BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Mourinho under fi re aft er INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2-9, 24 COMMENT 22, 23 Ooredoo underpins REGION 10 BUSINESS 1-6, 11-16 United’s role of cloud tech in 24,758.12 8,750.32 60.93 ARAB WORLD 10 CLASSIFIED 7-10 -248.91 -51.43 +0.22 INTERNATIONAL 11-21 SPORTS 1-8 diversifi cation drive meek exit -1.00% -0.58% +0.36% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

THURSDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 10758 March 15, 2018 Jumada Il 27, 1439 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals O PM unveils 2nd National Development Strategy 2018-22 New plan focuses Record deals In brief signed at on self-suffi ciency, Dimdex 2018 QATAR | Offi cial Emir condoles with he Doha International Maritime The fi nal day of the exhibition saw Nepal, Bangladesh sustainable growth Defence Exhibition and Confer- HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Tence (Dimdex 2018) concluded Minister of State for Defence Aff airs presidents yesterday, attracting close to 13,000 Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah His Highness the Emir Sheikh O Building of human and visitors over three days and witness- visiting Hamad Port to thank the del- Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His institutional capacities ing the signing of a ‘record’ number of egations that accompanied the visit- Highness the Deputy Emir Sheikh agreements, the organisers said. ing warships for their participation in Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani sent highlighted Dimdex 2018 was held under the Dimdex 2018. Additionally, an agree- cables of condolences to Nepalese O Stimulation of private patronage of His Highness the Emir ment was signed in the presence of HE President Bidhya Devi Bhandari and Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Dr al-Attiyah and the Italian Minister Bangladesh President Muhammad sector, promotion of R&D hosted and organised by the Qatar of Defence Roberta Pinotti for the pur- Abdul Hamid on the victims of the stressed Armed Forces. chase of 28 NH90 medium twin-en- Bangladeshi civil aircraft crash at the The sixth edition of Dimdex, which gine multirole helicopters. Tribhuvan International Airport in By Santhosh V Perumal also marked its 10th anniversary, took Commenting on the success of the Nepal and wishing speedy recovery Business Reporter place under the theme ‘World-Class event, Dimdex chairman Staff Brigadier for the injured. HE the Prime Platform for Technology, Maritime & (Sea) Abdulbaqi S al-Ansari said: “It Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Defence Industry Capabilities’. It fea- was an honour welcoming and working Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa atar yesterday unveiled its sec- tured four key elements, the exhibition, with industry leaders and Qatar’s fore- al-Thani also sent similar cables ond fi ve-year national devel- Middle East Naval Commanders Con- most businesses that have ensured the Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Qopment strategy, amidst con- ference (MENC), visiting warships at continuous success of Dimdex. This Hasina and Nepalese Prime Minister tinuing economic blockade, focusing Hamad Port and the hosting of VIP and year’s edition marked a special occa- Khadga Prasad Oli. on building human and institutional senior offi cials from around the world. sion as it celebrated its 10th anniver- capacities, developing an entrepre- The organisers said a ‘record’ number sary. The highly anticipated industry QATAR | Offi cial neurial ecosystem and promoting of agreements were signed at Dimdex event has once again proved itself as research and development as part of 2018, with more than 35 partnerships the Mena region’s premier maritime Emir congratulates eff orts to achieve sustainable develop- being announced. Barzan Holdings and defence exhibition. Nepal’s president ment and self-suffi ciency. (strategic partner), which was offi cially “In addition to brand new techno- His Highness the Emir Sheikh Launching the 333-page second Na- launched during the Dimdex opening logical advancements that have been re- Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His tional Development Strategy 2018-22, ceremony, signed more than 20 memo- vealed at this year’s event, Dimdex also Highness the Deputy Emir Sheikh HE the Prime Minister and Minister of randums of understanding and partner- nurtures maritime and industry solu- Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani sent Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser ship agreements with multiple regional tions and provides a collaborative des- cables of congratulations to Nepal bin Khalifa al-Thani said to achieve and international defence companies, tination to address current regional and President Bidhya Devi Bhandari on success and reach the goals of second aimed at enhancing the military capa- international challenges, to advance and her re-election for a new term. NDS, “we must direct investments HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin bilities of the Qatar Armed Forces as protect global defence and trade. We to meet the requirements of sustain- Khalifa al-Thani unveils Qatar’s second five-year plan in Doha yesterday. well as the security and protection of the look forward to preparing for our next QATAR | Offi cial able development, continuously build country’s natural resources. edition, Dimdex 2020.” To Page 5 human and institutional capacities, map to modernise the budget and the government agencies to prepare their Emir congratulates attract and retain high-skilled and comprehensive development nation- strategic and executive plans that are German Chancellor productive labour force, support and al health policy, restructuring of the consistent with the second NDS and Qatar, Italy sign helicopter deal His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim develop entrepreneurial capabilities educational system, management of that can achieve their results within bin Hamad al-Thani, His Highness and promote research and develop- public investment, stimulation of the the specifi ed time frame. the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin ment, inventions and creativity”. private sector and reform of the policy “The national development priori- Hamad al-Thani and HE the Prime The ceremony was attended by sev- government support and guidance to ties are the same priorities of the min- Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh eral ambassadors, ministers, offi cials in target groups, rationalisation of public istries and government agencies. The Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al- governmental and non-governmental expenditure and conservation and de- interaction and partnership between Thani sent cable of congratulations sectors which are part of the strategy. velopment of natural resources. the public and private sector needs to to German Chancellor Dr Angela The premier said the fi rst national One of the biggest challenges is cre- be increased and the role of civil so- Merkel on the occasion of her re- strategy had a positive impact and a ating conducive conditions in which ciety organisations in the implemen- election for a new term. rich planning experience at the na- private sector activity can play a more tation of this strategy needs to be ex- tional level, has achieved multiple active role in economic development panded,” he said. achievements. and this issue has received renewed As part of this wider reform eff ort, the HE Sheikh Abdullah emphasised attention in the second NDS. second NDS sought to identify the ag- sustainability as a principle in national Elaborating on the new strategy, gregate resource envelope within which development initiatives that stimu- HE Dr Saleh Mohamed Salem al-Na- national development eff orts will have to lated important policy innovations, bit, Minister of Development Plan- proceed through to 2022, and the strate- such as the development of a road ning and Statistics, said it requires all gic considerations that ought to infl uence the allocation of those resources. The MDPS led the comprehensive 3% economic growth expected in 2018 preparation process through the su- Qatar and Italy yesterday signed an Mohamed al-Attiyah and Italian pervisory group – the highest au- agreement to purchase 28 NH90 Minister of Defence Roberta Pinotti, HE the Minister of Development sidelines of the launch of Qatar’s thority in the governance structure helicopters through the Italian in the course of the sixth Doha Planning and Statistics Dr Saleh 2nd National Development Strategy of strategy preparation – chaired by company, Leonardo. The two sides International Maritime Defence Mohamed Salem al-Nabit expected (NDS2) 2018-2022. HE al-Nabit al-Nabit and supported by relevant also signed a couple of agreements Exhibition and Conference (Dimdex that Qatar’s economy to grow praised the role of the governmental task forces. on aircraft long-range missile 2018). Commander of the Emiri between 2 and 3% in 2018, while and non-governmental bodies that The task forces reviewed the priori- armament, and the purchase of Air Force Helicopter Wing, Brig the non-oil sector is expected to participated in drawing up NDS2, ties in the fi rst NDS and the proposal automatic aircraft simulators for Mashout Faisal al-Hajri, said the three achieve good growth rates, which which was formed following the for the sectoral development priorities. training purposes, QNA reported. agreements would contribute greatly are important growth rates under eff orts of a team of about 150 people It also monitored the works and output The agreements were signed in to enhancing the capabilities and the current conditions in Qatar. This united in the endeavour, the goal, of sectoral task forces, reviewed the the presence of HE the Deputy eff iciency of the air force by owning came in a press conference on the and the methodology. draft of second NDS and endorsed the Prime Minister and Minister of State the best and most modern aviation recommendations therein.Page 22 for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin fleet in the world. Page 5 11-day culinary delight begins today Italian minister praises

