BUSINESS | Page 1 Qatar to spend SPORT $80bn a | Page 1 year on Kiwis stun INDEX projects DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2 – 10, 28 COMMENT 26, 27 until India in REGION 11 BUSINESS 1 – 9, 15 – 20 17,189.14 10,199.91 36.10 ARAB WORLD 11, 12 CLASSIFIED 10 – 15 2017 World T20 -39.99 -117.74 -1.08 INTERNATIONAL 13 – 25 SPORTS 1 – 12 -0.23% -1.14% -2.90% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

WEDNESDAY Vol. XXXVII No. 10029 March 16, 2016 Jumada II 7, 1437 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Emir meets Eritrean president Three Sidra In brief outpatient QATAR | Culture Celebrations for new headquarters of QF Qatar Museums Chairperson HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad clinics set to bin Khalifa al-Thani hosted a gala dinner to mark the opening of the new headquarters of Qatar Foundation (QF). HE Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kuwari, the Emiri Diwan adviser and Qatar’s open in May candidate for the Unesco’s director general position, attended the The Sidra Outpatient Clinic will be ic. Every aspect of the services and tech- ceremony along with Qatar a high-tech facility that enhances nology at the Outpatient Clinic will be Museums Vice Chairperson HE HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. The patient care, promotes eff iciency centred on patient safety and enhancing Sheikh Hassan bin Mohamed al- meeting reviewed bilateral relations and means of enhancing them, in addition to a number of regional and international and ensures safety the patient experience,” explained Lord Thani, HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim issues of common concern, particularly the latest developments in the region. The meeting was attended by a number of Darzi. al-Thani and a selection of the Qatari ministers and members of the delegation accompanying President Afwerki. arking a new era in the health- The Sidra Outpatient Clinic will adopt world’s leading artists, curators, art care scenario in Qatar, the the latest technologies to enhance pa- collectors and museum directors. Mstate-of-the-art Sidra Medi- tient experience. For example, paedi- Page 28 cal and Research Center (Sidra) will open atric patients will have their height, three departments of its Outpatient temperature and weight read by devices Clinic on May 1. which send the information directly to ARAB WORLD | Expansion The opening of the Dermatology, Pae- digital patient fi les - ensuring that pa- Israel seizes land in Syrian opposition demands diatric General Surgery Consultation tient information is streamlined and also and Obstetrics clinics are part of Sidra’s allowing nurses to spend more time on occupied West Bank phased opening of its Outpatient Clinic. patient care. Israel has appropriated large detail from govt at peace talks With a strong patient- and family- Patients will also benefi t from the tracts of land in the occupied centred focus, the Outpatient Clinic will rapid review and reporting of digital West Bank near the Dead Sea and be a high-tech facility that enhances pa- images from X-rays, ultrasound scans, the Palestinian city of Jericho, Reuters Kerry eyes Moscow trip whole point for us,” she said. tient care, promotes effi ciency and en- MRI, computerised tomography scans Israeli Army Radio said yesterday. Geneva “I believe he (de Mistura) has a sures safety. The Outpatient Clinic will all within minutes. A 3D printer will pro- Israel’s Peace Now movement, The first of Russia’s warplanes to leave strategy to bring the points that be led by a team of specialised doctors, vide models of a patient’s organs such as which tracks and opposes Israeli Syria received a hero’s welcome back are common to both sides, to focus nurses and allied health professionals the heart or the brain to help with treat- settlement in territory captured yrian opposition negotia- home yesterday, starting a surprise on those and build some common and services. ment planning. in a 1967 war, said the reported tors demanded yesterday that withdrawal the West hopes could boost ground. Now for that to happen we The clinics will be supported by radi- Acting chief medical offi cer Dr Ab- seizure of 579 acres (234 hectares) SSyria’s government detail its peace talks by pressuring Damascus. need the regime to make those propo- ology, pathology, pharmacy and labora- dulla al-Kaabi said: “As we are a referral- represented the largest land thoughts on a political transition and In a sign of potential progress, US Sec- sitions in a clear and stated way. We tory facilities. Patients requiring consul- based outpatient clinic, we have devel- confiscation in the West Bank in said there had been no progress on retary of State John Kerry announced are being very clear and will be even tation at the three clinics will be referred oped and streamlined our processes and recent years. The group said plans freeing detainees, who, it said, were he will travel to Moscow next week for clearer.” to Sidra by their existing primary or sec- systems to ensure the safe and eff ective for expanding nearby Jewish being executed at a rate of 50 a day. talks with Russian President Vladimir De Mistura said he would collect ondary healthcare doctor. As it is referral transition of care for the patients coming settlements and building tourism The opposition High Negotiations Putin, to “try to take advantage of this all input from all sides and “metabo- based, the Sidra Outpatient Clinic will from other healthcare institutions. Cre- and other commercial facilities in Committee (HNC) used their fi rst moment.” Page 12 lise” them and see where there was not off er emergency services. ating and maintaining a patient-safety the area were already on Israel’s meeting in a round of peace talks in “overlapping, contradictions or even “The opening of the Outpatient Clinic culture will be integral in our day-to- drawing board. Page 12 Geneva to give UN mediator Staff an common thinking”. He said he would is an important fi rst step in the phased day operations. Our ethos is centred in de Mistura a set of general principles a document entitled “Basic elements compare the documents from the two opening of Sidra Medical and Research putting our patients and their families at to guide the transition, a process to be for a political solution”, their part of a delegations. Center. This marks the beginning of our the heart of our strategy to provide high ASEAN | Politics overseen by Russia and the US in line plan to end the fi ve-year-old confl ict “We will analyse them, see whether journey to establish Sidra as a state-of- quality patient care.” Suu Kyi confi dant with a UN resolution. that has killed 250,000 people and we can make out of that a UN paper, the-art hospital and research centre. Our As part of the phased opening of “We intend to go into detail. We displaced more than half the pre-war for instance, or whether we can ac- goal is to provide patient-centred clini- services at the Sidra Outpatient Clinic, elected as president intend to go fast. We would like to population. tually add to it,” he said. “The secret cal care, conduct pioneering research plans are in place to off er more paedi- Myanmar’s parliament elected see this process make progress very Kodmani said the opposition was is to take the points on one side, the and educate and train future healthcare atric services over the course of 2016. a close friend and confidant of quickly,” HNC member, Basma Kod- eager to hear more about what was in other side, a third side, and come up professionals,” said Prof the Lord Darzi This will eventually include neonatology Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi as mani, told reporters after the meeting. the government’s document. with our own common sense and of Denham, vice-chairman, Sidra. consultation, developmental paediat- president yesterday, making Htin De Mistura met Syrian government “We would like to hear what the re- techniques in order to try to merge “Our team has worked incredibly hard rics, child and adolescent mental health, Kyaw the first head of state since negotiators on Monday, who gave him gime has to off er, because this is the (them).” and has been collaborating closely with ear nose and throat, pre-operative an- the 1960s who does not hail from Hamad Medical Corporation in prepar- aesthetic assessment and preparation. a military background. Suu Kyi led ing for the opening the Outpatient Clin- Page 6 her National League for Democracy (NLD) to a landslide election win in November, but a constitution drafted by the former junta bars her Qatar against plans to divide Syria from the top off ice. She has vowed to run the country anyway through a proxy president, and on Thursday QNA He said: “This interactive dialogue prisonment of innocent detainees, the NLD nominated Htin Kyaw for Geneva coincides with the launch of a new especially women and children, who the role. Page 15 round of political talks between the are languishing unjustly in prison and Syrian parties which we hope will lead subjected to the worst kinds of torture he State of Qatar has reiter- to a political solution to the Syrian cri- and oppression. ated the need to stand against sis,” adding that the Syrian regime has The non-respect of Syrian regime Tall plans aimed at dividing and never been serious about reaching such and its allies to the cessation of hos- fragmenting Syria, emphasising that a solution since the beginning of the tilities agreed upon recently as well maintaining the unity of the Syrian crisis that began with peaceful revolu- as numerous violations targeting the territory is one of the fi xed principles tion aimed at establishing a democratic moderate Syrian opposition denote that cannot be violated. system and ensuring freedom and jus- the regime’s determination to torpedo This came in a speech delivered by tice and respect for human rights. the UN eff orts to reach a political set- HE Qatar’s Permanent Representative The Syrian regime has been pur- tlement for the Syrian crisis, al-Hen- to the UN Offi ce in Geneva (UNOG) suing diff erent policies and means zab said. Ambassador Faisal bin Abdullah al- in order to scuttle the political talks Qatar’s Permanent Representative The Sidra Outpatient Clinic. Henzab before a session of the 31st since Geneva 1 in 2012, the ambas- expressed great concern over what session of the Human Rights Council sador said, adding that these policies was stated in Part V of the report on (Item 4) on interactive dialogue with include military escalation, continued attempts to destroy Syria and rip- International Commission of Inquiry destruction of cities and bombing of ping apart its social fabric, while on the Syrian Arab Republic. civilians and the displaced, contin- condemning in the strongest terms Al-Henzab condemned the refusal ued imposition of the blockade and the Syrian regime and its allies’ prac- Police kill gunman in Brussels of Syrian authorities to allow the In- starvation policy along with hinder- tices which aim to bring about a de- ternational Commission of Inquiry to ing the delivery of relief aid and medi- mographic change in Syria, displace enter the Syrian territories to imple- cal supplies to the Syrian people to people from their areas of origin, and siege linked to Paris attacks ment its mandate. relieve suff ering, and continued im- spread sectarianism and factionalism. Reuters journalists at the scene said. Brussels Belgium’s federal prosecutor, lead- ing the investigation, said one or more suspects barricaded themselves in an elgian police killed a gunman af- apartment after fi ring through a door Millions vote in crucial test for White House hopefuls ter several offi cers were wounded at police who arrived to search it. Police Byesterday in a raid on a Brus- said two offi cers were wounded then sels apartment linked to investigating and another was hit later. Local media AFP tent of a downtrodden working class. For Republicans, the day may tell have given her victory after victory. November’s Islamist attacks in Paris, said four police were injured in total. Washington Blue-collar woes, immigration, whether Trump can ride a tide of voter Her rival, Senator Bernie Sanders public broadcaster RTBF said. DH newspaper said one suspect was trade and the spectre of violent pro- anger all the way to the nomination in of Vermont, has denounced her sup- Two other suspects were being shot dead after being spotted from a tests dominated the debate ahead of July - or whether he will face a hostile port of free-trade pacts in a part of the sought, it added. police helicopter in a nearby garden. mericans in fi ve states voted primaries in Florida, Illinois, Mis- and bitterly divided party at a contest- country that has seen manufactur- But after fi ve hours of intense po- French Interior Minister Bernard yesterday in presidential pri- souri, North Carolina and Ohio - elec- ed convention. ing jobs disappear as entire industries lice activity in the area, security forces Cazeneuve said French police took part Amaries crucial to the White tions so key to the shape of the Re- For Democrats, the contests in the have moved off shore. escorted children away from nearby in the raid in the Belgian capital. Streets House hopes of frontrunners Donald publican and Democratic nominating racially diverse, industrial Midwest will The election will show whether the schools and kindergartens and began around the house in the city’s southern Trump and Hillary Clinton, but which races that some have dubbed it “Ti- test Clinton’s electability outside of the Sanders campaign has legs, complicat- to allow residents back to homes in borough of Forest were sealed off by also showcased deep-seated discon- tanic Tuesday.” South, where African-American voters ing Clinton’s shot at the nomination. the suburban neighbourhood, Reuters police. Page 19 Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, March 16, 2016 QATAR

Indian envoy meets chief of PMO Qatar-Malaysia education ties reviewed Kahramaa teams up with QTA, UDC to mark Earth Hour

atar General Electric- ity & Water (Kahramaa) Qand its national pro- gramme for conservation and energy effi ciency, Tarsheed, is collaborating with Qatar Tour- ism Authority (QTA) and United Development Company (UDC) for its campaign “Gift Earth One Hour” to observe Earth Hour on Saturday from 8.30pm to 9.30pm. The campaign is aimed at raising awareness among Qatari Society about the importance of turning off lights for one hour to observe Earth Hour joining Indian ambassador Sanjiv Arora met HE Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed al-Thani, director, Off ice of HE the HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi world communities to protect Prime Minister and Interior Minister and head of Government Communication, yesterday. They yesterday met Malaysian Minister of Education and Higher Learning Mahdzir Khalid in Doha environment. discussed co-operation between India and Qatar in diff erent areas and other issues of mutual yesterday. They reviewed issues of mutual interest and means of developing them, particularly in This year’s collaboration be- interest. The meeting was also attended by Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah al-Thani, director in Government the educational and academic fields. The Malaysian minister and the accompanying delegation are tween Kahramaa and its partners Communication Off ice and Dr Mohamed Aleem, third secretary of the Indian embassy. on a three-day visit to Qatar, during which they visit several educational and academic institutions. touches all hotels through the eff ective role of QTA and Pearl- Qatar’s residential and com- mercial properties governed by UDC. On this occasion, Kahramaa has called upon all the sectors to switch off the electricity show- QU announces new admission guidelines ing solidarity with the move- ment. With the guidelines of Qa- atar University has an- At a later stage, majors will be portunity to get 12 credit hours college in which they were de- tar National Vision 2030, Kah- nounced the new poli- determined based on college and four courses, instead of nine clared at the time of academic ramaa has been taking ini- Qcies related to admission, admission capacity and stu- credit hours and three courses withdrawal, or may be trans- tiatives for sustainability and summer courses and re-admis- dent competition in accordance as per the previous calendar,” he ferred to a diff erent college as environment. sion for undergraduate students. with the set criteria of each pro- said. part of their re-admission. “Ap- Kahramaa is committed to QU vice president for Stu- gramme. Students admitted into Dr al-Khanji also outlined the plicants seeking re-admission its responsibility for provid- dent Aff airs Dr Khalid al-Khanji the Foundation Programme are new re-admission policy which after withdrawal may keep their ing sustainable resources for outlined the new policies in the required to complete all Foun- was established and approved cumulative GPA earned prior to electricity and water for the presence of Board of Regents dation requirements before they by QU executive management academic withdrawal, includ- benefi ts of the nation and for Secretary General Dr Ibrahim can be considered for admission committee. It defi nes rules and ing the courses taken within the improving the quality life for Abdulla al-Ansari. into their intended major,” he regulations for allowing aca- last 10 years. Hence, they can re- the generations to come in line The new policies for admis- said. demically dismissed or with- move four courses or one semes- with QNV 2030 which calls for sion and summer courses were Dr al-Khanji noted that the drawn students resume their ter from their academic records,” environmental management recently reviewed and approved board established a new aca- studies at the university. Dr al-Khanji said, adding, “This and protection aimed at ensur- by QU Board of Regents, Dr al- demic calendar comprising He noted that students who policy is limited to withdrawn ing harmony and consistency Khanji said, noting that the min- three academic semesters in the are dismissed or have withdrawn students only.” with economic and social de- imum high school percentage of summer term and one academic from the institution may apply He further noted that re- velopment. admission requirements for all semester in Fall for internships. for re-admission. “Applicants admitted students who were “Gift Earth One Hour” cam- colleges is 70%, except for the The fi rst two summer semesters may seek re-admission after academically dismissed or paign is to encourage every- colleges of Medicine and Phar- will start on June 26 and end on completing a minimum suspen- withdrawn may apply to trans- body’s role in Qatar to turn macy which will require 85% and July 28 (1st semester) and August sion period of one regular se- fer the courses taken within the off lights and all unnecessary 80%, respectively. 11 (2nd semester), while the third mester, excluding summer,” he last 5 years, and in which they electrical gadgets and to show “Students will be directly semester starts on July 31 and said, noting that students will achieved a score of C and above solidarity by using tags #hour_ admitted to the general pro- ends on August 25. only be re-admitted once. in each course, given that these earth_Qatar and #gift_earth_ gramme of the designated col- “The new academic calen- He also noted that re-admit- courses do not exceed 50% of one hour to raise worldwide at- lege to which they have applied. dar provides students the op- ted students may return to the their study plan. Dr Khalid al-Khanji tention.

Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, March 16, 2016 QATAR

Schoolchildren visiting GCC Traff ic Week events at Darb Al Saai. Seminar mulls role of institutions in promoting traffi c safety

QNA pated in the seminars fo- concept of social responsi- He also emphasised that Doha cused on traffi c awareness, bility and how to promote every institution is respon- education and observing in among national institu- sible for educating its em- road safety. tions, companies, spread ployees on the importance seminar held here The Director General traffi c awareness messages, of obeying traffi c rules at Darb Al Saai dis- of Traffi c Brigadier Saad and especially the roles of and observing safe driv- Acussed the roles of al-Kharji; Al Sharq news- print and digital media. ing practice. The state has national institutions, cor- paper’s Chief Editor Jaber Brigadier Mohamed Saad to spend a lot of resources, porate groups, and media in al-Harami, Sheikh Thani al-Kharji spoke on the roles time and money due to the promoting traffi c awareness Bin Abdullah Foundation of governmental and non- consequences of people not and safety issues. for Humanitarian Services governmental institutions wearing seat belts. Not fol- The General Directorate (RAF) Director General and and community organisa- lowing this mandatory rule of Traffi c held four semi- Chairman of the Board of tions to raise traffi c aware- of wearing seat belts psy- nars as part of the 32nd GCC Trustees Ayed Bin Dabssan ness. He stressed society’s chologically scars besides Traffi c Week being observed al-Qahtani, and Ministry of responsibility to help raise grave injuries to victims in here at Darb Al Saai under Education and Higher Edu- safety, security and raise the event accidents. the theme ‘Your Decision cation’s SEC Communica- the level of traffi c culture The Brigadier lauded the Determines Your Fate’. tions Offi ce Director Has- in particular is a shared re- partnerships and co-oper- Qatar’s Interior Ministry san Abdulla al-Mohammadi sponsibility borne by the ation between the Interior offi cials, senior editors from and other offi cials partici- individual, family, educa- Ministry and other ministries the media, representatives pated in the fi rst of the four tional, media, religious and and national institutions on from the government and seminars. humanitarian various spe- spreading messages on traffi c from private fi rms partici- Panellist discussed the cialties and institutions. rules and awareness.

Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, March 16, 2016 QATAR

Thundershowers, strong winds Sidra Outpatient Clinic to forecast for today Doha and other parts of the country will see thundershowers and strong winds today as unstable weather conditions are work on referral system likely to aff ect Qatar until this evening, the Met department has said. he Outpatient Clinic consultation and treat- Thunderstorms and strong winds at Sidra Medical and ment. These services do not HMC senior leaders and some of the conference participants pose for a group photo are also expected in off shore TResearch Centre require an overnight hospi- areas along with high seas, (Sidra) will be working on a tal stay. according to the weather report. referral system, it was an- From May 1, services at Scattered rain has been reported nounced yesterday. the Sidra Outpatient Clinic from diff erent parts of the The objective is to pro- will include dermatology, HMC conference discusses country over the past two days. vide specialist healthcare paediatric general surgery “Latest weather charts indicate to patients after they have consultation, obstetrics, ra- that unstable weather and been referred by their pri- diology, pathology, pharma- liver cancer treatment chances of scattered rain over mary or secondary health- cy and laboratory services. Qatar are likely to continue until care practitioner. Plans are currently in Wednesday (March 16) evening Sidra, which will open Sidra Outpatient Clinic lobby place to off er more pae- amad Medi- medical director of Hamad and technicians, which he with possible thundershowers three departments of its diatric services including cal Corporation General Hospital and di- said is contributing to in- at times,” the Met department Outpatient Clinic on May their secondary or primary to Sidra if they do not have neonatology consultation, H(HMC) recently rector of Qatar Centre for creasing number of trans- said in an update on social media 1, will not be off ering emer- healthcare practitioner. a referral from their exist- developmental paediatrics, organised the Internation- Organ Transplantation, plant operations over the yesterday. gency services now. If there If a patient from HMC or ing healthcare practitioner. child and adolescent men- al Conference of Hepa- said advanced services in past years. The forecast for inshore areas is a medical emergency, Primary Health Care Cor- Once a referral has been tal health, Ear Nose and tocellular Carcinoma in liver cancer treatment and Dr Abdullah al-Ansari, says it will be partly cloudy to adult patients have to go to poration or one of HMC’s made to the Sidra Out- Throat, pre-operative an- conjunction with the Pan surgery demonstrated how vice president of Medical, cloudy and there is a chance of Hamad Medical Corpora- paediatric emergency cen- patient Clinic, a patient’s aesthetic assessment and Arab Liver Transplanta- HMC was continuing to Academic Aff airs and Sur- scattered rain along with thunder tion’s (HMC) Emergency tres, requires specialised existing healthcare pro- preparation. tion Society, International provide the safest, most ef- gical Research Services, at times. The wind speed in these Department and children care, particularly related to vider will co-ordinate with A full range of specialist Liver Transplantation So- fective and most compas- and chairman of Surgery areas may go up to 30 knots to HMC’s paediatric emer- dermatology, obstetrics or them to schedule and con- medical clinics will also be ciety and International sionate care for each and Department at HMC noted during the thundershowers. gency centres. paediatric general surgery fi rm a consultation. The rolled out in the near future. Liver Cancer Association. every one of its patients. that the methods of treat- Cloudy conditions are likely All patients coming to the consultation, the doctor Sidra Outpatient Clinic, to More details related to pric- The conference, which Dr al-Maslamani noted ment of liver cancer vary in off shore areas along with a Sidra Outpatient Clinic will will direct the patient to see run from 7am to 3pm on ing, scheduling and regis- discussed some 50 research that transplantation is one according to the patient’s chance of scattered rain, which be referred to a specialised a healthcare practitioner at weekdays, will be off er- tration will be announced papers on latest develop- of the best treatments for health condition and vul- may be accompanied by thunder healthcare professional after the Sidra Outpatient Clinic. ing outpatient care based well before the opening of ments in the diagnosis and chronic diseases such as nerability to hepatic fi bro- at times. The wind speed may they have been assessed by Patients cannot go directly on diagnoses, observation, the outpatient clinics. treatment of liver cancer, liver cancer. He said suc- sis. “Qatar has become one increase to 25 knots, with the featured cancer treatment cessful treatment of such of the leading countries in sea level reaching 7ft during the and liver transplantation diseases also depends on the Arab region in the fi eld thundershowers. experts from the UAE, the expertise of highly of transplantation since The minimum and maximum Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, qualifi ed physicians such the launch of the nation- temperatures today are expected Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, United as oncologists, radiation al programme for organ to be 19C and 25C, respectively, States, Europe and Japan. therapists, surgery physi- transplantation at HMC in with the forecast for Doha being Dr Yousef al-Maslamani, cians, in addition to nurses 2011,” he said. 22C and 25C.

PHCC to open two new centres for cancer screening Emir holds phone The Primary Health Care Corporation detection of breast and bowel cancer conversation with (PHCC) will open two new centres for centre in Al Wakra Health Centre has Djibouti president breast and bowel cancer screening, said helped a large number of people who Dr Sheikha Abu Sheikha, director, cancer wish to make checkups. screening programme at PHCC. She explained that people can visit HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin “The new centres are expected to be the centre for checkup by calling Hamad al-Thani held a telephone opened soon in Leabaib and Rawdat Al the services centre and make an conversation with President of Khail health centres along with a mobile appointment. They can also book an the Republic of Djibouti Ismail unit, which would enable PHCC to provide appointment date through the website Omar Guelleh yesterday. checkup services for everyone across the by sending a message, and through a During the phone call, they country,” said Dr Sheikha. referral by a doctor in the health centres discussed bilateral relations She noted that the opening of early in the PHCC. between Qatar and Djibouti and issues of common concern.

Official

Instruments of ratification issued

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani issued the following instruments of ratification yesterday: 1. Approving a draft agreement on air transport between the governments of Qatar and Kuwait, signed in Doha on 10/1/2016. 2. Approving a draft agreement for co-operation in the cultural and arts fields between the governments of Qatar and Kuwait, signed in Doha on 11/1/2016. 3. Approving a draft memorandum of understanding for co- operation in energy and industry between Qatar’s Ministry of Energy and Industry and the Ministry of Energy of the United Mexican States, signed in Doha on 21/1/2016. 4. Approving a draft agreement for co-operation in education between the governments of Qatar and the United Mexican States, signed in Doha on 21/1/2016. 5. Approving a draft memorandum of understanding for co- operation in education and higher education and scientific research between Qatar and Chad, signed in Doha on 17/11/2015. Emir ratifies Cabinet decision

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday ratified Cabinet Decision No 9 of 2016 on the application of Law No 24 of 2002 on the retirement and pensions to Qatari employees of the ‘Teach for Qatar’ foundation. The decision is eff ective starting from its date of issue and is to be published in the off icial gazette. Emir issues decree

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani issued yesterday decree No 20 of 2016, amending unified customs tariff . The Decree is eff ective starting from 01/01/2016 and is to be published in the off icial gazette. MoUs with Sri Lanka ratified

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday issued Decree No 18 of 2016, ratifying a memorandum of understanding on co-operation in the field of youth between the governments of Qatar and Sri Lanka, which was signed in Colombo on March 24, 2015. The Emir also issued Decree No 19 of 2016, ratifying a memorandum of understanding in the field of sports between the governments of Qatar and Sri Lanka, which was signed in Colombo on March 24, 2015. Darfur peace process reviewed

HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Aff airs Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud has received a telephone call from the US President’s Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan ambassador Donald Booth. They discussed bilateral relations and the peace process in Darfur. Zakat Fund provides QR34.5mn aid

The total assistance provided by the Zakat Fund of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Aff airs for needy families and individuals throughout Qatar in February amounted to about QR34.5mn. The Fund said in a press statement yesterday that these expenses included monthly permanent aid and assistance that is to be paid once as needed. The Fund stressed that the assistance was distributed to aid seekers following thorough research so as to ensure that Zakat of Qatari people reached the actual beneficiaries. Gulf Times Wednesday, March 16, 2016 7 QATAR

Participants of last year’s Rota conference pose for a photo. Rota conference starts tomorrow mpower 2016, the youth con- Over the fi rst and the second day of cussion forum, where participants ference organised by Reach Out the conference, 48 workshops and two will be asked to devise solutions to ETo Asia (Rota) under the theme panel discussions will be held for par- increase the contribution of youth ‘Innovation in Youth Social Entre- ticipants to learn about the concepts in achieving the UN Sustainable De- preneurship’, will start from tomor- of crowdfunding, innovation in prod- velopment Goals and Qatar National row. uct creation, entrepreneurship and the Vision 2030, using the youth social The conference, being held at the power of social networking, among entrepreneurship business method- Student Centre at Hamad Bin Khalifa other topics. ology. University in Education City, will in- On the third day, the participants The map, schedule and workshop volve more than 450 young men and will be given a tour of some of Qatar details of the conference, as well as the women aged between 17 to 30 years, Foundation’s academic institutions, latest news on social media networks, including international participants. including Carnegie Mellon University can be accessed through the Empower HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad in Qatar, where they will have the op- 2016 mobile app, which was developed bin Khalifa al-Thani, chairperson of portunity to practise the knowledge by Anas Hasanain, a Rota volunteer. It Rota, will inaugurate the conference and skills acquired during the work- is available for download on iPhone’s at 9am with the participation of HE shops. They will also visit Qatar In- App store. Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mo- cubation Business Centre and Qatar Rota has partnered with Qatar Char- hamed al-Thani, Minister of Economy Scientifi c Club, and will participate in ity (humanitarian partner), the Qatar and Commerce, Dr Sheikha Aisha bint a set of activities facilitated by the UN Financial Centre (private sector part- Faleh bin Nasser al-Thani, Rota board Development Programme at the Stu- ner), and the Qatar National Conven- member and Essa al-Mannai, Rota ex- dent Centre. tion Centre (hospitality partner) to ecutive director. The conference will serve as a dis- sponsor Empower 2016. Gulf Times 8 Wednesday, March 16, 2016 QATAR

Qur’anic Botanic Garden lauds students for going ‘green’

QNA working in the fi eld of environ- The QBG judging panel consist- and provide decision makers con- This is why QBG focuses on the Doha mental conservation, the event ed of members of the Ministry of cerned with the protection of Qa- concept of ecological balance and refl ects QF’s endeavour to build an Education and Higher Education; tar’s natural resources with ideas the proper use of Qatar’s bountiful educated and responsible society, Qatari National Committee for and solutions to help them solve natural resources.” s part of Qatar National En- which supports and contributes to Education, Heritage, and Science; today’s environmental problems. The competition process con- vironment Day 2016, the the fulfi lment of the ‘Environmen- the Ministry of Municipality and “Finding innovative solutions and sisted of a series of educational AQur’anic Botanic Garden tal’ pillar of the Qatar National Vi- Environment; Qatar General Elec- alternative processes to help solve workshops to inspire and inform (QBG) concluded its environment sion 2030 (QNV2030). tricity and Water Corporation and diverse environmental problems is competitors about the challenges Hassan Abu Khamis receiving the certificate and memento fair with an exciting fi nale, award- The contest required students the Flower Each Spring campaign. one of the most important concerns regarding water management and from Brigadier Aman Saad al-Sulaiti. ing the winners of the ‘Environ- to fi nd innovative solutions to two QBG project manager Fatima of the Qur’anic Botanic Garden. conservation of wild fl ora. Follow- mental Research Contest’ for sec- environmental issues, ‘Water Man- Saleh al-Khulaifi said: “The ideas “The environment is raised in ing this initial stage, schools then ondary school students. agement’ and the ‘Conservation of and projects presented by the stu- several verses of the Qur’an, and presented their research abstracts, Organised in collaboration with Wild Flora’, using a productive and dents will break new ground in the Shariah urges the responsible use full research proposals, and docu- local authorities and departments systematic research method. areas of science and knowledge, of invaluable natural resources. mentary entries. Qatargas safety team eff orts recognised

he General Directorate of Civil Defence (GDCD) re- cently felicitated Qatargas Emergency Management TServices and Security Department. The honour is in recognition of the company’s collabo- ration with GDCD, its commitment towards fi re prevention and eff orts to educate the community on fi re safety, fi re pre- vention and emergency response challenges. Brigadier Aman Saad al-Sulaiti, assistant director of GDCD, presented a certifi cate and memento to Hassan Abu Khamis, Qatargas EMS and security manager, in a ceremony at the GDCD Headquarters on the occasion of the Interna- tional Civil Defence Day.

Ooredoo unveils redesigned website

oredoo has an- New mobile data packs nounced the Olaunch of its re- Ooredoo has introduced three designed website www. new packs for its mobile broad- ooredoo.qa, provid- band (MBB) plans for post-paid ing ‘a more engaging customers. user experience with a MBB is Ooredoo’s data-only cleaner, more attractive service that provides custom- design.’ ers with direct, high-speed With new quick ac- access to the Internet, and can tion buttons added to be used with devices such as the home page, both smartphones, tablets, laptops consumer and business and more. customers now have With the new plans Ooredoo total control over the will give customers the option transactions they wish to purchase or upgrade their to make, from changing packs to 10GB, 15GB or 40GB plans to subscribing to per month, on top of the current new services, viewing 5GB, 25GB and unlimited pack and paying bills, re- that are already accessible. deeming Nojoom points The new packs will allow or fi ling a complaint. Ooredoo customers to enjoy ac- “We have also op- cess to the newly extended 4G+ timised the website’s Supernet network, with more look for mobile devices data choice. to ensure uninterrupted To purchase an MBB pack, access to customers,” customers can buy an Ooredoo said Fatima Sultan al- MBB SIM through an Ooredoo Kuwari, director, Com- Shop, via Ooredoo’s eShop, or at munity and Public Re- any of the premium dealers for lations, Ooredoo. a one-time fee of QR50. Ooredoo’s revamped website lets customers purchase new devices, Easy-To-Remember numbers, ac- cessories, and plans. The new Ooredoo eShop enables customers to fi nd their perfect phone by using fi lters, a phone comparison feature, and a simpler checkout process. In addition, key features of the revamped site include centralised troubleshooting guides and FAQs, enabling customers to easily search for solutions and fi nd answers, and a new promotions page, containing the latest off ers available from Ooredoo.

