was linked to electrodes needs to watch his arm at all won 19 seats. that left an American man author Bolu Ajiboye of Case from raising his limb, Kochevar on the skin that helped an Amer- times in order to control it. Completing the current A paralysed from the shoul- Western Reserve University in uses a mobile support, which is ican man, Ian Burkhart, with less This is because he has lost his planned coalition make-up is ders down, he can again feed the United States told AFP. also under his brain’s control, severe paralysis open and close intuitive sense of his limb’s the leftwing ecologist Groen- himself, researchers hailing a The study’s only patient, according to the study published his hand, the authors said. movements and location, known Links which boosted its medical first reported yesterday. 56-year-old Bill Kochevar, has in The Lancet medical journal. Other methods allow partic- as proprioception, due to the parliamentary seats from four The remarkable advance hinges two surgically-implanted clus- Though the prosthesis ipants to control a robotic arm paralysis, according to the to 14 in the polls. That would on a prosthesis which circum- ters of electrodes—each no remains experimental, the using their thoughts. For Koche- scientists. give the proposed coalition 85 vents rather than repairs his bigger than a baby aspirin—in researchers hope their work will var the process of learning to use Kochevar became a quadri- seats. spinal injury, using wires, elec- his head to read his brain signals, one day help people with paral- the prosthesis started by him plegic when he crashed his But Schippers told report- trodes as well as computer which are interpreted by a com- ysis do daily tasks on their own. practicing with a simulation of bicycle into the back of a truck ers it would not be possible software to reconnect the sev- puter. His muscles then receive Scientists are seeking, but an arm that appeared on a on a rainy day, which was about for the government to be ered link between his brain and their instructions from elec- have not found, a way to mend screen. From there he quickly eight years before the electrodes agreed upon before Easter muscles. trodes in his arm. spinal cord injuries that result in progressed to using his mind to were implanted in his brain in next month, adding “the aim “To our knowledge, this is After around ten years of paralysis. In the meantime, they direct the movements of his arm. 2014. The hope brought by the is to have a new cabinet the first instance in the world of immobility, this has allowed are developing work-around During the training he told study have had a profound before the summer”. a person with severe and chronic Kochevar to sip coffee, scratch solutions that reconnect the researchers: “I just think ‘out’... impact. 20 AMERICAS THURSDAY 30 MARCH 2017 Travel ban: Hundreds of Iranians students in limbo

Boston The new uncertainty has dependent on this ban,” said said John McCarthy, dean of the would be able to fill 20 spots with AP Ban impact steered some students to other Soleimani, who lives in the city university’s graduate school. high-quality students in one With admission nations that compete with the US of Mashhad and has a master’s “It’s not something where we cohort.” undreds of Iranian season still in full for top students, including Can- in electrical engineering from the can just suddenly go out in the Even if the White House does students already swing, 25 of ada, Australia and Japan, officials University of Tehran. “We have street and grab somebody who’s not restore the ban, many accepted into US America’s largest at some schools say. spent lots of our time and our qualified to be a PhD student in schools fear students overseas graduate programs Students from Iran have energy to apply to top universi- electrical engineering,” McCa- will think twice about coming to research universities may not be able to helped fill graduate programs at ties, and now that we have been rthy said. At the University of the US. At Ohio State University, have already sent Hcome next fall because of the American colleges for years, admitted to these universities, it Central Florida, 30 percent of the total graduate applications from uncertainty around President more than 500 especially in engineering schools. is very disastrous to see we may students working at the school’s abroad are down 8 percent this Donald Trump’s proposed travel acceptance letters to Out of 12,000 Iranian students be banned.” Center for Research in Compu- year, including countries not ban, potentially derailing students from the six who attended US universities last Once implemented, the ban ter Vision are from Iran, and all affected by the ban. Numbers at research projects and leaving affected countries. year, 77 percent were graduate would last 90 days, but even of them play key roles in Indiana University are down 11 some science programs scram- students and more than half afterward it would likely be too research, said Mubarak Shah, percent. “It’s a big concern within bling to find new students. Out of 12,000 Iranian studied engineering, according late for students to complete the director of the center. Some, for the field, and not just at Indiana,” With admission season still students who to data from the State Depart- months-long process to obtain example, are working on a $1.3 said John