O QIFF Cooking Theatre culmination of months of prepara- to 12midnight on weekdays (Saturday Qatar’s anti-terror fi ght to feature 14 top celebrity tion but of the years of developing and to Wednesday) and extends to 1am on chefs growing the festival to be a platform weekends (Thursday and Friday), ac- QNA does not belong to any religion. that truly celebrates cultural diversity cording to QTA. Doha Speaking about the repercussions By Joey Aguilar through food,” Qatar Tourism Author- QIFF’s signature feature, the QIFF of the Gulf crisis, the Italian defence Staff Reporter ity’s (QTA) chief marketing and pro- Cooking Theatre, returns this year to minister said her country is a friendly motion offi cer Rashed al-Qurese said provide a space for connoisseurs and talian Defence Minister Roberta Pi- country for all and hopes that there in a press statement. novices to learn how to handle, pre- notti has underlined the signifi cant will be an opportunity to restore har- ollywood’s favourite chef, “Qatar is now the most open coun- pare, cook, present and even photo- Iand pivotal role of Qatar in the fi ght mony to the Gulf family in the near Wolfgang Puck, and Qatar’s try in the region and QIFF is yet an- graph food. It will feature a special against terrorism and extremism in the future. Hvery own Aisha al-Tamimi, other echo of our message of welcome theme, live competitions and demon- region and the world. Commenting on the deals signed will take the centre stage today for an to the world,” he noted. strations daily from 4pm to 10.30 pm. In statements on the sidelines of between Qatar and Italy in the fi elds exchange of culinary insights “that Al-Qurese cited the collaboration US’ Christine Ha, Kuwait’s Sulaiman Doha International Maritime Defence of armament, training and military spans from East to West,” marking the between the private and public sec- al-Qassar, Philippines’ Luis Rey ‘Nino’ Exhibition and Conference (Dimdex rehabilitation, the Italian minister ex- start of the 11-day Qatar International tors in organising this event, which will Logarta, India’s Ranveer Barar, Leba- 2018), the Italian minister expressed plained that the agreement signed con- Food Festival (QIFF) 2018. serve as a model for any future tourism- non’s Chef Ramzi, Turkey’s Murat Bo- her great admiration for the Qatari tributes to strengthening the bilateral The discussion follows a live cook- related initiatives QTA wants to do as Wolfgang Puck zok and Qatar’s al-Tamimi are among efforts in this regard, noting that Qa- relations and enhancing bilateral and ing demonstration by US Iron Chef part of the ‘Next Chapter of Qatar’s the 14 internationally-renowned chefs tar and Italy signed an agreement on regional defence and security, noting Masaharu Morimoto at the QIFF National Tourism Sector Strategy 2030’. enjoy an array of gastronomic experi- who will share their secret ingredients the fight against terrorism and ex- that it includes important companies Cooking Theater, and a fireworks QIFF, the country’s longest-running ences, including a fresh farmers’ mar- and techniques. tremism. such as Leonardo. display above the Doha Corniche as a food festival scheduled until March 25 ket, garden picnics and special festival Coff ee lovers will also envoy sipping The minister also commended Qa- She stressed the importance of highlight of the event’s opening cer- at the Hotel Park, showcases a rich mix menus at participating restaurants their favourite drink at the coff ee zone, tar’s eff orts in combating violence strengthening co-operation between emony. of fl avours, cultures and entertainment. around the country. which will off er “a truly unique experi- by spreading science and culture and the two sides, especially in joint exer- “This year’s edition is not only the Qatar residents and visitors will The festival will be open from 4pm ence.” To Page 24 countering extremist ideology that cises. Gulf Times 2 Thursday, March 15, 2018 QATAR PM briefs Cabinet PM meets Italy’s defence minister on outcome of visit to Morocco

