BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Duhail aim to seal their Qatar, Jordan to spot in DOW JONES QE NYMEX ‘set up a storage 25,360.00 8,252.66 62.04 +439.00 -55.68 +1.92 hub in Doha’ the last 16 +1.76% -0.67% +3.19% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

MONDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 10755 March 12, 2018 Jumada II 24, 1439 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals PM arrives in Rabat Bahrain paid for subversive Qatar, Sudan operations in Qatar in 1996 to form joint

l Jazeera Arabic Television tel- ecast yesterday the second part Aof the investigative documenta- committee ry Qatar 96, revealing the roles played by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt in the failed coup attempt against the government in Doha in 1996. Yesterday’s episode revealed more for closer ties details about the role of Bahrain’s cur- rent King Hamad bin Isa, then crown prince, in fi nancing sabotage opera- zSheikh Mohamed danese Foreign Minister Prof Ibrahim tions inside Qatar in 1996. It also re- conveys Emir’s message Ghandour. vealed how Saudi Arabia, the UAE and During the meeting, they discussed Bahrain provided all the plotters with to President Bashir bilateral relations and means to support high salaries and secured housing for HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani arrived yesterday in Rabat for an and promote them in addition to topics them and their families, and how they off icial visit to the Kingdom of Morocco, during which he will chair the 7th meeting of the Qatari-Moroccan Joint Supreme Agencies of mutual interest. They discussed re- issued passports for the participants to Committee. The Prime Minister and his accompanying delegation were greeted upon arrival at Rabat International Airport by Khartoum gional developments in the Middle East keep the failed coup process on track. Moroccan Prime Minister Saadeddine Othmani, a number of ministers, Qatar’s ambassador to Morocco Abdulla Falah al-Dossari, and agreed to improve bilateral relations. The documentary showed exclusive Moroccan ambassador to Qatar Nabil Zniber, senior Moroccan off icials and members of the Qatari embassy. The Sudanese foreign minister said documents and testimonies by individ- E the Deputy Prime Minister the political consultation committee of uals involved in the failed coup, and an and Foreign Minister Sheikh the two countries would meet every six interview with a former US ambassador HMohamed bin Abdulrahman al- months to discuss bilateral relations. to Qatar. Thani announced yesterday that Doha He also expressed his thanks to Qatar Al-Jazeera broadcast the fi rst part and Khartoum have agreed to form a for its support to Sudan, saying that the of the documentary on March 4; both committee for political consultations Doha Peace Agreement was the road to parts are available on Al Jazeera’s Participants from 60 countries and the follow-up of joint projects. achieve stability in Darfur. He described YouTube account : aljazeerachannel He said that he had delivered a mes- the visit of the Qatari minister as histor- sage dealing with bilateral relations ic, which he affi rmed would enhance re- ARAB WORLD | Confl ict and the ways to enhance them from His lations of the two countries in all fi elds. Syria army bombs descend on Doha for Dimdex Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Sudanese foreign ministry offi cial Hamad al-Thani to Sudanese President spokesman ambassador Qareeb Alla al- splintered Ghouta By Ramesh Mathew The three-day event, which coin- Bangladesh are calling on the Hamad Omar al-Bashir. Khidir, said the talks covered bilateral New air strikes and barrel bombs Staff Reporter cides with its 10th anniversary, is held Port. This is the second message received co-operation in the economic and po- pounded Syria’s Eastern Ghouta under the patronage of His Highness Dimdex chairman Staff Brigadier by the Sudanese president from the litical fi elds, and those related to peace yesterday as government forces the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- (Sea) Abdulbaqi S al-Ansari announced Emir in less than two weeks. Sheikh and development in Darfur. pressed a three-week advance that igh-level ministerial delega- Thani. yesterday that the exhibition would Mohamed said that he had discussed He said the two sides agreed to set splintered the rebel enclave and tions and senior armed forces Dimdex serves as a pivotal platform have participation from at least 60 with Sudanese offi cials the implica- up a committee for political consulta- trapped dozens under collapsed Hofficials from several coun- for exhibitors to access key decision- countries and nearly 30 of them will tions of the Darfur Peace Agreement tion that would hold rotating meetings buildings. Defying global calls for a tries are expected to attend the Doha makers represented by VIP delegates. have exhibitors showcasing maritime signed in Doha in 2011, adding that twice a year. ceasefire, Syria’s government has International Maritime Defence Ex- Deals worth as much as $31.95bn took and military equipment. More than 180 he was happy that there was another He added the talks also tackled devel- pursued a ferocious Russian-backed hibition and Conference (Dimdex) place in the previous fi ve editions. exhibitors are expected. armed group that wanted to join the opments at regional and international air campaign and ground off ensive to which gets underway today at the As part of the exhibition, warships The exhibition at the sprawling peace deal. levels and ways of co-ordination and capture, the last rebel bastion on the Qatar National Convention Centre from countries including the US, the 28,000sq m space at the QNCC is hosted Sheikh Mohamed, who is currently consultation over all issues of common capital’s doorstep. Page 8 (QNCC). UK, Italy, India, Pakistan, Oman and by the Qatar Armed Forces. To Page 24 visiting Khartoum, met with the Su- interest. Page 2 Gulf Times 2 Monday, March 12, 2018 QATAR

Emir sends message to Sudan leader Culture minister meets Kazakh envoy

His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has sent a message to President Omar Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan, HE the Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali yesterday met with pertaining to bilateral relations and means of boosting them. The message was conveyed by HE the Deputy Prime Minister Kazakhstan’s ambassador to Qatar, Askar Shokybayev, the off icial Qatar News Agency reported. and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, during a meeting with the Sudanese president in Khartoum During the meeting, they discussed means of enhancing and developing co-operation between yesterday. HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani also met the Foreign Minister of Sudan Ibrahim Ghandour. They the two countries in the fields of culture and sports. The meeting was also attended by renowned discussed bilateral relations and means to support and promote them in addition to topics mutual interest. Kazakh violinist Marat Bisengaliev.

British envoy opens ‘Study Msheireb Museums in the UK Exhibition’ 2018

ritish ambassador to Qatar Ajay Sharma inaugurated Bthe British Council’s an- nual ‘Study in the UK’ exhibi- receives report on tion at La Cigale hotel yesterday. The two-day event, which con- cludes today, is being held under the theme ‘Experience Life – Changing Learning”. The event will connect students in Qatar with representatives from human traffi cking 19 visiting UK Universities, Col- leges and English language pro- viders who can answer their ques- tions about UK education. The opening ceremony yes- terday was also attended by British Council Qatar director from US embassy Dr Frank Fitzpatrick, offi cial del- British ambassador Ajay Sharma opens the exhibition yesterday egates from the Ministry of Edu- as British Council Qatar director Dr Frank Fitzpatrick and other sheireb Museums, the cation and Higher Education and officials look on. new cultural destina- the Ministry of Administrative Mtion situated in Doha’s Development, Labour and So- Agency shows that numbers of Council’s ‘Study in the UK’ Exhi- Msheireb Downtown, has re- cial Aff airs, UK institutions and students from Qatar studying bition this month to see the excit- ceived the US Department of around 50 representatives from in the UK went up 13% for the ing educational opportunities the State’s 2017 Traffi cking in Per- local scholarship providers and 2016/17 academic year to over UK has to off er.” sons (TIP) report from the US school counsellors in Qatar. 3,000 students. Dr Fitzpatrick, said that “There embassy in Doha yesterday. Students have the opportu- Sharma, said, “British edu- are many reasons why students in The report will form part of nity to fi nd out all they need to cational institutions remain the Qatar and across the globe con- the Msheireb Museums Library, know about foundation cours- best in the world and students sider studying in the UK. The fi rst specifi cally Bin Jelmood Herit- es, English Language courses, who graduate from the UK are is that UK qualifi cations provide age House, which provides a career-based diplomas, fi rst equipped with highly sought-af- an internationally recognised space for refl ection on the story degree and postgraduate degree ter skills, which are immediately boost to salaries and work experi- of slavery and how it has evolved courses. Parents and students applicable in the global work- ence. The UK is also the top des- into modern forms of human ex- can speak directly to represent- place. The experience of studying tination worldwide for English ploitation. atives from 19 well-known UK in the UK is also, I believe, second language study and a welcoming Comprising four Heritage institutions. to none. I would encourage young country off ering unique oppor- Houses, including Bin Jelmood, New data released by the UK’s people thinking seriously about tunities to discover the country’s Msheireb Museums serves as an Higher Education Statistics their futures to visit the British culture and cities.” essential reference on the his- tory of Qatar for students and researchers. The report showcases Qatar’s progress in the protection of hu- man rights and the fi ght against HBKU, Qatar Shell to host human traffi cking, according to Hafiz Ali (right) receiving a copy of the TIP report from Ryan Gliha. statement from Msheireb Mu- seums. brary with the TIP report. d’Aff aires Ryan Gliha, who per- and combat traffi cking in per- Bin Jelmood House provides “Msheireb Museums plays a sonally presented the report to sons. lecture on water treatment an opportunity for visitors to vital role in raising awareness on Ali, said “the US’s collaboration The report is also considered make a personal commitment to such topics, and will continue its with Qatar to fi ght human traf- as the world’s most comprehen- joining the fi ght against the vari- eff ort alongside other partners fi cking is the closest it has ever sive resource of governmental n its second instalment of ent treatment plant that treats tise to achieve our shared goals.” ous forms of human traffi cking. to shed light on topics that are so been.” anti-traffi cking eff orts and re- the ongoing three-part Joint water using the Fischer-Tropsch The lecture will also provide “The report fully aligns with critical to our history,” the direc- “The memorandum signed fl ects the US government’s com- ISustainability Research process, and other alternative guests with a unique opportu- our eff ort to tackle the unjust tor noted. between US Secretary of State mitment to global leadership on Seminars (JSRS) series, Hamad processes that secrete less pollu- nity to network with experts. In treatment of human beings. It “The protection of human Rex Tillerson and HE the Dep- this key human rights and law Bin Khalifa University’s Col- tion than traditional fossil fuels. addition, they will receive an in- will serve as a valuable resource rights is something our leader- uty Prime Minister and Foreign enforcement issue. lege of Science and Engineering Dr Mounir Hamdi, dean of depth overview of the signifi cant to students and researchers ship strongly believes in, and Minister Mohamed bin Abdul- Msheireb Museums noted (CSE) and Qatar Shell will focus CSE, said, “At CSE, we recog- steps that the oil and gas leader alike, who seek further informa- our government is taking all the rahman al-Thani captures our that the report represents an up- on Integrated Onsite Industrial nise the importance of a well- is presently taking to minimise tion on Qatar’s ongoing eff orts necessary actions to ensure the commitments to combat human dated, global look at the nature Water Treatment on March 14. rounded education that inte- its carbon footprint, and build a to eliminate human traffi cking,” rights of everyone in Qatar re- traffi cking,” Gliha stressed. and scope of human traffi cking A lecture will be delivered by grates theoretical and practical more sustainable future. Msheireb Museums director main secure on par with interna- The TIP report is an annual and the broad range of govern- Dr Udeogu Onwusogh, the wa- components. We value our part- Dr Onwusogh has worked Hafi z Ali said, thanking the US tional standards,” Ali added. report issued by the US State ment actions to confront and ter portfolio leader at the Qatar nerships with leading institu- with the Qatar Shell Research embassy for presenting their li- US embassy’s Chargé Department’s Offi ce to monitor eliminate it. Shell Research and Technology tions in the industry to provide and Technology Centre to de- Centre. He has extensive exper- our students with invaluable in- velop on existing research that tise in water treatment and sus- sight and opportunities in their seeks to fi nd more effi cient so- tainable development. professional lives. The Joint lutions in managing bio-sludge, The seminar will provide in- Research Seminar Series with salt, and excess water that is Speaker briefs Canadian lawmakers on siege effects sight on eff orts undertaken to Qatar Shell is a critical element produced seasonally. He holds safely extract natural resourc- of our vision to enhance the master’s and PhD degrees in en- es through more sustainable student experience by linking vironmental engineering from means. The guests will receive an industry with academia, capi- the University of Newcastle overview of the Pearl GTL effl u- talising on our partner’s exper- upon Tyne, UK.

QCS launches ‘Eat Right; Live Better’ campaign

atar Cancer Society but not all polyps become cancer. years and older); gender; color- (QCS) has launched “Eat The offi cial also advised to ectal cancer incidence and mor- QRight; Live Better” cam- eat fruit and starchy vegetables tality rates are higher in men than paign to raise awareness about to avoid the diseases. The anti- in women; family history fi rst- colorectal cancer which is the oxidants and fi bre in dark leafy degree relative (parent, sibling, second most common cancer in greens, squashes, bell peppers, or child) with colorectal cancer men and third among women in tomatoes, asparagus, carrots, or polyps. Qatar. caulifl ower, cabbage, broccoli, The signs and symptoms are Dr Hadi Abu Rasheed, super- green beans, and fruit have a pro- bleeding from the rectum, blood HE the Speaker of the Advisory Council Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud met a Canadian parliamentary delegation in Doha visor, Health Education at QCS, tective eff ect against bowel can- in the stool which may make it yesterday. The delegation is led by the Member of the Canadian House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Foreign Aff airs and pointed out that colorectal can- cer. Fibre-rich foods like beans, look dark, a change in the shape International Development Borys Wrzesnewskyj. The meeting discussed the parliamentary relations between Qatar and Canada as well cer is the uncontrolled growth seeds, nuts, oatmeal, edamame, of the stool, cramping or abdom- as ways to develop them. During the meeting, they also discussed the unjust siege imposed on Qatar. The Advisory Council Speaker of abnormal cells in the colon or dry roasted chickpeas and bran inal pain, a feeling of discomfort explained how the siege violates the international law and principles of good-neighbourliness. He also explained that the resulting the rectum and most colorectal cereal escort carcinogens out of or an urge to have a bowel move- tensions in the region are unjustified, because of the vague arguments and false accusations. The Canadian delegation conveyed its cancers begin as a growth called the body. ment when there is no need to rejection of the siege and its full understanding of Qatar’s stance and called for dialogue to resolve the conflict. The delegation also a polyp on the inner lining of the There are non-modifi able risk have one, new onset of consti- urged the immediate lifting of the siege and stressed its keenness to convey a true picture of its negative eff ects, to the Canadian colon or rectum. Some types of factors such as; age-incidence pation or diarrhoea that lasts for parliament. polyps can change into cancer and death rates for colorec- more than a few days, weight over the course of several years, tal cancer increase with age (50 loss, weakness and fatigue. Gulf Times Monday, March 12, 2018 3 QATAR Bakeries cut salt usage under ministry initiative

he Ministry of Public of the initiative, saying bak- take of large amounts of salt in The WHO has also recommend- as heart disease and diabetes. For her part, Moudhi al-Hajri, Activity Programme 2107-2022. Health (MoPH) has con- eries reduced the usage from foods. ed reduced salt intake in foods so Dr Al-Anoud said that the chief of nutrition department The general recommenda- Tfi rmed that all bakeries 20% to 30% in their products. She said the initiative comes that the average per person daily Ministry of Public Health is in Primary Health Care Cor- tion for healthy people is that in Qatar are committed to re- “The ministry periodically in- as part of the goals of Qatar Na- consumption is not more than working to involve the interna- poration (PHCC), said that salt the consumption of the person duce the usage of salt by 30% spects the dough used in the tional Nutrition and Physical 5 grams,” she said. tional institutions concerned content is particularly high in should not exceed 5 grams of salt as part of a voluntary initiative production as well as the bread Activity Action Plan 2017-2022, She revealed that the nation- with health and salt, as well as canned foods, urging people to per day, with exceptions to these launched in 2014. The initiative itself, which confi rmed that the and is a complementary step al progressive survey of non- the health and academic institu- minimise consumption of such recommendations for some supports and promotes a healthy bakeries were reducing salt in to the eff orts of the ministry to communicable chronic dis- tions in Qatar to intensify eff orts foods. cases (kidney patients, athletes lifestyle and highlights risk fac- baking.” support a healthy lifestyle in eases and its risk factors done to reduce the ratio of people suf- The World Awareness Week and people with high blood tors for chronic non-commu- She explained that large line with Qatar National Vision in 2012 for Qataris between the fering from high blood pressure, on Reducing Salt Consumption pressure), as these situations nicable diseases resulting from amounts of salt in food products 2030 and in compliance with age of 18 and 64 showed that referring to co-operation with aims at raising awareness about require medical and nutrition excessive usage of salt. cause many diseases, promi- the World Health Organisation’s prevalence of hypertension World Action on Salt and Health the health eff ects of high-salt consultation. Dr Al-Anoud bint Mohammed nently hypertension and heart (WHO) Global Targets 2025. among females was 37.7% and (WASH) to develop standardised diets such as cardiovascular She also urged the public to al-Thani, manager, health pro- and kidney diseases. “Studies have revealed that 28% for males and the average educational materials that will diseases and hypertension, as wash canned foods after dispos- motion and non-communicable In celebration of World Salt large salt intake results in in- rate of infection among adults be circulated during the aware- well as educating the commu- al of liquids, eat more fresh fruits diseases at MoPH, said the min- Awareness Day, the ministry creased rates of cardiovascular was 33%. The survey also ness week under the theme “5 nity about healthy food and and vegetables, gradually reduce istry co-operated with bakeries is organising several activities disease, blood vessels diseases showed that 50% of the Qatari Ways to Reduce 5 Grams of Salt” healthy nutrition behaviours, the amount of salt added to the around the country to cut the use from March 12 to 28. The event and hypertension, which are adults have three or more risk to present fi ve simple guidelines in line with the National Health recipes, use of herbs and spices, of salt in their baking. includes educational activities considered main reasons for factors leading to chronic non- on diff erent behaviours that help Strategy and the Plan of Action garlic and citrus instead of salt to She highlighted the success highlighting the dangers of in- death in the world and in Qatar. communicable diseases such reduce salt consumption. for the Nutrition and Physical add fl avour to the food. (QNA) Qatar Airways ends ‘spectacular week’ at ITB Berlin atar Airways completed a “spectacular show- Qcase” at this year’s ITB Berlin, at which the airline re- vealed a host of 16 new destina- Al-Baker with other dignitaries during the ITB Berlin. tions to be launched in 2018-19, as well as announcing a fi ve- lighted to have enjoyed such a partner until 2023. The fi ve-sea- The airline also unveiled a year partnership agreement successful week in Berlin, and are son deal, commencing on 1 July brand-new exhibition stand at with leading German football particularly excited to have had 2018, will see the airline’s logo ITB, featuring a full 360 digital team FC Bayern München AG, this as a venue to announce so adorning the shirt sleeves of the screen wrapping around the en- further strengthening Qatar’s many forthcoming additions to German league leaders. tire stand showcasing the sig- role as a global leader in sports. our global route network. We will Qatar Airways said it supports nature Qatar Airways fi ve-star At a media event on the open- continue to expand, to be able a range of exciting international journey. In-fl ight entertainment ing day of ITB, Qatar Airways to off er our passengers as much and local initiatives dedicated to experiences allowed guests to Group Chief Executive Akbar choice as possible. Similarly, enriching the global community place themselves virtually into al-Baker, announced a raft of we remain committed to con- that it serves. one of the airline’s business forthcoming global destina- tinuing to innovate, so that our Qatar Airways, the Offi cial class seats, complemented by a tions for the airline in line with passengers can enjoy the fi nest Airline partner of FIFA, is a lead- full-size display of the airline’s its expedited expansion plans, experience available in the skies.” ing supporter of major global patented, award-winning “First including the announcement On the second day of ITB, the sporting events, including the in Business Class” concept, that Qatar Airways will be the airline announced that it had 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, ‘Qsuite’. fi rst Gulf carrier to begin direct Qatar Airways stall at ITB Berlin. signed a fi ve-year partnership the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, Qatar Airways currently oper- service to Luxembourg. agreement with leading Ger- and the FIFA Club World Cup, ates a modern fl eet of more than Other exciting new destina- (Estonia); Valletta (Malta); and Thessaloniki (Greece) and a double daily frequency, while man football team FC Bayern refl ecting the values of sports as 200 aircraft via its hub, Hamad tions to be launched by the air- Cebu and Davao (Philippines); Málaga (Spain). services to Madrid, Barcelona München AG. a means of bringing people to- International Airport (HIA). Just line include London Gatwick Langkawi (Malaysia); Da Nang In addition, services to War- and the Maldives will increase to Under the new agreement, Qa- gether, something at the core of last month, the airline welcomed and Cardiff (both United King- (Vietnam); Bodrum Antalya saw, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, triple daily. tar’s national airline will become the airline’s own brand message the Airbus A350-1000, for which dom); Lisbon (Portugal); Tallinn and Hatay (Turkey); Mykonos Prague and Kyiv will increase to Al-Baker said, “We are de- an FC Bayern München platinum – Going Places Together. it is the global launch customer.

Student research exhibition to open QNB is sponsor, DCMF to honour award winners tomorrow The National Science Research oha Centre for Me- ness and entertainment ac- reports”, the statement noted. Administration and Financial Week started yesterday at the Maserati offi cial dia Freedom (DCMF), tivities to educate children on The competition commit- Department at DCMF. Qatar National Convention Centre Din co-operation with TV presenting skills and the tee received many entries from The jury did a thorough evalu- and will last until Thursday. the Ministry of Education and basics of video shooting and junior reporters, including 41 ation of the competition entries The 10th National Student Higher Education, will hold an photography. articles, 23 videos and two audio submitted by participants and Research Exhibition takes place car of boat show award ceremony to honour the Through this award, the Cen- reports. adopted the fi nal results on the tomorrow with the participation winner of the Media Creativ- tre “seeks to open up opportuni- The Centre formed a jury issues that the competition was of 210 innovative research ity Award organised by the Me- ties for emerging media students to evaluate the entries, which meant to address, including hate projects for 459 students and NB has been an- yachts. More than 70 exhibi- dia Information and Literacy and encourage them and en- included Taysseer Abdullah speech, inciting violence, fake includes 60 primary projects in nounced as the offi cial tors have been registered so programme. courage them to produce crea- Hassan, a presenter at Qa- news and the right to access to addition to 150 preparatory and Qsponsor of the upcom- far and going by the growing The ceremony, to be held on tive media content, as well as to tar TV; Yusuf Abdulrahman information. secondary projects. ing fi fth Qatar International popularity, the number is March 14 at the Qatar National enhance their skills and talents”, Kafoud, senior programmes The committee’s eff orts fo- The first day of the National Boat Show (QIBS), while Ma- set to increase over the next Convention Centre, is part of the DCMF has said in a statement. director at Qatar TV; Dr Ra- cused on evaluating the partici- Science Research Week, which serati will be the offi cial car of three days. National Science Research Week Students from 33 independ- bia Sabah al-Kuwari, media pants’ entries and the extent to was organised by the Ministry of the event. “We are anticipating an un- (NSRW) events. ent and private schools par- professor at Qatar Univer- which they met the conditions, Education and Higher Education The boat show will be held precedented turnout at this DCMF is participating in ticipated in the fourth edition sity; Hanan al-Yafee, head of creative standards and technical in co-ordination with the National at The Pearl-Qatar from to- year’s edition of QIBS, es- the NSRW events through a of the Media Creativity Award, the Monitoring and Advocacy aspects required in the compe- Fund for Scientific Research, morrow until March 17 under pecially as it is located in an booth that will hold a variety doing their “best to produce the Department at DCMF; and tition, before they adopted the witnessed many events and the auspices of HE the Prime amazing and accessible area of activities, including aware- best articles, video and audio Hamad al-Marri, head of the fi nal evaluation results. workshops for supervisors Minister and Interior Minister of The Pearl-Qatar. In order and coordinators of scientific Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser to off er a unique experience to research and referees. bin Khalifa al-Thani. our participating companies, In addition, the finals of the Al Mannai Plus Events, the we will host various interest- Scratch programming language organising company of QIBS, ing activities such as marine Maj-Gen al-Marri meets US commander competition, as well as the said in a statement yesterday tours, prizes, water activi- finals of the third Qatar National that it had signed a sponsor- ties, marine races and relevant Olympiad of Physics and ship agreement with QNB seminars, etc.” Astronomy in addition to the under which the bank would Some of the brands that scientific research projects for all be the offi cial sponsor of the have confi rmed their par- stages, were held. event. ticipation in the fi fth QIBS The Ministry of Education and Addressing a press confer- include Gais Marine, High Higher Education confirmed ence, Al Mannai Plus Events Trailer & Cabin, Seas and its keenness in this year to chairman Khalid Issa al- Deserts Group, Alghais gather all activities related to Mannai said: “Since its in- Marine Equipment, Blood scientific research in one event, ception, the event has been Speargun, Al Kashat, Bal- the National Science Research able to garner amazing re- hambar, Halul Boats, Per- Week, pointing out that the week sponse and made Qatar one formance Marine, Al Dar will witness the establishment of the leading destinations Marine, Azimouthio, Qatar of many outstanding events, for organising such grand Fish, Aresteas Yachting, Po- in addition to National Student exhibitions. With such part- tona Marine, Milaha, In- Research Exhibition. nerships, we are sure to con- ternational Spear Fishing The ministry said that the tinue the country’s economic Academy, Professional Up- number of winning projects to growth momentum.” holstery, Blue Whale Ma- be announced on the closing day Al-Mannai thanked QNB, rine, Dolphin Marine, Venice of the exhibition and honouring Alfardan Sports Motors, the Yachts, Qvision, Maserati, their owners is 42 projects offi cial dealer of Maserati in Ghasham Marine Servic- among the projects participating Qatar, and The Ritz-Carlton, es, Ronautica, The Marine in this year’s exhibition, for Doha the offi cial hotel of the Place, Qatar Techno & Blue the primary, preparatory and show. Marine, MTU, Silver – Q secondary levels. Fadi al-Yousfi, director of Fish, Jalbout Marine, Royal The activities aim at enhancing QIBS, said: “We have been Yacht, Saraya Gulf, Special- students’ scientific research able to set a record in attract- ised Group Trading, QNB, The Commander of the Joint Special Forces, Major General Hamad bin Abdullah al-Fetais al-Marri, met in Doha yesterday with Commander of skills, developing them and ing leading manufacturers Qatar Marine Sports & Sail- the US Joint Special Operations Command in the Arabian Peninsula, Colonel Scott Isaac, and the US Military Attache to Qatar, Colonel David celebrating them, spreading and exhibitors from across ing Club, Al Lingawi, Al- Casey. During the meeting, they discussed a number of issues of mutual interest in the military field and ways of boosting and developing them, the spirit of co-operation and the globe who are specialised Badi Trading and Contract- besides exchanging operational expertise and planning future projects between the two friendly countries in the military field, the off icial Qatar competition among them and in the manufacture and pro- ing, and Al Hamla Marine News Agency reported. achieving excellence in scientific motion of boats and luxury Equipment. research. (QNA) Gulf Times 4 Monday, March 12, 2018 QATAR Shamal truck park now operational

truck park set up in Al Shamal has director of Technical Aff airs, MoTC, said become operational, the Ministry the Al Shamal facility was one of the key Aof Transport and Communications projects developed by the ministry to serve (MoTC) announced yesterday. the heavy freight industry in Qatar within Dr Sheikha Aisha bint Faleh al-Thani speaks at the event as others look on. Strategically located near Al-Ruwais Port the framework of its larger mobility and and covering an area of 75,000sqm, the new transportation strategy. facility provides 285 parking spaces for all This, he said, is being achieved through types of trucks. providing innovative solutions to address Modern and easy to access, the parking the challenges emerging from the substan- facility will save freight movement time tial economic growth that the country is Sheikha Aisha speaks on by providing seamless connectivity to ex- witnessing, and will further help in reliev- pressways, and will also have a great impact ing traffi c congestion caused by truck park- on truck and traffi c safety. ing in residential areas. The Qatar Ports Management Company Sheikh Mohamed said the MoTC had ear- importance of education (Mwani Qatar) was in charge of the project lier located four sites where truck parking design and execution of the project which spaces could be constructed and launched has been implemented with the world’s best a public tender inviting private sector com- r Sheikha Aisha bint Faleh her experiences of women in business leaders and members standards and specifi cations. The company panies to participate last year which Mwani al-Thani, chairperson of education in her keynote speech, of the public who came to hear will also manage and operate the project for Qatar won. DAl Faleh Group, gave the said: “I feel truly humbled to of- from a diverse range of speak- the fi rst year. Committed to supporting the private Nabil Mohamed al-Khaldi, chief of- keynote speech at the University fer my practical knowledge and ers who are widely recognised as The project forms part of a larger MoTC sector, the MoTC has provided facilities ficer, Ports Management at Mwani Qa- of Aberdeen on International to talk about the importance of leaders in their respective fi elds plan for establishing and developing four to the truck freight industry, allowing it to tar, said they were proud to have won the Women’s Day on the importance education and lifelong learning. and who have gone above and truck parking facilities in key areas across take advantage of the multiple services the project’s design and execution contract, of education in helping women My own life and development beyond the norm in advancing the country. The aim is to modernise and project off ers such as free parking for the which reflected the recognition given to achieve their full potential. has been about lifelong learning, women’s role in society. improve mobility and transportation serv- fi rst two months and instant truck services the company as one of the leading pro- The programme brought to- and I am passionate that other Among the speakers at the ices countrywide in accordance with the including maintenance and repair. viders of integrated logistics services in gether public fi gures who came women can gain the value added event were Eve Pollard OBE, Ann Qatar Public Transport Programme. Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalid al-Thani, Qatar. to celebrate International Wom- to their own lives and careers.” Moulds, founder and CEO of Ac- en’s Day at the university’s an- The event with the theme tion Scotland Against Stalking nual event on the campus in Ab- Inspiring Women: Press for and Dr Isobel Cameron who has erdeen, Scotland. Progress was attended by uni- conducted signifi cant research Sheikha Aisha who discussed versity staff , students, local on mental health issues. Temporary closure on Al Hurriya Street in Al Khor

shghal will put in place a The traffi c change is required temporary closure from to enable the work of laying sewer Mercedes S-Class recalled Atomorrow on a section of rising mains as part of design, Al Hurriya Street, located behind build, operate and maintain the LuLu Hypermarket in Al Khor. Al Thakhira Sewage Treatment he Ministry of Economy paign comes within the frame- essary repairs are carried out. The closure which will last 60 Works, Transfer Pumping Station and Commerce (MEC), in work of its ongoing eff orts to It has urged all customers days, extends for 20m on both di- and Associated Pipelines. Tcollaboration with Nasser protect consumers and ensure to report any violations to its rections at the intersection of Al Ashghal will install road signs Bin Khaled Automobiles, has an- that automobile dealers follow Consumer Protection and Anti- Hurriya Street with Ras Al Qirma to advise motorists of the closure. nounced the recall of Mercedes up on vehicles’ defects and re- Commercial Fraud Department Street. During this period, mo- The authority has requested all Benz S-Class model of 2017 be- pair them. through the following chan- torists heading to Al Amir Street road users to abide by the speed cause the mounting console for The ministry said that it will co- nels: Call centre: 16001, e-mail: and Ras Al Qirma Street via Al limits, and follow the road signs to the underbody panelling does ordinate with the dealer to follow [email protected], Twitter: @ Hurriya Street can use the neigh- ensure safety. The closure is in co- not correspond to the current up on the maintenance and repair MEC_Qatar, Instagram: MEC_ bouring local roads (as shown on ordination with the General Direc- series production confi guration. works and will communicate with Qatar, MEC mobile app for An- the map). torate of Traffi c. The MEC said the recall cam- customers to ensure that the nec- droid and IOS: MEC_Qatar Gulf Times Monday, March 12, 2018 5 QATAR