Wilkerson, Indiana in full swing, 25 of America’s attended US ment and the Institute of visas. Many US universities rely million project funded by a fed- University’s director of interna- largest research universities have universities last year, International Education, a non- on international students to work eral grant to develop computer tional affairs. already sent more than 500 77 percent were profit in Washington. as research and teaching assist- technology that can quickly ana- Indiana and some other uni- acceptance letters to students graduate students At the University of Central ants, particularly in engineering. lyze thousands of hours of versities have promised to refund from the six affected countries, and more than half Florida, a third of the 115 students Americans who study engineer- surveillance footage in an effort application fees for students if according to data provided by studied engineering. who have been accepted to grad- ing as undergraduates often opt to help speed up criminal they’re banned, and some schools. The vast majority of uate programs in civil and for the job market instead of investigations. schools are offering to defer those students are from Iran, electrical engineering for next graduate school, experts say, “We are concerned that this admission for a year. Many Ira- where undergraduate programs fall are from Iran. leaving them to rely heavily on may hurt us long-term in nian students have contacted the are known for their strength in next fall, legal experts say. Iranian student Amir Solei- international students. Some research,” Shah said. So far, Cen- nonprofit American-Arab Anti- engineering and computer “For us to not have access to mani, 26, has been accepted to schools also rely on tuition tral Florida has offered Discrimination Committee sciences. that talent pool is a major, major two universities in the U.S., money from foreign students, admission to 87 graduate stu- asking for advice, but for now, The ban, which would sus- blow. It is unimaginable in where he wants to pursue a doc- who are typically charged full dents from Iran for next fall. The experts say, there’s little to give. pend immigration from Iran, schools of engineering across the torate in electrical engineering costs. university may be able to find “It’s all up in limbo, even with Sudan, Somalia, Libya, Syria and country to lose that talent,” said and continue his research on The University of Massachu- replacements this year, but the the court orders,” said Abed Yemen, has been blocked by Kazem Kazerounian, dean of the artificial intelligence. If he is kept setts at Amherst has offered quality of programs would likely Ayoub, the group’s legal and pol- federal judges. But if the court School of Engineering at the Uni- out, he says, he’ll likely have to acceptance to 42 Iranian stu- suffer, said Dale Whittaker, the icy director. “If an opportunity ruling is overturned or if Trump versity of Connecticut, which has begin his two years of manda- dents in graduate programs, and university’s provost. does present itself in another issues a new immigration ban, accepted 15 Iranian students so tory service in Iran’s military. their absence would interfere “These numbers are pretty country, they just may have to students would be locked out for far. “My future is very with the progress of research, high,” he said. “I doubt that we take that.”

Women of courage award US lawmakers NEWS BYTES roll back privacy rules for Internet Woman arrested for driving carriers into police car near US Capitol WASHINGTON: A woman was arrested yesterday near the Washington US Capitol after driving into a police vehicle and narrowly AFP missing several officers on foot, but police said the incident appears unrelated to terrorism. Capitol Police communica- tions director Eva Malecki told reporters officers had “observed S lawmakers voted to an erratic and aggressive driver” in the area, and attempted roll back rules that to stop the vehicle. “The driver negotiated a U-turn and fled Uwould block internet the scene nearly striking officers and striking at least one service providers from sell- other vehicle,” Malecki said. “A brief pursuit followed until ing user data to third parties, the vehicle was stopped.” Police fired shots during the inci- following a heated debate dent, which occurred just a block from the Capitol complex, over privacy protections. but no one was injured and the suspect was taken into cus- The House of Represent- tody. “This incident appears to be criminal in nature with atives voted 215-205 to no nexus to terrorism,” Malecki said, adding that the Capitol overturn the Federal Commu- complex remains open to the public. nications Commission rule, following last week’s 50-48 vote in the Senate. The move Passengers flee to safety as followed a fierce debate over digital privacy protections Peru plane catches fire over the rule that would have LIMA: A Peruvian Airlines jet liner caught fire seconds after First lady Melania Trump presenting the 2017 Secretary of State's International Women of required service providers to crash-landing at an airport in Peru but all 141 passengers Courage Award to Arlette Contreras Bautista of Peru in Washington, yesterday. The award get permission before selling on board escaped unhurt, authorities said. Footage aired by honours women who have demonstrated exceptional