QNA law on national service after it ciaries and the lands or housing Doha reviewed the recommendation owned by them. of the Advisory Council on the The Cabinet approved the draft law. accession of Qatar to both the E the Prime Minister The Cabinet also took the International Covenant on and Minister of Inte- necessary measures to issue a Civil and Political Rights and Hrior Sheikh Abdullah draft law amending some pro- the International Covenant on bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani visions of Law No 5 of 2015 Economic, Social and Cultural briefed the Cabinet yesterday regarding similar commercial, Rights. HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani met the Defence Minister of Italy, Roberta on the outcome of his visit to industrial and public shops and It also approved the hosting Pinotti, and the accompanying delegation in Doha yesterday. The two sides reviewed co-operation and the means to enhance it in all Morocco on March 11 and 12, street vendors after it reviewed of the 14th edition of the World fields, particularly the security and defence. The Italian delegation was in Qatar to participate in the sixth Doha International Maritime during which he chaired the the recommendation of the Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) Defence Exhibition (Dimdex 2018). the 7th meeting of the Qa- Advisory Council on the draft in 2018 in Doha and the partici- tari-Moroccan Joint Supreme law. pation in the China International Committee. Pursuant to the amendment, Import Expo (Shanghai — No- Giving details of yesterday’s a decision by the Cabinet, based vember 5-10, 2018). Cabinet meeting, which was on the proposal of the minister, The Cabinet then reviewed Qatar-Iraq ties reviewed presided over by HE Sheikh Ab- shall determine the licence pe- the following topics and took the dullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa riod according to the type of the appropriate decisions: al-Thani at the Emiri Diwan, HE shop. 1- The letter of the Minister the Minister of Justice and Act- The licence may be renewed of Development Planning and ing Minister of State for Cabinet for a period or other similar pe- Statistics, and President of the Aff airs Dr Hassan Lahdan Saqr riods after payment of the pre- Permanent Population Commit- al-Mohannadi said: scribed fee. tee on the annual report of the The Prime Minister stressed The competent department Committee. that the Qatari-Moroccan Joint shall renew the licence accord- 2- The letter of the Minister Supreme Committee and the ingly at the request of the party of Economy and Commerce on agreements, programmes and concerned. the outcome of the 11th Minis- Memoranda of Understanding The Cabinet also approved terial Conference of the World signed on the occasion would the proposal of the Interior Trade Organisation (WTO) (Ar- boost the relations between Ministry to amend some provi- gentina — December 2017). 3- the two countries and their bi- sions of the Cabinet’s decision The letter of the National Cyber lateral co-operation in various No 49 of 2013 on establishing Security Committee on the an- fields for a strategic partner- the Standing Committee for nual report of the Committee’s ship that meets the aspirations Reviewing Recruitment Ap- work in 2017. of the two countries’ peoples, plications at the Ministry of The aim of this committee is in accordance with the direc- Interior. to enhance the security of in- tives of His Highness the Emir It also approved a draft de- formation in the State to achieve Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- cision of the Minister of Mu- comprehensive development Thani and King Mohamed VI of nicipality and Environment on plans in all areas through strate- Morocco. the terms and conditions of the gic guidance for the national ef- After that the Cabinet re- replacement procedure and the forts necessary to implement the viewed topics on its meeting’s procedure of substituting and goals set in the national strategy agenda as following: transferring the precondition of for cyber security and to co-op- HE the Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi yesterday met a high-level delegation from the Iraqi Foreign The Cabinet took the neces- the government lands disposi- erate with authorities concerned Ministry. During the meeting, they discussed the bilateral relations, means of enhancing co-operation and issues of common concern. sary measures to pass a draft tion by the state to the benefi - in this fi eld. Qatar and Iraq sign MoU on enhancing security co-operation

