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Qatar expanding shipping Qatar, Somalia sign pacts network ‘to include all to strengthen bilateral ties continents of the world’ published in QATAR since 1978

FRIDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 11032 December 14, 2018 Rabia II 7, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Amir meets Argentine FM Qatar unveils QR4.3bn surplus 2019 budget

zRevenues pegged at Major allocations sector-wise: budget also focuses on providing the QR211bn and expenditure necessary funds for the development at QR206.7bn. Health ...... QR22.7bn of new housing areas for nationals, en- zThe budget also Education ...... QR19.2bn hancing food security projects, and the focuses on new housing Infrastructure projects ...... QR33bn establishment of infrastructure and fa- areas for nationals, Transportation and cilities in free zones, special economic enhancing food security Communications ...... QR16.4bn zones, and industrial and logistics zones. projects, establishment The salaries and wages bill has of infrastructure and out of a portfolio of committed projects been proposed to increase by 9% to facilities in free zones, worth QR421bn. These projects will QR57.1bn owing to increased hiring special economic zones, boost growth in the country, especially to operate several newly-completed and industrial and logistics in non-oil sectors. projects, especially in the education zones. Based on directives from His High- and health sectors. Hiring is also in- ness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- creased in the defence, security and zStress on completing mad al-Thani, the 2019 budget is de- public safety sectors. projects in leading signed to achieve effi ciency in current The allocation towards major His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday met at his off ice at the Amiri Diwan Argentina’s Foreign sectors including expenditure while maintaining the projects has, however, seen a 3.6% Minister Jorge Faurie. They reviewed relations between the two countries in various fields and ways to develop them. healthcare, education and necessary allocations for the comple- decline to QR89.6bn due to the com- transportation, along with tion of major approved projects that pletion of some major infrastructure those related to hosting of contribute to the sustainable develop- projects. The allocations are projected World Cup in 2022 ment targets of Qatar 2030 Vision. to continue declining gradually during In brief These span economic, social, human the coming few years as more projects By Santhosh V Perumal and environmental development. The are completed. To Page 4 US senate: MbS behind Business Reporter QATAR | Offi cial No VAT or income tax next year; Condolences sent to Khashoggi murder; end more than 22% growth in oil Turkish president price assumption has trans- cigarettes, sugary drinks dearer Alated into a QR4.3bn surplus in His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim support for Yemen war Qatar’s 2019 budget, the fi rst in three Qatar yesterday said it will not levy the implementation of all tax laws and bin Hamad al-Thani, His Highness the years. value added tax (VAT) in 2019 and setting up all related bylaws, proce- Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin The major thrust for the surplus has neither will it impose tax on income of dures and instructions; reviewing and Hamad al-Thani and HE the Prime he US Senate backed a reso- murder and insisting that Saudi Ara- come from a 21% expected growth in citizens and residents, even as it will assessing tax return forms submitted Minister and Minister of Interior lution yesterday to end US bia hold accountable anyone respon- revenues (as oil price is assumed at $55 establish a general tax authority (GTA). by all establishments and the collection Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Tmilitary support for the Saudi sible for his death. a barrel against $45 in 2018 budget), Doha will grant further exemptions of taxes from subject entities; and sign- Khalifa al-Thani yesterday sent cables Arabian-led war in Yemen, defy- Khashoggi, a Saudi dissident and amidst a modest 2% growth in ex- to key economic sectors and will not ing agreements with other countries of condolences to Turkish President ing President with a journalist for The Washington Post penses, the Ministry of Finance said impose tax on investments in shares regarding the prevention of double Recep Tayyip Erdogan after several historic vote that underscored law- was killed by agents of the Saudi yesterday. and profits but will impose selective taxation to encourage economic co- people were killed and injured in a makers’ anger over the murder of government on October2, 2018 at the Higher energy prices in the global taxes on health-damaging goods from operation and joint investments. On train accident in an Ankara suburb. prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. markets and increasing non-oil rev- the beginning of 2019, the Ministry of the proposed selective tax, the ministry Khashoggi. The bipartisan Senate ‘yes’ vote enues led Qatar project a QR4.3bn Finance said in the 2019 budget. The said it is designed to impose taxes on QATAR | Reaction Although the measure would have sends a strong message to the White surplus for 2019, according to the GTA will be established as a separate certain health-damaging goods and it to clear additional hurdles to become House over anger on both sides of the budget estimates, which pegged rev- entity, under the supervision of the will be implemented by the beginning Hodeidah truce ‘an law, the 56-41 vote was the fi rst time aisle towards Riyadh. enues at QR211bn and expenditure at Ministry of Finance, and will be in of 2019. The law includes a 100% tax on important step’ either chamber of Congress had Independent Vermont Senator QR206.7bn. charge of the implementation of all tobacco and its products and energy Qatar has welcomed the agreement backed a move to withdraw US forces Bernie Sanders, who votes with the In 2019, new projects valued at tax laws. The GTA’s mandate includes drinks, and a 50% tax on sugary drinks. by Yemen’s warring parties on the from a foreign military engagement Democrats, described the vote as “a QR48bn are expected to be awarded ceasefire in the city of Hodeidah under the War Powers Act. That historic moment.” calling it an important step towards law, passed during the Vietnam War, “Today we tell the despotic gov- ending the absurd war, in which the limits the president’s ability to com- ernment of Saudi Arabia that we will Sheikha Moza participates in Flag Relay brotherly Yemeni people suff ering, mit US forces to potential hostilities not be part of their military adven- and praised the active role played without congressional approval. tures,” he said. by UN envoy Martin Griff ith. In a Immediately after the vote on the “So let us go forward today... and statement yesterday, the Ministry of war powers resolution, the Senate tell the world that the United States Foreign Aff airs expressed the hope supported by unanimous consent of America will not continue to be that the parties of the Yemeni crisis another resolution saying that Saudi part of the worst humanitarian dis- would reach understandings on the Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman aster on the face of the earth.” outstanding issues in the next round (MbS) is responsible for Khashoggi’s – of consultations. QATAR | Initiative ‘48-team World Cup a matter of feasibility’ Doha Debates back Although a “majority” of countries Asked if he had held specific with a new concept favour a 48-team World Cup in Qatar, conversations with Qataris about Doha Debates, an initiative of Qatar a final decision will be taken only sharing the event with other Foundation (QF), was relaunched after an ongoing feasibility study is countries the region, Infantino said: yesterday with an innovative new completed, FIFA president Gianni “We discuss about everything but we idea of ‘debating solutions instead Infantino said yesterday. didn’t decide on anything concrete of debating problems’ and with the Infantino was speaking at the yet.” concept ‘Don’t settle for a divided conclusion of a three-day FIFA He said it was important to talk with world’. Page 4 Executive Football Summit in all stakeholders before such a huge Doha, which was attended by decision is taken. “We are talking QATAR | Diplomacy representatives of dozens of national about something nice, not something President of Ecuador football federations. dangerous,” he said, adding that “The majority is in favour because 16 ultimately it will be a decision “for arrives in Doha more teams would get to participate. Qatar, football and FIFA.” President Lenin Moreno Garcia of It not only means 16 more countries He said Qatar has been frank about Ecuador arrived in Doha yesterday with World Cup fever but also 15 or 16 its positions. “There is an openness evening to participate in the 2018 more countries being able to dream,” on the part of Qatar and that is Doha Forum. He was received by the world football supremo said at something that I really appreciate.” Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of for Education, Science and Community HE the Minister of Commerce and a press conference at Four Seasons See Sport page 1 for detailed Development (QF), joined a country-wide display of national pride and unity at Oxygen Park yesterday by participating Industry Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari. Hotel. report in the Flag Relay, hosted by the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) to celebrate Qatar . Page 16 IATA launches new tool to avoid air turbulence

By Pratap John impact of turbulence on their opera- followed by a rigorous quality control. number one priority. Big data is now turbulence data available at all fl ight have access to data to better mitigate Geneva tions, the IATA noted. Then the data is consolidated into a sin- turbocharging what we can achieve. levels, pilots will be able to make much turbulence. Using Turbulence Aware These tools – while eff ective – have gle, anonymised, objective source data- In the case of Turbulence Aware, the more informed decisions about higher in conjunction with Delta’s proprietary limitations due to the fragmentation of base which is accessible to participants. more precise forecasting of turbu- fl ight levels with smoother air. Being Flight Weather Viewer app is expected he International Air Transport the data sources, inconsistencies in the Turbulence Aware data is turned into lence will provide a real improvement able to climb to these altitudes will re- to build on the signifi cant reductions Association (IATA) has launched level and quality of information avail- actionable information when fed into for passengers, whose journeys will be sult in a more optimal fuel burn, which we’ve seen already to both turbu- Tits ‘Turbulence Aware Data’ re- able, and the locational imprecision an airline’s dispatch or airborne alert- even safer and more comfortable.” will ultimately lead to reduced CO2 lence-related crew injuries and carbon source to help airlines worldwide avoid and the subjectivity of the observa- ing systems. The result is the fi rst global, The challenge of managing turbu- emissions. emissions year-over-year,” said Jim turbulence when planning routes tac- tions. For example, there is no stand- real-time, detailed and objective infor- lence is expected to grow as climate Turbulence Aware is already gener- Graham, Delta’s senior vice president tically in fl ight. ardised scale for the severity of turbu- mation for pilots and operations profes- change continues to impact weather ating signifi cant interest among air- (Flight Operations). Turbulence Aware augments an lence that a pilot may report other than sionals to manage turbulence. patterns. This has implications for lines. Delta Air Lines, United Airlines The fi rst operational version of the airline’s ability to forecast and avoid a light, moderate or severe scale, which IATA’s Director General and CEO both safety and effi ciency of fl ight. and Aer Lingus have signed contracts; platform will be developed by the end turbulence by pooling and sharing (in becomes very subjective among diff er- Alexandre de Juniac said: “Turbulence Turbulence is the leading cause of Delta is already contributing their data of this month. Operational trials will real time) turbulence data generated by ent-sized aircraft and pilot experience. Aware is a great example of the poten- injuries to passengers and crew in non- to the programme, IATA noted. run throughout 2019, with ongoing participating airlines. Turbulence Aware improves on the tial for digital transformation in the fatal accidents, according to the Fed- “IATA’s collaborative approach to feedback collection from participat- Airlines now rely upon pilot reports industry’s capabilities by collecting data airline industry. The airline industry eral Aviation Authority (FAA). creating Turbulence Aware with open ing airlines. The fi nal product will be and weather advisories to mitigate the from multiple contributing airlines, has always co-operated on safety – its As we progress to having accurate source data means that airlines will launched in early 2020, IATA said. Gulf Times 2 Friday, December 14, 2018 QATAR

UN General Assembly president visits QFSW

QNA Doha

resident of the 73rd Ordinary Session of Pthe United Nations HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani and Prime Minister of Somalia Hassan Ali Khayre holding talks yesterday. General Assembly, Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, and her accompanying del- egation, yesterday visited Qatar Foundation for Social Work (QFSW). The visit comes as part of enhancing co-operation between the two sides in the fi eld of human development Qatar, Somalia sign pacts and the empowerment of civil society organisations Munira bint Nasser al- Misnad, Chairperson of QFSW, briefed the del- egation on the Foundation’s strategy for the develop- ment of civil society organi- to strengthen bilateral ties sations working under its umbrella and its mechanism HE the Prime Minister 4. An agreement on economic, HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser to strengthen the capaci- Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser trade and technical co-operation. bin Khalifa al-Thani welcomed ties of these organisations bin Khalifa al-Thani and his 5. An MoU on co-operation in his Somali counterpart and the and activate their role in Somali counterpart hold the fi eld of ports. accompanying delegation to society, in addition to up- off icial talks 6. An MoU on co-operation Qatar, pointing out that the vis- grading those institutions. between the Diplomatic Insti- it will contribute to supporting Maria Fernanda Espinosa QNA tute in the Qatar’s Foreign Min- and developing co-operation Garces toured the facilities Doha istry and the Diplomatic Insti- between the two countries. of the Shafallah Centre for tute in the Somalia’s Foreign The Somali prime minister Persons with Disabilities, Ministry. praised the bilateral relations one of the Foundation’s E the Prime Minister 7. An MoU on the establish- and stressed his aspiration to centres. She was introduced and Minister of Interi- ment of a joint supreme com- strengthen them in various to the services provided H or Sheikh Abdullah bin mittee. fi elds. to persons with intellec- Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani 8. An MoU on political co- During the session, the two tual disabilities and autism. and the Prime Minister of So- operation and consultation be- sides discussed ways to develop These include education, malia Hassan Ali Khayre wit- tween the Qatar’s Ministry of and enhance bilateral relations HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani and Prime rehabilitation, commu- nessed the signing of a number Foreign Aff airs and Somalia’s between the two countries in Minister of Somalia Hassan Ali Khayre witness the signing of agreements between the nity awareness, and human of agreements and memoranda Ministry of Foreign Aff airs and various fi elds, and reviewed the governments of Qatar and Somalia in Doha yesterday. rights support and mecha- of understanding (MoUs) be- International Co-operation. latest regional and international nisms for their integration tween the governments of Qa- The signing ceremonies were developments of common con- into society. tar and Somalia at the Amiri attended by a number of min- cern. She also visited the Qa- Diwan yesterday. isters, and on the Somali side The talks session was attend- tar Foundation for Social They witnessed the signing of by members of the offi cial del- ed by a number of ministers and Work’s tent at Darb Al Saai following and agreements and egation accompanying the prime on the Somali side by the mem- and met the executive di- MoUs: minister. bers of the offi cial delegation ac- rectors of the centres of the 1. An agreement on avoidance Earlier yesterday, HE the companying the prime minister. Foundation and to know the of double taxation and preven- Prime Minister and Minister of Following the offi cial talks, HE mechanisms of their work tion of fi scal evasion. Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin and achievements during 2. An agreement on encour- Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani and Khalifa al-Thani, and the Somali 2018 and to see the various aging and protecting mutual in- Somalia’s Prime Minister Has- prime minister held a bilateral events and awareness activ- vestments. san Ali Khayre held a session of meeting during which they re- ities and interactive compe- 3. An agreement on maritime offi cial talks at the Amiri Diwan. viewed a number of topics of titions provided by the tent transport. At the outset of the session, mutual interest. to the public.

Ooredoo PM meets Argentine FM PM receives UN official is offi cial sponsor of Doha Forum

oredoo is the offi cial tel- ecommunications spon- Osor for the Doha Forum, which begins tomorrow at Sher- aton Grand Doha Resort & Con- vention Hotel. The two-day event promotes HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani diplomacy, dialogue and diver- yesterday met the Undersecretary-General of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Dr Vladimir sity. This year’s focus points HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani Voronkov and the accompanying delegation in Doha yesterday. Dr Vladimir Voronkov is in Doha will be: security; peace and me- yesterday met the Minister of Foreign Aff airs of Argentina, Jorge Faurie, and the accompanying to participate in the 18th Doha Forum. During the meeting, they reviewed areas of co-operation diation; economic development; delegation in Doha yesterday. During the meeting, they reviewed the prospects of co-operation between the two sides, especially Qatar’s eff orts in combating terrorism regionally and and trends and transitions. between Qatar and Argentina, in addition to a number of regional and international issues of internationally as well as ways of developing co-operation between Qatar and the United Nations in common concern. this field. A number of other issues of mutual interest were also reviewed during the meeting.

Established in 2000, the Doha Forum aims to act as a platform for global dialogue on Ooredoo off ers pre-order of critical challenges facing to- day’s world. With modern-day Huawei Mate 20 RS online Envoy highlights Qatari-Malaysian borders infinitely more porous than before, and challenges and solutions similarly inter- oredoo has announced and an 8MP sensor with a tel- vision to combat global corruption linked, the Doha Forum ena- its customers can pre- ephoto lens. bles the interchange of ideas, Oorder the brand new Por- Safety and security features discourse, policy making and sche Design Huawei Mate 20 RS include an in-screen fi ngerprint QNA attendance at the third Sheikh fice on Drugs and Crime. and civil societies to adopt the action-oriented recommenda- in red from today with delivery sensor and state-of-the-art 3D Kuala Lumpur Tamim International Anti-Cor- The ambassador said Malaysia principles of the convention tions. scheduled for December 20. The Face Unlock, which identifi es ruption Excellence Award cer- was the third country chosen to against corruption adopted by The Forum is aimed at high- device will be priced at QR7,099. unique facial features through a emony in Putrajaya city in Ma- host the prestigious event after the UN General Assembly on Oct level participants with the pow- The Porsche Design Huawei thousand projected infrared dots atar and Malaysia have a laysia. Austria in 2016 and Switzerland 31, 2003, and enforced in 2005 er to create change; government Mate 20 RS features polished in under 0.6 seconds. A stylish shared vision to achieve The ambassador said it was a last year and “This shows an with 186 signatories. leaders, policy makers, private glass and fi ne handmade leather leather cover completes the look Qthe objectives of the Unit- recognition of the role of Malay- appreciation of the role of the The award to mark Interna- sector representatives and non- for a luxury experience. Maxi- of the phone while still allowing ed Nations (UN) campaign against sia’s Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Malaysian people in combating tional Anti-Corruption Day on governmental organisations. mum power is supplied by the a glimpse of the important infor- corruption and supporting global Mohamed to take the lead in the corruption, and their realisation December 9 highlighted exem- Manar Khalifa al-Muraikhi, chipset Kirin 980 with dual NPU, mation on the display and ensur- partnership eff orts, Qatar’s am- international campaign against that this is the shortest way to plary and noteworthy actions and director PR and Corporate Com- fabricated with leading 7nm ing the phone stays protected. bassador to Malaysia, Fahad bin corruption and crime, so that achieve sustainable develop- good practices on a global scale to munications at Ooredoo, said process technology, 512GB inter- Mohamed Kafoud has said. Malaysia could be an example for ment.” recognise, promote, collect and of the partnership: “We place nal fl ash memory and 8GB RAM. “This common vision and other countries to follow. Ambassador Fahad bin Mo- disseminate anti-corruption great emphasis on supporting Huawei Supercharge Tech- collaboration between Qatar and An anti-corruption stain- hamed Kafoud added that it is successful models globally. events that benefi t our society nology 2.0 and the 40W adapt- Malaysia covers many other in- less steel monument was also an annual event to recognise and The award aims to raise and its development, and we’re er allow for super-fast recharge Manar Khalifa al-Muirakhi, ternational and regional issues. launched by the two leaders at appreciate contribution to the awareness, provide support and proud to be partnering with such and wireless charging is also director PR and Corporate Com- Both countries look forward to Dataran Putra in Putrajaya. It global campaign against cor- solidarity for the fi ght against a valuable platform as the Doha possible; the smartphone can munications at Ooredoo, said: “We furthering joint action and en- was a gift from the Qatari gov- ruption, as well as to enhance corruption as well as encour- Forum. We recognise the impor- even be used with Huawei know having access to the latest hancing co-operation and bilat- ernment to Malaysia as a special Qatar’s role in the global part- age and inspire similar and new tance of meaningful, high-level Wireless Reverse Charging as a devices is important to our cus- eral relations,” the ambassador acknowledgement of its strength nership and its eff orts in fi ghting initiatives towards a corruption- dialogue in driving change, and wireless power bank for other tomers, so they can enjoy the latest said in a report carried by Ma- shown in fi ghting corruption. corruption aimed at achieving free society. look forward to another suc- Qi-enabled devices. technology in line with consumers laysia’s Bernama news agency. Since 2016, His High- sustainable development. Ambassador Fahad bin Mo- cessful forum with a positive The integrated triple camera elsewhere around the world.” Ambassador Fahad bin Mo- ness the Amir Sheikh Tamim The Sheikh Tamim Award is hamed Kafoud sated that this outcome.” from Leica features a 40MP RGB Customers can pre-order the hamed Kafoud praised the visit Award has been organised by considered a global initiative to award is worth US$1mn distrib- More information on the Doha sensor, a 20MP ultra wide-angle new Porsche Design Huawei Mate of His Highness the Amir Sheikh the Centre of Rule of Law and promote awareness on the rule of uted equally to the winners of Forum is available online at do- lens – supporting video capture 20 RS online from today at oore- Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to Anti-Corruption in Doha, in law and motivate governments, the personals and institutions, haforum.org in ultra-wide 21:9 resolution – doo.qa. Malaysia on December 5, and his co-operation with the UN Of- academic institutions, media as well as the prize. Gulf Times Friday, December 14, 2018 3 QATAR