courage, strength, and leadership customer data to third RPP television showed black smoke pouring from the Boe- in acting to improve the lives of others. parties. ing 737 next to a runway at Jaujua airport in the centre of the Some activists say the lat- country on Tuesday. The aircraft was eventually reduced to est vote frees major providers a charred shell. “Thank God we were saved, we got out fine,” like Comcast and Verizon to said one of the passengers, Walter Montoya, on RPP’s radio sell sensitive private data for station. “The pilot did an emergency landing and there was targeted advertising; others a heavy impact.” The airline said in a statement that “the 141 contend these firms will now passengers on board were evacuated by our crew. No pas- US envoy warns of deep be able to compete on an senger was hurt in any considerable way.” It said the airline equal footing with internet and authorities were investigating. giants like Google and Face- review of UN peacekeeping book for online marketing. The rule was passed last Teenager planned school year by the US regulator with New York with a clear exit strategy, not Some, including permanent a majority of Democrats shooting in US: Police AFP only to save money. But she was council member France, have appointed by former presi- WASHINGTON: Police in Maryland have arrested an 18-year- clear that the US share of the warned against dramatic cuts dent Barack Obama, a old student who was planning a shooting at her school, after he United States warned $7.9 billion UN peacekeeping to the mission, with the country scenario that has been her family turned her in. Frederick County Sheriff Charles yesterday that it would use budget would have to fall from still in political and military tur- reversed with the election of Jenkins said Tuesday that Nichole Cevario had amassed fire- Tits presidency of the UN 29 to at most 25 percent. “The moil. But Russia has endorsed President Donald Trump. arms and potential explosives materials, as well as instructions Security Council to review the United States is the moral con- the idea of a smaller force, and Dallas Harris of the con- to make a homemade bomb. Cevario will now face charges performance of peacekeeping science of the world,” she said. Haley’s remarks to the CFR were sumer group Public of possession of explosive and incendiary material intended missions worldwide.The coun- “We will not walk away a stark warning about its per- Knowledge said lawmakers to create a destructive device. After being arrested Thursday, cil is due to vote in the next few from this role, but we will insist formance so far. “voted to strip Americans of the suspect was undergoing psychiatric evaluations at a local days on whether to extend or to that our participation in the UN “In the Democratic Repub- the strongest online privacy hospital near Thurmont, about an hour outside Washington. cut back the 19,000-strong UN will honor and respect this role.” lic of Congo, for example, the protections to date” and If released, she would be held until arraignment. She planned mission in the Democratic Haley said she had already government is corrupt. It preys added that “there will be no the attack on Catoctin High School for April 5, police said. The Republic of Congo. begun work with UN Secretary- on its citizens,” she said. effective federal cop on the plot was derailed when Cevario’s father noticed worrisome And US President Donald General Antonio Guterres to “At the same time, the UN beat to proactively protect comments in her diary. Trump made it clear in his first identify ways to streamline UN peacekeeping mission is man- consumer information.” budget request to Congress that military commitments. dated to partner with the Democratic House leader he hopes to cut America’s fund- “We’re going to wind down government, to consolidate Nancy Pelosi opposed the Journalist shot in Mexico ing to the United Nations. the peacekeeping mission in peace and security,” she said. measure, saying “Americans VERACRUZ: A newspaper editor in eastern Mexico yester- US ambassador Nikki Haley Haiti, it’s not needed anymore,” “In other words, the UN is shouldn’t have to give up day became the fourth journalist to be shot in the country this will become president of the she said. Guterres has proposed aiding a government that is every shred of privacy when month, an official said. Armando Arrieta was in serious con- council for the month of April, ending this mission by October. inflicting predatory behavior they go online.” During floor dition in hospital after being shot several times by two men, and she made it plain that “We’re going to wind down in towards its own people. We debate, she said “Republicans said Jorge Morales, regional leader of the State Commission peacekeeping will be under the the Ivory Coast. We’re going to should have the decency and the want this (private) informa- for the Care and Protection of Journalists. “He was arriving microscope. wind it down in Liberia. But common sense to end this.” tion to be sold without your home in the early morning after finishing work on the news- “I came to the UN with the guess what? We’re going to The dangers facing the DRC permission.” paper” and the two men shot at him when he got out of his goal of showing the American work harder on those areas that were underlined this week when Others said the rule car, Morales