QAC has launched special off er on a wide range of Mitsubishi vehicles. QAC off er on range of Mitsubishi vehicles atar Automobiles Company sistance, one year free comprehensive The 2017 Outlander is equipped with (QAC), authorised distributor insurance, and one year free registra- a 166hp, 2.4-litre MIVEC engine that Qof Mitsubishi Motors Corpo- tion with no early termination fees. achieves 30 highway MPG3, or upgrade ration in Qatar, has launched a special “With the support of NBK Financial to GT for even more performance with off er on a wide range of Mitsubishi ve- services, there is no need for down pay- the powerful 224hp, 3.0-litre MIVEC hicles. ments, and easy monthly instalments engine. The lease-to-own off er allows cus- give customers the opportunity to drive Built for the working week as much as tomers to drive their new Mitsubishi brand-new cars and also leverage from the weekend, the ASX compact SUV has car for an aff ordable monthly instal- the many benefi ts accompanied with stacks of storage, super smart technology, ment. the off er,” Nasser Bin Khaled Holding zippy performance and eff ortless style. Valid until April 4, the off er includes automotive operations director Sheikh Available in two-wheel drive (2WD) a range of Mitsubishi SUVs of diff er- Faleh bin Nawaf al-Thani said. and AWD, ASX is built for the time of ent models, including Pajero, Montero The Pajero is a true off -roader, and a your life, combining the adventurous Sport, Outlander, and ASX, in addition legend in its own right. spirit of a confi dent explorer with the to the Lancer EX. Powertrain options are either a considered practicality of a family SUV. The monthly instalment of Pajero is 3.5-litre V6 mated to a fi ve-speed au- Mitsubishi’s new Lancer EX is more starting from QR1,899, Montero Sport tomatic, or a 3.8-litre V6 engine mated than just a sedan. starts from QR1,999, Outlander from to a fi ve-speed auto. People can choose from either of two QR1,699, and ASX from QR1,499. Montero Sport is ideal for adventure. 4-cylinder engines: the 2.0-litre pow- The Mitsubishi Lancer EX has a spe- Adventure calls from the well-ap- erhouse uses a lightweight aluminium cial off er for monthly instalment from pointed cockpit, which surrounds you block for optimum performance as it QR999. with solid craftsmanship, supportive puts out 110kW (150PS). The off er comes with several ben- comfort, intelligent features and a wide The 1.6-litre engine has enough efi ts including 0% down payment in open view. power for sporty performance. partnership with NBK Financial Serv- Outlander off ers plenty of room for All the cars are available now in Mit- ices, fi ve-year warranty with unlimited seven passengers with its standard subishi Motors Showroom on Salwa mileage, three years free road side as- third-row seating. road. Gulf Times 6 Monday, March 12, 2018 QATAR Ooredoo widens entertainment, to broadcast two new radio channels oredoo announced yester- (106.3FM) is the fi rst Hindi FM al-Muraikhi, director of PR and of Olive and Suno Radio is ex- day that it will broadcast channel to be aired from the State Corporate Communications at tremely happy about this associa- Otwo new radio channels of Qatar and will provide the best Ooredoo Qatar, said: “We invest tion with Ooredoo, and I believe via its Ooredoo tv service, the of entertainment and music to heavily to ensure a range of in- this is a historic moment for all Ooredoo tv App, and from April expats from the Indian subcon- ternational content is available the listeners of the two networks 2018, the Ooredoo App. tinent. Radio Suno (91.7FM) is for all our customers, and we’re in Qatar.” This is the latest con- The new channels have been the fi rst Malayalam FM channel delighted to add both Radio Olive tent announcement from Oore- added as part of Ooredoo’s on- in Qatar and will provide a broad and Radio Suno to our Ooredoo tv doo in 2018, and the company going investment in ensuring the range of programming for South and Apps.” has announced it will continue to best entertainment is available Indian expats. Speaking about Krishna Kumar, director of Ra- update and invest in its entertain- for all its customers. Radio Olive the new content, Manar Khalifa dio Olive, said: “The entire team ment portfolio. Leading personalities from Ooredoo, Radio Olive, and Radio Suno. Texas A&M at Qatar, HBKU to off er cybersecurity certifi cate course

exas A&M Univer- build progressive education sity at Qatar and the models in Qatar. TExecutive Education By analysing the Qatari Centre, part of Hamad Bin market needs for training Khalifa University, are col- in cybersecurity and pru- laborating to off er a new dently working with our Fundamentals of Cyber- partner Texas A&M Uni- security certifi cate pro- versity at Qatar, we seek to gramme. provide this programme in The programme will cov- cybersecurity that caters to er topics related to the fun- increasing local demand for damental concepts behind tailored training modules modern cryptographic sys- and courses in this fi eld,” tems and how they can be said, Rodolphe A Boughaba employed to secure data and HBKU’s Executive Educa- private communications. tion Centre’s executive di- Attendees will learn rector about the collection and The course will be off ered analysis of open-source and in four modules: Penetra- publicly available informa- tion Testing and Forensics, tion, white hacking tech- March 25-27; Mobile and niques for stealth collec- Wireless Security, April 1-3; tion, methodologies for the Open Source Intelligence in evaluation and validation of Cyberspace, April 8-10; and sources of open and pub- Applied Cryptography and licly available information. Data Privacy, April 17-19. This programme will All modules will be held demonstrate how to con- from 4 to 8 pm in Educa- duct penetration testing tion City. Participants will and forensic investiga- receive a certifi cate after tions, allowing users and the completion of all four administrators to confi gure modules and a certifi cate computers in order to stop of completion will also be cyber-attacks, or at least presented to attendees at minimise their negative im- the end of each individual pact. module. It will also cover the ba- Dr Cesar O Malave, dean sics of wireless networks of Texas A&M at Qatar, said, and show principal attacks “Continuing education on a wireless network in- courses off er great value for volving the three compo- local working profession- nents of the confi dentiality, als, and Texas A&M at Qatar integrity, and accessibility and our partners at HBKU triads. are uniquely positioned to Understanding this ma- off er this advanced training terial will allow the user to enhance the workforce in or administrator to build Qatar. countermeasures in order Through continuing ed- to protect the wireless net- ucation courses such as the work. Fundamentals of Cyberse- “By practising HBKU’s curity programme, indus- core value of building syn- try professionals can apply ergetic relationships, we their newly gained knowl- aim to partner with pre- edge and skills immediately mier academic institu- on the job and increase their tions around the world to value to their employers.”

Esrar Race 2018 receiving many entries: AZF

spire Zone Founda- sand bang carrying, a vertical tion (AZF) has re- cargo net and monkey bars. Aceived many entries By following the race and requests from regional course, participants will sports enthusiasts who want also be able to explore As- to participate in the Esrar pire Zone itself, which hosts Race 2018, it was announced. numerous global and local The event, scheduled to be sporting events through- held between March 23-24 out the year, thanks to its at Aspire Park, is an obstacle world-class indoor halls and course race that returns to outdoor facilities which are Qatar for the second consec- overseen and managed by a utive year. It is organised in team of high-calibre event partnership with ‘Diverse,’ a management professionals. Qatari business that special- The fi rst ‘Esrar’ Race (‘Es- ises in sports events man- rar’ means ‘determination’ agement. in Arabic) was held in March “We took these into con- last year and involved more sideration, as well as other than 250 local and regional feedback compiled from professional and amateur surveys conducted after last sports enthusiasts, of whom year’s race,” AZF’s public re- 125 were Qatari. lations and communications After the huge success of director Nasser Abdullah al- last year’s event, AZF expects Hajri said. this year’s edition to attract “The result is that we de- an even greater number of cided to bring it back this participants from Qatar and year but to make it even big- the region. Esrar, considered ger and better than ever, and as the only obstacle course provide boundary-pushing race held in Qatar, is open to sports lovers with a unique sports enthusiasts, athletes and thrilling experience,” he and non-athletes, men and noted. women aged 18 years and The race consists of ob- above. Through events like stacles including the com- this, AZF aims to encour- mando crawl, tyre split steps, age community members to a 6-foot wall and 8-foot wall adopt an active and healthy climbing and inverted wall lifestyle in line with its mis- climbing, balance beam, sion. Gulf Times Monday, March 12, 2018 7 QATAR The all-new Yaris is launched etting new standards for on the exterior, coupled with ration’s Middle East and North of luxury in the interior of the the compact sedan seg- high-quality accessories and a Africa Representative Offi ce. new Yaris. Sment, AAB has launched complete list of convenient op- The new Yaris demonstrates The interior is available in two the new and stylish Yaris at main tions in the spacious and com- remarkable attention to detail in colours, with the black creating a Toyota showroom in Qatar. fortable cabin.” the design and engineering of the calm, rich modern interior, and The new Yaris features an “ad- “Furthermore, the new Yaris vehicle, encompassing its fl ashy the ivory making the interior feel vanced and emotional design delivers optimal performance exterior and class-leading inte- more spacious and sophisticated. while off ering superior comfort and a fun driving experience rior design and state-of-the-art Delivering a dynamic driving along with quality and durability while maintaining great fuel passenger cabin to its responsive experience, the new Yaris comes to reinforce the car’s position in economy and intense driving driving dynamics. with a 1.5-litre or a 1.3-litre en- the region’s automotive market”. pleasure,” Suzuki said. “With all The overall length has been gine. At the launch event, Takatomo these features, I am deeply con- increased by 15mm to 4,425mm, The 1.3-litre four-cylinder Suzuki, the chief engineer of fi dent that the new Yaris will ful- and the overall width of the ve- engine generates a maximum the new Yaris, said: “The team fi l our customers’ demands and hicle has grown by 30mm to output of 97hp and 12.6kg-m of Toyota engineers has created become the perfect small-size 1,730mm. of torque and is mated to either the new Yaris under the concept sedan for all.” The result is a highly aero- a fi ve-speed manual transmis- ‘New Value Pioneer’, with the “We are excited to launch the dynamic body with a wider and sion or a Multidrive 7S advanced ultimate goal of developing a car new Yaris in the region and we more masculine stance. seven-speed automatic trans- that excels in serving the prefer- are confi dent that it will defi - With an exciting interior fea- mission. ences of active people who follow nitely be at the top of the list for turing a distinctive design, and On the other hand, the 1.5-litre trends and innovation, and of- customers when they search for off ering convenience and com- four-cylinder engine can churn fering the unique pride of owner- a compact sedan that combines fort with a layer of luxury, the out a maximum output of 106hp ship.” stylish design and ride comfort new car’s cabin owns an exclu- and 14.3kg-m of torque, and is He added: “Accordingly, the along with dynamic performance sive profi le. mated to the Multidrive 7S au- new Yaris has been meticulously and superior value,” said Yugo Simulated stitching along the tomatic transmission to off er a crafted with state-of-the-art Miyamoto, the chief representa- edges from the instrument panel smooth shifting experience with Toyota and AAB off icials with the new Yaris at the AAB’s main Toyota showroom. design, both in the interior and tive of the Toyota Motor Corpo- to the front console render a feel excellent fuel effi ciency. Qatari directors endorse Qumra as a ‘school of fi lm learning’

oung Qatari directors have en- overcoming the challenges he faces as Often, many people do not take us se- that your project is amazing and then dorsed Doha Film Institute’s a fi lmmaker. riously but Qumra helps us to develop our you get a shock when your mentors re- Y(DFI) Qumra 2018 for off ering “The one-on-one personal interac- work to the next stage,” al-Sulaiti said. mind you how much work you have to new learnings and wealth of network- tions with the mentors help you under- “It help us expand outside the region. It do. I am happy to hear that now than ing opportunities.” stand better where you come from – as is a good platform to understand that we later,” AJ added. Qatari filmmaker Khalifa al-Tha- a fi lmmaker – and what you aspire to are capable of making fi lms that are as good In development stage is the short ni, who is directing his first feature achieve,” Khalifa said. as those made in the West,” she added. documentary by Majid al-Remaihi, film, The Voice of Amirah, which is A fi lm student of Northwestern Uni- A J al-Thani, whose earlier fi lm whose fi rst short fi lm Domestic Acous- set in 1970s in Qatar and tells the versity in Qatar, Nouf al-Sulaiti, who Kashta received tremendous acclaim, is tics was completed through the DFI’s story of a female protagonist who turns director with Gubgub, said Qum- nurturing her fi rst feature fi lm project, Documentary Lab. grows up in an unconventional ra brings “great exposure – as a person Khuzama. “This is the fi rst time I’m participat- household. – and about the industry.” She said she is anxious yet excited as ing in Qumra,” said Majid, who loves “There is enormous amount of sup- “I had one-on-ones with the masters “your fi rst feature fi lm is like your call- doing documentary as it gives him the port from industry professionals at and it is great to know how to take my ing card and I want to prepare as much experience of working with real people. Qumra,” Qatari fi lmmaker Khalifa al- fi lm to the next level,” she said. as possible now so that when I shoot I His project Pastimes is “an essay Thani, who is directing his fi rst feature “Qumra is important to me as a fi lm- am in the right place.” documentary that explores ancestry fi lm, The Voice of Amirah. maker because it helps the world un- That preparation, for her, comes and grandfathers having symbolic res- He said the script-to-screen support derstand that we have work here, that from Qumra. onance with history as it is written in that Qumra provides is invaluable in we are producing fi lms here. “As a fi lmmaker you expect to hear Qatar and the Gulf.” Qatari filmmakers visit Qumra 2018.

Dr Sameer Moopen with other Aster off icials and staff cutting a cake to mark the 15th anniversary of the group. PICTURE: Ram Chand Aster celebrates its 15th year in Qatar with an eye to expansion

By Joseph Varghese doctors and more than 700 other staff . These medical camps have become a Staff Reporter We are also engaged in several com- permanent feature of the organisa- munity events off ering free medical tion,” he said. “We are also collaborat- services to the needy people in the ing with Qatar Charity and Baladiya to ster DM Healthcare, which country.” provide medical services for people at started its operations in Qatar Medical director and Aster DM various sections of people.” A15 years ago, plans to expand Healthcare chief of medical staff Dr “All our employees have to put in operations in the country, an offi cial of Nasser Moopen, and Aster Hospital a minimum of 10 hours of commu- the group revealed yesterday. Doha chief operating offi cer Dr Kapil nity work monthly,” Dr Sameer Moo- “We are planning to add more spe- Chib also addressed the media. pen noted. “This occasion serves as a cialty services and second tier tertiary “We treat between 2,000 and 2,200 unique opportunity to acknowledge services to our hospital, in addition to patients a day at all our facilities. We the contribution by people who made setting up a few more medical centres have also introduced a mobile app for us to reach this stage.” in the next couple of years,” said Aster appointment,” Dr Sameer Moopen “We are grateful to the rulers of DMH Qatar chief executive Dr Sameer said. “In less than a minute, people can the country who have been extend- Moopen. get appointment with the doctor of ing all the support and guidelines,” The objective is to provide the best their preference at any of the medical he added. “We are committed to take and aff ordable medical care for the centres. We are also accredited with quality healthcare delivery to the next whole population of the country, he the Qatar Council of Healthcare Pro- level meeting the vision of our founder explained. fessionals to provide medical educa- chairman Dr Azad Moopen.” Aster DMH Qatar currently oper- tion for the medical and paramedical Aster DM Healthcare is a 30-year- ates a full-fl edged 50-bed hospital, staff .” old private healthcare group in the six medical centres, seven pharmacies, According to the chief executive, GCC and India. and one diagnostic centre. Aster DMH Qatar is the only private Aster began operations in Musherib, At a press conference to mark Aster healthcare organisation in the country Doha on March 10, 2003 with the fi rst DM Healthcare’s 15th anniversary in to operate a blood bank in co-ordina- private polyclinic. Qatar, the chief executive said: “We tion with Hamad Medical Corpora- The recently started hospital is As- started our fi rst medical centre in tion. ter’s fi rst multi-specialty hospital in March 2003 with fi ve doctors and 12 “Every Friday, we arrange free med- Qatar with operation theatres, ICU, other staff members. ical check-up at the Industrial Area delivery suit, NICU and MRI with 16 “At present, we have more than 100 for the low-income group of people. specialty services. Gulf Times 8 Monday, March 12, 2018 REGION/ARAB WORLD New air strikes pound Eastern Ghouta enclave

AFP Hammuriyeh

ew air strikes and bar- rel bombs pounded NSyria’s Eastern Ghouta yesterday as government forces pressed a three-week advance US Secretary for Defence Jim Mattis prepares to shake hands with an Omani military off icial as he is greeted that splintered the rebel en- by US Ambassador to Oman March Sievers (second left) upon his arrival in the capital Muscat, yesterday. clave and trapped dozens under collapsed buildings. Defying global calls for a ceasefi re, Syria’s government has pursued a ferocious Rus- sian-backed air campaign and Mattis in Oman to meet ground off ensive to capture the A picture taken yesterday shows Syrian government forces outside of the town of Jisreen in the region, the last rebel bastion on southern tip of the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta enclave as they advance in the area. the capital’s doorstep. In three weeks of fi ghting, it rubble of a collapsed building in with Sultan Qaboos has overrun more than half the search of his loved ones. area and split the remainder His father, mother, and three into three pockets, isolating the siblings were killed in an air AFP strained, to put it mildly, so I am good ties with countries outside urban hub of Douma from the raid, but rescue workers have Muscat also wanting to hear what the the six-country Gulf Co-oper- rest of the enclave. been unable to pull them out. sultan says can be done about ation Council bloc to which it Yesterday, government Hassaan, a 30-year-old res- that, as well as the situation on belongs, including neighbouring troops battered the edges of cue worker, said there were S Defence Secretary Jim his border in Yemen with the Yemen. each pocket with air raids, bar- around 20 more families under Mattis arrived in Oman various factions that are fi ghting In March 2015, the sultanate rel bombs, and rockets, said the the rubble. Uyesterday ahead of a there and certainly the civil war,” was the only GCC country not to Britain-based Syrian Observa- “We need heavy machinery meeting with Sultan Qaboos to Mattis told reporters accompa- join the Saudi-led coalition air tory for Human Rights. to get them out, but we can’t discuss ongoing security con- nying him on the trip. war on rebels in Yemen. Muscat After fi ghting all morning, bring the machines out into the cerns, including the situation in “The Gulf’s cohesion is criti- hosted talks with Yemeni rebels they captured the town of Me- streets because the regime may neighbouring Yemen. cal we believe to maintaining towards resolving the war, as deira, which lies at the heart of bomb them,” he said. Mattis’ visit, his fi rst as Pen- stability in the region.” well as discussions between Iran the three zones, Observatory In the main town of Douma, tagon chief, comes amid regional Sultan Qaboos, the longest- and Western powers that led to a head Rami Abdel Rahman said. bodies piled up in the morgue as strains over the Yemen confl ict serving ruler in the Arab world, landmark July 2015 deal to curb State news agency SANA had bombardment prevented fami- People hold a warning leaflet dropped by plane with the message, and a Gulf crisis caused by a has kept a low profi le on regional the nation’s nuclear programme. reported troops were focusing lies from reaching the cemetery, “Keep yourself and your family aware” in the besieged town of Saudi-led blockade against Qa- disputes, and has carved out a Mattis is also slated to meet on the town in order to cut rebel AFP’s correspondent there said. Douma, Eastern Ghouta, in Damascus. tar. niche for Oman as a diplomatic with Oman’s defence minister access routes in Ghouta. Families grew desperate for “The unity of the (Gulf Co- back-channel. Under Sultan today and other senior Omani Bombing runs across several news of loved ones who had fl ed SANA reported yester- have used the region as a launch operation Council) has been Qaboos, Oman has maintained offi cials. towns in Ghouta killed a dozen to other areas that were now day that troops transported pad for attacks on the capital. civilians yesterday, bringing the inaccessible.On Saturday, Syr- “dozens of civilians, includ- Yesterday, four people were total toll from the off ensive to at ian troops and allied militia cut ing women and children,” from killed and six wounded in rebel least 1,111 civilians, the Observ- off the main road leading out of Misraba to temporary shelters rocket fi re on a government- Eleven presumed dead after private Turkish plane crashes in Iran atory said. Douma in a major blow to be- in government-held zones. controlled district in eastern They include dozens of de- leaguered rebels attempting to The Observatory said that Damascus, state television re- All 11 people on board a private Turkish plane were pany of Turkish businessman Huseyin Basaran, and composing bodies still trapped defend their enclave. Misraba was left abandoned af- ported. presumed dead yesterday after it crashed and carried eight passengers and three crew, an off icial under pulverised residential Government forces also cap- ter 75 to 100 people were moved It broadcast live footage from burst into flames on an Iranian mountainside while for Turkey’s transport ministry said. Those on board blocks in the towns of Ham- tured the town of Misraba. out of the town by regime forc- the battered skyline of Medeira, bringing a wealthy businessman’s daughter and included Basaran’s daughter Mina and seven of her muriyeh, Saqba, and Misraba. Some residents fl ed from the es. saying yesterday’s gains linked her friends home from a Dubai bachelorette party. friends, all flying back from a party ahead of her In Hammuriyeh, AFP’s cor- advancing troops, but dozens Syrian President Bashar al- Syrian soldiers advancing from The plane was owned by the private holding com- planned wedding next month. respondent saw a young man stayed as soldiers recaptured Assad is keen to recapture East- the east with troops based on scrambling frantically over the their neighbourhoods. ern Ghouta from rebels, who the western edges of Ghouta. In a Yemeni town, hardship awaits displaced civilians

Reuters erupted in December 2017. Al-Mokha Doctors and medical staff at Al-Mokha hospital are struggling on a daily ba- t took Seham Ali Ibra- sis to provide aid and treat- him one month to make ment for victims of the war Ithe dangerous journey and diseases. Across Yem- from her village near the en, millions of civilians are frontline town of Al-Heiss trapped under heavy coali- to the relative safety of tion air strikes, as well as a Yemen’s western coast ar- crackdown by the Houthis. eas, often travelling by foot Famine, cholera and diph- across battle lines. theria aff ect about 8mn peo- Now, she lives in a straw ple, including 2mn severely hut with three other families, malnourished children. including nine children, out- Haynam Salem, 40, lay side Al-Mokha where many in pain on an old examina- A displaced Yemeni woman lies at Al-Mokha hospital. displaced Yemenis have built tion table in a dusty room makeshift shelters and rely in the civilian wing of Al- on aid provided by humani- Mokha hospital after losing tarian organisations and her fi ve-month-old foetus anti-Houthi coalition forces. shortly upon arriving in “We walked...We rode the town with her children donkeys and cars...We made from Al-Hameli village in it to Al-Mokha in a month,” Taiz province. said the elderly Ibrahim, who Plastic water bottles are does not know her exact age. being used as serum injec- Yemen has been dev- tion bags in the facility hit astated by three years of by shortages of medical confl ict in which President supplies. Abd-Rabu Mansour Hadi’s “The procedure to take government, backed by the the dead foetus out of her Saudi-led coalition, is fi ght- womb is not very compli- ing to drive the Houthis out cated, but I am waiting to of cities they seized in a se- get some blood and I need at ries of operations since 2014. least two pounds,” said Ab- Al-Mokha, located some derrahim al-Dhabi, a doc- 75kms north of the strategic tor working with the World Bab al-Mandab strait, and Health Organisation and the neighbouring Al-Khoukha Arab coalition.”Hopefully, and Al-Heiss are among tomorrow I will get some.” the few towns conceded by Nurses said the hospital Houthi fi ghters since Yem- lacks basic primary care, en’s civil war started in 2015 including a maternity doc- after the armed group forced tor, and that they hadn’t Hadi into exile in Saudi Ara- been paid for fi ve months. bia. “At least 40,000 have “We asked the coalition been displaced in recent for help, we asked inter- weeks,” Eshrak al-Soubai, national organisations but Yemen’s deputy health min- nobody seems to care,” said ister, told Reuters. Maymouna Ali Ahmed, “Most displaced people chief nurse in charge of ma- are coming from the areas ternity care at the facility. of fi ghting in al-Heiss dis- Outside the hospital, sand trict (some 90kms away)... storms swept the main un- the situation is very criti- paved street of the town, cal,” she said during a visit with thousands of used plas- to Al-Mokha hospital, the tic bags covering the bushes only medical facility in the and other desert vegetation. coalition-controlled west- The local power plant has ern coast. started to run again but is Last month, the United producing only fi ve mega- Nations said at least 85,000 watts (MW), far below its Yemenis had left their homes capacity of 160MW pro- in the area since fresh fi ghting duced before the war. Gulf Times Monday, March 12, 2018 9 ARAB WORLD Abbas hails Arab nations for support

QNA internal affairs of Arab coun- the Palestinian Prisoner’s Club Ramallah tries or insulting then, stress- that the Israeli army arrested ing that if any member of the four citizens from Jericho gov- Palestinian leadership would ernorate. The Israeli occupation alestinian President do this, they would be held forces also arrested a Palestinian Mahmoud Abbas praised accountable for harming the citizen, who is still unidentifi ed, Pthe support of the Arab Arab and the Palestinian na- near the Salem military camp, countries, and their rejec- tional security. west of Jenin. tion of US President Donald US President Donald Trump, In the meantime, Palestin- Trump’s declaration that Je- in a speech at the White House ian Minister of Education and rusalem is the capital of Israel, on the evening of December Higher Education Sabri Sidem and the transfer of the US Em- 6, offi cially recognised the oc- said that the number of univer- bassy from Tel Aviv to the oc- cupied city of Jerusalem as the sity students detained in Israeli cupied Jerusalem, as well as the capital of Israel, claiming that prisons reached more than 340 adoption by the Arab countries this step was very late in terms students. to the Palestinian President of promoting the peace process, Sidem called on the Inter- proposal for the UN Secu- and he had signed a decree to national Association of Uni- rity Council on February 20, move the US embassy to the oc- versities, the Association of as a fixed position of the Arab cupied city. Arab Universities, parliamen- states. Meanwhile, Israeli occupation tary bodies and human rights In a statement to Palestin- forces yesterday arrested fi ve organisations to shoulder ian news agency, Abbas reit- Palestinians in Jericho and Jenin their responsibilities to raise erated the Palestinian stance in the West Bank. the voice against these viola- Relatives of Imayyer Shehadeh, 22, who was shot dead by Israeli soldiers the day before following a clash with settlers near the West Bank on non-interference in the Palestine news agency quoted tions. city of Nablus, mourn during his funeral in the village of Urif, south of Nablus, yesterday. 11,000 ‘missing’ in Iraq’s former militant bastion

DPA sh’s secret prisons,” Amin Mosul said. Anwar Mekki, whose husband and son were de- t least 11,000 people tained by Islamic State in are still unaccounted Mosul early last year, said Afor in Mosul, months their fate is still unclear. after the northern city was “The Iraqi forces have retaken from Islamic State not provided any proof of militants, an Iraqi police of- whether they are alive or fi cial said yesterday. martyred. Islamic State had seized But we continue to search Mosul, Iraq’s second-larg- for them,” she added. est city, in a mid-2014 blitz Iraq declared victory over and the radical group made Islamic State in December it its key stronghold in the with the help of a US-led country. In July, Iraqi Prime alliance, having retaken all Minister Haider al-Abadi the territory captured by the declared that all Mosul had extremists in 2014 and 2015. been retaken from Islamic Isolated cells believed State after a nine-month to be linked to the radical campaign. group remain active in some “Daesh elements de- parts of the country. tained more than 11,000 Iraqi forces yesterday civilians, mostly young launched an off ensive against people, in Mosul,” Colonel suspected insurgents from Bassem Ali al-Hajar, told Islamic State near the oil- DPA, using an Arabic acro- rich northern province of nym for Islamic State. Kirkuk, security sources said. “Their fate is still un- Federal police and fi ght- known. The government ers from the pro-govern- and its security forces have ment Popular Mobilisation not found them despite militia, backed by airpower, searching all catacombs, were involved in the off en- tunnels and sites of the or- sive in areas south-west of ganisation (Islamic State) Kirkuk, the sources added. since the end of Mosul lib- The campaign was eration operations,” added prompted by intelligence al-Hajar, a senior offi cer in that Islamic State remnants police of the northern prov- were planning to carry out ince of Nineveh. attacks in the province, the Mosul is the capital city of sources said. Nineveh. In recent weeks, suspect- Families of the missing ed Islamic State insurgents people have called on the have carried out several government to make more attacks targeting security eff orts to clarify their kin’s forces in the areas north- fate. Sadeq Amin is a Mo- west of Kirkuk. sul father of three security Last month, Iraq an- personnel, who have been nounced the start of a mili- missing since Islamic State tary operation in the west- detained them in April 2015. ern province of Anbar near “The government should the border with Syria, also search for them inside Dae- targeting Islamic State.