Chimpanzee rescued

The Environment Protection Patrols of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment has arrested a man trying to sell a chimpanzee, an endangered animal. The man was referred to the concerned security department for necessary legal action. Gulf Times Wednesday, March 16, 2016 9 QATAR Water accumulation was reported from 130 spots: Ashghal Off icials from Sasol, Friends of the Environment Centre, and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education he Public Works Authority – Ashghal - re- after announcing the Qatar e-Nature Schools Competition 2016 yesterday. PICTURE: Thajudheen sponded to last week’s rain and water ac- Tcumulation in diff erent areas by allocat- ing teams to deal with the situation in line with its plans and procedures, it said in a statement yesterday. The Drainage Networks Operation and Mainte- e-Nature schools nance Department at Ashghal received more than 130 notifi cations of water accumulation between March 7 and 9, the authority said. Most of the rainwater accumulation occurred in areas falling under the Doha, Al Rayyan and contest to go live Umm Slal municipalities, particularly in Abu Hamour, Ain Khaled, Bu Sidra, Al Gharafa and Al Kharaitiyat, according to the statement. n its third year, the Qatar e- newly-added nature reserves of has managed to further elevate Diff erent parts of the country witnessed water Nature Schools Contest, or- Qatar, in addition to the birds, the awareness about the dif- Water being removed by an Ashghal team in a residential area. overfl ow caused by rains, which began on March Iganised by Sasol and Friends insects, mammals, reptiles and ferent aspects of Qatar’s rich 7 and continued until the evening of March of the Environment Centre fl ora categories. The Qatar e- nature. 9 in varying amounts. “Accordingly, Ashghal (FEC) and the Ministry of Edu- Nature application and website The application has won a responded by allocating work teams to deal cation and Higher Education, have been redesigned, making number of prestigious acco- with the incident in accordance with the plans will take a new direction. it more user-friendly. lades in Qatar and around the and procedures and in co-ordination with the Students will be able to Rima Abu Khadija, direc- region with the support of Dr departments concerned,” the statement noted. compete in a live quiz show- tor, Offi ce of Curricula Stand- Saif al-Hajari, head of A Flower In preparation for the rain, Ashghal notifi ed all style competition that will ards at the Ministry of Educa- Each Spring, one of the origi- members of its teams to be on emergency standby. crown champions and a win- tion and Higher Education, nators of the concept of Qatar The authority deployed its teams and machinery to ning school. The competition said Qatar is the leading Gulf e-Nature. His role has enriched diff erent sites to ensure swift response in the event of is based on the information country in the fi eld of educa- the application with various rainfall, in addition to inspecting the country’s main provided in the Qatar e-Nature tion, and also committed to the information about the diversity tunnels to ensure the effi ciency of the drainage net- smartphone application and preservation of natural habitat of wildlife in Qatar. works. For areas that lacked infrastructure, Ashghal website, in order to increase and the environment. Phinda Vilakazi, president, took the necessary measures to ensure fast suction awareness about the diversity “The Qatar e-Nature live Sasol GTL Ventures, said: of rainwater in case of overfl ow, the statement said. of Qatar’s natural habitat. quiz contest will allow students “Over the past two years, the “The authority continued monitoring main The 2016 competition will to actively learn about Qatar’s Qatar e-Nature Schools Con- roads and tunnels in Qatar during the rainfall and introduce the new element of a beautiful and diverse wildlife; test has been organised with worked quickly to send suction tankers and ma- real-time quiz contest in front furthermore, it will be the per- the support of the Ministry of chinery to drain accumulated rainwater in some of a live audience, in which fect platform that will chal- Education and Higher Educa- areas,” it added. teams answer questions in or- lenge our young participants tion, engaging over 350 schools Ashghal sent pumps and tankers to remove der to gain points. Winning to showcase their abilities and and 250,000 students across water from Al Nasr, Rawdat Al Khail, Barwa City, teams in the early rounds will further enhance their skills and Qatar. This year we decided Corniche, Al Obaidli roundabout, F-Ring Road, go on to compete in the fi nals knowledge.” to adopt a new approach that D-Ring Road, Regency signals, the Qatar Sports in May. Frahood al-Hajiri, director, will bring Qatar e-Nature, the Club area, Fire Station roundabout, Al Waab and New questions added to Friends of the Environment digital application, to life in a Ashghal deployed suction tankers to diff erent parts of Qatar to remove accumulated water. other areas. this year’s contest, include the Centre, said Qatar e-Nature, unique and interactive setting.” Top hotelier suggests cost eff ective package to attract tourists

By Joey Aguilar among others,” he added. Staff Reporter He also suggested to have what he described as a “su- per iconic hotel in Qatar” he creation of an of- similar to Dubai’s Burj Al fi cial tourism body Arab Jumeirah to entice Twill further promote more tourists to visit and tourism in the region and stay in the country. bring in inbound businesses “What is needed is some- into the GCC countries, a thing people will talk about veteran hotelier has said. and may want to come “Having a council will and see.” further boost tourism ini- Sona also cited the suc- tiatives and strategies to cess of Marina Bay Sands attract more visitors from in Singapore, The Venetian around the world,” Filippo Hotel in Maao, and Atlantis, Sona, director, head (ho- The Palm in Dubai, among tels) at Colliers Interna- others, which bring in large tional Mena, told Gulf Filippo Sona : “If you bring them in here, their disposable number of visitors annually. Times on the sidelines of a income gets spent.” However, he pointed out Qatar Projects discussion that a huge investment yesterday. To keep visitors within and visit more places. is needed to build such “More co-ordination and the GCC countries, Sona “If you bring them in tourism structure. collaboration from airline said a cost eff ective package here, their disposable “We are talking of billions routes to other packages, must be off ered, especially income gets spent. of dollars in here, but this to ground transportation, to those who travel long dis- “Qatar and the other will change the shape and places to visit, and so much tances, such as people from GCC countries have tour- the future of Qatar tour- can be done,” he said. “Peo- the US. ism infrastructures such ism,” Sona said. “This is ple can come on a 10-day According to the hotel- as a state-of-the-art air- the thing that they need to holiday and visit diff erent ier, these tourists would port, world-class hotels, do, something that sparks countries, and there are stay for a couple of days and heritage places and muse- news, but at moment we plenty to see and to do.” tend to do various activities ums, and shopping malls, don’t have it.”

Over 20 hotel establishments to take part in Qatar International Food Festival s Qatar International Mashal Shahbik said. “InterContinental Hotel increasing number of three Food Festival (QIFF) “We are proud to work Group Qatar is delighted to and four-star hotels, as well Agears up for its open- with our partners to share be able to present some of as hotel apartments. ing on March 22, organisers the wide range of gour- the best culinary off erings “We will be introducing have confi rmed the partici- met food options available at QIFF, and to continue our Meesh Me – Time Café, a pation of more than 20 ho- across Qatar’s hotels with collaboration with QTA in the unique coff ee shop concept tel establishments, a 20% visitors at this exciting fes- successful development of the appearing for the fi rst time in increase from last year. tival,” she explained. local food and beverage (F&B) Qatar,” Crowne Plaza general “The growing participa- The hotel establishments scene,” said Andreas Pfi ster, manager Savino Leone said. tion of hotels in this year’s will be among the 130 res- general manager of InterCon- This year’s festival prom- QIFF refl ects the growth in taurants, eateries and food tinental Doha and area general ises to be the biggest yet with Qatar’s thriving hospital- entrepreneurs set to par- manager of InterContinental two new satellite venues, The ity sector, which welcomed ticipate in the seven-day Hotels Group in Qatar. Pearl-Qatar and Katara – the an additional 20 establish- culinary celebration. Sea- QTA has also been work- Cultural Village, joining the ments to its ranks in 2015 soned chefs will be off ering ing with investors to di- fun activities and various at- alone,” Qatar Tourism Au- fi ne dining opportunities to versify Qatar’s hospitality tractions at the main festival thority (QTA) festivals and festival visitors at prices be- portfolio and ensure its sus- location at the Museum of tourism events director tween QR5 and QR35. tainability, by licensing an Islamic Art Park. Gulf Times 10 Wednesday, March 16, 2016 QATAR Commercial Bank’s Malabar Gold launching ‘scratch Soccer School set to and win’ off er

rominent jewel- Turkey, Bahrain and India. lery retailer Malabar This is in addition to PGold and Diamonds their exclusive branded is launching the ‘Win up jewellery - Mine- Dia- return for third time to QR1.5mn worth gold monds Unlimited, Era- coins’ campaign at its Qa- Uncut Diamond Jewellery, ommercial Bank has an- tar showrooms from today. Ethnix- Handcrafted De- nounced that the Manches- During the campaign signer Jewellery, Divine- Cter United Soccer School that runs until May 14, Indian Heritage Jewellery, will return to Qatar for the third distinctive pieces of jewel- Precia- Precious Gem consecutive year. lery from across the world Jewellery and the unique A total of 160 girls and boys, aged will be on display along selves from the increasing jewellery for kids- Starlet. seven to 16 years, are set to take part with ‘irresistible off ers and gold rate. By only paying Malabar Gold and Dia- in the Manchester United-run soc- unprecedented opportu- 10% of the value, they can monds operates outlets in cer school from March 20 to 24 at Al nities for customers to win get gold rate protection Doha, Gharrafa, Al Khor Arabi Stadium. a total of QR1.5mn worth until May 14. The group Mall, Grand Mall, Barwa The children will be coached gold coins.’ also off ers ‘zero deduction Village and D Ring Road. by two Manchester United Soccer For every purchase of exchange off er’ through The jewellery is the fl ag- School coaches who will be special- gold jewellery or diamond which customers can up- ship company of Malabar ly fl own in from the UK to provide jewellery for QR2,000, the date their old ornaments Group, a leading diver- the training. customers get a ‘scratch to the latest collection of sifi ed Indian business Commercial Bank is the exclusive and win’ coupon through Malabar Gold and Dia- conglomerate. fi nancial services partner of Man- which they can win a guar- monds without any loss. Established in 1993 in chester United in Qatar. Its custom- anteed gold coin or up to Any 22ct old gold orna- the south Indian state of ers won places for their children at 250 gold coins instantly. ments can be exchanged Kerala, Malabar Gold and the exclusive fi ve-day soccer school File picture of participants of a previous edition of the soccer school. With every diamond jew- with the latest designs Diamonds today has a re- by spending on their Commercial ellery purchase, the cus- by paying only making tail network of 145 outlets Bank Manchester United credit and mentality - but most of all have lots tive contribution the partnership is bring the popular Manchester Unit- tomers get a ‘scratch and charges. across nine countries, 10 debit cards. of fun,” the bank said in a statement. making in Qatar. Thanks to the hard ed Soccer School back to Qatar for win’ coupon for a guar- Further, 8gm 22ct gold wholesale units in addi- “Under the guidance of Man- Manchester United Group man- work of Commercial Bank, the past the third year. anteed cash refund and a coins can be bought from tion to offi ces, design cen- chester United Soccer School aging director Richard Arnold said, two soccer schools have been highly “Simply by using our Manches- chance to win up to 100% their outlets with no mak- tres and factories spread coaches, the kids will receive an all- “Manchester United and Commer- successful and we now look forward ter United credit card, customers cash back. Customers who ing charge during this pe- across India, Middle East round training experience, giving cial Bank continue to enjoy a suc- to the third instalment.” not only benefi t from Commercial buy diamond jewellery riod. The jewellery chain and Far East. With an an- an insight into Manchester United cessful partnership, which we are Dean Proctor, Commercial Bank Bank’s generous rewards programme worth QR2,000 or above is off ering a collection of nual turnover of $4bn, the youth training techniques and phi- pleased to have in such an important EGM, chief consumer and private but also have the added excitement are eligible to get both the gold, diamond and plati- company currently ranks losophy, advice on how to prepare territory. banking, said: “Through our part- of winning a priceless Manchester coupons. num jewellery crafted among the world’s top fi ve off the pitch, improve their game, “The Manchester United Soccer nership with Manchester United, United experience for themselves or Customers also get a by jewellery specialists jewellery retailers in terms understand and develop a winning Schools are an example of the posi- Commercial Bank is delighted to a member of their family.” chance to protect them- from Italy, Singapore, of annual turnover. Pari Gallery reopens at Hyatt Plaza IBQ sponsors GCC Traffi c Week

ari Gallery, the lo- Accommodating 11 bou- nternational Bank of Qatar cal beauty retailer, has tiques for international (IBQ) has announced its sup- Preopened at Hyatt Plaza brands like Fendi, Mont Blanc, Iport of the 32nd GCC Traffi c Mall after renovation. and Salvatore Ferragamo, it Week as silver sponsor. The shop is the fi rst of Pari will also house 23 cosmet- The event was inaugurated Gallery 4 generation designs ics islands and 14 niche fra- at Darb Al Saai on Sunday af- and it accommodates all the grance brands bringing more ternoon and the activities will big brands in the cosmetic in- world-class brands to Pari continue until March 19. dustry from Saint Laurent to Gallery’s clientele. Additional The initiative is part of IBQ’s Mont Blanc to Estee Lauder big brands like Dior, D & G, corporate social responsibil- and Armani. and Gucci are also expected to ity drive, which aims to spread “As one of Qatar’s most con- showcase the latest trends in A cake is cut to mark the opening of the showroom. Below: An interior education by spearheading and venient shopping destinations, the coming months. view of the showroom. PICTURES: Nasar T K sponsoring programmes and ac- Pari Gallery is defi nitely going tivities designed to promote the to complete the shopping ex- welfare of the community, ac- perience of our visitors, by of- cording to a statement. fering them the best in beauty “Our participation is driv- industry, in a very elegant envi- en by our desire to help raise ronment,’’ said Feroz Moideen, awareness among the youth general manager, Hyatt Plaza. and reduce the number of road IBQ at the GCC Traff ic Week. The showroom maxim- accidents in Qatar,” Omar Bou- ises its designated fl oor area hadiba, managing director of The one-week traffi c rules tends to supporting a wide of 1,100sqm by adding a sec- IBQ, said, adding: “We are and regulation awareness event range of worthwhile community ond fl oor that covers 800sqm. happy to work closely with the aims to inform the public in Qa- activities, such as education, The added fl oor in the Hy- Ministry of Interior and Traf- tar about safety rules as well as health and philanthropic initia- att Plaza showroom makes it fic Department to drive aware- measures and practices used in tives, culture and arts and sports, the largest in terms of brand ness and make the GCC Traffic Qatar. among others, the statement capacity and displays. Week a great success.” IBQ’s CSR track record ex- notes. Regulatory authority receives 60 complaints

he Communications and Communications at Regulatory Authority the CRA booth. March 15 is T(CRA) has received marked internationally to more than 60 complaints promote the basic rights of all during its four-day observ- consumers, and to encourage ance of World Consumer protection of these rights. Rights Day at City Center The Minister was accom- Doha. panied by CRA president According to the CRA, Mohamed Ali al-Mannai the complaints were mainly during the familiarisation about billing, network cover- tour conducted by Amal age, roaming charges, service Salam al-Hanawi, consumer disconnections, spam, pre- aff airs department manager. mium services and delays in Al-Hanawi briefed the activation and installation. Minister about CRA’s con- With an estimated 50,000 sumer protection initiatives, visitors on weekends and public services and the up- 40,000 on weekdays, CRA coming Codes on spam and was able to engage face-to- premium rate services. face citizens and residents at CRA encourages all con- City Center Doha. Its con- sumers to reach out to CRA sumer aff airs department is should their complaints planning more engagements lodged with service provid- and outreach activities to en- ers remain unresolved. CRA hance consumer awareness. is easily accessible through Yesterday, the CRA con- a dedicated Consumer Tel- cluded World Consumer ecom Hotline – 103, CRA’s Rights Day with a visit by HE offi cial Twitter account @ Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti CRAqatar or via e-mail at the Minister of Transport [email protected]. Gulf Times Wednesday, March 16, 2016 11 REGION/ARAB WORLD Diplomacy at work Rouhani seeks majority as Iran votes in run-off

Reuters Missile tests don’t violate nuclear deal: Iran FM Tehran Tehran’s recent ballistic missile carrying nuclear warheads”, he tests did not violate a UN resolu- told reporters in Canberra. ran will hold run-off elec- tion and were not illegal, Foreign “Since we do not have nuclear tions next month for 69 par- Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warheads and we have under- Iliamentary seats where no said yesterday after being ques- taken not to develop them, and candidate secured 25% of votes tioned on the issue by Australia. the international community has cast in a general election on Feb- The UN Security Council met put in place the best mechanisms ruary 26, state radio said yester- on Monday at the request of the money can buy in order to make day. US to discuss the missile tests sure that we do not develop nu- Results so far show moderate that have raised the prospect of clear weapons... we do not design allies of President Hassan Rou- new sanctions. any missiles to carry things we do hani making big gains from the But Zarif said that under not have,” Zarif said. conservative Islamic establish- Resolution 2231, adopted a few “So these missiles do not fall ment but neither faction has a days after Iran struck a landmark within the purview of 2231 and majority, meaning the run-off s nuclear deal with world powers they are not illegal.” will decide who controls the last year, Tehran was within its Iran fired two long-range bal- 290-seat parliament. rights to carry out the tests. listic missiles on March 9, one day A reformist-backed list of He said the wording of the after similar tests that came fewer candidates aligned with Rouhani resolution did not use obligatory than two months after the Iran won all 30 parliamentary seats in terms so “Iran is not obliged by nuclear deal was implemented. Tehran and his allies have under- 2231”. Zarif stressed that the missiles lined the importance of the April Secondly, it covered only mis- were being developed only for run-off s, which will decide who siles “designed to be capable of Iran’s defence. dominates parliament. “Our aim is to get at least 40 of the 69 seats in the run-off elec- Council, a hardline vetting body. Iran lacks rigid party affi lia- tions to secure the majority in “We will hold the second tions and some candidates are the next parliament,” said former round of the parliamentary elec- backed by various political vice-president Mohammad Reza tion on April 29, as approved by camps, which makes it diffi cult Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah welcomes Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi at Kuwait international Aref, who won the fi rst seat in the Guardian Council,” state ra- to specify which faction has won airport. Hadi is in Kuwait for a two-day off icial visit. Tehran. dio quoted Interior Ministry of- a parliamentary majority. In a parallel vote on February fi cial Ali Motlagh as saying. An unoffi cial tally by Reuters 26, Rouhani and his allies won a The poll results have to be con- shows conservatives have so far stunning 15 out of the 16 Tehran fi rmed by the Guardian Council, won about 112 seats in parlia- seats in the 88-member Assem- which has so far approved just ment, reformers and centrists 91 bly of Experts, which selects the over 50 constituencies out of and independents and religious person with the most clout in 196. The new parliament and the minorities 18. Iran, the supreme leader. Assembly of Experts will start A loosening of control by the Some 62% of nearly 55mn eli- work on May 27. anti-Western hardliners who gible Iranians voted in February’s The capital’s results were a currently dominate parliament twin elections, the fi rst since a blow to the hardline clerical rul- could strengthen Rouhani’s hand nuclear deal was reached with ers, although they retain decisive to open Iran further to foreign Iraqis fl ee town six major powers in 2015 to curb power due to Iran’s unwieldy trade and investment following Tehran’s nuclear programme in dual system of clerical and re- lifting of sanctions in January return for an easing of economic publican rule. under the nuclear deal. sanctions. Conservatives, wary of losing But many analysts and offi cials Supporters of Supreme Leader their grip in the next parliament, expect a sudden shift in power in Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Rou- aim to gain more seats by win- Iran as the president’s legal au- hani’s moderates both claimed ning run-off elections outside thority to permit more social and victory in the elections, from the capital. Most of the lawmak- political freedom is constrained as battle looms which prominent reformist and ers who failed to win re-election by hardliners’ control of the ju- many moderate candidates were had strongly opposed the nuclear diciary, security forces and state AFP Some IS fi ghters fl ed the town on Satur- desert - only to move back in 24 hours later, disqualifi ed by the Guardian deal. media. Baghdad day and Sunday, including some top foreign according to security offi cials. leaders who had been based in Hit, accord- They still control Rutba but their foreign ing to several senior security offi cials. leaders did not return and are believed to Bahrain jails 3 for errifi ed residents were fl eeing the “It is clear however that some of them re- have moved towards Al-Qaim, a town on the Iraqi town of Hit yesterday as securi- main, they are mostly deployed in defensive border with Syria. attacks on police Tty forces closed and militant fi ghters positions around the city,” Nimrawi said. Iraqi forces, backed by a US-led coalition, UAE tries 7 for links hunkered down to defend one of their main Yahya Rasool, the spokesman for the Joint have been battling to regain ground from IS Bahraini court has jailed bastions in Anbar province. Operations Command co-ordinating the since the militants seized control of large three people for 15 years each After regaining control of Anbar provin- fi ght against IS in Iraq, said an operation in parts of Iraq and neighbouring Syria in mid- to banned Hezbollah Ain two separate trials for at- cial capital Ramadi from the Islamic State Hit would come soon. 2014. tacking policemen, the prosecution group earlier this year, Iraqi forces have been “Unfortunately, Hit is still under Daesh Adhal al-Fahdawi, a member of the Anbar said in a statement yesterday. advancing up the Euphrates Valley in recent control but it will be retaken in the coming provincial council, said many families had even people have gone movement details of interior Two of the convicts, one of whom weeks. days,” he told AFP, using an Arabic acronym also fl ed Hit and nearby Kubaysa to areas on on trial in the United ministry offi cials, it said. was tried in absentia, were jailed for Offi cials are vowing to launch a fi nal op- for IS. the outskirts of Ramadi. SArab Emirates on charg- An Egyptian woman who carrying out a bomb attack target- eration to retake Hit, a key hub along the Hit residents had hoped when IS fi ght- “Various NGOs and government institu- es of forming a cell linked to worked for an oil company is ing police in a Shia village near Euphrates, in the coming days. ers pulled out on Sunday that government tions, assisted by the Iraqi security forces, Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hez- accused of passing informa- Manama two years ago, said pros- Police colonel Fadhel al-Nimrawi said forces and allied tribal fi ghters would swoop are trying to give them shelter and food,” he bollah movement, reports tion about the sector to Hez- ecutor Ahmed al-Hammadi. thousands of families had recently fl ed Hit in to seal the recapture of the city. told AFP. said yesterday. bollah, which is classifi ed by The attack had caused damages to Al Baghdadi, a town to the northwest, and But while some IS fi ghters left, others Hit has been under militant control since The two Emirati nation- Gulf monarchies as a “terror- but left no casualties, he said in a other locations in Anbar where displaced ci- rotated in and civilians in Hit fear being October 2014. IS fi ghters still control Fallu- als and fi ve foreigners, whose ist” group. statement carried by the offi cial vilians are gathered. trapped in the town for the fi nal battle. jah, which lies only 50km west of Baghdad trial began on Monday at the Three Lebanese nation- BNA news agency. “At least 120 families arrived in Al Bagh- “So far, there are no security forces in but is almost completely cut off from the state security court, include a als and an Iraqi are also ac- In the second trial the same dadi yesterday but there are thousands of Hit, the inhabitants are scared because they rest of their self-proclaimed “caliphate”. UAE police offi cer accused of cused of being part of the cell, criminal court jailed a third de- families still in there,” he told AFP. know there will be a big military operation,” The militants have repeatedly attacked providing military informa- the paper said, adding that fendant of opening fi re at police- He said most of the civilians had gathered said Naim al-Kaoud, the leader of the Nimr Haditha, the other main city in Anbar, but tion to Hezbollah, Al Ittihad the court scheduled the next men last year in another Shia town in the Jamaiya and Al Omal neighbourhoods tribe. tribal fi ghters backed by security forces and daily reported. hearing for April 18. Foreign wounding one of them, Hammadi near the main market of Hit, a city that lies Over the weekend, IS fi ghters also aban- US-led coalition air strikes, have staved The other Emirati defend- media are not allowed access said, adding that his citizenship around 145km west of Baghdad. doned the town of Rutba - deep in the Anbar them off . ant allegedly gave the Shia to state security trials. would also be revoked. Iranian women to get Jolie seeks support for Syria refugees equal compensation Reuters for traffi c accidents Saadnayel, Lebanon N special envoy Angelina Jolie Reuters have accepted the principle, so yesterday urged world powers to Dubai that can set a precedent,” said Udo more to end Syria’s fi ve-year Ziba Mir-Hosseini, a professo- war and help the millions who have fl ed rial research associate at SOAS, the confl ict, as she visited refugees in ran’s legal vetting body has part of the University of Lon- Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. approved a bill that will see don. The war has killed 250,000 people, Ifemale victims of road traffi c “Blood money” settlements displaced half of Syria’s population and accidents paid the same com- can also be used in cases of delib- created Europe’s worst refugee crisis pensation as men, in a small step erate harm in Iran if the victim’s since World War II. towards gender equality in the family agrees, and are frequently Talks on a political solution are under- conservative Islamic country. applied in lieu of the death pen- way in Geneva, but hopes of progress are The Third Party Insurance Bill, alty for murder. Women will modest. likely to be made law in the com- remain unequal in such cases, As a diplomatic solution eludes poli- ing weeks, will bind insurance which are not aff ected by the ticians, simply coping with the growing companies to compensate vic- new law. humanitarian crisis is not a viable alter- tims of road accidents regardless Iranian law states women are native, Jolie said. of their gender, state broadcaster entitled to only half the com- “We cannot manage the world through IRINN has said. pensation a man would receive. aid relief in the place of diplomacy and The bill was approved by the Smaller payments for women are diplomatic solutions,” she said at a mud- Guardian Council, a 12-mem- consistent with most schools of dy camp in Saadnayel, about 15km from ber Islamic body responsible for Islamic law, though this is not the Syrian border. Refugees gathered ensuring legislation conforms to specifi ed in core Islamic texts. around, bracing against heavy rain and Shariah (Islamic) law, which had “Our purpose in balancing wind. rejected a similar measure passed women’s and men’s compensa- “We need governments around the by parliament in 2008. tion was that relatives should not world to show leadership: to analyse the UNHCR special envoy and US actress Angelina Jolie meets Syrian refugees during her visit to a refugee camp near the city of In Iranian law, third party ve- face problems if a woman who is situation and understand exactly what Zahle in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. hicle insurance is governed by the head of family is killed in an their country can do, how many refugees the Qur’anic concept of “blood accident,” IRIB quoted lawmaker they can assist and how.” ated by the confl ict. The 1mn registered an accord with Turkey, that would grant UNHCR says there are likely more than money” whereby the victim of Rahim Zare as saying. Highlighting the huge refugee infl ux refugees in Lebanon represent a quarter Ankara more money to keep the 2.7mn 60mn people forcibly displaced world- injury, or their family in the case The standard “blood money” into Syria’s immediate neighbours, which of the country’s population. Syrian refugees on its territory. wide - one in every 122 people. of death, can claim compensa- sum for men is fi xed at 1.5bn have been hosting millions of refugees, “The greatest pressure is still being felt The vast majority of Syrian refugees in Syria’s confl ict has also created 2.4mn tion from the perpetrator. rials ($50,000) in case of death, she said the problem was not “confi ned in the Middle East and North Africa,” Jo- Lebanon live in extreme poverty, the UN child refugees, killed many and led to the “Once they accept that men whether deliberate or acciden- to the situations of tens of thousands of lie said. says. Jolie, special envoy for UN refugee increasing recruitment of children as and women are equal... in terms tal. The amount paid for injuries refugees in Europe”. European Union leaders, alarmed by an agency UNHCR, said 80% were in debt, fi ghters, children’s fund Unicef said in a of blood money when there is a varies according to the severity Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon host the infl ux of 1mn refugees and migrants into after any savings they brought from Syria report to mark the fi ve-year anniversary. car accident, that means they of the injury. vast majority of the 4.8mn refugees cre- the bloc of 500mn people, have sketched had run out. Gulf Times 12 Wednesday, March 16, 2016 ARAB WORLD

Israel seizes more West Syria rebels’ morale ‘sky Bank land

AFP Jerusalem high’ after Russia pullout srael has declared 234 hec- tares of West Bank territory AFP Ias state land, offi cials said Beirut yesterday, leading a watchdog to warn of possible settlement ex- pansion that could increase ten- ussia’s surprise withdrawal from sions with Palestinians. Syria has boosted the morale of COGAT, the Israeli defence Rrebels, militants and activists liv- ministry body responsible for ing in opposition-held areas who see implementing government poli- the move as a major blow for the Da- cies in the Palestinian territo- mascus regime. ries, said the move was taken “in “Our morale is sky high. The regime accordance with the decision of will not be able to survive alone,” said the political level”. Raed al-Elewi, a commander for the It gave no further explanation Jaish al-Tahrir (Liberation Army) rebel nor more details, but settlement group in Hama province in central Syria. watchdog Peace Now said the “This is a victory” for opposition land involved is south of the Pal- forces seeking the ouster of President estinian city of Jericho and close Bashar al-Assad, he told AFP. “Russia to the Dead Sea. has not succeeded in fulfi lling its goal of Peace Now said the land - saving Assad.” equivalent in size to more than In Moscow on Monday, President 250 international football pitch- Vladimir Putin ordered the “main part” es - is the biggest reclassifi cation of Russia’s forces out of Syria, nearly since a seizure of 400 hectares in six months after launching a major air 2014. campaign in support of ally Assad. The NGO said the order to The intervention helped the Syrian seize the land was signed on army and loyalist militias - exhausted March 10 as US Vice President after years of war - to go on the off en- Joe Biden wrapped up a visit to sive and recapture several areas that Israel and the Palestinian terri- they had lost to the armed opposition. tories, though COGAT refused to While Moscow claimed its 9,000 comment on the timing. combat sorties targeted “terrorists”, Palestinians who claim own- the West, its regional allies and activ- ership of the land can appeal the ists on the ground insisted it was mainly decision within 45 days. bombing moderate rebels and even ci- Peace Now said the land could vilian targets. help link up and potentially ex- In Aleppo province, where the regime pand local Jewish settlements. has made signifi cant advances under “This declaration is a de-facto Russian air cover, rebel commander Mo- confi scation of Palestinian lands dar Najjar celebrated the announcement. for the purpose of settlement,” a The Russian withdrawal “shows that statement said. they were unable to bring an end to the “Instead of trying to calm the revolution,” Najjar told AFP via the In- Civil defence members, rebel fighters and civilians carry opposition flags and chant slogans during a demonstration marking the fifth anniversary of the Syrian crisis in situation, the government is ternet, adding that the rebels’ morale the old city of Aleppo. adding fuel to the fi re.” was “very high”. The confi scation comes amid “Russia will go down in history as indirect peace talks in Geneva. capital of the heartland of Assad’s Ala- Moscow has been a key backer of it will mean on the ground. Let’s not get a wave of violence that has seen having assisted the killer Bashar (al- “For the militants, of course, the wite sect. Assad’s regime since the outbreak of a emotional, I don’t see it as a defeat” for 194 Palestinians, 28 Israelis, two Assad) in the past fi ve months, resulting temptation to ‘test’ the Russian with- Despite the announcement, Russian revolt in 2011 that evolved into a brutal Moscow and Damascus, he said. Americans, an Eritrean and a in... civilian deaths and the destruc- drawal will be extremely hard to resist,” helicopters yesterday carried out air civil war. Abu Ibrahim believes the announce- Sudanese killed since October 1, tion of dozens of hospitals, schools and Pierret said. strikes against militants around the an- The Kremlin has denied that Putin’s ment is linked to the Geneva talks. “I’m according to an AFP count. other public infrastructure,” said Naj- Syria’s Al Qaeda affi liate Al Nusra cient city of Palmyra. latest announcement means Russia is very suspicious about what will happen Most of the Palestinians were jar, a leading commander of the Jabha Front jumped at the chance to threaten Activists, particularly those living trying to pressure its ally. next. Russia won’t give up and with- killed while carrying out knife, Shamiya (Levant Front). “The revolution the regime the morning after Putin’s in areas that have come under Russian “Russia is an enemy... and you should draw without getting something in re- gun or car-ramming attacks, will continue until the fall of the regime.” announcement, with a militant com- bombardment, still harbour suspicions never trust your enemy,” Abu Anas said. turn.” according to the Israeli authori- According to Thomas Pierret, a Syria mander on the ground vowing to go on about the move. Rebel commander Abu Ibrahim, who On the other side of the divide, a ties. specialist at the University of Edin- the off ensive “within the next 48 hours”. “Of course there is a sort of happi- leads the rebel 10th Division in Latakia military offi cer from the Syrian army Palestinian leaders, includ- burgh, mainstream rebels will be under “Had it not been for the Russian war- ness, but the Syrian people do not trust province on the Mediterranean coast, admitted he too was surprised by the ing President Mahmoud Abbas, Western pressure not to take advantage planes, we would have been in Lata- the Russians,” said Abu Anas, an activ- agreed. announcement. have in part blamed the expan- of the situation despite their elation, as kia (city),” he told AFP on condition of ist in Daraa province on the border with “The Russian decision to withdraw “We don’t know what happened,” he sion of settlements for the vio- opposition and regime delegations hold anonymity, referring to the provincial Jordan. was a surprise. We haven’t yet seen what told AFP on condition of anonymity. lence.