said. “He is in very serious condition. They shot people value for their invest- truly don’t have peace.” two UN contractors—American passed last year imposed him almost point-blank.” Arrieta is editor of the newspa- ment in this institution,” she told But the next mission to be Michael Sharp and Swedish- unnecessary regulations on per La Opinion in the town of Poza Rica in Veracruz, one of the Council on Foreign Rela- reviewed will be the biggest, that Chilean Zaida Catalan—were carriers that already must the most violent states in a country stricken by drug gangs. tions. Haley insisted that in the DRC. A vote on renewing found dead after going missing comply with laws on con- Mexico ranks third in the world for the number of journal- Washington’s aim was to make its mandate had been due yes- while conducting an expert sumer protection and ists killed, after Syria and Afghanistan. the missions more effective and terday, but has been put back. study. deceptive practices. THURSDAY 30 MARCH 2017 AMERICAS 21 California prepares for Protest in front of Supreme Court showdown with Trump

Los Angeles back on the state’s special AFP Climate issues waiver for tougher emissions The battle is shaping rules. alifornia, one of the up as President California leaders have most progressive in Donald Trump signed already said that they would not the US on climate go down without a fight and an executive order issues, is heading have vowed to push forth with on Tuesday rolling toward a legal show- even stricter measures. Cdown with the Trump back key Obama-era Experts say Trump could administration over its environ- measures to combat very well rescind the waiver— mental policies. climate change. which would lead to fierce legal The battle is shaping up as battles—or adopt new federal California leaders President Donald Trump signed regulations without challenging an executive order on Tuesday have already said those of California and 13 other rolling back key Obama-era that they would not states that have adopted the measures to combat climate go down without a same stringent clean air stand- change. Trump insists the order fight and have ards as California. Activists counter protesting during a news conference in front of the Supreme Court in will benefit American workers, vowed to push forth “The third option is to go to Washington, yesterday. Senator Chuck Grassley held a news conference to discuss Senate notably coal miners. with even stricter Congress to revoke the Clean Air Democrats' attempt to filibuster Judge Neil Gorsuch's Supreme Court nomination. But the measure has envi- measures. Act and that’s what we fear the ronmental groups and officials most,” said Stanley Young, a in California — which has led the spokesman for the California Air fight to curb climate change and “No matter what happens in Resources Board. California man has the largest automobile mar- Washington, we will work to Cara Horowitz, co-executive New York mafia family ket in the country — up in arms meet our Sustainable City Plan director of the Emmett Institute gets 20 years and vowing a showdown. goal to reduce greenhouse gas on Climate Change and the “Gutting #CPP is a colossal emissions 80 percent by 2050, Environment at UCLA, said that hit by wave of arrests for bank heists mistake and defies science move toward zero emissions while it is impossible to predict itself,” California Governor Jerry transportation, and pursue our the outcome of a showdown Brown said in a tweet, referring vision of a 100 percent clean between California and the New York Giallanzo $250,000 and had Los Angeles to the Clean Power Plan aimed energy future,” the mayor said. Trump administration, the AFP been missing the required Reuters at curbing global warming. Although the federal gov- state’s track record in combat- weekly interest payments. Gial- “Erasing climate change may ernment sets emission standards ting pollution was a plus. en members of a New lanzo and an unnamed California man who take place in Donald Trump’s for cars in the United States, that “My sense is that California York mafia family were associated allegedly beat the prosecutors say led a mind, but nowhere else,” he is not the case in car-crazy Cal- has a long history of aggressively Tarrested on Tuesday on man until he soiled himself, Agang of burglars in a added. ifornia. In 1970, the state struck regulating pollution and getting charges including attempted while screaming and demand- decade-long string of Holly- Brown has led California’s an agreement to adopt stricter these waivers,” she said. murder and extortion, prose- ing the money. wood-style bank robberies, climate change crusade, which air quality rules to combat the As to the new EPA chief cutors said, the latest blow Another defendant, Evan rappelling through roofs in saw the state in the last decade smog that plagues the vast Los Scott Pruitt’s declared skepti- against the area’s organized “The Jew” Greenberg, had matching outfits and carrying significantly slash its yearly cli- Angeles metropolitan area. cism about climate change, crime syndicates. boasted about grabbing a delin- walkie-talkies, has been sen- mate-warming emissions by While the auto industry ini- experts say that in the end, sci- All of the suspects are quent customer by the ankles, tenced to 20 years in prison. about 35 million metric tonnes. tially pushed back at