Qatar-Italy ties stronger Qatar agriculture on strategic partnership

Italian band to perform along Doha Corniche sector on road to The Italian Band Contingent of full of people celebrating with the Carabinieri Force will per- proud and joy their history, form on December 18 along traditions and cultural roots. I the Doha Corniche at 3pm was at the same time touched its best historic repertoire to and inspired by the extraor- honour Qatar on the occasion dinary level of participation of National Day, ambassador that Qatari people dedicate to self-suffi ciency Pasquale Salzano announced. celebrate their National Day, “The Carabinieri band will per- considered as an occasion to form also at Katara Theater on mark unity and a common December 17, at 3pm, together identity. with the other bands of the “I think that the 18th of De- invited countries, and on De- cember is quite meaningful cember 19th for an encore of especially for the youngest Italian envoy Pasquale Salzano. this extraordinary show in the generations who represent Al Saad Area – Darb Al Saai,” the connection with the future QNA he explained in a statement to and with the “vision” Qatar is Doha Gulf Times. striving for with such com- The Italian envoy expressed mitment and courage. I really his heartfelt congratulations to can’t wait to see again the city talian ambassador to Qatar His Highness the Amir Sheikh of Doha decorated with the Pasquale Salzano said the Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, flags and the colours of Qatar, Icommemoration of Nation- His Highness the Father Amir full of cheerful people, proud al Day is a very special moment Sheikh Hamad bin Kha- of the results their country has as it represents the occasion lifa al-Thani, His Highness the achieved. to mark unity and a common Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah “This year the 18th of Decem- identity. bin Hamad al-Thani, and to ber represents a very special He praised Qatar and its wise all the Qatari friends for the day also for the embassy of leadership for undertaking such upcoming National Day. Italy and the Italian commu- QNA a remarkable path of innova- “The 18th of December is nity based in Doha. Let me Doha tion and growth. Ambassador indeed a very special day for renew to all the Qatari people Salzano said the implementa- Qatar. I could feel it last year my best wishes for a success- tion of ambitious plans for self- when I saw – few months after ful and prosperous future,” the E the Minister of Municipality and suffi ciency has been vigorously my arrival in Doha – the city Italian ambassador added. Environment Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and resolutely pursued, and the Hbin Turki al-Subaie congratulated His achievement of extraordinary Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie results in a very short time is a less remaining deeply anchored scribing it as excellent, and al-Thani on the occasion of National Day. He tangible proof of the deep com- to its traditional culture and which have witnessed an im- also congratulated the people of Qatar on this The minister pointed out that the percentage of mitment of Qatari people. values. Ambassador Salzano pressive growth in the last two glorious national occasion and prayed to God He also praised Qatar’s expressed his belief regarding years and considered the re- Almighty to preserve the wise leadership and self-suff iciency of fresh vegetables in the country long-term vision in focus- how Qatar has found its own cent visit of His Highness the government to achieve Qatar’s aspirations. reached 22% while 35 strategic projects for the ing on the importance of the specifi c way to promote and Amir to Italy as a confi rmation The minister stated, in a statement to Qa- diversification and sustain- obtain progress and innovation, on the positive trend, as well as tar News Agency (QNA), that National Day is production of vegetables in protected facilities ability of the economy as the preserving at the same time a our long-standing and sincere not an ordinary event, but rather a beautiful will be introduced. He expects vegetable country is moving from an proper balance among past, friendship. commemoration of a long history of work and energy-based economy to a present and future, which is an He continued saying, as struggle, adding that we must draw inspira- self-suff iciency to reach 55% within three years diversified one. aspect that Italians and Qataris stated by the President of the tion from this and continue the path of devel- Ambassador Salzano added have in common. Republic of Italy Sergio Matta- opment and achievements for a bright future. leap to cover the requirements of the local The percentage of self-suffi ciency of that in the last year Qatar has He stated the similarity be- rella, the co-operation between He said that while we celebrate this occasion, market and raise the level of self-suffi ciency eggs is about 27%. A number of investment embraced new strategic sectors, tween Italians’ and Qataris’ Italy and Qatar can be defi ned we must remember those pioneers who gave in animal and plants sectors and fi shery. projects will be introduced to produce eggs in which has hugely increased vision, saying both countries as wide, well-structured and us an example in love and devotion for the He also pointed out that the percent- the near future. These projects will increase the number of partnerships support the adoption of all effi cient in every sector. homeland; as a result to their example, our age of self-suffi ciency of fresh vegetables in self-suffi ciency to 65%. The self-suffi ciency at international level and sig- peaceful means of prevention His Highness the Amir’s hearts became full of faith and loyalty to this the country reached 22% while 35 strategic rate of fresh fi sh was about 80% and the state nifi cantly reformed the labour and resolution of controversies, visit, indeed, has been the oc- nation and its development. projects for the production of vegetables in started investing in fi sheries to produce fi sh market, making its environ- fi rmly believing that crisis can casion to further enhance our HE al-Subaie pointed out that during the protected facilities will be introduced. He ex- and shrimp in early 2018. The minister ex- ment more attractive for for- be diff used through diplomatic strategic partnership and sign past couple of years, Qatar has made tre- pects vegetable self-suffi ciency to reach 55% pected that these projects will contribute to eign companies. channels and dialogue, includ- a remarkable number of mem- mendous achievements in various political, within three years. raising self-suffi ciency to 90% within two The Italian ambassador ing the GCC crisis. orandum of understandings economic, social, cultural, athletic and other The minister stated that suffi ciency of years. pointed out that Qatar is in- The Italian ambassador (MoUs) in the fi elds of youth fi elds. He added that Doha became a major green fodder reached about 47% and a HE al-Subaie pointed out that Qatar deed going through a process praised the bilateral relations and sport, health, research and maker and participant in regional and global number of strategic projects are being devel- ranked first in the Arab World and 22nd in of transformation, neverthe- between Doha and Rome, de- innovation. events and in resolving many international oped for its production; self-suffi ciency rate the World Food Security Index for 2018, disputes thanks to the wise leadership of His of these feeds is expected to increase to 70% which included 113 countries. The index is Highness the Amir. within three years. based on the Economist Intelligence Unit, The minister stated that the state with Regarding dairy sector, he stated that a which uses — as a criteria — food availabil- both its public and private sectors, since the major strategic dairy project has been estab- ity, accessibility, quality and safety stand- fi rst day of the unjust siege, has dealt with lished and investments in existing projects ards in the food sector, diet diversification, Peruvian ambassador hails the crisis seriously and responsibly to face its have increased, which in turn increased the agricultural infrastructure, GDP per capita consequences. self-suffi ciency of milk and dairy products PPP, ease of funding farmers, spending on He stressed that Qatar has succeeded, from 27% in 2017 to 90% now. He expected agriculture and the rates of supply com- thanks to God, and the eff orts and dedica- that full self-suffi ciency will be achieved in pared to demand levels. excellent bilateral relations tion of the people of Qatar who thwarted the 2019. The Minister of Municipality and Environ- objectives of the siege and turned it from a In the red meat sector, the minister not- ment considered the National Day an oppor- QNA curse into a blessing. He added that the state ed that 15% of self-suffi ciency has been tunity for all citizens of Qatar to make every Doha paid more attention to local production by achieved, adding that there are development eff ort to elevate their homeland to further increasing agricultural products such as veg- programmes to increase this percentage to horizons of progress and prosperity. He add- etables, red meats, poultry, eggs and fi sh. 60% within two years. Meanwhile, invest- ed that the ministry is doing all it can to con- mbassador of Peru to Qa- He pointed out that despite the siege, the ments in chilled poultry production projects tribute to the renaissance of the homeland tar Carlos Velasco Men- Qatari agricultural sector, due to the growing increased signifi cantly in 2018, which in- by working on the implementation of many Adiola praised the initia- interest of the government under the lead- creased self-suffi ciency ratio from 51% in advance projects and services needed by the tives of the State of Qatar in the ership of His Highness the Amir, made a big 2017 to about 99% now. citizens. fi eld of international diplomacy and confl ict resolution through dialogue, law, humanitarian as- sistance, co-operation and me- diation in various parts of the MSC Splendida drops anchor world, especially at the regional level. In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the occasion Peruvian ambassador Carlos Velasco Mendiola. of the Qatar National Day, am- bassador Mendiola expressed adding that the high level and ready established,” he said, add- his respect and admiration for personal dialogue which took ing that the cultural and sports all the achievements and resil- place in Lima with President of co-operation can bring both ience of Qatar and its people un- Peru Martin Vizcarra, opened countries closer together in the der the leadership of His High- new perspectives for the de- long term. ness the Amir Sheikh Tamim velopment of the relationship, Ambassador Mendiola bin Hamad al-Thani as well as the friendship and confi dence praised the successful imple- the founders of the state, which among the two countries, in mentation of the strategic Qatar in the last decades has placed particular in areas such as the National Vision 2030 for secur- Qatar as reliable partner and an economy and trade co-opera- ing its economic development active member and actor of the tion, investments, energy, min- for future generations and ad- international community. ing, hospitality and infrastruc- vancing in the fi elds of educa- The envoy extended greet- ture. tion and health, cultural diver- ings and congratulations to He stressed the commitment sity, infrastructure and all other His Highness the Amir Sheikh of his country’s government to sectors for the well-being of its Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, continue and enhance its rela- people and residents. the government of Qatar and the tions with Qatar. “We are both He went on saying: “It is very Qatari people, on the occasion modern societies, develop- pleasant to live in Qatar sur- of Qatar National Day, wishing ing countries with abounding rounded by beautiful spaces, all lasting success and prosper- natural resources and leaders in the city bay, parks and modern ity. He highlighted the recent our regions. Therefore, I believe buildings, great hotels and res- and successful offi cial visit of that co-operation in economic, taurants, a variety of local and His Highness the Amir to Peru, trade, fi nancial, educational and international cultural entertain- in October, which was a land- scientifi c fi elds will strengthen ment, accompanied by the hos- mark in the bilateral relations, the solid bonds of friendship al- pitality of the local people.”

Diplomatic training course for military attaches ends

The International Military Co-operation Authority of yesterday concluded the diplo- matic training course No1 for the preparation of military attaches, which lasted for 15 weeks. The closing ceremony of the course, which was held under the auspices of HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, was attended by HE the Chief of Staff of Qatari Armed Forces Lieutenant-General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen al-Ghanem and a number of ranking Qatari Armed Forces off icers at the auditorium of Ahmed bin Mohamed Military College. The course aimed to prepare and nominate qualified off icers to serve as military attaches and liaison off icers within the com- munication strategy of the armed forces. The course also contributed to understanding; raising internation- The 2018/19 cruise season continued in full swing as Doha Port welcomed the ship, MSC Splendida, on its first trip during the ongoing al awareness, developing communication and analysis skills, and providing an overview of military science, season, Mwani Qatar said yesterday. The ship carried a total of 3,442 passengers and 1,307 crew members. German mega ship AIDA training and joint operations. HE Ghanem bin Shaheen al-Ghanem along with Head of International Military Prima had visited the port on Wednesday. Image courtesy of Mwani Qatar Twitter page Co-operation Authority of Qatar Armed Forces Brigadier-General (Pilot) Fahad Hamad al-Sulaiti handed the certificates to graduates. — QNA Gulf Times 4 Friday, December 14, 2018 QATAR/REGION/ARAB WORLD Qatar unveils QR4.3bn surplus budget

From Page 1 include expansion in Hamad Amir approves budget College; Ministry of Education The Transportation and Com- Medical Corporation facilities, headquarters; two new schools for munications sector has been al- Despite the drop in allocations, national laboratories, the com- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Qatar Academy and the establish- located QR16.4bn, 7.9% of teh the major projects continued to pletion of four health centers Tamim bin Hamad aAl-Thani ment of other new schools at a to- total expenditure, in 2019. Most represent the largest share of ex- (Al Wajba, Muaither, Qatar Uni- yesterday issued Law No 23 of tal cost of QR6.8bn over fi ve years. of the allocations will go to the rail penditure, at 43.3%. The focus versity and Al Waab) and com- (2018) approving the State’s gen- The infrastructure projects project, Doha Metro, while QR1bn continues to be on completing mencing construction of fi ve new eral budget for the year 2019. have been allocated QR33bn or has been allocated for the expan- projects in leading sectors includ- health centres (South of Wakra, The law is eff ective as of January 16% of the total. The main in- sion of Hamad International Air- ing healthcare, education and Al Mashaf, Al Saad, Al Khor and 1, 2019 and shall be published in frastructure projects include the port as part of a wider plan worth transportation, along with those Ain Khaled). the off icial gazette. Al Bustan Highway, Al Rayyan/ QR10bn to enhance the capa- related to the hosting of World The education sector has been Dukhan Road, Al Khor Coastal bilities of the airport to off er the Cup in 2022. allocated QR19.2bn or 9.3% of the Road, Al Furousiya Road, North best aviation and cargo services. The allocation for the health total. Major projects in this sec- other Qatar University facilities Road, Wakra Expressway, Wakra There are also funds assigned to sector has been set at QR22.7bn tor are facilities for the medicine, (student housing, new lecture Bypass, Lusail Expressway, and Qatar Public Transportation Pro- or 11% of the total. Major projects pharmacology, engineering and halls and Al Rawda premises); expansion in water and electricity gramme, which is expected to cost to improve healthcare services law schools at Qatar University; expansion in the Community networks. QR3bn in 2019-21. Doha Debates back with a new concept By Joseph Varghese dress the world’s most press- Staff Reporter ing challenges. And the timing couldn’t be more important with the current state of discourse oha Debates, an initiative and the widening polarisation all of Qatar Foundation (QF), around us,” Fakhry said. Dwas relaunched yester- She said “Doha Debates will give day with an innovative new idea us an opportunity to engage each of ‘debating solutions instead of other on some of the most vital and debating problems’ and with the urgent issues we face. Our deep re- concept ‘Don’t settle for a divided spect for diff erence, including dif- world’. ference of opinion, will guide our The inaugural session of the debates. Our aim is to inspire ac- new version of Doha Debates that tion. We can no longer aff ord to sit seeks to bring powerful new voic- on the sidelines. We must engage, es and viewpoints to global top- we must listen, we must act.” ics and themes was attended by Doha Debates has also part- HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al- nered with with TED, Shared_ Thani, vice chairperson and CEO Studios and Fortify Rights. While of QF. TED is a global nonprofi t com- Produced under the patronage munity of innovators who believe of Her Highness Sheikha Moza passionately in the power of ideas bint Nasser, chairperson of QF, to change attitudes and lives, Doha Debates is returning with Shared_Studios is known for its a fresh goal six years after the iconic walk-in portals of com- original debates last aired, to seek munication - a network of gold- exciting new solutions to global coloured shipping containers challenges through honest, lively outfi tted with video-conference debates. equipment for people to step in- “At a time when soundbites and HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, Ghida Fakhry and Amjad Atallah at the launch event yesterday. side and speak across the world. fake news risk drowning out anal- Fortify Rights works to prevent ysis and discourse, and crucial ters and share their perspectives. livestreamed across digital chan- addressed and problems solved and remedy human rights viola- issues are often viewed through But it also represents the evolu- nels. together. It is a platform rooted tions and investigate and docu- a narrow lens, the importance of tion of this platform - and what It will discuss and seek solutions in our traditions, and wholly ment abuses, provide customised enabling and promoting 360-de- we stand for as a culture, as a na- for some of the world’s most press- relevant today. And it is a re- technical support to human rights gree thinking is clear. Doha De- tion and as Qatar Foundation,” ing challenges such as the global flection of values that are at the defenders and press for solutions. bates allows such thinking to she said. refugee crisis, water shortage, loss core of QF, and are woven into “Doha Debates was never just thrive,” Sheikha Hind said at the Season 1 of Doha Debates will of faith in institutions, gender in- the fabric of Education City: a a talk show. It’s a showcase for all launch event. include digital conversations and equality, capitalism, global citizen- place where respectful dialogue, the passions and dramatic con- “Its new concept continues live debates held at Northwestern ship and artifi cial intelligence. open-mindedness, and freedom frontations of the Middle East and the proud Doha Debates tradi- University in Qatar and at sev- “The majlis format of Doha of expression are encouraged,” the world. Instead of just debating tion, stretching back to its in- eral international cities. The live Debates promotes conversation, Sheikha Hind said. problems, Doha Debates will en- ception 14 years ago, when it was events will be moderated by Ghida rather than competition. It is “Doha Debates will galvanise gage millions of young people to the only platform of its kind for Fakhry, an award-winning multi- an equitable setting, not an ad- people with diverse perspectives fi nd individual solutions,”Amjad Arab youth to speak out about lingual journalist and TV host, in versarial one, where every voice to take action for real solutions. Atallah, managing director of the world’s most pressing mat- front of university students and is heard, and where issues are We must change the way we ad- Doha Debates, said. Yemen rivals agree on Hodeida truce

AFP the scene of some of the most in- Rimbo, Sweden tense battles in the confl ict. But no deal has been reached on the future of the airport in N chief Antonio Guterres Sanaa or on economic announced yesterday a measures that are vital to help the Useries of breakthroughs country’s population. in talks with rivals in the Yemen The January talks will focus on confl ict, including a ceasefi re for a framework for negotiations on a a vital port. political process, which Guterres In a highly symbolic gesture said was the only solution to the on the seventh and fi nal day of confl ict. the UN-brokered peace talks in Yemen’s Foreign minister Khaled al-Yamani (fifth left), Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Aff airs Margot Wallstrm International pressure has Sweden, Yemeni Foreign Minis- (sixth left), United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres (centre), rebel negotiator Mohamed Abdel- been mounting to halt the fight- ter Khaled al-Yamani and rebel salam (eighth right), UN special envoy to Yemen Martin Griff iths (seventh right) and negotiators of Yemen’s ing between the Houthis and the negotiator Mohamed Abdelsalam government and of the rebels pose during peace consultations in Rimbo, north of Stockholm, yesterday. government of Abedrabbo Man- shook hands to loud applause. sour Hadi, backed by Saudi Ara- However, a number of issues re- Guterres, who flew in to Swe- deida in the agreement and there Guterres said the United Na- bia and its military allies, with main unresolved and a new round den late Wednesday, announced will be both from the city and the tions would play a “leading role” the US Senate, Saudi Arabia and of talks will take place at the end of that the government and Houthi harbour a withdrawal of all forc- in monitoring the Red Sea port, the UAE honing in on the fragile January, Guterres said. rebels had agreed on a ceasefire es,” he told reporters. which is currently controlled by talks. The confl ict has triggered what in the port of Hodeida, the main UN special envoy Martin Grif- the rebels, and facilitate aid access The warring parties have been the UN calls the world’s worst entry point for imported food fi ths, who is due to brief the Se- to the civilian population. in the rural Swedish village of humanitarian crisis, with 14mn and aid. curity Council on Yemen today, In addition, the rivals have Rimbo for a week to try to hammer Yemenis now at the brink of mass “There is a ceasefi re declared said the pullout should take place reached a “mutual understand- out agreement on a number of key starvation. for the whole governorate of Ho- “within days”. ing” on Yemen’s third city of Taiz, issues.

Israel blocks off Ramallah after 2 killed in attack

The Israeli army has temporarily Conricus told reporters. Pope receives envoy’s credentials blocked access to and from the The two wounded victims were in Palestinian city of Ramallah, after two a serious condition and had been has received the Israelis were killed and two others evacuated to hospital. credentials of Nasser bin Hamad seriously wounded in a shooting in the Hamas lauded the attack, while the al-Khalifa as the extraordinary West Bank yesterday. Palestinian Authority condemned the and plenipotentiary ambassador Checkpoints were set up on all roads into recent violence. Palestinian media called (non-resident) of Qatar to the the city after the shooting at a bus stop at the Israeli move a “siege” and said it was the Vatican. During the meeting, the Asaf Junction, east of Ramallah. first of this scale imposed on Ramallah since the ambassador conveyed the The army said that the attacker got out the second Intifada, a 2000-2005 uprising. greetings of His Highness the of a car and shot at soldiers and civilians The incident comes just hours after Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad before fleeing the scene, driving a stabbing attack in the Old City of al-Thani to the Pope, wishing him towards Ramallah. Jerusalem, in which police said that the good health and happiness, and Authorities said they believed there assailant had attempted to stab a Jewish to the government and people of to be just one assailant and said the man and then stabbed and wounded the Vatican further progress and army was searching the Ramallah area two border police off icers, who then prosperity. for him, army spokesman Jonathan shot and killed the attacker. Gulf Times Friday, December 14, 2018 5 AMERICA