Netanyahu accused of stoking ‘fake’ crisis

AFP wants his coalition to last its Jerusalem entire term, which expires in November 2019 — some- thing he repeated yesterday. embers of Israeli But others in his right- Prime Minister wing coalition suggested MBenjamin Netan- he had other motives, and yahu’s coalition accused speculation intensifi ed the embattled premier yes- throughout the day that Is- terday of perpetuating a rael could soon be headed “fake crisis” over a political for elections. dispute to potentially force The coalition is at log- early elections. gerheads over legislation The dispute comes as that would exempt young Netanyahu faces a possible ultra-Orthodox men from indictment on bribery charg- military service, a dispute es in the coming months. that has threatened to pull Polls suggest he could re- the government apart. main prime minister and his “Over the past week Likud party could win the we’ve baked a good solution most seats in fresh elections for the draft crisis. I can say despite police investiga- that there’s no draft crisis. tions into his aff airs. It’s a fake crisis,” Educa- Victory could bolster his tion Minister Naftali Ben- political standing ahead of nett, head of the Jewish the attorney general’s deci- Home party, told reporters sion on indictments. ahead of yesterday’s cabinet Netanyahu has said he meeting. Gulf Times 10 Monday, March 12, 2018 AFRICA Kenya can’t account for $400mn of public money

By Fran Blandy, AFP President Uhuru Kenyatta, who “Accounting for public funds seven aircraft from the Royal ers, who were found in worn-out While Kenyatta has vowed to attempt to remove him over al- Nairobi is several months into a second is still wanting,” wrote Ouko. Jordanian Airforce for $15mn in footwear or having resorted to tackle corruption, veteran activ- leged abuse of offi ce blocked by term after an election in which he Of $12.4bn in recurrent and 2007, which were never used due buy their own. ist John Githongo is sceptical. the high court in 2017. again vowed to tackle graft. development spending, only to defects and, the report found, “Our concern is that every “Theft has created Kenya’s His report also highlighted enya’s government can- Less than a third of fi nancial 3.45% was spent “lawfully and are now being used as “sources year, the auditor general pre- elite. That’s our history. Stopping soaring debt that has raised alarm not account for $400mn in statements of ministries, depart- in an eff ective way”, according to for spare parts”. pares such reports detailing the theft would mean restructur- in East Africa’s richest and most Kpublic funds, according to ments and agencies that were the report. The ministry also paid fi ve times loss of huge sums of money and ing our economy and politics,” he diverse economy, after rampant a damning report from the auditor scrutinised were clean, according While some entities failed to the market price for two hydraulic presents them to parliament but told AFP. borrowing in recent years. general highlighting the country’s to the report presented to parlia- submit statements at all, others excavators, and spent some $8mn they are never acted upon,” read “That we’ve always had au- Moody’s last month cut Ken- failure to crack down on graft and ment last week. were unable to explain transfers on projects and equipment which an editorial by the Daily Nation ditor generals who do these es- ya’s credit rating from B1 to B2 misuse of state resources. Auditor general Edward Ouko of millions of dollars, unlawful never materialised. newspaper. sentially post-mortem audits of — assigning a stable outlook — The report, released last week, noted that this was however an cash withdrawals or “fraudulent” Meanwhile the interior minis- In 2017, Kenya fell to 143rd out grand theft is an interesting quirk warning it expected government for the 2015/2016 fi nancial year improvement, with only 6% of double payment of bills. try could not account for 51,500 of 180 countries in Transparency of Kenyan political economy.” debt to rise to 61% of GDP in the describes a litany of misspend- fi nancial statements declared The defence ministry came pairs of shoes worth $1.7mn al- International’s annual corrup- Ouko has battled to remain in 2018/19 fi nancial year from 41% ing and poor accounting under clean fi ve years ago. under fi re over the purchase of legedly destined for police offi c- tion index. his position, with a lawmakers’ in 2011/12. Sombre anniversary SA’s Ramaphosa courts estranged ally Malema

AFP gress (ANC) along with a number of allies. deep in his heart,” said Ramaphosa dur- Johannesburg His party now has the third largest ing a voter registration drive in Centurion, number of MPs in the National Assembly, near Pretoria. “The ANC is their home.” the lower house of the legislature. Ramaphosa’s comments came after anti- outh African President and ruling For years the EFF ruthlessly attacked apartheid icon and Nelson Mandela’s former ANC leader Cyril Ramaphosa yes- former president Jacob Zuma and his gov- wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela said she Sterday stepped up the charm off en- ernment, making accusations of corrup- would persuade Malema to rejoin the ANC. sive to lure fi rebrand Julius Malema back tion and incompetence. Malema previously also ruled out a re- to the party he was expelled from in 2012. But since Zuma’s resignation last turn to the ANC where he once headed the United States embassy official Katherine Brucker stands alongside Yasmina Ouegnin and Ivorian Ahead of a general election due in 2019, month, the EFF has softened its stance party’s powerful Youth League. Minister for the Promotion of Youth, Youth Employment and Civic Service Sidi Tiemoko Toure (left) a weekend-long voter registration drive on the governing party and Ramaphosa, “My grandmother is 87 years old. She as they lay a wreath in front of the hotel Etoile du Sud on the beach after taking part in a cycle race at was underway across South Africa on Sat- instead switching its hostility to the main said even if she dies, I must never rejoin Grand Bassam on the outskirts of Abidjan yesterday, held to commemorate the second anniversary urday and yesterday, prompting a fl urry of opposition Democratic Alliance party. the ANC,” Malema told a news conference of the Grand Bassam terrorist attack that left 19 dead. The US embassy, in collaboration with the political manoeuvring. “We would want to welcome (EFF in parliament last month. Ministry for the Promotion of Youth and Youth Employment, organised the bike race from Abidjan to Malema founded the radical opposition members) back, and in fact we are able to “I would rather leave politics and go and Grand Bassam called ‘Pedestrians for Peace!’ to honour the victims. Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) after he say we would love to have Julius Malema be an analyst on Power FM,” he added re- was removed from the African National Con- back in the ANC. He is still ANC down ferring to a local radio station.

16 dead as lightning hits Rwanda church 9 shot dead after being Sierra Leone all set At least 16 people were killed Party dubs Burundi leader and dozens more injured after lightning struck a Sev- mistaken for militants for election run-off enth-Day Adventist church in ‘eternal supreme guide’ Rwanda, a local off icial said yesterday. Reuters vestigation, it said, adding that Reuters Fourteen victims were AFP lated central African country since Addis Ababa a high-level military delegation Freetown killed on the spot as lightning Nairobi 2005 after a devastating civil war. had been dispatched to the area hit the church in the Nyaru- A constitutional referendum to launch an inquiry. guru district in the Southern in May could allow him to run in thiopian soldiers killed The Oromo Liberation Front ierra Leone’s presidential election results were too Province on Saturday, local urundi’s ruling party has elections in 2020, paving the way nine civilians and injured is a secessionist group which close to call after three quarters of the votes had been mayor Habitegeko Francois bestowed the title of “eter- for him to remain in power until E12 after mistaking them the government has branded as Scounted yesterday, with the two frontrunners neck- told AFP over the phone. Bnal supreme guide” on Pres- 2034. for rebels near a town along the terrorist. and-neck, making a second round highly likely. Two others died later from ident Pierre Nkurunziza, a party Critics mocked the develop- country’s border with Kenya, The incident took place at a The main opposition leader Julius Maada Bio, candidate their injuries, he said. offi cial confi rmed yesterday, as ment, with one decrying the “cult state media said yesterday. time when outbreaks of vio- of the Sierra Leone People’s Party, took a slight lead with He added that 140 people critics claimed he wants to lock in of personality around his majesty The soldiers were deployed to lence have continued to plague 43.3% of the vote, against ruling All People’s Congress can- involved in the incident had power for life. the King Nkurunziza I”. the Moyale area of the country’s the country, mostly in Oromiya. didate and ex-foreign minister Samura Kamara’s 42.6%. been rushed to hospital and “He is our elder, our father, our But another party offi cial, who Oromiya region in pursuit of Last month, Addis Ababa Bio, a former junta leader, was about 15,000 votes ahead. district health centres, but adviser,” CNDD-FDD secretary asked not to be named, insisted to Oromo Liberation Front fi ght- imposed a six-month, nation- The other two main candidates — Kandeh Yumkella, a that many had already been general Evariste Ndayishimiye AFP the move did not refl ect “an ers who had crossed into Ethio- wide state of emergency to former United Nations Under-Secretary, and Samuel Sam- discharged. said in a video sent to AFP whose excess such as those of (former pia from three locations, the tamp down unrest in Africa’s Sumana — were on 7% and 3.4%, respectively. There are 12 “Doctors say that only authenticity was confi rmed by an North Korean dictator) Kim Il Ethiopian News Agency said. second most populous nation. other minor candidates. three of them are in critical offi cial. Sung, as our detractors suggest”. “Nine civilians were killed The move was made a day President Ernest Bai Koroma is stepping aside after his condition but they are getting A party statement issued after a Burundi has faced a serious and 12 others were injured after Prime Minister Haile- maximum two terms in offi ce and the vote to replace him better,” he said. meeting on Saturday of the party’s political crisis since Nkurunziza during an operation that was mariam Desalegn announced has largely been peaceful, a triumph for a country that lived According to the mayor, a top leadership in Nkurunziza’s na- sought a fi ercely contested third launched with faulty intel- his resignation in what he said through a brutal, diamond-fuelled civil war in the 1990s. similar accident took place on tive Buye in the north of the former term in offi ce in April 2015. ligence,” members of the the was a bid to smooth the way for But the winner faces a huge task trying to kick start the Friday when lightning struck Belgian colony did not spell out Nkurunziza has led several armed forces told the agency. reforms. West African country’s economy, which after recovering a group of 18 students, killing the implications of the title. purges in the ranks of the former Several soldiers have been His replacement is expected from the war has been ravaged by low prices for iron ore, its one of them. The 54-year-old former rebel rebellion and surrounded himself suspended and are under in- to be named later this month. main export, and an Ebola epidemic. leader has ruled the densely popu- with a select group of generals. Music legend Tuku keeps an open door for new talent

By Susan Njanji, AFP The husky-voiced Mtukudzi, Mtukudzi allows students to Three years ago, Bright Shum- Norton, Zimbabwe whose stage name is Tuku, said just come along and try out in- ba, 31, quit his job as a heavy-du- he started to plan the centre after struments. ty machine operator in the west- realising the problems he con- He listens carefully and when ern coal-mining town of Hwange f you’ve ever dreamt of play- fronted in the 1970s when he be- he has identifi ed which ones they to pursue his dream. ing alongside Afro-jazz legend gan singing still existed. are good at, he encourages them “My wife and mother didn’t IOliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi, just Zimbabwean parents often to practise hard. understand that I chose to leave drop into his studio in Zimbabwe frown on the arts as a profession, His approach is to set them my job (for music). Luckily I met and pick up an instrument. preferring their children take up on the path to becoming self- Tuku. To me he is not just an art- Mtukudzi — one of Africa’s careers in the law or medicine. taught, like he was, rather than ist...he is like a spiritual father,” most famous and admired musi- For decades, young artists being the teacher, but he helps said Shumba. cians — has an open-door policy seeking a supportive mentor them later on to fi ne-tune their Using his personal savings, at his arts centre in Norton, 50km would head to Mtukudzi’s house talent. Mtukudzi bought an old factory, west of Harare. in the town of Kwekwe, carrying Guitarist Rodwell Roda, 33, is tore it down and built the centre, Aged 65 and with more than 60 their song scripts or just showing one graduate who started music which also teaches sound engi- albums under his belt, the self- off their dancing and choreogra- when he was just 14 years old. neering, theatre and dance. taught singer and guitarist says phy stunts. “My parents did not want me Funding now comes from in- the centre provides a home for all His daughter Shami jokes that to play a guitar,” said Roda, who come earned on the chalets as musicians, particularly young- “our house was the fi rst arts cen- now plays in Tuku’s resident well as a traditional restaurant sters who often face disapproval tre”, recounting how the home band, The Black Spirits. open to locals and tourists. from their parents at home. was fl ooded with aspiring artists. “So I used to borrow a guitar “I want to showcase what they Named “Pakare Paye”, which “These children are not appre- from friends and practise out- can do, and from there I inspire translates as “same old place” in ciated at home, they are looking side. them by appreciating them,” said the Shona language, it charges no for somewhere to be appreciated “The moment I came here, I Mtukudzi. fees, employs no tutors and fol- and I off er that,” Mtukudzi said. started to learn more things, and Through nearly four grim lows no curriculum. “Then I thought — let me look learnt to be more humble...It decades of brutal repression of “This is not a school,” Mtuku- for a place where I can attend to doesn’t mean to play with him, dissent and economic collapse dzi told AFP during a break from the youngsters.” you have to have pride.” under former president Robert Zimbabwean musician Oliver ‘Tuku’ Mtukudzi (right) plays the guitar on stage as he sound checks on rehearsals at the sprawling com- Set on a three-hectare plot and Fiona Gwena, 26, is another Mugabe, Mtukudzi has come to the eve of a concert in Soweto, South Africa. plex of thatched and brick one- equipped with a recording stu- graduate who also now sings with embody achievement. storey buildings. dio, multiple indoor and outdoor Tuku and plays percussion. He made his fi rst recording in 67th named ‘Hanya’Ga’ mean- But he shrugs off such acclaim. that he would never sing a note “We don’t deal with education stages and accommodation cha- “I just had a passion for mu- 1973 at the then Rhodesia Broad- ing ‘Concern’ in February — and “I don’t even understand the better than his fi rst scream after here — we deal with talent. A col- lets, the centre has fostered many sic so after school I heard of this casting Corp. he was rated by Forbes magazine word celebrity,” he said. his birth. “It means when I was lege says, ‘we will teach you’ but musicians and performers since place and came here in 2012. It’s a He later toured the world and one of Africa’s 10 most bankable Instead he sets great store by born I had already started sing- we say ‘you have got it, let’s learn’”. it was opened in 2004. free platform,” said Gwena. is still releasing albums — the artists. the words of his mother, who said ing. This is who I am.” Gulf Times Monday, March 12, 2018 11 AMERICAS Offi cials Rattlesnake roundup defend Trump over Kim meeting

Reuters States should have demanded con- Washington cessions before granting North Ko- rea a meeting. The North’s leaders have sought S offi cials yesterday de- a face-to-face meeting with a US fended President Donald president for decades. UTrump’s decision to meet “Before they get that kind of with North Korean leader Kim prize, we should insist that they Jong-un, saying the move was make some real changes, verifi - not just for show and not a gift to able changes to their programmes,” Pyongyang, as one senator insisted. like showing they have frozen their Travis Gardner assists ‘Miss Texas’ Margana Wood as she makes her way through a pit of rattlesnakes during the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup yesterday “President Trump isn’t doing nuclear program, Democratic US at the Nolan County Coliseum in Sweetwater, Texas. this for theatre. He’s going to solve a Senator Elizabeth Warren said on problem,” said Central Intelligence NBC’s Meet the Press. Warren said Agency Director Mike Pompeo said she was worried the North would on the Fox News Sunday programme. “take advantage” of Trump. The United States expects North Pompeo and Mnuchin said the Korea to halt all nuclear and missile United States will make no con- testing in advance of any meeting, cessions and will continue to Trump unleashed at raucous rally for Canada opposition according to Pompeo and Treasury push economic sanctions against Secretary Steve Mnuchin, who also Pyongyang before the meeting. spoke on a Sunday morning TV The US offi cials dismissed criti- embattled Pennsylvania Republican party picks leader programme. cism that Trump’s decision to meet The goal of the meeting remains elevated the North Korean leader’s denuclearisation of the Korean pe- international standing. Reuters Congresswoman Maxine Waters. Morphing to ‘Keep Reuters ninsula, something Kim has agreed They said decades of diplomatic Moon Township, Pennsylvania Under pressure over a scandal in- America Great!’ Toronto to discuss, they noted. eff orts have failed and Trump was volving a porn star named Stormy Pompeo said US military exer- keeping up tough sanctions and a Daniels, Trump singled out his wife, It’s barely 2018, but US President cises in the region will continue in strong US defence posture while tak- resident Donald Trump at- Melania, for praise. “You think her life Donald Trump is gearing up for a he main opposition party of Canada’s the lead-up to the talks. ing a diplomatic step toward contain- tacked his critics, promoted is so easy folks? Not so easy,” he said. 2020 re-election campaign, with a most populous province, Ontario, elect- The Republican president agreed ing the North’s nuclear ambitions. Phis steel and aluminium tariff s Trump said the country should familiar sounding new slogan: “Keep Ted a new leader on Saturday just three on Thursday to accept an invitation “This administration has its eyes and tossed out an idea to have drug discuss having drug dealers face the America Great!” months before provincial elections, ending from the North Korean leader to meet wide open, and the whole time this dealers face the death penalty, ad- death penalty because they are re- Addressing a rally in a Pittsburgh turmoil in the party following the sudden res- by May after months of escalating conversation takes place the pres- dressing a raucous rally on Saturday sponsible for thousands of deaths. suburb, Trump endorsed a Republi- ignation of the previous chief. tensions over Pyongyang’s advanc- sure will continue to mount on for a Republican congressional can- “I don’t know if that’s popular. I can candidate in a closely-watched The center-right Progressive Conservatives, ing nuclear and missile programs. North Korea,” Pompeo said on the didate in a tight race. don’t know if that’s unpopular.” upcoming special congressional which have been leading in polls to unseat the Trump would become the fi rst CBS “Face the Nation” show. Trump’s appearance was aimed at A day after getting news that the election, before turning to his own ruling Liberals, elected Doug Ford after a cha- sitting US president to meet with a Mnuchin said Trump has been helping Republican Rick Saccone in US economy produced 313,000 jobs political future. otic day of vote counting which saw the result leader of the reclusive country af- criticised for not using more di- a district Trump won overwhelm- last month, Trump said his policies “Our new slogan when we start delayed by several hours. ter having exchanged insults. plomacy to contain Pyongyang’s ingly in 2016 as part of a narrow win are paying off . running — can you believe it, in Fifty-three year old Ford is the brother of Trump called Kim “Little Rocket nuclear ambitions. in Pennsylvania. He said 25% tariff s on steel im- two years from now — is going to late Rob Ford, the former mayor of Toronto who Man” and Kim referred to Trump as “Now we have a situation where But while he heartily endorsed ports will boost Pennsylvania’s be: ‘Keep America great, exclama- gained global notoriety for admitting to smok- a “mentally deranged US dotard.” the president is using diplomacy Saccone as a “really good person,” economy. Critics say the tariff s tion point,’” he said. “Keep America ing crack cocaine while in offi ce. On Saturday, Trump said his but we’re not removing the maxi- Trump spent a lot of time talking could trigger retaliatory trade meas- great!” The party was thrown into chaos in January meeting could fi zzle without an mum pressure campaign,” Mnuch- about his own fortunes in a “Make ures and damage the US economy. Trump’s snappy but controversial after party leader Patrick Brown resigned fol- agreement or could result in “the in said on Meet the Press. America Great Again” rally in an air- There are also doubts about how “Make America Great Again” slogan lowing accusations of sexual misconduct. greatest deal for the world,” with “So the president is going to sit port hangar at the Pittsburgh Inter- far Trump’s policies will go toward dominated the 2016 election atmos- Brown has denied the allegations. a denuclearisation of the Korean down and see if he can cut a deal.” national Airport. resuscitating the battered American phere, and his supporters — many Ford, a former Toronto city councillor, will peninsula. No venue or date for the Six Republican senators last week He said it was crucial for Republi- steel industry. of whom wore red hats bearing the have to unify the party and spearhead a cam- meeting has been determined. sent a letter to Trump to share his cans to muster forces to turn back a “Your steel is coming back. It’s all phrase at the rally — have used it as paign to oust Ontario’s 14-year-old Liberal Traveling in Oman, US Defense plan with Congress that keeps up strong Democratic drive to win one coming back,” Trump told several a catchphrase for the president’s government, led by Premier Kathleen Wynne. Secretary Jim Mattis said he will pressure on “this heinous regime.” or both houses of the US Congress in thousand cheering supporters. first year in off ice. “Tonight we took the fi rst step in defeating not discuss issues related to North One of them, Republican Cory November midterm elections. Trump vowed to fi ght any retalia- Trump also reprised his criticism Kathleen Wynne,” Ford told reporters. “To the Korea because the situation was Gardner, told CBS yesterday it was “We need Republicans. We need tory trade measures by, for example, of liberal Senator Elizabeth Warren, people of Ontario, I say relief is on its way.” too sensitive and the Pentagon was important to see “concrete and the vote,” Trump said, saying Demo- slapping taxes on imported Euro- whom he mocks as Pocahantas, and The run-up to Saturday’s election was not directly involved in the diplo- verifi able steps” from North Korea crats would take away, among other pean cars. Senator Bernie Sanders, the far left marred by several hiccups, including troubles matic outreach. before the meeting occurs. things, “your Second Amendment Trump also said he hoped to run independent who challenged Hillary with voter registration and a failed last-minute Trump’s action drew concern “After this meeting, there’s go- rights” to bear fi rearms. for re-election against Democrat Clinton for the Democratic nomina- attempt by Brown to re-enter the leadership from Democrats as well as fellow ing to be very little left of that dip- Continuing his battle against the Oprah Winfrey, although the enter- tion in 2016. race. Republicans, who said the United lomatic runway,” he said. mainstream news media, Trump tainer has ruled out a run. “I look forward to 2020 because “We have a lot of work to do...in a very short insulted NBC News’ Meet the Press “I’d love to beat Oprah. I know her I want to see how far left the person amount of time,” Ford said after winning the host Chuck Todd and Democratic weakness,” said Trump. is going to be that we’re going to run four-cornered contest. Californian held for killing cop against,” Trump said. Ford defeated his nearest rival Christine Elli- ott, who lost the 2015 party chief race to Brown. California man was arrested The man, identifi ed by police as Saturday after a 15-hour Isaias De Jesus Valencia, 39, fl ed on Saccone is trying to win an elec- Astandoff with a police SWAT foot and the two offi cers chased him, tion tomorrow in Pennsylvania’s Rare crystallised water in team and charged with killing one the paper reported. 18th District to replace Republican police offi cer and wounding anoth- Valencia barricaded himself in an Tim Murphy, who resigned last fall a ‘super-deep’ diamond er, authorities said. apartment and when the offi cers ar- while enmeshed in a sex scandal. Pomona, Ca., Police Offi cer Gregg rived, he shot through the door, kill- Polls show Saccone is in a close team of researchers at the University of Casillas was shot and killed, and a ing Casillas and wounding the second race against Democrat Conor Lamb. Nevada, in the United States, has dis- second offi cer was shot in the face, offi cer, who has not been identifi ed. A Saccone loss would be the fi rst Acovered a unique diamond that contains authorities said on the Pomona po- Valencia was arrested Saturday loss of a Republican seat in the House high-density ice known as the ice-VII, QNA lice Twitter and Facebook pages. “Our after police used tear gas and de- of Representatives since Trump took reports from Washington. hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss ployed trained dogs to force him to offi ce in January 2017, although Re- The scientists found this unique stone con- of our brother, Offi cer Gregg Casillas,” surrender, local media reported. publicans would still control of the tents in the material extracted from an under- the department’s Twitter page said. No information about charges chamber. ground layer, the thickness of about 4000km Casillas and a second offi cer pur- were available early Sunday. The race could signal how much and above which the crust, which is between sued the suspect in a vehicle after The second police offi cer under- help Trump can provide Republican 30km and 60km. The scientists used X-rays to he allegedly crashed his car into an went surgery and was expected to congressional candidates trying to analyse the diamonds and found inside the sev- apartment complex in Pomona Fri- recover, media reported. keep control of both the House of enth ice in its natural state, and this is the fi rst day night, The Los Angeles Times No police spokesperson was im- President Donald Trump answers questions from the media as he departs Representatives and the Senate in time to detect this type of ice in normal condi- and other media reported. mediately available for comment. the White House toward Marine One in Washington, DC yesterday. midterm elections next November. tions on the ground. Woman who coined ‘glass ceiling’ term frustrated by slow progress

By Ellen Wulfhorst, Reuters said, and the term was born. “It’s going to take longer, and plementing Diversity, Loden still must recognise the unconscious who’s in a bona fi de leadership it, and the light is shining through New York Four decades later the “glass it’s going to be maybe a little speaks on topics such as shatter- bias and assumptions that keep position needs to be doing now is like never before,” she told her ceiling” is a household phrase — more painful than anybody pre- ing the glass ceiling and gender women out of positions of power, being an advocate for change for supporters. Loden disputes 18mn but the number of female chief dicted.” diff erences in leadership. decision-making and leadership, women,” she said. cracks in the glass ceiling. “I will hen Marilyn Loden sat executives of Fortune 500 com- Loden recalled she coined the Four decades later, she said she said. Former US secretary of state grudgingly say there are a couple on a panel called ‘Mir- panies hovers at 5% and most phrase “glass ceiling” without she is both encouraged and dis- Society blames women for not Hillary Clinton famously re- small holes.” Wror, Mirror on the Wall’ nations have never had a female much forethought, saying “it couraged. “On the one hand, I’m trying harder and criticises their ferred to the glass ceiling when But she said the #MeToo tide 40 years ago, she got fed up of leader. kind of popped out.” amazed at the unbelievable talent assertiveness, while companies she conceded the Democratic of women coming forward to hearing women saying how their “If you had asked me 40 years But the New York media was at that women have and their ability label time-strapped working Party’s presidential nomination recount experiences with sexual negative self-image kept them ago did I think that we would be that conference in 1978 so as the to be successful in a lot of fi elds mothers as not serious about to then-candidate Barack Obama misconduct, harassment and as- from advancing at work. having this conversation today, I term began appearing in the press and a lot of professions where their careers, she said. in 2008, referring to the 18mn sault could make a diff erence and When it came time for her to would have said absolutely not. and she staked out her claim. they’re not welcome,” she said. But she said it was not helped people who voted for her. she wants to be part of that. speak she disagreed and instead But we are,” Loden, 71, a Califor- The author of books includ- “But I also am discouraged at by the fact that few women at “Although we weren’t able “I think there’s just so much described another invisible bar- nia-based management consult- ing Feminine Leadership or How the slowness of change at the top the top reach out and bring other to shatter that highest, hardest more work to do,” she said. “I’m rier besides the looking glass. ant, told the Thomson Reuters to Succeed in Business Without of organisations.” women up with them. glass ceiling this time, thanks to not ready to stop. I want to make “That’s the glass ceiling,” she Foundation in an interview. Being One of the Boys and Im- Men, women and institutions “What I think every woman you, it’s got about 18mn cracks in a diff erence.” Gulf Times 12 Monday, March 12, 2018 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