the stricter entific data will prove the best believed to belong to the Bon- and knocking the victim to the Alceu Johnny Andreis, It has pledged to cut them even measures, today the state has defense. “The fact that he denies anno family, one of five major ground with his head hitting the who was already serving 51 further by 2020, with other more than half of the plug-in it doesn’t change the science or Italian-American mob organi- concrete, prosecutors said. months behind bars for an states looking to follow suit. electric cars in the country. the law,” Young said. He added zations in the northeastern The indictment unsealed attempted bank robbery in Los Angeles Mayor Eric But there are fears that this that nonetheless Pruitt may United States—along with the Tuesday also accused Giallanzo 2014, was also ordered by a Garcetti joined Brown in saying could change, should Trump— prove a savvy adversary given Colombo, Gambino, Genovese of a plot to murder a person federal judge to pay $12 mil- on Tuesday that Trump would who has called global warming his legal background in suing the and Lucchese families. who had robbed his lion in restitution and forfeit meet with fierce resistance over a hoax—direct the Environmen- EPA repeatedly as attorney gen- The charges stem from associates. two Mercedes-Benz cars and his new directive. tal Protection Agency to roll eral of Oklahoma. alleged crimes committed over The dispute lasted months, four Ducati motorcycles pur- a nearly 20-year span, begin- and saw Giallanzo’s crew and chased with stolen loot. ning in 1998. They centered in their target trading gunfire on Andreis, 48, was convicted New York’s bayside Howard several occasions in the streets of two counts of bank robbery Arkansas death Beach neighborhood, close to of Howard Beach. following a jury trial in U.S. Samsung S8 unveiled the John F. Kennedy Interna- The defendants were esti- District Court in Los Angeles row inmates tional Airport, and were the mated to have earned more in Los Angeles late last year. result of a long-term investiga- than $26 million from crimes Prosecutors said Andreis led a sue to halt tion that included wiretaps, including illegal gambling, rob- crew of burglars in a series of cooperating witnesses and bery and extortion, prosecutors well-planned bank robberies execution spree surveillance. said. across Southern California in Ronald “Ronnie G.” Gial- Howard Beach is home to which the members carefully lanzo, an acting captain in the a large Italian-American com- cased each building, cut holes Washington Bonanno family, was the ring- munity and is sometimes in the roofs to gain access via AFP leader of a loansharking considered a stronghold of the ropes and conducted numer- operation that, at one point, New York mafia. ous dry runs. eath row inmates in reached $3 million in “extor- Last week, the 23-year-old According to evidence Arkansas filed a law- tionate loans,” according to namesake grandson of New presented at trial, the burglars Dsuit to contest the US Bridget Rohde, acting federal York mobster John Gotti was also disabled sophisticated state’s plan to end their lives prosecutor for the Eastern Dis- arrested and charged with vio- security systems, communi- over a shortened period of just trict of New York. lent crimes, including a bank cated via walkie-talkies and 10 days. The state’s Republi- “Even while incarcerated, holdup. Six others were also jackhammered through thick can Governor Asa Hutchinson Giallanzo kept watch over his indicted and arrested in the concrete bank vaults before has stirred intense controversy illicit loansharking book, direct- mafia crackdown. making off with the cash and since announcing the execu- ing his associates to commit And in August, authorities the contents of safe-deposit tions of eight men in 10 days, acts of violence to ensure that arrested 46 alleged mobsters boxes. citing shortages of a drug used the customers paid the exorbi- up and down the US East Coast, Prosecutors said in court in lethal injections. The new Samsung S8 is on display for the press after tant weekly interest rate,” a accusing them of orchestrating documents that Andreis drug- The inmates said the a new conference in New York, yesterday. Samsung statement read. a vast criminal enterprise that tested his subordinates, had accelerated schedule did not yesterday unveiled its new Galaxy S8 smartphones. Prosecutors gave an exam- stretched from Massachusetts them wear identical clothing give them enough time to ple of one customer who owed to Florida. and shoes. prepare their appeals, adding that the shortened timeframe violated Arkansas rules. “Each plaintiff named in this suit has suffered irrepa- Trump vows to step up efforts to combat drug addiction rable injury on account of the frantic execution schedule sought by the state,” six of the Washington of his own administration, completes his term as discussions about the administra- that he plans to complete his eight men concerned wrote AP chaired Trump’s presidential governor. tion’s policy, downplayed reports term as governor before moving in their complaint. transition team before he was “He asked me to help with of tensions between the two. to the private sector. Nonethe- “Not only has Arkansas’s resident Donald Trump is unceremoniously replaced by this and I’m going to,” Christie “It was great,” Christie said. less, people