Report: Number of journalists jailed near record high Trump denies links

Reuters the massacre of 10 Rohingya New York Muslim men and boys amid an army crackdown that has driven hundreds of thousands near-record number of of refugees into Bangladesh. to Cohen’s crimes journalists around the Lawyers for the two Reuters Aworld are behind bars reporters have lodged an ap- Reuters/AFP Trump surprised many by de- for their work, including two peal against their conviction Washington feating his Democratic opponent Reuters reporters whose im- and sentence. Hillary Clinton. prisonment in has Myanmar leader Aung San Trump faces growing political drawn international criticism, Suu Kyi has said that the jailing S President Donald and legal risks from a months- according to a report released of the reporters had nothing to Trump has said that he long investigation into the pay- yesterday. do with freedom of expression. Unever told his private ments by US prosecutors, which There were 251 journalists In comments made the week lawyer Michael Cohen to break stemmed from the larger con- jailed for doing their jobs as of after their conviction, she said the law and denied any ties to his tinuing federal probe into alleged December 1, the Committee to they were sentenced for han- crimes, a day after Cohen was Russian interference in the elec- Protect Journalists (CPJ) said in dling offi cial secrets and “were sentenced to prison on charges tion and possible collusion by an annual study. not jailed because they were that included hush money pay- Trump’s campaign. For the third consecutive journalists”. ments to women ahead of the Justice Department policy is year, more than half are in Tur- Turkey remains the world’s 2016 presidential election. not to indict a sitting president key, China, and Egypt, where worst off ender against press “Cohen was guilty on many but some legal experts have said authorities have accused re- freedom, the CPJ said, with at charges unrelated to me,” Trump that Trump could be charged af- porters of anti-governmental least 68 journalists imprisoned said in a series of Twitter posts, ter leaving offi ce. activities. for anti-state charges. adding that Cohen wanted “to Democrats and other critics Cohen: told the court that he had “It looks like a trend now,” At least 25 journalists are in embarrass the president and get also have raised the issue of im- felt it was his ‘duty to cover up ... the report’s author, Elana prison in Egypt. a much reduced prison sentence, peachment by Congress. Trump: I never directed Michael Cohen to break the law. (Trump’s) dirty deeds’. Beiser, said in an interview. “It Turkey has previously said which he did”. In his tweets, Trump said he looks like the new normal.” its crackdown is justifi ed be- Cohen, who once said he had no role in Cohen’s actions. Russia has also denied any in- sociate to be swept up in Mu- In the case of McDougal, her The number of journalists cause of an attempted coup to would “take a bullet for Trump,” “I never directed Michael Co- terference. eller’s investigation following story was deliberately buried by imprisoned on charges of “false overthrow the government in was sentenced in New York on hen to break the law,” he said. Prosecutors on Wednesday Trump’s campaign chairman the publishers of the National news” rose to 28, up from 21 2016. Wednesday to three years in “He was a lawyer and he is sup- also said the publisher of the Na- Paul Manafort, former deputy Enquirer tabloid newspaper. last year and nine in 2016, ac- Egypt has said its actions prison after pleading guilty to posed to know the law. tional Enquirer tabloid had struck campaign chairman Rick Gates American Media Incorporated cording to the CPJ, a US-based to limit dissent are directed at orchestrating the payments that “It is called ‘advice of counsel’, a deal to avoid charges over its and former White House na- publishers said in their co-oper- non-profi t that promotes press militants trying to undermine were part of the “dirty deeds” he and a lawyer has great liability if role in one of the payments made tional security adviser Michael ation deal that they were paid to freedom. the state, which saw a popu- did at the behest of Trump. a mistake is made. That is why “in concert” with Trump’s presi- Flynn, among others. “catch and kill”, meaning they’d The report criticised US lar uprising in 2011 topple the Federal prosecutors said that they get paid.” dential campaign. Trump has off ered a shifting buy rights to embarrassing sto- President Donald Trump for county’s longtime leader Hosni Trump ordered the payouts to Trump has denied the aff airs Cohen, who also pleaded defence on the payments to the ries about Trump and then not frequently characterising neg- Mubarak. protect his campaign from alle- and argued that the payments to guilty to tax evasion and lying women, fi rst saying in April that publish. ative media coverage as “fake Asked about journalists be- gations of sexual aff airs with an Playboy model Karen McDougal to Congress about a proposed he did not know about the pay- In an interview with Reu- news”, a phrase that is also used ing jailed, Chinese foreign adult fi lm actress and a Playboy and adult-fi lm star Stormy Dan- Trump Organisation building in ments to later appearing to ac- ters this week, Trump slammed by leaders against their critics ministry spokesman Lu Kang model. iels were not campaign contribu- Moscow, in court on Wednesday knowledge that they were made Cohen for co-operating with in countries like the Philip- said: “Legal measures are not According to Cohen, the pay- tions. said that his “blind loyalty” led but saying they were unrelated to prosecutors and said he was un- pines and Turkey. taken because of these sus- ments – which violated cam- Trump also has denied collu- him to cover up for Trump. campaign fi nances. concerned about possible im- The study was published the pects’ or criminals’ profes- paign fi nance laws – were de- sion with Moscow, and has re- He told the court that he had The aff airs allegedly happened peachment. same week that Time magazine sions. This is unrelated.” signed to bury potential scandal peatedly called Special Counsel felt it was his “duty to cover up ... years before, so the timing of the He also called any of his poten- named a number of journal- The overall number of jailed at the height of the 2016 presi- Robert Mueller’s investigation a (Trump’s) dirty deeds”. hush payments right before an tial business dealings with Russia ists as its annual “Person of the journalists is down 8% from dential campaign in which “witch hunt”. Cohen is the latest Trump as- election raised questions. “peanut stuff ”. Year”. last year’s record high of 272, That group included Reuters the CPJ said. reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw The total does not take into Soe Oo, who were imprisoned account journalists who have Melania in hospital one year ago on Wednesday, disappeared or are being held and Saudi journalist Jamal by non-state actors. Two found Khashoggi, who was killed at The CPJ said there are doz- the Saudi consulate in Istanbul ens of reporters missing or two months ago. kidnapped in the Middle East dead at US Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe and North Africa, including Oo, 28, were found guilty in several held by Houthi rebels in September of violating Myan- Yemen. research mar’s Offi cial Secrets Act and sentenced to seven years in „ Pompeo says CIA still prison. investigating killing of station in They had been investigating Khashoggi/Page 9 Antarctica Teen gunman commits suicide at school after police confrontation Reuters Washington A teenage gunman killed himself yesterday at a school in Indiana, after being confronted by police off icers who were alerted in advance of an armed suspect heading to campus, US media wo technicians perform- reported. ing maintenance at a US Police off icers exchanged gunfire with the suspect around 8am at Tresearch station in Ant- Dennis Intermediate School in the city of Richmond, according to arctica died on Wednesday while reports. working on a building that hous- It was not immediately known if the teenager was a student at the es a generator for a nearby radio school. No other students or staff were harmed, authorities said. transmitter, the National Sci- Students were evacuated to another school campus where they ence Foundation (NSF) said. were reunited with their parents. The pair, both employed as The shooting “resulted in the death of a teenage suspect. No other subcontractors at the NSF-man- students reported to be injured”, the Indiana state police said on its aged McMurdo Station in Ant- Twitter account. arctica, were found unconscious Eyewitnesses reported hearing several gunshots and saw a heavy on the fl oor of the building after police presence as the school day was commencing. a helicopter pilot fl ying over the The Indianapolis Star newspaper reported that the teenage area saw what appeared to be gunman arrived at the school at approximately the same time as smoke coming from the struc- off icers, who had been alerted to an armed individual heading to ture and landed to investigate. campus. One of the technicians was After an exchange of gunfire outside, the suspect ran into the pronounced dead by medical building and another exchange of gunfire occurred at a stairwell. US First Lady Melania Trump takes a picture with a patient and her parent during her visit yesterday to the Children’s National Hospital personnel called to the scene. It was unclear if the teenager was struck by police bullets before in Washington, DC. The other was pronounced taking his own life. dead a short time after being fl own to the McMurdo medical clinic, the NSF said in a state- ment. The two workers, described as fi re technicians, were perform- Accused Russian agent pleads guilty to conspiracy charge ing preventive maintenance on the building’s fi re-suppression system before they were found, Reuters Prosecutors accused Butina, Erickson, a conservative US po- with her guilty plea the fi rst the agency said. Washington who was jailed awaiting trial, of litical activist who was dating Russian citizen to be convicted No further details were im- working with a Russian offi cial Butina. of working to shape US policy mediately provided, and the in- and two US citizens to try to Neither his name, nor the in the time period spanning the cident was under investigation, woman accused of act- infi ltrate the National Rifl e As- Russian offi cial’s name, were ex- 2016 election campaign. the foundation said. ing as a Russian agent to sociation (NRA), a group closely plicitly made in the statement of Mueller has brought criminal The NSF said it was not re- Ainfi ltrate a powerful gun aligned with Republican politi- off ence. charges against a series of Rus- leasing any personal information lobby group and infl uence US cians including President Don- After she was charged, Russia sian individuals and entities but about the two workers, except policy toward Moscow pleaded ald Trump, and sway Washing- labelled the case against Butina those cases are still pending. to say they were employed by a guilty to a single count of con- ton’s policy toward Moscow. “fabricated” and called for her The prosecution’s complaint Virginia-based company, PAE, spiracy in federal court yester- In the statement of off ence release. against Butina did not mention which in turn was hired by the day in a deal with prosecutors read aloud in court, one of the Russian President Vladimir Trump’s campaign by name. US Antarctica Programme’s lo- that could give them insight into prosecutors said that Butina had Putin spoke about Butina on Reuters previously reported gistics contractor Leidos, head- Russian meddling in American drafted a “Diplomacy Project” Tuesday in Moscow, a day after that Butina was a Trump sup- quartered in Colorado. politics. that called for establishing un- US court fi lings indicated she porter who bragged at Washing- The research station, estab- Maria Butina, a Russian offi cial back channels of com- would plead guilty in Washing- ton parties that she could use her lished by the United States in former graduate student at munication between high-rank- ton. political connections to help peo- 1955, is situated near Antarcti- American University in Wash- ing American politicians to help “She risks 15 years in jail. For ple get jobs in his administration. ca’s McMurdo Sound, named for ington who publicly advocated benefi t Russia. what?” Putin asked. “I asked Butina even asked Trump a a British naval offi cer who was for gun rights, entered the plea As part of that plan, she ac- all the heads of our intelligence question at a gathering of US part of the expedition that fi rst at a court hearing in Washington knowledged that she conspired services what is going on. conservatives in Las Vegas in charted the area in 1841. before US District Judge Tanya This August 17 photo courtesy of the Alexandria, Virginia, Sheriff ’s with two Americans and a Rus- “Nobody knows anything 2015 when he was running for The largest outpost in Ant- Chutkan. Off ice, shows Butina’s booking photograph when she was admitted sian offi cial. about her.” president, querying him about arctica, it lies at the tip of Ross She also agreed to co-operate into the Alexandria Detention Centre. Butina’s lawyers previously The prosecutors in the Butina American relations with Rus- Island in the New Zealand- with prosecutors. identifi ed the Russian offi cial as case are not from the offi ce of sia and economic sanctions im- claimed territory known as the Clad in a green jumpsuit with ecutors in July with acting as an Although there are no sen- Alexander Torshin, a deputy gov- Special Counsel Robert Muel- posed on Moscow by his pred- Ross Dependency. her red hair pulled back in a long agent of Russia’s government tencing guidelines for her spe- ernor of Russia’s central bank who ler, who is investigating Rus- ecessor, . The incident in question oc- braid, Butina replied “absolute- and conspiracy to take actions cifi c crime, her lawyer, Robert was targeted with US Treasury sia’s role in the 2016 US election Trump responded that as curred on December 12 local ly” when asked by Chutkan if her on behalf of Moscow. Driscoll, estimated that under Department sanctions in April. and whether Trump’s campaign president he would “get along time, which goes by New Zea- mind was clear as she prepared She had earlier pleaded not US sentencing guidelines for One of the two Americans conspired with Moscow to help very nicely with Putin” and “I land time. to enter her plea of guilty. guilty before changing her plea similar crimes, she could face up referenced in the prosecution’s him win. don’t think you’d need the sanc- More than 1,000 people work She was charged by pros- during yesterday’s hearing. to six months in prison. criminal complaint was Paul Nevertheless, Butina becomes tions”. at the station this time of year. Gulf Times 6 Friday, December 14, 2018 ASIA

Supporters of ousted Sri Lanka’s prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe shout slogans as they celebrate Sri Lanka’s Supreme Sri Lankan member of parliament Rajeetha Senarathna (centre), and loyalist to ousted prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Court ruling outside the Sri Lankan Supreme Court in Colombo. outside the Sri Lankan Supreme Court in Colombo. Court raps Sirisena, opens possibility of impeachment

AFP and called a snap election nearly mediate comment from either Anura Kumara Dissanayake said. Colombo two years ahead of schedule. “I Sirisena or Rajapakse. How- Wickremesinghe’s United Na- make order that the November 9 ever, Rajapakse’s legislator son, tional Party (UNP) welcomed the Gazette (decree) sacking parlia- Namal, told reporters outside verdict as a victory for democ- ri Lanka’s Supreme Court ment... has no force or eff ect in law the court house that they did not racy. “As a country we have to opened the way for poten- and declare its operation illegal,” agree with the verdict. “We do be joyful that we have an inde- Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) members patrol atop an armoured vehicle near the Supreme Court in Stial impeachment proceed- Chief Justice Nalin Perera said as not agree with the decision of the pendent judiciary that acted as Colombo yesterday. ings against the president yes- he delivered the landmark judge- court, but we do not have a high- a check on an errant executive,” terday, ruling that he broke the ment to a packed courtroom. er court to appeal to,” he said. UNP deputy leader Sajith Pre- later after parliament was sacked, ghe with the power struggle just gitimacy. A hearing by the Court law by dissolving parliament last Sacked prime minister Ranil The leftist JVP, or the People’s madasa said. the Supreme Court issued an in- weeks away from a government of Appeal on Wednesday was put month. Wickremesinghe’s party had said Liberation Front, said the sack- Sirisena dissolved parliament terim ruling suspending Sirise- shutdown. off until January 16. The verdict is a major blow it would await the outcome of ing of the prime minister in Oc- on November 9 when Rajapakse, na’s decree and restoring parlia- Members of Wickremesin- Former fi nance minister Ravi to Maithripala Sirisena, seven yesterday’s decision before de- tober was a “coup orchestrated the man he appointed as prime ment, which almost immediately ghe’s party and their allies voted Karunanayake said the entire weeks into a political crisis in the ciding whether to open impeach- by Sirisena and Rajapakse” and minister, was unable to prove a passed a no-confi dence motion 117-0 asking Sirisena to reverse public sector will come to a com- Indian Ocean island nation that ment proceedings. Sirisena called for a resolution in parlia- majority in the 225-member as- against Rajapakse, the purport- his October 26 dismissal of his plete standstill from January 1 has sparked alarm abroad and triggered the unprecedented po- ment to bring them to justice. sembly. Constitutional provi- ed premier. Wickremesinghe’s former ally. However, Sirisena in the absence of a budget for concern over its fi nances. litical crisis on October 26 when “This fi rst thing this (restored) sions were clear that he could party and their allies command has vowed he will not reinstate the New Year. Offi cials have ex- The seven-judge bench unani- he fi red Wickremesinghe and parliament should is to investi- not dissolve the legislature until a majority in parliament. Yes- Wickremesinghe. Courts have pressed similar fears and urged mously agreed that Sirisena vio- appointed contentious former gate the coup and bring both the it completes four and a half years terday, the legislature voted also prevented Rajapakse and his Sirisena to resolve the crisis ur- lated the constitution when he strongman Mahinda Rajapakse president and his illegal prime out of its fi ve-year term, which overwhelmingly to demand the disputed cabinet exercising pow- gently. Sri Lanka’s credit ratings dissolved parliament last month in his place. There was no im- minister to justice,” JVP leader ends in August 2020. Four days reinstatement of Wickremesin- er until they can prove their le- have already been cut.

Three militants, one soldier dead in Philippines firefight

A soldier and three suspected part of intensified off ensives to hostages were with the militants Families of Lion Air crash victims rally, militants were killed in a firefight neutralise the Abu Sayyaf terrorist when the fighting occurred. in the southern Philippines group and free 11 hostages held The militants hold captive nine yesterday, the country’s military by the militants, he said. They Filipinos, a Dutchman and a said. Two soldiers were also encountered a group of about 50 Vietnamese. The Abu Sayyaf is the demand search for wreckage continues wounded in the pre-dawn clash Abu Sayyaf gunmen, triggering most violent militant group in the on Minis Island, off the town the firefight that resulted in Philippines and is allied with the of Patikul, 1,000km south of the killing of three militants. Islamic State terrorist network. AFP Manila, according to Lieutenant Additional soldiers have been The militants have been blamed Jakarta Colonel Gerry Besana, a regional dispatched to pursue the fleeing for some of the country’s most military spokesman. The troops gunmen, Besana added. There high-profile kidnappings, worst were deployed to the island as were no reports as to whether terrorist attacks and beheadings. ozens of family members whose loved ones were Dkilled in a Lion Air plane Japan off ers to sell radars to Philippines for military upgrade crash rallied in the Indonesian capital yesterday, demanding Japan has off ered to sell radars were also considering other been allocated for the radars. The the search for the jet continue. to the Philippines to boost the sources of radars, such as the procurement of radars is among The Boeing 737 MAX van- military’s capability to monitor United States and Israel. According the major projects under the ished from radar about 13 min- aircraft and ships entering the to reports from Tokyo, Japan Phiippine military’s modernisation utes after taking off from Jakarta country’s territory, the defence has off ered an upgraded model programme. The Philippines on October 29, crashing into chief said yesterday. Philippine of the Mitsubishi Electric-made has been upgrading its defence waters off Indonesia’s northern defence and military off icials were FPS-3 air defence radar system. capability amid a territorial row coast and killing all 189 people evaluating the off er, said Defence A security off icial, who spoke on with China over the South China onboard. Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. condition of anonymity because Sea, a key shipping lane believed Authorities called off the Sources said the Department of he is not authorised to speak to to be rich in marine and mineral grim task of identifying victims Defence and the Philippine military the media, said funds have already resources. of the crash last month, with 125 people offi cially recognised after testing on human remains that fi lled some 200 body bags. Some of the victims’ families Nepalese diplomat in China gathered in front of the presi- A man holds up an image of a victim from the crash of a Lion Air passenger jet in late October during a dential palace in Jakarta yes- rally to demand that Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo continue search operations for the remains of terday afternoon, where they the missing, outside the presidential palace in Jakarta yesterday. called on authorities to help re- trieve the remaining 64 bodies that 25 victims’ families would report from Indonesia’s trans- cause of for the accident. A fi - and pay compensation. fi le a new $100mn legal suit port safety agency suggested nal report is not likely to be fi led “Right now only around 30% against Boeing due to faults with that pilots struggled to control until next year. Lion Air owner of the plane’s body has been the 737 MAX. Several relatives the plane’s anti-stalling system Rusdi Kirana told Bloomberg on found,” the group said in a state- of the crash victims have already immediately before the crash. Wednesday the airline was con- ment. “We hope the search for fi led lawsuits against Boeing, Investigators also found that templating cancelling a $22bn the victims will use vessels with including the family of a young the Lion Air jet should have been order with Boeing following the sophisticated technology.” doctor who was to have married grounded over a recurrent tech- October crash. AFP could not The comes just a day his high school sweetheart last nical problem before its fatal immediately reach Kirana for after Indonesian media reported month. The preliminary crash journey, but did not pinpoint a comment on the report.

Five foreigners arrested in Bali drug sweep

Five foreigners have been separately over the past two – were executed by firing squad last week. “Off icers found 4.08kg arrested in Bali for drug weeks, Bali police said. in 2015, sparking a diplomatic of cocaine that he was hiding traff icking, authorities said The arrests come less than a row between Australia and inside the interior of his luggage,” yesterday, with a German month after the first member of Indonesia, which has some of head of local immigration off ice and Peruvian possibly facing the Bali Nine heroin-traff icking the world’s stiff est drug laws. Untung Basuki told a press execution if convicted under gang was released from a prison Bali police said yesterday they conference yesterday. German Indonesia’s strict drug laws. on the holiday island after serving arrested 44-year-old Peruvian Frank Zeidler, 56, en route from The accused smugglers – also 13 years. The Australian gang’s Jorge Rafael Albornoz Gammara Bangkok, was later arrested after Nepal’s Foreign Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi (left) shakes hands with Chinese Foreign Minister including a Chinese, a Malaysian accused ringleaders – Myuran after he arrived at Ngurah Rai off icers said they found 2.1kg of Wang Yi before a meeting in the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. and a Briton – were arrested Sukumaran and Andrew Chan international airport from Dubai hashish inside his luggage. Gulf Times Friday, December 14, 2018 7 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA South and North Korea to hold rail reconnection ceremony

AFP event on December 26 will not make further moves before any could violate UN sanctions im- and South will continue discus- that actual restoration works and limited numbers of freight Seoul herald the start of actual work sanctions relief is off ered. posed on the North over its nu- sions on detailed issues”, it add- would come only after consent trains transported materials and on the plans, which even if they Connecting up the rail systems clear and missile programmes. ed. from the UN. goods to and from the Seoul- go ahead will not see the border on either side of the Demilita- Following talks with the North Earlier this month, South Ko- It is unclear whether the South invested Kaesong industrial zone orth and South Korea opened to unrestricted travel. rized Zone and refurbishing the yesterday, Seoul’s unifi cation rean offi cials and engineers be- needs to seek another UN ex- in the North for about a year. But agreed yesterday to hold The South’s President Moon North’s dilapidated tracks — a ministry said in a statement that latedly began a joint study of the emption for the ceremony. Be- they went no further, and re- Na ceremonial ground- Jae-in has been pushing engage- marked contrast to the South’s the ceremony will be held on De- North’s tracks after the UN Secu- fore the Koreas were divided in establishing the lines would be breaking later this month for a ment with the nuclear-armed KTX high-speed lines— was one cember 26 at Panmun Station — rity Council granted an exemp- 1948 there were two railway lines unlikely to enable Northerners to project to reconnect railways and North to try to persuade it to give of the steps agreed by Moon and the fi rst North Korean terminal tion. Seoul said the survey was running down either side of the leave for the South, as Pyongyang roads across the divided penin- up its weapons, but talks between the North’s leader Kim Jong-un across the border— in Kaesong. purely aimed at gathering infor- peninsula. As a gesture towards imposes tight restrictions on sula, despite concerns of possi- Pyongyang and Washington have earlier year. But the project has Around 100 people from each mation on the current state of the reconciliation, the two recon- freedom of movement for its ble sanctions violations. But the stalled with the US demanding it been delayed amid concerns it side will attend and the “North North’s rail system and pledged nected the western line in 2007 citizens. China investigates two Canadians on ‘security’ concerns

AFP press conference, without ex- Meng was released on ness trips to North Korea. He Beijing plaining if the two cases are re- Can$10mn (US$7.5mn) bail by a earned recognition after helping lated. Kovrig, who works for the court in Vancouver on Tuesday facilitate visits by former Chi- Canadian businessman Michael Spavor arrives next to the former NBA basketball player Dennis Rodman (not International Crisis Group (ICG) pending a US extradition hear- cago Bulls player Rodman in 2013 pictured) after a trip to North Korea, at Beijing Capital International Airport, Beijing, China, in a file picture. hina confi rmed yesterday think tank, was being investigat- ing. and 2014. Spavor is one of only a two Canadians are under ed by the Beijing bureau of state Her case has infuriated Bei- few Westerners to have met with informed of Kovrig’s detention ICG closed its offi ce in the extradition process or use it for Cinvestigation on suspicion security, while the agency’s offi ce jing and shaken Canada’s rela- Kim in recent years. via fax early Wednesday. ICG has Chinese capital after Beijing ends other than the pursuit of of endangering the country’s na- in northeast Liaoning province tions with China, which is itself AFP’s attempts to call his two said that it has not received any passed a law on NGOs, which justice and following the rule of tional security, fuelling tensions was handling the probe into Spa- embroiled in a trade war with the mobile telephone numbers were information about Kovrig since came into force in 2017, to better law,” the Canadian minister said. after Canada’s arrest of a top vor, Lu said. United States. met with messages saying “pow- his arrest. control the activities on its soil of Asked by Reuters if he would Chinese telecom executive on a Spavor is a China-based busi- Kovrig’s employer, ICG, had ered off ” or “invalid” and calls to China’s foreign ministry said foreign organisations. intervene with the Justice De- US request. ness consultant who facilitates reported his arrest earlier this the Paektu Cultural Exchange of- ICG was not registered in China Friends and experts say Kovrig partment in her case, Trump had Former Canadian diplomat trips to North Korea, met with week while Canada’s govern- fi ce went unanswered. and its employees would be “in may have become a “hostage” been quoted as saying: “Whatev- Michael Kovrig and business its leader Kim Jong-un and ar- ment said on Wednesday that it “We have been unable to make violation” of the law if they en- and “pawn” in the feud between er’s good for this country, I would consultant Michael Spavor were ranged some of retired NBA star had not heard from Spavor since contact since he let us know he gage in activities in the country. China, the US and Canada. Free- do.” Freeland said it would be “up put under “compulsory meas- Dennis Rodman’s trips to the he was questioned. Lu said China was being questioned by Chinese “Canada is deeply concerned land has also indirectly criticised to Ms Meng’s lawyers whether ures” on Monday, foreign min- country. Their cases will fuel provided “relevant information” authorities,” Canadian foreign about the detention of Mr Kovrig statements by US President Don- they choose to raise comments in istry spokesman Lu Kang said, suspicions China is retaliating to the Canadian consulate “with- ministry spokesman Guillaume and Canada has raised the case ald Trump, who said in an inter- the US as part of their defence of using a term which would usually against Canada’s arrest of Meng out delay”. Berube told AFP. directly with Chinese offi cials,” view on Tuesday he was ready Ms Meng.” mean they are in custody. Wanzhou, the chief fi nancial of- Spavor is based in northeast Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said. Kovrig was based to intervene in the Meng aff air It “will be up to the Canadian The two Canadians are “sus- fi cer of Chinese telecom giant China, where he runs the Paektu Freeland said the Canadian gov- in Hong Kong for ICG, working if it helped seal a trade deal with judicial process, to Canadian pected of engaging in activities Huawei, at Washington’s request Cultural Exchange programme, ernment had raised his case with on foreign policy and security is- China. judges, how to weigh the signifi - that threatened China’s national on allegations related to breaking an organisation that facilitates Chinese authorities. Canadian sues in the region, particularly on “Our extradition partners cance of what Ms Meng’s lawyers security,” Lu said at a regular Iran sanctions. sport, cultural, tourism and busi- offi cials said they were offi cially the Korean Peninsula. should not seek to politicise the say.”