QNA Doha

atar and Iraq signed yesterday in Doha Qa Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance security co-opera- tion between them. Director General of Public Security Saad bin Jassim al- Khulaifi and Undersecretary of the Iraqi Minister of Inte- Director General of Public Security Saad bin Jassim al-Khulaifi and Undersecretary of the rior for Federal Intelligence Iraqi Minister of Interior for Federal Intelligence and Investigations Maher Najm Abdul and Investigations Maher Hussein signing the MoU. Najm Abdul Hussein signed the MoU. mulated in the security fi eld, fi cking, and money laundry. of Interior Undersecretary A large number of high- noting that they can also The MoU also covers se- for Federal Intelligence and ranking security offi cers benefi t from Qatari expertise curity in airports and ports. Investigations said that the from the two countries at- in using the latest technol- The Director General of MoU will create new oppor- tended the signing. ogy in the security fi eld. Public Security said that the tunities for co-operation that Al-Khulaifi said that the He noted in a press con- two sides are planning to form benefi t the two countries. MoU aims at enhancing se- ference held after the sign- a joint committee of experts The Qatari and Iraqi side curity co-operation, co-or- ing that the MoU covers al- that will follow up on the im- also held a talks session be- dination, and the exchange most all fi elds from training plementation of the MoU, fore the signing ceremony of information and exper- and exchange of informa- praising the strong co-opera- where they discussed co- tise between the two sides. tion in the fi eld of terrorism tion between the two sides in operation in the security He highlighted the expe- and its fi nance, to combat- all fi elds. fi eld and the means to en- riences that Iraq has accu- ing drug and human traf- For his part, Iraq’s Ministry hance it.

NHRC praises Qatari women’s achievements in various fi elds

QNA tional Women’s Day. rights for the development Qatari women in various Doha Al-Attiyah said that the of a mature and well-in- fields, noting that in edu- Committee, in turn, notes formed society, stressing cation, Qatar has achieved with deep regret the vio- that the slogan of the cele- the principle of equal ac- he National Human lations suff ered by Qatari bration comes from the be- cess to primary and sec- Rights Committee women because of the lief in the importance of ed- ondary education for both Tof Qatar (NHRC) has blockade imposed on Qa- ucation of women as a solid sexes, in addition to equal praised the positive steps tar since June 5, especially foundation for any civilised social security, while Qa- taken by the Qatari govern- the right to education and and developed society. tari women enjoy full free- ment to develop women’s family reunifi cation, point- Al-Attiyah added that dom to participate in cul- rights in education, such ing out that these violations NHRC noted the posi- tural and sporting events as the appointment of four not only aff ected Qatari tive steps taken by the Qa- and receive full support women for the fi rst time as women, but also women tari government to protect and encouragement. members of the Advisory in siege countries, as they women, in line with its Al-Attiyah pointed out Council and the appoint- were deprived of their most commitment to the imple- that the economic rights ment of a woman as spokes- important rights, which mentation of the conven- package for Qatari women person of Qatar’s Foreign constitutes a clear violation tion on the elimination of is also witnessing remark- Ministry. of international laws and all forms of discrimination able growth by registering This came in a statement charters of human rights. against women signed by an increase in their presence of the Secretary General of She noted that the cel- Qatar. in public and private sectors the NHRC, Maryam bint ebration of International In her statement, the and in many jobs and non- Abdullah al-Attiyah, on the Women’s Day refl ects secretary general of the traditional jobs, including occasion of the Commit- NHRC’s commitment to de- NHRC reviewed the civil aviation, police, mili- tee’s celebration of Interna- fend and protect women’s achievements made by tary. Gulf Times Thursday, March 15, 2018 3 QATAR