close to him say that rush to execute eight plain- vowing to step up efforts incoming Vice President Mike said. “It’s an issue that I care “We are talking about the opioid he is open to potentially joining tiffs over the course of ten Pto combat the nation’s Pence. about a lot in New Jersey and for issue because it’s one of the things the administration once his term days forced the state to vio- addiction crisis. Trump convened Christie spoke extensively the country and so the president that’s going to be overseen out of ends. late its own mandatory an emotional roundtable yester- about the issue during his own asked me to do this and I was his department and so we had a Christie’s last visit to the procedures for clemency day attended by New Jersey Gov presidential bid and has dedi- happy to.” good lunch and a good opportu- White House stoked speculation. review, but it has necessarily Chris Christie, members of his cated his final year in office to Christie has been friends nity to lay out what we need to After he and his wife, Mary Pat, undermined each plaintiff’s cabinet, law enforcement chiefs addressing the drug crisis. Last with Trump for years and has do and what our goals are.” had lunch with Trump in Febru- individual opportunity to and recovering addicts. It was month, he signed legislation that been working behind the scenes Christie’s history with drug ary, Christie was bombarded advocate for mercy.” the first public event tied to the limits first-time opioid prescrip- with the White House on the policy dates to his first elected with questions at home about his The eighth amendment of launch of a new addiction com- tions to five days’ worth of drugs issue for months, discussing it position in county government intentions. the US Constitution prohibits mission that Trump asked and requires state-regulated with aides including Kellyanne more than 20 years ago. The “Let me be very clear, we did cruel and unusual punish- Christie, a longtime friend and health insurers to cover at least Conway, a fellow New Jersey issue became personal more not get into any discussion of me ment. Death penalty critics formal rival, to chair. six months of substance abuse native, and the president. The than a decade later, when one of joining the current administra- have condemned the execu- Trump listened intently as treatment. commission is being rolled out Christie’s best friends from law tion in some type of drug abuse tions, noting that Arkansas attendees shared their harrow- Christie said earlier yester- as part of a new office led by school developed an addiction role, some type of czar or God has not conducted a single ing stories about addiction and day that he has “no interest in Trump’s son-in-law and top to prescription drugs and died of forbid surgeon general,” he said execution since 2005. The recovery. He told a woman who having a permanent role” in the adviser Jared Kushner, whose an overdose in a New Jersey then. The focus on the drug issue accelerated schedule comes lost her son to an overdose that Trump administration at this father Christie prosecuted in his motel. also gives Christie a chance to amid a shortage of death pen- he did not die in vain. time, but that the president asked former role as US attorney. Christie’s position leading try to move past negative head- alty drugs across the United Christie, who has made the him to spearhead efforts to com- Christie, who had lunch with the commission is a volunteer lines that have helped fuel his States. issue of addiction a centerpiece bat opioid and drug abuse as he Kushner Tuesday as part of his one, and he has long maintained unpopularity in New Jersey. 22 MORNING BREAK THURSDAY 30 MARCH 2017

PRAYER TIMINGS Pop punk band FAJR 04.11 am SHOROOK 05.28 am says reunion

ZUHR 11.39 am MAGHRIB 05.51 pm after decade ASR 03.07 pm ISHA 07.21 pm feels 'normal' WEATHER TODAY London o o Reuters 22 C 29 C ritish pop punk band Minimum Maximum Busted say their reunion Bafter a decade apart feels “normal now” as they adapt to a new music industry since the height of their success in the early 2000s. Charlie Simpson, James Bourne and Matt Willis announced in late 2015 that the trio, known for hits like “What I Go To School For” and “Year 3000”, was reforming. They have since been on an arena tour in Britain and Ireland and released the album “Night Driver” in November. “It kind of feels normal now. It doesn’t really feel weird or strange anymore, it kind of feels like this is our band and we’re doing it again. It kind of feels right,” Willis said in an interview. Simpson, who originally Hazy to misty at places at first be- left Busted to perform in a rock comes partly cloudy to cloudy at band, said he believed music times with chance of scattered rain. had changed significantly since the group first emerged, HIGH TIDE 06:15 - 19:00 LOW TIDE 00:15 - 12:30 namely with streaming. Courtesy: Qatar Meteorology Department “I think it’s changed in the last 18 months. Since we were first around it’s basically a dif- ferent industry,” he said. “The way people consume music has changed...It keeps us on our toes because you’ve got to keep moving with it. I think in five years time it’ll look very different to the way it is today,” he said. Busted were speaking ahead of a performance on Tuesday night for the Teenage Cancer Trust, where they were supporting singer Ed Sheeran.