Google’s mass Nanjing anniversary e-mail could Chinese pastor compromise Millane case held for ‘inciting Google has come under fire yesterday in New Zealand after publishing a list of the most searched terms includ- subversion’: church ing the name of the man accused of killing British back- packer Grace Millane which AFP na’s officially atheist govern- was suppressed by a court or- Beijing ment is wary of any organised der. Subscribers of the search movements outside its con- engine’s Google Trend service trol, including religious ones. received an e-mail naming the he pastor of a prominent Christians in the country accused in the subject line, unoffi cial Chinese Prot- are split between unoffi cial The Spinoff reported. Testant church who was “house” or “underground” Leading New Zealand barris- detained in a police raid last churches like the Early Rain ters expressed concerns that weekend is facing allegations Covenant Church, and state- the trial might be compro- of subverting state power, the sanctioned churches where mised by ongoing breaches of church and a rights group said. Communist Party songs also court orders suppressing the Wang Yi was held and some feature in the order of serv- name and information about 80 other members of the Ear- ice. This year, underground the accused. “There is an ly Rain Covenant Church dis- churches, especially larger alarming trend in the reporting appeared following Sunday’s establishments like the Early and the sharing of information police sweep in Chengdu, the Rain Covenant, which has at of this case that could open capital of southwestern Si- least 500 church members, the way to defence counsel chuan province, according to have faced increasing pressure. arguing that the accused worshippers. Citing a police Wang is also a vocal critic could not get a fair trial,” notice received by the pas- of the ruling Communist New Zealand Bar Association tor’s mother, Human Rights Party. In an essay published Vice-President Jonathan Eaton Watch said in a report that through the church’s Face- QC said in a statement. The Wang was detained under book page just days before 22-year old’s body was discov- suspicion of “inciting sub- the police raid, he criticised ered last Sunday in an area of version of state power”, echo- government control over re- bush just 10m from a road in ing a statement released by ligion and wrote: “The party the Waitakere Ranges, about the church Wednesday. can prosper temporarily, but 25km from central Auckland. it cannot last forever.” Pigeons fly during a memorial ceremony to mark the 81th anniversary of the 1937 Nanjing Massacre on the National Memorial Day in In September, Beijing In September, Beijing of- Nanjing, Jiangsu province, China. Australia PM officials also shut down ficials also shut down Zion Zion Church, one of Church, one of China’s larg- promises stiffer China’s largest unofficial est unofficial Protestant Protestant churches, churches, for operating with- laws against for operating without a out a licence—before order- licence – before ordering ing it to pay back 1.2mn yuan religious it to pay back 1.2mn yuan ($170,000) in rent and re- discrimination ($170,000) in rent and moval costs. removal costs Chinese authorities have Singapore editor charged Australian Prime Minister Scott a history of arresting human Morrison yesterday prom- Another church elder, Li rights activists over broad ised stiff er legislation against Yingqiang, was detained un- charges of state subversion religious discrimination, and der suspicion of “picking and “picking quarrels”. In a new commissioner to act quarrels”, according to a po- August 2016, a human rights for defaming government as a watchdog on freedom of lice notice shown to AFP by activist was jailed for more religion issues. two sources at the church. than seven years on subver- AFP Terry Xu was charged in court with de- gustin’s letter was published in September Morrison said his conservative They also said that another sion charges. Singapore faming government ministers after his inde- under the name “Willy Sum”, and did not government would introduce church member was appre- The activist was among pendent media website, The Online Citizen, mention the names of any allegedly corrupt a Religious Discrimination Act hended as a suspect of “illegal more than 200 people who published a letter stating there was “corrup- offi cials or provide any evidence of graft. next year to provide more operations” for selling Bibles were rounded up in a broad he editor of a Singaporean website tion at the highest echelons” of Singapore’s Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at protections than existing state and other religious books. crackdown in 2015, includ- was charged with defamation yes- government, according to court documents. Human Rights Watch, said that Singapore laws. Sichuan and Chengdu po- ing lawyers who took on civil Tterday for publishing a letter alleging Police seized computers and other de- authorities had “once again responded to “Australia is a place where lice did not immediately re- rights cases considered sen- corruption among the city-state’s leaders, vices used to operate the website from Xu’s criticism with criminal charges”. “The gov- discrimination on the basis of spond to requests for com- sitive by the Communist Par- with rights groups criticising the “heavy- residence after receiving a complaint. The ernment should respond to any inaccuracies a person’s identity — includ- ment. The crackdown on ty. In January 2016, Chinese handed” response from authorities. Singa- website ceased publication temporarily but in the letter by seeking a correction, apol- ing their religious identity — is Early Rain Covenant Church authorities handed a 19-year pore has long been criticised for restricting is now up and running again. ogy or retraction, rather than with a heavy- unacceptable,” his off ice said comes as Beijing tightens sentence to a Chinese activist free speech and other political rights, as well Xu faces a maximum jail term of two years handed criminal prosecution,” he said. in a statement. control over religious wor- in the volatile northwestern as slapping critics with fi nancially ruinous and a fi ne, or both. Singapore’s media scene is dominated by “It is also a place where we ship. Some have been re- Xinjiang region for “incite- libel suits. The letter’s author, Daniel De Costa Au- pro-government publications, with critical respect the right of religious leased, but “dozens” of ment to subvert state power” The affl uent fi nancial hub is regularly gustin, was also charged with defamation commentary expressed mostly online. institutions to maintain their church members remain in by criticising the Communist ranked among the world’s least corrupt and breaking computer crime laws for alleg- Offi cials insist tough libel laws are nec- distinctive religious ethos. police custody, according to Party in online posts, accord- countries and its leaders are sensitive about edly sending the piece from another person’s essary to protect their reputation from un- Our laws should reflect these Human Rights Watch. Chi- ing to his lawyer. accusations of graft. e-mail account without their consent. Au- founded allegations. values.” Gulf Times 8 Friday, December 14, 2018 BRITAIN

PEOPLE CRIME DATA DISCLOSURE NEGLIGENCE Lady Colin poised to pen Police off icer jailed for Knife crime off ences rise Six slime and putty toys fail Disabled girl wins £22mn Meghan muckraker raping 13-year-old girl to highest level since 2010 to meet safety standards payout from NH trust

There’s another headache for the Duchess A police off icer was branded a “sexual predator The number of knife and off ensive weapon Six out of 13 “slime” and putty toys have failed A profoundly disabled girl whose only comfort of Sussex, who has to put up with regular of the most evil kind” as he was jailed for 25 off ences rose to its highest level since 2010 in to meet EU safety standards when tested for is the sound of her mother singing lullabies has embarrassing outbursts from her father, years for more than 35 sexual off ences, including the past year, off icial figures show. The criminal the presence of a potentially harmful chemical, won an NHS compensation package worth an Thomas Markle. Friends of royal author Lady the rape of a 13-year-old girl. Ian Naude, 30, was justice system in England and Wales dealt according to research by a consumer group. estimated £22mn. The 11-year-old was starved Colin Campbell say they fear she is lining up found guilty last month of raping and sexually with 21,381 such off ences in the year ending in Following an investigation earlier this year that of oxygen during her birth and needs 24-hour Meghan as her next subject. Lady Colin, who assaulting the teenager who he met while September, according to the ministry of justice, found almost all the slime toys available from care, the high court heard. She suff ers from found fame on TV reality show I’m A Celebrity . serving with Cheshire police. He was jailed the highest number since the end of September Amazon it tested posed a health risk, Which? severe cerebral palsy and is partially paralysed . . Get Me Out Of Here!, has form when it comes for a total of 37 off ences against nine victims. 2010, when the figure was 21,851. Recent police- has turned the spotlight on potentially toxic in all four limbs. She is prone to ‘behavioural to muck-raking. She wrote an unauthorised In a statement released after the sentencing recorded crime figures published by the Off ice products sold by some of Britain’s biggest disturbances’ and only her mother’s singing book, Diana In Private, which made shocking at Liverpool crown court, the 13-year-old for National Statistics showed an increase in the retailers. Five of the slimes it analysed, including can calm her. The girl’s lawyers claimed that claims that later proved to be true. Lady Colin girl’s family said Naude had “abused our faith number of knife and off ensive weapon off ences products bought from Hamleys and Smyths Toys her caesarean delivery at St John’s Hospital, in is understandably coy about the matter. ‘I am and trust in him as a police off icer”. He had to 32,986 in the year to June, compared with Superstores, were over the EU safety limit for the Chelmsford, in 2007, was negligently delayed writing a new book but I am not prepared to “destroyed our lives, our family and, most of all, 18,900 in the year to March 2012. The figure chemical boron. A further product bought from and now the Mid-Essex Hospital Services NHS discuss what it is about yet,’ she says. the innocence of our daughter.” includes at least 75 stabbings and 13 shootings. Argos that was classified as putty also failed. Trust has agreed to settle her claim. Key Holyrood Brexit legislation breaches law: Supreme Court

Guardian News and Media of such subordinate legislation London conditional upon the consent of the Scottish ministers.” However, the Supreme Court he UK Supreme Court has supported Holyrood’s rights to ruled that a key part of the prepare its own legislation from TScottish government’s Brexit in areas within its legisla- emergency Brexit legislation tive competence. It also had the breaches the law because min- right to prepare new powers to isters in Edinburgh cannot veto take control of former EU regu- legislation introduced by the UK lations once those regulations government. were no longer in force because UK ministers said the ruling the UK had left the EU. vindicated their decision to chal- Mike Russell, the Scottish con- lenge legislation introduced by stitutional aff airs secretary, said: the Scottish parliament earlier “The Scottish government’s po- this year in a constitutional con- sition has been vindicated by the frontation over the repatriation Supreme Court judgment, which Prime Minister Theresa May and European leaders arrive to attend a European Summit aimed at discussing the Brexit deal, the long-term budget and the single market in Brussels of EU powers into domestic law. confi rms that the Scottish parlia- yesterday. Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s ment had the competence to pre- fi rst minister, and Carwyn Jones, pare its own laws for Brexit when then fi rst minister of Wales, ac- the continuity bill was passed.” cused Theresa May’s govern- He accused the UK govern- ment of a “power grab” because ment of “constitutional van- the UK government wanted to dalism” for retrospectively in- retain the fi nal say over scores of troducing powers in the Lords pieces of legislation. which, he said, limited the rights After both the Scottish and of MSPs to legislate on Brexit. May expects no quick Welsh legislatures introduced “Worryingly, parts of the bill so-called “continuity bills” in have been thwarted as a result of February which allowed them steps taken by the UK govern- to take control of key bits of EU ment. For the fi rst time ever, UK regulation, Welsh ministers sus- law offi cers delayed an act of the pended their legislation because Scottish parliament from be- they accepted a compromise deal coming law by referring it to the Brexit breakthrough over those powers brokered with Supreme Court.” the UK government. It remains unclear what the Reuters Party, the lower House of Com- actly what May wanted to secure May revealed she would “ready to examine” whether fur- Sturgeon refused to sign off on impact of yesterday’s judgement Brussels mons and the country as a whole. in Brussels but also warned that step down by the next election ther assurance can be given. the compromise deal, and in a long will have as it is still far from clear With less than four months Britain could not reopen the di- scheduled for 2022. Austrian Chancellor Sebas- and complex judgment, the court whether Brexit will go ahead as before Britain is due to leave on vorce deal, or withdrawal agree- “I said that in my heart I would tian Kurz said it was hard to said that one key section of Holy- the UK government intends. Even ritain’s weakened Prime March 29, May faces deadlock ment, signed off by both sides in love to able to lead the Conserv- know what the EU should give rood’s act Section 17, which seeks so, the Scottish parliament is Minister, Theresa May, in parliament over the deal she November. ative Party into the next general to May because it was not clear to amend Westminster’s Scot- now running very short of time to Byesterday said she did not agreed with the EU last month While others tried to temper election but I think it is right that what she needs to win over op- land Act, was ultra vires because amend scores of pieces of legisla- expect to secure a quick break- but which has hardened oppos- their language by expressing a the party feels it would prefer to ponents. “Not all the arguments Scottish ministers cannot change tion before Article 50 takes eff ect through in Brexit talks that ing positions at home, throwing desire to help May, French Presi- go into that election with a new of Brexit supporters are ration- power reserved to Westminster. on March 29, 2019. would give her fractured party up more uncertainty for busi- dent Emmanuel Macron ruled leader,” she told reporters. al,” he said. The Supreme Court said: David Mundell, the Scottish the reassurances needed to get nesses trying to predict what will out any legal changes to the With no vote on the Brexit Lithuanian President Dalia “Under schedule 4 to the Scot- secretary, said: “The Supreme her deal through parliament. happen to the $2.8tn economy. agreement. package in the parliamentary Grybauskaite put it more bluntly. land Act, the Scottish parlia- Court has provided much-needed Arriving in Brussels just a day “I recognise the strength of German Chancellor Angela schedule before Christmas, May “Brexit Christmas wish: fi nally ment does not have legislative legal clarity that the continuity after a failed attempt to top- concern in the House of Com- Merkel was less strident, say- hopes to secure political and le- decide what you really want and competence to modify the Scot- bill goes beyond the powers of the ple her at home, May was met mons and that is what I will be ing: “We can of course talk about gal assurances from the EU over Santa will deliver,” she said on land Act. An enactment is modi- Scottish parliament. This demon- largely by readiness to help from putting to colleagues today,” whether there are additional as- the so-called Northern Ireland Twitter in posting a picture of a fi ed by a later enactment if it is strates clearly that it was the right leaders and one May said earlier. “I don’t expect surances but in this the 27 EU backstop — designed to prevent chocolate Christmas tree. implicitly amended, disapplied thing for the UK government to re- demand: tell us want you want. an immediate breakthrough, but members are together and will extensive controls on the border The backstop is the main or repealed in whole or in part. fer the bill to the court. It is now for Britain’s departure from the what I do hope is that we can make their interests clear, al- with the Irish republic that could stumbling block for lawmakers “The UK parliament has the the Scottish government to con- EU, its biggest shift in trade and start work as quickly as possible though always in the spirit that disrupt a peace settlement for in London who fear Britain will power to authorise ministers sider how to proceed, and we hope foreign policy for more than 40 on the assurances that are nec- we want very, very good rela- the British-ruled province. become stuck in the fallback ar- to make subordinate legisla- Holyrood will take a pragmatic years, is proving anything but essary.” tions with Great Britain after But while EU leaders said rangement, preventing it from tion, but the eff ect of Section 17 approach and work constructively smooth, complicated by the deep EU leaders were clear. They Great Britain has left the Euro- they wanted to help, a draft EU striking trade deals beyond the would be to make the legal eff ect with us as we leave the EU.” divisions in her Conservative all said they needed to know ex- pean Union.” statement said they were merely EU. Hunt’s cancer screening Flowers for Queen Brexit gloom hits statement ‘is wrong’ housing market Reuters plays out is taking its toll on London the housing market,” Simon Guardian News and Media run from the 1980s and at what “We know that the announce- Rubinsohn, RICS’ chief econ- London age women should have their fi nal ment in May of a breast-screen- omist, said. screening. It occurred because ing incident caused anxiety for measure of house prices “Indeed, I can’t recall a pre- of a document written in 2013, thousands of women, some- hit a six-year low in No- vious survey when a single is- eremy Hunt’s dramatic when Public Health England took times unnecessarily, and it was Avember as the approach sue has been highlighted by statement to the House of over control of the programme, of critical importance that their of Brexit put off buyers and quite so many contributors.” JCommons declaring that which is said to have misunder- voices and concerns were heard sellers, a survey of property Rubinsohn said the survey nearly half a million women had stood how the programme ran. as part of this independent re- valuers showed yesterday. showed the political upheaval not been invited for breast can- “The vast majority of women view,” said Lynda Thomas, chief The Royal Institution of around Brexit was not expect- cer screening and that 270 may who were told earlier this year executive of Macmillan Cancer Chartered Surveyors (RICS) ed to be resolved soon. have died needlessly was based that they may have missed an in- Care and co-chair of the review. said its house price balance “The bigger risk is that this on wrong advice, an independ- vitation to screening were only af- “It is completely unaccept- sank to -11 in November from now spills over into develop- ent inquiry has found. fected under the defi nition of this able that there was confusion -10 in October, its lowest since ment plans making it even Thousands of women were document,” said the review. about what the breast screening September 2012, before Brit- harder to secure the uplift in alarmed by the statement in Only 5,000 women defi nitely programme should have been de- ain’s economy began to shake the building pipeline to ad- May which set up a major recall missed a screening – and those livering. There needs to be clar- off the after-eff ects of the glo- dress the housing crisis,” he to screen the hundreds of thou- were all because of issues local to ity, and importantly women need bal fi nancial crisis. said. sands of women, aged 68 to 71, the screening programme where clear information about what they Price falls were most acute The survey showed the said to have been missed. Hunt they lived. Under the defi nition should be able to expect.” in London and the south east stock of homes on the market said the problem was caused by a of when a last screening should The Health Minister Steve Brine of England where property was close to its lowest level on computer error. He later revised take place in the 2013 document, said he “would like to apologise for prices are highest, exposing record and there was no sign of down the number who may have it is possible to argue that 67,000 the distress and suff ering caused them to higher purchase taxes a pick-up in new listings. died to “fewer than 75”. women were missed. But under by this incident. Whilst subse- on expensive homes as well as Sales expectations for the But the independent inquiry the system operated prior to PHE quent advice provided to the then worries about the impact of next three months fell by the chaired by cancer experts stated taking over, none were missed. secretary of state (Hunt) was based Brexit on the capital’s fi nancial most since the June 2016 Brexit that Hunt’s announcement “was PHE and NHS England are on an incomplete understanding of services sector. referendum and the amount of made following advice based on still looking into the question what had happened, we welcome Economists taking part in a time it took to complete sales an incomplete understanding of of possible deaths of women the review’s conclusions that the Evie Hayden, aged 4, and her mother Michelle, present Reuters poll had predicted the was the longest since records what had happened”. whose breast cancer might have former secretary of state was cor- Queen Elizabeth with a bouquet of flowers at the end of a balance to remain at -10. began in early 2017. The misunderstanding con- been picked up by screening. At rect, based on the information visit to The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn in London “It is evident...that the on- But price expectations were cerned the way the screening the moment, they believe the provided, to inform the House of yesterday. going uncertainties surround- stable over a 12-month hori- programme had been set up and number is “between 0 and 34”. the breast screening incident. ing how the Brexit process zon. Gulf Times Friday, December 14, 2018 9 EUROPE