Seeking relief Palestinian Militants attack Libya oil fi eld amputees, wounded during Israeli military Reuters made River, a system built under Muammar operations in the Benghazi Gaddafi to pipe water from desert wells to Gaza strip, raise coastal communities. their crutches A spokesman for the company that manages during a uspected Islamic State militants staged the plant, Toufi k Shwaihdi, said attackers had demonstration to an attack on a water plant about 80km used rockets, damaging offi ces and vehicles, call for a better Sfrom the major Sarir oil fi eld in eastern but that the system had not been aff ected. access to Libya late on Monday, plant offi cials and an An offi cial from the plant said staff based prosthetic limbs oil facilities guard said yesterday. there were evacuated, and this might have a and treatment Security forces foiled an attempted sui- temporary impact on water supplies. outside the cide car bombing by killing the driver, before As Libya’s confl ict has dragged on, pro- parliament in Gaza engaging the attackers in clashes, the guard duction has fallen to about 360,000 barrels City. said. Any threat to the Sarir area would cause per day, less than a quarter of its level before particular alarm because more than half of the fall of Gaddafi in 2011. Libya’s remaining oil production comes from Militants loyal to Islamic State have ex- the region. ploited political chaos and a security vacuum No group immediately claimed the attack, to establish a foothold in the country. They but Islamic State fi ghters have previously tar- took control of Sirte last year, and have a geted oil installations in Libya, stepping up presence in several other towns and cities. their campaign against export terminals in The group has caused extensive damage to the east of the country at the start of this year. oil infrastructure, but has not taken over facili- There was no damage to Sarir but a crisis ties and profi ted from them as it has in Iraq. committee was being convened yesterday to ad- Western powers have been searching for dress the growing threat, said Omran al-Zwai, a ways to stop Islamic State’s expansion in spokesman for Arabian Gulf Oil Co (AGOCO), Libya, but have been frustrated by recent de- which runs production from the fi eld. lays to the formation of a UN-backed unity The water plant is part of the Great Man- government.

UN chief slams ‘disrespectful’ Rabat protest

AFP streets of Rabat on Sunday. The demonstra- over Western Sahara. The UN statement United Nations tions followed Ban’s visit to a refugee camp contained unusually blunt language on Ban’s in Algeria housing refugees from Western response to the Moroccan protests and his Sahara and his use of the term “occupation” meeting with the foreign minister amounted N Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to describe the status of the territory. to a diplomatic dressing-down. angrily told Morocco’s foreign min- Morocco considers the territory as part of During his visit, Ban announced plans to re- Uister late on Monday that protests the kingdom and insists its sovereignty can- launch UN-sponsored talks between Rabat and organised in Rabat against his remarks on not be challenged. the Algerian-backed Polisario Front, which is Western Sahara were disrespectful. The UN has been trying to broker a West- seeking independence for the territory. Ban “expressed his deep disappointment ern Sahara settlement since 1991 after a In a statement released last week, the and anger regarding the demonstration that ceasefi re was reached to end a war that broke Moroccan government said Ban’s use of the was mobilised on Sunday, which targeted out when Morocco deployed its military in word “occupation” to describe the status of him in person,” said a UN statement released the former Spanish territory in 1975. Western Sahara was “an insult.” after his meeting with Foreign Minister During the meeting with Mezouar, Ban Ban visited the camp as part of a region- Salaheddine Mezouar in New York. asked for a clarifi cation regarding reports al tour that also took him to Burkina Faso, The secretary-general “stressed that such that several members of the Moroccan gov- Mauritania and Algeria, but not to Morocco. attacks are disrespectful to him and to the ernment took part in the demonstration. The UN spokesman has said that Ban UN” and asked the minister to “ensure that The UN chief charged that the protesters plans to visit Rabat and Laayoune, the main the UN enjoys respect in Morocco.” “and their sponsors” had misrepresented city in Western Sahara, later this year. Hundreds of thousands of people carrying his trip to the region and failed to recognise The UN chief wants to achieve progress in banners denouncing Ban’s “lack of neutral- that he was calling for genuine negotiations resolving the 40-year confl ict over Western Sa- ity” on the Western Sahara issue took to the to achieve a lasting solution to the dispute hara before he steps down at the end of the year. Ban ... ‘personal attack’ Gulf Times Wednesday, March 16, 2016 13 AFRICA Satellite collar I Coast raid was aimed at France, says Qaeda

Reuters Minister Bernard Cazeneuve Abidjan said yesterday. “The desire to position this (gendarmerie) team in Ouaga- l Qaeda’s North Afri- dougou is to enable us to im- can branch said its at- mediately dispense advice and Atack on a beach resort coordinate other actions in the in Ivory Coast on Sunday that event of a terrorist crisis,” Ca- killed 18 people was revenge zeneuve said. for a French off ensive against He was speaking during Islamist militants in the Sahel a visit with foreign minister region and called for its forces Jean-Marc Ayrault to Ivory to withdraw. Coast that aims to reassure the The raid in Grand Bassam large French community and claimed by Al Qaeda in the Is- boost the investigation into lamic Maghreb was the fi rst of the attack in Grand Bassam. its kind in Ivory Coast but the France launched operation third in the region since No- Serval to oust militants from vember. northern Mali and replaced It was also a setback for it in 2014 with Operation France, who lost four of its na- Barkhane which targets mili- tionals when gunmen opened tants across the Sahel region. fi re on people eating lunch Ayrault and Cazeneuve met at restaurants and sunning president Alassane Ouattara themselves on the sand. and were due to visit the site “We repeat our call to all of the attack and meet repre- Kenya Wildlife Service and Save The Elephants staff stand next to an elephant as they undertake the collaring of ten elephants ranging near the Standard Gauge Railway to countries involved in the French sentatives of the French com- fit them with advanced satellite radio tracking collars in Tsavo National Park, Kenya yesterday. invasion of Mali to withdraw,” munity. the group said in a statement. Islamic State has also sin- It named the attackers but gled out France as a target and gave no further details of their claimed responsibility for the identities. attack in Paris in November in France is a key player in secu- which 130 people were killed. rity in West Africa with about Twenty people were killed 3,500 troops in the region. It at a hotel in Mali in November has also joined a campaign and 30 died in an attack on a against Islamic State, which is cafe and hotel in Burkina Faso based in Iraq and Syria. in January. Nigeria herders suff er Paris is to station a force of Ivory Coast has French- armed gendarmes in the capi- speaking West Africa’s largest tal of Burkina Faso to react economy and has recovered swiftly in the event of another from a decade of political cri- attack in the region and to pro- sis to boast one of the world’s as cattle trade curbed vide training, French Interior fastest-growing economies. The authorities are attempting to ket to trade existing stock but banned the begging for food surrendered last week, keep Boko Haram from food resources arrival of any new cattle for two weeks so the army said. authorities could identify sellers. But cattle traders say the raids are sim- Malawi to open camp Reuters “There were suspicious persons who ply a new tactic by the jihadists raise funds. Maiduguri, Nigeria sold cattle which they had bought from Daho Dida, a cattle trader sitting in Boko Haram,” he said. “This is fi nancing the shade of a wall, said fi ghters had sto- for Mozambicans the terrorists.” len a 350-strong herd from him and a Nigerian government push to The closure has left some 400 animals 500-strong herd from his brother. He said strangle the Boko Haram insurgen- dying in trucks stopped by the army on the the military had failed to stop the raids, Reuters “We need $1.8mn to meet Acy has shut down the cattle trade way to Maiduguri, traders said. with soldiers running into the bush the Nairobi immediate needs, but more that sustained the city of Maiduguri, leav- Offi cials say authorities plan to distrib- moment they came under fi re. will be needed to cope with the ing many residents with no livelihood, in- The cattle market in Maiduguri, Nigeria. ute food and fi nd jobs for the city’s youth. “They buy foodstuff , petrol and other growing number of arrivals.” cluding many of the 2mn people displaced But options are limited as a slump in vi- stuff with the money,” he said of the fi ght- alawi will reopen a Mozambicans who arrived by the war. the main employment opportunities for tal oil revenues has undermined Buhari’s ers. former refugee camp earlier in the year spoke of hav- In recent months the army has taken the more than one million displaced peo- plans to develop the north, which is poorer The jihadists sell stolen cattle to mid- Mto cope with an infl ux ing fl ed deadly attacks on their back much of the territory lost to the ji- ple who live in camps on the outskirts of than the mostly Christian south, where dlemen who take on the risk of dealing of around 250 Mozambicans villages, he said, while more hadists during the fi ve-year insurgency. the town after fl eeing Boko Haram. Nigeria pumps its oil. with them by paying just 20,000 naira a day fl eeing political discord recent arrivals were fearful of But the war, which killed thousands of Offi cials say they were forced to shut the Located some 1,600km from the At- ($100) a head, a quarter of the usual price, and worsening fi ghting be- clashes between the govern- people, is still taking its toll in the north- market because Boko Haram has resorted lantic coast and the southern megacity of said Adam Bulama, a leader of a civilian tween former civil war foes ment and Renamo guerrillas. east, despite president Muhammadu Bu- to stealing cattle from villagers to feed Lagos, Maiduguri used to be a busy cattle vigilante force helping the army. at home, the United Nations Renamo, Mozambique’s hari’s vow to crush Boko Haram by the end its fi ghters and raise funds after the army market serving neighbouring Cameroon, It’s a worthwhile risk for middlemen to refugee agency said yesterday. main opposition group, has of last year. pushed it out of cities. Cattle looting has Chad and Niger until Boko Haram attacks ship the cattle to Maiduguri, where prices The drought-stricken said it wants to take control of The group, now offi cially allied to the displaced its previous sources of income: closed the nearby borders. have surged to 120,000 naira per head be- southern African nation will six northern provinces. Islamic State fi ghters who control much of robbing banks and kidnapping wealthy Supplies for the Maiduguri market had cause of the temporary ban. struggle to provide for the new Renamo fi ghters have at- Iraq and Syria, has responded with suicide people. thinned even before the cattle embargo Bulama said dealers need personal con- arrivals, as the 25,000 refugees tacked police outposts near bombings and hit and run attacks against The market closure has disrupted beef as Boko Haram fi ghters burned fi elds and nections with staff at abattoirs that are already in Malawi have been the Malawi border, where they civilians. supplies in Maiduguri and the rest of Bor- forced farmers out of their villages in re- still slaughtering cows from the existing receiving half rations of food have public support, while In the latest shock to civilians, meat has no state, adding to the hardship of peo- cent years. stocks. “Now meat is scarce in Maiduguri,” aid since October due to fund- government forces retaliate by become scarce as the army has closed cat- ple who have long complained of poverty The army, which moved its command to he said. “Nobody can aff ord it.” ing shortages. torching villages where they tle markets to stop Boko Haram from rais- and neglect in the north -- struggles that fi ght Boko Haram to Maiduguri to be close Buhari says Boko Haram is no longer Almost 11,500 Mozambican believe rebels are hiding, secu- ing funds by selling livestock, offi cials say. prompted some to join Boko Haram’s re- to the front, has repelled two recent at- able to overrun security posts or seize refugees have crossed into rity sources say. The shutdown of the Maiduguri cattle volt. tacks on the city of two million, allowing government offi ces. But displaced people Malawi since December, UN- One million people died market -- one of the biggest in west Africa “I cannot aff ord meat any more,” said commercial fl ights to resume. holding out in camps remain wary of going HCR said, most of them going and a further million fl ed to -- has, overnight, made hundreds of cattle Musa Abdullahi, a labourer sipping milk But soldiers manning sand-bagged home. Boko Haram fi ghters often ambush to Kapise, a village 5km in- Malawi during Mozambique’s traders, herdsmen, butchers and labourers sold by a female street vendor. He said he checkpoints and imposing a curfew are a “liberated” roads or villages in hit and run side Malawi and some 100km 1976 to 1992 civil war between unemployed. has to feed two wives and nine children, reminder that life is anything but normal. attacks, aid workers say. south of the capital, Lilongwe. Renamo, originally a guerrilla “We are suff ering,” said Usama Malla, a and can’t remember the last time he was Suicide bombers strike often in its sub- “Houses in our village were burned,” “From around 130 people a force backed by neighbour- cattle herdsman who lost his job. While he able to buy meat for the family. “I used to urbs. said Bulami Ari, a 47-year old farmer who day before late February we are ing white-minority powers spoke, an angry crowd quickly gathered to get a piece of meat for 350 naira ($1.75), Security offi cials say Boko Haram’s cat- lives with his two wives and six children in now seeing around 250 people and Frelimo, the communist criticise the government. “We want com- now it costs 900.” tle raids suggest the group is desperate to a tent since the jihadists raided last year every day in Kapise,” UNHCR movement which took power pensation,” others demanded. Borno state governor Kashim Shettima fi nd food after the army pushed it out of their village, located just 45 km outside spokesman Leo Dobbs told a at independence in 1975 and The sprawling market had been one of said he had reopened the Maiduguri mar- several towns. More than 70 supporters Maiduguri. “There is no security.” Geneva briefi ng yesterday. remains the ruling party. Congo police arrested six activists: HRW

Agencies tal Kinshasa, Ida Sawyer, HRW senior refused to comment on his political fu- tion last June found that there was no they were never beaten or tortured,” There was “no evidence of external Kinshasa Africa researcher, said by phone from ture. evidence to support the government’s Bojang said Monday. or internal injury”, he said. Goma. Authorities arrested about 30 peo- accusations. Six other Lucha members The London-based Internation- When contacted, the ITF reiterated “The police came and (the protest- ple, including an American diplomat were sentenced on appeal this month al Transport Workers’ Federation that Diba had been tortured, describing olice arrested at least six protest- ers) sat down,” she said. “The police and foreign journalists, last March at to six months in prison for incitement (ITF) has said Diba died as a result of Bojang’s denial of the intelligence serv- ers yesterday in the eastern Dem- then put them in the truck.” a news conference by Congolese and to revolt after preparing banners that abuse and torture at the hands of NIA ice’s involvement as “sophistry”. Pocratic Republic of Congo city of The director of the United Nations’ West African activists to promote called on Kabila to step down at the end agents. “They claim that cause of death was Goma during a peaceful demonstration human rights offi ce in Congo, Jose youth participation in politics. of 2016. Diba had been arrested with sev- malaria, we refute this,” said Sam Daw- over the jailing of two fellow activists, Maria Aranaz, said he had credible re- Gambia’s information minister has eral other union leaders after president son of the ITF in an email to AFP. campaign group Human Rights Watch ports of up to 18 arrests. However, he The United Nations and rights denied reports that a trade union leader Yahja Jammeh banned union activities “Local information was that follow- said. said he could not verify the accounts groups have accused the was tortured and killed by the country’s when they asked him to lower fuel retail ing his arrest he was interrogated by the Arrests of critics of president Joseph because the police were refusing access government of targeting Kabila’s intelligence services, saying the man prices in line with the fall in wholesale NIA, and that his body showed injuries Kabila have become common in Congo to their facilities. opponents, making spurious died of natural causes. prices in early February. sustained from that interrogation,” amid heightened political tensions. The provincial police commissioner arrests and manipulating the Minister Sheriff Bojang told AFP In the fi rst public comments by such Dawson added. Kabila is required by the constitu- declined to comment. justice system, charges that the that the president of the Gambia Na- a senior offi cial since Diba’s death, the The ITF has called for a national in- tion to step down in December after 15 The United Nations and rights government denies tional Transport Control Association minister said the union leader was “di- quiry into Diba’s death, a move sup- years in offi ce but the opposition ac- groups have accused the government of (GNTCA) Sheriff Diba and other union agnosed with uncomplicated malaria ported by the UN’s International La- cuses him of trying to cling to power targeting Kabila’s opponents, making All but two have been released or offi cials “were never picked up or at any and hypertension” but discharged after bour Organisation. by delaying a presidential poll set for spurious arrests and manipulating the deported. Fred Bauma, a Lucha mem- point detained by the National Intelli- falling ill in custody on February 20. Jammeh, 50, a military offi cer and November. justice system, charges that the gov- ber, and Yves Makwambala, a web gence Agency”, the security service ac- His illness “took a turn for the worse” former wrestler from a rural back- The members of the group Strug- ernment denies. developer working with the Kinsha- cused by an international union of kill- and he died the next day, Bojang said. A ground, has ruled this tiny west African gle for Change (Lucha) were detained Dozens died in violent anti-gov- sa-based group Filimbi, remain in ing him in late February. post-mortem carried out on February country with an iron fi st since he seized shortly after about 20 of them began ernment protests in January 2015 over custody, charged with plotting against “They were held at the Banjul police 23 found that Diba had heart disease, power in a coup in 1994. marching to demand the release of a proposed law that critics said was a Kabila. headquarters and never remanded at diabetes, lung and liver problems, he He is seeking re-election for the fi fth those arrested one year ago in the capi- pretext to delay the election. Kabila has However, a parliamentary investiga- Mile 2 (prison). And while in detention, added. time this year. Gulf Times 14 Wednesday, March 16, 2016 AMERICAS No charges against Trump after protester sucker-punched Trump is coming close to being charged for inciting violence

Agencies Washington

uthorities in North Caro- lina have decided there is not Aenough evidence to charge Donald Trump with incitement after one of his supporters punched a pro- tester in the face at a campaign rally there last week. Police launched an investigation into whether the Republican front- runner in the White House race could be charged with “inciting a riot” after a chaotic rally in the city of Fayette- ville, where a white Trump supporter sucker-punched an African-American Protesters shout as they are escorted out of the building during a Trump campaign rally at the Tampa Convention Center in, Florida on Monday. Right: Supporters of Trump in Middleburg Heights, Ohio yesterday. protester. Critics say the billionaire business- face of mass protests, marking a sharp Blue collar woes, immigration, trade ing Clinton’s shot at the Democratic all these rights, Americans don’t have He decries Trump’s belligerent rhet- man’s infl ammatory rhetoric and bare- escalation in the tensions trailing the and the spectre of violent protests nomination. rights.” oric and turbulent rallies as “disgrace- ly-veiled threats directed at protesters bombastic candidate who has called dominated the debate ahead of the pri- In Canton, voters made their way “I’m a Democrat, I voted Democrat ful, frankly”. have been fueling an increasingly toxic Mexicans rapists and urged a ban on maries in Florida, Ohio, Illinois, Mis- through the drizzle and dark to cast today. But if Trump wins then I’m go- “I mean, we’re not a country that atmosphere surrounding his rallies. Muslims entering the United States. souri and North Carolina, elections so ballots when polls opened in one of the ing to vote for him” in the general elec- spends its time slugging each other in But law enforcement offi cials said The Trump supporter who struck the key to the shape of the Republican and most closely watched races of the day. tion,” she said. the aisles or where the people who want the violence in Fayetteville could not be protester, John McGraw, 78, has been Democratic nominating races some Ohio Governor John Kasich is the Cruz supporter Michael Oleg, a to lead the country are insulting every blamed on Trump. charged with assault, battery and dis- have dubbed it “Titanic Tuesday”. home state favourite in the Republi- 46-year-old registered nurse, said, group that he faces,” said on ABC News. “The evidence does not meet the orderly conduct. For Republicans, the day may tell can race, running just ahead of Trump “We’re seeing a lot of Trump sway. “I’m sure people are shaking their requisites of the law... to support a con- McGraw, who later said that next whether Trump can ride a tide of vot- in pre-election polls and well ahead You’re seeing the frustration thing.” heads, saying, what’s happening to viction of the crime of inciting a riot,” time “we might have to kill him,” is due er anger all the way to the Republican of Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Florida Campaigning in Ohio, Trump has America?” read a statement late Monday from the in court on April 6. nomination in July, or whether he Senator Marco Rubio. pitched his candidacy not to the core A Republican committee, or so- Cumberland County sheriff ’s depart- Trump said over the weekend he had will face a hostile and bitterly divided Ohio, is a winner-take-all state with Republican electorate but to blue collar called super PAC, meanwhile aired a ment. told his campaign to “look into” paying party at a contested nomination con- 66 delegates, making it a crucial bat- workers, attacking free trade deals and scathing ad in Ohio and Florida and “Accordingly, we will not be seek- McGraw’s legal fees, but sought to dis- vention. tleground for Republicans intent on the loss of jobs to foreign competitors. on national cable television that shows ing a warrant or indictment against own his comments on Tuesday. For Democrats, the contests in the stopping Trump’s drive to amass the “Your steel industry is dead,” Trump women reading out misogynistic re- Mr Trump or his campaign for these “I don’t condone violence,” Trump racially diverse, industrial Midwest will 1,237 delegates needed to win the party said Monday. “I’m going to bring your marks Trump has made: “Bimbo,” off enses,” read the statement, which told ABC television. test Clinton’s electability outside of the nomination outright, up from the 471 industry back.” “Dog,” “Fat pig”. comes after a few days of particularly “Nobody has asked me for fees and South where African American voters he has taken so far. In an interview with NBC News as Asked on NBC if he’d like to take violent clashes and protests at Trump I haven’t even seen it, so I never said I have given her victory after victory. But Trump’s incendiary attacks on polls opened, Trump said: “They hate back any of the comments, Trump re- events. would.” Her rival, Vermont senator Bernie immigrants, with threats of mass de- the fact their coal and steel industries plied: “Let me tell you, every single poll “While other aspects of our inves- Americans in fi ve states voted yes- Sanders, has denounced her support of portations and a wall on the border with are gone. I think we’re going to do well of every single state I’ve won, of which tigation are continuing, the investiga- terday in presidential primaries crucial free trade pacts in a part of the country Mexico appeal even to some Democrats in Ohio.” I’ve won, you know, a vast majority, but tion with regard to Mr Trump and his to the White House hopes of frontrun- that has seen manufacturing jobs dis- like 69-year-old Katharine Berry. Kasich, an upbeat study in contrasts every single poll coming out, the exit campaign has been concluded, and no ners Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton appear as entire industries have moved “We don’t need all these illegals,” she with Trump, has campaigned on his polls, I lead with women.” charges are anticipated.” but that have also showcased the deep- off shore. told AFP outside a polling station at record of turning around Ohio’s strug- Pre-election polls showed Trump Violence erupted at a Trump rally in seated discontent of a downtrodden The election will show whether the the Zion Lutheran Church in Canton. gling economy, which he hopes will leading by substantial margins in all Chicago Friday that was called off in the working class. Sanders campaign has legs, complicat- “They’re taking our jobs, they’ve got give him his fi rst primary victory. primaries except Ohio. Cold front Kin of slain black man reaches settlement

Reuters against the offi cers from the town of Mount Pleas- New York ant and Pleasantville, saying: “Neither accident, mistake, fear, negligence nor bad judgement is suf- fi cient to establish a willful federal criminal civil he family of a black university student who rights violation.” was shot to death by police in a suburb north The Ferguson, Missouri city council may approve an Tof New York City have reached a $6mn set- agreement that it reached with the US justice depart- tlement with the town where he was shot and the ment to reform the city’s police department following offi cer, the family’s attorney has said. the 2014 shooting of an unarmed black teenager. The agreement comes amid heightened scrutiny City offi cials indicated last week that they would of police violence, particularly against people of likely accept terms of the consent decree, after re- color, in the wake of numerous high-profi le police ceiving assurances from the justice department slayings of unarmed black people since mid-2014 that it would work with Ferguson to ensure the that have fueled the Black Lives Matter movement. agreement would not cripple city fi nances. Danroy Henry Jr, 20, who was a junior at Pace The city council accepted the basic terms of the University, where he was a football player, was fa- agreement last month, but asked federal offi cials to tally shot by Offi cer Aaron Hess early on the morn- make changes related to pay levels for police offi cers ing of October 17, 2010. and staffi ng levels at the city jail, as well as asking Henry’s parents, Angella Henry and Danroy for additional time to comply. The justice depart- Henry Sr, of Massachusetts, fi led suit in US dis- ment responded by suing the city to force compli- trict court for the southern district of New York, ance with the agreement. in White Plains, against the village of Pleasantville, If the council votes to approve the agreement which is some 30 miles north of New York City, and without changes, the lawsuit would be resolved. against Hess. The fatal shooting of unarmed Michael Brown, Michael Sussman, an attorney for the family, said 18, by Ferguson police offi cer Darren Wilson, who they accepted an off er of judgement in the amount is white, exposed friction between the city govern- President Barack Obama and house speaker Paul Ryan after Obama’s remarks to Ireland’s Prime Minister Enda Kenny at the annual of $6mn from the defendants. ment and the largely black community. Ferguson Friends of Ireland Luncheon at the US capitol in Washington yesterday. Representatives for Hess and the town of Pleas- erupted into violent protests in 2014 after a grand antville could not be immediately reached for com- jury chose not to indict the offi cer. ment Monday night. Last year a US investigation found systemic racial Henry was with several friends at a bar when a bias by police targeted blacks and created a “toxic fi ght broke out that prompted the owner to close environment” in Ferguson, but cleared the white down around 1am and call the police, according to offi cer in the fatal shooting. prosecutors and court records. The report said the St Louis suburb overwhelm- Hillary: We didn’t lose a single person in Libya Henry got in his car and waited for his friends in ingly arrested and issued traffi c citations to blacks a fi re lane outside the establishment, and when an to boost city coff ers through fi nes, used police as a offi cer knocked on his car window, Henry drove .off collection agency and created a culture of distrust Agencies for moderates. Yes, they did. So you know, Miami, Clinton said her October 22 testimony Hess then appeared in front of the car and Henry that exploded when Wilson fatally shot Brown. Washington changing from a dictator who has hollowed before the panel is proof the committee’s ef- attempted to brake before striking Hess. After the The agreement with the justice department re- out your country to something resembling a fort will prove futile. collision, Hess opened fi re on Henry while on the quires Ferguson’s police department to give offi c- functioning state and even hopefully more of “I testifi ed for 11 hours,” Clinton said. “An- car’s hood, killing Henry and injuring a passenger. ers bias-awareness training and implement an ac- n comments that are sure to draw the ire a democratic one doesn’t happen overnight. ybody who watched that and listened to it Federal prosecutors declined to bring charges countability system. of her Republican critics, Hillary Clinton And we’ve got to continue to support the knows that I answered every question that I Isought to contrast the war in Iraq with the Libyan people, to give them a chance, because was asked, and when it was over, the Republi- intervention in Libya during her stint as sec- otherwise you see what has happened in Syria, cans had to admit they didn’t learn anything.” retary of state. with the consequences of millions of people During Monday’s town hall, Clinton took “I’ve said Iraq was a mistake,” Clinton told fl ooding out of Syria, with more than 250,000 aim at Donald Trump, calling the Republican Chris Matthews during an MSNBC town hall people killed, with terrorist groups like ISIS frontrunner a “demagogue” and “an inciter Flooding causes closure of highway event on Monday night. “Libya was a diff er- taking up almost — huge blocks of territory, as who is actually fanning the fl ames” of vio- ent kind of calculation. And we didn’t lose a big as some of the states in that area.” lence at his rallies. single person. We didn’t have a problem in Clinton’s comments came on the eve of an- “I think if you go back now several months, Reuters forcing drivers to take lengthy detours of up to hun- supporting our European and Arab allies in other Super Tuesday vote. But Benghazi, to he’s been building this incitement,” she said. San Antonio dreds of miles to traverse the fl ood-soaked region. working with Nato.” this point, has not been an issue in the race for “He has been leading crowds in jeering pro- Flooding along the Sabine River that separates As Politico noted, Clinton was probably re- the Democratic nomination, with Clinton’s testers. He has been talking about punching Texas and Louisiana has forced the evacuation of ferring to the US-backed overthrow of Libyan challenger, Bernie Sanders, opting to focus on people in the face. He’s been encouraging the looding caused by days of heavy rain forced hundreds of people from their homes. Texas governor dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011 and not economic policy. manhandling of both people who are attend- the closure yesterday of a section of a major Greg Abbott late on Monday issued a disaster declara- the September 11, 2012, attacks in Benghazi, But her role in Benghazi could become an ing, as well as journalists on the fl oor and in Feast-west US highway on the Louisiana-Tex- tion for 17 eastern and southeastern Texas counties. where four Americans, including US ambas- issue in a general election, with South Caro- the stands of his events.” as border along the rising Sabine River, offi cials in In Louisiana, state offi cials said more than 6,000 sador J. Christopher Stevens, were killed. lina representative Trey Gowdy, the Republi- Clinton added: “We all have to deal with both states said. structures had been damaged by fl ooding across Matthews pressed Clinton on what he can chairman of the house Benghazi commit- [protesters]. And you try to deal with it calmly At least fi ve people have been killed in storms in the state, and new problems were being reported in called the United States’ push for “regime tee, promising a fi nal report “before summer.” and peacefully, and don’t tell people, ‘Hey, do Southern US states over the past several days that some areas as rivers continued to rise. change” in places like Iraq and Libya. Clinton and others have dismissed the something to him. Take him out. Beat him up. have caused fl ooding in places including Texas, Since last Wednesday, the Louisiana National “Now, is Libya perfect? It isn’t,” the former committee as a thinly veiled attempt to derail That’s what leadership requires. You’re sup- Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas, forcing thou- Guard has rescued more than 4,200 people while secretary said. “But did they have two elec- her White House bid. posed to be calming people down to try to fi nd sands of people to fl ee homes caught in fl oodwaters. the state’s Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has tions that were free and fair where they voted During last week’s Democratic debate in solutions to problems. The closure of the section of Interstate 10 was rescued another 700 people. Gulf Times Wednesday, March 16, 2016 15 ASEAN