'Five came back' and changed Birds hit by cars are bird-brained: Study

how Hollywood Paris depicted war AFP hat's the difference between New York birds that get killed by cars, Reuters Wand those that don't? The dead ones tend to have smaller illiam Wyler lost his brains, scientists who performed 3,521 hearing, George Ste- avian autopsies said yesterday. Wvens never made What might be called the "bird brain another comedy, and John rule" applies to different species, depend- Huston suffered what is now ing on the ratio of grey matter to body known as Post Traumatic mass, they reported in the journal Royal Stress Disorder after years of Society Open Science. filming scenes of death and Crows, for example, have big brains destruction. relative to their size, and have shown a The three directors, along remarkable knack for navigating oncom- with Frank Capra and John ing traffic. Ford, were not the only ones While picking at road kill on Florida changed by their experiences highways, earlier research showed, the documenting World War Two. scavengers learned to ignore cars and Hollywood itself was also trucks whizzing by them within inches, Some birds are smarter than others, as they have more grey matter. A study changed, the documentary but would fly away just in time when reveals that birds killed in car collisions generally have smaller brains. “Five Came Back” shows, threatened by a vehicle in their lane. bringing a new realism to way "I don't know if we can say they are hundredth of a gramme — were consist- century, it is unlikely that birds have the war was depicted in the 'smarter,' but they do exhibit cognitive ently smaller, he said. adapted — as a species level — that fast. movies and its effects on those behaviour that makes them likely to sur- "The other problem is that total mor- who served and those who vive," lead author Anders Pape Moller, GRIM TALLY tality due to traffic is not big enough to stayed behind. an evolutionary biologist at the French At the same time, other organs — cause evolutionary change," Moller said. “The toll the war took on National Centre for Scientific Research, liver, heart and lungs — all had the same It would take a very high death toll, these men was profound,” said said. mass. In total, the researchers examined in other words, to exert a strong influ- Mark Harris, author of “Five Pigeons, by contrast, appear to be 251 different species. ence on the course of evolution. Came Back” that was adapted less adept at avoiding collisions, a defi- The finding raises the question of Having said that, a lot of birds get for the documentary. ciency visible in compressed form on whether certain species, and certain pop- killed by moving vehicles. Their experiences making most big-city streets. ulations within species, have evolved The State of the Birds annual report documentaries and short films Not coincidentally, they have teeny- over the space of dozens of generations estimated in 2014 that 200 million birds “gave them an appetite for weeny brains. such that birds with car-dodging abili- perish on the road every year in the independence and autonomy More surprisingly, the relation ties have become more common. United States alone. and (made them) strive harder between brain size and traffic accidents Moller is sceptical. Estimates for Europe are lower, but for realism and immediacy in also holds within the same species, the Recent research has shown that evo- worldwide the grim tally is certainly in their Hollywood features,” study found. lutionary changes in many animals — fish the hundreds of millions. Harris added. "Common European blackbirds, and insects, in particular — are occur- But there are an estimated 300 bil- “Five Came Back,” released house sparrows and robins all show this ring in response to climate change and lion birds in the world, so the death toll on Netflix on Friday, tells the difference in individuals that were hit by human encroachment on habitat far is still only a fraction of one percent. stories of the war time direc- cars, and those that were not," Moller more quickly that scientists imagined There is one threat, however, to tors and adds commentary by said by phone. possible. which our feathered friends almost cer- modern filmmakers including Undamaged brains from birds killed But given that fast-moving cars have tainly have evolved to avoid, though with Steven Spielberg. in accidents — weighed to within a only been on the roads for less than a limited success. THURSDAY 30 MARCH 2017 HOME 23 24 HOME THURSDAY 30 MARCH 2017 'Festival of Kerala' at Lulu Barwa city from today The Peninsula