Extinction risk for nations Ankara train crash kills due to climate nine, injures nearly 90 change Reuters/AFP as rescue workers searched the Ankara blue and white wagons covered with debris. AFP Turkish Red Crescent relief Katowice, Poland ine people were killed workers distributed blankets and nearly 90 injured and tea to the survivors, who Nin Turkey when a high were gathered on a road near the ozens of nations threat- speed train collided with a lo- scene that had been blocked to ened with catastrophe comotive and crashed into a sta- traffi c. Dfrom unchecked climate tion platform and overpass in an A female witness whose name change warned yesterday that Ankara suburb early yesterday, was not given told NTV broad- they “face extinction” with- offi cials said. caster that the passenger train out immediate action to rein in The Ankara public prosecu- had not yet increased its speed mankind’s emissions, as UN cli- tor said 86 people were injured. when the crash happened. mate talks limped towards their Health Minister Fahrettin Koca A relative of one of those conclusion. earlier said 34 of those injured aboard the train told the chan- Representatives from nearly were still in hospital for treat- nel that some passengers had 200 nations are locked in nego- ment. broken windows and then safely tiations in Poland over how to Rescuers worked to free peo- exited the wagons. make good on the promises they ple trapped under the mangled One of those killed was Be- made in the landmark 2015 Paris wreckage at Marsandiz train sta- rahitdin Albayrak, a science agreement aimed at limiting tion, 8km (5 miles) from central lecturer and former vice-chan- global temperature rises. Ankara. cellor at Ankara University, the Talks have however hit a wall It was not clear at which speed institution said on Twitter. over a host of disputes ranging the train and locomotive were Later trains from Konya to from adopting the newest envi- travelling when the collision oc- Ankara and vice versa were can- ronmental data to how the fi ght curred. celled. against climate change will be There was light snow on the The Ankara to Konya high- fi nanced in future. tracks. speed route was launched in 2011 However, with Earth al- The train had been heading and was followed in 2014 with a ready experiencing widespread from Ankara to the central Turk- high-speed link between Ankara droughts, fl ooding and mega- ish province of Konya and was and Istanbul. storms made worse as our planet not due to stop at Marsandiz. In July 24 people were killed heats up, many nations simply Ankara Governor Vasip Sahin and hundreds more injured after cannot wait for action. said the locomotive, which lay a train derailed in Tekirdag prov- “We are bearing the torch battered 20m (22 yards) further ince, northwest Turkey, due to for those vulnerable to climate ahead, carried out track inspec- ground erosion following heavy change,” Hilda Heine, president tions. rains. of the Marshall Islands, told del- Three train drivers were In March 2014, a commuter egates at the COP24 summit. among the nine killed in the train smashed into a minibus “We represent a number of na- crash, Transport Minister Ca- Firefighters and medics are seen at the scene of the train crash in Ankara. on a railway track in the south- tions, like my own, that face ex- hit Turhan told reporters on the ern Turkish province of Mersin, tinction. Species of all kinds also scene. the Ankara state prosecutor’s of- were killed in a train crash in the Turkish state railways agen- had derailed and debris from the which left 10 dead. face existential risk.” German Foreign Minister fi ce had launched an investiga- northwestern Turkey in a series cy who were detained over sus- train scattered on the track. In January 2008, nine people A group of 48 nations repre- Heiko Maas said that current tion. of several fatal accidents in re- pected negligence, according to The windows of one wag- were killed when a train derailed senting more than 1bn people information indicated a German Turkey has been developing a cent years. state news agency Anadolu. on were completely broken in the Kutahya region south of urged developed countries – re- man was among those killed in network of high-speed rail links Turkish President Erdogan Transport Minister Turhan while another wagon had been Istanbul because of faulty tracks. sponsible for the lion’s share of the crash, but gave no further during Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s said three people had been de- said the accident took place six smashed after hitting the foot- Turkey’s worst rail disaster in planet-warming greenhouse gas details. 16-year-old rule as it looks to tained over yesterday’s crash. minutes after the train left An- bridge, which also collapsed, an recent history was in July 2004 emissions – to pay up to help the There were 206 passengers on ease the burden on increasingly In a speech in Ankara, he kara as it entered the Marsandiz AFP correspondent at the scene when 41 people were killed and worst aff ected. the high speed train, according congested highways. vowed those responsible would station. said. 80 injured after a high-speed “We are in Poland in the name to state-owned Anadolu news The train accident comes less be held to account. Images published by Turk- The correspondent saw at train derailed in the northwest- of the children of tomorrow agency, which also reported that than six months after 24 people The three were employees of ish media showed some wagons least seven bodies taken away ern province of Sakarya. whose interests we must secure, compelled by science and duty,” said Emmanuel De Guzman, from the Philippines Climate Change Commission. “We fi nd the ambivalence of countries in these negotiations unaccept- Strasbourg gunman still free able. We are discussing here not trivial text or punctuation marks but our very survival.” Reuters shooter was last seen. been instructed to catch Chek- religious symbolism. A major sticking point at talks Strasbourg Some had their guns trained att dead or alive, government French soldiers, who are part scheduled to wrap up today re- on the houses in front of them. spokesman Benjamin Griveaux of anti-terrorism patrols across mains how nations use the fi nd- But after about two hours the told CNews: “It doesn’t matter. the country, shot him in the arm ings of a landmark UN report gunman suspected of operation ended with no sign of The best thing would be to fi nd and it remains unclear how bad released in October. killing three people at security forces any closer to ap- him as quickly as possible.” his injuries are. The Intergovernmental Panel Aa Christmas market in prehending the shooter. Police are also searching for BFM TV citing investigators on Climate Change (IPCC) high- Strasbourg was still on the run The Paris prosecutor’s offi ce a car in which he may have es- said a taxi driver, who had taken lighted the need for greenhouse yesterday, 48 hours after the at- said that an individual close to caped, a source close to the in- him away from the attack site, gas emissions to be nearly halved tack, eluding security forces who Chekatt was arrested earlier in vestigation said. had told him he had carried out by 2030 and for fossil fuel use to have launched a manhunt across the day as part of the investiga- It took police four months to the attack to avenge his brothers be slashed in order to achieve the eastern France and neighbouring tion into the attack, which also track down Salah Abdesalam, in Syria. Paris goal of limiting tempera- Germany. saw 13 other people wounded. the prime surviving suspect from Chekatt’s police fi le photo ture rises to 1.5° Celsius. The death toll from Tuesday His parents and two brothers the November 2015 militant as- shows a bearded man of North Four nations – the US, Saudi night’s attack rose to three, as are already in custody. sault on Paris, in an apartment in African descent, with a prayer Arabia, Russia and Kuwait – police combed the city in the east Two of his sisters in Paris were Brussels. bruise on the centre of his fore- blocked a proposal for nations to of France for a second day and also questioned yesterday and One hundred and thirty people head. “welcome” the IPCC report as a manned checkpoints on the Ger- one of their homes was searched, were killed in that attack as well He has 27 criminal convictions basis of future climate action. man border. a judicial source said. as seven gunmen and bombers. for theft and violence, and has Delegates in the Polish min- Police issued a wanted poster Strasbourg’s mayor has said The Christmas market, a spent time in French, German ing city of Katowice must agree in multiple languages for Cherif that the attack was “indisputably hugely popular attraction in and Swiss jails. on a rulebook to implement the Chekatt, the main suspect in the an act of terrorism” and, with the historic Strasbourg, remained Neighbours on the housing es- Paris accord and are encouraged attack, who was on a watchlist as gunman on the run, France has closed yesterday, although peo- tate where Chekatt family’s lived to outline what they plan to do in a potential security threat. raised its security threat to the ple were returning to the area described the suspect as a typical practice ahead of a stock-taking Authorities say the 29-year- highest level. with many marking their re- young man who dressed in jog- in 2020. old was known to have developed More than 700 police are tak- spects for the victims by leav- ging pants and trainers rather “We are not prepared to die,” radical religious views while in ing part in the manhunt. ing candles in the main Kleber than traditional Islamic robes. said Mohamed Nasheed, former jail. French and German police square. “He was a little gangster, but Maldives president and a veteran Armed and masked police manned controls on either side Witnesses told investigators I didn’t see any signs of him be- of UN climate summits. “Per- swooped on Strasbourg neigh- of the Europe Bridge, which that the suspect Chekatt cried ing radicalised,” said a leader of a haps now it’s time to tell our- bourhoods with elite RAID offi c- spans the frontier running along out “Allahu Akbar” as he opened community group standing out- selves some hard truths. All we ers fanning out across three loca- the Rhine river, causing hours of fi re on the market, a target Paris side Chekkat’s apartment build- seem to be doing is talking and EU flags fly at half-mast outside the headquarters of the European tions in late afternoon, including logjams. Prosecutor Remy Heitz suggest- ing, who asked not to be identi- talking and talking.” Union in Brussels yesterday. the area where the suspected Asked if French police had ed may have been chosen for its fi ed while discussing him.

US Republicans introduce resolution blaming Saudi crown prince for journalist’s death The chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee has Pompeo says CIA still investigating killing of Khashoggi introduced legislation holding Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman responsible for the murder of journalist and insisting on accountability. Reuters Representatives behind closed can simply look the other way reporting of the CIA fi ndings has been involved in the killing of Despite President Donald Trump’s desire to maintain close relations Washington doors about the killing. when things happen and talk been inaccurate. Khashoggi, a US resident and with Saudi Arabia, the joint resolution is backed by at least nine of his After the classifi ed briefi ng, about business as usual,” Engel “This is still a developing set Washington Post columnist. fellow Republicans in the Senate: committee Chairman Bob Corker and House members declined com- said. of facts with respect to the mur- Riyadh initially denied knowl- co-sponsors including Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. S Secretary of State Mike ment beyond saying that they Haspel had already briefed der of Jamal Khashoggi,” Pompeo edge of Khashoggi’s disappear- The measure also warns that the kingdom’s purchases of military equip- Pompeo has defended had not heard anything that some US senators. said. ance, then off ered contradictory ment from, and co-operation with, the governments of Russia and China Uthe Trump administra- had changed their minds about Pompeo and Defence Secre- He said direct evidence linking explanations, including that he challenge the integrity of the US-Saudi military relationship. tion’s handling of the killing of Khashoggi’s death. tary Jim Mattis, who held a sepa- the crown prince to the killing was killed in a rogue operation. The measure is expected to come up for a vote in the Senate, but must Saudi journalist Jamal Khashog- Democratic Representative rate briefi ng for the entire Senate, “isn’t yet available”. Trump condemned the murder also pass the House of Representatives and be signed by Trump, or win gi, stressing Saudi Arabia’s im- Eliot Engel, likely the next chair- are due to discuss Saudi Arabia Pompeo repeatedly refused but has stood by the Saudi crown enough votes to overcome a veto, to take eff ect. portance as a United States ally man of the Foreign Aff airs Com- with the entire House. to say whether he believed the prince, despite the CIA assess- House Republican leaders declined to say whether they planned to vote against Iran. mittee, said that he intended to Khashoggi’s death sent shock- crown prince was behind the ment. on any Saudi-related legislation before Congress wraps up for the year Pompeo repeated his assertion hold hearings starting early next waves around the world and has killing. “He’s the leader of Saudi Ara- later this month. that there was no direct evidence year on all aspects of Saudi be- drawn outrage from Congress. Washington imposed econom- bia. They’ve been a very good Among other provisions, the joint resolution blames the crown prince linking Crown Prince Mohamed haviour and the US-Saudi rela- Many lawmakers, includ- ic sanctions on 17 Saudi offi cials ally,” Trump told Reuters on for Khashoggi’s murder in Turkey, calls for the Saudi government to bin Salman to the October 2 mur- tionship. ing some of President Donald last month over the killing, stop- Tuesday in an Oval Offi ce inter- ensure “appropriate accountability” for all those responsible for his der of Khashoggi in the Saudi “I think that all leaders are re- Trump’s fellow Republicans, also ping short of action that might view. death, calls on Riyadh to release Saudi women’s rights activists, and consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, sponsible for things that happen strongly criticise the Saudi-led aff ect arms deals Trump has Nikki Haley, the outgoing US encourages the kingdom to increase eff orts to enact economic and despite a US Central Intelligence under them. So I think that we’ve military campaign in Yemen. vowed to preserve. ambassador to the United Na- social reforms. Agency (CIA) assessment it was still get to get to the bottom of it,” Asked during a Fox News in- Pompeo pointed to the sanc- tions, told NBC News earlier that That measure would need to pass the House and survive a threatened likely he ordered the killing. he said. terview about the CIA’s fi ndings, tions and said the United States the administration needed to fi g- Trump veto to become law. CIA Director Gina Haspel “Saudi Arabia’s an important made with medium to high con- would continue to hold ac- ure out a path forward with the briefed leaders of the House of ... partner, but I don’t think we fi dence, Pompeo said that some countable those proven to have Saudis. Gulf Times 10 Friday, December 14, 2018 INDIA

DISASTER LAW AND ORDER PEOPLE TRAGEDY CELEBRITY 13 miners trapped Interpol red corner notice Film director Ajayan Kerala shutdown today Comedian Kapil Sharma in Meghalaya coal pit against Choksi issued dies of cardiac arrest as man immolates self weds in Jalandhar

Thirteen miners were yesterday trapped inside a The Interpol has issued a red corner notice Malayalam film director Ajayan, who shot to fame A 49-year-old man died after setting himself Star comedian Kapil Sharma married Ginni coal pit filled with gallons of water in Meghalayas (RCN) against fugitive Indian tycoon Mehul with the only film that he directed, Perunthachen on fire near the venue of BJP leader C K Chatrath at a traditional Punjabi ceremony in East Jaintia Hills district, police said. Off icials said Choksi after a request from the Central (master carpenter), died in Thiruvananthapuram Padmanabhan’s sit-down protest, against what Jalandhar. Kapil made a late entry at the wedding their chances of survival were bleak. The National Bureau of Investigation (CBI), an official said yesterday. Ajayan died at a private hospital after a he described as the Kerala government’s anti- venue. Kapil shared the wedding picture himself Green Tribunal (NGT) had ordered an interim ban yesterday. Choksi, the chairman of the Gitanjali cardiac arrest, his colleague and veteran character Sabarimala stand, in Thiruvananthapuram early via Instagram. The venue had ample security on “rat-hole” coal mining in Meghalaya from April Group who has taken refuge in Antigua, was actor Nedumudi Venu said. Ajayan is survived by yesterday. The man, who was later identified considering Kapil is an established name in the 17, 2014. An operation was underway to rescue one of the prime accused in the Rs135bn his wife and two children. State Culture and Cinema as Venugopalan Nair, suff ered 60% burns and industry and has a huge fan following. Invitations the trapped miners. “As per information received, Punjab National Bank fraud along with his Minister A K Balan condoled Ajayan’s death and was rushed to the Government Medical College to the wedding itself had a barcode for entry. A 13 miners including three locals of Lumthari nephew Nirav Modi. “The Interpol issued the said that the impact of his only film will continue hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. guest on condition of anonymity said there was area are trapped inside the coal pit,” Sylvester RCN on Wednesday,” an official said. According for a long time. Son of the legendary Malayalam Police said the incident happened around 3am a limited gathering of the couple’s close family Nongtnger, the district police chief of East Jaintia to officials, with the RCN, Choksi could be playwright, screenwriter and film director, Thoppil outside the state secretariat. Pouring petrol over members and friends, apart from a few names Hills, said. “We are pumping the water out of the arrested by any of the 192 member countries Bhasi, Ajayan began his film career under his father himself and settling himself ablaze, he rushed from the world of comedy. It was very much a pit with the help of generators but the water level of the Interpol after which extradition or and later worked as associate director to legends to the protest site. Following the death, the BJP Punjabi wedding in terms of the food, barring has not receded,” the police off icial said. deportation proceedings can begin. like Padmarajan and Bharathan. called a dawn-to-dusk shutdown in Kerala today. special Thai food arrangements. BJP seeks to energise workers after poll losses

Agencies Prime Minister Narendra New Delhi Modi will address the two-day executive and will be attended by several women leaders. rime Minister Narendra Senior BJP minister Nitin Modi’s ruling BJP will try Gadkari told the ET Now busi- Pto canvass and galvanise ness channel yesterday that the its activists across the country agriculture sector may have been before a general election due neglected under their govern- next May, after losing power in ment. three heartland rural states, sen- Agarwal, a chartered account- ior leaders said after a meeting ant who is also a director in a yesterday. state-run bank, said increasing Disgruntled voters blamed lending for job-generating small the slow pace of job creation and businesses was a key focus, as Congress President Rahul Gandhi meets party leaders Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia in New Delhi yesterday. weak farm prices for the Hindu was enhancing procurement of nationalist party’s defeat in the grain from farmers by government states, two of which it had ruled agencies at state-mandated prices for three straight terms. so there are no distress sales. “We realise that rural dis- The government announces tress and employment genera- so-called minimum support tion are the key issues and we prices for most crops to set a are working on them,” said BJP benchmark, but state agencies spokesman Gopal Krishna Agar- mainly buy limited quantities of Kamal Nath to be next wal, who attended the meeting. staples such as rice and wheat at “They’ll have to be tackled, and those prices, restricting benefi ts we will take suggestions from of higher prices to only around wherever needed.” 7% of India’s 263mn farmers, The Bharatiya Janata Party’s according to various studies. (BJP) various wings — represent- Following the state election ing women, farmers, lower castes, setbacks, Modi’s government CM of Madhya Pradesh Muslims and young members — is expected to announce loan will all hold deliberations after waivers worth billions of dol- IANS Nath for being elected chief The smiling picture carried the party after the defeat in 200-member Assembly. losses in the supposed stronghold lars to woo farmers, government New Delhi minister of Madhya Pradesh. An the line “The two most power- 2013, when he was appointed Rahul also met party leaders states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajas- sources said this week. era of change is upon Madhya ful warriors are patience and the state party chief. from Chhattisgarh to decide on than and Chhattisgarh. Agarwal said the party’s loss in Pradesh with him at the helm,” time – Leo Tolstoy.” In the earlier meeting, Gehlot the chief minister in the state. “These meetings are aimed at Madhya Pradesh, known for mul- adhya Pradesh Con- the party said. Party sources said Gandhi is and Pilot met Rahul at his resi- The Congress central observer preparing for the 2019 election tiplying agriculture production gress president Kamal Meanwhile, Rajasthan Con- keen to give a similar message dence in Delhi where he was for Chhattisgarh, Mallikarjuna and spreading the party’s mes- under three BJP governments, MNath was yesterday gress chief Sachin Pilot, an as- for Rajasthan as well. joined by his mother and UPA Kharge, and state in-charge P sage in various sections of so- has reinforced its realisation that chosen as the leader of Congress pirant to the post of chief min- Both in Rajasthan and Mad- chairperson Sonia Gandhi and L Punia met Rahul at his resi- ciety,” Bhupender Yadav, a BJP higher output helps consumers legislature party by the newly ister, met party president Rahul hya Pradesh, the Congress sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. dence soon after he fi nished national general secretary, said by bringing down prices, but can elected party MLAs in the state. Gandhi yesterday night for the missed the majority mark by Sonia is understood to have discussing Madhya Pradesh. after the meeting, which he said badly hurt farmers. The decision was made at a second time in a day amid indi- two seats and is now dependent counselled Rahul over rely- Kharge, who went to Raipur had been scheduled before the “The focus has so far been on meeting convened soon after cations that party leader Ashok on some external support. ing on “experience” as it was a on Wednesday, ascertained state election results came out consumers, like importing on- Kamal Nath reached Bhopal, Gehlot would be leader of the Earlier, Pilot, who stayed verdict with a narrow margin of views of party MLAs individu- on Tuesday. ions when prices shot up,” Agar- along with party MP Jyotiradi- legislature party in the state. put in Delhi and decided to victory and a seasoned leader ally and apprised Rahul. He also announced that a wal said. “Now we need to look tya Scindia, who was the other Pilot, who had a meeting with shelve his plan to return to would be better equipped to deal State Congress unit presi- planned national convention at the producers, not just the contender for the post. Gandhi earlier in the day, reached Jaipur, appealed to party work- with a situation in which the dent Bhupesh Baghel is con- would be held in New Delhi on consumers.” The two leaders had earlier Gandhi’s residence at 10.30pm. ers to maintain peace, saying he party would need the backing of sidered the front runner for the January 11 and 12. He also said there was a case met party President Rahul Gan- The meeting came hours after would “welcome” any decision MLAs belonging to the Bahujan top post while party leaders T The party will hold a two- for fi scal stimulus, given that in- dhi in New Delhi. the leadership issue was settled that will be taken by the party. Samaj Party and Independents, S Singh Deo, Tamradhwaj Sahu day convention of its Bharatiya fl ation fell to a 17-month low in The Congress party also in Madhya Pradesh, with Gan- Gehlot, who was planning to who won 13 seats. Most of them and Charandas Mahant are also Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) in November. tweeted about Kamal Nath being dhi tweeting his picture with leave for Jaipur, was also asked are Congress rebels. among the contenders. New Delhi from tomorrow while Food infl ation sank to a nega- the next chief minister of Mad- state party chief Kamal Nath to stay back in Delhi. The party won 99 seats The Congress won 68 of the a two-day national executive tive 2.61% from a negative 0.86% hya Pradesh and said that an era and party MP Jyotiraditya Scin- Pilot reportedly put up a and with its pre-poll alli- 90 seats in the Assembly elec- meeting of the women wing will in October, according to offi cial of change will dawn in the state. dia, who were both chief minis- strong claim to the post on the ance partner it managed to tions, ousting BJP from power be held at Ahmedabad. data released on Wednesday. “Our best wishes to Kamal terial aspirants. ground that he had galvanised touch the halfway mark in the after 15 years. Kerala MLAs clash over Official visit Rao takes oath Women’s Wall remarks as Telangana CM IANS Cabinet next week. The TRS Hyderabad retained power by winning 88 IANS adjournment motion to discuss They trooped to the Speak- seats in the 119-member As- Thiruvananthapuram the Women’s Wall programme of er’s podium, forcing P. Sreera- sembly. the state government. makrishnan to adjourn the house. Chandrashekhar Rao, KCR’s wife Shobha Rao, son Vijayan responded saying that When the house met again, who led the Telangana K T Rama Rao, daughter K erala legislators came to the event was being held to take Muneer said: “Why is that when KRashtra Samithi (TRS) Kavitha, nephew T Harish Rao blows inside the Assem- forward the ideology of gender I say the word communal wall, to a landslide victory in As- and other family members at- Kbly yesterday after the equality and uphold the dignity you go berserk, when others use sembly elections, yesterday tended the ceremony. opposition called the upcom- of women. the same word, there is no issue. took oath as the chief minister KCR had taken oath as Te- ing Women’s Wall event on New “If you (the opposition) are I stick by what I said that this is of Telangana for a second term langana’s fi rst chief minister Year’s Day meant to take forward against this, please say that. nothing but a ‘communal wall’. in a row. on June 2, 2014, the day when gender equality, “nothing but a We assure the House, no gov- “You (Vijayan) say that this Governor E S L Narasimhan Telangana came into being as communal wall that will be dis- ernment money is being spent wall is part of the renaissance administered the oath of offi ce India’s 29th state. mantled”. for this programme. The state movement, but what right do you and secrecy to the TRS leader He went for a dissolution of The Assembly session, which government is just taking part have to speak about renaissance. at 1.25am at a ceremony held at the Assembly on September 6 concluded yesterday, has been to see that the ideology of great “It’s just not the Hindus who the Raj Bhavan. this year, eight months before facing turmoil right from the reformer Sree Narayana Guru is took part in the erstwhile Ren- Mohamed Mahmood Ali, a its term was to end. His gamble beginning of the 13-day session, taken forward,” he told the As- aissance Movement, Christians member of Telangana legisla- for early polls paid rich divi- coinciding with the ongoing sembly. and Muslims also took part and tive council, also took oath as a dends. Sabarimala season amid prohib- Vijayan asked the opposition: we wish to ask you what wall are minister. Ali, who was deputy Newly-elected legislators itory orders. “How can you all say that this is you now going to build without chief minister in the previous of TRS, top party leaders, All The opposition Congress-led a communal event?” His speech the Christians and Muslims,” Cabinet, is likely to retain the India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Mus- United Democratic Front has was greeted by the treasury said Muneer. same post. limeen (AIMIM) president been up in arms against the Pi- benches by thumping the desk. Following this sloganeering KCR, as Rao is popularly Asaduddin Owaisi, chief sec- narayi Vijayan government for Then, Muneer got up to speak. from across the benches in- known, took oath in Telugu retary S K Joshi, director gen- turning Sabarimala into a police He said: “Like in West Germany, creased forcing the Speaker to while Ali completed the for- eral of police Mahender Reddy fortress, causing innumerable if the Berlin wall was disman- rush through the listed business malities in Urdu. and senior offi cials attended hardships to the visitors. tled, the Women’s Wall, which is of the day. TRS leaders in the audience the ceremony. Yesterday, as the question hour a communal wall would be dis- The sloganeering and troop- raised slogans of “Long live Owaisi later predicted that ended, deputy leader of the op- mantled.” ing of both benches’ MLAs al- Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman meets Russian KCR” and “Jai Telangana” as the regional parties will take position and senior Indian Union That was all that he could say, most led to a clash, with P K Defence Minister General Sergei Shoigu at the South Block the 64-year-old fi nished tak- Indian politics by storm, pro- Muslim League (IUML) member and the entire treasury bench was Basheer of the IUML and V Joy of in New Delhi yesterday. ing the oath. viding an alternative to both M K Muneer sought to move an up on their feet, sloganeering. the CPI-M coming to blows. KCR is likely to expand his Congress and BJP. Gulf Times Friday, December 14, 2018 11 LATIN AMERICA