Junta sets Aug 7 for referendum on charter

AFP Bangkok

hailand’s military govern- ment yesterday set August T7 as the date for a referen- dum on a controversial constitu- tion it has drafted since seizing power in a coup two years ago. The referendum will be the country’s fi rst return to the bal- lot box since junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha toppled an elected government and suspended de- mocracy in May 2014. “The cabinet has approved the referendum bill proposed by the election committee,” junta spokesman Major Gen- eral Sansern Kaewkumnerd told reporters after announcing the August 7 date. Constitution rewrites have done little to end the kingdom’s seemingly endless cycle of coups Htin Kyaw, newly elected president of Myanmar and member of the National League for Democracy (NLD) party, leaves after a parliament session in Naypyidaw yesterday. Right: Myanmar parliament staff check ballots and political turbulence - this is after the historic voting at the parliament in Naypyidaw. the twentieth charter since ab- solute monarchy was abolished in 1932. Prayut insists this version will help him deliver on his vow to rid the country of corruption and bring stability once and for all. But civilian politicians on both sides of Thailand’s divide Myanmar gets fi rst civilian have already shot down drafts of the charter as undemocratic, a rare show of unity. In the past week two high- profi le rival ex-premiers, Thak- sin Shinawatra and Abhisit Vejjajiva, have slammed the con- president after historic vote stitution, saying it is unlikely to resolve bitter political disputes. AFP aspiring democracy. The White Htin Kyaw will be sworn in on litical prisoner, termed the vote struggle. It is not yet clear what inside the country, partly be- The past decade since Thaksin Naypyidaw House hailed his election as “an March 30, replacing incumbent “very historic”. She said the role she plans to take or how cause his father was a legen- was toppled by a coup has been important step forward” in that Thein Sein. election of Htin Kyaw, who was she will manage her relation- dary writer and early member marked by a series of mass street democratic transition. It will be the fi rst time Myan- also detained by the former jun- ship with the new president. of the NLD. protests and changes of govern- yanmar got its fi rst “We look forward to work- mar has had a civilian president ta, made her think of their long She is barred from top po- Though he has never previ- ment, as rural-based support- civilian president in ing with his govt,” Ben Rhodes, since 1962, when the military struggle and “the way we have litical office because she mar- ously stood for political office, ers of Thaksin struggle to wrest Mdecades yesterday af- a senior advisor to President seized power. marched to here since more ried and had children with a he is married to sitting NLD power from a Bangkok-centric ter lawmakers elected a close Barack Obama, wrote on Twit- Thein Sein, a former general, than 20 years ago”. foreigner, British academic MP Su Su Lwin, whose late fa- network of business and military aide of Aung San Suu Kyi, who ter. led a quasi-civilian reform- But others expressed disap- Michael Aris, who died in 1999 ther was the party’s respected elite. is expected to hold the real reins Suu Kyi’s National League ist government for the last fi ve pointment their leader would while she was under house ar- spokesman, and he helps run The constitutions have tended of power in the formerly junta- for Democracy won a thumping years that has been praised for not be taking the top post. rest. Suu Kyi’s charitable founda- to fl ip-fl op between authoritar- run nation. victory at elections in Novem- moving the nation out of the “We all want to see Aung San Months of negotiations with tion. A new cabinet, set to be ian documents that empower Htin Kyaw, 69, hailed his el- ber, allowing her party to domi- shadow of outright military Suu Kyi be the president,” NLD army chief Min Aung Hlaing announced at the end of the the wealthy establishment and evation to the top post as “Suu nate Myanmar’s two legislative rule. MP Myo Zaw Aung said. “But so failed to remove the charter month, is expected to include non-elected bodies, and more Kyi’s victory”, a clear nod to her houses. For many MPs from Suu Kyi’s far, it is not reality.” clause that blocks her. figures from across the politi- progressive democratic charters. plan that he serve as a proxy for But the military remains a party, yesterday’s vote was a Yesterday’s election also In central Yangon peo- cal spectrum as Suu Kyi tries The junta’s latest version has the Nobel laureate who is con- powerful force and has refused vindication of their long years confi rmed the two other can- ple crowded into teashops to to promote national reconcili- yet to be fi nalised but appears stitutionally barred from be- to change a clause in the junta- of struggle for democracy un- didates as vice presidents - re- watch the vote live on televi- ation. to be in the former category, coming president. era constitution which bars her der the repressive former junta, tired general Myint Swe, who is sion. It will face many challenges, with proposals including an ap- MPs erupted into applause from the presidency. which locked up hundreds of seen as a hardliner ally of former “He was chosen by Mother including poverty, civil wars in pointed senate and a powerful after the result was announced The veteran activist has in- dissidents as it tried to stifl e strongman Than Shwe and is Suu. Now he is our president. ethnic minority borderlands constitutional court that critics following a lengthy ballot count stead vowed to rule “above” the criticism. on Washington’s sanctions list, He will be a good president and decrepit infrastructure. say would hobble civilian politi- by hand in the capital Naypyi- next leader. Her choice of Htin The NLD is still haunted by and ethnic Chin MP Henry Van because he has been work- But one of the most crucial cians. daw, in which Htin Kyaw took Kyaw is seen as a testament to its 1990 election victory, which Thio. ing with Mother Suu for many tasks will be to manage the Prayut has kept a fi rm lid on 360 of 652 votes cast. her absolute faith in his loyalty. was snatched away by the gen- Suu Kyi, 70, enjoys unrivalled years,” said Daw Mya, 60, a relationship with the mili- free speech since the coup, bar- Myanmar is undergoing a “This is sister Aung San Suu erals. popularity both as the daughter vegetable vendor. tary, which retains significant ring protests, debates and aca- dramatic transformation from Kyi’s victory,” the newly-elect- Zin Mar Aung, an NLD MP of the country’s independence While little known outside power including control of the demic seminars that touch on an isolated and repressed pa- ed president told reporters after who was involved in 1988 pro- hero and as a central fi gure in Myanmar, Htin Kyaw com- vital home, defence and border sensitive political issues includ- riah state to a rapidly opening the vote. “Thank you.” tests and is herself a former po- the decades-long democracy mands considerable respect ministries. ing the new charter.

Cambodia jails student over Facebook call for regime change Thai traffi cking Malaysia deports Australian A Cambodian court yesterday jailed a university student for 18 months for inciting crimes in an trial opens amid anti-government Facebook post that called for regime change. journos who questioned PM Facebook is popular in Cambo- dia, where disenfranchised citi- fears for witnesses zens have increasingly turned AFP had expressed concern, saying to the Internet to highlight al- Kuala Lumpur journalists should be allowed to leged state abuses and demand Reuters Sunai Phasuk, senior re- work unhindered. political reforms. Kong Raya, Bangkok searcher on Thailand at Hu- ABC denies Malaysia’s accu- 24, was the first Cambodian man Rights Watch, welcomed alaysia yesterday de- sations against the journalists. convicted of using social media a shorter trial but said the ported two Austral- “They did nothing wrong to attack the government of he trial of 92 suspected cases should not be rushed to Mian journalists who in Kuching. They were doing long-serving Prime Minister human traffi ckers, ar- impress the US. “It will totally were detained after trying to journalism,” ABC News direc- Hun Sen, who has warned that Trested after the discov- send the wrong message if the question Prime Minister Najib tor Gaven Morris said, adding online critics could be traced ery of shallow graves of mi- trial is being fast-tracked sim- Razak about multiple scandals that he was “very glad and re- and arrested in a matter of grants in Thai jungle, began ply to impress the TIP report swirling around him. lieved” at the outcome. hours. “There’s nothing to be in Bangkok yesterday and the reviewers.” Najib’s government has “This incident has demon- surprised about. This is how the attorney-general’s offi ce said The defendants, wearing waged a months-long cam- strated again why it is vital to de- court works,” Raya, who looked it would be over within a year beige prison uniforms, were paign to stifl e scrutiny of the fend media freedom, including unshaken by the verdict as he amid fears about the safety of brought to the packed court for allegations of massive corrup- the right to question authority.” left the courtroom flanked by witnesses. the start of formal hearings. tion that he faces, sparking Najib and the state fi rm, guards, told reporters. Traffi ckers abandoned boat- The investigation and ar- warnings that press freedom 1Malaysia Development Ber- Raya was charged in August loads of migrants at sea last rests followed the discovery was under assault. had (1MDB), deny suggestions for urging the public to join his year after a crackdown by Thai of 30 shallow graves at a traf- He is battling accusations ABC reporter Linton Besser (second right) and camera operator that the $681mn payment he “colour revolution” to “change the authorities that led to a regional fi cking camp near the Ma- that billions of dollars were Louie Eroglu check in for their departure at the Kuching International received was siphoned from the vulgar regime”. migrant crisis with Indonesia, laysian border. Many of the stolen from a state-owned fund Airport in Kuching yesterday. now debt-stricken company. In his Facebook post he said he Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar bodies were believed to be of he established in 2009, and is His government says it was was willing to go to prison or die and Bangladesh refusing boats Rohingya, a persecuted ethnic under pressure to fully explain (ABC), of crossing a security - who have been sentenced to a “personal donation” from for his cause. How he intended to permission to land. Muslim minority in majority his acceptance of a mysterious line, saying they “aggressively death over the murder - were the Saudi royal family, most pursue it was never made clear Rights groups had expressed Buddhist Myanmar. $681mn overseas payment. tried to approach the prime ordered by higher-ups to kill of which was returned. The and his call failed to garner public fears that a drawn-out case, Weeks later, police revealed Australian journalists Linton minister.” Altantuya, possibly to silence claimed link is widely ridiculed support. lasting anything up to two 139 graves had been found over Besser and Louie Eroglu had They had faced possible her. Najib denies any involve- in Malaysia as false. Hun Sen, who started using years, could put the hundreds the border in Malaysia. been detained overnight in the charges of “obstructing a pub- ment. The government has moved Facebook in September last of witnesses at risk because of That led to a crackdown on city of Kuching on Saturday, lic servant”. Besser had tried to ques- to curb investigations and year, is one of its biggest fans. inadequate police protection. the multimillion dollar trade then released but barred from Najib, 62, also faces lingering tion Najib on Saturday night purge ruling-party critics who He encourages Cambodians to “The court is accelerating which had until then fl our- leaving Malaysia pending pos- questions over the murder in as the prime minister visited have called for transparency, send him their problems and has the case to fi nish within a year,” ished in Thailand’s southern sible charges. 2006 of a Mongolian woman by a mosque in Kuching, capital and has repeatedly pressured taken credit for solving them. said Prayuth Porsuttayaruk, provinces and in Malaysia. But authorities abruptly two of his bodyguards. of Malaysia’s Sarawak state on media outlets that report on the Am Sam Ath, an activist with deputy director-general of the The 92 suspected human dropped plans to charge them The victim, Altantuya Shaari- Borneo island. aff air. Cambodian rights group Licadho, human traffi cking offi ce at the traffi ckers include an army yesterday and they fl ew to Sin- ibuu, was reputedly at the centre Speaking at Kuching’s air- In the most recent incident, said Raya’s posting caused no Attorney-General’s Offi ce. general, civilians and police. gapore shortly after, their local of alleged multimillion-dollar port yesterday, Besser told re- authorities blocked access to a turmoil or damage to society. Thailand remains on the Rights groups have called attorney Albert Tang said. kickbacks in the 2002 purchase porters it had been a “roller leading news portal after it ran “This verdict is a message, a lowest tier on the US State De- on authorities to step up wit- “Obviously, they are re- of French submarines when Na- coaster few days” but declined a report implying guilt on Na- threat to other youths and peo- partment’s Traffi cking in Per- ness protection after some lieved,” Tang said. jib was defence minister. further comment as the pair jib’s part. The site, the Malay- ple who dare to express personal sons (TIP) report for not meet- witnesses said they had been Malaysian police have ac- Government critics and anti- hurried to board their fl ight out. sian Insider, was shut down for opinions,” he said. ing the minimum standards for forced into hiding because of cused the two men, from the corruption activists have long Australian Foreign Minis- good on Monday by its parent the elimination of traffi cking. threats. Australian Broadcasting Corp alleged that the bodyguards ter Julie Bishop on Monday company. Gulf Times 16 Wednesday, March 16, 2016 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA

Japan opposition North Korean leader says new name seen will soon test N-warhead as risk ahead Tests would be in defiance of election of stricter UN sanctions; South Korea warns North of “self-destruction” Reuters merging because of the per- Tokyo ceived voter allergy to the old Reuters label. Seoul Experts said relabelling new name unveiled by could be a strategic mistake, Japan’s main opposi- especially since voters will orth Korean leader Kim Ation party and a smaller have little time to grow accus- Jong Un said his country group with which it is set to tomed to the new name by a Nwould soon test a nucle- merge has come under fi re, as July upper house election. ar warhead and ballistic missiles analysts warn the rebranding “The political science evi- capable of carrying nuclear war- could do more harm than good dence is clear - changing the heads, the North’s KCNA news just months away from a na- name is a bad idea,” said Chuo agency reported, in what would tional election. University political science be a direct violation of UN reso- Leaders of the two parties professor Steven Reed. “It’s lutions which have the backing announced the new name, a bad idea for winning elec- of the North’s chief ally, China. Minshinto - provisionally tions.” Kim made the comments as translated as Democratic In- Opposition parties lag the he supervised a successful sim- novation Party (DIP) - on LDP badly in opinion polls, ulated test of atmospheric re- Monday based on surveys ask- with one February media sur- entry of a ballistic missile that ing voters to choose between vey putting support for the measured the “thermodynamic two options. ruling party at 38.1% against structural stability of newly de- The bigger Democratic 9.3% for the Democrats. veloped heat-resisting materi- Party of Japan will thus aban- Still, opposition parties’ als”, KCNA said. don a label under which it has eff orts to cooperate on candi- “Declaring that a nuclear war- battled Prime Minister Shinzo dates in the coming election head explosion test and a test- Abe’s Liberal Democratic Par- could bear fruit since sur- fi re of several kinds of ballistic ty for two decades, but which veys also suggest voters could rockets able to carry nuclear for many voters is associated switch sides if they saw a vi- warheads will be conducted in with a 2009-2012 DPJ reign able alternative to Abe’s LDP. a short time to further enhance marked by policy fl ipfl ops and Abe’s government is push- the reliance of nuclear attack ca- missteps. ing several unpopular poli- pability, he (Kim) instructed the Many in the DPJ were chilly cies including revising Japan’s relevant section to make prear- toward the new name, writ- pacifi st constitution, and rangement for them to the last ten with the same characters doubts also run deep about his detail,” the agency said. This undated picture released from the off icial Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un being briefed during as the abbreviation of Tai- eff orts to revive the economy. South Korea’s defence min- an atmospheric re-entry environment simulation of a locally manufactured heat-resistant section of a ballistic missile warhead part at an wan’s incoming ruling party Civic groups unhappy with istry said there were no indica- undisclosed location. the Democratic Progressive Abe’s policies are prepared tions of activities at the North’s Party, but the smaller Japan to mobilise behind anti-LDP nuclear test site or its long-range head in what was known as the test was of a hydrogen bomb, Innovation Party had insisted candidates if opposition par- rocket station, but that North Frigate Bird test. China conduct- although most experts said the on a change as a condition for ties unite, Reed said. Korea continues to maintain ed a similar test in 1966. blast was too small for it to have readiness to conduct nuclear “What would be terrible is been from a full-fl edged hydro- tests. if the DPRK (North Korea) re- gen bomb. South Korean President Park enacted Operation Frigate Bird The North also says the sat- Geun-hye said the North would or the fourth Chinese nuclear ellites it has launched into orbit lead itself to self-destruction if test and did a two-in-one,” said are functioning successfully, al- Water to be released it did not change and continued Jeff rey Lewis of the California- though that has not been verifi ed the confrontation with the in- based Middlebury Institute of independently. ternational community. International Studies. North Korea rejects criti- from dam to alleviate The North’s report comes “For now, though, it looks like cism of its nuclear and missile amid heightened tension on the a nuclear test and several missile programmes, even from old ally Korean peninsula as South Ko- tests in close succession.” China, saying it has a sover- SE Asia drought rean and US troops stage annual South Korea’s defence minis- eign right to defend itself from military exercises that Seoul has try said after the North’s report threats and to run a space pro- described as the largest ever. that it still does not believe the gramme putting satellites into Reuters drought downstream”, he In the apparent re-entry sim- North has acquired missile re- orbit. Beijing said. ulation, the offi cial newspaper entry technology. China’s Foreign Ministry yes- According to Vietnamese of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ US and South Korean experts terday urged prudence. media, some 140,000 ha of Party carried pictures yesterday have said the general consen- “We urge all the relevant hina will release wa- rice in the Mekong Delta has of a dome-shaped object placed sus is that North Korea has not sides to conscientiously carry ter from a dam in its been damaged by the drought under what appeared to be a yet successfully miniaturised a out what is required by the UN Csouthwestern province with around 600,000 people rocket engine and being blasted nuclear warhead to be mounted Security Council, speak and of Yunnan to help alleviate facing drinking water short- with fl aming exhaust. In sepa- on an intercontinental ballistic act cautiously, and all relevant a drought in parts of South- ages. rate images, Kim observed the missile. sides must not take any action east Asia, including Vietnam, While China and Vietnam object described by KCNA as a More crucially, the consen- that would exacerbate tensions China’s Foreign Ministry said are involved in an increasing- warhead tip. sus is that there have been no on the Korean peninsula,” said yesterday. ly bitter territorial dispute in The North has issued bellig- tests to prove it has mastered ministry spokesman Lu Kang at The water will be released the South China Sea, the two erent statements almost daily the re-entry technology needed a regular briefi ng. until April 10 from the Jin- Communist-lead countries since coming under a new UN to bring a payload back into the The new UN Security Coun- ghong dam, ministry spokes- have traditionally had close resolution adopted this month to atmosphere. cil resolution sharply expanded man Lu Kang told a daily ties. Beijing and Hanoi have tighten sanctions against it after Kim said last week his country existing sanctions by requir- news briefing. also been trying to repair a nuclear test in January and the had miniaturised a nuclear war- ing member states to inspect all It will benefit Cambodia, ties severely harmed in 2014 launch of a long-range rocket head. cargo to and from North Korea Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and when Beijing parked an oil rig last month. The North, which has con- and banning the North’s trade of This undated picture from Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows Vietnam, Lu added. in waters off the Vietnamese In 1962, the US launched a ducted four nuclear tests, also coal when it is seen as funding its an atmospheric re-entry environment simulation of a locally China “hopes it can be coast, leading to anti-China ballistic missile with a live war- claims that its January nuclear arms programme. manufactured heat-resistant section of a ballistic missile warhead part. of help in alleviating the riots. Economy expert chosen Australia gripped in endless as Taiwan premier

AFP how to manage the country. His summer as heat breaks records Taipei previous government experience is notable. That’s why I decided to choose him as premier,” Tsai said. AFP aiwan’s president-elect The full lineup of the new cab- Sydney Tsai Ing-wen made her fi rst inet will be decided next month, Tmajor appointment yester- according to Tsai. day by naming a former economist “I would like to give my prom- heatwave has Australia as premier in a bid to kickstart the ise that the cabinet led by Lin will gripped in a seemingly island’s fl agging fortunes. not only be economy-oriented,” Aendless summer, with a Lin Chuan is a former fi nance she said. “It will also be a ‘reform run of record-breaking temper- minister and will take offi ce on cabinet’” dealing with a range of atures even as autumn offi cially May 20 when Tsai is offi cially issues from funding for political begins. inaugurated after taking a land- parties to pensions, she added. The Bureau of Meteorology slide victory over the ruling Tsai did not mention ties with has said the abnormal condi- Kuomintang (KMT) in January. China as speculation swirls over tions were aff ecting almost the Among the challenges for how she will address relations entire country in early March, Tsai’s China-sceptic Democratic with Beijing in her inaugura- the month which marks the Progressive Party (DPP) will be tion speech. Beijing has warned start of autumn. how to deal with a stagnating against any move towards a dec- A lack of rain and cooler economy, which played a major laration of independence by Tai- winds left the east coast suff er- role in the KMT’s defeat. wan. ing a prolonged stretch of hot Many ordinary Taiwanese feel The island is self-ruling after and humid weather, it said in a trade pacts signed with Beijing splitting with the mainland in special climate statement re- during an eight-year rapproche- 1949 after a civil war, but China leased on Friday. ment under the KMT have failed considers it part of its territory Bureau climatologist Blair to benefi t them. awaiting reunifi cation, and Tai- Trewin said yesterday the heat Taiwan last month slashed its wan has never formally declared was consistent with the “well- growth prediction for 2016 from independence. established warming trend in Off ice employees leave for home as late afternoon sunlight filters through foliage in the central business district of Sydney yesterday. 2.32% to 1.47% after a worse- The DPP is traditionally a pro- long-term average tempera- than-expected 2015 saw the is- independence party, though Tsai tures” in Australia and globally. temperatures remained gener- “Sydney also had a record run the nation’s hottest March, average over most of the con- land sink into recession at the has repeatedly promised to main- “With overall warming aver- ally above average. On the east of nights above 20 (Celsius),” but a number of records had tinent but 8-12 degrees Celsius end of the year. Exports slumped tain the status quo with Beijing. age temperatures you would ex- coast, Sydney continued to said Trewin. already been smashed with above average in much of the 13% year-on-year in January - However, in a speech after pect to see more warm extremes sweat with its Observatory Hill “They had a run of 25 nights temperatures running 10 de- southeast. the longest consecutive period her win, she said “suppres- and fewer cold extremes - and post notching up a record 39 in a row above 20 which was grees above average in some The report said rainfall was of decline since 2009. sion” would harm cross-strait that’s exactly what we are see- consecutive days of the tem- terminated this morning by the areas. signifi cantly below normal in Tsai said Lin, 64, had a “glow- ties and emphasised the need ing,” Trewin said. perature reaching 26 degrees narrowest possible margin - it The report said that over the country’s tropical north, ing record” as fi nance chief. for Taiwan to forge an economic The bureau said the extreme Celsius (79F) or above. was 19.9.” hottest part of the heatwave, with the northern city of Dar- “Lin is a good communica- path which is not overly de- phase of the national heatwave The previous record was 19 Trewin said it was too early maximum temperatures were 4 win experiencing its driest Jan- tor and familiar with my ideas on pendent on China trade. ended around March 9-10, but days set in March 2014. to say whether this would be degrees Celsius or more above uary-February since 1965. Gulf Times Wednesday, March 16, 2016 17 BRITAIN/IRELAND

OBITUARY LITERATURE DECISION TRAVEL TRAGEDY Prize-winning novelist Shakespeare plea on Nightclub fees dropped Residents oppose planned Elderly woman dies after Brookner dies aged 87 refugees goes online from inflation basket cycle superhighway escalator fall at M&S

Anita Brookner, the author and art historian The British Library yesterday published online a A decline in the clubbing scene has prompted The planned cycle superhighway through Re- An elderly woman has died after falling back- who won the 1984 Booker Prize for fiction, has handwritten scene, added to a late 16th-century the statistics agency to drop nightclub entrance gent’s Park is at risk of being the first in London to wards on an escalator in a Marks & Spencer died at the age of 87, it was announced yester- play and attributed to William Shakespeare, in charges from the basket of goods and services be axed after massive opposition from residents. store. The 94-year-old was reported to have hit day. The novelist, who won the Booker for her which an off icial appeals for sympathy for refu- it uses to calculate inflation - and instead add Cycling campaigners fear a “few vocal Nimbys” her head after losing her balance at the top of an novel Hotel du Lac, died peacefully in her sleep gees. In what experts believe is the only surviving refill pods for home espresso machines. Britain’s will scupper plans to remove the notorious Swiss escalator in the chain’s High Street, Sutton store on Thursday, according to a notice of her death manuscript of a play containing Shakespeare’s consumer prices index is based on the cost of Cottage gyratory and limit the estimated 5,000 in south London at around 3.30pm on Monday. in The Times newspaper. The only child of secu- handwriting, Thomas More, the chancellor to more than 700 goods and services, a handful of cars a day that use the park as a short cut. More Emergency services rushed to the scene as shop lar Polish Jews who settled in London, Brookner English King Henry VIII, urges anti-immigrant riot- which are changed each year as shoppers’ tastes than 3,000 people have signed an online petition staff did their best to help the woman, including was born in 1928. She studied art history before ers to consider what would happen to themselves change. “With the number of nightclubs charging calling for Transport for London to abandon reportedly using dressing gowns to shield her becoming the first woman to hold the Slade if they became stateless. “What country, by the entry declining, we can no longer justify keeping the “catastrophically ill-planned scheme”. Those from public view, but she died at the scene An Professorship of Fine Art. After writing several nature of your error, Should give you harbour?,” these fees in the basket,” ONS statistician Phil opposed to cycle superhighway 11 accuse TfL of M&S spokesman described the fall as “a tragic art history books in the 1960s and 1970s, she More asks, in a scene added to another writer’s Gooding said. Previous years have seen the ONS failing to take into account the traff ic disruption accident”. He added: “We responded immediately switched to fiction in the 1980s and won the manuscript for the play, The Book of Sir Thomas add downloads from mobile phone app stores that will also be caused by construction of the by calling the emergency services and attending Booker Prize. More. and music streaming services. HS2 high-speed rail line. to the customer’s immediate needs.”

Main Irish Blaze at historic house parties shy Complacency away from talks to form govt ‘a threat to

Reuters Dublin UK campaign t is premature for Ireland’s two main parties to discuss form- Iing a government together, a senior minister said yesterday, as talks on the only option analysts say can break a political deadlock continue to be put off . against Brexit’ Ireland became one of several eurozone countries with deeply Reuters Britain remaining in the bloc the issue preventing them from fractured parliaments on Febru- London it joined in 1973 with a 31% voting to stay in. ary 26 as voters ousted caretaker chance of an exit. William Crosby said the “Out” cam- Prime Minister Enda Kenny’s Hill said 51.7% of the money paign had a different challenge coalition from power without he biggest risk for the staked was for Britain to re- - half of such voters think opting for a clear alternative. campaign to keep Britain main in the EU. Britain will remain inside the Kenny’s Fine Gael party re- Tin the European Union Crosby, who also ran Boris EU so they are sceptical their mained the biggest party but fell is that people who wish to stay Johnson’s successful mayoral vote can influence the out- well short of a majority, leaving in the bloc may not show up to election campaigns in 2008 and come. its historic rival Fianna Fail as its vote on the day of referendum 2012, said the biggest problem “Leave voters still do not be- only realistic partner with which in June, Prime Minister David for “In” was that many pro- lieve their vote can aff ect the to form a government, but many Cameron’s election strategist membership voters would not outcome, their engagement and in both parties strongly resist says. turn up to vote. motivation may tail off ,” Crosby such an unprecedented tie-up. The result was still in the bal- He said the ORB the poll said. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, ance, Lynton Crosby said, com- showed 76% of “In” voters ex- The poll of 823 people, inter- whose rivalry dates back almost menting on an opinion poll pected Britain to stay in the bloc viewed by telephone between a century to the civil war, have yesterday that gave the “Out” but that a quarter of them were March 11 and March 14, found not discussed the prospect of campaign a 2 percentage point unlikely to vote. that 4% of respondents overall, any kind of alliance and have in- lead. “It is obvious they have a pref- and 3% of those defi nitely plan- stead been trying to garner sup- The sterling shed 1% after erence for the UK to remain in ning to vote, were undecided. port from smaller parties and the ORB poll for The Daily Tel- the EU, but the outcome of the “One of the keys to winning independent lawmakers. egraph showed 49% of respond- referendum is not currently im- a campaign is focusing on the “There is real talking happening ents would vote to leave the EU portant enough to them to mo- strengths rather than the weak- at the moment and it is with the while 47% wanted to stay in the tivate them to show up,” Crosby nesses that voters perceive,” independents, the smaller parties, 28-country bloc. said. Crosby said. it’s premature I think at this stage Crosby, who helped Cameron “This demonstrates the con- “For the Remain campaign this to be talking to Fianna Fail,” Health unexpectedly win outright vic- sequence of the outcome lacking means demonstrating the im- Minister Leo Varadkar of Fine Gael tory in a national election last personal relevance to them.” portance of the economy, while told broadcaster RTE. May, said engagement would be Crosby said the poll showed for the Leave campaign, this “The talks that are happening the key question of the June 23 a third of voters who were un- means demonstrating the impact this week are to see if we can fi nd referendum. decided or likely to change their of immigration. This is largely enough common ground to put “The real risk for the Remain mind said that immigration was what we have seen so far.” together a broad-based minority campaign is complacency,” that could then get the support Crosby, an Australian political White House jabs Johnson over outburst of the Dail (parliament).” strategist who uses extensive Kenny and Fianna Fail leader polling to target voters in elec- The White responding to an outburst from Micheal Martin, whose party has tion campaigns, said in an article House has the loquacious London mayor. seven fewer seats than Fine Gael’s in the newspaper. mocked Boris “I think that’s one of the reasons 50 in the 157-seat chamber, both “What is clear is that this Johnson’s that many people in the US lost parliamentary votes for prime campaign has a long way to run, accusations have such a positive impression minister by a wide margin last week. and despite what voters cur- of “exorbitant of him,” he added sarcasti- Another vote is expected on April 6. rently believe, the outcome re- hypocrisy” cally. Johnson, who was born Varadkar, who acknowledged ally is in the balance,” Crosby saying the US in New York, had said President a caretaker government could added. had every right to weigh in on Barack Obama’s reported plan only operate for a few weeks, Among those who defi nitely Britain’s Brexit debate. “Mayor to visit Britain ahead of its June dismissed Fianna Fail’s position plan to vote, support for leaving Johnson has a well-established referendum on European Union that whichever party wins the An overnight fire caused extensive damage to the roof and first floor of the 16th century rose to 52% against 45% to stay, reputation for rhetorical membership was rich given most backing in that vote would Tudor Hall of Wythenshawe Hall, near Manchester yesterday. A fire may have been started the ORB poll showed. flourishes,” joked White House America’s “hysterical vigilance” have the right to lead any nego- deliberately, police say. William Hill’s betting odds spokesman Josh Earnest, about its own sovereignty. tiations between the two parties. indicate a 75% chance of Mathematician Wiles Honoured £10,000 raised gets Abel maths prize for homeless man Agencies Mark came running back down London the street at around 5am next Agencies “Fermat’s equation was my ics, and the Shaw Prize. He was morning to escort her safely London passion from an early age, and knighted in 2000. back. solving it gave me an overwhelm- In its announcement of the woman who was helped Sedgebeer said: “Not only did ing sense of fulfi lment. award the Norwegian Academy of by a homeless man when he turn up but he had to get a bus British mathematician has “It has always been my hope Science and Letters said: “Andrew Ashe became stranded after to come get me. This man who I been awarded one of the that my solution of this age-old J Wiles is one of very few math- a night out has raised more than probably would have avoided eye Adiscipline’s top prizes for problem would inspire many ematicians - if not the only one £10,000 to say thank you. Nicole contact with if he asked for spare solving a numerical problem that young people to take up math- - whose proof of a theorem has Sedgebeer, from Milton Keynes, change, completely changed such baffl ed experts for three centuries. ematics and to work on the many made international headline news. missed her last train home and a negative event into the most eye- Sir Andrew Wiles, 62, has been challenges of this beautiful and “In 1994 he cracked Fermat’s was left outside Euston station in opening event in my life. Mark you awarded the Abel Prize by the fascinating subject.” Last Theorem which, at the time, central London at around 3am on are one special man.” Norwegian Academy of Science The academy said Sir Andrew was the most famous and long- March 4. Sedgebeer said she was “com- and Letters - and almost half a was awarded the prize “for his stun- running unsolved problem in the The 22-year-old set up a pletely overwhelmed” after her million pounds - for his proof of ning proof of Fermat’s Last Theorem subject’s history. Crowdfunder initially hoping original post went viral and was Fermat’s Last Theorem, which he by way of the modularity conjecture “Wiles’ proof was not only the to raise £1,000 for “my home- shared more than 18,000 times published in 1994. for semistable elliptic curves, open- high point of his career - and an less friend Mark”, but since then across the social networking site. He will pick up the award and a ing a new era in number theory.” epochal moment for mathemat- nearly 800 donations have raised She created an online fund- cheque for six million Norwegian Cambridge-born Sir Andrew ics - but also the culmination of a more than ten-fold that amount. raising page because she wanted Krone (£495,000) from Crown made his breakthrough in 1994, remarkable personal journey that Sedgebeer had nowhere to go, to “do something to help Mark Prince Haakon of Norway in Oslo while working at Princeton. First began three decades earlier.” no battery on her phone, and and all the other homeless peo- in May, for an achievement that formulated by the French mathema- The Abel Prize was created in hours until her next train after a ple around Euston”. academy described as “an ep- tician Pierre de Fermat in 1637, the 2002 and is named after Norwe- night out in the capital. On Sunday she posted on Fa- ochal moment for mathematics”. theorem states: There are no whole gian mathematician Niels Henrik Feeling “very vulnerable” and cebook announcing that she had Sir Andrew, currently a pro- number solutions to the equation xn Abel, who died in 1829. “about to burst into drunken reached the £8,000 target she fessor at Oxford University’s + yn = zn when n is greater than 2. Awarded annually, it was tears”, she was approached by a had set. Since then, the money Mathematical Institute, said: “It His previous accolades in- jointly won last year by John F Northern Irish boxer Carl Frampton poses with his insignia homeless man called Mark who has soared to over £10,000. is a tremendous honour to re- clude the Rolf Schock Prize, the Nash Jr, the US mathematician after being appointed a Member of the Order of the took her to an all-night cafe, The page is due to stay open ceive the Abel Prize and to join Ostrowski Prize, the Wolf Prize, and economist who was the sub- British Empire (MBE), awarded by the Duke of Cambridge promising to return to walk her for donations for 24 more days. the previous laureates who have the Royal Medal of the Royal So- ject of the 2001 movie A Beauti- at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace in back to the station in time for her To donate, visit: https://crowd- made such outstanding contri- ciety, the US National Academy ful Mind, and Canadian-born London yesterday. next train. funding.justgiving.com/help- butions to the fi eld. of Science’s Award in Mathemat- mathematician Louis Nirenberg. Though she doubted his word, thehomeless Gulf Times 18 Wednesday, March 16, 2016 BRITAIN/IRELAND Blairs’ property empire worth an estimated £27mn

Guardian News and Media tended to handing over proper- his family since leaving offi ce. young Blairs each have a home in The couple’s daughter Kath- no mortgage on the house and reportedly an aspiring politician. London ties worth many millions. The Blairs no longer own the central London, within a stone’s ryn, a barrister in her mid-20s, despite recent wobbles at the top His six-bedroom townhouse was Since they bought a £30,000 Sedgefi eld home - it was sold for throw of the Georgian townhouse is named as the sole owner of a end of the property market, Ka- bought in 2013 and registered in home in his former Sedgefi eld £275,000 in 2009 - but the fam- in Connaught Square that the one-bedroom mews house near thryn is likely to be looking at a both his and Cherie’s names. De- ike many parents who constituency in 1983 the Blairs ily are the registered owners of at former prime minister bought Marylebone, which the fam- profi t, should she sell. The prop- scribed by the estate agents at the have done well out of the have built up a property empire least 10 houses and 27 fl ats, and when he left Downing Street. ily were reported to have bought erty website Zoopla estimates the time as a “rare to market, bright, Lhouse-price growth of worth an estimated £27mn. their three oldest children each That property, which is owned in Cherie’s name for £1.2mn in house is now worth more than modernised property” in the the past three decades, Cherie The former prime minister, have their names on at least one together with the house immedi- 2014. The house was registered £1.4mn. heart of “Marylebone Village”, and Tony Blair have been able who presided over a period dur- set of deeds. ately behind it, is estimated to be in Kathryn’s name the follow- Kathryn’s house backs on to the it changed hands for £3.625mn to help their children on to the ing which 70% of households While their contemporaries worth more than £8.5mn - more ing year and would not have at- home of her eldest brother Euan, and three years later is estimated housing ladder. Unlike many were homeowners, has been in- are increasingly fi nding them- than double the price the former tracted stamp duty, as long as a former employee of invest- to be worth between £4.5mn and parents, that assistance has ex- creasing homeownership within selves consigned to renting, the prime minister paid in 2004. the transfer was a gift. There’s ment bank Morgan Stanley and £5mn.