After visiting N Korea, S Korea offi cials to meet China, Japan leaders

Reuters tial offi cial said yesterday. Blue Chung and Suh will leave for un for dialogue on his nuclear border is a strong candidate for sort island of Jeju. Offi cials from to ease nuclear tensions between Seoul House spokesman Kim Eui-kye- China and Japan separately today programme was delivered to US the US-North Korea summit. North Korea and the United States the two countries. om said in a mobile message that to discuss their visit to North Ko- President Donald Trump. Trump Kim will meet with South Korean will speak directly with each oth- “I may leave fast” if progress National Security Offi ce head rea with offi cials there. Chung is agreed to meet with Kim and President Moon Jae-in at Pan- er, while South Korea will be asked does not seem possible, Trump wo senior South Korean Chung Eui-yong will meet with also scheduled to visit Russia after the two are expected to have the munjom before the end of April to consult with both, the South said at a campaign rally for Re- offi cials who met with China’s Xi Jinping today, while his trip to Beijing, but the details meeting some time before the for the fi rst inter-Korean summit Korean offi cial said. publican congressional candi- TNorth Korea’s Kim Jong- spy agency chief Suh Hoon, ac- of that have yet to be announced. end of May, although a time and in more than a decade. Other lo- Trump said on Saturday his date Rick Saccone in western un last week will split up to visit companied by one of Chung’s The two offi cials returned yes- place has not been set. cations being fl oated in the media planned meeting with Kim Jong- Pennsylvania. the leaders of China and Japan deputies Nam Gwan-pyo, will terday from a visit to the United A Blue House offi cial told re- for the meeting between Trump un could end quickly without “Trump said he believed North this week to update them on the speak with Japan’s Shinzo Abe States where an invitation from porters the truce village of Pan- and Kim include Switzerland, an agreement or could result in Korea wanted to make peace and talks, a South Korean presiden- tomorrow. North Korean leader Kim Jong- munjom at the inter-Korean Sweden and the South Korean re- “the greatest deal for the world” that: “I think it’s time.” China parliament puts Xi on course to rule for life

AFP Beijing

hina’s Xi Jinping yester- day secured a path to rule Cindefi nitely as parliament abolished presidential term lim- its, handing him almost total authority to pursue a vision of transforming the nation into an economic and military super- power. The move reverses the era of “collective” leadership and or- derly succession that was pro- moted by late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping to ensure stabil- ity following the turbulent one- man rule of Communist China’s founder Mao Zedong. The historic constitutional amendment cleared the parlia- ment with 2,958 in favour, two against, three abstentions and one invalid vote, despite an unu- sual bout of online criticism that censors have scrambled to ex- tinguish. Xi stood up fi rst at the imposing Great Hall of the People in Beijing to cast his paper ballot in a red box, as delegates of the National People’s Congress ap- plauded after each vote on the Chinese President Xi Jinping votes during the third plenary session constitutional amendment to lift A reporter films during a vote on a constitutional amendment lifting presidential term limits, at the third plenary session of the National of the first session of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) at the two fi ve-year term limit for People’s Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. the presidency. The fi rst consti- tutional amendment in 14 years said “we are back in the Qing predecessors both gave it up after limits on the already heavily con- “He wants to prevent power from sumptions, guesses and extrapo- tutional amendments at the NPC. had been expected to breeze Dynasty”, referring to China’s two terms as part of an orderly trolled Internet. falling into the hands of techno- lations don’t exist.” The party has “Xi Jinping has presided over so through the legislature, which last imperial era. The package process established by Deng. The At the same time, he gained crats like Jiang (Zemin) and Hu claimed that “the masses” unan- many important projects such as has never rejected a Communist of amendments included major country’s presidency is a largely a measure of popularity among (Jintao),” Wu said, referring to imously called for the removal of economic reforms and the fi ght Party diktat in its half-century of provisions to inscribe Xi’s epon- ceremonial offi ce, but the con- Chinese people through a relent- Xi’s two predecessors. The Com- term limits. But the proposal was against corruption. existence. ymous political mantra in the stitutional limits meant Xi would less crackdown on corruption munist Party has argued that the kept secret until it was revealed There was a consensus that we “This is the urgent wish of constitution, give the Commu- have had to give it up in 2023. But that has punished more than a move merely aligns the presi- in a state media report on Febru- supported him having more time the common people,” Ju Xiuqin, nist Party an even larger role in with the new amendments, he million party offi cials, and side- dency with the limit-free titles ary 25, a week before the legisla- to fi nish his work,” said Dou Yan- a delegate from northeastern the country’s aff airs and expand could now have a lifetime to push lined potential rivals. “I think of party secretary and military ture’s opening session. li, a delegate from eastern Shan- Heilongjiang province, told AFP, the president’s anti-corruption his goal of turning China into that during the past fi ve years, he chief. The party later disclosed that dong province. echoing party claims that lifting campaign. a global economic powerhouse has been carrying out a soft coup, Shen Chunyao, chairman Xi had presided over a meeting of Activists fear that removing term limits had the unanimous Xi, 64, has consolidated power with a “world-class” military by including making the Politburo a of the legislature’s legal aff airs the Politburo in September during term limits may lead to a further support of “the masses”. But the since 2012 when he was appoint- mid-century. mere fi gurehead,” Chinese politi- panel, brushed aside a foreign re- which the leadership decided to tightening of already strict con- vote sparked some negative com- ed to the country’s top offi ce: His rise has been accompanied cal commentator Wu Qiang told porter’s question about fears that revise the constitution. The party trols on media, civil society and ments on Twitter-like Weibo, general secretary of the Com- by tighter restrictions on civil AFP, referring to the 25-mem- a return to one-man rule could then sought proposals and opin- religion, as Xi tries to impose his with one user defying censors to munist Party. While the posi- society, with the detention of ac- ber Communist Party body one spark a power struggle, telling ions, culminating in a decision in highly ideological vision of so- write “we’re over” while another tion has no term limits, his two tivists and lawyers, and stricter level under the ruling council. a press conference: “Those as- late January to introduce consti- cialism on every aspect of society.

Japan PM, FM face mounting On Fukushima anniversary, evacuees say govt still hiding truth pressure over cronyism scandal Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his ally, Finance Minister Taro Aso, face mounting pressure over a suspected cronyism DPA for Iitate in March 2017 as offi - Following an earthquake and “Japan does not tell you the month after the nuclear emer- scandal as the finance ministry prepares to report today that Tokyo cials said it had fi nished decon- tsunami, the Fukushima Dai- truth and it hides the truth com- gency, the government fi nally documents in the case were doctored. tamination work in the village. ichi plant suff ered meltdowns at pletely,” he says. The village of conceded Iitate was so contami- Abe, now in his sixth year in off ice, had hoped to put the issue of But only 9% of its residents three of its six reactors, releas- Iitate, which lies around 40km nated that its residents had to the sale of state-owned land at a huge discount to a school operator enichi Hasegawa has de- have resumed their lives there, ing radioactive material into the north-west of Fukushima Dai- leave. with ties to his wife, Akie, behind him. But it has gathered steam with cided to return to his according to local offi cials. “Only environment. “We had to dump ichi, was not within the 20-km The “only thing” that reached a series of fresh revelations. A source with direct knowledge of the Khometown in Fukushima older people have returned all the milk from our cows,” he radiation exclusion zone set up Iitate was radiation, the farmer matter told Reuters on Saturday the finance ministry planned to to start farming despite radioac- home,” Hasegawa, in his 60s, ad- recalls at a symposium in Tokyo soon after the accident. But some says, though it did not get any report to parliament on Monday that it had found instances where tive contamination following the mits, adding that his children and on Friday organised by Friends of scientifi c experts and environ- of the “perks and subsidies” content was deleted from documents submitted to lawmakers. The 2011 nuclear fallout. grandchildren will not follow him the Earth Japan, an environmen- mentalists have warned that Ii- handed out to other nearby source spoke on condition of anonymity. “I cannot tolerate to see my because of radiation contamina- tal group. tate was heavily contaminated, towns. But, other evacuees echo “If this is true, isn’t political responsibility unavoidable?” Akira hometown getting run-down,” tion there. Hasegawa was a dairy Seven years on, the suff ering of as prevailing winds blew directly Hasegawa’s frustration, saying Nagatsuma, a senior lawmaker in the opposition Constitutional says Hasegawa, a resident of Ii- farmer in Iitate before one of the local people, as well as the disas- towards the mountainous village, authorities have continued to Democratic Party of Japan, told reporters yesterday. tate Village. The Japanese gov- world’s worst nuclear accidents ter itself, are “forgotten and hid- carrying radioactive substances downplay the magnitude of the Abe has repeatedly denied he or his wife did favours for school ernment lifted evacuation orders struck his area on March 11, 2011. den” says Hasegawa. into the area. More than one disaster. operator Moritomo Gakuen, which bought the land, and has said he would resign if evidence were found that they had. The issue last year sharply eroded Abe’s popularity. Former Moritomo Gakuen head Yasunori Kagoike and his wife were arrested in July on suspicion of illegally receiving subsidies. Water woes On Friday, National Tax Agency chief Nobuhisa Sagawa abruptly resigned over his remarks in parliament about the case. Also on Friday, media said police were investigating as possible suicide the death of a finance ministry off icial whose local off ice had handled the land sale. “If Minister Aso signed off on National Tax Agency chief Sagawa’s resignation knowing about the falsified documents, moves seeking his resignation are inevitable,” Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the opposition Democratic Party, told reporters. Suspicions of an attempted cover-up could slash Abe’s ratings and dash his hopes of a third term as ruling Liberal Democratic Party leader. Victory in the LDP September leadership vote would put him on track to become Japan’s longest-serving premier. “If Aso were forced out, it would be a critical blow to the prime minister, reinforcing the impression of a cover-up and depriving Abe of a key ally who has served as finance minister since December 2012,” wrote Tobias Harris, vice president of consultancy Teneo Intelligence in an e-mail report. Sagawa headed the ministry division that submitted the documents before he was tapped as tax agency chief in July, an appointment critics saw as a reward for his eff orts to diff use the issue with his statements to parliament last year. Aso and Abe have both defended the appointment as “appropriate” and Aso has said he will not resign. “If these documents were falsified, the entire cabinet should resign,” tweeted Mizuho Fukushima, a lawmaker with the tiny opposition Social Democratic Party. Abe, 63, swept back to power in December 2012 promising to revive the economy and bolster its defence. It was Houses can be seen surrounded by flood waters in the town of Ingham, located in North Queensland, a rare comeback for the conservative lawmaker, who quit abruptly Australia, yesterday. in 2007 after a year in off ice marked by scandals in his cabinet, a deadlocked parliament and ill health. Gulf Times Monday, March 12, 2018 13 BRITAIN

Tories have cost households £1,000 in energy bills: Labour

Guardian News and Media imposing an energy price cap, the government has been promising 2010 level, the total cost to an av- fuel poverty, the party said. La- isting private energy suppliers,” since 2010, driven by external London opposition attacked what it said action on energy bills since 2010 erage household is £957, fi gures bour’s proposed price cap would Long-Bailey said. factors including wholesale and was a record of inaction by suc- yet energy costs are still spiral- compiled by the House of Com- keep typical bills below £1,000, The government responded by network costs, and policies that cessive Tory governments. ling.” mons library show. lower than the £1,050 that some pointing out that Ofgem had re- have led to investment in net- abour has accused the The government defended its In 2010, a household with Labour said this extra cost analysts expect the government’s ferred the energy market to the works, energy effi ciency and Conservatives of cost- record, saying a freeze on prices typical energy consumption paid could have been avoided if the price cap to come in at. competition watchdog four years low-carbon generation. Ling British households as energy companies faced grow- £1,038 for an annual dual fuel Conservatives had intervened “The next Labour govern- ago, and had since taken steps to “Freezing energy prices would nearly £1,000 in extra energy ing costs in recent years would bill. In 2017 it was £1,116, but in earlier to stop suppliers raising ment will radically reform our put in place a price cap. have meant a lack of important costs over the past seven years have damaged investment and some years it has been more than prices. broken energy market, creat- A spokesperson for the depart- investment in infrastructure and by failing to stop electricity and businesses. £1,200. The result was ‘Big Six’ profi ts ing publicly owned, locally ac- ment for business, energy and would have damaged businesses gas firms raising prices. Rebecca Long-Bailey, shadow Adding up the annual amount had continued to thrive, leav- countable energy companies industrial strategy said: “Energy when market-driven costs went While the government is now business secretary, said: “The consumers have paid above the ing around 2.5mn households in and co-operatives to rival ex- prices have gone up and down up.” Scottish Labour conference backs Corbyn on Brexit plans

Guardian News and Media The spokeswoman for Scottish Dundee Labour’s single market campaign is Kezia Dugdale, the former Scot- tish Labour leader who had op- cottish Labour delegates posed Corbyn’s leadership bid and have rejected a rebel mo- who had backed Leonard’s rival Stion calling for the UK to Anas Sarwar last year. rejoin the single market and in- One pro-EU speaker, Donald stead rallied behind Jeremy Cor- MacKinnon from the Western byn’s pro-Brexit strategy. Isles, said leaving the single mar- The party’s conference in Dun- ket would be catastrophic for the dee voted overwhelmingly for Hebridean economy by increasing a “unity motion” drafted by its the costs of its exports of products Scottish executive after deep di- such as Harris tweed and by re- visions over Corbyn’s proposals moving EU subsidies. emerged between the party’s cen- To applause from some del- trists and the Labour leadership. egates, MacKinnon accused party The vote, which endorsed Cor- leaders of “perpetuating myths” byn’s pledge to oppose Brexit if that the EU’s rules prevented the the deal failed to protect workers’ UK from renationalising indus- rights and included full access to tries or using state aid to invest the single market, came as John in others. He attacked the Scot- Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond attends the Andrew Marr Show at the BBC in London yesterday. McDonnell, the shadow chancel- tish executive’s decision to put its lor, pledged £70bn in extra spend- unity motion to a vote fi rst, which ing for Scotland. meant the rival pro-single market McDonnell sought to shore motion would fall. up Labour’s promises to reinvest He said his constituency party heavily in the economy and public would abstain from the vote. “The spending after Brexit. He prom- SEC shouldn’t have interfered ised £30bn in extra in spending with the democratic process of on public services in Scotland and conference,” he said. Hammond sees light at £40bn on infrastructure over the Catherine Stihler, a Scottish next decade, fi nanced by heavier Labour MEP who has championed taxes and borrowing. continued single market mem- Giving the closing conference bership, urged Labour to embrace speech, McDonnell hinted at the a Norway-style option of join- Labour leadership’s central argu- ing the European economic area ments against the EU. “Both north (EEA), as that had the greatest end of austerity tunnel and south of the border, lives have chance of protecting jobs, wages been destroyed and millions left and production. Reuters “There is light at the end of the defi cit into the mid-2020s. health service, school head to do that,” he said, adding the in despair thanks to the failed She said the party had to remem- London tunnel because what we are about He came up with extra spend- teachers and local government government would continue to economic dogma of neoliberal- ber a large majority of Scottish vot- to see is debt starting to fall after ing in a budget plan in November. offi cial were bearing the brunt balance the need for investment ism and austerity. Austerity was ers had backed Remain at the 2016 it’s been growing for 17 continu- But he remains under pressure of the Conservatives’ economic against the push to bring down always a political choice, not an referendum. “Remaining part of the inance Minister Philip ous years,” Hammond told BBC from the opposition Labour Party policies, and up to 11mn people debt. economic necessity,” he said. single market is the only way we can Hammond yesterday said television ahead of a half-yearly and some lawmakers in his Con- would be hit next month by cuts Britain’s overall public sector Before McDonnell spoke, there mitigate the worst eff ects of leav- Fhe might be able to relax update on the public fi nances to- servative Party to spend more on in benefi ts. net debt totalled £1.7tn in Janu- were repeated clashes over Cor- ing the EU,” she said. John Erskine, his grip on public spending at morrow. the over-stretched state health Stressing the limits on his room ary, 84% of gross domestic prod- byn’s decision to reject any formal a delegate from Inverness, backed the end of this year, but he stuck “That is a very important mo- system and other services. for manoeuvre, Hammond told uct and more than double its level continued membership of the sin- her up. Citing analysis that said to his plan to cut the country’s ment for us. But we are still in the Labour’s fi nance spokesman the BBC it was not clear that re- before the fi nancial crisis. Ham- gle market or the customs union, Brexit would cut economic output high debt levels. tunnel at the moment. We have to John McDonnell said Hammond’s cent improvements in Britain’s mond says that restricted Brit- on a similar footing to Norway. by 9%, Erskine said: “Let’s be clear, Britain’s budget defi cit has get debt down.” performance was nothing to cel- economy - such as a pickup in ain’s ability to respond to future In the run-up to Sunday’s vote, there is no leftwing case for Brexit. probably fallen to about 2% of an- Faced with uncertainty about ebrate. weak productivity growth - rep- economic shocks. offi cials close to Corbyn and the It is a myth.” Their complaints were nual economic output in the cur- what leaving the European Union “Last year, we had the low- resented a long-term change. Hammond confi rmed he plans Scottish Labour leader, Richard rebutted by a series of speakers who rent fi nancial year, which would will mean for the world’s sixth- est economic growth in the G7 “We need to look at what is hap- no new tax or spending measures Leonard, had accused the pro- had supported Corbyn’s leadership. be its lowest since 2002 and way biggest economy and frustration countries,” he said on Sunday. pening sustainably in the econo- in tomorrow’s budget statement EU grouping of using the issue to Rhea Wolfson, a leftwing member down from the 10% it reached among voters who have coped “Wages are below what they were my,” he said. which will be largely a low-key mount a proxy war by Labour’s of Labour’s national executive, said in 2010, when many govern- with eight years of austerity, in 2007-2008, before the banking “But if there is the fl exibility, update of economic forecasts. He moderates against the party’s the party had to prioritise unity if it ment departments began cutting Hammond has already pushed crisis.” the space to do something, then is also due to launch some policy leadership – a charge they deny. wanted to win the next election. spending sharply. back a target of wiping out the He said managers in the we will decide in the autumn how reviews.

Film premiere Teacher banned for London warned to fi x ancient water pipes using racist language London Evening Standard ture is contributing to a widen- London ing gap between water supply and demand. Guardian News and Media used swearwords in class and evidence “very clearly demon- She told the Standard: “Lon- London breached the school’s code of con- strates that Pedley is an eff ec- ondon could face a mass don now faces a major gap be- duct by consuming alcohol in the tive, dedicated and well respected water shortage by 2040 tween its water supply and the presence of pupils while on duty teacher who has positively infl u- Lif drastic action is not needs of its growing population. teacher at a private school during a school trip to Budapest enced the lives of pupils in many taken to fix ancient pipes as au- Ageing water infrastructure does in Northamptonshire has and Vienna. He also purchased al- areas of school life throughout his thorities warned supply is set to not help. Abeen banned from teach- cohol for an underage student and 37-year career at the school”. Al- reach dangerously low levels. “The frequency of burst pipes ing after repeatedly using racist allowed students to drink exces- though the panel found Pedley’s Major pipe bursts across the and the water lost to thousands language about students. sive amounts of alcohol while on actions amounted to “unaccepta- capital prompted the London of small long-term leaks are A professional conduct panel the trip. ble professional conduct and con- Assembly to renew calls for symptoms of under-investment found that Philip Pedley, a history Despite fi nding that Pedley had duct that may bring the profession Thames Water to rethink how in our water network.” teacher at Oundle school, where made derogatory statements, the into disrepute”, they concluded a it is addressing concerns over In response to the calls to re- fees can be more than £35,000 a panel concluded he should not be ban would be “punitive”. long-term shortages. address the issue, Thames Wa- year, told colleagues he did not banned from teaching because of But Dawn Dandy, on behalf of After a week of fl oods and wa- ter stressed that it is working to “want to teach blackies and chink- “the overwhelming evidence in the education secretary, overruled ter shortages across the capital secure a plan for managing its ies in my classroom” and told one support of (Pedley’s) ability as an the panel and said a full teaching caused by extreme weather, the resources over the coming years. pupil “your father must have come excellent teacher”. However, this ban was proportionate. London Assembly urged the wa- The fi rm said in statement: over, stealing our jobs”. recommendation was overruled Dandy said: “I do not feel that ter company to take action. “We take the management of The panel also concluded that by the Education Secretary, Dam- the panel has given adequate The authority had previously water resources very seriously, Pedley: ian Hinds. weight to the potential damage to said water demand was outstrip- with our latest draft plan looking z Said to a pupil: “Oh you’re The panel said more than 50 the public perception of the teach- ping supply and warned that the at how we’ll manage resources from (redacted). Does your dad do pages of statements and letters ing profession if behaviours such utilities fi rm’s internal projec- over the next 80 years currently boom boom?” had been provided that displayed as those found proven are not dealt tions understated the “severity out for public consultation. z Said a pupil should be put “on “overwhelming” backing from with appropriately and propor- of the situation”. “Our plans aim to meet the the next boat back to (redacted)”. “colleagues, parents, former and tionately.” An earlier report that sug- growing needs of the wider south z Told one pupil he was “pretty current pupils from a range of eth- Pedley told the panel he never gested the city could see a supply east, and we’ve been working good for a foreigner”. nicities and backgrounds”. intended to off end or upset his pu- shortfall of 20% by 2040. with fellow water companies in z Asked “did you bring any il- Several students had also pils and that if he had, he regretted Leonie Cooper, chairwoman of England and Wales to take a co- legal substances?” after enquiring praised Pedley extensively on it “enormously”. He said that while Australian actress Elizabeth Debicki attends UK premiere the London Assembly’s environ- ordinated approach to ensure we about another pupil’s father’s job. teaching websites. he had used racist language, he of Peter Rabbit in central London yesterday. ment committee, said Thames off er customers the best possible Pedley, 60, was found to have The panel considered that this was not racist and “abhors racism”. Water’s ageing water infrastruc- value solution.” Gulf Times 14 Monday, March 12, 2018 BRITAIN/IRELAND

Govt funds export of CSeries jets in aftermath of trade row

Reuters of-the-art wings plant. Although Bombardier re- “It is a small amount of money Commission decision to overturn ard for a fair playing fi eld and becoming the first Asian op- London The move comes weeks after ceives some UK development but a signal to Boeing,” a Europe- CSeries duties. that we all play by the same rules, erator. Its order for 10 jets, with Bombardier won a shock reprieve funding, UKEF had long resist- an trade source said, asking not However, trade analysts say an and that will be our consistent options for at least another 10, from severe US import duties ed Canadian requests to finance to be identifi ed. appeal looks increasingly unlike- theme.” suggests the main beneficiary he government has thrown on the 110-130-seat CSeries CSeries exports that partly For its part, Boeing has sig- ly, ahead of a March 12 deadline, Other potential obstacles to of UKEF support will be Airbus its fi nancial support for when a US tribunal ruled Boeing compete with those of Airbus, nalled it would sue Bombardier as Boeing seeks to smooth over a UK CSeries aid were lifted when rather than Bombardier. The Tthe fi rst time behind ex- had failed to prove it had been the European plane giant which again if provoked to do by what row which soured relations with UKEF eased a two-year ban on Airbus CSeries tie-up is ex- ports of Bombardier CSeries jets harmed by low prices of CSeries employs 12,000 people in the it regards as unfair pricing of Canada and Britain and resulted Airbus funding, resulting from pected to be approved in a mat- part-built by Northern Ireland sold to Delta Air Lines. UK. CSeries jets. in the loss of a Boeing fi ghter sale misleading bids that triggered ter of months. workers caught up in a recent The Boeing-Bombardier dis- The decision to provide sup- But there are signs it is trying to Canada. an Anglo-French corruption Last July, Boeing itself became trade row. pute raised questions over jobs port refl ects a power shift in the to defuse the row as it highlights “We are very mindful of the probe. an indirect recipient of UK ex- Export credit agency UK Ex- at Northern Ireland’s largest in- aerospace industry after Airbus investments in Canada and Brit- relationships that we have in Airbus said last month it had port support when UKEF said it port Finance said the financ- dustrial plant and drew warnings agreed to buy a majority of the ain. Canada and...we do about $4bn reached agreement allowing the was backing two Boeing 787s to ing for jets being delivered to to Boeing over its UK ties from struggling CSeries last year, and Chief executive Dennis of supply chain work in Canada funding to resume on a case-by- Poland’s LOT Airlines. Korean Air would support jobs Prime Minister Theresa May, is viewed by some experts as a re- Muilenburg said last week Boe- every year,” Muilenburg said. case basis. However, the aid is tied mainly in Belfast, where the Canadian who depends on a Northern Ire- minder of ongoing UK interest in ing was still examining whether “But we also want to make sure Korean Air took delivery of to Rolls-Royce engines rather planemaker operates a state- land party for her majority. the CSeries’ future. to appeal the International Trade that we continue to set a stand- its first CSeries in December, than the airframes.

Labour MPs told Hundreds told to shun Russia TV channel to wash clothes

Guardian News and Media London as nerve agent ohn McDonnell has said La- bour MPs should no longer Jappear on RT, formerly Russia Today, in the wake of the nerve agent attack on the former spy Sergei Skripal. The Home Secre- tary, Amber Rudd, has said it is traces found too early to say who is responsible for the attack on Skripal and his Guardian News and Media put in two plastic bags tied at the any diners were connected to the daughter, Yulia, but with fi ngers London top and stored safely in your own nerve agent. pointing at the Kremlin, UK poli- home. The Metropolitan police, who ticians are coming under increas- “Wipe personal items such are leading the investigation, ing pressure to stand up to Russia. undreds of people who as phones, handbags and other refused to comment on the BBC Asked on the BBC’s Andrew visited the pub and res- electronic items with cleansing report. Marr Show whether one way of do- Htaurant in Salisbury or baby wipes and dispose of the The Home Secretary, Amber ing that was to stop appearing on where the Russian spy Sergei wipes in the bin (ordinary do- Rudd, has said police have iden- RT, McDonnell said: “I think that’s Skripal may have been poisoned mestic waste disposal). tifi ed more than 240 witnesses right now and that’s what I’ll be have been warned to wash their “Other items such as jewel- and 200 pieces of evidence. The doing… because what we’re seeing clothes and possessions. lery and spectacles which cannot ministry of defence said armed from Russia Today at times goes The announcement from Pub- go in the washing machine or be forces personnel would be re- beyond objective journalism.” lic Health England is aimed at as cleaned with cleansing or baby turning to Salisbury to assist for McDonnell’s deputy, Peter many as 500 customers who ate wipes should be hand washed a third day yesterday. Dowd, appeared on the Kremlin- at Zizzi restaurant or were in the with warm water and detergent Offi cers in hazmat suits have funded channel on Saturday but Mill pub last Sunday and Mon- and then rinsed with clean, cold been examining the grave of Skri- the shadow chancellor said he day. water.” pal’s wife and a memorial to his would he would be advising La- The public health notice says Public Health England is- son which are next to each other bour colleagues not to do so in that although the risk is very low sued the advice as a precaution, in a Salisbury cemetery. Scotland future. He said that in the past repeated contact with clothing or but said the risk to the general Yard said no exhumations had they had tried to treat the station items exposed to the nerve agent public remained low. Prof Dame taken place and it is understood – long denounced as a propa- could be a danger. Sally Davies, the chief medical there has been no application to ganda tool of the Russian state – The statement said: “While officer of England, describing the ministry of justice to permit like other broadcasters but it had there is no immediate health risk it as a “belt and braces” ap- such a move. This may indicate crossed a line of objectivity. “We to anyone who may have been proach, said: “The risk to the that police do not yet have suf- need to step back now,” he said. in either of these locations, it is general public remains low and fi cient evidence to substantiate McDonnell said that if a state possible, but unlikely, that any I am confident none of these suggestions that either died by was involved in the nerve agent of the substance which has come customers or staff will have foul means. attack, which has left Skripal and into contact with clothing or be- suffered harm.” It has previously been reported his daughter in a critical condi- longings could still be present in Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, that Liudmila died of cancer in tion in hospital, there was a need minute amounts and therefore who is also critically ill, ate in the 2012 aged 59, while Alexander to isolate the relevant administra- contaminate your skin. Over restaurant hours before they were Skripal died in March last year tion. He said one way of doing that time, repeated skin contact with found unconscious last Sunday. in St Petersburg, aged 43, in un- would be to introduce a British contaminated items may pose a On Monday, Wiltshire police said known circumstances. equivalent of the Magnitsky act, small risk to health.” the restaurant, on Castle Street, While Rudd has said it is too the US legislation that bans Rus- It recommends reducing the had been closed as a precaution, early to say who is responsi- sian individuals from entering the risks in several ways. “Wash the and it remains cordoned off . ble for the attack, suspicion country and blocks their assets. clothing that you were wearing in An ongoing forensic exami- has fallen on the Russian state. The shadow chancellor said an ordinary machine using your nation uncovered the substance The Kremlin has strongly de- Labour had tried to attach an regular detergent at the tempera- in Zizzi, according to the BBC, nied culpability but the For- amendment containing Mag- ture recommended for the cloth- which reported that no one else eign Secretary, Boris Johnson, nitsky clauses to an anti-money ing who was in the restaurant at the has already warned that if the laundering bill a week ago but it “Any items which cannot be same time as the Skripals was UK finds evidence of Russian had been rejected by the Conserv- Military personnel wearing protective coveralls work to remove vehicles from a cordoned off area washed, and which would nor- believed to be in danger. It also involvement then a robust re- atives for “technical reasons”. behind a police station in Salisbury yesterday. mally be dry cleaned, should be said there was no suggestion that sponse will be forthcoming. Home Offi ce fl outs rules Bono sorry as charity on family separations hit by bullying claims AFP The board of directors in- London cludes former prime minister Guardian News and Media and faces deportation. A petition tions. It states: “A child must not David Cameron, Facebook chief London has been launched on change.org be separated from both adults for Sheryl Sandberg and African tel- demanding that Oranyendu be immigration purposes (or from 2 frontman Bono has ecoms magnate Mo Ibrahim. allowed to remain in the UK with one, in the case of a single-par- apologised after claims Bono said things had gone he Home Offi ce broke its his family. ent family, if the consequence of Uemerged yesterday that “badly wrong” and he needed to own rules when British The four children and Orany- that decision is that the child is workers at his ONE charity were “take some responsibility for that”. Tchildren had to be taken endu’s partner are all British taken into care).” subjected to a culture of abuse He added he would like to meet into care after offi cials arrested citizens. His partner is in Nigeria Oranyendu said: “These four and bullying. the complainants and “apologise their father. to attend a family funeral and he British children have not com- The Irish singer, 57, said he was in person”. The children, aged eight, six was caring for the children. mitted any crime. Why is the “deeply sorry” and “furious” The Mail on Sunday also claimed and fi ve, were expecting to be Oranyendu has been detained Home Offi ce punishing them by about the allegations, which ap- that ONE failed to pay South Afri- collected from school near their and bailed twice from immi- separating them from the parent peared in The Mail on Sunday can taxes and said it was alleged home in Manchester by their fa- gration detention in recent who is caring for them while the newspaper, and pledged to meet to have illegally employed foreign ther, Kenneth Oranyendu, 45, on months. He has abided by his other parent is out of the coun- victims to apologise in person. workers on tourist visas. Friday afternoon but instead so- bail conditions and has report- try at a family funeral? I pleaded The tabloid detailed a string of ONE describes itself as a cam- cial workers took them into care. ed regularly to Dallas Court, a with the Home Offi ce to let me incidents, including claims from a paigning and advocacy organisa- Oranyendu said his 17-year- Home Office reporting centre stay with my children, but they married woman who said she was tion taking action to end extreme old autistic son was in the family in Manchester. didn’t listen.” demoted after refusing to have poverty and preventable disease, home and he was very concerned It was when he went to report He added that he had managed sex with a Tanzanian member of particularly in Africa. about his welfare. on Friday that Home Offi ce offi - to make contact with his wife to parliament. “We are all deeply Bono co-founded the non- “I don’t know where my cials arrested him. He begged to tell her what had happened and sorry. I hate bullying, can’t stand governmental organisation in youngest three children are at be allowed to remain on bail at that she too was distraught. She it,” Bono said in a statement. 2004. Its headquarters are in the moment. I haven’t been able least until his partner returned was due to return to the UK at the “The poorest people in the Washington. to speak to them and I know they from Nigeria, but the Home Of- end of this month but is trying to poorest places being bullied by The NGO’s president Gayle will be absolutely distraught,” he fi ce refused and he was told his return earlier. their circumstance is the reason Smith said she was “troubled” said. children would be taken into Oranyendu was detained at we set up ONE. So to discover by the allegations. She said an Oranyendu has a conviction care. Dallas Court at 10am on Friday last November that there were investigation found evidence for drug traffi cking. He claims In December, the Home Offi ce and held there until the evening, serious and multiple allegations of “unprofessional conduct” as he was duped into accepting published guidance which clear- when he was driven 200 miles to of bullying in our offi ce in Jo- well as “bullying and belittling parcels containing drugs. He has ly states that children must not Colnbrook immigration removal hannesburg left me and the ONE of staff ” between late 2011 and served a three-year jail sentence be taken into care in such situa- centre near Heathrow. Bono: “furious” about allegations board reeling and furious.” 2015. Gulf Times Monday, March 12, 2018 15 EUROPE