CONTROVERSY LEGAL LAW AND ORDER DECISION CRIME Bolsonaro under scrutiny Panama canal construction Mexican off icials bust Lopez Obrador moves Sendic faces trial for over suspect payments firm told to refund $848mn fentanyl lab in Mexico City to undo school reform improper credit card use

Brazil’s president-elect Jair Bolsonaro faced The Panama Canal Authority said an arbitration A laboratory in Mexico City suspected of Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Uruguay’s former vice president Raul Sendic will growing scrutiny yesterday as a government tribunal has ordered the construction consortium producing the powerful opioid fentanyl was has sent a bill to Congress to revoke a controversial face trial on charges of misusing public money financial crime unit questioned payments made behind the waterway’s expansion to pay back raided on Wednesday, off icials said, in a rare case education reform launched by his predecessor and abusing his position while heading the state to his son and wife that totalled more than nearly $848mn to the canal authority. The of a bust involving a drug that is increasingly that sparked violent by teachers. The anti- oil company Ancap from 2009 to 2013, an appeals $300,000. Bolsonaro, who takes off ice January ruling from the Miami-based tribunal, part of the blamed for fuelling the opioid crisis in the US. establishment leftist, called on lawmakers to annul court said. Sendic became vice president in 2015, 1 after winning election as a right-wing anti- International Chamber of Commerce, stems from More than 72,000 Americans died from drug his centre-right predecessor Enrique Pena Nieto’s but resigned two years later over allegations corruption activist, acknowledged in a Facebook a protracted dispute between the authority and a overdoses last year, including illicit drugs and “misnamed education reform,” which sought to that he had previously used an Ancap credit card video feed posted late Wednesday that the group of builders led by Spain’s Sacyr and Italy’s prescription opioids. US President Donald boost the quality of public schools by submitting for personal shopping. He is also suspected of payments by a former aide, Fabricio Jose de Salini Impregilo. Under the dispute were cost Trump declared the opioid addiction crisis teachers to evaluations, among other measures. illegally authorising a local company to act as an Queiroz, were being examined by COAF, the overruns related to the construction of a third set a public health emergency. Officers in white Lopez Obrador proposed a new plan that would intermediary in attempts to cancel a debt that financial crimes unit. “If an error has been made, of locks for the waterway, which was completed in protective jumpsuits raided the site and found scrap evaluations and in which education would Ancap owed the Venezuelan oil giant PDVSA. A by me, by my son, or by Quieroz, we will pay the 2016. The canal authority said the sum of nearly small blue pills and large plastic jugs containing be free at all levels, promising to build 100 new judge announced in May that she would put Sendic bill for this error, because we cannot be caught $848mn accounted for advances that had been dark liquid, images from the prosecutor’s off ice public universities and give out 300,000 grants to on trial. He appealed against the ruling, which was up in the error of anybody,” he said. granted to the consortium, called GUPC. showed. needy students. confirmed by the appeals court. Haiti police Imposing hurdle outgunned by armed gangs

DPA The Bar is demanding the Miami recall of the Port-au-Prince public prosecutor and the arrest of the director of the s Haiti’s national po- Haiti National Police for the lice struggled to regain West region and other po- Acontrol of Port-au- lice officers, after they were Prince last month after days of accused of police brutality government paralysis follow- against the clerk of court and ing a violent anti-government lawyers in October. “If the protest, guards at a security situation remains like this, checkpoint noticed a suspi- we will end up worse than we cious-looking white Nissan were in 2004.” Patrol. That period, which brought After searching the vehicle, a UN peacekeeping force to police found an M4 rifl e, four Haiti after the departure of 9mm semi-automatic pistols then-president Jean-Bertrand including a Glock, a.380 calibre Aristide, was marked by war- pistol and several magazines ring armed gangs and inno- and rounds of ammunition. cent bystanders caught in the Among the vehicle’s fi ve crossfi re. passengers were government Two-thirds of Haiti’s po- employees and a known gang lice stations had either been member, Johnny Metellus, burned or vandalised, and the who would later identify him- force, once 6,500-strong, was self to police as vice delegate less than 2,000. Some central American migrants travelling in a caravan, hesitate as others climb the Mexico-US border fence in an attempt to cross to San Diego county, in Playas de Tijuana, of Port-au-Prince, a position “Back then it was prima- Baja California state, Mexico. Thousands of central American migrants have trekked for over a month in the hopes of reaching the US. appointed by the president. rily Cite Soleil and Bel-Air The men were immediately that were off limits. Today we taken into custody. have more no-go zones,” Gilles But even before the paper- said naming several Port-au- work on their arrests could Prince neighbourhoods where be fi led with the courts, they today even the police can’t were back on the streets, freed enter. on the orders of an assistant “If they want for the police government prosecutor after to do their job, they have to he personally showed up at the encourage the police, because Ex-Venezuela oil minister police station. when the police arrests un- The prosecutor, Gerald der one code and the courts Norgaisse, later defended his releases with another, you intervention on local radio. weaken the police and prevent But Marie Yolene Gilles, them from doing their job.” the human-rights advocate The concerns over the fra- Martinez dies in custody who detailed the incident in gility of Haiti’s police force a recent report — including comes as the US state de- Reuters ceiving dialysis, they said. ly included former top leaders Martinez was given adequate liminary hearing was pushed Metellus’ past run-ins with partment last month warned Caracas In a statement, the prosecu- whom President Nicolas Maduro care. back several times, two of the Haiti National Police and UN American citizens to recon- tor’s offi ce said Martinez had a has accused of wrongdoing. “Until the last moment, the people said. peacekeepers — said the arrest sider travel to Haiti and au- “serious chronic disease” that The death two months ago of citizen in question received His lawyers began asking au- and release underscore Haiti’s thorised non-essential dip- ormer Venezuela oil min- led to his death and off ered con- a municipal legislator, Fernando treatment and the required thorities months ago for Mar- current precarious state. lomatic personnel and their ister Nelson Martinez, who dolences to his family. Alban, sparked a nationwide medical attention,” the prosecu- tinez to be granted house arrest, The United Nations, she families to leave. Fwas arrested in 2017 as part Martinez was jailed after the scandal, with the government tor’s offi ce said in its statement. citing his ill health, one of the said, is failing in its mission to Amid the security concerns, of a sweeping graft probe at state country’s top prosecutor said he saying he committed suicide and The opposition to Maduro’s people said. reinforce justice and security, the United Nations Mission oil company PDVSA, has died in allowed a poor refi nancing deal opposition leaders insisting he socialist government, which has Martinez started having and the 15,735-member Haiti for Justice Support in Haiti is state custody, the prosecutor’s for Citgo to go ahead without was murdered in prison. overseen a collapse of the Opec health problems while leading National Police force is being preparing to reduce its pres- offi ce said. government approval. “The death of Nelson Martinez nation’s economy, dismisses Citgo, based in Houston. outgunned by heavily armed ence even further, with the Martinez, a chemist who also He was arrested alongside Eu- is the responsibility of Nicolas the probe as an internal power Maduro named him oil minister gangs and paramilitary units withdrawal this month of two ran PDVSA and its US subsidi- logio del Pino, another former oil Maduro, who...held him hostage struggle within Maduro’s inner in January 2017, and he assumed within its own ranks. police units. ary Citgo , had been minister and PDVSA president, for a year knowing he was ill,” Ra- circle, noting that the industry the dual role of PDVSA president “They were here to rein- On Wednesday, the UN Se- transferred to a military hospital who remains jailed. fael Ramirez, a fugitive oil minis- has been under tight control of later that year, replacing del Pino. force justice, and the courts curity Council, which had set from prison because of kidney Martinez’s death will likely ter and PDVSA president under the ruling Socialist Party since He had joined PDVSA in 1980 have been shut down for two an October 15, 2019, deadline problems, two sources familiar fuel debate over the conditions late President Hugo Chavez who early in Chavez’s 14-year rule. and oversaw the company’s of- months,” Gilles said, referring for the mission to exit, will with the matter told Reuters ear- of imprisoned former politicians is wanted on corruption charges, Martinez had yet to appear fi ces in London, Argentina and to a strike launched by the Port- debate its future presence in lier. and government offi cials, who wrote on Twitter. before a judge at the time of his Ecuador before being tapped to au-Prince Bar Association. Haiti. He had a heart attack while re- in recent years have increasing- The prosecutor’s offi ce said death, and the date for his pre- lead Citgo. Cuban ballet star Official visit Fujimori appeal set for Saturday stars in own biopic AFP chief Jaime Yoshiyama, who is Lima currently in Miami recovering Reuters features in a meta-role as him- The fi lm’s emotional core is from an operation. Havana self directing his company Acos- Acosta’s complex relationship A lower court has accused ta Danza to dance those chore- with his late father who — unusu- n appeal hearing for him of “evading justice” and ographies in a Havana theatre. ally given his macho, humble mi- Peru’s jailed opposi- has ordered his arrest. or Carlos Acosta, the son The movie, scripted by Briton lieu — sent him to ballet school to Ation leader Keiko Fu- Fujimori wrote on Twitter of a black truck driver in Paul Laverty and directed by keep him out of trouble. jimori against her 36-month that after 43 days in jail, “I have FCommunist-run Cuba, Spaniard Iciar Bollain, received Acosta’s father then intuited sentence has been set for Sat- just received the news that my overcoming poverty, prejudice fi ve nominations for the Spanish he could be a great dancer and urday, judicial authorities an- family and I have been waiting and politics to become a global “Goya” awards on Wednesday. pushed him to “follow his star. nounced. for all this time: this Saturday ballet legend, write a best-sell- Political at times, Yuli re- But as a child, Acosta wanted Fujimori was jailed on Oc- 15th is the appeal hearing.” ing memoir and create his own fl ects the universal suff ering of to be a footballer. tober 31 pending the outcome In another message, she dance company was not enough. Cuban families divided by exile The fi lm also evokes racism in of a multimillion-dollar cor- called on the court to revoke The 45-year-old, who won fame and struggling to get by when Cuba and abroad. ruption probe that has rocked her sentence, saying it was the as a teen for his athleticism and the country went through a deep Acosta’s fair-skinned moth- Peruvian politics. result of “a process full of ex- virtuosity, this week presented a economic crisis following the fall er’s family rejects him because Prosecutors have accused cesses and abuses” by her op- movie about his rags-to-riches life of former ally the Soviet Union. of his skin colour, which also a total of 11 people linked to ponents. at Havana’s annual fi lm fest that The movie, which had its in- heightens his self-doubt when Fujimori’s Popular Force party “I maintain the hope that moved audiences to laugh, weep ternational premiere at the San he seeks to break into the white of running “a criminal organi- the superior instances, with and thunderously applaud. Sebastian fi lm festival in Sep- world of international ballet. sation” in order to raise illicit greater objectivity and expe- “This is a Cuban story, so it’s tember, evokes how hard it could Acosta said he hoped his funding for her 2011 presiden- rience of judicial power, can not my story only,” Acosta said in be for artists like Acosta to get story of success would inspire tial campaign. correct so many irregularities an interview. Cuban government permission hope in an oftentimes dark Seven of those, including Fu- that no one should suff er in a “Yuli” uniquely blends a fi c- to work abroad, often key to world. jimori, are in pre-trial detention. state of law,” she wrote. tionalised account of Acosta’s them being able to forge a career. His autobiography No Way “We will be looking for jus- The eldest daughter of dis- life based on his memoir No Way But Yuli also celebrates the Home was published in 2007 tice to prevail,” Fujimori’s law- graced ex-president Alberto Home with archive footage of Cuban education system that in Europe but is still not avail- yer Giuliana Loza in a tweet. Fujimori, 43-year-old Keiko is the news and him dancing, and provided free ballet training to able yet in Cuba; critics say that Montenegro’s President Milo Djukanovic (left) and his Judicial authorities an- accused of accepting $1.2mn original choreographies repre- the descendent of slaves from is because it includes passages Paraguayan counterpart Mario Abdo Benitez shake hands at nounced the appeal for Sat- in illicit party funding from senting chapters of his past. a rundown neighbourhood and deemed unfl attering to the ma- Presidential Palace in Asuncion during Djukanovic’s off icial urday in a message on Twitter. Brazilian construction giant The 45-year-old, who retired features a choreography blasting triarch of Cuban ballet, Alicia visit to Paraguay. The court will also hear the Odebrecht for her 2011 presi- from the Royal Ballet in 2015, US imperialism. Alonso. appeal of her former campaign dential campaign. Gulf Times 12 Friday, December 14, 2018