OFFICIAL

Qatar-South Korea defence relations reviewed

Commander of the Joint Special Forces Brigadier General Hamad bin Abdullah al-Fetais al-Marri yesterday met South Korea’s Defence Attache to Qatar. Assistant Undersecretary for Agriculture Aff airs & Fisheries at the Ministry of Municipality and Assistant Undersecretary for Agriculture Aff airs & Fisheries at the Ministry of Municipality and During the meeting, they Environment Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser al-Thani inaugurating the ‘Qatar Farms’ programme at Al Kheesa Environment Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser al-Thani cutting a cake to mark the launch of ‘Qatar Farms’ discussed bilateral relations in Family Food Centre. programme at LuLu Gharafa. the defence and military fields as well as means of enhancing and developing them. Envoy presents MME and MEC launch ‘Qatar Farms’ credentials President of the Czech Republic Milos Zeman received the credentials of Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani Qatar’s non-resident ambassador to the programme to support local products country. During the meeting, the ambassador conveyed His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim QNA pating in the “Qatar Farms” pro- products is underway. bin Hamad al-Thani’s greetings Doha gramme – Al-Meera, Carrefour, He noted that the Ministry of to the Czech president. The LuLu and Family Food Centre Municipality and Environment Czech president reciprocated the – to give an opportunity to local is working to extend the local greetings of the Emir, wishing he Ministry of Munici- farmers. production season to 12 months Qatar continuous progress, pality and Environment He pointed out that high qual- instead of 9 months. development and prosperity. T(MME), in co-operation ity local vegetables like tomato, The Ministry of Economy and The president also wished the with the Ministry of Economy cucumber, squash, pepper, egg- Commerce also played a promi- ambassador success in his duties. and Commerce (MEC), has plant, cabbage, broccoli, and nent role in launching several launched “Qatar Farms” pro- herbs will be available at reason- initiatives aimed at boosting Real estate gramme. able prices during the event at national production and sup- The programme – which is the these supermarkets. porting local factories, entrepre- transactions largest in the country – is part “We are trying through such neurs and companies. of the government’s eff orts to programmes and initiatives to The Ministry announced the Qatar reported real estate support and stimulate national reduce the interference of in- launch of “National Product” transactions of QR276,706,186 products. termediaries in the process of initiatives in co-operation with from March 4 to 8, off icial data Assistant Undersecretary for selling national agricultural major commercial and consum- released by the Ministry of Agriculture Aff airs & Fisheries at products to benefi t both farmers er complexes. Justice showed yesterday. the Ministry of Municipality and and consumers,” the offi cial said, The Ministry has also co-op- The types of real estate traded Environment Sheikh Dr Faleh pointing out that the availabil- erated with the Bidaya Centre included plots of land, houses, bin Nasser al-Thani said that the ity of local products has led to a and Al Meera Consumer Com- multi-use buildings, a residential “Qatar Farms” programme seeks 50% reduction in prices of the pany to expand the National building and a residential to support the local agricultural imported ones. Product initiative through a compound. products. He said in February, about Assistant Undersecretary for Agriculture Aff airs & Fisheries at the Ministry of Municipality and partnership that provides the Most of the trading took place in The local farms products are 300 tonnes of Qatari agricultural Environment Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser al-Thani visiting the ‘Qatar Farms’ section at LuLu Gharafa. opportunity for emerging na- the municipalities of Al Rayyan, fresh and are of better quality products were marketed. tional companies to showcase Umm Salal, Al Da’ayen, Al Shamal, than the imported ones. He said In his statement, Sheikh Faleh opportunities in the agricul- sector, while the establishment the conservation, storage, and and market their food items at Al Wakrah, Al Khor and Al four supermarkets are partici- said that various investment tural sector await the private of a new marketing centre for packaging of Qatari agricultural large consumer stores. Dhakira. Gulf Times 4 Thursday, March 15, 2018 QATAR