Fight against wildlife trafficking hailed Tributes paid to antiques dealer found murdered

London Evening Standard will be missed by everyone in London the silver trade. She had worked in the trade for more than 20 years and had a great deal of he family and friends knowledge of the history of sil- of a Mayfair antiques versmithing. She was a very Tdealer found battered to private person.” death outside her Surrey home A colleague at her company spoke of their devastation yes- said: “We are in shock at the terday. moment. It’s a tragedy and we Robyn Mercer, 50, a silver- are just trying to come to terms ware expert, was found face with it.” down in a pool of blood on her Mercer, a keen rower, was a front lawn. Her injuries were so member of Walton Rowing club. severe that police thought she A spokeswoman for the club had been shot. said: “She was an absolutely Offi cers were called to the lovely woman. She would go £700,000 semi-detached the extra mile for anyone. She house in West Molesey, near would help behind the bar and Hampton Court, at 8am on anyone around the club. I spoke Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Conservative MP and former leader of the House of Commons, William Hague visit DP World’s London Gateway, container port at Monday. to her only on Saturday and she Stanford-le-Hope, east of London. The signing of a new declaration at Buckingham Palace committing the leaders of the global transportation industry to major steps to fight Mercer lived in the property seemed fi ne. criminal wildlife traff icking has been hailed by The Duke of Cambridge as ‘a game changer in the race against extinction.’ with her two teenage children. “We are all in shock. No one She was found by a neigh- can believe that this is hap- bour on their way to work. It is pened. She also lost her father believed her body may have lain recently.” outside the house for much of The friend said Mercer had the night. taken part in the Vogalonga Detectives have arrested a boating event in Venice, re- 52-year-old man, understood to cently attended a training camp be known to Mercer, on suspi- in Spain, and competed in the cion of murder. British rowing masters champi- Yesterday Mercer’s niece, onships in Nottingham. Mercer Prison offi cer hurt in Claudia Spickernell, speaking was also active in the local com- from South Africa, said: “We munity and organised a charity have just heard the news. We are auction which raised £12,000 all a bit in the dark. Everyone is for a new church roof at nearby still just trying to get a grip of St Mary the Virgin in East Mole- everything.” sey. Mercer worked at one of A churchgoer who helped run Belfast bomb blast dies London’s most prestigious the event said: “She was a lovely independent antique dealers lady. She was happy to give up Agencies “Ismay gave over 28 years of charged on Saturday with the The prison offi cer’s death is ist MLA for East Belfast, con- — JH Bourdon-Smith in Ma- her time to help a church where Belfast service to prisons in Northern attempted murder of the father- the fi rst fatal attack since 2012 demned those behind the killing. sons Yard, St James’s. She was she was not a member of the Ireland and he was greatly re- of-three. Police said yesterday when a prison offi cer was killed Allen said: “This is devastating a respected expert in antique congregation.” spected by all those who knew that they were working to estab- in a motorway shooting blamed news and my heartfelt sympa- silver who had contributed to Paramedics, an air ambu- prison offi cer who was him,” Northern Ireland Prison lish the exact cause of his death. on militant nationalists. thies are with the prison offi cer’s studies of 16th century silver lance crew and detectives went seriously injured in a car Service director general Sue Police have warned that there The recent attack was con- family. We must ensure that all spoons. to Mercer’s home on Monday Abombing in Northern Ire- McAllister said in a statement. is a “severe” threat to secu- demned by politicians on both necessary support and assist- Art specialist Paul Crane, 40, morning, but nothing could be land earlier this month that was Responsibility for the attack rity forces as the centenary ap- sides of the historical divide. ance is given to the family at this from the neighbouring Brian done to revive her. claimed by militant national- was claimed by a militant group proaches later this month of the “I’m devastated. Can’t believe diffi cult time. The people re- Haughton Gallery, had known One neighbour said: “Her ists has died, Northern Ireland’s opposed to the 1998 peace deal 1916 anti-British Easter Rising, the news,” Northern Ireland’s sponsible for this despicable at- Mercer for more than 20 years. body was in the front garden Prison Service said yesterday. that largely ended three decades the most dramatic chapter of First Minister Arlene Foster said tack must be brought to justice. He said: “She was full of the and I think her children were in Adrian Ismay, 52, underwent of violence in Northern Ireland Ireland’s independence struggle. on Twitter yesterday, adding “I would again reiterate that most golden energy. She was so the house.” He added: “Police surgery after the bomb went off between Protestants, who want Security has been stepped up that she had texted Ismay before the people responsible do not polite it was unbelievable. She said she had her head bashed shortly after he started driving to remain under British rule, and across the province. On Friday, a leaving on a trade mission to the represent wider society. They was just full of kindness. in with a blunt object. Appar- away from his home in Belfast on Catholics favouring unifi cation senior police offi cer said further US this week and that he had cannot and will not be allowed “She was extremely well ently her injuries were so bad March 4. He died in hospital yes- with Ireland. attacks had been foiled since the been doing well. to take this society back to the thought of in the industry. She they thought she’d been shot.” terday morning, police said. A 45-year-old man was car bomb. Andy Allen, the Ulster Union- past.” Rough sleepers to Six cities to stage Radiohead concerts

get £110mn lifeline AFP other than to confi rm that the London band has been in the studio. Primavera Sound, when an- London Evening Standard ey for innovative new projects The Chancellor added: “I am nouncing its lineup in January, London for helping the long-term determined that we do more to adiohead has an- said in a press release that Ra- homeless. provide support to some of the nounced concerts in diohead would be presenting most vulnerable in our society.” Rsix cities around the its new album at the festival eorge Osborne is to spend “Homelessness is simply The Budget announcements world as speculation builds but later revised the wording. more than £110mn in to- unacceptable in our day come on top of pledges of for the experimental rockers’ The new studio album Gday’s Budget on a drive to and age. I am absolutely £139mn over four years made much-anticipated but unan- would be Radiohead’s fi rst end the scandal of rough sleep- committed to helping in the Autumn Statement. The nounced ninth album. since 2011’s King of the Limbs, ing in London and other cities, homeless people get back cash will fund targeted home- The band said it would play which played wildly with tra- the Evening Standard revealed. on their feet” lessness intervention and pay from May 20 to October 4 at ditional song structure by us- The chancellor will cham- towards temporary accom- major arenas in Amsterdam, ing as a base a loop of music pion a series of new measures, Osborne yesterday admitted modation covered by local au- Paris, London, New York, Los that the band had previously aimed particularly at the capi- there was a “particular prob- thorities. Angeles and Mexico City, with recorded. tal, to provide a better safety lem” in London, where one in The Treasury is also giving two shows in each city except Radiohead has sold more net for vulnerable people in four rough-sleepers was found. £40mn to help victims of do- London, where Radiohead will than 30mn albums since danger of being forced onto the He said: “Homelessness is sim- mestic abuse, which is one of play three. emerging in the heyday of streets. ply unacceptable in our day and the causes of women and girls The British rockers were al- alternative rock in the early It includes £100mn for 2,000 age. sleeping on the streets. ready announced as headliners 1990s. accommodation places for I am absolutely committed Hollywood actor Richard for eight festivals including But the band soon swapped rough sleepers who have been to helping homeless people get Gere, who plays a man living on Primavera Sound in Barcelona, guitar rock for more electron- taken in to homelessness crisis back on their feet, into safe ac- the streets in his latest movie, Summer Sonic in Japan and ic and experimental sounds centres and are ready to move commodation and obtain the used a visit to London recently the European edition of Lol- starting with 1997’s infl uential on. Another £10mn over two skills they need to get on in life. to lobby for more awareness of lapalooza in Berlin. album OK Computer. years will support projects to “I won’t stand by and see the problem. “These are all the headline Radiohead has not per- prevent people having to sleep things going in the wrong di- Statistics suggest rough shows that the band will play formed live since 2012, al- in the open air and rescue those rection — and we have a par- sleeping in England has in- in 2016,” the band said in a though frontman Thom Yorke who fall through the cracks. ticular problem with rough creased almost a third in the statement. has played a series of solo Funding will be doubled for sleepers in London. That’s why past year. A quarter of the 3,569 Radiohead, which has con- shows including Saturday at the “rough sleeping social im- I am announcing a major new people found rough sleeping in Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, visits the Crossrail tinually sought new ways to Britain’s electronic Bloc festi- pact bond” announced in the package of measures to help get England during a snap survey station construction site at Tottenham Court Road in central London release music, has not revealed val which organisers are end- Spending Review to raise mon- a grip on this problem.” in the autumn were in London. yesterday. any details of the next album ing after a 10-year run. Gulf Times Wednesday, March 16, 2016 19 EUROPE Cyprus may veto EU deal with Turkey on migrants

DPA implements already agreed-to Brussels obligations. He specifi cally complained about Turkey referring to Cy- yprus threatened Tues- prus as a “defunct” state and day to veto part of a refusing to recognise it as a Cmigration deal planned country. between the European Union The island nation has been and Turkey, arguing that An- split since 1974 between a kara has failed to fulfi ll past Greek south and a Turkish obligations related to its bid for north. Eight negotiating chap- EU membership. ters under Turkey’s EU acces- The deal is at the heart of the sion bid have been blocked for EU’s response to a migration years as part of an attempt to crisis that saw more than 1mn pressure Ankara into fi nding a migrants and asylum seek- solution for Cyprus. ers reach its shores last year, “The Republic of Cyprus stretching resources thin and does not intend to consent to creating tensions. More than the opening of any chapters if 152,000 other migrants have Turkey does not fulfi ll its ob- arrived this year so far. ligations as described in the The agreement with Turkey, negotiating framework and the Belgium police off icer secures the area from a rooftop at the scene where shots were fired during a police search of a house in the suburb of Forest near Brussels yesterday. which was fi rst outlined at a Ankara protocol,” Anastasiades summit last week, had fore- said in Nicosia after meeting seen progress on the coun- with EU President Donald Tusk. try’s long-running bid for EU “It must be understood by membership and concessions our EU partners that possible on visa-free travel to Europe, acceptance of the Turkish de- in exchange for help from An- mands without implementa- kara in stemming migrant fl ows tion of Turkish long-pending over the Aegean Sea. obligations would in essence One dead in shootout Opening new negotiating constitute, with my own con- chapters under Turkey’s EU sent, acceptance that the Re- membership bid will help lead public of Cyprus is indeed de- to discussions with Ankara funct,” he added. on key issues such as human Anastasiades did not spec- rights and democracy, Europe- ify which obligations he was an Commission vice president referring to. The EU-Turkey linked to Paris attacks Frans Timmermans told jour- negotiating framework for in- nalists in Brussels. stance calls for “progress in the The chief suspect in the Paris attacks “I’m being prudent because the opera- in Europe.But a French police source said “These are issues we really normalization of bilateral rela- remains at large tion is ongoing and I won’t make any other that Abdeslam was not the target. need to discuss with Turkey in tions between Turkey and all comment than to confi rm that this did “The operation was not targeting Salah depth,” he said, amid concerns EU member states, including AFP take place,” he told a news conference. Abdeslam. It was aimed at people connect- over a recent Turkish govern- the Republic of Cyprus”. Brussels Local mayor Marc-Jean Ghyssels told ed to one or several of the 11 Belgians who ment crackdown on opposition Tusk acknowledged that reporters at the scene in Brussels that “two have been charged,” the source told AFP. media. the proposed migration deal people are holed up in a building” at the Since mid-November, 11 people have But Cypriot president Ni- “needs to be rebalanced so as to elgian and French police launched a scene, while Belgian media reported that been arrested and charged in Belgium in cos Anastasiades said that be accepted by all 28 member huge manhunt for two suspects in two suspects were on the run. connection with the killings and eight are his country would not allow states and the EU institutions,” BBrussels on Monday after gunmen Witnesses reported an initial heavy ex- still in detention. any progress on Turkey’s EU pointing also to concerns about opened fi re, wounding three offi cers, dur- change of fi re that lasted several minutes Abdeslam and his associate Mohamed membership bid until Ankara its legality. ing a joint anti-terror operation linked to Police off icers walk at the site of the followed by another, while an AFP pho- Abrini, both from the Molenbeek area of the Paris attacks. One man was reportedly shooting. tographer reported a third burst of gunfi re Brussels, are still at large. “neutralised” at the scene. later on. Abdeslam was reportedly holed up in €1.5mn stolen from man fearing Heavily armed police had surrounded ear and head, several Belgian media outlets People in two schools and two nurseries an apartment in the Schaerbeek district another banking collapse a building at the scene in the Forest dis- reported. near the scene were asked to remain indoors in north Brussels for three weeks after the trict in south Brussels after the shootout, Dozens of armed police in balaclavas and the security cordon around the area was Paris attacks. A Cypriot petrol station owner the money was taken and and an AFP photographer said there was a armed with submachine guns cordoned extended, the local mayor’s offi ce said. In January, Belgian authorities said they who feared another banking questioning people.” fresh burst of gunfi re nearly two hours af- off the scene, while police vehicles with The incident took place across the street had found two apartments and a house collapse on the bailed-out The spokesman did not reveal ter the initial shots. fl ashing lights rushed back and forth, AFP from an Audi auto factory and the train used by Abdeslam and other suspects in island hid 1.5mn of his savings the exact amount of money that But Salah Abdeslam — a key suspect in reporters said. lines leading to the Gare du Midi railway the run up to the attacks. at work only for it to be stolen, was stolen, but according to the November Paris massacre which killed French interior minister Bernard Caze- station where Eurostar trains to London A fi ngerprint belonging to Abdeslam reports said yesterday. Police state media it was €1.5mn. 130 people and who fl ed to Brussels after neuve confi rmed that French police were and Thalys trains to Paris run from. was found in the apartment along with spokesman Andreas Angelides The stash was reportedly stolen the attacks — was not the target of the also involved and said the attackers used Two weeks after the Paris attacks Brus- traces of explosives, possible suicide belts confirmed a robbery was in a 12-hour period overnight Brussels search, sources said. assault rifl es, apparently confi rming re- sels was put on fi ve days of lockdown with and a drawing of a person wearing a large reported at the petrol station between Monday and yesterday, “Police were fi red at,” Eric Van Der ports that said the gunmen fi red Kalash- authorities warning of an imminent threat belt. near the southwestern resort when the petrol station was Sypt, a spokesman for the Belgian fed- nikovs. of violence amid an ongoing manhunt for Authorities also found DNA traces from town of Paphos. “The man says closed. State radio said the man eral prosecutor, told AFP, adding that the “A team made up of Belgian and French Abdeslam. Bilal Hadfi , another of the attackers. he recently took out a large withdrew his money over fears search was “linked to the Paris attacks in- police came under fi re, apparently from Abdeslam, 26, who is believed to have The other premises were a fl at in Charl- amount of money from the of another “haircut” on bank vestigation”. assault weapons, during a raid,” he said played a key role in organising the Paris eroi — a town south of the capital Brussels bank and kept it at the premises deposits as happened three Three Belgian police offi cers were after arriving in the Ivory Coast capital attacks, fl ed across the border to Belgium where a major airport is located, as well as where he said it was stolen years ago during the island’s wounded in the initial shootout with one following a weekend shooting rampage by hours after the killings in the French capi- a house in the rural village of Auvelais near from,” Angelides told reporters. painful bail-in/bailout deal with in a serious condition after being hit in the jihadists there that killed 18. tal and is now one of the most wanted men the French border. “We are looking in to how international lenders. Migrants return to camp after being turned back

Reuters Idomeni, Greece

undreds of dejected migrants returned to a Htransit camp in north- ern Greece yesterday after Mac- edonian authorities blocked their attempt to cross the border or drove those who did get across back to Greece. Around 2,000 migrants marched out of the Idomeni camp on Monday, hiking into the moun- tains and fording a river in what Greek authorities said was a well- planned attempt to fi nd a way around a barbed wire fence built by Macedonia to keep them out. Three migrants drowned on Monday trying to cross a river into Macedonia, one stage on a route that the migrants hoped would take them to Germany and Refugees are given a lift as they make their way back to a makeshift camp at the Greek-Macedonian border, near the Greek village of Idomeni yesterday. Right: Tents of migrants waiting to cross the Macedonian border. other wealthy European Union countries. Migrants carried children started fi res to dry their clothes Ties between the two neigh- “no chance” that borders which with medical charity Medecins “Our aim is within the next Macedonia loaded about 1,500 across a fast-flowing river and to warm up. Several hundred bours are fraught because of had been shut down throughout Sans Frontieres at Idomeni, said two weeks to reach the level migrants and refugees who had before trudging back along migrants found shelter in a de- Greece’s long-standing re- the Balkans would be re-opened. around 400 migrants had re- of 6,000 to be relocated every succeeded in crossing the border muddy paths. One small child serted farm in the area. fusal to recognise Macedonia’s He urged refugees to move to turned to the camp. week,” he told reporters. “All our onto trucks and drove them back was dragged along on a blue Greek offi cials said they could name, which is the same as reception centres set up by the “There are still many hundreds values are in danger today and to Greece, Macedonian police plastic container attached to a not confi rm that Macedonia had that of a northern Greek prov- state. of people on both the Greek and you can see it here in Idomeni. said. Reporters and aid offi cials rope. sent back the migrants. ince. European Union leaders, try- the Macedonian side of the bor- I believe that building fences, said the migrants were left at the “It’s a long way from the camp “No one has been returned At least 12,000 people, in- ing to stem a fl ow of migrants and der,” he told Reuters. deploying barbed wire, is not a Greek border. to the mountains, it took me six from our official border cross- cluding thousands of children, refugees fl eeing war and poverty EU Migration Commission solution.” Hundreds more migrants were hours of walking. At my age it ings, and no request has been have been stranded in the Ido- in the Middle East and beyond, Dimitris Avramopoulos, on a vis- Conditions at the Idomeni prevented from crossing the bor- was very diffi cult,” said one of submitted by Skopje (the Mac- meni camp, their path to the EU are due to hold a new summit it to Idomeni, urged EU countries camp have deteriorated after days der on Monday. Many of them those returning, 60-year-old edonian capital),” said George blocked after Balkan nations with Turkey this week to seal an to put into action immediately of heavy rain. Concern about the streamed back to Idomeni yes- Mohamad Kattan. Kyritsis, a spokesman for closed their borders. agreement intended to halt the a long-stalled plan to re-house spread of infection grew after terday after spending the night in Back in Idomeni, the camp was Greece’s migration coordina- Greek prime minister Alexis exodus. asylum seekers from Greece else- one person was diagnosed with the mountains. crowded, muddy and wet. People tion centre: Tsipras said yesterday there was Jan van’t Land, an offi cial where in the bloc. Hepatitis A. Gulf Times 20 Wednesday, March 16, 2016 INDIA

INSURGENCY ADJOURNMENT CONTROVERSY PARLIAMENT RELIGION Attacks on economic Assembly disrupted CAT seeks response on Online approval for Over 300 Hindus embrace targets by Maoists rise over domicile issue IPS off icial’s suspension monuments soon Buddhism in Bodh Gaya

Attacks by Maoists on economic targets rose The Jharkhand assembly’s proceedings were The Lucknow bench of the Central The government will soon provide a single- More than 300 lower caste Hindus embraced to 127 in 2015, up from 100 the previous year, disrupted yesterday after the opposition Administrative Tribunal (CAT) yesterday window clearance for urban development Buddhism at Bodh Gaya, the holiest shrine of parliament was told yesterday. Minister of State demanded the formulation of a domicile policy sought response from the central and the Uttar projects and setting up of monuments by citizens Buddhism in Bihar, off icials said. All those who for Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary told the to protect the interests of the indigenous people Pradesh governments on a police off icer’s and others, Urban Development Minister M took to Buddhism were from Bihar’s Aurangabad Lok Sabha that attacks on economic infrastructure of the state. The assembly witnessed chaos as 91-day suspension. Indian Police Service off icer Venkaiah Naidu said in the Lok Sabha yesterday. and Jahanabad districts, Maharashtra’s Nagpur included mobile towers, mines, railway property, an adjournment motion moved by Jharkhand Amitabh Thakur challenged his suspension “Earlier for all these, people had to come to and Satara cities and Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur government buildings, roads and bridges. The Mukti Morcha legislators Jagganath Mahto order dated July 13, 2015. Thakur cited rules Delhi. Now there will be online approval,” he and Rewa cities. “The conversion took place at number of such attacks totalled 169 in 2013. These and Deepak Biruwa over the domicile policy which state that every suspension order must said. “Henceforth online approval system will Burma (Mayanmar) Vihar monastery in Bodh fell to 100 in 2014 but went up to 127 in 2015. There was rejected by Speaker Dinesh Oraon. The be reviewed and suspension extended within be introduced for citizens and departments Gaya. Mayanmar monk Chandramuni performed have been 24 such attacks so far this year, the opposition members trooped into the well of the 90 days, and if such a review is not done, the who want to install a monument in memory of the Deeksha ceremony,” a police off icial said. The minister said. He said leftwing extremists, as the house and indulged in sloganeering. Leader of suspension order stands automatically revoked. some leaders”. Naidu said his ministry was in Babasaheb Ambedkar Mission organised the Maoists are off icially known, reportedly forced the opposition and JMM leader Hemant Soren Thakur said his suspension was extended for favour of bringing in single-window clearance in Deeksha ceremony and played an important role money out of industrialists, businessmen and said the house needed to discuss the important 180 days through an order dated December governance and to bring about “ease of doing in the event, the off icial said. Most of the people contractors. He said cases related to extortion issue. He demanded the introduction of a bill 10, 2015 - passed 150 days after his suspension, business in the country” it will take all necessary who were ordained into Buddhism said they and damage to economic infrastructure were in the house on the matter and even favoured and this delay has been condoned by the state steps to unleash reforms. “We can no longer have changed their religion to get rid of caste registered and investigated by state governments. extension of the assembly session. government. perform without reforms,” he said. discrimination and untouchability.

Judicial custody of Real estate students extended IANS bill will help New Delhi

New Delhi court yesterday extended the judicial cus- Atody of Jawaharlal Nehru University students Umar Kha- buyers, says lid and Anirban Bhattacharya, accused of sedition for alleg- edly raising “anti-India” slogans, sources said. Both were presented before a magistrate via video conferenc- ing due to security concerns after Venkaiah the expiry of their earlier remand, the sources said. New Delhi system that help builders to es- on carpet area and not super The two students surrendered IANS cape from the ambit of law with- built-up area, while carpet area before police last month outside out fulfi lling all the claims they has been clearly defi ned in the the gates of the university. make in their advertisements. bill to include usable spaces like A case against Khalid and arliament yesterday passed “Earlier, the rate of interest kitchen and toilets. Bhattacharya was registered at the real estate bill which, payable by consumer and builders The bill makes it mandatory Vasant Kunj police station, soon PUrban Development Min- used to vary. We found it was not for all commercial and residen- after JNU Students’ Union presi- ister M Venkaiah Naidu said, will correct. So from here on, the in- tial real estate projects where dent Kanhaiya Kumar was ar- help bring down property prices terest payable by either party, be the land is over 500sqm, or eight rested under the same charges on and give more credibility to func- it the consumer or builder, will be apartments, to register with the February 12 after an event held on tioning of the sector. the same,” the minister said. regulator for launching a project, the university campus against the The Real Estate (Regulation Naidu also said he was open to in order to provide greater trans- execution of parliament attack & Development) Bill, 2016, was discussing it with the builders if parency in project-marketing and convict Afzal Guru. He is out on passed by the Lok Sabha yesterday they have any issue with bill that execution. bail. and the Rajya Sabha on March 10. may hamper the sector’s func- For failure to register, it pro- The Delhi High Court yester- “It is a historic moment for the tioning. poses a penalty of up to 10% of day refused to entertain a fresh country as we are fulfi lling the as- “We are not against builders. the project cost or three years’ petition seeking action against pirations of the people who wish If there are problems with the imprisonment. Kumar on sedition charge. to own a house, giving them the builders, I am ready to discuss it Naidu said the main purpose of Kumar was accused of saying needed protection. The bill will with them anytime. We want the the bill is to protect the interest of that the Indian Army was re- be giving credibility to real estate builder to be partner in building a consumers. sponsible for rapes of women in sector also,” Naidu said in the Lok strong India,” he said. “Sometimes we are called pro- Kashmir. Sabha. “Since land is a state issue, we business; I do not mind being Justice Pratibha Rani said an “I say you will get more invest- seek co-operation from the states. called that. After all business and investigation in the sedition case ment, you will get early clearances All approvals are to be given in 30 industry (people) are also Indi- against Kumar was already in and the property prices will come days,” he said, insisting the cen- ans,” he said, adding the interests progress and the court would not down,” the minister said, assert- tral government has done its duty of farmers and consumers will entertain another plea. ing the speedy land clearances for in providing inexpensive houses. also be protected. “Our law and order system can the real estate projects will help in The minister said that he will In order to ensure the protec- take care of itself. Your type of bringing down the prices of the write to all the chief ministers tion of all stakeholders, Naidu social activists are not needed. houses. requesting them to give speedy said before bringing the bill in Investigation is in progress. I am “The builders will have to do clearances to the real estate parliament, he and his depart- not entertaining it,” the judge their duty. Parliament is not in- projects in their states. ment had held elaborate consul- said. terested in interfering with their Naidu said the bill was a pro- tations with various ministries. Petitioner Dev Dutt Shar- activity. What you (builders) are reform step undertaken by Prime “We held detailed meetings ma’s lawyer Sugriva Dubey later committing, what you are prom- Minister Narendra Modi’s govern- with colleagues like Consumer agreed to withdraw the plea. ising, fulfi l that. This is the only ment in order to bring about ease Aff airs Minister Ram Vilas Pas- Dubey earlier sought the purpose of this real estate bill,” of doing business in the country. wan and others from the minis- court’s direction for investigation Naidu said. A major benefi t for consumers tries of environment, defence, by the Intelligence Bureau into Students hold placards during a protest against the detention of JNU students Umar Khalid and He stressed the bill would help proposed in the bill is that build- civil aviation and culture,” he the issue. Anirban Bhattacharya, in New Delhi yesterday. fi ll in the loopholes in the existing ers will have to quote prices based said. Has BJP learned to live as a party in power? he Bharatiya Janata Party’s though the speech may be drafted be benefi ted through this. And tween the two had reached a point di’s grand plans will suff er im- constant complaint is the by the presidential secretariat, the basis of this transfer will be of no-return. The BJP feared the measurably. TCongress Party has not it is whetted thoroughly by the the unique identifi cation card, Congress would fi nd a way to jet- yet learned to live with the reality government, meaning the Prime Delhi Diary or ‘Aadhaar’ as it is popularly tison the ‘Aadhaar’ bill it wanted that it is in the opposition. After Minister’s Offi ce. It is also cus- known. to introduce to bring the entire Downfall of ‘King being in power for two succes- tomary for parliament to express By A K B Krishnan Without doubt the Congress exercise within the purview of of Good Times’ sive terms and after ruling India its gratitude to the President for Party can claim copyright on the law. To circumvent any such hur- for half a century it is perhaps addressing the members. Gulf Times Correspondent bill. It was one of Manmohan dles, the BJP pushed it through Vijay Mallya must have con- understandable that the Con- The motion of thanks to the Singh’s truly remarkable success- the Lok Sabha as a “money bill”. vinced Indian bankers that he re- gress takes its time to adjust to President, over the years, has Nehru University and the Rohith his government performing. es. The BJP, on the other hand, As per Section 110(1) of the ally didn’t need all those loans. So changed circumstances. become a long-drawn battle be- Vemula’s suicide. But the oppo- Modi picked Rahul Gandhi for had criticised it while in opposi- Constitution, a money bill only they gave him loan over loan over But perhaps the more relevant tween the government and the sition decided these have either special ridicule during his reply to tion saying it violated the citizen’s needs approval by the Lok Sabha loan. That’s Murphy’s Law. So he question to be asked is has the BJP opposition on various policy is- been discussed already or may be the motion of thanks to the Presi- right to privacy. Its antagonism and the BJP is in the majority told them: “Ok, give me a loan and learned to live as a party in power. sues. While debating issues of na- too sensitive to be raised during a dent in the Lok Sabha. And Jaitley was further consolidated when there. It will still go to the Rajya then leave me alone.” But when In a democracy it is the govern- tional import is what parliament debate on the motion of thanks. targeted the family and the party Nandan Nilekani, who headed the Sabha but the upper house has somebody tried otherwise, he ment’s job to ensure smooth is for, it is the acrimony behind it But it had to oppose on something in the Rajya Sabha. The two went project, joined the Congress Party no power to seek amendments or coolly took off to good old Blighty. functioning of parliament and if that has taken centre stage over and, therefore, the ‘panchayat’ on listing various acts of omission and unsuccessfully fought the Lok hold it back for more than 14 days. Whether Mallya had inten- the opposition is not ‘behaving’, the past decade. This past week election issue was chosen though and commission under the Con- Sabha elections. All it can do is send it back to the tion to cheat is something for the government must do eve- has been no exception. Eventu- it was a fait accompli. Simply put, gress rule. But having gained power the lower house with recommenda- the courts to decide. People who rything possible and then some ally, in the Rajya Sabha, where the aim was to embarrass the gov- Ever since the BJP came to BJP took a relook at the project tions which the Lok Sabha may or knew him at close quarters say more to get the debates going. the Congress has better numbers, ernment. power Modi has not missed any and realised its potential. The may not accept. Even if the budget Mallya is a very smart, shrewd But has the government shown the motion of thanks had to be Why have matters come to chance to get at the Gandhis. It is government found the ‘Aadhaar’ session is extended by two days, businessman. His Kingfi sher any inclination to get the Con- amended to include the house’s this? The reason is not far to seek. almost two years now but the BJP was a near-fool proof way to pro- as desired by the Congress in the Airlines was full of zip with its gress on board on crucial issues? displeasure at the Haryana and All India knows that the Congress refrain has not changed one bit. vide succour to those below the Rajya Sabha, there is precious lit- standard-setting amenities that If you were to listen to speeches by Rajasthan governments’ decision Party is very sentimental towards It is as if further proof is required poverty line. In the latest budget tle the party can do about the bill had other airlines turn green with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to impose basic qualifi cations for the Nehru-Gandhi family. More that the Congress is a defeated Jaitley also announced that these except record its displeasure on envy. But, as the saying goes, all Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and contestants in local self-govern- than sentiments, every Con- party today, as if the BJP is still an families will be provided, apart the fl oor of the house. good things must come to an end others both inside and outside ment (‘panchayat’) elections. gressman (without being gender- opposition party constantly try- from cash transfers, cooking But how far can the BJP go and it was a double-quick end for parliament you will not be too Amending the motion of specifi c) worth his salt knows his ing to play petty politics to score gas, kerosene, etc; free of charge. with this sort of attitude? Jait- the “King of Good Times”. wrong to feel that it is, in fact, the thanks to the President is quite a and the party’s survival is inextri- brownie points. This takes a lot Farmers can get fertiliser, water ley says he is hopeful both the But while the banks that lent BJP that is in the opposition! At rare occurrence. In the 66 years cably linked to the survival of its away from the tremendous good and electricity. And the basis of all GST and the bankruptcy bills money may have made a bad busi- least this will be the impression if of its republican being, India has ‘fi rst family’. Finish the family and work that has been happening on these transfers will be the ‘Aad- will be passed in the second leg ness call, and therefore will have to one were to go by the aforemen- witnessed only fi ve such amend- you fi nish the party. So if Modi or the economic and social fronts haar’ which till date has been is- of the budget session beginning face its consequences, what about tioned principle of it being the ments. Curiously, this was the Jaitley or anyone else attacks the through various innovative ideas sued to 985mn people. on April 20. If Modi manages to the income tax, service tax and government’s responsibility to second consecutive year when an family, Congressmen take it as that Modi has initiated. It also It is one of the biggest mass isolate the Congress altogether various other government agen- run parliament. amendment motion has been car- a personal attack on each one of hardens the fi ghtback from the contact exercises ever undertaken and get everyone else - the Left, cies that Mallya owed hundreds The fi rst session of parliament ried. them. Also Modi is mistaken if he Congress. The result: deepening anywhere in the world and the BJP of course, won’t co-operate but of millions of rupees to? Who told in the New Year, which is also Scores of amendments had thinks he can get his long-desired logjam in parliament. should have acknowledged the its nine members won’t mat- these departments to go slow in the budget session, is inaugu- been moved by the opposi- wish of a “Congress-free India” One such great idea was the pioneering eff orts of the Congress ter much either - on board the recovering these huge amounts? rated by the President who sets tion, including “burning” issues by attacking the family. That can targeted delivery of fi nancial and even as it should have sought its government can possibly scrape Are we witnessing the emergence forth the government’s policy like the terrorist attack on the be achieved only through elec- other subsidies to the poor: mil- co-operation to take it forward through in the Rajya Sabha with of one more scam that the Con- agenda for the year ahead. Al- Pathankot air base, Jawaharlal tions and for that he has to show lions of households are going to further. But the animosity be- these bills. But if it doesn’t, Mo- gress Party will have to answer for? Gulf Times Wednesday, March 16, 2016 21 INDIA BJP legislator under fi re for wounding horse