Buddha statue PM agrees to off er chair features in Swiss of top panel to Shehbaz exhibition Internews/Agencies the PAC, but the opposition was Internews Islamabad of the view that past traditions Peshawar of the National Assembly should be honoured. he federal government led During the meeting, the he Peshawar Museum by Prime Minister Im- record of the PAC pending au- has loaned a monumental Tran Khan has conceded dit paras was also sought, and TBuddha statue to the Ri- the chairmanship of Public Ac- according to data, the audit etberg Museum in Zurich, Swit- counts Committee (PAC) to Op- paras of the year 2016-17 were zerland, for exhibition for three position Leader Shehbaz Sharif, pending before the PAC, while and a half months. almost three months after a the audit paras of fi nancial year The sculpture Buddha stalemate over the key position. 2017-18 were yet not presented Shakyamuni, which is over 3.5m The PAC is considered to be before the PAC. high and weighs almost two the most powerful and impor- The opposition in the meet- tonnes, will be the main high- tant committee of the Parlia- ing proposed that Opposition light at the Next Stop Nirvana ment. Leader Shehbaz Sharif will not Approaches to Buddhism exhibit The government had long preside over those PAC meetings in Zurich, from December 12 to stuck to its stance that the op- in which the audit paras of the March 31, according to an offi cial position should come up with PML-N government of fi nancial statement. any name other than Sharif for Shehbaz Sharif: credited the prime minister for ‘reviewing his year 2016-17 and 2017-18 will Estimated to have been cre- the chairmanship, but the oppo- stance’. come for examination, as it had ated between the fi rst and third sition was of the view that past been done in the past. century, the sculpture was exca- traditions of the National As- made every eff ort to resolve the as one vote in the committee, However, the government vated in 1909-10 from the Sahri sembly should be honoured. impasse. in which government members representatives in the meeting Bahlol village near the World However, the breakthrough Sharif said he appreciated the would still be in majority. did not agree with the opposi- Heritage site of Takht-i-Bhai in came after Federal Minister for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) On Wednesday, the Speak- tion, insisting that the opposi- Mardan district. Defence Pervaiz Khattak and government’s gesture, saying er Qaiser held a meeting with tion should show fl exibility on It has been on exhibition in Minister of State for Parliamen- that chairmanship of the PAC members of the opposition and this issue. Peshawar Museum since its ex- tary Aff airs Ali Mohamed Khan has been traditionally off ered to government representatives to The PAC is the apex parlia- cavation. met with Sharif in his chambers the leader of the opposition. fi nd a way out of the impasse. mentary watchdog that over- This is the fi rst time that this earlier yesterday. He credited the prime min- The meeting failed to reach con- sees the audit of revenue and 2,000-year-old Buddha sculp- Khattak confi rmed the deci- ister for “reviewing his stance”, sensus. expenditure by the government, ture has been sent out of the sion, saying that it was taken recognising that “the govern- The meeting presided by and is considered to be the most country. in the best interest to allow the ment wants to make this parlia- Qaisar was attended by former powerful and important com- The Buddha sculpture is a House to continue functioning. : conceded in the larger interest of democracy and ment functional as it wants to NA speaker Sadiq, the PML-N’s mittee of the parliament. prime example of the fusion be- Foreign Minister Shah Meh- parliamentary norms. bring important legislation for Rana Tanveer and Rana Sanaul- Previously, the PAC com- tween Indian and Greek art. mood Qureshi later said that the the welfare of the people”. lah Khan, and the Pakistan Peo- prised only members of the Na- It represents a unique work Prime Minister Khan conceded Earlier, National Assembly House to function eff ectively. Pakistan Muslim League – ples Party (PPP)’s Syed Naveed tional Assembly, but recently not only due to its size but also in the larger interest of democ- Speaker Asad Qaiser called on He said the matter remained Nawaz (PML-N) leader and Qamar, while government was members of Senate have also its quality, because it has sur- racy and parliamentary norms. the prime minister and discussed still stuck on the issue of ap- former National Assembly represented by Defence Minister been made part of it. vived the time almost without He said the government is matters pertaining to legislation pointment of Leader of the Op- speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq fe- Khattak, Finance Minister Asad Although there is no restric- damage. now leaving the decision to and constituting standing com- position as chairman of the PAC. licitated the prime minister and Umar, and Minister of State for tion on the government in the In 2017, the Swiss embassy Sharif to nominate a person of mittees in the Lower House. Qureshi pointed out that termed the decision as his “most Parliamentary Aff airs Mohamed rules to off er the chairmanship and the Swiss Agency for De- his choice, adding that should Qureshi and Khattak were also Sharif is embroiled in a number positive U-turn”. Khan. of the PAC to opposition par- velopment and Co-operation the opposition leader deems present at the meeting. of National Accountability Bu- “If he continues to take such The government side had ties, it has been a parliamentary initiated contacts between Riet- himself appropriate for the post Addressing the National As- reau cases, which were not fi led U-turns, democracy will be stuck to its stance that the oppo- practice and tradition that the berg Museum and the Pakistan of chairman of the powerful par- sembly, Qureshi said that the by the government. strengthened,” he said. sition should have come up with offi ce is given to an opposition government, which resulted in liamentary committee, the gov- constitution of the parliamen- The foreign minister said that Sadiq pointed out that PAC any other name except Shehbaz member to ensure transparency signing of a memorandum of ernment will not object to it. tary committees is key for the despite this, the government had chairmanship would only count Sharif for the chairmanship of in fi nancial matters. understanding (MoU) between department of archaeology and museums and the Rietberg Mu- seum in Zurich in March this year. Under this MoU, Peshawar Museum agreed to loan the Bud- Bushra Manika is Pakistan’s dha statue to Rietberg Museum. Teacher abducted most googled person in 2018 over ‘eve-teasing’ Bahauddin Zakariya University Internews US actress Duchess of Sussex the fi rst celebrity in the enter- Minister Khan’s new Economic (BZU) students allegedly Karachi Meghan Markle, singer and ac- tainment industry to accuse Advisory Council due to mount- kidnapped a university lecturer tor Meesha Shafi , and journalist another celebrity, Ali Zafar, of ing pressures from religio-polit- for “eve-teasing” but released him . sexual harassment. ical groups. later on the intervention of the oogle has released its Although the fi rst lady has Meanwhile, as per the Google The other political personality varsity administration. “Year in Search” lists, been making the headlines data, people searched Reham on the list was Pakistan Muslim The BZU administration said Grevealing the top most throughout the year, accord- Khan the most during June when League – Nawaz leader Hanif Searches related to Meesha Shafi spiked after she became the first that Department of Agriculture searched people, news and ing to Google’s data, the most her biography came out. Abbasi, who was sentenced to celebrity in the entertainment industry to accuse another celebrity, Forestry lecturer Wasif Nauman events in Pakistan for the outgo- number of searches in her name Among the other top 10 per- life imprisonment in the long- Ali Zafar, of sexual harassment. Ansari went missing on ing year. was recorded between Janu- sonalities trending in Pakistan, running ephedrine quota case in Wednesday. According to the Internet ary and February, during the two political leaders also made it July. the 10th most googled person of The top Pakistani search trend His family reportedly came to search engine, Prime Minister time rumours of her marriage to the list. Indian actress Sonali Ben- the year. was Pakistan versus New Zea- know that six people abducted Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Man- with Imran Khan were doing the Ranked at the seventh spot, dre was the sixth most searched The search engine also re- land series, followed by the Fifa him at gunpoint as he was on his ika remained the most trending rounds. search related to economist Atif personality, while Pakistani TV vealed that seven of its top 10 World Cup, Pakistan vs Australia way home. person in the country for the Searches related to Meesha Mian spiked in September af- actress Iqra Aziz ninth and In- Pakistani trends for the outgoing series, Pakistan Super League The agriculture department year 2018, followed by former Shafi spiked after she became ter he was removed from Prime dian actress Sunny Leone was year were sports-related. and Brisbane Asia Cup. students said that the lecturer was allegedly involved in “eve- teasing” students. Eve-teasing is a south Asian All in a day’s work euphemism for making of unwanted sexual remarks or VOA protests move advances by a man to a woman in to block its content a public place. Cancer hospital S public radio Voice with the message: “The page for Islamabad of America (VOA) has you are trying to view cannot Ucalled for Pakistan to be shown because the authen- The government has decided to lift a block on two of its web- ticity of the received data could establish the first state-of-the-art sites, in Urdu and Pashto, as not be verifi ed.” cancer hospital in Islamabad. concerns grow over freedom of Information Minister Fawad The decision was taken at a speech in the country. Chaudhry told VOA that the meeting chaired by Prime “In the interest of press block was in place due to “false Minister Imran Khan in the freedom, VOA calls upon those and prejudiced reporting”. Prime Minister’s Off ice on responsible for blocking our “The stories they were do- health reforms being taken in content to immediately re- ing were only projecting a Islamabad, Punjab, and Khyber move these constraints,” said particular narrative without Pakhtunkhwa. Amanda Bennett, the director any impartial view,” he said, The health secretary briefed the of VOA, in a statement to AFP. according to a story published meeting about the health action “Any attempt to block our by VOA on its English language plan and said for the last 55 years, websites deprives Urdu and site. “There are many things Islamabad’s hospitals have had Pashto speakers in the re- happening in our country and only 2,000 beds. gion access to a trusted news most are positive.” He said under the new Capital source,” she continued, add- In the article VOA blamed Health Strategy, the capacity ing that the organisation was the penalty on its coverage of A farmer is seen in a mustard field on the outskirts of Lahore. would be doubled to 4,000 beds “troubled” by the block. the Pashtun Protection Move- in five years. The VOA Urdu website has ment (PTM), a civil rights been partially or fully blocked group which has rattled the since early December and the powerful Pakistani military site for VOA Deewa, the Pashto with its claims of army abuses language service, since late and accusations of ties to the October, she said. Afghan Taliban. Supreme Court orders private schools to cut fee by 20% The websites have been ir- Recently, the military regularly accessible in Islama- warned the PTM that it will bad in recent days. use force against them if they Internews A three-member bench head- general, and the chairman of the the summer holidays within two approved by a regulatory board, Attempts to access the VOA “cross the line”. Islamabad ed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). months. the court order stated. website shows an alert that In January, Radio Free Eu- Saqib Nisar heard a suo motu According to the interim or- The Supreme Court also In any case, any increase in the reads: “Secure Connection rope/Radio Liberty’s Pash- case against tuition fee hikes by der issued by the apex court, all barred private schools from in- fee cannot be more than 8%, it Failed. to-language station – Radio he Supreme Court has private schools. private schools charging above creasing the annual fee by more added. The connection to www. Mashaal, or Torch – was closed ordered private schools The hearing was attended by Rs5,000 monthly will have to cut than 5%. The interim order further stat- urduvoa.com was interrupted for airing content “against the Tacross the country to cut the lawyer representing the pri- the fee by 20%, and return or ad- Any hike of more than 5% in ed that owners cannot shut down while the page was loading, interest of Pakistan”. their monthly fee by 20%. vate schools, the deputy auditor just half of the fee charged over the school fee would have to be their schools. Gulf Times Friday, December 14, 2018 13 THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH Gratitude earns more favours from Allah ratitude is the greatest way to live hearts and limbs. Additionally, this verse for those who possess high ranks of clarifi es that the pleasure of Allah is achieved righteousness, and such people did by being grateful to Him. Gnot reach these lofty ranks except zAllah did not make the reward for the through their gratitude; this is because belief is grateful subject to any condition, as He did for comprised of two halves: one half is gratitude other acts of worship, which He conditioned to and the other is perseverance. His will; rather, Allah immediately mentions Gratitude is to acknowledge being treated their reward; He Says (what means): “…And well by Allah; it is also to praise the One who Allah will reward the grateful.” [Qur’an 3: 144] has done one many favours. It also entails and also (what means): “…And We will reward displaying the eff ect of the favours of Allah the grateful.” [Qur’an 3: 145] upon a person by believing with one’s heart, zAllah informs us that one of Satan’s uttering praise and glorifi cations of Allah primary objectives is to prevent humans from by one’s tongue, and to use one’s limbs in being grateful; He Says (what means): “[Satan the worship and obedience of Allah. If only said] ‘Then I will come to them from before a few favours are worthy of a great deal of them and from behind them and on their right gratitude, how would the case be when favours and on their left, and You [i.e., Allah] will not are abundant? People are either grateful or fi nd most of them grateful [to You].” [Qur’an ungrateful. 7: 17] zAllah describes His grateful slaves to be few Gratitude holds a high rank in Islam: in number; He Says (what means): “…And few zAllah parallels it with His mention. He of My servants are grateful.” [Qur’an 34: 13] The Says (what means): “So remember Me; I will reason being that many people enjoy blessings remember you. And be grateful to Me and do and bounties from Allah, but fail to practice not deny Me”. [Qur’an 2: 152] gratitude to Allah. zAllah parallels it with belief. He Says (what zAllah praised the fi rst prophet sent to man means): “What would Allah do with [i.e., gain on earth, Prophet Nooh, ‘alaihi-s-salaam, from] your punishment if you are grateful and due to him being grateful. Allah Says (what believe?...” [Qur’an 4: 147] Meaning, if you fulfi l means): “O descendants of those We carried [in the rights due to Allah and the reason for which the ship] with Noah. Indeed, he was a grateful He has created you by gratitude and belief, He servant.” [Qur’an 17: 3] This is as an indication will not punish you. that we should imitate him . zThose who practise gratitude to Allah are zGratitude is the fi rst instruction given to those who are chosen to be granted His favours. man as soon as he begins to comprehend. Allah He Says (what means): “And thus We have tried Says (what means): “And We have enjoined some of them through others that they [i.e., the upon man [care] for his parents. His mother disbelievers] might say, ‘Is it these whom Allah carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon has favoured among us?’ Is not Allah most weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be knowing of those who are grateful?” [Qur’an grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the 6: 53] [fi nal] destination.” [Qur’an 31: 14] zAllah has classifi ed people into being either zAllah specifi ed it as one of the main grateful or ungrateful; the worst matter in the qualities of a person who sets himself as a scale of Allah is ingratitude whilst the dearest good example for others to follow. He says things to Him are gratitude and the grateful. regarding Prophet, Ibraaheem ‘alaihi-s-salaam, Allah Says (what means): “Indeed, We guided (what means): “Indeed, Ibraaheem was a him [i.e., man] to the way, be he grateful or [comprehensive] leader, devoutly obedient to „Gratitude results in more favours from 2) To utilise these favors in His obedience. well as utilising these favors for the pleasure of ungrateful” [Qur’an 76: 3] Allah, inclining toward truth, and he was not of Allah. People fall into three categories with regards Allah. zAllah tests His slaves in order to see who will those who associate others with Allah. [He was] Gratitude is having one’s heart devoted to to the favours from Allah: What is our duty towards Allah with regards practise gratitude and who will not. Allah informs grateful for His favours. He [i.e., Allah] chose loving the One bestowing the favors, having 1. Those who are grateful and praise Allah to the favours He bestows upon us? us about what Prophet Sulaymaan, ‘alaihi-s- him and guided him to a straight path.” [Qur’an the limbs continuously obedient to Him and for bestowing them upon them. „ Being submissive to Allah. salaam, said when He Says (what means): “…This 16: 120-121] having the tongue repeatedly mentioning Him, 2. Those who are ungrateful and do not „Loving Allah. is from the favour of my Lord to test me whether Therefore, gratitude is one of the objectives praising Him and glorifying Him. Gratitude mention them. „Acknowledging that He is the Bestower of I will be grateful or ungrateful. And whoever is that man is commanded to accomplish. entails the following three things: 3. Those who express that they are worthy all favours. grateful – his gratitude is only for [the benefi t of] Imaam ibn Al-Qayyim mentioned that 1. One should realise the favours bestowed of them, when in fact they certainly are not. „Praising Him. himself. And whoever is ungrateful – then indeed gratitude is one of the ranks of belief, which can upon him and have it present in his mind An-Nu’maan ibn Al-Basheer, radhiallah „Utilising these favors in a way that pleases my Lord is Free of need and Generous.” [Qur’an be extracted from the fi fth verse of Surah Al- constantly, because this leads him to remember ‘anhu, said: “He who does not thank Allah Him. 27: 40] Faatihah, (what means): “It is You we worship the Bestower of favors and therefore being for small favours will not thank Him for great Does the way of expressing gratitude towards zAllah promises increased favours for those and You we ask for help.” Then he mentioned grateful to and loving Allah, who is of course ones; and he who does not express gratitude to Allah diff er, just like the favours themselves who are grateful. He Says (what means): “And the following additional points regarding the Bestower of favours. This would therefore people (for doing him favours) will not express diff er? [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If gratitude: make one exert more eff ort in worshipping gratitude towards Allah. Appreciating and Yes; gratitude can be expressed by the heart, you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in „ It is one of the highest ranks of belief. Allah. mentioning the favour bestowed upon one from the tongue and the limbs. favour]; but if you deny, indeed My punishment „ It is higher than the rank of contentment; 2. One should receive favours with humility Allah is gratitude, and not doing so expresses Expressing gratitude by the heart: This is is severe.’” [Qur’an 14: 7] and nobody can be content without being and express his need to Allah, the Bestower of ingratitude.” [Ahmad] by knowing that Allah is the Bestower of these zAllah loves gratitude and the deeds of grateful. favours, and mention that he is unworthy of the This should be done in front of people and favours, and this is something that is very the grateful. He Says (what means): “If you „ Allah praises the grateful. favors bestowed upon him, and that it is only between a person and himself (i.e., to himself) important when cultivating children, so that disbelieve – indeed, Allah is Free from need of „Allah promises the grateful the best of due to the Grace and Kindness of Allah that but if people are of the envious type, then one they know where favors come from, as Allah you. And He does not approve for His servants rewards. such favors were bestowed. should conceal such favors, and he would not Says (what means): “O Mankind, remember the disbelief. And if you are grateful, He approves „Allah makes gratitude a reason for attaining 3. One should praise Allah, the Bestower of be ungrateful in this case, because he is simply favour of Allah upon you. Is there any creator [i.e., likes] it for you…” [Qur’an 39: 7] more of His bounties. favours, and this is done in two ways: concealing them in an attempt to prevent an other than Allah who provides for you from the The grateful people mentioned in the verse „It is a means to preserve the favors of Allah 1) Generally: To describe Allah as being evil from befalling him, such as an evil eye or heaven and the earth? There is no deity except are those who remain steadfast upon belief upon a person. generous and kind. an evil plot from the envious, and it must be Him, so how are you deluded?” [Qur’an 35: 3] during trials and who do not retreat or recant „It is one of the main objectives that a slave 2) Specifi cally: To mention His favours upon known that to prevent harm from affl icting Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/ on their belief. Some people verbally thank must accomplish. one. man is an objective set forth by the Islamic emainpage/ Allah during times of ease, but during trials „It is extracted from Ash-Skakoor, which is There are two points regarding the issue Shari’ah. they give up their faith. The truly grateful are one of the Names of Allah, and which implies of mentioning and talking about favors from There is no way one can do anything to repay those who express the true condition of their gratitude. Allah: the favours bestowed upon him by Allah, except hearts during trials by remaining steadfast and „Those who are grateful are very few in 1) To mention all that Allah Has bestowed that he should continue to praise and thank continuing to thank Allah by their tongues, number. upon one. Allah for having bestowed them upon him, as Gratitude: recognising Allah’s favours

gain, knowing and because Allah says (what means): “And or sneeze, he would praise Allah and thanks people and abandons thanking from Allah, because no one can husbands. If being ungrateful to one’s recognising the favours, as whatever you have of Favour – it is thank him. Allah; this is a great disaster. do enough deeds to appropriately husband results in punishment in Hell, well as their source, is the from Allah…” [Qur’an 16: 53] „On one of the nights when it was Additionally, there is a diff erence express gratitude to Allah for what how will the case be for those who are Ainitial step and it precedes Expressing gratitude by the tongue: the turn of ‘Aa’ishah, radhiallah ‘anha, in the manner in which one thanks He bestowed upon us. The solution ungrateful to Allah? thanking Allah. Recognising favours One’s tongue refl ects what he conceals to be with him, she began looking people and thanks Allah; one should therefore is to utilise these favours and ’Umar ibn ‘Abdul-‘Azeez, radhiallah such as the favours of being able to in his heart, and thus when his heart for him in the dark by feeling around be submissive and humble whilst bounties in ways that please Allah, ‘anhu, would look at the favours of move, walk, work, exercise, sleep, eat, is overwhelmed by gratitude to Allah, with her hand, then her hand touched thanking Allah because this refl ects and to thank Him and seek His pardon Allah upon him and say: “O Allah! I etc. all branch from the great favour the tongue will naturally constantly his hands and she heard him saying: servitude, while on the other hand, for our shortcomings - and Allah will seek refuge in You from meeting Your of being healthy. The favour of being utter praise and gratitude to Allah. One “O Allah! I seek protection against one cannot do so with other humans; accept this much from us. favours with ungratefulness or denying humans; the favour of being Muslims; should ponder upon how the Prophet, Your Wrath in Your Pleasure. I seek one should instead supplicate for their „By supplicating to Allah to help them after knowing them, or forgetting the favour of being guided; the favour sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, would protection in Your Pardon against forgiveness and praise them. One who us to be grateful to Him, as in the them and not mentioning them with of being well-mannered; the favour perform Thikr, or supplications and Your punishment; I am not capable of does not thank other people is evil and prophetic supplication in which he praise (i.e., praising You).” of being a Prophet (when it applies for remembrance of Allah, to see how much enumerating praise of You. You are as it is unlikely that he would thank Allah taught Mu’aath, radhiallah ‘anhu, to It is also recommended that one those whom Allah Has chosen) are also gratitude and praise they contained; You have lauded Yourself”. and express gratitude towards Him. say: “O Allah! Help me remember You, prostrates whenever he receives great ones to refl ect on. „Whenever he, sallallaahu ‘alaihi Expressing gratitude by the limbs: Moreover, favours and bounties from express gratitude to You and worship news about a new favour or bounty This issue is very important to wa sallam, woke up, he would say: “All Any righteous deed or act of obedience Allah are preserved and even increase You in the best manner.” from Allah, as was the practice of mention when calling people towards praise is due to Allah, Who has brought which the son of Aadam performs is by one being grateful, but what is it It is more virtuous to be grateful when the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa Allah. Allah repeatedly reminds us in us back to life after He has caused us to a form of expressing his gratitude to that helps a person to be grateful? blessed with a favour than to persevere sallam. Likewise, when Abu Bakr, diff erent parts of the Qur’an of His die, and to Him is the return.” Allah, the Lord. There are diff erent zBy observing the condition of when one is affl icted. Allah loves to see radhiallah ‘anhu, received the news that favours upon us. He says (what means): „Whenever he, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa means of performing gratitude of those who are lower than you in status, the eff ects of His favours. Once, Imraan Musaylamah the liar (who claimed to “…And [He] subjected for you the ships sallam, would retire to bed, he would the limbs; one of which is when one and to remember when seeing those ibn Husayn came out wearing a fi ne be a prophet after the death of Prophet to sail for you through the sea by His say: “All Praise is due to Allah who has practices the instruction of Prophet who are higher than you in standard garment, and when he saw how his Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa command and subjected for you the fed us, provided us with drink, satisfi ed Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa that it is only by the decree of Allah. friends were looking at him, he said: “The sallam, was killed, he went down into rivers. And He subjected for you the sun us and given us protection. Many are sallam, when he said: “When you Allah says (what means): “And it is He Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, prostration. Ka’b ibn Maalik, radhiallah and the moon, continuous [in orbit], those who have no one to provide for get up in the morning, charity is who has made you successors upon the said: “Allah loves to see the eff ect of His ‘anhu, also prostrated when he was and subjected for you the night and them or give them shelter.” due from every one of your joints. earth and has raised some of you above Bounties on His slaves.” given the good news of forgiveness from the day. And He gave you from all you „Some of his regular morning and There is charity in every ascription others in degrees [of rank] that He may The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi Allah after he failed to participate in a asked of Him. And if you should count evening supplications were: “O Allah! of glory to Allah; there is charity in try you through what He has given wa sallam, said: “Eat, drink and give battle. On the other hand, this should the favour [i.e., blessings] of Allah, you Whatever favour I, or any of Your every declaration of His Greatness; you.” [Qur’an 6: 165] out in charity without arrogance or not be a daily practice, but rather, it could not enumerate them. Indeed, creation has, is solely from You; there there is charity in every utterance zBy realising that one will be held exaggeration, because Allah loves to see should only be done when one receives mankind is [generally] most unjust and is no partner with You; All praise and of praise of Him; there is charity in accountable for these favours, as the eff ect of His Bounties on His slave.” good news or a new favour. ungrateful.” [Qur’an 14: 32-34] gratitude is due to You.” every declaration that He is the only Allah says (what means): “Then you Therefore, the limit when expressing and An example of a new favour or good There are many other verses in the „He, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, true God (worthy of worship); there will surely be asked that Day about showing the eff ect of the favours from news is the incident when one of the Qur’an in which Allah reminds us of would ask forgiveness saying: “I seek is charity in enjoining good; there is [worldly] pleasure”. [Qur’an 102: 8] Allah on oneself is to neither be boastful Salaf who was hiding from Al-Hajjaaj, the favours that He has bestowed upon refuge in You from the evil of what I charity in forbidding evil. Two Rak’as Even for bounties as seemingly minor and proud, nor to exaggerate. prostrated when he received the news of us. One way of calling people towards have done. I acknowledge the favours of Dhuhaa (i.e., forenoon prayer) is as cold water. Some people, due to Allah hates a Kanood, or an his death, because the death of a tyrant Allah is to remind them of the favours that You have bestowed upon me, and I equal to all this (in reward).” their misunderstanding of the concept ungrateful person, and punishes is a great bounty and favour from Allah. of Allah upon them, so that they may confess my sins, so forgive me.” Thus, any of the things mentioned in of gratitude, deprive themselves from him. Imaam Al-Hasan, radhiallah Also, the news of having a new baby, be grateful and not to be amongst those „All his supplications would begin the above narration is a righteous deed enjoying them, whereas in fact they ‘anhu, said: “A Kanood, is one who or a Muslim victory over the infi dels, about whom Allah says (what means): with the praise of Allah, which He is which refl ects gratitude to Allah. One were bestowed upon us to enjoy. Allah remembers the disasters which befall warrants such a prostration to be made. “…And Allah is full of bounty to the very worthy of. should exert all eff orts to thank Allah using says (what means): “…Eat from the him and always forgets to mention the Imaam Ibn Al-Qayyim said: “The people, but most of the people do not „He, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, all his limbs and should never feel that he good [i.e., lawful] things which We favours from Allah (upon him).” This religion consists of two halves; one show gratitude.” [Qur’an 2: 243] would begin all his speeches by has thanked Allah enough, or that he does have provided for you and be grateful quality is more apparent in women; for half is represented by gratitude and the Some people attribute favours to praising Allah. not need to do it again the next day. to Allah if it is [indeed] Him that you example, a woman’s husband is kind to other half is by perseverance.” Scholars other than the actual source, like „The opening supplication There is no contradiction between worship.” [Qur’an 2:172] her for many years, but as soon as she have disputed regarding who is better, Qaaroon, who said when he was for prayer, Surah Al-Faatihah, thanking people and being grateful Thus, gratitude cannot entail experiences a minor shortcoming from a rich person who is grateful, or a poor reminded of the favours of Allah upon supplications whilst bowing and to Allah, because Allah commands us deeming lawful matters as prohibited, him, she will immediately tell him that person who is patient, but it seems him (which means): “…I was only prostrating, and his supplications after to thank and reward those who do us which is one of the principles of the she has never seen anything good from that it is best for the rich person to be given it because of the knowledge I concluding his prayers, were all fi lled favours, the foremost of them being one’s Sufi s. If gratitude was a precondition him. This is a form of oppressing the grateful, and for the poor to persevere. have’…” [Qur’an 28: 78] It is arrogance with praise and gratitude to Allah. parents, as Allah says (what means): “… of enjoying the bounties of Allah, husband, and thus the majority of the that leads to such a reaction, which „Whenever he, sallallaahu ‘alaihi Be grateful to Me and to your parents…” then nobody would have been able to dwellers of Hell are women, the reason Article source: http://www.islamweb. results in misery for such people, wa sallam, wished to eat, drink, travel [Qur’an 31: 14] The problem is when one enjoy any of the favours or bounties being that they are ungrateful to their net/emainpage/ Gulf Times 14 Friday, December 14, 2018 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Qatar reaffi rms its support to eff orts to tackle climate change