Migrant master plan Putin vows never to give pledged

AFP Berlin Crimea back to Ukraine AFP/Reuters erman Chancellor Angela Moscow “There are no such circum- The peninsula’s annexation Merkel’s incoming inte- stances and never will be,” he led to European and US sanc- Grior minister has vowed said in the new two-hour docu- tions against Moscow amid the to take a tough line against con- ussian President Vladimir mentary Putin. most serious crisis in ties with victed criminal migrants and Putin has said that under It was published on the social the West since the end of the speed up repatriations of reject- Rno circumstances would media accounts of notorious Cold War. ed asylum-seekers. he give Crimea back to Ukraine, pro-Kremlin TV host Dmitry The documentary – pro- Horst Seehofer, of Merkel’s speaking in a new documentary Kiselev ahead of a presidential duced by journalist Andrei Kon- conservative Bavarian sister released yesterday ahead of his election on March 18. drashov, who is a spokesman party the CSU, also promised a expected re-election in next Russia annexed Crimea from for Putin’s campaign – features broader “zero-tolerance” law week’s poll. Ukraine in 2014 and supported interviews with a number of the and order drive under their new “What, have you gone mad?” Russian-speaking insurgents Russian leader’s allies including government to be launched on he told a journalist who asked in the east of the former Soviet former German Chancellor Ger- Wednesday. him if there were any circum- country after a Western-backed hard Schroeder and childhood Seehofer was long the harsh- stances under which the Russian popular uprising ousted a Krem- friend cellist Sergei Roldugin. est critic within Merkel’s con- leader would give up Crimea. lin-backed regime from power. The secretive chief execu- servative bloc of her decision tive of oil giant Rosneft, Igor to open Germany’s borders to a Russia test-fi res ‘ideal’ hypersonic missile Sechin, said that he had served mass infl ux of refugees and mi- under Putin in various capaci- grants since 2015. Russia said yesterday that it successfully launched a hypersonic missile ties for nearly 30 years and that Most of those who came which President Vladimir Putin called “an ideal weapon” as he unveiled a the president was “a very careful across the Balkans route passed new array of next-generation arms earlier this month. person”. through Seehofer’s southern The high-precision Kinzhal (Dagger) missile was launched from a MiG-31 “Honestly speaking, I don’t state of Bavaria, at times more supersonic interceptor jet that took off from an airfield in the South Mili- know a single mistake he has than 10,000 a day, sparking a tary District in Russia’s southwest, the defence ministry said. made over these years,” Sechin strong backlash in the region. “The launch went according to plan, the hypersonic missile hit its target,” said in rare public comments. In an interview with newspa- the ministry added. “He is very careful at making A commuter sits in a bus passing in front of a campaign billboard of Putin, reading ‘Simferopol for a per Bild am Sonntag, Seehofer The ministry released video footage showing two pilots gearing up for a decisions.” Strong Russia!’ in Simferopol, Crimea. Russia will vote for president on March 18. said that as the new head of an flight and then running towards a jet with a large missile slung beneath Speaking on everything from expanded ministry of interior its underbelly. his family to childhood to love dered a passenger aircraft which Pegasus Airlines Boeing 737- the plan,” Putin said, adding that and homeland aff airs, he was Set to rousing, patriotic music, the video then shows a missile detaching and happiness, Putin said that was reported to be carrying a 800 fl ying from Kharkiv to Is- shortly afterwards he arrived at working on a “master plan for from the airborne plane and gliding across the dark sky, leaving a fiery he is capable of forgiving. bomb and targeting the opening tanbul reported that one of the the Olympic venue with the In- speedier asylum procedures and trail behind. “But not everything,” he of the Winter Olympic Games in passengers had a bomb and the ternational Olympic Committee consistent deportations”. The Kinzhal missile was one of an array of new weapons Putin unveiled in quickly added, noting he could Sochi to be downed. plane had to change course to offi cials. Repatriations and deporta- his state-of-the-nation address earlier this month, ahead of a presidential not forgive a betrayal. The president told Kon- Sochi, Kondrashov said in the After several minutes Putin tions must be “raised signifi - election on March 18 that he is all but guaranteed to win. “Generally speaking, I cannot drashov that he received a tele- fi lm. received another call, he said, cantly”, he said, vowing to es- Putin said the missile flies at 10 times the speed of the sound and can complain that I’ve come across phone call from security offi cers There were 110 passen- informing him that it was a false pecially “get tougher” on those overcome air-defence systems. any serious events that could be responsible for the Sochi Olym- gers onboard, while more than alarm – the passenger was drunk who break German law or are The missile has been deployed in the Southern Military District since called a betrayal,” Putin said. pics on February 7, 2014, shortly 40,000 people had gathered at and the plane would continue its deemed a security threat. December 1, he added. Running against a motley before the opening ceremony the stadium to watch the open- fl ight to Turkey. “We want to remain a country Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Facebook that work had crew of seven challengers, Putin was due to start. ing ceremony, the reporter said. Yesterday Kremlin spokesman that is open to the world and lib- also been done to modernise the “unique” MiG-31 supersonic jet that will is expected to take nearly 70% of “I was told: a plane en route Putin said he sought advice Dmitry Peskov confi rmed the eral,” Seehofer said. “But when it carry the missile. the vote with a turnout of more from Ukraine to Istanbul was from security offi cers and was comments in the fi lm. comes to protecting the citizens, Since the start of the year, more than 250 sorties have been carried out than 60%, according to state- seized, captors demand landing told the emergency plan for that The country is on a high alert we need a strong state. I will take by the aircraft to perfect the work of the missile systems, the defence run pollsters. in Sochi,” Putin said in the fi lm type of situation called for the ahead of the football World Cup care of that.” ministry said. In the documentary, Putin seen by Reuters. plane to be shot down. from June 14 to July 15, with Germany’s mass migrant in- also revealed that in 2014 he or- The pilots of a Turkish “I told them: act according to matches in a number of cities. fl ux brought more than 1mn peo- ple to Europe’s biggest economy, about half of them from war- torn Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. It sparked a backlash and bol- stered the rise of the anti-immi- gration Alternative for Germany Le Pen proposes party name (AfD) party, which entered par- liament last September with al- most 13% of the vote. Merkel’s fourth-term govern- ment, a coalition with the cen- change to ‘National Union’ tre-left Social Democrats that is due to be sworn in this week, has vowed to keep the annual intake AFP fi nal act in a vitriolic and highly and has since struggled to assert them call you xenophobes, let of new asylum-seekers below Lille, France personal power struggle be- her authority after admitting to them call you nativists. Wear it 200,000. tween him and his daughter who mistakes during her campaign. as a badge of honour. Because took over the party in 2011. She addressed the party faith- every day we get stronger and rench far-right leader Ma- Le Pen said that the National ful after being re-elected as their they get weaker,” Bannon told Poland shopping rine Le Pen has proposed Front name was “associated leader with 100% of votes yes- the audience. Fchanging the name of her with a glorious and epic history terday morning after standing The presence of the former ban takes eff ect party to the National Union as that no one can deny” but she unopposed. head of Breitbart News drew part of eff orts to improve its im- said it was also an impediment The divorced mother of three a stinging response from Ma- A new law banning Sunday age after she was re-elected for a that prevented the party win- won a major boost on Saturday cron’s government. Le Pen: For many French people, even those who are sincere, it’s trading in Poland has gone into third term as leader. ning power in elections. from former Donald Trump aide “The king of fake news and (the National Front name) a psychological barrier. eff ect, with supermarkets and At a party conference in the “For many French people, Steve Bannon who appeared of white supremacists at an FN other retail outlets closed in the northeastern city of Lille, the even those who are sincere, it’s alongside her at the FN con- summit ... why am I not sur- members last year about the brand is still a block for voters”. staunchly Catholic country. 49-year-old suggested scrap- a psychological barrier,” Le Pen ference and told delegates that prised?” said parliamentary af- new name proposal and on Sat- The National Front was co- At first the legislation, sought ping the existing name of the said of the historic name, adding “history is on our side”. fairs minister Christophe Cas- urday it emerged that just 52% founded by Jean-Marie Le Pen in by the Solidarity trade union National Front (FN), which it that it stopped people becoming Bannon’s appearance rein- taner, who is also the head of had voted in favour among the 1972 and led by him for nearly 40 and supported by the Catholic has used since 1972 when it was members and casting their votes forced the links between the Macron’s centrist Republic on 30,000 who responded. years until he was replaced by his Church, will limit shopping to co-founded by her father Jean- for her. Trump campaign and France’s the Move party. “Change of That compared with 90% of daughter Marine in 2011. the first and last Sundays of the Marie. FN members are to be asked to far-right party which hold simi- name but not of political line.” respondents wanting a referen- She attempted to banish him month. The switch is meant to signal vote on the name change and she lar views on immigration, Islam, Le Pen’s bid to change the dum on continued EU member- from the party in 2015 after he Next year trade will only be a new beginning and a deci- promised to abide by their deci- trade, the European Union and party’s name does not have ship and 98% wanting to cut im- repeated his belief that the Nazi allowed on the last Sunday of the sive break from the toxic past of sion. Russia. unanimous support at the grass- migration to France. gas chambers were “a detail of month before a wider ban halts Jean-Marie, who has a long his- Le Pen scored a lower-than- Trump came close to endors- roots level and has been heavily Speaking on Saturday, FN history”. shopping on most Sundays from tory of making racist remarks. expected 34% as she lost to ing Le Pen as she sought to de- criticised by Jean-Marie, who youth leader Gaetan Dussausaye The party voted to strip him 2020. He was fi nally banished from President Emmanuel Macron feat Macron last year. sees it as an attack on his legacy. admitted that the party had to of his role as honorary president Solidarity said it introduced the the party yesterday, marking the in last May’s national election “Let them call you racists, let The party canvassed 51,000 “swallow its pride” as “the FN yesterday. change to ensure retail staff get free time on weekends. The liberal opposition and other critics argue that it will limit job opportunities for students and cramp cross-border shopping Five years on, Pope Francis under fi re over sex abuse scandals from the Baltic states, Belarus, Ukraine and Slovakia. The law applies to foreign-owned By Catherine Marciano, AFP defend your institution... the nors and vulnerable adults in is extremely busy with many is- hypermarket chains as well as Vatican City church, instead of learning from the church, Collins was one of sues. But the issue of protecting other non-Polish players. the past, is repeating the mis- two abuse survivors to sit on the today’s children is urgent. Chil- takes of the past.” panel. dren continue to be abused and s Pope Francis marks the “The church tends to make She walked out in March 2017, raped within the church.” Greeks demand fi fth year of his papacy the same mistake – in every denouncing the “shameful” Collins, too, said “the words Anext week, the Pontiff country where survivors start to lack of co-operation within the coming from the Pope and the release of soldiers once hailed as a fearless reform- come forward, they are treated Vatican and complaining that a Vatican are very good. The prob- er is under fi re for his handling in the same way,” said Collins, tribunal announced in 2015 to lem is, the actions don’t follow About 5,000 people of the sex abuse scandals that who resigned last year from the deal with paedophile priests has through”. demonstrated yesterday in have rocked the Roman Catholic now-revived anti-paedophilia never actually been set up. The Pope did however, over- Orestiada, a Greek town on the Church. commission. German Cardinal Gerhard see a change in church law in border with Turkey, demanding Since taking over in March Francis was similarly lenient Mueller, the church’s top doc- 2016 allowing bishops to be dis- the release of two Greek soldiers 2013, the 81-year-old Argentin- towards Don Mauro Inzoli, an trinal watchdog who has since missed in cases of “negligence” held by Turkish authorities as ian has championed the cause of Italian priest nicknamed “Don been ousted by Francis, argued when reporting incidents of spies. the marginalised, saying that he Mercedes” for his expensive that the tribunal would double paedophilia. The soldiers wandered across the wanted a “poor church for the tastes. up with already existing bodies. The Vatican also organises boundary on March 1. poor” and shunning papal pal- Don Inzoli had been eff ective- Catherine Bonnet, a French awareness classes and the Pope They say they were following aces and ostentatious displays of Pope Francis: marks the fifth year of his papacy next week. ly defrocked by Benedict, but child psychiatrist who also sat regularly meets with survivors footprints in snow, possibly made wealth. Francis overturned that ruling, on the commission, complained of abuse. by migrants, and accidentally His reform agenda has intro- month the Vatican said it was re- when he said: “The day they mitigating his sentence to “a life that “in three years we only had But church law does not crossed the border. duced the possibility in certain viving its anti-paedophile panel. bring me proof against Bishop of prayer”. six plenary meetings in Rome”. oblige the hierarchy to denounce Last week Turkey accused them cases to allow divorced and re- A trip to Chile in January was (Juan) Barros, then I will speak.” Nevertheless, after the priest “We did have regular e-mail suspected cases of abuse to the of military espionage. married believers to take com- seen as a resounding failure after But he later apologised to the was sentenced to nearly fi ve exchanges, but it’s hard to de- civilian authorities. “You can’t have a North Atlantic munion, although he still agrees he defended a bishop accused of victims and sent a Vatican top years in prison in Italy for sex bate in that way,” she told AFP “We must be as transparent Treaty Organisation (Nato) with the church’s traditional covering up the crimes of a pae- expert on sex abuse to hear the abuse of adolescents last June, in an interview. “We have made as possible, it is the duty of the country holding soldiers of positions on other issues, such dophile priest. witnesses in the case. the Pope dismissed him of cleri- proposals on important points, church to do everything pos- another Nato country hostage,” as abortion, artifi cial contracep- Francis, who like his pred- Marie Collins of Ireland, who cal duties. but, to my knowledge, Pope sible to avoid abuses,” said Ger- Orestiada Mayor Vasilis Mavridis tion and gay marriage. ecessor Benedict XVI, promised was raped as child by a priest, When Francis set up the com- Francis has not given answers, man theologian Hans Zollner, said, according to Greek TV But the abuse scandals have a “zero tolerance” approach to told AFP that while it might mission in December 2014 to which is really worrying. regarded as one of the leading stations. haunted his papacy and last sexual abuse, sparked uproar be “human nature to want to look into how to protect mi- “The problem is that the Pope experts in the fi eld. Gulf Times 16 Monday, March 12, 2018 INDIA

Tamil Nadu Roundup CPM leader ordered killing, says Congress By Umaima Shafiq By Ashraf Padanna the Kerala High Court last week secretary, whom he accused of “It’s Jayarajan who led the K Akhil and C S Deepchand were “Vijayan and others decided Thiruvananthapuram found their probe shoddy and masterminding the murder. conspiracy to eliminate Shu- expelled for “working against to kick them out only after talk- Workload too transferred the case to the Cen- The CBI had earlier charged haib. Only his expulsion would the interests of the party,” the ing to the father of Thillankeri, tral Bureau of Investigation (CBI). the CPM strongman in two oth- convince people that the chief CPM said. as we had seen on TV, and off er- much on police, he opposition Congress After almost a month, a er killings – of Abdul Shukkur, a minister and his party are seri- The ruling party had initially ing him all help, including legal says chief justice Party in Kerala yesterday high-level meeting of the CPM student leader of the Indian Un- ous about putting an end to the denied any role and even ac- and fi nancial aid,” Hassan said. Taccused a top leader of the held in Kannur in the presence ion Muslim League, and Kathi- killing of political opponents.” cused some police offi cers of “That’s why the government ruling party of ordering the kill- of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vi- roor Manoj of the Bharatiya Ja- The Kannur district commit- targeting the CPM. Balakrishnan acted swiftly to appeal against Madras High Court Chief Justice ing of a young leader. jayan, and party chief Kodiyeri nata Party (BJP). tee of the CPM on Saturday ex- had claimed that Thillankeri the CBI probe. The same peo- Kirubakaran says there is too Youth Congress leader S P Balakrishnan expelled four of “It’s just eyewash before the pelled the four even as the state surrendered after he was unable ple are behind this expulsion much workload on Tamil Nadu Shuhaib, 29, was killed in the the suspects. CBI begins its investigation. government was preparing to to endure police harassment. drama.” policemen that leads them to northern district of Kannur on M M Hassan, the president of How come they expel only four challenge the single bench ver- Of the four, Thillankeri, Deep- There have been scores of re- depression and suicide. March 12 by a gang of fi ve men. the Kerala unit of the Congress when 11 are behind bars? The dict saying the police were on chand and Askar face charges of venge murders in the district, He referred to the recent The police have arrested 11 Party, said the CPM should show killers and those who sent them the right track. attacking the victim while Akhil but it’s the fi rst time that the deaths of a constable posted workers of the ruling Commu- the courage to expel P Jayara- should face the law,” Hassan Aakash Thillankeri, a close hired the vehicle for the killer CPM has sacked workers for at late chief minister Jayaram nist Party of India (Marxist), but jan, the party’s Kannur district said. associate of Jayarajan, T P Askar, squad to escape. killing political opponents. Jayalalithaa’s memorial and a sub-inspector at Ayynavaram police station in Chennai who shot themselves. Farmers demand loan waiver “It is due to work pressure and depression that they committed suicide. Why do memorials, empty bungalows of dignitaries and defunct buildings need police supervision? Policemen are also made to stand for hours for BJP govt in government convoys and state functions,” the chief justice said. “Do you know what will be the fate of Tamil Nadu if policemen strike work? They slog for 24 hours through 365 days. They need adequate rest and stimulation to work.” Goa shaky Kirubakaran demanded a police commission to be formed to fill up 19,000 vacant posts and delegate work. Senior policemen said suicides were higher among lower-ranked off icials as their training period had been shortened from a year in absence to seven months. Besides this psychologists should be employed to counsel policemen regularly, they said. TVS chief’s daughter weds of Parrikar entrepreneur IANS meeting? This has become con- always been known to run a tight Panaji fusing. I do not fi nd any solution ship, cracking down on even the Lakshmi Venu, the scion of in this,” he added. slightest whimper of dissent business conglomerate TVS Cabral represents the Cur- from his fl ock. But his absence group, married entrepreneur he Bharatiya Janata Party chorem constituency in the has now emboldened leaders of Mahesh Gogineni at a private (BJP)-led coalition gov- state’s mining belt, which is ex- the party’s coalition partners. ceremony in Jodhpur in Ternment in Goa appears to pected to bear the brunt of the Deepak Dhavalikar, president Rajasthan on March 8. be shaky and dissent-ridden less Supreme Court-imposed ban on of the Maharashtrawadi Goman- Lakshmi is the daughter of Venu than a week after Chief Minister mining in the coastal state from tak Party, following a meeting of Srinivasan, the chairman of TVS Manohar Parrikar, suff ering from March 16, to facilitate fresh issue its central committee, has raised a group, and Mallika, the chairman pancreatic cancer, was rushed to of 88 mining leases. question mark over the future of of TAFE (Tamil Nadu Agricultural the US for treatment. The legislator also claimed the alliance – especially due to the and Farm Equipment). Signs of a seeming implosion, that no visible eff ort was made severe nature of Parrikar’s ailment. Lakshmi, an economics caused by the absence of the au- by the Goa government to fi nd “As long as he is the chief min- graduate from Yale, is a director thoritarian chief minister, can be ways to resolve the issue, despite ister, we are there with the gov- in both companies. She handles seen in recent statements by not the fact that the court order was ernment,” Dhavalikar said. TVS’ overseas clients besides just coalition partners but also delivered last month. The legacy of controversial, an auto spare parts factory in by frustrated BJP legislators, who Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo, unpopular decisions of succes- Charleston, South Carolina. are now questioning their own a BJP member, is also openly sive BJP-led coalition govern- She was previously married to party and government’s resolve critical of his government’s lack ments, like renewing mining Rohan Murthy, the son of N R to fi nd solutions to an impending of decision-making and has leases in favour of tainted com- Narayana Murthy, chairman of ban on mining. urged the party’s central lead- panies, U-turns on assurances software conglomerate Infosys, BJP legislator Nilesh Cabral is ers, including federal minister to ban the casino industry, sup- whom she divorced in 2015. one of the faces of dissent. Nitin Gadkari, to urgently visit port to increased coal handling at Gogineni is the great grandson Cabral, who has in the past Goa and assure the state that a Goa’s only major port, nationali- of N Ranga, a parliamentarian found fault with the government solution would be found to work sation of rivers and now the in- and leader of Swatantara over the mining ban, has now around the ban. tra-government chaos, as well as Party. He is an engineer, with also questioned the protocol cre- “The BJP leaders who came the shroud of secrecy surround- an economics and business ated by Parrikar to govern Goa down to Goa after the elections ing the chief minister’s illness, management degree from in his absence, which involves a like Mr Gadkari should come to has triggered a rising trend of Stanford. He owns a jobs portal three-minister committee and Goa now and assure the people criticism against Parrikar, espe- called Gifskey. a slew of powers to Chief Sec- that there is a plan to solve this cially on social media, a fact that retary Dharmendra Sharma and problem. Over 100,000 Goans former deputy chief minister and Parrikar’s Principal Secretary, P will be aff ected by the mining a member of the three-member Old age home Krishnamurthy. ban,” Lobo said. ministerial committee Francis shut down over “Today, we have practically no He also wanted Parrikar, who D’Souza concurs with. government. With due respect to has already been admitted to a “It is quite disturbing... Lots torture complaints the chief minister it is very clear hospital in the US, to urgently of things are happening which there is no governance happen- speak to the party’s central lead- are not very palatable and are not The St Joseph’s Hospice, a home Thousands of farmers march in Mumbai yesterday demanding a complete loan waiver and ing,” Cabral said. “The CM is not ership by phone and urged them right. I do not know whether it for the aged and destitute, transfer of tribal land to farmers who have been tilling it for years. Over 35,000 farmers started here to take cabinet (meetings) to fi nd a solution to the mining is political or not, but the fact is functioning at Salavakkam in the march from Maharashtra’s Nashik district and reached Mumbai yesterday. and he has given some powers imbroglio. it is coming up on social media,” suburban Chennai was shut to the three. Who will chair the Parrikar, as chief minister, has D’Souza said. down over complaints of inmates being tortured and their organs being traded after they die. The home set up in 2011 had four branches in Tambaram, Dindigul, Villupuram and Vellore. The matter came to light when Shami was planning to a dead resident was transported in a van of groceries and two others accompanying the body shouted for help. Based on their complaints, divorce me, says wife the hospice was shut down and the inmates transferred to Agencies them all details? I have tried were to seek a way out of her other shelters. The complaints Kolkata several times to convince him to prolonged suff ering. include beatings, unhygienic save our marriage. If he wants to “I have tried to save many surroundings, poor nutrition come back I may still consider,” girls’ lives by posting all of and undignified burial. he wife of Indian crick- she added. that. I tried to help boys not go Police recorded written eter Mohamed Shami On Friday, Shami was the same way. But why did FB statements of many inmates, Tyesterday alleged that charged with attempt to mur- block my account and remove but ironically the director of the her husband would have run der on the basis of a complaint all the posts without my per- hospice Fr Thomas the denied away to Uttar Pradesh and di- filed by his wife. Seven charges mission? the charges. He said that the vorced her had she not found a have been levelled against the “My life has been spoiled. My inmates were well looked after, mobile phone which was alleg- fast bowler, one of them being future has gone down the drain, allowed to move around freely edly being used by him to speak attempt to murder by “food also my daughter’s.” and given medical help. to other women. poisoning and physical at- Shami, who has denied the “I tried to convince him that tack”. allegations, said yesterday he he should accept his mistake, A rape charge has also been was ready to speak to his wife Bicycle sharing I have been trying since very levelled against Shami’s elder and solve the matter for the system launched long. He would’ve run away brother. good of their daughter. to UP by now if I did not catch “I have suff ered a lot. Pre- “If this matter can be solved S P Velumani, the state minister hold of that mobile phone; he viously, I did not get any help by talking, nothing can be bet- for municipal administration and would’ve divorced me if I did regarding this. I tried a lot. So ter than that. Only patch-up water supply, launched a bicycle not have the mobile phone,” I decided to post all of Shami’s will do good for us and our sharing system in Coimbatore Hasin Jahan said at a press con- wrongdoing on FB. I never had daughter,” Shami was quoted as last week. ference. any intention of spreading dirt saying by news agency ANI. The scheme was launched at She alleged that her husband on FB or to entertain people,” Shami also said he is ready a private school in R S Puram is making up stories to save Hasin Jahan said. to travel to Kolkata to solve the with 1,000 bicycles provided by himself. “This is my fi ght against his matter. a private company. Customers “He’s making up all sorts of unacceptable acts,” she added. “If I have to go to Kolkata would be picked up through things to save himself from al- She vented her ire over her to solve the matter, I will. I am calls on mobile apps and legations. Why didn’t the me- posts being removed from Fa- ready to talk, whenever she telephones. dia investigate even after I gave cebook, saying her intentions wants,” Shami said. Mohamed Shami’s wife Hasin Jahan talks to reporters in Kolkata yesterday. Gulf Times Monday, March 12, 2018 17 INDIA Naidu ‘worried over deteriorating functioning’ of legislatures