Recall of Compass, Patriot models

The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC), dealer to follow up on the maintenance and in collaboration with United Cars Almana, has repair works and will communicate with cus- CRA hosts announced the recall of Jeep Compass and tomers to ensure that the necessary repairs are Patriot models of 2016 over the power failure of carried out. The MEC has urged all customers to the motor shaft sensor. The MEC said the recall report any violations to its Consumer Protec- events for campaign comes within the framework of its on- tion and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department going eff orts to protect consumers and ensure through the following channels: Call centre: that automobile dealers follow up on vehicles’ 16001, e-mail: [email protected], Twitter: @ ‘Consumer defects and repair them. MEC_Qatar, Instagram: MEC_Qatar, MEC mobile The MEC said that it will co-ordinate with the app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar Rights Day’ he Communications Reg- ulatory Authority (CRA) Tis commemorating the World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) with a public outreach event to be held from today to March 18 at Katara – the Cultural Village. Throughout the event, CRA intends to empower con- sumers of communications serv- Al Meera off icials and dignitaries lead the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the newly-opened Al Khor branch. ices to understand their rights and responsibilities so they have a more satisfactory experience. The CRA will engage with con- sumers and raise awareness of issues relating to the use of com- Al Meera opens new munications services in Qatar at the event in front of L’wzaar Restaurant at Katara’s Gate 14-15 from 4:30pm to 9pm. During the event, there will be outlet in Al Khor activities for kids and adults, and CRA’s team will provide tips to help visitors better understand l Meera Consumer Goods Al Meera Supermarket is equipped dures and services – synonymous their rights and responsibilities. Company has opened its 48th with modern interior designs and with its objective of being every- A CRA team will also educate Astore in Al Khor in the frame- shelving installations, state-of-the- one’s ‘Favourite Neighbourhood Re- consumers on other topics re- work of its ongoing eff orts to bring art technology and facilities, along tailer’”. lated to roaming and spam and its trademark shopping experience with providing the most popular The opening of Al Khor branch scam calls. to residents across the country. fresh sections. Al-Hammadi said: follows the launch of Al Meera’s lat- The highlight of the event is an The opening ceremony took place “It’s great that more people than est state-of-the-art stores through- opportunity for visitors to lodge in the presence of Al Meera chair- ever before have access to our high out Qatar, as part of its plan to in- complaints against licensed serv- man Sheikh Thani bin Thamer quality, fresh, and locally sourced troduce a number of new shopping ice providers of communications bin Mohamed al-Thani, Al Meera products at incredible value, and as centres to consumers across ei- services onsite and learn more vice-chairman Dr Saif al-Sowaidi, a result, we’re able to create more ther underserved regions or others about CRA’s complaints resolu- Al Meera board member Mohamed jobs for local communities in the witnessing a population boom. Al tion process. Abdula al-Mustafawi al-Hashemi, country.” Meera is currently working on the “The CRA ensures to balance businessman Ahmad Siddiqi, Al He added: “As with every new setup of more branches in locations the rights of consumers with the Meera acting CEO Cobus Lombard, branch that Al Meera opens, Al Khor that have been carefully chosen in needs of service providers there- and Al Meera Deputy CEO Salah al- branch is designed to exceed con- close co-ordination with the Min- fore it is important that consum- Hammadi, as well as a number of sumers’ expectations with a distinc- istry of Municipality and Environ- ers know their rights and respon- executives. tive, integrated shopping experience ment (MME) to further contribute sibilities. This will help them Measuring 3,549.28 sq m, the that sets the benchmark for retail to the development and urbanisa- make informed decisions. I would shopping centre is designed to ca- chains across the country. This dem- tion of more districts and territo- like to invite all consumers to join ter to family shopping experience. onstrates our tangible contribution ries. The ambitious expansion plan us at the event,” said Consumer It adheres to world-class standards to the real-estate development of has been set in motion as an answer Aff airs Department manager at the service of consumer needs, every neighbourhood in the country. to Al Meera’s strategic research and Amel Salem al-Hanawi. and will provide residents with all “The new branch will provide its mission to continue serving the Consumers are free to ap- their requirements under one roof. consumers with a wide range of diverse communities in Qatar wher- proach the CRA if a complaint The mall was built in line with the products, while following the high- ever they are, while eff ectively con- lodged directly to their service company’s objective of being the est international standards for qual- tributing to the urban development provider remains unresolved. ‘Favourite Neighbourhood Retailer’. ity assurance in processes, proce- of the country. Consumers can lodge a com- plaint with CRA after 48 hours for mobile service disconnec- tions, after 72 hours for fi xed line disconnections, or after 30 cal- endar days for complaints that aren’t related to a service discon- nection. They can also contact CRA any time if they are dissatisfi ed with the off ered resolution of the closed complaint. Special needs consumers can lodge complaints to CRA for service disconnec- tions or any other unresolved issues as long as a period of 48 Colonel Mohamed Radi al-Hajiri (right) explains a point as Major Jabir Mohamed hours has passed. Odhaiba looks on yesterday. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam Complaints are assessed by CRA against a set of criteria to validate a complaint. The CRA receives and investigates com- plaints by working with both the Traffi c Week from March 18-24 complainant and service provid- ers to fi nd a fair and mutually ac- he 34th Traffi c fi c AwareAss Department the week will address a ceptable resolution. Consumers Week will be held said that the associated number of traffi c issues. of communications services can Tfrom March 18 to activities include events There will be special contact CRA by calling the 24/7 24 at Darb Al Saai. The at Souq Waqif, Traffi c counters for the traffi c hotline number (103), via con- event will be entitled Fort and special areas for licensing aff airs depart- [email protected], Twit- ‘Your life is a trust’. families. ment to introduce licens- ter @CRAqatar, by visiting the Colonel Mohamed The main venue in ing procedures, Metrash CRA’s headquarters at Al Nasr Radi al-Hajiri, direc- Darb Al Saai include ac- 2 services and theoreti- Tower B, submitting online com- tor of Traffi c Awareness tivities for children and cal and practical tests of plaints form on CRA’s website, or Department, told a press some youth initiatives driving. through the ‘Arsel’ mobile App. conference that the activ- through youth hostel There will be traffi c-re- ities will be open for the centres and Qatar Uni- lated contests daily spon- public from 8am to 9pm versity. The ministries, sored by driving schools. in two shifts. authorities and agen- The event includes ac- More than 60 entities cies concerned will take tivities and pavilions of will join the celebration part in awareness pro- Lakhwiya, a motorcycle this year. There will be ac- grammes. There will be circuit, Batabit Qatar, as tivities in diff erent parts a debate among high well as the activities of Al of the country other than school students under Shaqab. It also includes Doha under the Traffi c the title “Driving with- a traffi c village in co-op- Departments in Shamal, out a licence between re- eration with Shell, which South and Dukhan. Major jection and acceptance”. includes a range of aware- Jabir Mohamed Odhaiba, The seminar corner to ness activities suitable for Consumer Aff airs Department assistant director of Traf- be organised throughout all ages. manager Amel Salem al-Hanawi.