Qatar has reaffi rmed the need for the global community to commit to the articles of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It has also stressed the importance of providing the needed support, whether fi nancial or technological, to developing countries to build capacities that help them face the phenomena. This came in the speech of the Assistant Undersecretary for Environment Aff airs at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment Ahmed Mohamed al-Sada, during the second part of the high-level segment at the Climate Change Conference, currently being held in Katowice, Poland. The revolution On the sidelines of the conference, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment organised diff erent presentations for various entities inside and outside Qatar. The presentations aimed at highlighting the national eff orts and the State’s projects for clean and effi cient energy, how to tackle climate change, decrease carbon footprint and Europe needs co-operate with external entities to serve such projects in the future. to our societies will also require deep For example, with a European army joint budget, the eurozone would be far Senior Research Director for Energy at Qatar Environment By Guy Verhofstadt Strasbourg reform. serving as an autonomous pillar within more resilient in the event of another and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Dr Veronica A common populist criticism of Nato, the EU would no longer have to fi nancial crisis. Bermudez, presented the ways to use solar energy in Qatar. the EU is that it functions opaquely defer to the US on security decisions. Until Europe gets serious about She also presented the State’s vision to diversify income and he spontaneous street protests and often incomprehensibly. Yet, if With a single European digital market, economic reforms, our economy will reduce reliance on non-renewable energy. in Paris over the past month anything, the EU tends to be rather European alternatives to Google, continue to underperform structurally Manager of Conservation and Energy Effi ciency come almost exactly 50 years weak in the face of global challenges. Facebook, Amazon, Samsung, and vis-à-vis the rest of the world. Since 2010, the average annual growth rate in Department at Qatar General Electricity and Water Tafter the mass revolt of May Contrary to populists’ claims of Huawei could fi nally emerge. And with 1968. But that is not to say the two overreach, European institutions a European border patrol and coast the euro area has been 1.3%, compared Corporation (Kahramaa), Engineer Abdul Aziz al-Hamadi, events are comparable. almost always do “too little, too late.” guard, Europeans would be far less to 2.3% in the United States. presented the corporation’s project on generating renewable Les événements de mai 1968 was That must change, and radically so. reliant on Turkey, Russia, and others This gap represents €1.2tn ($1.4tn) energy from an anarchist uprising by students and We need to make the EU far more when it comes to managing migration from 2010-2018, or approximately solar cells and workers against the traditionalism and democratic, transparent, and eff ective fl ows. €500bn lost in terms of tax revenue. Qatar has many plans its plan to rely apparent authoritarianism of President – which is to say, more sovereign – than Of course, controlling our borders For France alone, this amounts to €10 on solar energy . Today’s “Yellow it is today. does not mean closing ourselves off billion every year – the budgetary cost which support the Vests,” by contrast, have eschewed This does not require us to reinvent from the outside world. Europe will of what Macron recently proposed by more than intellectual and political debate, and the wheel. We need only return to the always need to engage with other to meet the Yellow Vests’ original preservation of the 20% by 2030. quickly degenerated into a rioting mob. ideas of Europe’s founding fathers: Jean powers. But it must do so from a demands. He revealed What started as a decent, middle- Monnet, Paul-Henri Spaak, Robert position of strength. The uprising that Europe needs will environment and that Qatar has class protest against a new tax on diesel Schuman, Alcide de Gasperi, and If the EU can rediscover its not happen in the streets of Paris or taken the lead fuel has been hijacked by professional others. These leaders had a clear vision democratic potential, the alt-right will Brussels, but within the EU’s paralysed reduce reliance on in the region thugs and extremists railing against of a simpler yet stronger Union, led not no longer have grounds on which to institutions. For more than fi ve in this area migrants, the European Union, and by a 28-member commission, but by launch attacks against international decades, power within Europe has been hydrocarbon energy French President Emmanuel Macron. a real government with 12 ministers. co-operation and multilateralism. In a divided between conservatives and and has many “Paris is burning,” gloated Steve They would have allowed Europeans to more democratic Europe, citizens who socialists who, collectively, have failed plans and strategies which support the preservation of the Bannon, US President Donald Trump’s vote directly for a parliament with full took to the streets would do so not to to address the challenges of the day. environment and reduce reliance on hydrocarbon energy. populist former consigliere, at a recent competencies and legislative authority, scapegoat migrants and journalists, It is time to leave the European He spoke about the electric car project in the country and appearance alongside Marine Le Pen of and without the system of unanimity but to demand solutions for the real talking shop behind us. The current the facilities off ered by Kahramaa to encourage the use of the far-right National Rally (formerly that has allowed rogue member states challenges we face. era demands action. In the May such initiatives that protect the environment in Qatar. the National Front). such as Hungary to tie the entire bloc’s Before it was co-opted, the yellow 2019 European Parliament election, Head of the climate change department at the Ministry of According to Bannon, “The yellow hands. vest movement was based on a genuine “Generation Europe” can break the old vests … are exactly the same type of Above all, we must not equate liberal concern about economic security. The political order and take the revolution Municipality and Environment, Abdulhadi Nasser al-Marri, people who elected Donald Trump … democracy with the status quo, which lesson for all EU member states is that out of the streets and into the hallways presented the department’s projects, the contents of the and who voted for Brexit.” all but ensures slow, arduous decision- we must shore up our national social- of European democracy. – Project reports prepared by the department related to the UNFCCC Worse still, the extremist activism making. If the EU suddenly were to security systems, while moving forward Syndicate and the link between its articles and the results of the reports has already spread to neighbouring make collective decisions by simple on EU-level reforms. With a full- which confi rm that Qatar commits to the articles. Belgium and the Netherlands, which majority, the problems confronting fl edged banking union, citizens’ savings zGuy Verhofstadt, a former Belgian Head of pollution prevention and control department at now have Yellow Vest movements of it would no longer seem intractable. would be secured, and taxpayers would prime minister, is President of the Qatar Petroleum (QP), Yousef Ahmad al-Hussaini, presented their own. Europe would fi nally be able to stand not end up on the hook for private- Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for the Al Shaheen initiative of QP, the fi rst national services And in Italy, Matteo Salvini, the on its own and address its citizens’ sector profl igacy. And with a complete Europe Group (ALDE) in the European xenophobic interior minister, has concerns. monetary union and an autonomous Parliament. provider in Qatar’s energy sector, which is part of the Clean capitalised on the riots to launch a Development Mechanism and globally registers Qatar’s broadside against Macron’s policies. name. Al Shaheen aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions Never mind that Italy is in even more in Qatar. desperate need of a Macron-style Director at Qatar Foundation’s Health, Safety and reform agenda than France. Environment (HSSE), Mohamed Bakhamis, touched on The fact that alt-right agitators are Qatar Foundation Tram and presented a brief account of the using the Yellow Vest movement as a platform to spew hate and lies should foundation’s initiatives regarding its commitment to local worry all Europeans. In one way or and global environmental standards. another, many of today’s populist Head of Aviation Environmental Protection at Qatar parties and movements draw fi nancial Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA), Rachid Rahim, talked support from the Kremlin. about carbon air compensation and mitigation plan for There is a growing body of evidence international aviation. He also spoke about Qatar Airways’ to suggest that the ’s commitment to the global standards with regard to using 2016 Brexit referendum was infl uenced by “dark money” from Russia. And best types of aircraft. Russian trolls have continued to foment In addition, he spoke about the company’s plan to off set Islamophobic hatred across Western carbon emissions from aircraft, and Hamad International Europe. Airport’s interest in the environment and its initiatives The alt-right has been highly which reduce carbon footprints in the country. successful at exploiting people’s fears to undermine global solutions for global challenges such as migration and climate change. To Advertise For those struggling to make ends meet, right-wing messaging about [email protected] refugees and migrants taking jobs Display and destroying European culture can resonate powerfully. 44466621 44418811 And for rural households facing slightly higher fuel taxes, it is Classified convenient to believe that climate 44466609 44418811 change is just a hoax propagated by political elites and “the media.” Subscription A countermovement against such disinformation is long past due. The [email protected] fi rst step in stemming the populist, Eurosceptic tide is to tell the truth and point out the lies. But let us not be Protesters wear yellow vests as they demonstrate in Langon, near Bordeaux, France, on December 11. The ‘Yellow Vests’ or © 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved naive. Countering the alt-right threat ‘Gilets Jaunes’ protests have been raging across France for over three weeks now. Gulf Times Friday, December 14, 2018 15 QATAR Vodafone Qatar HMC to mark National Day under ‘Qatar Will Remain Free’ theme

amad Medical Corpora- the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdul- cation, solidarity, and identity. tion (HMC) is preparing lah bin Hamad al-Thani, as well This unique and important occa- deploys 5G in Hto commemorate Qatar as the government of Qatar, all sion emphasises our identity and National Day with staff , pa- Qataris and expatriates, and history, embodies the ideals and tients, and visitors throughout everyone who has been com- visionary aspirations that this the week leading up to Decem- mitted to Qatar’s prosperity and country was founded on, and ber 18. worked hard to fulfi l our national pays homage to the great people Under this year’s theme ‘Qatar aspirations and ambitions.” who participated in building our Will Remain Free,’ HMC’s hospi- HE Dr al-Kuwari added that nation. Our planned celebra- Katara village tals and facilities are gearing up Qatar National Day is an occa- tions refl ect HMC’s contribution for the celebration with an ar- sion when the entire nation can to fostering a sense of national odafone Qatar has deployed its 5G network ray of cultural events and tradi- celebrate Qatar’s past achieve- identity among locals and expa- in Katara Cultural Village in time for Qa- tional activities to demonstrate ments, current successes, and triates. ” Vtar National Day Celebrations, it was an- appreciation and gratitude to HE the Minister of Public Health renew a commitment to a pros- As part of Qatar National Day nounced yesterday. the nation and its wise leader- Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari. perous and sustainable future. celebrations, staff from HMC’s “Thousands of visitors to Katara will be able to ship. The activities will show- Ali Abdulla al-Khater, chief Ambulance Service and Hamad enjoy trialling the superfast, seamless connectiv- case Qatar’s heritage and tradi- build the nation. communications offi cer at HMC Injury Prevention Programme, ity that expanded 5G coverage provides, enhancing tions, and unite the community HE the Minister of Public and chair of the Ministry of Pub- the community outreach arm of what promises to be a spectacular and unforgetta- in celebrating their pride in the Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al- lic Health’s Healthcare Commu- the Hamad Trauma Center, will ble experience,” it was explained. country. Kuwari, said, “I would like to nications Committee, said HMC be at Darb Al Saai until Decem- The news builds on the previously announced Qatar National Day brings the convey my heartfelt congratula- is looking forward to celebrating ber 20. HMC staff will educate rollout of 5G by Vodafone in key locations across nation together and showcases tions to His Highness the Amir the day with staff , patients, and the public about the key messag- the country including Al Waab, Abu Hamour, Al its history, identity, and tradi- Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- visitors. es of its ‘Know the 5 to save a life’ Aziziya, Al Mamoura, Al Rayyan Salwa Road and tions. It also pays tribute to the Thani, His Highness the Father “Every year on December 18, national awareness campaign Um Salal Mohamed. eff orts of the current and past Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa we celebrate Qatar National Day and will raise awareness about “The development highlights strong momentum leadership that have helped to al-Thani, and the His Highness in commemoration of our unifi - the importance of road safety. and progress achieved by Vodafone Qatar in build- ing out its 5G network, after switching it on in Au- gust this year,” the statement said. “As strategic telecommunications partner for the celebrations at Katara Cultural Village, the busi- Environment ministry pavilion a huge draw ness will also be playing a key role in proceedings designed to support the leadership’s vision for the by providing a wide range of activities for members country as outlined in the Qatar National Vision of the public to enjoy. 2030 and we’re deeply committed to developing “The centrepiece of these will be the “Vodafone the network, solutions and services that enhance Village” which blends the historical and modern. and improve all our lives. We invite members of the The Ministry of Municipality Much loved cultural activities such as henna demon- public to join us on Qatar National Day at Katara and Environment (MME) strations, a falcon and trainer, traditional games in the and proud to play our part in these celebrations.” pavilion at Darb Al Saai sand area, and classical cars on display all pay homage The celebrations at Katara are set to be one of received some 1,056 visitors to the rich cultural elements of Qatari heritage. the highlights that mark this year’s Qatar National in the morning session “These will be intertwined with the high-tech, Day with nine days of celebrations and more than yesterday. The visiting as visitors can partake in virtual reality gaming and 45 events and activities lined up until December 19, students learned about the an augmented reality table, both powered by Voda- including fi reworks, an opera performance, musical activities of the MME’s fone 5G, as well as a digital photo booth. shows, parachuting, drone shows, cultural shows diff erent departments and “Providing fun for the whole family whilst ap- and other spectacular activities. These are set to enjoyed participating in the pealing to tech-enthusiasts and culture-lovers take place from 4pm to 10pm at diff erent venues at various activities on off er, the alike, the Vodafone Village will run from December Katara beach, amphitheatre and Katara Corniche. ministry said in a statement. 15 to 19. “Vodafone Qatar’s participation in the event re- The visitors included those Sheikh Hamad Abdulla Jassim al-Thani, CEO of fl ects its commitment to facilitating community- from 40 institutions around Vodafone Qatar said: “As a business we continue to wide connections. By bridging the gap between Qatar. make strong progress in building the digital infra- physical and digital, Vodafone aims to bring in structure and ecosystem that will support Qatar’s solutions that can inspire consumers and dem- continued growth and prosperity for years to come. onstrate how the latest technologies can enhance Our investments in world-class infrastructure are their lives,” the statement added. Qatar University hosts unique activities for National Day

variety of events competition, the College organised by Qatar of Engineering is provid- AUniversity (QU) will ing a nice surprise this year take place at Darb Al Saai by developing a laser maze. until December 20 to cel- They have also created an ebrate Qatar National Day augmented reality room 2018. The University has and digital zone, which set up a unique tent for the include robots. Another fi rst time featuring various new participant this year is games and competitions. Murooj Qatar, a ‘green’ ini- QU’s wing in Darb Al Saai tiative that will join the QU provides an opportunity to area to off er agricultural, promote communication educational and awareness with the local community activities. and to showcase the fac- QU’s wing at Darb Al Saai ulty, staff and students that has witnessed the participa- make up QU as scholars, tion of a large number of stu- intellectuals, writers and QU has set up a laboratory for visitors at Darb Al Saai. dent volunteers, excited to creators with their own dis- join and help with this year’s tinct qualities. experiments. The children’s department is off ering dif- festivities. These volunteers For the fi rst time, this area managed by QU’s edu- ferent artistic activities to refl ect the culture of volun- year’s tent will include a cational project Al-Bairaq, the public including draw- teering at QU, who strongly laboratory, where visitors will provide electronic, pa- ing, calligraphy and handi- support those who are eager can discover the mysteries per and handmade games. crafts. to refi ne their talents and of chemistry and practise The university’s creative In the spirit of healthy serve their country. Dukan Bedaya participates in Darb Al Saai festivities

edaya Centre for En- Saai with Dukan Bedaya. trepreneurship and Last year, we witnessed BCareer Development huge demand for all the (Bedaya Centre) has an- exhibits and got a positive nounced that it is partici- reaction from visitors. pating, for the second time, This year, there is an in- in the Darb Al Saai festivi- crease of 50% in the number ties with Dukan Bedaya. of participating projects A total of 31 projects are compared to 2017. being featured at Dukan Be- “We are always keen to daya, the organisation has take part in the Darb Al Saai said in a statement. celebrations to raise aware- The celebrations at Darb ness of local projects and help Al Saai are part of the many Qatari youth establish and events that take place in the strengthen their projects. country to celebrate Qatar The Dukan initiative aims to National Day. Dukan Bedaya at Darb Al Saai. support small and medium Dukan incubates 30 lo- projects established by tal- cal startup projects from of entrepreneurs respon- projects competed with ented, ambitious and creative diverse sectors, who are sible for contributing to each other to win the single young Qataris by providing participating with their building a thriving national slot at Dukan related to this them the ideal platform to products related to the Na- economy”, the statement industry, and the winning promote and showcase their tional Day celebrations with notes. project is Grind House. products and goods in a stra- the aim of supporting local This year, the centre has Reem al-Suwaidi, gen- tegic location at the heart of products. This is being done also introduced the Bedaya eral manager of Bedaya the most important event “to promote them to end Café competition as the Centre, said: “Based on taking place in the country.” users and focus on encour- 31st project participating the success we had last Bedaya Centre is a joint aging ambitious projects under the Dukan umbrella year, we are taking part for initiative of Qatar Develop- that will create a generation at Darb Al Saai. Several F&B the second time in Darb Al ment Bank and Silatech. Gulf Times 16 Friday, December 14, 2018 QATAR

Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser joined a countrywide display of national pride and unity at Oxygen Park yesterday by participating in the Flag Relay, hosted by QOC to celebrate Qatar National Day. HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani and HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani were also in attendance. Sheikha Moza participates in QF stage of Flag Relay er Highness Sheikha Qatar Foundation’s in- Machaille al-Naimi, president of Moza bint Nasser, Chair- volvement in the Flag Relay Community Development at QF. Hperson of Qatar Founda- – which covered a distance Having been carried through the tion (QF), yesterday participated of about 380km and, in ad- QF HQ by al-Naimi, the fl ag was in the Flag Relay at Education dition to marking Qatar Na- taken forward by Education City City, which was attended by HE tional Day, also served as a students who jogged through QF Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al- celebration of Qatar’s sport- partner university Weill Cornell Thani, Vice-Chairperson and ing achievements – reflected Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q). CEO of QF, and HE Sheikh Joaan its continued contribution to Outside WCM-Q, the em- bin Hamad al-Thani, President nurturing a strong, healthy, blem of Qatar was received by of Qatar Olympic Committee active and engaged society HE Sheikha Hind, who car- (QOC). in Qatar through its commu- ried the flag to Qatar National The sport-themed event saw nity development initiatives Library. It was then passed to the Qatari fl ag carried across and programmes, QF said in a national cycling team member the nation by athletes, students statement. Abdallah al-Juaidi, who, to- and members of the public, with After arriving at Education gether with a group of cyclists, Education City forming part of City, the fl ag was received by a rode the flag to the entrance of the relay route. The stage of the student from Qatar Academy Oxygen Park. Flag Relay that unfolded at QF Doha, part of QF’s Pre-Univer- Participants in the Educa- concluded with Her Highness sity Education. The fl ag then tion City stage of the Flag Relay Sheikha Moza receiving the Qa- travelled by hand and on horse- contributed to national eff orts to tari fl ag at Education City’s Oxy- back to the QF headquarters (QF strengthen the pride, unity and gen Park. HQ), where it was received by solidarity of Qatar’s community. National pride aflutter large number of people in the country yesterday took part in the Al Adaam Flag Relay, organised by Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) to share pride, unity and Ainspiration through the fl ag in celebration of Qatar National Day. Here are some snapshots of the relay, whose route included several landmarks.

QOC first vice-president Sheikh Saud bin Ali al-Thani received the Al Adaam flag The flag on its way to The Pearl-Qatar from Katara – at the QOC building. the Cultural Village.

Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club riders started the Al Adaam Flag Relay at Sealine Beach yesterday morning. Members of the public, off icials from national federations and schoolchildren walked, marched and jogged with the flag along the Corniche. Qatar Museums (QM) yesterday took part in the nationwide Flag Relay 2018, which aims QOC conducts cycle relay event to inspire pride and unity in the people of Qatar. Athletes, Qatar Olympic Committee of participants in a bicycle relay ambassadors and diplomats, (QOC), in association race”, 307 cyclists set in 2016. schoolchildren and participating with Msheireb Properties Even though the participants organisations across Qatar – a subsidiary of Qatar failed to make the mark joined in to mark the occa- Foundation, hosted a cycle yesterday with the baton sion. Taking place beside the relay event at Msheireb being dropped by the Museum of Islamic Art, QM Downtown Doha yesterday. 236th participant, the event acting CEO (ACEO) Ahmad Musa The cycle relay, part of the managed to inculcate a al-Namla received the flag from Qatar Flag Relay, witnessed feeling of national pride and Margarita Zuniga, historian many cycling enthusiasts community among both off icer – Qatar Chapter, handing converge on Al Kahraba Street locals and expatriates alike, it over to Dutch professional in a bid to etch their names in QOC said in a statement. footballer Wesley Sneijder, who the Guinness World Records. Many expressed hope that in currently plays for Al Gharafa, as The task was to surpass China’s future, the record would be part of the ceremony. record of “maximum number surpassed. The flag made it to The Pearl-Qatar on its way to Qatar University.