IANS islatures, persistent disruptions, no places for displaying placard for restoring the legitimacy of elected representatives to de- bates of yesteryears have come to as extraconstitutional authori- New Delhi defections and electoral mal- and banners. Legislators cannot legislators, Naidu said: “This sist from a confrontationist ap- be replaced by persistent disrup- ties. practices are eroding the cred- claim to be agents of develop- requires the MPs and MLAs proach to enable eff ective func- tions as the new norm of parlia- The vice president also called ibility of elected representatives ment if they indulge in disrup- to focus more on their legiti- tioning of legislatures. mentary articulation.” for self-introspection by legis- ice President M Venkai- and thereby posing serious chal- tions and demonstrations inside mate functions of lawmaking, He said: “Both the ruling and Naidu said that since inde- lators on work done by them on ah Naidu yesterday ex- lenges to parliamentary democ- the legislatures,” he said. democratic mass mobilisation the opposition parties shall be pendence several far-reaching an everyday basis, which he said Vpressed concern over racy,” Naidu said. “While some eff orts are being and participation, effective ar- guided by the spirit of accom- legislations have been en- was essential for self-develop- what he said was deterioration in He was speaking at the val- made to address this problem, ticulation of public concerns, modation in the larger public acted by different legislatures ment. the functioning of legislatures, edictory session of the fi rst Na- more needs to be done to ensure acting as an effective bridge interest.” that helped the country make Naidu said that legislators saying it was eroding the cred- tional Legislators’ Conference that only persons with the right between the governments and Even as the range and the strides in various fields but have a greater role in changing ibility of public representatives organised by the Indian Parlia- antecedents make it to parlia- the governed and not unneces- number of challenges emerging much more needs to be done the mindset of people, thus de- in the country. mentary Group. ment.” sarily encroaching the domain from the advent of the forces of to tap into the untapped pro- velopment should be the focus “The growing hold of legisla- The vice president stressed Naidu said parliament is “no of the executive.” globalisation and rapid techno- digious potential in the context as people are demanding it and tors over the executive, dispens- that both political parties and place to fi ght or use threatening Naidu, who is also chairman logical advances are on the rise, of the country becoming more observing it. “People should, ing favours for a consideration, people have a responsibility in words like ‘will see you outside’”. of the Rajya Sabha, said that de- the number of sittings of legis- aspirational. therefore, be in the centre of criminal antecedents, spurt in ensuring that people with the “Slogans should be shouted mocracy is a forum for negoti- latures across the country is de- He urged the legislators to be developmental policies and we assets after election, display of right antecedents get elected. outside parliament, not inside.” ated solutions for bettering the clining, he said. a part of the participatory devel- need to make them partners in placards and banners inside leg- “Legislatures are certainly Emphasising on the need lives of the people and urged the “Informed and quality de- opment process instead of acting development,” he said. Over 25 students trapped in huge forest fi re in TN

IANS Up on the hills, there is a Chennai tourist spot called ‘Otha Ma- ram’ (single tree). “That has become a tourist uthorities in Tamil spot now. From Bodinayaka- Nadu were carrying nur, Kurangani Hills is around Aout a massive opera- 12km. From there one has to tion yesterday to rescue over trek up to Otha Maram spot,” 25 students caught in a forest the fi re offi cial added. fi re in Theni district. He said the trekking team Defence Minister Nirmala could have climbed from the Sitharaman said the Indian Kerala side also. Air Force has also been pressed The offi cial said it was not into service. known how they reached the The students, who are from spot and if it was with or with- Erode and Coimbatore, were out the knowledge of the For- trekking in the Kurangani Hills est Department. when they got caught in the An IAF helicopter from Su- fi re. lur base has gone to the area. A fi re service offi cial from The helicopter will carry out a Theni said ambulances and survey on the spread of the fi re fi re tenders have been sent to and its intensity. the scene. Police and workers Sitharaman said she was in a nearby tea estate were also responding to a request from helping. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K The offi cial said since the Palaniswami. area did not have a good mo- Officials in Kerala said French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte pose for a photograph at the Taj Mahal in Agra yesterday. bile network, full informa- they have rushed a police tion was not available. Senior team to help in the rescue fi re service offi cials have gone operations. there. Kerala police chief The Fire Department got in- Loknath Behra said instruc- formation about the incident tions have been issued to around 3pm, said another fi re Idukki district police chief to offi cial. give all assistance in the res- “One of the trekking team cue operation. Macron and Modi push members called 108 Am- “Medicines and food also bulance Service and alerted have been sent to the spot. about their situation. The Behra spoke to his Tamil Nadu ambulance service then called counterpart and promised us,” the offi cial said. all help. He also asked Kerala Fire service personnel State Fire and Rescue chief for reached there armed with all possible assistance,” a me- for ‘solar revolution’ ropes, searchlights and other dia statement from Behra’s of- equipment to climb the hills. fi ce said. Agencies an additional $700mn to solar to leave the fl oor and the Paris and distribution networks for technology is available to all,” The offi cial said the vehicles Theni borders the famed New Delhi energy by 2022, taking its total Agreement,” Macron said. solar power. Modi said. can go only till Kurangani Thekkady tourist destination investment in fi nancing solar But others like the “solar ma- “Financing together, sharing “We will have to increase solar Hills. in Kerala. projects in ISA member coun- mas” – women who trained to expertise, innovative technology in our energy mix.” he International Solar tries to $1bn, French President be solar technicians – decided to – along with total transparency India, the world’s third-larg- Alliance (ISA) began its Emmanuel Macron said in his act, Macron said, because “they at the top,” was what the ISA was est polluter, is undergoing spec- Sonia invites opposition leaders for dinner Tfi rst summit in New Delhi inaugural speech. decided it was good for them, all about, Macron said. tacular growth in its solar sector yesterday with co-hosts France But the efforts of govern- their children and grandchil- The ISA, Macron said, was and is on track to become one of United Progressive Alliance hosting the opposition leaders and India stressing the need for ments were not enough to dren.” setting up a database of projects the world’s largest clean energy chairperson Sonia Gandhi over dinner amid suggestions to concrete action in the areas of fi - achieve the 2030 goal and pri- Modi fl agged the need for in- – about 100 so far had been markets. has invited Dravida Munnetra forge a common front against nancing and technology. vate sector industry, interna- vestment in better and more identifi ed by 32 countries – and It pledged at the Paris climate Kazhagam leader M K Stalin the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) “We want to usher in a so- tional institutions and civil accessible solar technology, would be continuously assisting summit to source at least 40% for dinner tomorrow, which will in the run-up to 2019 Lok Sabha lar revolution,” Prime Minister society would have to join in, concessional fi nance for solar and monitoring these. of its energy from renewables by be attended by leaders from elections. Bihar opposition leader Narendra Modi said at the formal Macron added. projects, easing of regulatory “ISA should be a place where 2030, mainly via solar. various parties from diff erent and former deputy chief minister launch of the inter-governmen- So far 61 countries have signed mechanisms and persuading technology meets expectations. We The energy-hungry giant of states, who are not part of the Tejashwi Yadav, and former chief tal organisation that aims to help up and another 32 have ratifi ed developed countries to provide are obsessed by concrete results. 1.25bn people is banking on solar ruling National Democratic minister and chief of Hindustani sunshine-rich countries around the treaty, according to the ISA consultancy services among Let’s get to work,” Macron said. to electrify homes for hundreds Alliance (NDA), Congress sources Awam Morcha-Secular Jitan Ram the world harness solar energy at secretariat headquartered in other “action points.” “We need to remove all obsta- of millions of its poorest citizens said. However, Stalin will not Manjhi have also been invited, an aff ordable cost. New Delhi. Both leaders also mentioned a cles and scale up,” Macron said. without adding to its consider- be able to attend the dinner leaders of the two parties said. Launched on November 30, Heads of states of 24 coun- need to invest in skills develop- Modi – who has committed able emissions output. as the assembly session in In the absence of Lalu Prasad 2015, on the sidelines of the Paris tries including Australia and Sri ment. to reducing India’s sizeable car- The summit concluded with Tamil Nadu is beginning from Yadav, his son Tejashwi Yadav Climate Change conference, the Lanka are attending the summit. Several speakers at the con- bon footprint through a massive the adoption of a document ti- March 15, said a DMK leader. is the main player for Rashtriya alliance had set itself a goal of Macron also used the occasion ference including leaders from scale-up in renewable energy tled ‘Delhi Solar Agenda’ where However, Kanimozhi, another Janata Dal (RJD) – an ally of enabling production of 1tn watts to take a pot shot at US President African nations highlighted – said it was vital that nations the signatories pledged to pur- senior leader of the party, the Congress and the lead of solar power by 2030. Donald Trump without naming specifi c areas where work was were not priced out. sue a range of commitments in- will attend,” DMK leader T K constituent of the three-party France’s international devel- him. needed including development “We have to make sure that a cluding increasing the share of S Elangovan said. Gandhi is Grand Alliance in Bihar. opment agency was committing “Some countries decided of energy storage technology better and cost-eff ective solar solar energy in their energy mix.

Uttar Pradesh by-elections Severed leg used witness poor turnout as patient’s pillow AFP rani Laxmibai Medical College IANS uty Chief Minister Keshav Pras- claimed victory for the Bharatiya Lucknow and Hospital in Jhansi. Lucknow ad Maurya before his election Janata Party candidates, irre- “Strict action will be taken if to the Legislative Council, had spective of the voter turnout in our staff is found at fault.” logged 50% voting in the 2014 the two seats. uthorities have sus- Two doctors have been sus- oter turnout was poor in general elections. After casting his vote, a pended two doctors and pended pending investigation, by-elections for the Lok In Phulpur, the poorest poll- beaming Adityanath told re- Alaunched an investiga- she added. VSabha seats of Gorakhpur ing yesterday was reported from porters that the “BJP continues tion after a patient’s severed leg The man, identifi ed as 28-year- and Phulpur in Uttar Pradesh Allahabad (East) where only to get a groundswell of public was used as a pillow to prop up old Ghanshyam, was seriously in- yesterday, offi cials said. 21.65% voters turned up, fol- support since they are wit- his head, a hospital offi cial said jured in a bus accident. According to Election Com- lowed by Allahabad (West) with nessing development, peace yesterday. His relatives told NDTV net- mission (EC) offi cials, 43% vot- 31%. and prosperity under its gov- Administrators at the gov- work that hospital staff ignored ers had exercised their franchise Snags in the electronic voting ernment”. ernment-run hospital in Uttar their requests that Ghanshyam in Gorakhpur while it was just machines (EVMs) were reported He also denied the infl uence Pradesh vowed “strict action” be given a pillow. 38% for the Phulpur seat in Al- from some places. Polling was of the Samajwadi Party-Bahujan after images emerged showing “When we reached the hospi- lahabad. held up at Kidwai College in Al- Samaj Party alliance on the re- the patient on a stretcher with tal, we saw his leg being used as a The balloting percentage in lahabad (East) for some time due sults. the amputated limb being used headrest,” Janaki Prasad, a rela- Gorakhpur, represented in the to a technical glitch. “This is an unholy and oppor- as a headrest. tive, told NDTV. Lok Sabha by Yogi Adityanath In Gorakhpur, the lowest voter tunistic alliance and the people “We have set up a four-mem- “I repeatedly asked the doc- before he became the chief min- turnout of 33% was in Gorakhpur know their real agenda very well ber committee to fi nd out who tors to intervene but they re- ister of Uttar Pradesh, in 2014 city, and the highest was 47% in and will thus defeat them em- put the severed leg under the fused,” Prasad added, saying was 54.64%. Sahjanwa and Campierganj. phatically,” the chief minister People wearing saff ron clothes come out of a polling booth after patient’s head,” said Sadhna Ghanshyam’s relatives eventual- Phulpur, represented by Dep- Both Adityanath and Maurya said. casting their votes in Phulpur, Uttar Pradesh, yesterday. Kaushik, principal of the Maha- ly bought a pillow from a market. Gulf Times 18 Monday, March 12, 2018 LATIN AMERICA

APPOINTMENT CAMPAIGN LEGAL VERDICT Pinera begins second Bolivia unfurls giant BRF executives barred Venezuela army members term as Chile’s president flag amid Chile dispute from returning to firm jailed on treason charges

Conservative billionaire Sebastian Pinera Bolivia has unfurled a flag 196.5kms in length to Executives of major food processor BRF SA A Venezuelan military court has ordered was sworn in as Chile’s president yesterday, draw attention to its campaign to regain access who were released by Brazil police on Friday seven army officers and two sergeants to be returning to the job after four years of centre- to the Pacific coast which it lost to Chile in the will not be able to return to their posts at the jailed on charges of treason and “instigating a left rule with promises to revive investments 19th century, local media reported. Around 17,000 company, the world’s largest poultry exporter. rebellion” against President Nicolas Maduro. in the world’s top copper producer. Pinera, members of the military and 4,000 police held A judge ordered their suspension from their If found guilty the accused soldiers “face up who governed Chile in 2010-2014, accepted aloft hundreds of joined copies of a blue flag activities in the company to avoid the risk of to 30 years prison,” defence attorney for the the presidential sash from outgoing socialist with 10 gold stars, known as the Flag of Maritime them interfering with an ongoing investigation suspects, Alonso Medina, said. All nine — six president Michelle Bachelet in a ceremony in the Vindication, on a road between the cities of La Paz that they engaged in fraud to evade food safety lieutenant colonels, a first lieutenant and Pacific port city of Valparaiso. Pinera was elected and Oruro. “This flag, the longest in the world, is a inspections. They were ordered to stay away two sergeants, one of them a woman — were in December with a strong mandate, marking living testament of our determination to end more from the company and any establishments ordered sent to prison in a hearing that ended a new rightward shift in South America. His than a century of being landlocked,” President Evo BRF dealt with, including labs. Police arrested early Saturday, Medina said. “No concrete Chile’s newly sworn in President Sebastian Pinera second term begins as prices for copper exports Morales wrote on Twitter. Thousands of Bolivians former BRF chief executive off icer Pedro Faria, evidence against the officers was presented, waves as he leaves after his inauguration at the are rising, bolstering government revenues and reportedly helped stitch the huge flag after being the company’s former vice president Helio dos only testimony based on alleged intelligence Congress in Valparaiso, Chile, yesterday. driving growth in Chile’s $250bn economy. called on by Morales to take part. Santos and other executives on Monday. reports,” the lawyer said. Argentinian soldiers’ names to be put on Falklands graves

Guardian News and Media people, has been sensitive at a Buenos Aires diplomatic, humanitarian and personal level. A total of 649 Argentinians and 255 British sol- he relatives of 89 previ- diers died during the confl ict. ously unidentifi ed Ar- Nigel Baker, head of the South Tgentinian soldiers killed America department at the For- during the 1982 invasion of the eign Offi ce, said: “We were clear Falkland Islands will travel there this was a humanitarian issue in this month to put names on their which the wishes of the family graves almost 35 years after they were paramount.” He paid trib- were killed. ute to the veterans’ groups who Their identifi cation has been “continue to teach us the real made possible due to painstak- meaning of the words ‘dignity’ ing DNA testing, and the hu- and ‘reconciliation’”. manitarian initiative of a British The identifi cation process was captain who in 1982 gathered only possible thanks to Geoff rey more than 120 dead soldiers, Cardozo, a British army captain with their eff ects, and placed who speaks Spanish. Dispatched them in a graveyard each marked to the Falklands in 1982, initially with the words “Argentine sol- to deal with post-combat disci- dier known only to God”. pline, he spent six weeks helping The testing of the exhumed build a cemetery for the largely bodies by the International conscripted soldiers that British Committee of the Red Cross forces found scattered – some- (ICRC) was only agreed by the times half-buried – across the Cuban President Raul Castro casts his vote at a polling station in Santiago de Cuba Province yesterday. British and Argentinian govern- islands. ments in 2016 after a campaign He put white sheets and plas- led by both British and Argen- tic bags over each body and bur- tinian veterans. ied each soldier with a casket The key fi gures behind the containing any eff ects he could campaign, including veterans, fi nd on them such as ID numbers forensic experts from the ICRC, or letters for home. He compiled Roger Waters from the band Pink a logbook of where he had found Castro’s expected successor Floyd, and relatives of the uni- the bodies, any identifying dentifi ed soldiers, met on Friday marks and where they buried. at the Argentinian embassy in Cardozo said: “I am an army London to celebrate their joint offi cer, I am a soldier, but be- act of reconciliation. Osvaldo fore everything else I am a hu- Ardiles, the former Tottenham man being. Nine-hundred little Hotspur footballer whose cousin hearts stopped beating in 1982, blasts US during Cuba polls was a pilot killed in the war, was although they still beat hard in also present along with other the breasts of their loved ones.” DPA tacked in the middle of a situ- Cuba would also break through get more than 50% of the vote, a the 1959 revolution, after which relatives. In 2008 he gave the logbook Havana ation which has been dete- the US economic embargo. second round of voting will take Raul Castro’s older brother Fi- A Foreign Offi ce diplomat also to three Argentinian veterans. riorating,” he said, adding that More than 8mn Cubans were place. del took power. spoke at the ceremony, calling One of the three veterans was Havana’s relations with Wash- called on to ratify the selection In addition to the National Raul took over provisionally for further reconciliation. Juan Julio Aro who had visited the uba Vice President ington had stopped improving of 605 members of the Na- Assembly, Cubans were elect- when Fidel’s health deteriorated Carlos Pallarols, an Argentin- cemetery in 2008 and formed Miguel Diaz-Canel, under “an administration that tional Assembly, all of whom ing 1,265 delegates to 15 pro- in 2006 and became president ian goldsmith, presented to the the No Me Olvides (do not for- Ctipped to succeed Pres- has off ended Cuba.” were pre-selected by a national vincial assemblies. The new in 2008. Fidel Castro died eight chief campaigners metal “peace get me) foundation. Aro said he ident Raul Castro, accused the Diaz-Canel did not mention commission on the basis of parliament will convene on years later at age 90. roses” carved from bullets, pis- had been driven to identify the US yesterday of “resuming a the name of US President Don- proposals made by municipal April 19 to elect a successor to Despite belonging to a post- tols and parts of airplanes from dead because his mother told Cold War rhetoric” and of “at- ald Trump, whose administra- and other nominating assem- Castro, 86. revolution generation, Diaz- the Falklands. him: “If you had ever gone miss- tacking” the Cuban revolu- tion has tightened business and blies. The successor is widely ex- Canel is not expected to intro- The relatives will travel to the ing, I would have searched for tion. travel restrictions on Cuba after Some 548 of the candidates pected to be Diaz-Canel, an en- duce far-reaching reforms. Not islands on March 26 in two char- you until the end of my life.” He Diaz-Canel spoke to state relations thawed under Barack are members of the ruling Com- gineer who climbed up the lad- only is he known as an advocate tered planes, to put names on 88 said he knew that if he had died, television after casting his vote Obama. munist Party, while the rest der of the Communist Party and for continuity, but he could be graves in Darwin cemetery. he would not have been identifi - in elections for a parliament “I am sure that, sooner rather have been screened by party of- served as education minister. limited by the presence of Cas- The process of identifi cation, able since his name was not en- that will choose Castro’s suc- than later, we will defeat the fi cials. The 57-year-old would be tro, who will head the Commu- including securing the agree- graved, just scrawled on a piece cessor on April 19. imperialist plans,” the vice In the unlikely event that Cuba’s fi rst president not to be- nist Party until at least its next ment of the Falkland Islands’ of paper with sticky tape. “The revolution is being at- president said, vowing that some of the candidates do not long to the Castro family since congress in 2021. Colombia votes in election ‘Homemade explosive seen as test for peace deal used in Mexico blast’ Reuters fi ed “security threat” and men- Mexico City tioning the blast. AFP Colombia (Farc) guarantees their “Timochenko” Londono, pulled On Friday, the US government Bogota new political party 10 of the 280 out of the presidential race after updated the ban, limiting it to seats in the new Congress. undergoing heart surgery. blast that injured more certain neighbourhoods in Playa The party uses the same With the left divided, the than two dozen in Feb- del Carmen. olombians went to the Spanish acronym, which now stage is set for hardline conserv- Aruary in the Mexican re- The US state department ad- polls yesterday to elect a stands for the Common Alterna- atives who oppose the agree- sort town Playa del Carmen was vises tourists to exercise “in- Cnew Congress with a re- tive Revolutionary Force, and re- ment to win an absolute majority caused by a home-made explo- creased caution” in the state of surgent right, bitterly opposed placed its crossed-rifl es insignia in Congress, and push on to win sive, a leading Mexican news- Quintana Roo. to a peace deal that allows leftist with a red rose. the presidential election in a few paper reported, citing an offi cial Local media reported that the former rebels to participate, ex- But opinion polls give it lit- months. investigation. ferry was operated by Barcos pected to poll strongly. tle chance of adding to its 10 Opinion polls predict a tri- The explosion appeared to Caribe, which is owned by the The election is set to be the free seats, following a disas- umph for ex-president and sena- have been triggered from a dis- family of former Quintana Roo calmest in half a century of trous campaign during which its tor Alvaro Uribe and his Centro tance and may have been made governor Roberto Borge, who confl ict in Colombia, with the rebels-turned-politicians were Democratico party, along with by someone with knowledge of was extradited from Panama to former rebel movement Farc largely drowned out by a tide other parties opposed to the mining materials, according to Mexico in January to face cor- spurning jungle warfare for poli- of public revulsion over crimes peace agreement that has polar- Mexican newspaper El Universal, ruption charges. tics, and the ELN — the coun- committed during the confl ict. ised the South American country. citing an investigation conducted Barcos Caribe did not imme- try’s last active rebel group — Candidates were mobbed by Under the peace accord, Farc by the Mexican attorney general’s diately respond to a request for observing a ceasefi re. angry crowds at rallies and the disarmed its 7,000 fi ghters in offi ce and the marine secretary. comment. No motive for the ex- Polls opened at 8am local time party had to cancel its public order to join the political proc- A spokesman for the attorney plosion has been suggested yet, (1300GMT), and remained open meetings. ess, agreed to confess to wartime general’s offi ce did not respond and both federal and state offi - until 4pm (2100 GMT). “What is at stake for the Farc crimes and pay reparations to to a request for comment. cials are still investigating. “This is the fi rst election in is positioning and the possibility victims. The explosion on a ferry docked Playa del Carmen is located half a century when we voted of establishing itself with an eye This infuriates many Colom- at a Playa del Carmen pier injured about 76km south of Cancun, in peace, without the Farc as to what really interests it politi- bians, in particular the right- at least 25, including US tourists. the centrepiece of a strip of an armed group, but as a po- cally: elections” for mayor and wing, which is vowing to win the Shortly before spring break, white sand beaches that is one of litical party,” said President Juan governor in 2020, said Carlos presidential election and amend when thousands of US college Latin America’s top tourist des- Manuel Santos, who signed a Arias Orjuela, a political con- the peace deal. students descend on Mexican tinations. peace deal with the Farc in No- sultant at Externado University. But much of the peace agree- beach towns, the US government In recent years, Mexican tour- vember 2016. The fl edgling party suff ered a ment has already been imple- on Wednesday barred its em- ist destinations have been taint- The peace accord with the fresh blow only days before the mented, including the rebels Colombian former president and current senator Alvaro Uribe ployees from travelling to Playa ed by the country’s long-run- Revolutionary Armed Forces of election when its leader, Rodrigo disarming and demobilising. votes at a polling station in Bogota yesterday. del Carmen, citing an unspeci- ning battle against drug cartels. Gulf Times Monday, March 12, 2018 19 PAKISTAN