Signals to replace roundabouts in Wadi Al Salmiya Street

hree roundabouts are to be turned to signal-controlled in- Ttersections on Wadi Al Salmiya Street which connects Al Kharaityat Interchange with Al Rufaa Street in Al Kharaitiyat Area, Ashghal announced yesterday. To facilitate the works, a diversion will be in place on Wadi Al Salmiya Street on dual carriageways as the vehicle movement will be shifted onto a 1500m-long parallel route com- prising three roundabouts and two lanes in each direction. The new layout will be in eff ect between March 16 and September 30. There will be two signalised junc- tions replacing two roundabouts, one to link Zikreet Street with Wadi Al Salmiya Street and another to connect new reconstruction will increase the such as Zikreet Street and Gharrafat Gharrafat Al Rayyan Street with Wadi number of lanes at the new intersec- Al Rayyan towards Al Rufaa Street and Al Salmiya Street. tions from two to three. The fresh Dukhan Road. Also, the upgrade will- The third roundabout on Wadi Al revamp will largely improve traffi c boost traffi c to areas of Bani Hajer, Al Salmiya connecting Wadi Al Mashreb leading to and from Al Shamal Road, Wajbah and Al Rayyan besides the key Street and Barqa Al Hamil Street will notably Al Kharaitiyat Interchange, Al close facilities, including Mall of Qatar be changed into a T-Junction. The Kharaitiyat Area and local approaches and Celebration Complex. Gulf Times Thursday, March 15, 2018 5 QATAR Qatar signs deal to buy 28 choppers atar yesterday signed an capabilities and effi ciency of the receipt of new aircraft will be over For his part, Leonardo chief ex- agreement with Italy to air force by owning the best and the next three years. He said that ecutive offi cer Alessandro Profumo Qpurchase 28 NH90 heli- most modern aviation fl eet in the the agreement includes the train- said that the NH90 helicopter is copters through aerospace and world. ing of pilots, technicians and arms the most versatile in its class. “The defence group Leonardo. The two He explained that the aircraft operators. aircraft for Qatar will be equipped sides also signed two agreements agreement includes 16 NH90s Brig al-Hajri said that the sec- with a range of integrated systems on long-range missile carrier air- in tactical transport (TTH) ond agreement was signed with developed and provided by Leon- craft, and purchase of automatic confi guration and 12 NH90s MBA, one of the best companies ardo to meet the most challenging aircraft simulators for training in naval (NFH) confi guration. in the world to arm helicopters, requirements.” purposes. “The acquisition will support pointing out that the agreement He expressed pleasure for sign- The agreements were signed in the country’s plan to modern- includes the arming of aircraft ing the contract which extends the presence of HE Deputy Prime ise the military helicopter fl eet. with long-range missiles, Apache and continues Leonardo’s long Minister and Minister of State As part of the plan, Qatar will helicopter, while the third agree- and strong partnership with Qa- for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin receive 16 H125 light single- ment includes the purchase of two tar, through a wide range of ad- HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah Mohammed al-Attiyah and Ital- engine helicopters in training of the automatic simulators of the vanced technology, customised and the Italian Minister of Defence Roberta Pinotti look on as top off icials of Barzan Holdings and Beretta ian Defence Minister Roberta Pi- confi guration.” NH90 aircraft for training. solutions in the military and secu- Holding sign the agreement at Dimdex 2018. notti, at the Doha International He noted that Leonardo will He stressed that the three rity fi elds. Maritime Defence Exhibition and be the main contractor for the agreements will signifi cantly sup- The medium-sized, twin-en- Conference (Dimdex 2018). 28 aircraft, and the delivery and port the system of modernisation gine NH90 helicopters have the Emiri Air Force helicopter wing provision of logistics support for and development at the Emiri Air ability to carry out various tasks commander Brig Mashout Faisal a total of 12 helicopters dedicated Force, both in arming or training in diffi cult conditions and have al-Hajri said in statements that to marine applications, adding and rehabilitation, in accordance proven eff ective and effi cient in many tasks and operations around Barzan signs seven the three agreements will con- that this European aircraft is the with the plans and strategies for tribute greatly to enhancing the newest in the world, and that the the armed forces. the world. (QNA)