IANS tor Ganesh Joshi attacked and doing the same with people and needs to be taken,” Joshipura said. “We are calling upon police to Minister) Harish Rawat I hope said: “What a shame.. Ganesh New Delhi severely injured Shaktimaan, a is a danger to society. The party She also urged BJP president make sure he is punished to the you deal with this man!” a dis- Joshi deserves to be punished.. white horse with Uttarakhand must not retain him,” People for Amit Shah to expel Joshi from the maximum extent of the law,” an appointed Kapoor said. Whatever ur agenda, y drag an police, during a protest against the Ethical Treatment of Ani- party. “This is a party which is angry Joshipura said. Actress Minissha Lamba said: animal into it..” Bharatiya Janata Party Congress Chief Minister Harish mals (Peta) chief executive Poor- supposed to stand for everyone, On the social media, people, “What fault was it of the police The horse had been working legislator who brutally Rawat’s government in Dehra- va Joshipura said. including animals. How can it including animal rights activists, horse? Yoked by man into service.. with Uttarakhand police for a Athrashed and injured a dun on Monday. She chief urged Uttarakhand tolerate the bleeding of a horse?” Bollywood celebrities and promi- Beaten by man for his service..” decade but the injury may well police horse, is a “danger to so- The horse was left bleeding Assembly Speaker Govind Singh “Prime Minister Naren- nent political leaders, slammed Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha end its career. A case has been ciety” and he must be sacked and vets said its leg will have to be Kunjwal to “immediately expel dra Modi himself is expected Joshi and sought his dismissal slammed Joshi for his action and lodged against Joshi, who denied both from the legislature and the amputated. The severe attack led Joshi from the Vidhan Sabha to demonstrate respect for the from the party and the legislature. said: “That white horse is such a the charge of attack on the horse, party, a prominent global animal to widespread public outrage. on the grounds of extreme and country’s animal protection Bollywood’s leading lady metaphor for the common man. well captured on videos, and said rights group said yesterday. “He must be disqualifi ed from criminal misconduct”. laws and basic decency of pub- Sonam Kapoor termed Joshi’s Power rides it and anarchy inca- that the government was trying In a bizarre display of cru- his post because any person who “To ensure the maximum licly condemning his party col- act “inhuman”. “This is disgust- pacitates it.” to “shift focus from the core is- elty, Uttarakhand BJP legisla- beat up a horse is not far from safety of animals, strict action league,” the Peta offi cial said. ing inhuman behaviour. (Chief Model-actor Rajneesh Duggall sues” of the state. Pope Francis approves sainthood for Mother Teresa

Agencies in 1910 in Skopje, now the capital Vatican City of Macedonia. She started her life as a nun as a teenager with a missionary ope Francis yesterday order in Ireland and arrived in approved sainthood for India in 1929. PMother Teresa, the mis- After more than two decades sionary nun who became a global of missionary and charity work, if controversial symbol of com- she founded her own Missionar- passion for her care of the sick ies of Charity order in 1950. She and destitute. was granted Indian citizenship a The pontiff set September 4 as year later. the date for her canonisation, el- Francis, who regards Teresa evating her to an offi cial icon for as the incarnation of the kind of the Catholic faith. Church he wants to lead, met the The move comes 19 years after by-then internationally famous the death of the Albanian nun who nun three years before her death, Congress activists stage a demonstration against Trinamool Congress leaders who were allegedly caught on camera accepting bribes, in Kolkata yesterday. dedicated most of her adult life to when he was still a bishop in Ar- working with the poor of Kolkata. gentina. There was no immediate word He later joked that she had from the Vatican on the location seemed so formidable he “would of the canonisation ceremony, have been scared if she had been which is expected to take place in my mother superior”. Rome with a thanksgiving cer- Others were much harsher in emony held at a later date in the their judgement, with the likes of eastern Indian city where Teresa Australian-born feminist writer MPs demand probe is buried. Germaine Greer and British po- Teresa, who was 87 when lemicist Christopher Hitchens she died in 1997, was revered accusing her of contributing to by Catholics and many others the misery of the poor with what around the world. She won the they saw as her dogmatic views. 1979 Nobel peace prize for her In her Nobel acceptance work with the poor. speech Teresa described termi- into Trinamool ‘scam’ But she was also a controver- nations of pregnancies as “direct sial and divisive fi gure with critics murder by the mother herself”. Sting operation snowballs; nist Party of India (Marxist) said ery scandal, the BJP organised He urged the Lok Sabha Parliamentary Aff airs Minis- branding her a religious impe- Critics also raised questions BJP lawmakers meet West the leaders shown in the video a protest march in Kolkata and speaker to call for the CDs from ter M Venkaiah Naidu said truth rialist whose fervent opposition about the Missionaries of Char- Bengal governor footage should not be allowed submitted a memorandum to the portal which conducted the must prevail since it was related to birth control and abortion ran ity’s fi nances and conditions in to contest assembly elections in the governor. sting and order a probe. to the conduct of the elected contrary to the interests of the the order’s hospices. IANS the state. “Neither the chief minster Salim was supported by Dar- MPs. communities she claimed to serve. The late Italian fi lm director New Delhi/Kolkata Senior Trinamool leader nor the Trinamool government jeeling member S S Ahluwalia of “The matter needs to be Despite posthumously pub- and writer Pier Paolo Pasolini Mukul Roy termed the video has any right to continue. We the BJP and West Bengal Con- probed either by the govern- lished letters revealing that she was among those who fell under footage “manufactured”. have placed our demand with gress unit chief Adhir Ranjan ment or by the Lok Sabha suff ered crises of faith through- her spell, in his case when he met sting operation allegedly “It is a manufactured video. the governor seeking his in- Chowdhury, who represents speaker to establish the truth. out her life, Teresa has been her during a trip to India in the showing several Trina- There is a political motive be- tervention in the matter,” BJP Berhampore constituency. Truth must prevail in the case,” fast-tracked to canonisation in early 1960s. Amool Congress lead- hind all these,” he told reporters. general secretary Kailash Vi- The issue was also sought to he said. unusually quick time, underlin- “She has an almost virile jaw ers accepting money in return His party colleague and Dum jayvargiya said in Kolkata after be raised in the Rajya Sabha but In West Bengal, Trinamool’s ing her status as a modern-day and a gentle eye that in its gaze for lobbying for a private fi rm Dum MP Saugata Roy alleged in meeting the governor. Deputy Chairman P J Kurien arch rival CPM stepped up its icon of Catholicism. ‘sees’,” he wrote, describing Ter- snowballed into a major politi- the Lok Sabha: “There is a po- The sting operation, purport- said it can be raised only after attack and demanded that the “I am waiting to get there be- esa as a combination of “good- cal row yesterday both within litical conspiracy against Trina- ed to have been done by a news giving proper notice. leaders shown in the footage be cause it has been absolutely jubi- ness without sentimentality, and outside parliament. mool by the three parties – the portal, fi gured prominently in The Lok Sabha proceedings barred from contesting the as- lant news and I can’t thank God someone with no expectations The issue fi gured prominent- BJP, Congress and CPM - as the Lok Sabha. were also marked by exchange sembly elections. enough that it is happening in who is both calm and calming, ly in the Lok Sabha. they all are going to lose the up- “We are ashamed that we of heated words between Tri- “Some of the leaders shown my lifetime,” said Sunita Kumar, powerfully practical.” The Bharatiya Janata Party coming assembly elections.” have to sit along with some namool members like Saugata in the video accepting bribes spokesperson for the Missionar- India granted her a state funer- (BJP) urged West Bengal Gov- Pressing for its demand for members who have been shown Roy and Sultan Ahmed on one are contesting in the assembly ies of Charity. al after her death and her grave ernor K N Tripathi to order a Chief Minister Mamata Ban- receiving money in return for side and Salim and other Left polls. They should not be al- Teresa was born Agnes Gonx- in the order’s headquarters has Central Bureau of Investiga- erjee’s resignation as well as a lobbying,” said Mohamed Salim members and Chowdhury on lowed to contest,” CPM leader ha Bojaxhiu to Albanian parents since become a pilgrimage site. tionprobe while the Commu- CBI probe into the alleged brib- of the CPM. the other. Rabin Deb said. Pawar backs Bhujbal, Political violence escalates in Kerala vows to fi ght the case By Ashraf Padanna driver owing allegiance to the Gulf Times Correspondednt BJP was injured in a knife at- Thiruvananthapuram tack. IANS Maharashtra Sadan. This decision “So, all these things without Police arrested CPM work- New Delhi was not taken by Mr Bhujbal alone. spending a single penny from ers in both cases. “In Maharashtra, there is a the government treasury, just the olice in election-bound At least 300 political ac- committee headed by the chief land that was enclosed by certain Kerala yesterday ar- tivities, mainly of the CPM ationalist Congress Par- minister where the major con- people has been exhibited and Prested four Communist and BJP, were killed in Kannur ty chief Sharad Pawar struction projects, including in- anybody who will visit the new Party of India (Marxist) activ- alone in the last four decades Nyesterday backed party frastructure, are approved and Maharashtra Sadan, I am sure that ists for allegedly killing a local in a series of revenge killings. colleague Chhagan Bhujbal, who cleared by that cabinet commit- he will come to the conclusion leader who deserted the party With two months to go for was arrested by the Enforcement tee,” Pawar said, adding Bhujbal that this is one of the best Sadans to join the rival Congress with elections, police fear further Directorate in corruption cases, had to take steps for implemen- which has been constructed by his followers. escalation of violence in all and asserted NCP would deal tation of the decision since he any state government,” he added. In the latest episode of po- parts of Kerala. with the issue legally. was the minister. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief litical killings, police said, the The BJP observed a daylong Bhujbal was arrested on Mon- “What is the allegation? The al- Minister Devendra Fadnavis re- assailants woke up Sunil Ku- shutdown yesterday in Thiru- day evening in connection with a legation is (related to) Maharash- jected allegations by NCP leaders mar, 25, and took him out of his vananthapuram and CPM in case related to the construction tra Sadan’s construction in Delhi of pursuing “vendetta politics”. house before stabbing him to the IT hub of Kazhakkoottam of Maharashtra Sadan in the na- where some illegal thing has been Fadnavis said Bhujbal was ar- death in Cheppad village near in protest against clashes be- tional capital. done and sizeable money has been rested on the basis of evidence Kayamkulam in Alappuzha tween the two parties injuring A Mumbai court sent the lost by the state,” he said. found in the ED investigation. district on Monday night. several people, including BJP former Maharashtra deputy chief “The Maharashtra govern- “This is not a case of revenge Reports say attacks on polit- candidate V Muraleedharan. minister to two days’ custody of ment did not spend a single pen- politics. We will not extend any ical rivals are on the rise ahead Congress also observed a the Enforcement Directorate. ny in the construction of Mahar- help in hiding scams and the of the May 16 elections. shutdown in Cheppad village “I am confi dent that we will ashtra Sadan,” Pawar said. scamsters will be punished,” the In Kannur, a 27-year-old protesting against the killing fi ght it through legal action and “The cabinet committee chief minister said. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of its worker. we are hopeful that appropriate cleared the allocation of the Bhujbal’s arrest sparked dem- worker was similarly woken up In New Delhi, BJP leader decision will be there,” Pawar told piece of land to that company. onstrations, protests and road- from his house at midnight by and federal Human Resources reporters outside parliament. In lieu of that, the company was blocks across Maharashtra with a gang and hacked to death in Development Minister Sm- “There was a piece of land in supposed to construct the Ma- thousands of people taking to front of his aged parents. riti Irani criticised growing Mumbai which was enclosed harashtra Sadan. Secondly, the the streets in support of the NCP In another incident in the violence in Kerala saying it and that land was allotted to the state guest house in Mumbai and stalwart, who is also a prominent northern district last week, a showed increasing intolerance company which constructed this another building...,” Pawar said. backward caste leader. Bhujbal being taken to a Mumbai court yesterday. 39-year-old auto-rickshaw towards her party. Gulf Times 22 Wednesday, March 16, 2016 LATIN AMERICA

CRIME LAW AND ORDER LEGAL DECISION POLICY Seventeen corpses found 16 held as taxi drivers Soldier holding medical Maduro extends Peru lifts trade after miners’ massacre protest against Uber marijuana acquitted economic emergency barriers to US beef

Seventeen corpses have been recovered from a Sixteen people were arrested during a major Colombia’s Supreme Court has acquitted Embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Peru has agreed to lift its remaining safety mass grave in the rising toll from a massacre of demonstration by Bogota taxi drivers against a soldier charged with possessing more Maduro has decreed a two-month extension of barriers to US beef exports, further opening miners in Venezuela’s southern jungle, authorities ride-sharing app Uber, authorities said. than the top amount of medical marijuana emergency powers meant to help shore up the one of the fastest -markets in Latin America to said yesterday. Venezuelan off icials say 21 miners Thousands of taxi drivers, shouting slogans such allowed, saying he was addicted and should country’s crippled economy. The presidential US ranchers, Obama administration officials went missing near a gold mine in the Tumeremo as “Uber out” and “Down with piracy” brought get more. “Because it has been established decree, published in an off icial gazette, is meant said. US Trade Representative Michael Froman area of Bolivar state, while opposition politicians traff ic to a near standstill in the congested that the accused from a very young age to “protect Venezuelans from economic warfare,” and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the say as many as 28 may have been killed. “We Colombian capital. Authorities arrested 16 was a marijuana user, the amount of the it says, and expands the socialist government’s agreement with Lima will remove certification have concluded the search for the disappeared of people and issued 189 fines. Four police substance he was found with above the powers. Maduro regularly blames US and local requirements that have been in place since Tumeremo with the discovery of 17 bodies,” chief off icers were injured. “This protest wouldn’t personal dose, should have been understood business interests for what his administration 2003 due to fears of bovine spongiform state prosecutor Luisa Ortega said via Twitter. The have happened if the government wasn’t so as (medical) dose,” judge Eugenio Fernandez sees as a “national and international boycott of encephalopathy, commonly known as “mad massacre took place near Tumeremo, in Bolivar permissive and had forced Uber out of the Carlier said in the ruling. “The amount of the Venezuela” amid low oil prices. The opposition- cow” disease. Peru will now allow beef and state, on March 4. Fights for control of illegal country,” said Freddy Contreras, a spokesman substance, easily accessed, is the amount controlled National Assembly previously struck beef products from all federally inspected mines are common in the remote, mineral-rich for the taxi drivers. As in other major cities in the that he needed, so it is deemed a legally and down the emergency measure, which then was US establishments to be eligible for export to area near the borders of Guyana and Brazil. world, cabbies in Bogota are opposed to Uber. constitutionally authorised dose.” upheld by the Supreme Court in January. Peru, Vilsack and Froman said.

Lula Pollution alert ‘accepts’ US eases Cuba post in Rousseff Cabinet trade, travel

Reuters Brasilia rules ahead of razil’s former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Bhas decided to accept a position in President Dilma Rousseff ’s Cabinet, a presidency source said yesterday, a move that would off er some protec- Obama visit tion from an investigation into money laundering. Reuters Raul Castro and of now taking a US travel to Cuba soared 77% The source, who asked not to Washington/Havana premature “victory lap.” to 161,000 visitors in 2015, ac- be identifi ed so he could speak Since Obama and Castro an- cording to Cuban government freely, said it was likely that nounced the detente in Decem- data, even though Americans Lula, an able negotiator, would he US yesterday unveiled ber 2014, the two countries have going there must fi t 12 author- take charge of legislative aff airs, new measures to make it restored diplomatic relations ised categories. where he could leverage close Tfar easier for Americans and opened embassies in Havana US offi cials say travel rose ties to congressmen from the to visit Cuba and eased limits and Washington. around 50%, a discrepancy ex- ruling Workers Party. on the use of US dollars in trade The changes announced yes- plained by Americans illicitly Lula’s appointment as min- there as President Barack Obama terday allow Cubans to open US travelling to Cuba as tourists ister was seen by government prepared to make a historic trip bank accounts and authorise through third countries. critics as a last-ditch attempt to Havana next week. those Cubans living in the US “These steps build on the ac- by the unpopular Rousseff , who Rolling out some of the most to earn a salary or compensa- tions of the last 15 months as is struggling with an economic signifi cant changes since Obama tion, which could open the door we continue to break down eco- recession and impeachment announced his opening to Cuba to American big-league baseball nomic barriers, empower the proceedings in Congress, to hold in December 2014, US offi cials teams signing Cuban players Cuban people and advance their together her divided coalition expressed hope that the further without them having to defect. fi nancial freedoms, and chart government. relaxation of travel and fi nan- “It certainly does address the a new course in US-Cuba rela- Earlier, O Globo newspaper cial rules would spur the island’s ability of Cuban athletes who tions,” US Treasury Secretary reported that Lula had informed Communist government to re- can earn salaries in the US to do Jack Lew said in a statement. several of his closest advisers spond with economic reforms so,” Ben Rhodes, Obama’s depu- Although as many as 20 mem- that he would accept a Cabinet that have been slow to come. ty national security adviser, told bers of Congress are set to travel post, ahead of a meeting with The new measures will allow reporters. with the president, the Republi- Rousseff in Brasilia yesterday. Americans to travel more eas- US offi cials declined to pre- can-led body has not moved to Brazil’s benchmark Bovespa ily to Cuba independently for dict how this might aff ect Major support Obama’s policy shift by stock index fell more than 4% educational, cultural and other League Baseball, which is in ne- lifting the broad embargo. and the Brazilian currency weak- authorised purposes without gotiations with the US and Cu- Instead, the US Treasury and ened 2.5% against the US dollar having to go in organised group ban governments. commerce departments said in on the news. tours, creating new cracks in a The relaxed travel restric- a statement they would enact Investors, who have long longstanding US ban on general tions, combined with the re- a range of changes to provide blamed Rousseff for erratic poli- tourism to the island. sumption of regularly scheduled access to US financial transac- cies they believe hurt the econ- The new rules are the latest airline service to Cuba later this tions for Cubans as well as to omy, had rallied behind Brazilian in Obama’s eff orts to chip away year, will greatly increase the broaden access to the island for assets in recent days because of at sanctions against America’s ability of Americans to visit the others. the increasing likelihood that the former Cold War foe by using once-forbidden island. The new rules will increase president might be ousted. his executive powers to sidestep American travellers the ability of Cubans in US to Lula was president from US lawmakers, who have so far will be largely bound earn stipends and salaries be- 2003-10 when the Brazilian resisted his call to lift Washing- only by the honour yond living expenses, the de- economy was riding on a global ton’s more than fi ve-decade-old system to declare that partments said. The changes commodities boom. He remains economic embargo on Cuba. their travel is au- also allow humanitarian and Brazil’s most infl uential politi- The easing comes as Obama thorised, though US other entities supporting the cian. prepares to make a March 20- officials Cuban people to establish a But his return to government 22 trip to Cuba, 145km from the said they presence there, they said. could lead to increased spend- southern tip of Florida, the fi rst would be The administration ing in the midst of a fi scal crisis. sitting US president to visit in 88 moni- earlier eased rules Lula and many Workers’ Party The sun sets behind the World Trade Centre building in Mexico City. Authorities have years. toring to allow sched- allies have said more spending issued an environmental alert for the city due to high levels of ozone and particulates Obama’s critics accuse him of the uled air service is necessary to revert dwindling brought on by weather conditions. giving up too much in return for situa- between the support for the government. too little from Cuban President tion. two countries.

Brazil town hit by dam Mexico governor for burst wants mine reopened opium cultivation Reuters corrupt local offi cials and police. Reuters Portuguese colonial era, relies on mits were it not for the spill, a li- Mexico City The disappearances sparked Mariana, Brazil the red iron ore in the surrounding cence to restart would be simple. widespread international con- hills for nearly 90% of its revenue. He said no corners would be demnation of the state of law Since the mine closed four cut, even though the application senior Mexican offi cial and order in Mexico. n November, Marcos de Freitas months ago, the line at the un- may be given priority: “Imagine has said legalising culti- Astudillo, who was elected gov- lost his home and everything employment agency has length- if we jumped a stage and there Avation of opium poppies ernor of the southwestern state last Ihe owned when a dam burst ened steadily as those looking for was another accident.” for medicinal purposes might year, said Guerrero could not tackle at a nearby mine released a fl ow of jobs surged from 300 to 1,900. Rising calls for a restart make help reduce violence in one of the violence on its own, and argued mud that buried his village. It could grow longer still if Sa- many nervous. Prosecutors the regions most aff ected by bringing poppy cultivation into the Now, sitting in a house paid marco starts to lay off its 3,000 partially blame the spill on lax brutal drug gangs that have rav- open could weaken the hold gang- for by the company responsible, direct employees. regulation and a decentralised li- aged the country for years. sters have on local farmers. he wants the mine to reopen. On Saturday, about a thou- censing system that was too eas- Hector Astudillo, governor He did not off er details of “I have nothing to complain sand people marched through ily infl uenced by economic heft. of Guerrero, one of the most how such a scheme could work about,” said the heavy set 55-year- the town centre’s cobbled streets They worry nothing has changed. violent states in Mexico, told in Mexico, which is currently old retired miner who fl ed his demanding the pit reopen. “Jus- “Money is speaking loudest,” Milenio television it was worth conducting a national review of house, one of the oldest in the de- tice yes, unemployment no!” said Antonio Carlos de Oliveira, at least exploring the possibility its policy on marijuana after the stroyed village of Bento Rodrigues, they shouted. a state prosecutor in Mariana of allowing cultivation. Supreme Court last year granted when the mud was up to his ankles. Mayor Duarte Junior worries and part of the task force set up “Let’s do some sort of pilot an advocacy group the right to “Samarco has to start produc- that government agencies are to bring an environmental case scheme,” Astudillo, a member of grow it for recreational use. ing again in order to create jobs,” dragging their feet because of the against Samarco. President Enrique Pena Nieto’s Though the marijuana ruling he said. Samarco, which is joint- high profi le of the disaster. “If “There’s no way to ensure Institutional Revolutionary Par- only applied to the group in ques- ly owned by Vale SA and BHP Samarco does not reopen we will the minimum conditions of se- ty, told Milenio in an interview. tion, it could eventually usher in Billiton, is the mine operator. start to have a problem. ... We are curity are respected or that the “Provided it’s used for medical nationwide changes. Still, Presi- The fl ood of mining waste, reaching our limit,” Junior said in environmental bodies will make issues ... It’s a way out that could dent Pena Nieto has been very known as tailings, killed 19 peo- his offi ce in City Hall. “I ask the proper supervision.” get us away from the violence there cautious about the possibility of ple, left about 800 homeless and bodies responsible to analyse Sa- The cause of the disaster re- has been in Guerrero,” he added. liberalising Mexico’s drug laws. polluted a major river, in what the marco’s case as a priority.” mains unknown. An investiga- Home to the beach resort Opium poppies are used to government called Brazil’s worst- The company needs permis- tion is not expected to publish Acapulco, Guerrero was the make opium and heroin, as well ever environmental disaster. But sion from the state’s environ- fi ndings until mid-year, but Sa- scene of the September 2014 as morphine and other pain- Freitas’ view is widely held in mental agency, Semad, and fed- marco says it can restart reduced disappearance of 43 trainee killing drugs. They can only be Mariana, just 25km from the mine. eral mining regulator DNPM. production without construct- teachers, who the government grown legally in a handful of The historic town of 60,000, Geraldo Abreu, head of environ- ing a new tailings dam and do so People wait for job opportunities in front of the building of says it believes were massacred countries, including India, Tur- built on gold mining during the mental regulation at Semad, ad- without risk of another disaster. National Employment Service in Mariana, Brazil. by a drug gang working with key and Australia. Gulf Times Wednesday, March 16, 2016 23 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN

VISA ISSUES Former Pakistani diplomat not to attend Delhi litfest

Pakistan Pakistan law former ambassa- dor to the US Husain Haqqani (pictured) will not at- on women’s tend ‘Spring Fever’, touted as one of Delhi’s oldest literary and cultural festival which began yesterday, said organisers. Citing visa issue as the reason for Haqqani’s absence, organisers said that noted Bang- ladeshi author Taslima Nasrin will protection fill his place in the festival. At its Afghan President Ashraf Ghani speaks during a joint press conference with Nato Secretary General eighth edition, the five-day festival, Jens Stoltenberg at the Presidential Palace in Kabul yesterday. Jens Stoltenberg is on an hosted by Penguin Random off icial visit to Afghanistan. House India, boasts of a stellar line up like Ramachandra Guha, Sunil Khilnani, Shashi Tharoor and more. Haqqani, an academician ‘un-Islamic’ and a journalist, was one of the main attractions of the festival, Pakistan’s religious groups tect women was promulgated to Ghani touts success and he was scheduled to attend say the controversial law accomplish the West’s agenda the session ‘Pakistan is in the eye to protect women was to destroy the family system in of the beholder’. promulgated to accomplish Pakistan,” read the joint decla- the West’s agenda to destroy ration issued at the end of the RESOLUTION the family system in the concrescence. “This act ... is against Islamic State Holi, Diwali and country redundant and would add to the miseries of women.” Easter to be Reuters The passage of the new law was Reuters “Daesh is on the run,” he through 2020, as well as other holidays in Pakistan Lahore welcomed by rights groups but Kabul said at a joint news conference issues such as foreign troop spirits have since dampened as with Nato Secretary General levels, which have been thrown conservative voices have increas- Jens Stoltenberg, responding into fl ux as the coalition seeks The Pakistan National Assembly n all-parties conference ingly called for its retraction. fghan President Ashraf to a direct question about the to prop up the struggling Af- yesterday passed a resolution to convened by Pakistan’s On Monday, Fazlur Rehman, Ghani yesterday played Taliban. “They are running for ghan forces. take steps to declare Holi, Diwali Aoldest Islamic political the chief of one of Pakistan’s Adown recent failures cover.” Before that, however, inter- and Easter as holidays for minori- party and attended by power- largest religious parties, the Ja- to jump start peace talks with “No quarter would be given” national backers are looking for ties in the country. “This house is ful religious groups asked the “Prime Minister Nawaz miat-i-Ulema Islam, said Prime the Taliban, instead choosing to Islamic State fi ghters, Ghani Kabul’s leaders to fi ght corrup- of the opinion that government government yesterday to retract Sharif heard our Minister Nawaz Sharif had to highlight recent successes added. A combination of air tion, modernise institutions, should take steps to declare an “un-Islamic” law that gives reservations against the promised him at a meeting that against the nascent Islamic strikes by US warplanes and reform the electoral process, Holi, Diwali and Easter as closed unprecedented protection to fe- Punjab Protection of he would address the reserva- State presence in Afghanistan. “massive” ground operations and protect human rights, holidays for minorities,” read the male victims of violence. Women Against Violence tions of religious parties. Taliban forces have made by Afghan forces has left Is- Stoltenberg said during his vis- resolution moved by Pakistan The Women’s Protection Act, Act 2016. He promised to “Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif signifi cant gains in recent lamic State reeling, he said. it to the Afghan capital. Muslim League-Nawaz lawmaker passed by Pakistan’s largest amend the law so that it heard our reservations against months, briefl y capturing the Stoltenberg reiterated that “The single most important Ramesh Kumar Vankwani. The province of Punjab last month, doesn’t contravene the the Punjab Protection of Women northern city of Kunduz and the coalition has no intention thing we would like to see is interior ministry has already given gives legal protection to women teachings of the holy Against Violence Act 2016. He threatening to overrun multi- of sending combat troops back that Afghanistan continue to permission to heads of federal from domestic, psychological Qur’an” promised to amend the law so ple districts in the southwest. to fi ght in Afghanistan, more implement reforms,” he said, organisations, departments, and and sexual violence. that it doesn’t contravene the The latest eff orts to bring than a year after the Nato- adding that the more progress institutions to grant leave to mi- It also calls for the creation of But since the law’s passage, teachings of the holy Qur’an,” them to the negotiating ta- coalition declared an end to its is made, the more likely it will norities on their religious festivals, a toll-free abuse reporting hot many conservative clerics and Maulana Fazl told journalists at ble faltered when the militant combat mission. be that coalition partners will State Minister for Religious Aff airs line, women’s shelters and dis- religious leaders have denounced his residence. group issued a statement re- Thousands of coalition commit to continued funding Pir Aminul Hasnat Shah told the trict-level panels to investigate it as being in confl ict with the Earlier this month, the Coun- fusing to participate. troops remain to train and ad- and troops. house. If the government adheres reports of abuse and mandates Muslim holy book, the Qur’an, cil of Islamic Ideology, a power- Ghani, facing rising domes- vise Afghan forces, but op- Nato has pledged to provide to the resolution - which it is the use of GPS bracelets to keep and the constitution. ful Pakistani religious body that tic criticism and eager to en- erations are limited to self de- $5.1bn per year to Afghanistan expected to - the interior ministry track of off enders. Yesterday, representatives of advises the government on the sure continued international fence. A US counterterrorism through 2017. will issue a notification declaring Domestic abuse, economic more than 35 religious parties compatibility of laws with Islam, aid, has publicly focused on a force continues to conduct air “The more that we see Af- the holidays. Meanwhile, Federal discrimination and acid attacks and groups came together for a declared the Women’s Protec- military campaign in eastern strikes and special forces raids ghanistan is able to fi ght cor- Minister for Laws and Justice made Pakistan the world’s third conference called by the Jamaat- tion Act un-Islamic. Afghanistan aimed at Islamic on suspected militants, includ- ruption, the easier it will be for Pervaiz Rashid said that although most dangerous country in the e-Islami party and condemned A prominent lawyer has also State, often referred to as Dae- ing those of Islamic State. me and other political leaders he was not opposing the resolu- world for women, a 2011 Thom- the women’s protection law as fi led a petition in the top Shariah sh, which has struggled to rep- In July, Nato offi cials will to mobilise the necessary po- tion, the number of holidays in son Reuters Foundation expert un-Islamic. court asking it to strike down the licate its successes in Iraq and meet in Warsaw to determine litical support,” Stoltenberg Pakistan are more than any other poll showed. “The controversial law to pro- law. Syria. the future of funding for 2018 said. country.