US backs Pakistan’s integrity: Baluchistan politician is US offi cial

Internews Islamabad favoured to lead Senate Internews A day later, however, the PTI exchange for his support to the tors-elect from the province. Both sides had already agreed waz (PML-N) has been having a he United States has as- Islamabad announced that it would vote for PPP’s proposed deputy chair- During the meeting, Khan on supporting senator-elect tough time rallying support for sured Pakistan that it the panel announced by Balu- man, and by four out of fi ve announced his support for any Sanjrani for the post of chairman its picks for the posts of chair- Tfi rmly supports the coun- chistan Chief Minister Abdul MQM-P senators, who have also candidate that the PPP puts up of the Upper House. man and deputy chairman Sen- try’s territorial integrity and ndependent senator-elect Quddus Bizenjo in connection extended their support to the for the post of deputy chairman The PTI chief added that he ate. opposes Baloch insurgents and from Baluchistan, Sadiq with the election for the Senate’s PPP’s nominee for deputy chair- as per an agreement with Bi- had agreed to support Bizenjo’s The PML-N’s leadership had other groups that are a threat to ISanjrani, has emerged as a top posts. man, according to well-placed zenjo. panel as “mitigating a sense of asked Hasil Bizenjo of the Na- the state. top contender for the post of Yesterday the party an- sources. “As per our promise to the deprivation among the citizens tional Party to take the lead for Alice Wells, who heads the Senate chairman, with the Pa- nounced its support for Sanjra- Although the PPP’s pick for Baluchistan chief minister, we of Baluchistan is essential”. them in the race for the post State Department’s bureau for kistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), ni, already backed by Bizenjo, as deputy chairman has yet to be will support the PPP’s candidate “Extraordinary steps are of Senate chairman and garner South and Central Asia, also Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), its pick for the post. announced publicly, Saleem for deputy chairman of the Sen- needed to remove the sense of support from other senators in reassured Islamabad that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement The PTI will also be backing Mandviwala is considered to be ate,” Khan assured a delegation deprivation among the people of the province, but the independ- United States would not al- – Pakistan (MQM-P) and Balu- the PPP’s nominee for deputy the front-runner for the posi- of the senators-elect from Balu- Baluchistan,” he said. ents gave him the cold shoulder, low the use of Afghan territory chistan senators reportedly Senate chairman, who will be a tion, the source said. chistan. “Countering the corrupt and the sources revealed to Dawn- against Pakistan. reaching consensus on his nom- part of Bizenjo’s panel, as per an The PTI’s inclination towards The PTI chairman told the selfi sh Sharif family is manda- NewsTV. Speaking at the US Institute ination for the March 12 elec- agreement with the Baluchistan the PPP’s candidate emerged media in a visit to Faisalabad tory to safeguard the reputation Hasil Bizenjo was subse- of Peace, Washington, on Friday, tion, according to sources. chief minister. after a meeting between Bizenjo yesterday that during the meet- of the parliament and democ- quently advised by the newly- Wells emphasised the need for The PTI had earlier on Friday Sanjrani, an independent and PTI chairman Imran Khan at ing with Bizenjo, he had been racy,” the PTI chief claimed, ex- elected Baluchistan chief minis- Pakistan to bring pressure on the announced that it would vote for senator from Baluchistan, is the latter’s Bani Gala residence asked to support the Baluchistan plaining his reasons behind the ter to stay away from the tussle Taliban to join the Afghan rec- neither the PPP nor the PML- considered close to the PPP yesterday. chief minister’s panel, which in- decision. brewing between the independ- onciliation process and to dis- N’s nominees during the elec- leadership and may be backed Bizenjo was accompanied by a cluded a deputy chairman nom- According to the sources, the ents and the ruling party, the rupt the annual spring off ensive tion for Senate chairman. by the ruling party in Sindh, in delegation of independent sena- inated by the PPP. Pakistan Muslim League – Na- sources said. by these insurgents. “That does not imply that we would support or think that there’s any manipulation of Af- ghanistan so that it can be used against Pakistan,” she said. “We Old library fi rmly support Pakistan`s terri- PTI chairman shares ‘conclusive torial integrity. We do not sup- port the Baloch insurgents or in Punjab’s the threat of irredentism against Pakistan.” The stress on Baluchistan is proof’ against Maryam Nawaz Chakwal in particularly signifi cant because the question she was respond- ing to had not mentioned Balu- Internews dire straits chistan or the Baloch insurgency. Islamabad However, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, who Internews held two key meetings with sen- akistan Tehreek-e-In- Islamabad ior US offi cials in Washington on saf (PTI) chairman Im- Thursday, did mention this issue Pran Khan’s latest tweets in her remarks to the Pakistani about some old fi nancial docu- ven as fl owers bloom in media. ments have renewed the war of Committee Bagh, a public Janjua also accused India of words between the ruling Pa- Epark around the impos- using the Afghan territory for kistan Muslim League – Nawaz ing facade of the Iqbal Library stirring up trouble in Balu- (PML-N) and the PTI over the in Chakwal city of Punjab, the chistan. Avenfi eld properties reference. inside of the library, with its de- Wells also attended the Paki- The PTI chairman tweeted serted tables, broken chairs and stani foreign secretary’s meeting about the documents two days dust-covered bookshelves lined with US Undersecretary of State after the accountability court with fraying books, speaks of John Sullivan. of Islamabad recorded the evi- years of neglect. On Thursday evening, Janjua dence of star prosecution wit- Imran Khan: These BVI FIA documents conclusively prove Maryam In a tehsil with a population of had another meeting with Depu- ness in the reference, Wajid Nawaz (left) as the beneficial owner of the companies that own 656,978, Iqbal Library has 300 ty National Security Adviser Na- Zia, and fi xed March 15 for the the Mayfair apartments worth billions of rupees. members and 10,000 books. dia Schadlow and General Joseph next hearing when he would be The post of librarian has been Votel, who heads the US Central cross-examined. Khan on Saturday posted a Nawaz’s married name) was the “These tweets refl ected Im- JIT and NAB during the course vacant for 15 years, during which Command. Zia headed the Joint Inves- document of July 4, 2017 of the benefi cial owner of the off shore ran Khan’s Maryam Nawaz of investigation. Pakistanis time there have been no renova- Wells, while assuring Pakistan tigation Team (JIT) comprising Financial Investigation Agency companies which owned the phobia,” she added. know the truth.” tions and no new books bought of continued US support against offi cials of the Inter-Services of British Virgin Island (BVI) London properties, Khan said, Perhaps this was the reason, She said that Zia had already for the library. insurgency, underlined the need Intelligence (ISI), Military In- that the JIT had submitted to adding that the documents the state minister said, the PTI admitted before the account- The library is instead run by a for a similar action from Islama- telligence (MI), Securities and the court along with its report, “expose the lies of the Sharifs”. chief tweeted about these (old) ability court that Volume X of 50-year-old Sohail Riaz, a grade bad. Exchange Commission of Pa- and tweeted: “These BVI FIA In yet another tweet, Mr documents without even notic- the JIT report had become ir- 11 clerk who was recruited 30 “And certainly, our message is kistan (SECP), the State Bank documents conclusively prove Khan referred to an interview ing the dates of the respective relevant. years ago. that any terrorist group threat- of Pakistan (SBP), and National Maryam Nawaz benefi cial own- aired on a private television on letters. Countering Aurangzeb’s re- Despite holding a Masters de- ening any country in the region Accountability Bureau (NAB), er of the companies that own November 8, 2011 and com- She added that the star wit- sponse, PTI information secre- gree in library sciences, Riaz has has to be opposed,” she said. which had been constituted by the Mayfair apartments worth mented: “Brazen lies of Mar- ness, Wajiz Zia, who had al- tary Fawad Chaudhry tweeted continued to work as a clerk on “So, we oppose groups that the Supreme Court to probe billions of rupees. As she had yam Nawaz simply to protect ready testifi ed before the court, his recorded statement. the post of librarian and has not are targeting Pakistan. We op- Panama Papers allegations no source of income, the money family properties because they would be cross-examined next He called Maryam Nawaz “a been able to get a job accord- pose, of course, groups that are against the Sharif family. was stolen from Pakistan and were acquired with corruption week. liar” and the state minister “her ing to his qualifi cations because targeting Afghanistan,” Wells The JIT submitted its report laundered by Nawaz Sharif in money.” “Zia doesn’t know what he staff offi cer”. the Punjab government has not added. on July 10, 2017 to the court, Maryam’s name.” Responding to the allega- will face during the upcoming Chaudhry said that people advertised jobs for librarians for She recalled that hours before which disqualifi ed the then- The other documents tweet- tions, State Minister for In- cross-examination,” Aurangzeb have been waiting for the evi- many years. Janjua’s meetings in Washing- prime minister Nawaz Sharif ed by the PTI chief were the formation and Broadcasting added. dence for a long time. Iqbal Library used to be known ton, the US Justice Department with a directive to the NAB to letters of Mossac Fonesca, the Marryium Aurangzeb said it Regarding the documents “In case the Sharif fam- as the municipal library, but nei- had announced millions of dol- fi le three references against Panamanian law fi rm, dated appeared that the PTI chairman tweeted by Khan, the state min- ily fails to bring any evidence in ther the library administration lars of rewards for information him and one against the then- June 22, 2012. “suff ered from Maryam Nawaz ister said: “These letters have their defence, they will land in nor the offi ce-bearers of the leading to the arrest of three fi nance minister Ishaq Dar. Maryam Safdar (Maryam phobia”. already been examined by the Adiala Jail,” he said. Chakwal Municipal Committee Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s know the exact date on which leaders involved in terrorist at- the library opened. tacks inside Pakistan. According to some references, However, she complained that the library was opened some- Washington had not yet seen where between the late 1950s “the sustained and decisive” ac- Shoe hurled at Sharif and the early 60s. tions that it would like to see Pa- “First, a small room was re- kistan take against the Taliban. served for a library in Baldia “We would certainly like to see AFP aide, while he was speaking at Plaza on Bhoun Chowk, and this steps taken that make it harder Lahore a party rally in eastern Pakistan. was in the early 60s,” recalls sen- for the Taliban to plan for spring The shoe hurling was broad- ior advocate and political activ- off ensive, to disrupt their ability cast live on Pakistani TV chan- ist Syed Ziaul Hassan Zaidi. to meet and to lay out this opera- n Islamic seminary stu- nels. The perpetrator then The current two-storey build- tional plan for the next year,” she dent hurled a shoe at jumped on stage where Sharif ing in Committee Bagh was built said. APakistan’s former prime was standing and began chant- in 1989. Wells said that while Paki- minister yesterday, an act con- ing before he was overpowered From that small room in Bald- stan had recently taken posi- sidered a major insult in the by the crowd and handed over ia Plaza, the library now consist- tive measures, “we believe that Muslim country. to the police. ed of a large reading hall for men, Pakistan really can play a much Nawaz Sharif, who was oust- According to police, the man a room for women, and another more important and critical role ed last year over graft charges, is a student at the seminary. hall for the storage of books. in shaping Taliban behaviour or appeared visibly shocked as the Minutes later, Imran Khan, Even when it was run out of incentives for undertaking ne- shoe hit his shoulder while he leader of the Pakistan Tehreek- a single room, the library had a gotiations”. was addressing a gathering at a e-Insaf opposition party and an notable collection. Wells acknowledged that Pa- seminary in Lahore. arch rival of Sharif who has fre- “Comrades of the fi rst com- kistan too had interests that “it The incident came a day af- quently criticised Sharif, con- munist leader of the country, wants to ensure are met during ter an individual hurled ink at demned the incident. General Mohammad Akbar the course of the stabilisation of Foreign Minister Khawaja Mu- “This is not the way to ex- Khan, had placed works of writ- Afghanistan, which we take seri- hammad Asif, a member of the press yourself and I condemn ers belonging to the Soviet Un- ously”. ruling party and a close Sharif whoever did it,” Khan said. Security personnel tackle the man after he hurled a shoe at former prime minister Sharif. ion in municipal libraries at the tehsil level. “The translations of the nov- Indian surgeon to perform liver transplants in Karachi 17 animal babies born at Karachi’s Safari Park els and poetry of writers such as Mikhail Sholokhov, Alexan- Participants in a conference on gastroenterology Dozens of leading gastroenterologists and With 17 recent births, the number of wild goats, number of births so far, that is, five. der Pushkin, Maxim Gorky and and liver diseases were informed yesterday that hepatologists from the public and private sector sheep, deer, antelopes and llamas has risen to “Having a total of 60 and 70 members, the black Dostoyevsky were also available despite tensions on the border of Pakistan and hospitals spoke at the conference. more than 190 at the Safari Park in Pakistan’s bucks and the spotted deer constitute the largest at Chakwal’s municipal library,” India, eminent Indian surgeon Subhash Gupta is The Indian surgeon had performed the last southern port city of Karachi. herds at the Safari,” additional director of Safari wrote Khalid Toor in his autobi- arriving in Karachi as per schedule to perform liver liver transplant at the Ojha campus of DUHS in All babies, according to the staff , are healthy and Park Dr Kazim Hussain said, adding that the ographical novel Balon ka Gucha. transplants. December. living well with their parents. number of Sindh ibex and urial had also grown to The library was handed over to The conference was told that Dr Gupta was He will train a team of Pakistani surgeons in Herds of mouflon and urial, both subspecies of wild 19 and 14, respectively, this year. the district administration un- arriving with his team this month to perform performing the complicated surgeries. sheep, increased their numbers to four and 10 with Most animals in the herds of red deer, white fallow der the Musharraf regime, when liver transplants at the Ojha campus of the Dow Quraishy maintained that provision of safe and two and four births each. dear, mouflon, black backs, nilgal and spotted deer municipalities were abolished. University of Health Sciences (DUHS). clean drinking water was the most important The black bucks, an Indian antelope species, the belonged to the species brought here in the 1990s Although the municipal- “He will carry out three to four liver transplant intervention in preventing and controlling Sindh ibex, a goat species, and llama, a South The facility, sources said, has not received ity system was brought back in surgeries in our facility,” said DUHS vice-chancellor outbreak of extensively-drug resistant (XDR) American member of the camel family, have two, any funds for repair and maintenance, and 2015, the Chakwal municipality Prof Saeed Quraishy at a scientific conference typhoid in Sindh, “which has now spread from three and one births, respectively. procurement, excluding the amount allocated for has yet to regain possession of organised by Pak GI and Liver Diseases Society Karachi to Sukkur after initially [being] reported in A delicate, shy species with few defences, the animal feed and veterinary medicines, for the past the library from the education (PGLDS) at a hotel. Hyderabad”. spotted deer, or cheetal, has had the highest two years. department. Gulf Times 20 Monday, March 12, 2018 PHILIPPINES Anniversary celebration Poe pushes simplifi ed adoption process

By Bernadette E Tamayo poses or for other legal matters,” she added. Manila Times Poe also fi led Senate Resolution 672 to revisit the Domestic Adoption Act of 1998, noting the gap in the big number of children who may be enator Grace Poe has fi led a bill that seeks legally adopted and the successful legal adoption to simplify the adoption process by allow- cases. Sing the correction of “simulated” birth “The disparity in the number of children de- records through administrative proceedings. clared legally available for adoption and the She fi led on March 5 Senate Bill 1725, which number of successful legal adoptions in the states that a petition for the rectifi cation of a country is indicative of fl aws in the Domestic simulated birth record should be fi led within 10 Adoption Act and its implementation,” she said. years from the eff ective date of the measure. SR 672 asked the Committee on Women, Chil- Instead of going through the courts, those who dren, Family Relations and Gender to look into will fi le a petition may do so through the Social the status of the implementation of Republic Act Welfare and Development Offi cer of the city or 8552 or the Domestic Adoption Act of 1998. municipality where the child resides. She urged the panel to make a comprehensive The Secretary of the Department of Social review and gap analysis of the law and streamline Welfare and Development (DSWD) should decide adoption procedures. on the petition within 30 days from receipt of the “It is time to break the barriers that hinder recommendation of the agency’s regional direc- good and caring potential adoptive parents from tor.Poe said the simulation of birth refers to the giving home and family to the thousands of chil- “tampering” of the civil registry to make it ap- dren in orphanages,” Poe said. A woman poses for a selfie on an armoured personnel carrier during the information caravan mounted by the Philippine Army. The pear, in the record of birth, that a child was born Under SB 1725, those who simulated the birth event held at the Bonifacio Global City is part of the month-long celebration of he Army’s 121st anniversary. to a person who is not such a child’s biological record of a child are spared from criminal, civil mother, causing such child to lose his or her true and administrative liability, provided that the act identity and status. was done for the best interest of the child. SB 1725 allows the rectifi cation of the simu- The Domestic Adoption Act of 1998 provided lated birth of a child when it was made “for the an amnesty to enable parents to rectify a record best interest of the child, and that such a child and fully legalise the status of their adopted chil- has been consistently considered and treated by dren. the person or persons who simulated such birth However, the fi ve-year window, from 1998 to as his, her, or their own son or daughter.” 2003, for the rectifi cation of simulated births “This will give the adoptive parents the oppor- under the law had long expired. tunity to have the status of their adopted child or Poe said, “Adoptions in the Philippines have children regularised in law,” said Poe, herself an been and continue to be handled through simu- Judges may ask adopted daughter of movie and television actress lation of birth because the formal adoption pro- Susan Roces and the late action star Fernando cedure remains tedious and excessively costly for Poe Jr. ordinary Filipinos.” “It is also in the best interest of the parents “This leaves a lot of adoptees under assumed and the children to have the records rectifi ed for fi liations and unduly deprived of the benefi ts of Sereno to resign possible future uses such as medical or DNA pur- legitimacy and succession,” she said. By Jomar Canlas and the youngest at that, to be Manila Times removed from offi ce.” Reyes told Manila Times that Sereno’s res- ignation would spare the judici- Election ‘gun ban’ he biggest league of judg- ary from further attacks. es in the Philippines and He pointed out that it would Tcourt employees’ organi- be an awkward situation for the sations nationwide are set to call quo warranto petition to be de- on Chief Justice Maria Lourdes cided by Sereno’s fellow justic- to start on April 14 Sereno to step down from her es, and for some of the justices post. to testify against Sereno in the By Roy Narra the illegal release of prison- strike forces, or similar forces The Philippine Judges Asso- Senate impeachment court. Manila Times ers before and after the village is also prohibited during the ciation, the 1,000-strong group “Remember that (Sereno’s) elections. campaign period, as well as al- of regional trial court judges colleagues will rule on her case Comelec Resolution 20247 tering precincts or establishing nationwide, will lead the call for in the quo warranto petition; it he Department of the states that the DILG, together new ones and transferring or Sereno to resign so as to “spare will be awkward already. Once Interior and Local Gov- with the National Police Com- detailing offi cers and employ- the judiciary from further hu- the Senate impeachment trial Ternment (DILG) and mission (Napolcom) and other ees in the civil service includ- miliation.” begins, the justices who be- the Commission on Elections law enforcement agencies, will ing public school teachers. The Also joining the call for res- came the resource persons in the (Comelec) will work together assist the poll body in imple- suspension of elective provin- ignation are the Supreme Court House of Representatives will to enforce the gun ban, and menting the gun ban and pro- cial city, municipal or village Employees’ Association (SCEA), Maria Lourdes Sereno: under scrutiny become witnesses already and be prohibition on the use of po- hibition of police bodyguards. offi cers during the election pe- the Supreme Court Assembly subjected to cross-examination. lice bodyguards during the The DILG also prohibits the riod is also banned, as well as of Lawyer Employees (Scale), ing the Supreme Court en banc to quit. The statement calling We cannot allow that to happen, campaign period from April following: the construction waging or betting on the elec- the Philippine Association of or the full court, and even un- for Sereno’s resignation, ob- that the Supreme Court justices 14 to May 21 for the baran- or maintenance of village- tion results. Court Employees (PACE) and the dermining the appointment of tained by Manila Times, states: will be grilled by the senators,” gay (village) and Sangguniang funded roads and bridges, ap- Also prohibited are fundrais- Sandiganbayan Employees As- former solicitor general Francis “The pending impeachment Reyes said. Kabataan elections. pointment or hiring of new ing activities through dance, sociation (SEA). Jardeleza as associate justice. proceedings in recent months The president of the judges’ Interior Secretary Eduardo employees, creation of new lotteries, and cockfi ghts or giv- The heads of these groups are Some associate justices, such have put the entire judiciary in association couldn’t help but Ano said the department will positions, promotion, giving ing donations or cash or gifts expected to join the Supreme as Jardeleza, Teresita Leonardo- disrepute, thereby aff ecting the compare the impeachment cases also monitor the use of prohib- salary increases, remunera- up to election day. Court’s fl ag ceremony today, de Castro and Diosdado Peralta honour and integrity of its jus- against Sereno and the late chief ited drugs during the elections. tion and privileges from May 4 Ano warned that his depart- nearly two weeks after Sereno testifi ed against Sereno before tices, judges, offi cials have been justice Renato Corona. He directed the Bureau of up to May to the night of May ment will be on the lookout was forced by her fellow mag- the House panel. pitted against each other result- “Before, under Corona, the Jail Management and Penol- 14, election day. Organising or for people who will buy or sell istrates to go on indefi nite leave Sereno’s qualifi cations to be- ing in a distressing atmosphere. judiciary as a family came under ogy (BJMP) to guard against maintaining reaction forces, their votes. ahead of her looming impeach- come chief justice have also been This is aggravated by the fact attack by others such as Malaca- ment trial in the Senate. questioned by Solicitor General that the Court en banc has taken nang, the House and the Senate, On Friday, the justice com- Jose Calida, who fi led a petition cognisance of the petition for which is why we, the children, mittee of the House of Repre- for quo warranto before the Su- quo warranto and ordered her defended Chief Justice Corona,” sentatives voted 38-2 to fi nd preme Court last week. to fi le her comment thereto, in- he said. probable cause to impeach Ser- The Supreme Court associate stead of dismissing it outright. “But now with Sereno’s loom- Drug lord’s aide killed in operation eno for corruption and other justices, trial judges and court The Court can no longer endure ing impeachment, there is in- high crimes, betrayal of public workers are expected to hold an- a prolonged environment of this fi ghting inside our home. Our trust and culpable violation of other “Red Shirt” day today to kind. Its offi cials and personnel, mothers and fathers, the justic- Manila Times woman for the Eastern Visayas Police Regional the Constitution. The commit- press Sereno to quit. truly dedicated and conscien- es, are fi ghting each other. That’s Manila Offi ce, said operatives from the Regional Drug tee report will go through a ple- Philippine Judges Association tious public servants, cannot go why one of them has to leave,” he Enforcement Unit in Eastern Visayas, Ormoc nary vote this week. President and Marikina Judge through another set of hearings added. City Police Offi ce and Leyte Provincial Police She was accused by the im- Felix Reyes will lead the call for and go against each other again Sereno is expected to have her he “right-hand man” of self-confessed Offi ce were about to serve an arrest warrant to peachment complainant, lawyer Sereno to tender her resignation. in the Senate.” own gathering today morning at drug lord Kerwin Espinosa was killed Max Miro at 10pm on Friday when he allegedly Lorenzo Gadon, of failing to dis- He said an overwhelming “Chief Justice, let us please the University of the Philippines Tduring a police operation on Saturday “resisted arrest” and fi red his gun, prompting close all of her fi nances, making majority of trial judges held the not allow history to judge you Diliman, where her supporters night in Ormoc City, Leyte, an offi cial said. authorities to shoot back. Miro is facing murder illegal appointments, bypass- view that it was time for Sereno as the fi rst woman chief justice, will wear white shirts. Chief Insp. Maria Bella Rentuaya, spokes- charges.

Highs and lows Palace hopes for peaceful Smuggled end to Korean confl ict rice seized

By Catherine S Valente for the president to be elated and By Eireene Jairee Gomez Manila Times it gives him hope that the con- Manila Times troversy hounding the Korean Peninsula will be solved peace- alacanang has said it fully,” he added. amboanga port authori- welcomed the planned The White House has con- ties seized a shipment of Mdialogue between Unit- fi rmed Trump was ready to meet Zsmuggled rice worth P2mn ed States (US) President Donald Kim “by May,” at a time and lo- along the city’s southern port, Trump and North Korean Leader cation yet to be determined. about 300 yards off Taha wharf Kim Jong-un, amid the tensions Last year, Duterte said both in Barangay Baliwasan. between the two countries on the US and North Korea would Lt Commander Alvin Da- the Korean peninsula. lose if the confl ict leads to “any galea, Zamboanga Coastguard In a press conference in Il- violence.” Station commander, said the oilo, Palace spokesman Harry Duterte, who chaired the As- shipment, loaded onboard M/L Roque said President Rodrigo sociation of Southeast Asian Fatima and M/B Rajena was Duterte was optimistic that the Nations (Asean) summit in intercepted at about 9:35pm two leaders would come up with 2017, agreed with other South- on Friday by a team from the a “peaceful resolution” to put an east Asian leaders that the US Coastguard, Joint Task Force end to the confl ict. and North Korea must maintain Zamboanga and the Bureau “We welcome this dialogue “peace, security, and stability” of Customs (BoC). Dagalea between the head of North Korea by pushing the denuclearisation said they were on patrol when and President Trump. President of the Korean Peninsula. BoC personnel called and in- Duterte… has repeatedly said he Also last year, the Asean called formed them about a shipment has no interest to have war in the on the US and North Korea to of smuggled rice coming from region,” Roque said. “explore all avenues for immedi- Residents stand on a rooftop of a shanty tenement house while newly-built condominium buildings are seen in the Bongao, that was arriving. “And now that they (Trump ate dialogue” to ease the growing background in Tondo district, Metro Manila, yesterday. Ownership of the cargo is yet and Kim) will meet, it’s a reason tensions between the two nations. to be ascertained. Gulf Times Monday, March 12, 2018 21 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL Police investigate fresh ‘hate crime’ in Lanka AFP UN condemns anti-Muslim violence A senior police offi cial said Colombo disciplinary action would be The UN’s political chief yesterday attacks against Muslims and their off ice of missing persons will be taken against offi cers in the An- condemned anti-Muslim violence property,” a UN statement said. set up soon to determine the fate amaduwa area for failing to pre- andals attacked a Mus- that has targeted mosques and Feltman “urged swift and full of those unaccounted for from the vent the restaurant attack. lim-owned restaurant in businesses in Sri Lanka as he implementation of the government’s brutal 25-year war against Tamil “We are treating this as a hate K P Sharma Oli ... victory by two-thirds majority VSri Lanka yesterday in an wrapped up a three-day visit to the commitment to bring the perpetra- Tiger rebels. crime. An investigation is on to alleged “hate crime”, police said, Indian Ocean island-nation. tors of the violence and hate speech “He expressed concern that many identify those responsible,” he as tensions remain high across Under-secretary General for to justice, to take measures to elements of the government’s vi- said on condition of anonymity. the island following a week of Political Aff airs Jeff rey Feltman prevent recurrence, and to enforce sionary 2015 program seem stalled, President Maithripala Sirise- violent riots. urged the government to bring the non-discriminatory rule of law.” despite their importance to sustain- na announced on Saturday that The restaurant in Ana- perpetrators of the violence and Feltman met with the president, able peace, security and prosperity he will appoint a three-member Nepal’s PM maduwa, 130km (81 miles) north hate speech to justice. the prime minister, civil society and in Sri Lanka,” said the statement. panel of retired judges to inves- of the capital Colombo, was tar- Feltman, who met with Muslim human rights representatives during Feltman said he received assur- tigate the unrest that drew con- geted despite police being on leaders to show solidarity during the three-day visit that was scheduled ances from government leaders cern from rights groups and the high alert after a spate of anti- his visit, “condemned the break- before the outbreak of violence. that they are moving forward with international community. Muslim attacks. down in law and order and the The envoy expressed hope that an democratic reforms. Police said nearly 150 people wins vote of The government declared a were arrested over the violence, state of emergency last week as including the suspected leader 11 mosques were torched and 200 and around 20 wounded. remained on the streets, equipped cluding Facebook remain blocked Amith Weerasinghe, a Sinhalese Muslim-owned businesses de- A curfew was lifted in the cen- with emergency powers to detain across Sri Lanka. Offi cials say this man known for anti-Muslim stroyed in riots by Sinhalese mobs tral district of Kandy, the epicen- people to maintain law and order. was done to prevent the spread of activism and outspoken social confi dence that left at least three people dead tre of the violence, but soldiers Some social media networks in- hate speech against Muslims. media posts.

IANS where Madhes based parties 39 arrested for Kathmandu used to depict him as an “anti- Madhesi” leader. Sirisena meets Indian president trying to enter After the vote, the commu- refugee camps nist government has a two- epal’s Prime Minister thirds majority, for the fi rst Police in Bangladesh have K P Sharma Oli won a time in the post-1990 era after detained 39 foreign nationals Nvote of confi dence by a the restoration of democracy. for attempting to enter the two-thirds majority yesterday Among the 10 parties and Rohingya refugee camps at Cox’s during a fl oor test in parlia- an independent representing Bazar’s Ukhiya without proper ment. Oli was appointed the the Lower House, Oli is widely permissions. prime minister 25 days ago. expected to garner support of They were detained at a The Nepal Congress decid- six parties and the independ- checkpoint on Ukhiya’s Shaheed ed to sit in the opposition say- ent lawmaker. Jafar Alam Road yesterday, ing it will see the performance The prime minister yester- said Cox’s Bazar additional of the government for another day said that there is nothing superintendent of police Afruzul 100 days and will take all pos- like a ruling party or opposi- Haque Tutul. sible steps if the government tion when it comes to the na- Several foreign nationals working tries to become authoritarian. tion’s prosperity. for international organisations While questioning the in- “National development entered the refugee camps on tent of the government in campaign does not belong to tourist visas, he said, adding that seeking a two-thirds vote as only ruling party, but it is a details regarding their countries of it had already secured a ma- common journey. The cam- origin have yet to be confirmed. jority, Nepali Congress leader paign maybe led by the ruling According to the police off icer, Gagan Thapa warned Oli “not party or me in the capacity of security checkpoints have been to dream to become Li Kuan prime minister,” he said while set up on roads in and out of Yew of Singapore in the name addressing a parliamentary Ukjiya and Teknaf to prevent of two-thirds majority”. meeting. Rohingya refugees from moving In the 275-seat Federal Par- He pledged to work for the beyond the camp area. liament, 268 votes were cast welfare and aspirations of the “The passports and other and Oli received 208 votes. people, while stressing the documents of the foreign nationals The move came as a surprise need for developing agricul- were checked and it was confirmed to many as Oli and the Mad- ture, trade, energy, for creat- Indian President Ram Nath Kovind, right, meeting with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena in New Delhi yesterday. that they had entered Bangladesh hesi parties did share “acri- ing the base for the prosperity on tourist visas,” he said. monious” relations in the past of the country. UN to seek Ancient sites in Nepal long for revival by tourism IANS small forest today, with the quiet receive dozens of tourists and where Buddha’s son Rahula was According to Pandey, the Lumbini shrine and its walkways enclosed don’t even have enough time for ordained by Sariputra, Buddha’s places like Tilaurakot, which is by a fence. lunch, while on other days, we chief disciple. also known as Kapilvastu, hold $1bn for According to Lumbini devel- have nothing to do.” Pramod Prasad, a security great signifi cance. But the ma- uring the recent fourth opment trust, more than 1.5mn The recent excavation work offi cer at Kudan, told Xinhua, jority of the tourists are not yet edition of the peace foreign and domestic tourists completed by the department “Mostly tourists from Burma, aware about the sites. Dmarathon, Lumbini, the visit Lumbini every year but, un- of archaeology and Lumbini de- Thailand and Sri Lanka visit this “We held the marathon con- birthplace of Lord Buddha, was fortunately, Tilaurakot receives velopment trust, with the help historical site but the number is necting all such historical but refugees in packed with around 100 runners, just a handful of visitors. of a foreign university, found the quiet minimal.” forgotten sites as part of our pro- along a large number of tourists. Shivaraj Pokharel, who has remains of the old palace of king According to tourism entre- motion,” Pandey added. In contrast to the noise of been working as a local guide Suddhodhana including walls preneurs, only 15% of the total The devastating earthquake of 2015 cheers and applause fi lling the around Tilaurakot for the last and bricks and suchlike. tourists in Lumbini visit these saw the number of tourists plummet garden where Lumbini is lo- few years, told Xinhua, “Tilau- Although Tilaurakot has been sites, which are easily accessible to a six-year low, but the recovering Bangladesh cated, 28km away from the gar- rakot is an ancient Sakya capital proposed to be included in the by black-topped roads and com- Himalayan nation received nearly 1mn den, the place where Siddhartha city, which has been mentioned in World Heritage Site list, eff orts prises basic facilities. foreign tourists in 2017. Gautam spent his fi rst 29 years several Buddhist literature sourc- seem sluggish and it may take “We have many historically With the reconstruction ef- AFP budget the cost of mass vac- before leaving the palace, was es. It is a place of great research more time, according to tourism and archaeologically important forts underway, Nepal has set an Dhaka cination drives against dis- deserted. and signifi cance but the state has professionals. sites related to Gautam Buddha ambitious target of welcoming eases like cholera, diphtheria Known as Tialurakot, the failed to promote and manage The situation of Kudan, lo- and the Sakya kingdom, but they 2mn tourists by 2020. and measles, the group’s head capital of the ancient Sakya such an important site well.” cated 40km away from Lumbini, lack enough promotion. We need With the country’s second N offi cials said yester- Sumbul Rizvi said. kingdom, was once the site of There is no registration or where Gautam Buddha met his to promote all the sites to boost international airport being con- day that nearly $1bn Bangladesh and Myanmar the royal palace of Suddhodhan, entry fee system for the tour- father Suddhodhana for the fi rst tourism,” Bikram Pandey, a tour- structed just a few kilometres Uwill be needed this year agreed in November to begin Gautam Buddha’s father. ists in Tilaurakot due to which time after returning from en- ism professional who has been away from Lumbini, many be- to feed and care for the rough- repatriating Rohingya who The place where prince Sid- it is diffi cult to estimate the total lightenment, is similar. promoting the inner Buddhist lieve that the promotion of such ly 1mn Rohingya refugees liv- volunteered to return to Ra- dhartha lived before leaving number of visitors. Kudan, also known as Nyi- circuit through his company historical sites will only help in ing in overcrowded camps in khine state where the perse- for enlightenment looks like a Pokharel said, “Some days we grodharama, is also the place Himalaya Expeditions, said. achieving the target. southeastern Bangladesh. cuted Muslim minority have The $950mn for this year’s lived for generations. aid eff ort was “a very legiti- But the process has stalled Nepal earthquake victims seek fresh mate and valid” request given and it is not clear when it will the magnitude of the crisis, begin, said Bangladesh’s refu- Court summons Nepal daily house reconstruction grants the UN resident co-ordinator gee commissioner Moham- The number of beneficiaries Bhusal said, “The reason for in Bangladesh said. mad Abul Kalam. applying for the second instalment enthusiasm among people is due “It’s a new and evolving crisis. A quarter of the proposed of grants for reconstruction to the deadline being fixed for The needs are huge. These people $950mn funding for the remain- of houses destroyed by the receiving the second instalment, came with nothing. We hope the der of the year would go to Bang- earthquake has crossed 300,000. suitable weather for construction, support will continue,” the UN ladeshis living in Cox’s Bazar As many as 301,084 earthquake and technicians being deployed country head Mia Seppo said. whose lives have been upended victims have submitted their under the local levels.” The funding request could by the massive refugee infl ux. applications for the second According to statistics registered be raised this week at a UN Nearly 700,000 Rohingya instalment of grants, as per the in the information system of conference in Geneva. Muslims have crossed the bor- statistics received until Friday NRA, the highest number of In October, nations pledged der since August, clearing for- through the communication applicants applying for the second $345mn in response to the Ro- ests and camping on hillsides mechanism of the National instalment is from Sindhupalchok hingya crisis. The UN said at already crowded with more Reconstruction Authority (NRA). district, which comprise of 51,066 the time it needed $434mn to than 300,000 refugees from The NRA procedure allows the beneficiaries. The number of care for the displaced Muslims previous waves of migration. beneficiaries, who have received beneficiaries applying for the until February. Prices for local goods have the first instalment of grants, to second instalment of grants is Food, shelter and healthcare skyrocketed and competition apply for the second instalment increasing both in highly aff ected remain pressing needs for the for jobs and resources intensi- on completion of construction as well as less aff ected districts. Rohingya, who fl ed a Myan- fi ed in the largely-rural border of the foundation level. On From the less aff ected districts, mar army crackdown in Ra- district, said Kalam. receiving the application for 652 beneficiaries from Lamjung, khine state en masse over the “We will try to compensate the second instalment from the 502 from Chitwan and 29 from past six months. these farmers,” he said. beneficiaries, NRA will recommend Nawalparasi have applied for the But there are other urgent Separately, police in Cox’s Ba- for the second instalment after second instalment. considerations. As the monsoon zar briefl y detained 39 foreign aid conducting required monitoring. According to central project season nears, aid groups need to workers on Sunday for question- Out of the applicants of the second implementation unit of the relocate an estimated 100,000 ing over alleged visa violations. instalment, 288,023 beneficiaries ministry of urban development, refugees living in areas prone to Afrujul Haq Tutul, the dep- Sudheer Sharma, centre, editor of the Nepal’s largest newspaper Kantipur Daily, signs his have already been certified. The 338,029 houses are undergoing landslides and fl oods, Seppo said. uty police chief of Cox’s Ba- names as he enters in the Supreme Court of Nepal in Kathmandu yesterday. Nepal’s largest certification of the remaining reconstruction, while the NRA The UN-backed Inter Sec- zar, said the aid staff had been newspaper appeared briefly in court summoned by the country’s chief justice for publishing 13,061 applicants will soon be has indicated that reconstruction tor Coordination Group has working on tourist visas, but articles critical of him, in a case widely condemned as an attack on press freedom. completed, according to NRA has been completed on 101,694 also factored into the relief were later released. spokesperson Yam Lal Bhusal. houses. Gulf Times 22 Monday, March 12, 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 Reap the rewards of regular physical activity in later life