ulu outlets are all set to welcome the much- awaited ‘Festival of Kerala’ as part of the ongoing Qatar Interna- Ltional Food Festival and Lulu World Food Expo 2017. The Fes- tival will be inaugurated by Dr R Seetharaman, Group Chief Exec- utive Officer, Doha Bank today at 7pm at Lulu Hypermarket, Barwa City. Lulu Hypermarkets on March 31 demonstration sessions on dif- There will be huge collection and will conduct live cooking ses- ferent varieties of cooking have of authentic Kerala street food. sions with customers. been planned for the information According to Lulu Management, The event is envisaged to intro- of the customers. more than 500 varieties of deli- duce new concepts of promotion Special counters and kiosks cious Kerala foods and food based on themes to create a festi- for promoting exciting offers on products, out of which 100 vari- val mood throughout the period, major food items, free sampling eties of delicious recipe foods viz. with the participation of custom- and tasting, and Raffle draws by irachi puttu, kappa biriyani, thattu ers. The festival is aimed at Lulu and major suppliers etc. are dosa, crab curry, squid curry and educating customers about differ- also set up for the benefit of the kuttanadan duck roast will be ent food habits and cooking styles customers. available at modest prices. prevailing internationally. Major The festival would focus on Special attention has been attractions that would constitute almost all areas viz. grocery, fro- given to include ethnic foods from the soul of the festival are: Rice N’ zen foods, bakery, delicatessen, all districts of Kerala and counters Spice Festival, Salad Fest, Cheese meat, fish, vegetables and domes- are decorated to create an Fest and Meat & Fish Fest. tic appliances etc. and attractive authentic ambience of the festi- Fun-filled competitions are promotions have been organised val. Apart from the dishes, special organised for entertainment of to benefit the customers in terms snacks viz. elayada, achappam, customers like juice drinking, of price and quality. uzhunnuvada, parippu vada, banana eating, ice-cream eating, It was indicated that special kozhukatta and mulaku vada will grilled chicken eating, biriyani promotions on meat, poultry, sea- also be available. . eating, Chilly eating, and Sand- food, salads, Rice N’ Spice and This is the 16th year that Lulu wich and burger eating etc. ethnic foods from countries like Hypermarket is consecutively con- A cookery contest will take South Africa, Singapore, Lebanon, ducting the food festival. The place on the April 7, at Lulu Egypt, USA, Brazil, UK, Korea, objective is to make the festival a Hypermarket, Barwa City, dur- Japan, Malaysia and Thailand major event with the active partic- ing which innovative and would constitute the soul of the ipation of customers and a lot of informative activities like fruit promotion. attractions to create a full festive carving competition, painting and In line with the Lulu Food mood throughout the period. Some drawing competition for the kids Festival, various branded food of the activities planned in the food etc. have been organised. Kerala suppliers namely Nestle, Mars, categories are aimed at educating Fashion Show and Mohiniyattam Eastern, Rainbow, Daawat Rice, customers about different food for the kids also have been organ- Kiri Cheese, Alyoum Chicken and habits, and give them insights into ised on March 31 at Lulu Craft Cheese etc. have launched various cooking styles and ingre- Hypermarket, Barwa City. attractive promotions of their dients of different cuisines. Customers will also have the products at highly subsidised Eminent Chef Anil Kumar, Chan- chance to win amazing prizes by prices. nel fame and Culinary Director of participating in all the above pro- The event will culminate with Food Wise, Dubai will be visiting motions. Besides, live Cookery Contest on April 7.