DIPLOMACY Turkmenistan, Pakistan to review Why did PM not announce women package on Women’s Day? TAPI project

Internews erment for announcement on for enacting a law that is said to 7, “The committee has sent the “The package was made time The Punjab government, Turkmenistan and Pakistan will on Islamabad March 8. be in violation of the teachings summary to the prime minister bound where all initiatives are which upon the enactment of Wednesday review the progress However, despite the fact that of Islam, Prime Minister Nawaz with a request to announce the mentioned with time limit of the law for protection of women on the multi-billion dollar Turk- the committee had done its job, Sharif wants to review the pack- package on March 8. Zafarul- implementation,” Zafarullah was from violence claimed credit and menistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan- ontroversy over the Nawaz Sharif avoided to an- age for women empowered in lah had added that it would be a quoted as saying. took it as an addition of a feather India (TAPI) gas pipeline project. fl awed Punjab law re- nounce the package. line with the teachings of Islam. very comprehensive package as The package was prepared as in PML-N’s hat, has now been During Turkmenistan President Ccently enacted for the Sources said the serious con- An 18-member committee - compared to the empowerment part of Action Plan on Human backfooted after the serious con- Gurbanguly Malikgulyyewic protection of women from troversy over the recently en- constituted by the prime minis- packages announced by Pun- Rights approved by the prime troversies generated by the law. Berdimuhamedov’s two-days violence had prevented Prime acted but seriously fl awed Pro- ter and headed by Federal Minis- jab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa. minister and announced by the After Chief Minister Punjab visit to Islamabad, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from an- tection of Women from Violence ter Zahid Hamid - had prepared The package, prepared by the Ministry of Human Rights re- Shahbaz Sharif’s assurance to Minister Nawaz Sharif is expected nouncing the promised “Women Act 2016 by the Punjab govern- the package for women empow- committee included initiatives cently. the protesting parties that the to talk about the progress of TAPI Empowerment Package” on the ment served as a timely caution erment for its announcement on to ensure education and health It was also announced that the law would be reviewed for im- project, Radio Pakistan reported. occasion of International Wom- for the prime minister to delay March 8. However, it was not rights, skill development, leg- Ministry of Human Rights plans provement, Prime Minister Na- The ground-breaking of the en Day March 8. any such package that may invite done by the prime minister. islation, property rights, bet- to club diff erent pro-women waz Sharif yesterday assured 1,814-km pipeline was held last Early this month the prime more trouble for the government State Minister for Human ter working environment, im- laws in one legislation. For this Maulana Fazlur Rehman that the December during Sharif’s visit to minister had constituted a high instead of addressing the issue. Rights Barrister Zafarullah Khan, plementation of quotas and purpose, a consultant has al- government is ready to address Ashgabat. The two countries are level committee to prepare the These sources said that un- who was also member of the strengthening of institutions ready been hired to prepare the the reservations about the Pun- also expected to sign a number of package for women empow- like Punjab, which is criticised committee, had said on March made for women empowerment. draft. jab law. agreements. Pakistan cuts forest loss, disaster risk with river power

Thomson Reuters Foundation tion. “The initiative holds great that maintains the hydropower tion with Pakistan’s Alternative Ahmedabad, Pakistan meaning in our lives.” plant. Energy Development Board and The village’s community- Community leaders say if they the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation run micro hydropower station can fi nd the funding, they intend Fund, plans to install more than n her home in the remote - built in 2008 by the Aga Khan to expand the project and pro- 100 small-scale hydropower Hunza valley, Gul Mehreen Rural Support Programme with vide electricity to an additional plants in the upper Indus Ba- Ismiles as she places a tea ket- backing from the United States 1,400 households in nearby Ka- sin areas of Chitral district and tle on the electric stove in her Department of Agriculture and rimabad and Altit villages. Gilgit-Baltistan province in next immaculate kitchen. the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Shahana Khan, a development few years. As she makes tea for guests, Fund - produces about 190 kilo- projects manager for the Aga Much of the funding, from the farmer jokes about “how watts of electricity an hour. Khan Rural Support Programme, international and national non- amazingly enjoyable” cooking That’s enough to supply power said small-scale hydropower is governmental organisations, is has become since a small-scale to 144 homes in Ahmedabad and a natural for mountain villages already in place, he said. hydropower generator was in- nearly 110 in the nearby villages with access to rivers, and is a Uddin said the plants will cut stalled nearby. Her visitors nod of Sultanabad and Faizabad. good way of ensuring access to deforestation, reduce Pakistan’s and burst into happy laughter. Such small-scale hydropower clean energy. carbon footprint and provide In this picturesque village, plants are proving a key way to A key, she said, is that such off -grid mountain communities perched above the gushing tur- provide power in remote, off - facilities “are owned, run and with aff ordable, clean and reli- quoise waters of the Hunza grid areas of power-short Pa- maintained by the communi- able electricity. river, and with a view of the kistan, while at the same time ties.” Ahmedabad’s women, includ- 8,000-metre Rakaposhi moun- helping protect the environ- Pakistan could generate ing Nasreen Gul, a 27-year-old tain, in Pakistan’s Karakoram ment. around 100,000 megawatts of vegetable farmer, say the ben- range, women once had to walk Besides making life easier for hydroelectricity, through both efi ts are clear. for miles to collect fi rewood each people in the villages, in Paki- large and small hydropower “When we burned wood for day. stan’s Gilgit-Baltistan province, projects, according to a 2006 fuel, the smoke from the stove For the last eight years, how- hydropower has slowed de- report by the Pakistan Alter- would spread throughout our ever, hydropower has supplied forestation - rampant in many native Energy Development home and we would cough and the village’s energy needs, and mountain areas of Pakistan - and Board. feel pain in our eyes,” she said. life has gotten much easier, said cut landslide risks as more trees Some 60% of that could come “Now cooking food and do- Mehreen, who has an electric are left standing to hold the soil, Hunza hydropower plant has made lives easier for inhabitants. at spots identifi ed in the river- ing other chores in the kitchen stove, electric oven and electric local people say. rich, mountainous northwest of has become considerably easier lights, fi tted with energy-saving “Now no one chops down forests in the mountains nearby has changed Ahmedabad from a “Now our children don’t skip the country, it said. and stress-free. We use an elec- bulbs. trees to harvest fuelwood,” said “are coming back to life,” he said. village that “lived in darkness” school. They fi nd enough time Jamil Uddin, who manages de- tric stove as electricity is much “With the availability of elec- Ghulam Raza, an environmen- Social development activ- to one where children can now at home to study and fi nish their velopment projects in the Gilgit- cheaper and readily available,” tricity we have been relieved of talist who works in the area with ist Ghulam Sarwar, who works study by electric light at night, schoolwork even after sun- Baltistan region for the Aga Khan said Gul - who now has an elec- such burdensome work,” she told a range of non-governmental or- for the Aga Khan Rural Support and no longer miss school to help set,” said Ali Gohar, a member Rural Support Programme, said tric iron and an electric washing the Thomson Reuters Founda- ganisations. As a result, natural Programme, said hydropower their families collect fi rewood. of the community committee his organisation, in collabora- machine as well. Gulf Times 24 Wednesday, March 16, 2016 PHILIPPINES Binay denies allegations of money laundering

By Reina Tolentino Manila Times

ice President Jejomar Binay dismissed as mere allegations a supposed Anti-Money VLaundering Council (AMLC) report that he got billions from infrastructure projects in Makati City. “This one’s for the books I tell you. For one year and a half we were investigated by the Senate, Former US vice-president Al Gore speaks as he delivers a video presentation at a climate change forum in Manila. whose job is in aid of legislation,” he said during a sortie in La Union. “Allegations are not evidence. Corruption is a criminal liability. The only time that you can be touted as corrupt is when you are convicted by the courts. It’s not when you are being accused,” Binay, Jejomar Binay: denial Philippines should walk away the standard bearer of the United Nationalist Op- position (UNA), said. to prove its allegations – it began asking the court UNA president Navotas representative Toby to drop or exclude numerous accounts of several Tiangco said that the AMLC corrected twice its respondents. The AMLC claimed these accounts do from coal plant expansion: Gore petition for asset protection fi led in November last not contain any funds that can be forfeited by the year before the Manila Regional Trial Court and ad- State,” he said. mitted that Binay has one bank account containing “For more than six months, these accounts have Thomson Reuters Foundation year approved the construc- “Climate change is causing Philippines’ electricity came P1.7mn and not billions as it earlier claimed. been subjected to a thorough examination by the Manila tion of 25 new coal-fi red power massive disruption, confl ict, from fossil fuels, said Kenneth The agency also asked the court to drop Agrifor- AMLC. The account holders became objects of rid- plants, said Philippines Senator hunger, infrastructure destruc- Berlin, president of the Climate tuna and JC Binay Foundation from the petition. icule and character assassination. And now AMLC Loren Legarda. tion and is aff ecting the global Reality Project, which aims to Binay’s camp said this is an admission that there says they goofed?” he added. limate change activ- “While more and more coun- economy. It is also threaten- spur action on climate change. is no evidence to link these two entities to alleged The UNA president also reiterated that Binay is ist and former US Vice tries are shifting to renewable ing political stability in many That year, geothermal and illegal activities. ready to face all accusations in a court of law, but CPresident Al Gore has energy, we are still moving to- regions. That’s why we need hydropower accounted for Tiangco blasted the AMLC for its inconsistencies he would not let those resorting to criminal acts to urged the Philippines govern- wards the use of coal,” she said. to act and fi nd solutions that about 13% and 12% of electrical and fl ip-fl opping, which he said showcases clear malign him with impunity. ment to end its dependence Gore said that the costs of work,” Gore said. production, respectively, with abuse of authority. “This latest chapter in the well-funded and to polluting coal-fi red power producing energy from wind, He said moving away from solar, wind and biomass pro- “In the petition it fi led with the RTC, the AMLC well-planned black propaganda plot against the stations, particularly given the solar power and geothermal the use of coal would improve viding only one%. alleged, under oath, that all accounts mentioned vice president is unprecedented in scale and vi- rapidly dropping prices of re- energy are all coming down, the energy security of the Phil- Berlin said some of the barri- contain illegal funds belonging to the vice presi- ciousness. That their determination to convict him newable energy. and that in a growing number ippines in the future. ers to expanding use of renew- dent. However, just as the hearings of the case were through publicity came at a crucial period in the Gore, founder of the non- of rural communities around According to Legarda, the able energy in the Philippines about to begin – where the AMLC will be required campaign is condemnable,” Tiangco added. profi t Climate Reality Project, the world renewable energy is Philippines needs another include lengthy and compli- said in a speech to more than as widely used as traditional 13,000 megawatts of power cated regulatory, permitting, 700 climate action leaders be- power sources. generating capacity by 2030, and construction procedures; TRAGEDY ing trained in Manila that while Changing energy systems is with about 8,500 of those ex- complex and uncertain project OFW awaiting repatriation from Riyadh dies the Philippines is making sig- crucial because climate impacts pected to come from coal. fi nancing conditions such as nifi cant eff orts to deal with are putting lives in danger as a Consumption of coal by the limits to foreign investment A distressed overseas Filipino ippine Overseas Labour Office around 50 years old who either climate impacts it also needs to result of fi ercer typhoons, long- Philippines rose 27% between and ownership; and infrastruc- worker (OFW) in the Kingdom of (POLO) in Exit 8, Riyadh. ran away or was abandoned by build a new energy infrastruc- er droughts, more fl ooding and 2012 and 2014, she said. ture and grid constraints. Saudi Arabia (KSA) died over the Berja was fetched by an am- his employer. ture. rising seas, he said. Legarda said she would push “We have to bear in mind that weekend, a report disclosed. bulance from the government Berja was said to be afflicted “We have the solutions at The former vice president, for a ban on the construction increasingly renewable energy John Leonard Monterona of shelter reportedly at about 4pm with diabetes and was an am- hand to address climate change. after arriving in the Philippines, of new coal-fi red power plants is cheaper, cleaner, and more Migrante International-Saudi Ara- and was brought to the nearby putee when he was admitted to Shift to renewable energy,” Gore visited Tacloban City, one of in the country and introduce an reliable than fossil fuels. Tran- bia said Jose Berja, an undocu- Mouwasat Hospital. A Filipino Estiraha on February 23. urged Monday. “The age of re- the areas worst hit by Typhoon energy-effi ciency bill as part sition to a clean energy econo- mented migrant worker, suffered contact at the hospital said Berja It was learned that Berja’s wife is newable energy is beginning.” Haiyan, and talked to survivors. of eff orts to reduce climate- my will benefi t the country and a fatal cardiac arrest on March 12 died at about 7pm the same day. also in Riyadh working as a staff While many countries are More than 6,000 people died changing emissions in the Phil- create jobs. We must remove while he was staying at Estiraha, No details on Berja’s identity at Bahay Kalinga, a women’s adopting more clean energy, in the 2013 typhoon, and more ippines. barriers to the deployment of a temporary shelter provided by were available at the time of shelter managed by the Philip- the Philippines government last than 4mn were left homeless. In 2014, about 74% of the renewable energy,” Berlin said. the Philippine Embassy and Phil- this report, except that he was pine government.

Tough life Soldiers die Polls ‘can be held in ambush on time despite by militants court verdict’ DPA Manila By William B Depasupil is provided by Smartmatic. It is Manila Times a voting software programme wo soldiers were killed customised for Philippine elec- yesterday in an ambush by tions that would be installed in Tsuspected militants in the he elections may still be the VCMs. southern Philippines, a military held as scheduled on May The Comelec has signed a commander said. T9 even if the Supreme P35mn contract with SLI for the The army intelligence offi cers Court (SC) will deny the mo- review of the source code. were riding a motorcycle when tion for reconsideration (MR) of But Bautista said that a new they were attacked in a village the Commission on Elections review of the source code would in Patikul town on Jolo island, (Comelec) seeking a reversal of mean another payment. 1,000 kilometres south of Ma- its ruling on the issuance of vot- Asked if it is possible not to nila, Brigadier General Alan Ar- ing receipts, Comelec chairman conduct another source code re- rojado said. Juan Andres Bautista said. view, Bautista said that it can be The soldiers were on their way Bautista yesterday said that done but it has a corresponding back to their camp from a meet- if the vote counting machines risk.“The quality of the voting ing with an informant, he said. (VCMs) will no longer need a receipt will have no safeguards, “They were apparently moni- new trusted build, then the elec- it will have no hash code, pre- tored by Abu Sayyaf spotters,” tions will not be delayed. cinct number, among others, Arrojado said. The Comelec chief said Smart- to ensure that it is an authentic The Abu Sayyaf terror- Children swim at the sea near houses constructed on the breakwater at Manila Bay. Families living beside the shore are matic Corp informed them that a receipt,” Bautista said, adding ist group has been blamed for vulnerable to storm surges during a typhoon. new trusted build is needed but that without a security feature many deadly terrorist attacks they have yet to wait for the advice “the receipts from Quezon City in the Philippines as well as of the Comelec Advisory Council can be interchanged with the re- high-profile kidnappings of before making a decision. ceipts of voters from Cebu.” foreign hostages. CRIME “If we don’t need (a new Bautista stressed that it would The militants have threat- Former justice secretary says local bank officials liable over cyber heist trusted build for the source code) be better if the SC will reverse its ened to execute three foreign we will stick to our timeline. decision so that the preparations hostages — two Canadians and The cross-border transfer of $81mn hacked from an account of the money cycled into the local financial system remains legitimate,” But if the advice is we need it, for the nearing elections can a Norwegian — and a Filipino Bank of Bangladesh with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is the former justice chief said. De Lima backed the stance of Securi- then we need to decide on that,” proceed smoothly. woman abducted on September alarming for the Philippines because it shows a local bank’s non- ties and Exchange Commission chairman Teresita Herbosa that the Bautista said. Election watchdog Kontra 21 from a resort on the south- compliance with regulatory policies, former Justice Secretary Leila Anti-Money Laundering Law should be amended to cover casinos If the decision is to install a Daya yesterday however said that ern island of Samal Island. de Lima said, Manila Times reported. “Despite provisions of the AMLA and other establishments known for high cash flows as among the new trusted build, the Comelec the Comelec’s refusal to issue re- They have given authori- (the Philippines’ Anti-Money Laundering Law) and regulations of the institutions subject to AMLC compliance. needs to call its international ceipts has only raised doubts on ties one month from March 8 Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) being already in place, such The Senate started its investigation of the issue yesterday but RCBC certifi cation agency, the SLI the outcome of the elections. to pay a ransom of 1bn pesos a huge amount still found its way to what appears to be fictitious ac- Jupiter Branch bank manager Maia Santos-Deguito refused to Global Solutions (SLI), which is “Why refuse safeguards? Why ($21.2mn) for each of the hos- counts opened at the Jupiter Branch of the RCBC without raising any answer questions. De Lima, however, is not convinced of Deguito’s based in Denver, Colorado, to re- reject measures for transpar- tages. alarm bells from RCBC authorities. This indicates a breakdown in the innocence. “I urge RCBC Bank Manager Maia Santos-Deguito to tell view the new source code. ency? Comelec’s actions points In a video released last bank’s compliance with BSP and AMLC regulatory policies,” de Lima all that she knows. Undoubtedly, either she is the lone culprit or the As certifi er, SLI will make sure to something sinister. By its re- week, Canadians John Ridsdel said, referring to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank). convenient scapegoat in this crime,” she said. that the source code submitted fusal to implement safeguards, and Robert Hall and Norwe- RCBC is the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. “But since it is highly unlikely that she was the mastermind, she re- by Smartmatic meets the speci- Comelec itself is the one un- gian Kjartan Sekkingstad were “Banks and other financial institutions should hold the highest level mains to be the key in unravelling this complex hacking and money- fi cations and performance re- dermining the credibility of the shown kneeling in front of of integrity to continue earning the trust of depositors and investors. laundering operation, and is therefore indispensable in identifying quired and adheres to what the elections results,” said Kontra armed men and in handcuffs. As frontliners, these institutions have the responsibility to make sure the people actually behind it,” de Lima added. Comelec needs. The source code Daya convenor Danilo Arao. Gulf Times Wednesday, March 16, 2016 25 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL Chinese man Bangladesh central in Manila given bank chief resigns millions from Reuters ippines, and the money was Dhaka further diverted to casinos there. cyber heist More than $30mn of the money that was stolen was angladesh’s central bank handed over in cash to an eth- Reuters account and some of the money governor Atiur Rahman nic Chinese man in Manila, a Manila was converted to pesos. Bresigned yesterday fol- Philippines senator looking CCTV cameras at the branch lowing demands of account- into the suspected laundering were not functioning when the ability from the government scheme said. ore than $30mn of the money was withdrawn, RCBC’s after $81mn was stolen from the Bangladesh Bank offi cials have money hackers stole anti-money laundering head, bank’s US account in one of the said there is little hope of appre- Mfrom the Bangladesh Laurinda Rogero, told the Senate largest cyber heists ever. hending the perpetrators and central bank’s account at the hearing. Rahman, who returned to recovering the money would be New York Fed was delivered in The president of a foreign ex- Dhaka late on Monday after at- diffi cult and could take months. cash to a Chinese casino junket change broker called Philrem tending a weekend International Rahman’s exit could be a blow operator in Manila, offi cials told Service Corp, Salud Bautista, Monetary Fund conference in to Bangladesh, a South Asian na- a Philippines Senate hearing told the hearing her company New Delhi, said that Prime Min- tion of 160mn. The country has yesterday. was instructed over the phone ister Sheikh Hasina had accepted been aspiring to reach middle- A further $50mn was split by the bank branch manager his resignation. income status, and Rahman was between a casino resort and a to transfer the funds to a man The government also fi red two seen as one of the driving forces gaming fi rm in the Philippines, named Weikang Xu and the two deputy governors of the bank, Fi- helping Dhaka towards that goal. where bank accounts that fi rst casinos. nance Minister Abul Maal Abdul A former development eco- received the funds were opened Guingona, the senator, said Xu Muhith said, days after blaming nomics professor, Rahman took in 2015 as part of what offi cials was an ethnic Chinese foreigner it for keeping the government in over as the central bank governor now believe was an elaborately but did not know if he was from the dark about the theft. in May 2009, and was nearing planned laundering scheme. mainland China. Rahman, 65, said he resigned the end of his second term. “Our money trail ended up at Bautista said $29mn ended to set an example in a country One of his signature achieve- the casinos,” Julia Bacay Abad, up in an account of Solaire, a where there is not much prec- ments has been shoring up the executive director of the Anti- casino resort owned and op- edence of accountability and to country’s foreign exchange re- Money Laundering Council, told erated by Bloombery Resorts uphold the image of the central serves, which have increased the open hearing. Corp. Bloombery is controlled bank. four-fold to $28bn under his She said her agency had frozen by Enrique Razon, the Philip- “I took responsibility,” watch. 44 accounts connected to the pines’ fi fth-richest man in 2015, Rahman said. He also tried to ensure farmers case and had requested assist- according to Forbes. A former fi nance secretary, and women entrepreneurs had ance from the US’ Federal Bureau Silverio Benny Tan, corporate Fazle Kabir, would be the new better access to banking services of Investigation (FBI). secretary of Bloomberry Resorts, governor, the fi nance minister and credit. Former Bangladesh bank governor Atiur Rahman talks to media at his home in Dhaka yesterday. Teofi sto Guingona, head of the told the hearing that the $29mn said. “He has set a good example Senate’s anti-corruption com- was transferred into a casino Unknown hackers breached by taking the responsibility for The central bank had not in- at the central bank, saying he rensics division is helping in- mittee, said ahead of the hearing account under Xu’s name in ex- the computer systems of Bang- this incident,” said Wahid Ud- formed him about the theft at the was proud of his achievements vestigate the cyber heist. The that cash deliveries were made to change for ‘dead chips’ that can ladesh Bank and attempted to din Mahmud, a professor of time, he said. there. He described the heist as bank has also been in touch with an ethnic Chinese man over sev- only be cashed in from winnings. steal $951mn from its account at economics at Dhaka University. On Monday, the minister an “earthquake” and said the the Fed and other US authori- eral days from a foreign exchange Bautista said a further $21mn the Federal Reserve Bank of New The pressure to remove Rah- raised the issue at a cabinet bank had promptly informed in- ties, including the FBI and the broker. went to an account of Eastern York, which it uses for inter- man built up over the weekend, meeting, where Hasina said that telligence agencies in Bangladesh Department of Justice. These were made up of 600mn Hawaii Leisure Co, a gaming national settlements, between after Muhith publicly expressed the central bank should be held and abroad and also brought “After doing all these meas- pesos ($12.87mn) and around fi rm in northern Philippines. February 4 and February 5. his annoyance that he learned responsible for the loss, an of- in international experts to ures and getting a clear picture, $18mn, which meant the junket Eastern Hawaii offi cials were not They managed to transfer about the heist only a month fi cial who was the meeting said. investigate. we informed the fi nance minister operator would have received a available to comment. $81mn to entities in the Phil- after the fact from the media. Rahman defended his record FireEye Inc’s Mandiant fo- in writing,” Rahman said. haul made up of at least 780,000 State prosecutors said a com- banknotes. plaint has been lodged by the The details shine a partial Anti-Money Laundering Coun- Nepal launches light on what happened after last cil against the manager of the month’s cyber-heist of Bangla- RCBC branch and the holders of plan to eradicate desh Bank’s account at the Fed- accounts into which the mon- hunger Lanka rations power after worst blackout eral Reserve Bank of New York, ey was originally deposited. A which netted hackers more than council offi cial said that more The Nepalese government $80mn. people were likely to be named. has launched an action plan AFP to ration electricity across the half hours during the day and power minister criticised the The hackers tried to withdraw The branch manager, Maia to eradicate hunger from the Colombo country on a staggered basis,” two hours at night — the offi - Chinese-built plant in 2014, about $951mn from the account Santos-Deguito, has denied any country by 2025, the media a board offi cial said. cial said, without saying how saying it had broken down but the other transactions were wrongdoing and in an interview reported yesterday. long the rationing would last. more than 35 times in the fi rst blocked after a typo in one of the with the local ANC TV chan- Nepal and UN Food and ri Lanka announced “We will need a few days Authorities are probing the three years of operation. instructions raised red fl ags. nel said she was being used as a Agriculture Organisation (FAO) lengthy daily power cuts more to get this power cause of an explosion and fi re Sunday’s was the sec- Bangladesh Bank suspects the scapegoat. have joined hands for this Snationwide as the state- station online and this at a main distribution centre ond major power failure in money was sent to the Philip- Asked if she gave instructions initiative, Xinhua news agency run electricity monopoly means we need to ration outside the capital Colombo less than a month, following pines in four tranches and, once to Philrem to transfer the funds, reported citing a statement by struggled to restore supply af- electricity across the on Sunday that caused the en- a three-hour disruption in there, was diverted to casinos. she told the hearing that she FAO. ter the island’s worst blackout country on a staggered tire electricity grid to switch late February, and the worst It has said it is working with the would answer all questions in a The national action plan on the in 20 years. basis” off automatically. since May 1996 when the anti-money laundering authori- closed-door session if given the Zero Hunger Initiative in Nepal The Ceylon Electricity Power and Energy Minister entire country was without ties in the Philippines to recover opportunity. (2016-2025) was jointly launched Board said its main Chinese- Several small plants are Ranjith Siyambalapitiya has electricity for four days. the funds. Senator Guingona said that by Nepalese Prime Minister K built coal-fi red power plant now supplying power to the said authorities have not ruled The latest outage came as an The Philippines’ Rizal Com- because casinos are not covered P Sharma Oli and FAO director that supplied more than half whole of the country until out sabotage. investigation was under way mercial Banking Corp (RCBC) by the country’s anti-money general Jose Graziano da Silva in the country’s electricity was the 900-megawatt plant is The country, which suf- into last month’s embarrass- said last week it was investigat- laundering laws it was not clear Kathmandu. still offl ine following a massive restarted, but cannot pro- fers sporadic power cuts, was ing disruption during a visit by ing $81mn deposited at one of its if the stolen funds could be The Nepalese prime minister system breakdown on Sunday. duce enough electricity to go plunged into darkness for at New Zealand Prime Minister branches. recovered. said that Nepal is committed to “We will need a few days around. least seven hours on Sunday John Key, who had described Senator Guingona said the “The paper trail ends there. meeting the target before the more to get this power station The cuts will occur for seven before electricity was restored. Sri Lanka as a shining light in transfers into RCBC were sub- That is the problem,” he said. deadline. online and this means we need and a half hours — fi ve and a The former government’s Asia. sequently consolidated into one “Right now we are at a dead end.” As per the action plan, the Nepalese government will focus on increasing production of agriculture, utilisation of barren land, irrigation facility, year round food availability and eliminating stunting in infants. IS group claims Instability in Nepal hampers India: killing of preacher Foreign secretary Visiting Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar yesterday stressed the need for political stability in in Bangladesh Nepal and, in a common message to the political leadership in the Himalayan nation, said any AFP Monday night after he shut centre in the southern city of instability in the country has Dhaka down his shop and was head- Khulna, said Razzaq had been direct impact on India. ing back to his village,” local following the Shia form of the During his meetings with the top police chief Anwar Hossain religion “for over 20 years”. political leadership of Nepal, he he Islamic State (IS) said, giving a diff erent spell- In January the IS group said India wanted to see a stable group said yesterday ing for the fi rst name. claimed responsibility for and developed Nepal and also a Tit killed a Bangladeshi the murder of an 85-year-old Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, top centre, marches with activists supporting the ruling quick resolution of the political who was hacked to death “Unidentifi ed attackers man in the same district. party in Colombo yesterday. impasse that had developed since this week, describing the hacked Abdur Razzaq, The group said the mur- last September. victim as a top Shia preach- 45, to death with sharp dered man, Samir al-Din, was Jaishankar, who arrived on er — a claim the country’s weapons on Monday a preacher who had converted Monday night to participate in authorities reject. night aft er he shut to Christianity from Islam. the Saarc ministerial meeting Police confi rmed that the down his shop and was His family and police said he Lanka’s ruling party launches in Pokhara, held separate talks man named in an IS state- heading back to his had later switched back to with Prime Minister K P Sharma ment, Abdul Razzaq, was village” Islam. Oli, agitating Madhesi leaders, killed on Monday night In recent months, the IS newly-elected Nepali Congress but rejected the IS claim of “We’re investigating the also said it was behind a series protest against opposition president Sher Bahadur Deuba responsibility. motive but it was not carried of attacks targeting foreigners and former premier Baburam IS has claimed a series out by the IS.” and minorities including Shia, Bhattarai. of killings in Bangladesh, IS said in a statement Ahmadi and Sufi Muslims, IANS a protest march, Xinhua reported. a presidential election in Janu- A PMO statement said Oli and but authorities deny that its fi ghters in Bangladesh Hindus and Christians. Colombo Hundreds of UNP supporters ary last year and in August, the Jaishankar discussed a wide it has a presence there “were able to assassinate Police have instead blamed also took part, voicing criticism United National Party led by range of issues and India said it and instead blame local the polytheist apostate the banned militant group against the opposition. Wickremesinghe won a parlia- wanted to see a peaceful, stable Islamist groups. Hafi dh Abdul Razzaq, one Jamayetul Mujahideen Bang- ri Lanka’s ruling United The Joint Opposition, which mentary election. In September, and prosperous Nepal. They also Police said the latest victim of the top preachers for the ladesh for the upsurge in National Party (UNP) consists of opposition parlia- Sirisena’s Sri Lanka Freedom discussed the progress made was a homeopathic medi- Rafi dha (Shia) religion,” ac- deadly violence. Sheld a protest in Colombo mentarians loyal to Rajapakse, Party (SLFP) and Wickremesin- after Oli’s visit to India last month. cine practitioner who owned cording to US monitoring Bangladesh has been yesterday against the Joint Op- said that it will hold a series of ghe’s ruling UNP joined hands to In his meeting with Madhesi a shop in the southwestern group SITE. plagued by unrest in the last position which groups former protests this month against the form a united government. leaders, he said he will push for a town of Kaliganj. Bangladesh police said the three years. Experts say a president Mahinda Rajapakse. united government of President However, members of the resolution of their demands with “Unidentifi ed attackers victim was a Sunni Muslim. long-running political crisis Several parliamentarians and Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Joint Opposition blame the gov- Oli and Deuba, who is president of hacked Abdur Razzaq, 45, to But Ibrahim Khalil Rizvi, has radicalised opponents of members of the UNP gathered at Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. ernment for a high cost of living the largest party in parliament. death with sharp weapons on who heads a Shia education the government. the Town Hall in Colombo and held Sirisena defeated Rajapakse in and a sluggish economy. Gulf Times 26 Wednesday, March 16, 2016 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Editor-in-Chief : Darwish S Ahmed Production Editor: C P Ravindran Policymakers ensuring