It has long been known that staying active throughout life is essential for maintaining good health even during the twilight years. Researchers at the University of Birmingham and King’s College London have reaffi rmed that staying active keeps the body young and healthy. They set out to assess the health of older adults who had exercised most of their adult lives to see if this could slow down ageing. The Beware of vampires, psychos, study recruited 125 amateur cyclists’ aged 55 to 79, comprising 84 males and 41 females. The men had to be able to cycle 100km in under 6.5 hours, while the women had to be able to cycle 60km in 5.5 hours. and zombies in ... politics! Smokers, heavy drinkers and those with high blood pressure or other health conditions were excluded. The participants underwent a series of tests in the Dr Rashid al-Balushi the resources of their countries as well mental problems. The administration enjoy fake superiority. Unlike vampire laboratory and were compared to a group of adults who Assistant Professor of Linguistics as from the wicked games of changing of psycho politicians is marked by the and psycho politicians (whose actions Sultan Qaboos University their countries’ diplomatic relations absence of careful long-term planning; either take people’s money or get them do not partake in regular physical activity. This group and selling their political positions for their planning is only based on military into serious trouble, respectively), consisted of 75 healthy people aged 57 to 80 and 55 money, at the expense of their citizens power, weakness of other parties, and zombie politicians love to destroy life, healthy young adults aged 20 to 36. The study showed eople usually see vampires and and their status in the world. Vampire the wicked desires of taking what the even their own; that is, termination of psychos as well as zombies in politicians are always ready to exploit others have. And it is usually the case life is their main mission in their living- that loss of muscle movies. In what follows, we will any situation there might be to make that their decisions would backfi re like activity of walking. Therefore, it Staying active mass and strength Pshow that these “creatures” can more money, off ering everything and and hurt them, their own people, and is not unreasonable to say that zombie did not occur in those also be seen in real life, specifi cally, and everyone for sale. The ultimate result their main national issues. Therefore, I politicians lack a true heart and a true keeps the body unfortunately, in politics (running of of being a citizen of a country led or think it is reasonable to say that psycho mind, a natural consequence of the fact who exercise regularly. state business, international relations, managed by vampire politicians is a politicians lack a true mind. that they lack (true) life. young and The cyclists also did domestic policies, economic planning, people without suffi cient means to good Zombies are “fi ctional undead This, therefore, calls for the not increase their etc…). This, therefore, makes the life, one lacking good basic services beings”, “undead” meaning “that they application of some new measures healthy damage (human, diplomatic, economic, and marked by increasing prices and are deceased but behave as if they were before electing or selecting someone body fat or cholesterol etc…) greater, which calls for more decreasing levels of safety, security, and alive”, which means that they are not for a state position, whether running levels with age and the men’s testosterone levels also wisdom on the part of whoever decides dignity. Since they do not feel for their alive. Zombies are capable of doing the state or one of its institutions. remained high, suggesting that they may have avoided on who is elected for or appointed in own people, always draining them of one human activity, the worst of all, Such measures might include tests most of the male menopause. More surprisingly, the government positions, especially as all the means to a decent life, vampire termination of life. Like movie zombies, that assess these people’s mental and heads of states and top-level offi cials. politicians are human beings without a zombie politicians are not concerned psychological conditions. Such tests study also revealed that the benefi ts of exercise extend Like movie vampires, vampire true heart. about the positive aspects of life should also evaluate their thinking beyond muscle as the cyclists also had an immune politicians live on sucking their Like movie psychos, psycho (construction, co-operation, invention, and problem solving skills and their system that did not seem to have aged either. people’s blood, by draining their lives politicians always behave in a way that progress, good relations, friendship, integrity, as well as their attitudes of all the means to decent living, like does not speak of a sound mind. They etc…), but rather about the negative towards public property and public An organ called the thymus, which makes immune good income, services, and other usually deal with problems by creating ones, doing all they can to ensure that service. Their eligibility for a public cells called T cells, starts to shrink from the age of rights. Vampire politicians make others, thinking that a problem is others’ lives (and hopes for life) are offi ce could also depend on whether 20 and makes less T cells. In this study, however, the every possible use of their positions solved if a greater one is created, which terminated. Ending life is zombies’ they have off ered initiatives and plans and relations to accumulate wealth, reveals their ignorance of basic life ultimate goal, which is expected given to improve aspects of life in their cyclists’ thymuses were making as many T cells as exploring all possible means to increase (or thinking) skills. Psycho politicians the fact that they do not feel life. communities, and whether they have those of a young person. Professor Janet Lord, director their properties, through enacting usually make rash decisions, speaking Therefore, instead of looking for friends provided voluntary public services. of the Institute of Infl ammation and Ageing at the new laws, manipulating policies, and before they think, and feeling fine and people to co-operate with to make Also, other tests should be designed developing new techniques, using the about challenging the whole world the planet a better place to live in, to uncover the candidates’ attitudes University of Birmingham, said: “Our research means help and talent of corrupt offi cials. (acting like a big brother), and are zombie politicians are more interested to people from other ethnic groups, we now have strong evidence that encouraging people To succeed in their mission, vampire always ready for a confrontation, in having enemies, and so they always religions, creeds and colours, as well to commit to regular exercise throughout their lives is a politicians start by forming networks even for trivial reasons. They usually look for trouble, conspiracies, and as to neighbouring nations. Moreover, viable solution to the problem that we are living longer of corrupt offi cials around them, for hide behind military might (always evil alliances. Like zombies, who do eligibility for the public offi ce should two purposes, to help them increase resorting to threatening and use of not feel life in the absence of human also depend on having a clear plan for but not healthier.” their wealth, and to secure it by having force) and speak louder than there are beings, zombie politicians do not running the institution and developing Professor Stephen Harridge, director of the Centre of most of the state (or institution) chances for action. And the only case feel life unless there are enemies, evil its operation. In other words, the Human & Aerospace Physiological Sciences at King’s offi cials partners in the corruption, and when a psycho politician would calm plans, conspiracies, and weapons to criteria for holding a public offi ce so guards for it. Therefore, vampire down and become comprehensible for destroy the enemies. And if there are no should go beyond getting a number of College London, said: “The fi ndings emphasise the politicians would do all they can to others is when he is in a confrontation enemies, zombie politicians are ready to votes, or being able to manage a public fact that the cyclists do not exercise because they are remain in power so that they would with another psycho politician who establish enmity with their own friends institution, or even having a number of healthy, but that they are healthy because they have continue accumulating wealth from has a more serious condition of and neighbours, or even siblings, to certifi cates. been exercising for such a large proportion of their lives. Their bodies have been allowed to age optimally, free from the problems usually caused by inactivity. Remove the activity and their health would likely deteriorate.” The researchers hope to continue to assess the cyclists to see if they continue to cycle and stay young. The research was published in the journal Aging Cell. The take home message from the study is that nearly everybody can partake in an exercise that is in keeping with their own physiological capabilities. Find an exercise that you enjoy in whatever environment that suits you and make a habit of physical activity. You will reap the rewards in later life by enjoying an independent and productive old age.

To Advertise [email protected] Display 44466621 44418811 Classified 44466609 44418811 Subscription [email protected]

© 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Gulf Times Monday, March 12, 2018 23 COMMENT US shuts schoolhouse door on refugees

By Gordon Brown UNRWA staff make. In Syria, for too, a half-million Palestinian London example, 20 employees have lost refugees will lose some of the help on their lives, and some 25 others have which they relied. gone (and remain) missing since the To be sure, some countries have o international institution beginning of the war in 2011. already stepped up to the plate. has done as much for UNRWA now faces the gravest Denmark, Finland, Germany, children’s schooling on fi nancial crisis in its 70-year history, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Nthe ground for as long as with a potential defi cit this year as high New Zealand, Norway, Russia, the United Nations Relief and Works as $446mn. While the agency receives Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK Agency for Palestine Refugees in contributions from more than 100 have all agreed to front-load their the Near East (UNRWA). And yet, donors, 80% of UNRWA’s funding – a annual contributions. Several other no international organisation has total income of nearly $1.25bn in 2016 countries are considering doing suff ered an overnight funding cut as – comes from just ten donors, with the same. And, in order to maintain devastating as the one UNRWA now the US having long been the largest quality education for Palestinian faces, after 70 years of serving the contributor. The European Union is the refugees, the Education Cannot Wait displaced and the desolate. second largest, contributing $143mn, fund, established in 2016 to help Today, some 60% of elementary- and Germany, Sweden, and the United children displaced in emergencies, and middle-school children in Gaza Kingdom are next, each contributing will seek to deepen its co-operation attend UNRWA schools, their only more than $60mn. But it would be with UNRWA. schooling alternative being madrassas. diffi cult for these countries to ll fi the Yet measures like frontloading can Since Palestinian refugees do not enjoy multi-million-dollar gap that the US take us only so far. If UNRWA does not legal protections or access to basic cut creates. receive additional bridge funding, it services under the Refugee Convention Allowing up to a half-million will run out of money in the next few of 1951, those living elsewhere also rely schoolchildren to be relegated to months. on UNRWA schools. More than half the streets would mean creating Pierre Krahenbuhl, UNRWA’s of the 525,000 Palestinian refugees a lost generation of children and commissioner-general, is determined UNRWA supports live in Lebanon, exacerbating instability in the region. to continue UNRWA’s life-saving Syria, and Jordan. After all, beyond providing knowledge, work. Under the banner “Dignity is Yet the United States has now UNRWA schools encourage civic Priceless,” he is now asking all with decided to withhold more than half engagement among young people, the means to provide the additional of its planned funding for UNRWA – while helping to prevent child funding. One hopes that his call will $65mn of $125mn, which is already marriage, child labour, and child be heeded at this month’s planned far less than the $364mn delivered traffi cking. More fundamentally, they ministerial roundtable in Rome, last year. The move will deal a give children hope. with countries advancing next powerful blow to eff orts to confront Hope dies when boats capsize at year’s contributions, as we await a the education emergency the world sea, when families freeze to death on change of heart by the US. Failure to currently faces. Palestinian students protest against UNRWA cuts in Sidon, on March 1, 2018. hazardous mountain journeys into bridge the funding gap would have Already, there are some 75mn exile, or when food convoys fail to serious consequences not just for children in confl ict and emergency UNRWA off ered a range of additional Even today, while schools account livelihoods of 60,000 Palestinians make it to beleaguered towns and the Palestinian children who depend zones who have had their education services, from food to healthcare, to for more than half of UNRWA’s currently participating in UNRWA’s villages. But hope also dies when on UNRWA, but also for peace and disrupted. Another 30mn children – some 750,000 Palestinians who had programme budget, the agency “Cash for Work” programme in the children find school gates locked, stability in the region. – Project 10mn of whom are refugees – have been expelled from their homes and provides other important services West Bank. denying them the chance they Syndicate been displaced, with most of them lands when Israel was established for children and families, including Those who receive loans through the deserve to plan and prepare for a denied education. Add to that the the previous year. Over the last seven humanitarian assistance and agency’s microfi nance department, future. zGordon Brown, former Prime Minister 260mn school-age children who are decades, the agency has helped more healthcare, which accounts for 17% of which supports small local businesses, Worst hit, both financially and in and Chancellor of the Exchequer of the not in school for other reasons, and than 5mn people, by running schools, its total budget. In 2016, its clinics had will also suff er, as will the Palestinian terms of service provision, would United Kingdom, is United Nations the scale of the problem is massive. staffi ng clinics, leading sanitation 9mn patient visits. refugees who comprise more than be the refugee community in Gaza, Special Envoy for Global Education and Cutting UNRWA’s funding deepens eff orts, and providing shelter for men, Thus, emergency assistance for 95% of UNRWA’s roughly 30,000 where the agency provides aid to Chair of the International Commission this global education crisis. women, and children scattered across 1.5mn Palestinians in Gaza and employees, many of whom work to nearly 75% of the population and on Financing Global Education And it is not just education that is at Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, the occupied Syria is also at risk, as a result of the limits of their endurance. No one accounts for one-sixth of gross Opportunity. He chairs the Advisory stake. When it was established in 1949, West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. the funding cut. So, too, are the should take for granted the sacrifi ce domestic expenditure. But in Syria, Board of the Catalyst Foundation.

Putin: villain abroad, hero at home Three-day forecast TODAY “But being the West’s main enemy according to offi cial polls, around 70% Maximum Temperature : 340c AFP Minimum Temperature : 210c Moscow is an acknowledgement that he is of those who are planning to vote say the number one politician. If they’re they will back the current president. TUESDAY scared of you, it means they respect His closest competitor, Communist Maximum Temperature : 290c o the West he is public enemy you,” said Kalachev. candidate Pavel Grudinin, is projected Minimum Temperature : 200c number one: snatching The US and Europe hit Russia with to garner less than 8% of the vote. WEDNESDAY land from his neighbours, sanctions in 2014 over the annexation “(Putin) expertly exploits all Maximum Temperature : 300c Tinterfering in foreign of Crimea and Moscow’s backing of the fears and the complexes of the Minimum Temperature : 200c rebels in Ukraine’s east. population,” Kalachev said, adding elections and unveiling weapons that Fisherman's forecast he says render Washington’s missile Since then Russia’s support of the that the greatest fear was a return to defence systems obsolete. Syrian regime in a bloody civil war, the instability of the 1990s. WARNING “People are afraid of losing what Inshore : Expected low visibility But despite — or because of — his allegations that Moscow interfered at places at first reputation abroad, Vladimir Putin in US presidential elections and they already have...and this fear is Offshore : Expected poor visibility is still widely popular in Russia the discovery of a state-sponsored especially strong in the provinces, at places at first and is all but guaranteed to win a Olympic doping programme have where it is hard, but still possible, to WEATHER Inshore : Misty to foggy at presidential election this week with further hurt the country’s reputation live,” he said. places at first becomes a landslide. abroad. Despite Putin’s campaign promises relatively hot daytime In part this is because over almost Putin often frames negative foreign when he returned to the Kremlin in with slight dust and scattered clouds two decades in power he has cracked coverage of his leadership as a sign 2012 after four years as prime minister, WIND down on dissent and consolidated that Russia is under attack from a West his last term was marked by recession Inshore : Northwesterly-North- Kremlin control over the media. uncomfortable with the country’s new and a fall in living standards. easterly 6-16/19 KT The president’s most vocal global role. Opposition leader Alexei Offshrore : Northwesterly-North- opponent is also barred from As he unveiled what he called Navalny, who has called for a easterly 5-15/20 KT appearing on the ballot on March 18 “invincible” new weapons in his state boycott of the polls since he was Visibility : 4-8 KM/ 2 KM or less at owing to a criminal conviction. of the nation address this month, he barred from standing, rejects the places at first For millions of Russians, however, reminded the audience of the time in idea that Putin retains real support SEA STATE Putin is the man who brought the early 2000s when “no one listened in the provinces. Offshore : 2 - 4 FT, Rises to 6 FT at stability after the political and to us”. “They say there: well alright, Putin, places at times. there’s nobody apart from Putin, I’ll economic chaos of the 1990s, as “Listen to us now,” he said before Around the region well as restoring Moscow’s standing playing video montages that displayed vote for him! That’s the only reason Weather on the world stage following the Vladimir Putin the weapons’ capabilities. why he gets any votes,” Navalny told Weather tomorrow Max/min humiliating collapse of the Soviet The Russian moderator of a AFP in a recent interview. today Max/min M Sunny 28/21 Union. sure pensions were paid on time,” he televised discussion last year jokingly At a recent campaign rally in Baghdad Sunny 31/12 Sunny 29/17 “Putin is a mirror and everyone said. told Putin he was the “pole of evil” Moscow, supporters of the president Kuwait City Sunny 28/16 Sunny 27/21 can see in him what they want,” For those abroad, Putin — who around which Western powers expressed a similar sentiment. Manama P Cloudy 28/22 Sunny 30/24 independent political analyst in recent years has been variously “consolidate and mobilise”. “I do not see another candidate Muscat Sunny 31/23 Sunny 17/08 Konstantin Kalachev told AFP. portrayed as an octopus, The “Can you imagine how they would who could be our commander in Tehran P Cloudy 18/06 “For some he is the man who got Terminator, Hitler and Batman’s manage without you?” the moderator chief,” Oscar-winning director Nikita Russia back off its knees, got the army nemesis The Joker on the cover of asked an appreciative president. Mikhalkov told the 100,000-strong and defence back on track. For others Western news magazines — means While support for Putin in Russia crowd.” He’s the only one. Putin is our he raised the quality of life and made something else entirely. has dipped slightly in recent months, president.” Live issues

Facing insomnia? Try these to avoid it Around the world Weather Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min IANS teaspoon of epsom salt commonly symptoms worse and will keep you up. zStick to a regular sleep schedule. Athens M Sunny 21/13 Sunny 20/11 New Delhi known as dead sea salt. zMake your sleeping environment Set your biological clock by sleeping Beirut M Sunny 19/14 M Sunny 19/16 Foot bath also prevents your skin comfortable: Temperature, lighting, and getting up at the same time Bangkok P Cloudy 33/25 M Sunny 33/27 from unwanted bacteria and decreases and noise should be controlled to make every day, including weekends. Get Berlin Rain 11/07 Cloudy 09/03 ry taking a warm shower or the leg pain that you gained from the the bedroom convenient for sleep. up at your usual time in the morning Cairo Sunny 26/14 Sunny 29/15 indulging in some natural whole day. In the bucket of warm zDecrease your caff eine intake. even if you’re tired. This will help Cape Town Sunny 26/17 Sunny 24/17 oil therapy to help you water, you can also put some essential zDelay worrying and you get back in a regular sleep Colombo S T Storm 29/26 S T Storms 31/26 Tbattle insomnia, suggest oil like Basil (Tulsi) Oil, cedarwood oil, brainstorming. If you wake up during rhythm. Dhaka M Sunny 36/22 P Cloudy 34/21 experts. cypress oil, juniper berry oil, lavender the night feeling anxious about zTurn off all screens at least an Hong Kong Sunny 22/18 Sunny 23/19 Insomnia or sleeplessness can be oil, rosemary oil and wintergreen oil. something, make a brief note of it on hour before bed. Electronic screens Istanbul M Sunny 16/11 Showers 14/11 taken care of by following natural Just put 1 or 2 drops into the water. paper and postpone worrying about emit a blue light that disrupts your Jakarta T Storm 32/24 T Storm 31/24 remedies suggested by experts zLavender, Jasmine, Neroli, and it until the next day when it will be body’s production of melatonin and Karachi Sunny 32/19 Sunny 30/21 Naresh Arora, Founder of Chase ylang-ylang are very useful for the easier to resolve. combats sleepiness. So instead of London Rain 10/06 P Cloudy 10/06 Aromatherapy Cosmetics, and Nalin natural oil therapy for insomnia. The zAlcohol disrupts the sleep cycle and watching TV or spending time on Manila P Cloudy 32/23 P Cloudy 32/24 Verma, Co-Founder and Director, Euro soothing and calm eff ect of essential may keep you up throughout the night. your phone, tablet, or computer, Moscow Cloudy -2/-4 P Cloudy 01/-7 Chroma Institute of Cosmetology oil can prevent you from sleeplessness. zAvoid naps during the day as it can choose another relaxing activity, such New Delhi Sunny 34/18 Sunny 35/18 (ECIC): zDo not eat or drink right before make it more diffi cult for you to sleep as reading a book or listening to soft New York S Showers 06/01 S Showers 07/-1 zBefore going to bed, take a warm going to bed. Eating a late dinner at night. If you feel like you have to music. Paris Rain 12/07 P Cloudy 11/04 shower. It is like an exercise, the hot or snacking before going to bed can take a nap, limit it to 30 minutes. zMove bedroom clocks out of view. Sao Paulo M Sunny 32/21 P Cloudy 30/21 shower will help you to fall asleep as activate the digestive system and you zSip warm milk with honey daily Anxiously watching the minutes tick Seoul Sunny 14/03 P Cloudy 17/06 soon as you hit the bed. can suff er from gastric problems or at night. by when you can’t sleep -- knowing Singapore T Storm 29/24 T Storm 30/24 zDip your feet in lukewarm water in heartburn. It is even more important zPractise cognitive behavioural that you’re going to be exhausted Sydney M Sunny 24/19 S Showers 22/18 a foot bathtub or bucket to relax your to avoid eating and drinking right therapy and manage your stress with when the alarm goes off -- is a surefi re Tokyo Clear 15/05 Clear 17/05 body muscles and tissues and add one before bed since this can make your exercise daily. recipe for insomnia. Gulf Times 24 Monday, March 12, 2018 QATAR Two Pakistan Navy ships arrive for Dimdex 2018

wo Pakistan Navy ships and four delegations “will Tcontinue the tradition of solid representation” at the sixth Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Confer- ence (Dimdex 2018), the Pakistan embassy has said. Dimdex 2018 will be held at the Qatar National Convention Cen- tre from today. In a statement yesterday, Commodore Irfan Taj, defence attache at the Pakistan embassy, described the Pakistani repre- sentation at Dimdex as “very im- pressive”. Pakistan has been reg- ularly attending Dimdex, “which speaks of its due commitment to the region’s security and pros- Maritime security ship ‘Basol’. perity”. The delegations at Dimdex Rear Admiral Shuaib and Rear presence felt at Dimdex are the phisticated missile system that will represent various promi- Admiral Zaka ur Rahman, Direc- fast attack missile craft ship can perform tasks in a variety of nent defence and security agen- tor-General of Pakistan’s Mari- ‘Himmat’ and maritime security threat scenarios, the statement cies of Pakistan. The Minister of time Security Agency, will also be ship ‘Basol’. notes. ‘Basol’, which is named Defence Production, Rana Tan- in attendance. Commodore Fais- ‘Himmat’, built at the Kara- after a Pakistani river, is a multi- veer Hussain, will lead a four- al Abbasi, mission commander of chi Shipyard and Engineering purpose vessel outfi tted with the member delegation, while Sardar the two Pakistani ships visiting Works in Pakistan, is equipped requisite world-class technology Mansab Ali, Parliamentary Sec- Qatar, will represent the Chief with state-of-the-art weap- for patrolling ports and maritime retary for Defence, will head a of Naval Staff . The two Pakistan onry and sensors, including an trade routes as well as carrying two-member delegation. Navy ships that will make their indigenously developed, so- out search and rescue. Fast attack missile craft ship, ‘Himmat’. Qatar, Italy enhance military, security ties Italian Defence Minister ter and Interior Minister Sheikh Roberta Pinotti to attend Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Dimdex 2018 al-Thani to review areas of joint co-operation especially in the By Joey Aguilar military fi elds. Pinotti will pay Staff Reporter her second visit to the country on the occasion of the Doha Inter- national Maritime Defence Exhi- he defence and security bition and Conference (Dimdex) Italian ambassador Pasquale Salzano co-operation between 2018, which will run until March TQatar and Italy has highly 14. marine, Leonardo e MBDA,” the third of the European Multi-role broadened and growing steadily Salzano said Qatar is also com- envoy said. According to Salzano, Frigates Class, built at the Fin- since the signing of the bilateral mitted to further enhance its cyber defence and cyber security cantieri Shipyards. General Defence Agreement in defence capabilities and Italy is are another key areas of mutual About the exhibition, he said: 2010, both on a political and in- a reliable hi-tech partner, cit- interests. Dimdex 2018 will wit- “Dimdex is a key appointment stitutional level as well as in the ing the Italian Navy and Ital- ness two Italian companies, Le- for the Italian Navy and the Ital- fi eld of training and joint exer- ian Shipbuilding sector’s long- onardo and Elettronica, world ian maritime defence industry to cises, Italian ambassador to Qa- standing tradition and excellent leaders in these fi elds, partici- share their latest technological tar Pasquale Salzano told Gulf reputation worldwide. “Thanks pating at the exhibition. developments and cutting-edge Times. to their capacity to masterly in- The envoy said these Italian operational capabilities with Qa- The envoy said that such tegrate skilful professionals, companies are ready to con- tar and with international part- achievement falls within the cutting-edge technology as well tribute to Qatar’s development ners.” broader framework of an en- as unique industrial design,” he projects and “have always been “With such a rich agenda, in- hanced co-operation and po- pointed out. partners to Dimdex.” cluding exhibitions, joint exer- litical dialogue between the two The Margottini frigate at Dimdex 2018. “The excellence of the Italian “This year we are proud to have cises, conferences and high-level countries, demonstrated by the defence industry will be show- the Italian shipbuilding Group talks, Dimdex off ers a unique exceptional number of recent demonstrates our commitment the region,” Salzano stressed. ister, visited Doha. Italian De- cased at Dimdex 2018, with top- Fincantieri as the diamond spon- platform to address in an inte- ministerial visits from Italy. “We to bring forward the existing In the last eight months, he fence Minister Roberta Pinotti level Italian companies: AIAD, sor of the event,” Salzano noted, grated manner all the main as- shall keep moving in this direc- partnership and co-operation noted that fi ve Italian ministers, was in Qatar last October and Benelli Armi Spa, Beretta, Elet- citing the presence of Italian pects of our maritime defence,” tion. This, more than any words, for the peace and security in including the Italian prime min- met with HE the Prime Minis- tronica, Fincantieri, Gem, Inter- frigate Carlo Margottini, the the envoy added.

11 warships docked at Hamad Port

As many as 11 warships from the largest in the Middle East and Middleton, a Hunt-class navies of diff erent countries North Africa region. countermeasures vessel. are docked at Hamad Port as The US Navy is participating with The Indian Navy is represented Participants from 60 countries part of the Doha International three warships, namely Destroyer by INS Kolkata, the lead ship of Maritime Defence Exhibition USS Sampson, (DDG-102), which is the Kolkata-class stealth guided and Conference (Dimdex), which an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer missile destroyers. starts today at the Qatar National and two Navy special mission Italy’s Cargo Margottini and descend on Doha for Dimdex Convention Centre. patrol vessels MK VI which are Bangladesh Navy’s BNS The event is held under the patrol boats in service. Bangabandhu, which is a guided patronage of His Highness the The UK’s Royal Navy will missile frigate, Oman’s Fast Attack From Page 1 Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad showcase its Bay-class landing craft (patrol vessel) Kassab, Fast al-Thani. Ships from the UK, the ship RFA Carocan Bay of the Attack missile craft from Pakistan, Brigadier al-Ansari US, India, Italy, Oman, Pakistan Royal Fleet Auxiliary, and two PNS Himmat and Maritime Patrol said “the arrival of vis- and Bangladesh have arrived at Hunt-mine countermeasure Vessel PMSS Basol are among the iting warships is an es- the port, which is currently one of vessels, including HMS other ships. sential element of the exhibition and a clear demonstration of the close relations between Qatar and the coun- tries concerned.” The official said this is the first year these war- ships are docking at Hamad Port. “We look forward to conferences and ses- sions held alongside under the theme ‘A Staff Brigadier (Sea) Abdulbaqi S al-Ansari, flanked by Tom Sawyer and Brigadier Tariq Khalid al-Obaidli world-class platform briefing on Dimdex yesterday: PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam for technology, Mari- time & Defence indus- try capabilities,’” said al-Ansari. This is being held as part of the Mid- dle East Naval Com- manders Conference (MENC) taking place tomorrow. Indian warship, INS Kolkata, on its arrival at the Hamad Port yesterday. Dimdex, he said, strengthens Doha’s position as a burgeon- ing business hub and offers global vendors, visitors and guests val- uable commercial op- portunities to lucrative markets, as a dynamic networking and busi- ness platform. Military Co-oper- ation Authority head Tariq Khalid al-Obaidli and MENC produc- er Tom Sawyer also Carocan Bay, one of the British warships at the Hamad Port. spoke. Some of the military vehicles on display on the eve of the exhibition.