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar [email protected] Africa’s continued rise Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) There is much that resources is the roughly $380bn in notably young people and women. intra-African trade. Policymakers Fax 44350474 policymakers can do to put pension assets held by just 10 African From 2006 to 2013, inequality rose must make it easier to move goods countries. Policymakers should be in many of the continent’s most across borders, by improving Africa back on an upward leveraging these considerable sums. important economies, including South connectivity between countries and trajectory At the same time, African countries Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, and reducing bureaucratic hurdles and will have to fi nd a way to diversify Rwanda. administrative costs. For example, By Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala their economies. Diversifi cation These were challenges that we were road transport tariff s across Africa Lagos requires investment in the future, starting to address in Nigeria when I are estimated at $0.05-$0.13 per ton- GULF TIMES in the form of education and well- was fi nance minister. We knew that kilometre, compared to the average developed infrastructure, including we needed not just to secure growth, of $0.01-$0.05 for all developing frica’s rise is in danger of telecommunications, power, roads, but also to improve the quality of that countries. faltering. After years during rail, and water. growth. The Rift Valley Railway project, which the continent’s There are plenty of models to To that end, policymakers must which will eventually link Mombasa Gulf needs to dig in Aeconomy grew at an average follow: Dubai, Singapore, Thailand, ensure that growth is channelled on the Kenyan coast to Kampala annual rate of 5%, global uncertainty, Malaysia, Mexico, Indonesia, and into sectors that create jobs, such in Uganda, is a good example of depressed commodity prices, and South Korea are all admired by as agriculture, manufacturing, and the benefi ts that investments in jittery external conditions are Africans as economies that managed services. They may also have to transportation could provide. The for lower oil price threatening to undermine decades to transform themselves. Dubai, redistribute income and strengthen African Development Bank estimates of much-needed progress. Ensuring for example, set out more than social safety nets to protect better that it will double the volume of trade the wealth and well-being of the three decades ago to prepare for a those at the bottom of the ladder. between the two countries, while continent’s residents will not be easy; future without oil. The government Matching skills to job opportunities reducing marginal costs by 30%. levels for long but there is much that policymakers implemented a step-by-step will be crucial. Some 70% of Africa’s As they make these investments, can do to put Africa back on an upward transformation of the country into population is under 30, and the policymakers must not forget trajectory. a service economy, putting in place continent is home to half the world’s that much of Africa’s recent Global oil market is still too fl uid to eff ectively factor First and foremost, policymakers the infrastructure and incentives primary-school-age children who growth can be credited to good in the direction of prices. must secure the fi nancing needed necessary to build up fi nancial have been deprived of the opportunity macroeconomic policies and sound to pursue sustainable development services, tourism, medical services, to study. Off ering Africa’s children economic management. Extending For sure, there is an increasing hope that members of in an uncertain global environment. real estate, media, arts, and culture. basic reading, writing, and technology the continent’s rise will require the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, The World Bank estimates that South Korea and Singapore, which had skills, as well as vocational, technical, strengthening the continent’s along with non-members, may be moving toward Africa will require at least $93bn a few natural resources on which to rely, and entrepreneurial training, must be economic fundamentals. year to fund its infrastructure needs are no less inspiring. a top priority. This means ensuring that prices in a consensus to support prices in an oversupplied alone. Climate-friendly, sustainable The secret behind these countries’ Weak healthcare systems must the economy are correct, starting with market. The Brent touched its highest level since infrastructure will cost even more. success is relentlessly focused leaders, also be strengthened in order to the exchange rate. Some countries December of 5.5% on March 7 to settle above $40.84 a And yet, as long as global growth whether entrenched but benign tackle the endemic diseases that may need temporary controls to remains weak, Africans cannot count dictators or democratically elected sap productivity, such as malaria, curb damaging capital outfl ows, but barrel, while US crude jumped 5.5% to $37.90. Prices on developed countries to fully honour politicians with a shared vision of a as well as improving preparedness policymakers should aim for a market- have risen more than 40% since the 12-year lows hit their commitments to help attain the broad-based economy. Sub-Saharan for outbreaks of deadly epidemics. based exchange rate and a solid plan two months ago. Sustainable Development Goals. Africa has paths for diversifi ed The stakes are high. The World Bank for governing infl ation, debt, foreign- Africa must rapidly develop its growth that many of the trailblazers estimates the Ebola outbreak shrank exchange reserves, current accounts, Just as some green off shoots of optimism in the own resources, beginning by nearly did not: value-added agriculture the economies of Sierra Leone, and fi scal balances. market start getting more pronounced, oil prices fell doubling tax revenues. Across Sub- and agro industry, the processing of Guinea, and Liberia by 16%. Africa’s potential can hardly be yesterday as concerns rose that a six-week recovery Saharan Africa, tax revenues account mineral resources, petrochemical As the world economy sputters, African overstated. The continent is well for less than one-fi fth of GDP, complexes, manufacturing of durable countries will have to develop trade with placed to build diversifi ed economies may have run out of steam due to ongoing oversupply. compared to more than one-third in and consumer goods, tourism and one another. In 2013, African goods and based on low-carbon, sustainable The drops followed the Opec forecast that the demand OECD countries. This means there is entertainment, and an emerging services accounted for just 16% of trade infrastructure. But policymakers for its crude will average 31.52mn bpd in 2016, down plenty of room for improvement. From information-technology sector. within the continent, and just over 3% cannot simply assume that Africa’s 1990 to 2004, for example, Ghana As the necessary measures for of world trade. One problem is that most rise will continue. They must take the 90,000 bpd from last month’s forecast. reformed its tax system and raised diversifi cation are implemented, African countries produce the same type right steps to ensure that it does. – While Russian and Saudi Arabian oil production revenues from 11% to 22% of GDP. policymakers must ensure that the of commodities and trade them with Project Syndicate remains stable above 10mn bpd after a preliminary Admittedly, such progress is diffi cult; economic growth they are pursuing very little value-added. Policymakers in Nigeria, we saw an opportunity creates jobs. Sadly, this has not must encourage greater specialisation; zNgozi Okonjo-Iweala is a former deal in January to freeze output levels, analysts say in raising non-oil tax revenues, but always been the case. Much of the diff erentiated goods and services will add fi nance minister of Nigeria, and a that Iran has upped its production following the struggled to seize it. recent growth has benefi ted only a value and volume to trade. distinguished visiting fellow at the removal of global sanctions. And the output freeze Another source of domestic few, leaving many behind – most Logistics pose another obstacle to Center for Global Development. decision may not have a decisive impact on the market without a meaningful participation by Iran. Stakes, no doubt, are higher for the Gulf Co- operation Council countries. Government fi nances in the region are expected to see a defi cit There sure are of around $160bn early signs of in 2015 due to lower oil revenues, Kamco oil markets Research said yesterday. rebalancing by The Gulf Organisation for Industrial end-2016 Consulting (Goic) has urged GCC members to start looking for new sources of income to fi nance their budgets. Income from oil, which accounts for about 47% of GCC economies and 75% of the budgets, should drop to about $287bn in The Nairobi-Mombasa overnight train with Kilimanjaro on the horizon. The Rift Valley Railway project, which will eventually link Mombasa on the Kenyan coast to 2016 “should oil prices remain the same,” Goic said. Kampala in Uganda, is a good example of the benefits that investments in transportation could provide. GCC countries, no doubt, have had notable success in diversifying away from hydrocarbon revenues as well as coping well with the oil fall by banking on their fi scal reserves and initiating some policy reforms. But the fact remains that it’s still largely the oil-driven Confronting the fi scal bogeyman sovereign spending that fi lters down to the wider Gulf economies. By Barry Eichengreen their cost of doing business. Because every other economic indicator show). its citizens have been suspicious of Lower oil prices, according to Goic, should serve Berkeley households can resort to safe-deposit In Germany, ideological aversion to federal government power, including as a welcome opportunity for the GCC to focus on boxes, it’s hard for banks to charge budget defi cits runs deep. It is rooted the power to run defi cits, which is depositors for safekeeping their funds. in the post-World War II doctrine of fundamentally a federal prerogative. long-term economic reforms. Gradual lifting of he world economy is In a weak economy, moreover, banks “ordoliberalism”, which counseled From independence through the Civil subsidies, particularly on hydrocarbons; shift towards visibly sinking, and the have little ability to pass on their costs that government should enforce War, that suspicion was strongest in renewable energy; deeper role of the private sector policymakers who are via higher lending rates. In Europe, contracts and ensure adequate the American South, where it was supposed to be its stewards where experimentation with negative competition but otherwise avoid rooted in the fear that the federal in development; preparing Gulf citizens for a bigger T are tying themselves in knots. Or interest rates has gone furthest, bank interfering in the economy. government might abolish slavery. participation in the private sector; diversifi cation of so suggest the results of the G-20 distress is clearly visible. Adherence to this doctrine In the mid-twentieth century, the export base and taxation all command greater summit held in Shanghai at the end of prevented postwar German during the civil rights movement, last month. Someone needs policymakers from being tempted it was again the Southern political attention now. The International Monetary Fund by excesses like those of Hitler and elite that opposed the muscular use There sure are early signs of oil markets rebalancing (IMF), having just downgraded its to do something Stalin. But the cost was high. The of federal power. Starting in 1964, by end-2016. Even with a glimmer of hope for a forecast for global growth, warned ordoliberal emphasis on personal in conjunction with Democratic the assembled G-20 attendees that to keep the world responsibility fostered an unreasoning president Lyndon Baines Johnson’s gradual turnaround in prices, it may still be too early yet another downgrade was pending. hostility to the idea that actions that “New Society”, the government for GCC policymakers to price in higher oil in their Despite this, all that emerged from the economy afl oat, and are individually responsible do not threatened to withhold federal funding meeting was an anodyne statement automatically produce desirable for health, education and other planning. An unenviable regime of relatively lower about pursuing structural reforms central banks are the aggregate outcomes. In other words, state and local programmes from oil prices, contrasted with the consistent $100-levels and avoiding beggar-thy-neighbour it rendered Germans allergic to jurisdictions that resisted legislative Gulf countries had been quite comfortable with for policies. only agents capable macroeconomics. and judicial desegregation orders. Once again, monetary policy was of acting The ageing of the German population The result was to render the long, is here to stay even if demand picks up later this left – to use the now-familiar phrase then made it seem urgent to save South a solid Republican bloc and year. – as the only game in town. Central The solution is straightforward. It is collectively for retirement by running leave its leaders antagonistic to all banks have kept interest rates low for to fi x the problem of defi cient demand surpluses. And an exceptional spate exercise of federal power except the better part of eight years. They not by attempting to further loosen of budget defi cits following German for the enforcement of contracts have experimented with quantitative monetary conditions, but by boosting reunifi cation in 1990 appeared only and competition – a hostility that To Advertise easing. In their latest contortion, they public spending. Governments to aggravate, not solve, reunifi ed notably included countercyclical have moved real interest rates into should borrow to invest in research, Germany’s structural problems. macroeconomic policy. Welcome to [email protected] negative territory. education and infrastructure. Ultimately, hostility to the use of ordoliberalism, Dixie-style. Wolfgang Display The motivation is sound: someone Currently, such investments cost fi scal policy, as with many things Schauble, meet Ted Cruz. Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 needs to do something to keep the little, given low interest rates. German, can be traced to the Ideological and political prejudices world economy afl oat, and central Productive public investment would 1920s, when budget defi cits led to deeply rooted in history will have to be Classified banks are the only agents capable of also enhance the returns on private hyperinfl ation. The circumstances overcome to end the current stagnation. Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 acting. The problem is that monetary investment, encouraging fi rms to today may be entirely diff erent from If an extended period of depressed policy is approaching exhaustion. It undertake additional projects. those in the 1920s, but there is still growth following a crisis isn’t the right Subscription is not clear that interest rates can be Thus, it is disturbing to see the guilt by association, as every German moment to challenge them, then when [email protected] depressed much further. refusal of policymakers, particularly schoolboy and girl learns at an early age. is? - Project Syndicate Negative rates, moreover, have in the US and Germany, to even The US did not experience begun to impair the health of the contemplate such action, despite hyperinfl ation in the 1920s – or at zBarry Eichengreen is a professor at 2014 Gulf Times. All rights reserved banking system. Charging banks for available fi scal space (as record-low any other time in its history. But the University of California, Berkeley, the privilege of holding reserves raises treasury-bond yields and virtually for the better part of two centuries, and the University of Cambridge. Gulf Times Wednesday, March 16, 2016 27 COMMENT The politics of polio eradication

The World Health Because immunisation programs children were unvaccinated between Organisation has declared are led by national governments and 2010 and 2013, when a polio outbreak the WHO, which, as a specialised occurred. Since then, immunisation polio’s resurgence agency of the UN, works closely with campaigns have improved their a “public-health emergency incumbent regimes, it can be diffi cult access to rebel-controlled areas by to carry out vaccinations in areas employing locally recruited staff of international concern” where militants wage war against the to work within their own clans and state. negotiate access with local-level Jonathan Kennedy The fall in the number of polio cases militant leaders. and Domna Michailidou largely resulted from improved access In Syria, after the start of the Cambridge to such areas. In Nigeria and Pakistan, uprising in 2011, the government vaccination programs were able to prevented the WHO from operating proceed after troops asserted the in areas outside its control. Over few years ago, the global state’s control over confl ict-aff ected 3mn children were not vaccinated for campaign to eradicate polio territory. polio, leading to an outbreak in rebel- seemed to have stalled. Most polio cases occurred in controlled regions in 2013.In response, AAfter decades of eradication northern and eastern Nigeria, where an ad hoc coalition, including eff orts, the virus remained stubbornly the terrorist group Boko Haram had moderate opposition groups, Turkish endemic in Pakistan, Afghanistan, killed and kidnapped immunisation authorities, and local NGOs carried and Nigeria. Then, in 2013 and 2014, workers, disrupting vaccination out a series of vaccination campaigns it was found to have returned to seven programmes and leaving more than and contained the outbreak. The previously polio-free countries in a million children unprotected. After coalition negotiated access with local Africa and the Middle East, prompting a regional military force pushed rebel leaders, allowing them to choose the World Health Organisation to the group into sparsely populated volunteer vaccinators. Militant groups declare the disease’s resurgence mountains and forests, immunisation – even the so-called Islamic State – a “public-health emergency of workers were provided access to permitted immunisation campaigns to international concern.” previously rebel-controlled areas. operate in areas under their control. Despite this recidivism, the world In Pakistan, polio is concentrated The lesson is clear. Successful today is closer than ever to eradicating in the Federally Administered Tribal immunisation campaigns must polio. In 2015, there were just 74 new Areas in the northwest of the country, secure the support of de facto cases of the disease – 80% fewer where the Taliban are strongest. In political leaders – whether of an than the previous year and the lowest 2012, militant leaders in the region internationally recognised state or annual total ever. And all of the banned immunisation programmes of a vilifi ed militant organisation. As cases were concentrated in just two over concerns that they were being objectionable as working with groups countries, 54 in Pakistan and 20 in used to gather intelligence for drone like the Islamic State might be, it is Afghanistan. Moreover, it has been attacks by the US. Consequently important to remember that the main eighteen months since the virus was 1-3.5mn Pakistani children were not objective of eff orts like the campaign last detected in Africa. vaccinated. to eradicate polio is to improve the The reasons behind this remarkable That changed in the summer of health of people wherever they may turnaround are instructive, illustrating 2014, when the Pakistan military A Pakistani child receives polio vaccination drops. Polio is concentrated in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas in the live. – Project Syndicate the challenges facing public-health brought large areas of the region under northwest of the country. workers and the best ways to overcome government control. In the space of a zJonathan Kennedy teaches at the them. single year, the number of polio cases assert authority over rebel-controlled welcomed immunisation workers, has temporarily disrupted polio UCL School of Public Policy and is a The barriers to polio eradication are fell from 306 to 54. territory. Instead, immunisation seeing vaccination programmes as a campaigns. research associate in the Department no longer medical; the disease does Using troops to assert control over workers adapted to the political reality form of patronage that reinforces their By contrast, in Somalia, the terrorist of Sociology at the University of not occur where vaccination programs confl ict-aff ected areas is not the and worked with militants to gain authority. The few polio cases that group Al Shebaab has historically Cambridge. Domna Michailidou works operate unhindered. During the past only way to improve access for polio access to areas under their control. have been detected have been either forbidden polio workers from for the Economics Department of the fi ve years, polio cases have occurred workers, and in some cases it may not The Afghan Taliban have co- cross-border transmissions from operating in areas under their control, OECD and teaches at the Center for almost exclusively in fi ve confl ict- be the most eff ective. In Afghanistan, operated with polio vaccination Pakistan or have occurred in areas viewing vaccination campaigns as Development Studies at the University aff ected countries: Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, and Syria, the government programmes since the 1990s. In where intense confl ict between the part of a foreign campaign to impose a of Cambridge and the UCL School of Afghanistan, Somalia, and Syria. was either unable or unwilling to most cases, local-level leaders have Taliban and the Afghan government centralised government. One million Public Policy. Letters Weather report Three-day forecast

TODAY Doping shreds the game. Many perpetrators have got ernment and the rebel groups. High: 25 C away with ruses for years, but more Russia’s air campaign and motives Low : 22 C Expected thunderstorm associated fabric of sport cheaters are being uncovered, and raise several questions in every mind. Please send us with strong wind and high seas sooner or later, cheaters get caught At the start of its air campaign, Russia Dear Sir, and the sport they represent is scruti- assured the world community that it your letters nised and shamed. would target extremist groups like Al THURSDAY High: 28 C Match-fi xing, doping and bribery Many world-class athletes have Nusra and ISSL, but instead frequently By e-mail have become the norm in international lied and cheated. They are by virtue of targeted rebel groups. Due to Russian Low: 21 C sports. Global sports represent 2% of their atrocious deeds, become amoral air strikes, several thousand people [email protected] M Sunny world’s gross domestic product gener- and a shame to their countries. Their have left their homes and Turkey is Fax 44350474 ating 900bn euros. contrition invites cynicism. The use of facing new wave of migrants from Or Post A culture of fame and admiration, performance-enhancing drugs shreds Aleppo and other parts of Syria. FRIDAY combined with profi ts and wealth, the fabric of sport, since it is the ulti- The reality is that Russia’s air Letters to the Editor High: 26 C seem to matter above all else, particu- mate betrayal of a fellow competitor. campaign only benefi ts Assad’s brutal Gulf Times Low: 19 C larly in global sports. Doping in sports regime. After Russian raids, Assad P O Box 2888 Sunny can be dated back to ancient Greece. Farouk Araie forces made major gains in rebel-held Cheating in sports to attain fame and Johannesburg areas. ISSL still has a strong posi- Doha, Qatar fortune could be compared to eco- tion in Al Raqqa and Al Nusra is still Fishermen’s forecast nomic crimes, such as insider trading. operating in several parts of Syria. The reality of All letters, which are OFFSHORE DOHA Sadly, many athletes will join the Killing of innocent civilians, targeting subject to editing, should Wind: NW 10-20/25 KT pantheon of the greatest cheats in Russian raids mosques, schools, markets and civil- Waves: 3-5/7 Feet sports history. In today’s world, with ian residential areas now has become have the name of the INSHORE DOHA Wind: NW-N 08-18/30 KT fame, endorsement, drugs and so Dear Sir, black chapter of Russian war history. writer, address and phone Waves: 1-2/3 Feet much to gain, it is not surprising that More than 6,000 civilians have been number. The writer’s athletes are cheating in sports. Despite ending its military cam- killed due to Russian air strikes and Around the region The nature and integrity of sports is paign in Syria, Russia, it seems, things are going from bad to worse. name and address may be Weather Weather destroyed when someone cheats. For will continue its support to Bashar withheld by request. today Max/min tomorrow Max/min glory and accolades, sports stars need al-Assad. Assad’s future role is main Khawaja Umer Farooq Abu Dhabi P Cloudy 29/21 P Cloudy 31/21 to compete according to the rules of cause of difference between the gov- [email protected] Baghdad M Sunny 24/12 P Cloudy 22/10 Dubai Cloudy 27/22 P Cloudy 28/22 Kuwait City Sunny 27/17 Sunny 28/16 Manama Cloudy 24/20 Sunny 24/21 Muscat M Sunny 31/25 Sunny 32/24 Riyadh Cloudy 24/16 Sunny 27/13 Live issues Tehran P Cloudy 15/07 M Cloudy 13/05 Stop thinking and start doing...

By Oliver Burkeman and courageous. (“I’m the decider!” New York George Bush famously declared – making the point, however clumsily, that deciding means running the he annoying portmanteau show.) Yet a decision alone changes word “wantrapreneur” nothing. As Gregg Krech writes in describes the (equally his book The Art Of Taking Action, Tannoying) phenomenon of external reality remains exactly the person who’s constantly talking the same after your decision to ask about the startups they want to someone out, to write a book, or leave launch – “like Airbnb, but for goats! your job. What matters is “creating Or for hats!” – without ever doing ripples”, as he puts it – actions, anything about it. This syndrome goes however tiny, that alter things in the Around the world far beyond the tech world, as you can world outside your head. Weather Weather deduce by comparing the number of Generosity is a striking case in today Max/min tomorrow Max/min your friends who are “working on” point. Acting generously is both Athens P Cloudy 14/07 P Cloudy 14/07 a novel or screenplay to the number morally right and happiness-inducing: Beirut Showers 17/13 Showers 17/12 Sunny 34/27 who’ve written one. what’s not to like? Yet I’ve lost count Bangkok 35/27 Sunny Berlin Sunny 10/-2 Sunny 12/01 But I hadn’t seen the problem clearly of the times I’ve decided – truly, Cairo M Sunny 23/11 Sunny 23/10 until the other day, when I encountered sincerely decided – to donate to a Cape Town Sunny 29/17 M Sunny 24/17 the illustrator Kazu Kibuishi’s term for charity, thank someone, or off er to Colombo P Cloudy 33/25 P Cloudy 32/25 it: “idea debt”. You run up an idea debt, help them… then done absolutely Dhaka M Sunny 33/21 Sunny 34/21 Hong Kong Cloudy 20/17 Cloudy 21/18 Kibuishi’s fellow artist Jessica Abel nothing at all. (By contrast, I rarely Istanbul P Cloudy 09/03 P Cloudy 09/03 explained, when you spend “too much The underlying hazard here is that thinking about tasks as part of the time procrastinate over typing a sarcastic Jakarta T Storms 32/25 T Storms 32/26 time picturing what a project is going to merely thinking about a task feels it takes to do them. “Some e-mails, by tweet.) Karachi M Sunny 30/22 P Cloudy 31/22 be like, too much time thinking about subtly like you’re doing something the time I’ve written them, I feel like I’ve Joseph Goldstein, the meditation London P Cloudy 08/02 Sunny 13/02 P Cloudy P Cloudy 33/24 how awesome it will be… and too little constructive about it. This doesn’t spent fi ve days not-writing them, and teacher, describes his personal Manila 33/24 Moscow Cloudy 05/-1 S Showers 03/-1 time actually making the thing”. only hamper ambitious creative the damned things only took fi ve to 10 “generosity practice”: to just do the New Delhi M Sunny 30/16 P Cloudy 32/19 Just as the accruing interest on a projects, but mundane errands, too: minutes to write,” West observes. “Now generous things he thinks of, as soon New York P Cloudy 17/08 S T Storms 17/07 credit card makes it harder and harder mentally chewing over items on your I try to make the task itself take (less) life as possible, even if doubts or counter- Paris P Cloudy 11/02 Sunny 14/02 to get back on your feet fi nancially, to-do list feels vaguely productive, yet time by doing it closer to when I (fi rst) arguments arise. Most of us probably Sao Paulo T Storms 26/18 S T Storms 28/19 Seoul P Cloudy 13/0 M Cloudy 16/08 idea debt impedes action. The more really wastes time. I love the anti- think about doing it.” don’t need to become kinder people; Singapore P Cloudy 35/26 P Cloudy 34/26 glorious and detailed the pictures in procrastination advice of the blogger An especially sneaky form of we just need to be better at the part Sydney Rain 24/18 P Cloudy 24/17 your mind, the more daunting it feels and libraries activist Jessamyn West: thinking as a substitute for doing is where we do a damn thing about it. - Tokyo Clear 15/02 Clear 18/06 to start making them real. start including the time you spend “deciding”, since it seems so bold Guardian News and Media Gulf Times 28 Wednesday, March 16, 2016 QATAR Sheikha Mayassa hosts gala dinner at new QF headquarters atar Museums chairper- son HE Sheikha Al Ma- Qyassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani has hosted a gala dinner at the new headquarters of Qatar Foundation for Educa- tion, Science and Community Development (QF). Organised to coincide with The New York Times “Art for To- morrow” conference, the event welcomed some of the world’s leading artists, curators, art col- lectors and museum directors. The new headquarters, de- signed by renowned Dutch ar- chitect Rem Koolhaas, sits at the heart of one of the most creative hubs in the city of Doha, and uses technology to enhance the learn- ing experience in a unique urban landscape. Speaking at the gala dinner, HE Rem Koolhaas addressing Sheikha Al Mayassa described the gathering. HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and other dignitaries at the gala dinner. diff erent examples of how ur- ban landscapes were evolving and the ongoing jury competition cal sites to new buildings in Saudi in Doha in 2022. Contemporary conference, which concluded from 28 countries were in at- speeches from 45 internationally ambitiously within existing city to convert fl our mills into a new Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain times are, therefore, embedded yesterday. tendance to explore and discuss renowned fi gures and cultural frameworks, including in Doha. museum. and the UAE. Moreover, major into our regional narratives.” More than 300 delegates from the many global infl uences shap- pioneers, as well as the lead- She cited the recent conver- “The region is rich in its cul- events are taking place in the The gala dinner took place on the arts, public and private sec- ing the creative infrastructure of ing lights of the arts and culture sion of the fi re station into an tural off erings. There are so many next decade, from the Expo in the penultimate day of The New tors, tourism experts, city plan- nations and cities today. community from across the Mid- artist in residence programme places to visit, from archaeologi- Dubai in 2020 to the World Cup York Times “Art for Tomorrow” ners and business developers Guests were treated to keynote dle East and Qatar.

(Right) HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, chairperson of Qatar Museums, and special guests during “The Creative Airport” panel session held as part of The New York Times “Art For Tomorrow” conference in Doha; (above) Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar al-Baker and founder, senior executive partner and head of design at Foster + Partners, David Nelson, speaking about the design elements at HIA. during “The Creative Airport” panel session. Al-Baker highlights QIC official insurer of conference importance of art and design at HIA

Qatar Airways Group chief more than 40,000sq m of re- and symmetry was carefully lay- executive addresses The New tail and food & beverage spaces, ered uniformly throughout all York Times ‘Art for Tomorrow’ an in-terminal 100-room ho- the passenger off erings. conference in Doha tel, 25m swimming pool, squash Art and architectural features courts, fi tness and spa facilities, have been a “hallmark since the atar Airways Group chief many luxury shopping opportu- opening of the airport, providing executive Akbar al-Baker nities as well as Qatar Duty Free passengers with an ambiance of Qhas presented on the im- brands and more. aesthetically pleasing, inspiring, portance of art and its infl uence functional spaces for quietude, throughout the development ‘The hub of Qatar Airways rest, shopping, dining, and busi- phases of the carrier’s hub, Ha- is designed with all of ness purposes”, the statement mad International Airport (HIA), our passengers in mind, notes. during the second edition of the whether they are travelling “The hub of Qatar Airways annual The New York Times “Art short-haul, with a brief is designed with all of our pas- for Tomorrow” conference. connection time, medium sengers in mind, whether they Al-Baker shared the “creative or long-haul. Not only is are travelling short-haul, with a vision and importance of the icon- the airport fi lled with art brief connection time, medium ic art pieces purposefully selected elements, but we have also or long-haul. Not only is the and positioned across the various paid careful attention to airport fi lled with art elements, nodes and concourses of the air- make it a highly convenient but we have also paid careful at- port”, according to a statement. airport, technologically tention to make it a highly con- “Introducing an airport as a advanced and with an venient airport, technologically destination location in and of intuitive design’ advanced and with an intuitive itself required signifi cant design design,” al-Baker added. detail and infl uence. The vision The presentation at the con- An iconic element of HIA is the of the airport was to make the ference centred on the sculp- acclaimed sculpture, Lamp Bear Qatar Insurance Company (QIC) was the off icial insurer of The New York Times “Art for Tomorrow” conference. The event, held in Doha, experience like no other; com- tures, paintings and design of the by Urs Fischer, which is posi- was attended by HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani. Salem al-Mannai, deputy Group president and CEO of QIC, Mena fortable, desirable and memora- existing phases as well as the up- tioned in the centre of the depar- region, said on the collaboration: “We are delighted to partner with a high-profile and prestigious event such as this. Not only does it ble. An important element of this coming ones. The airport’s main tures terminal, anchoring all the demonstrate our commitment and support to the growing art industry, but it also underpins our eff orts in raising awareness about the was introducing art and design,” architectural and design fi rm, concourses and food & beverage benefits of fine arts insurance. “Art for Tomorrow” brings together world-famous artists and architects along with leading museum he said. Foster + Partners, also took the outlets. The Lamp Bear sculpture directors, urban developers, policy-makers and financiers to address critical issues and their impact on the creative cities of tomorrow. Open for nearly two years, HIA audience through the main scope has been in HIA since the open- Pictured are off icials from QIC and The New York Times and organisers of the event. has 41 contact gates in operation, of the project and how harmony ing in April 2014.