Al-Attiyah meets commanders of warships agreements at Dimdex arzan Holdings, the fi rst RBAT signed an agreement with Beretta Holding to create a defence and security com- with the Qatar Emiri Naval Forc- JV named “Bindig.” The second Bpany responsible for em- es to provide critical infrastruc- phase of the agreement will see powering the military capabili- ture protection to safeguard Bindig manufacture pistols and ties of the Qatar Armed Forces, military and economic sites in rifl es under the Bindig name in has concluded its participation at Qatar, including fully integrated Qatar at the Barzan Industrial Dimdex 2018 by signing a further security and surveillance sys- Zone, a 26sq km area designated seven agreements with leading tems for a new naval base. by the Ministry of Defence. international defence companies Barzan Holdings signed two The Zone, designed based on from around the world. agreements with Qatar Science the needs of the Qatar Armed “According to military and and Technology Park (QSTP), Forces, is divided into three main civilian delegates visiting the fi rst to develop research related parts: testing and evaluation; impressive Barzan Holdings pa- to defence and security with administration and residential; vilion at Dimdex - the largest at the support of QSTP’s facilities, and the Industrial Military Area the exhibition - Barzan Hold- and second for Barzan Holdings where Bindig’s production and ings’ presence has been a huge to rent a 40,000sq m dedicated manufacturing factory will be boost for the event, and Barzan space for R&D at QSTP’s Tech 4 located in large hangers with Holdings acts as a new landmark building, exclusively for the use safety perimeters. for Qatar’s defence industry,” of Barzan Holdings and its JV The signing ceremony with according to a statement. companies. Beretta Holding was attended by On the third and last day of The signing ceremony was HE the Deputy Prime Minister Dimdex, Rheinmetall Barzan conducted in the presence of and Minister of State for Defence Advanced Technologies (RBAT), QSTP chairman Dr Hamad al- Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah has met with the commanders which is Barzan Holdings’ joint Ibrahim. He stated after the al-Attiyah and the Italian Min- of warships that participated in the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (Dimdex 2018). venture (JV) with German de- ceremony that: “We are in con- ister of Defence Roberta Pinotti. fence company Rheinmetall AG, tinuous collaboration with dif- Barzan Holdings managing signed four agreements. ferent military and security director Nasser al-Naimi stated RBAT signed a notice to pro- sectors in Qatar for experimen- that the agreement with Beretta ceed to build an ammunition tation in many specialised areas Holding represents a strategic production plant in Qatar to of research in line with Qatar’s deal between Qatar and Italy, produce various types of am- present and future needs.” and is fi rmly in line with Barzan munition, ranging from medium Dr al-Ibrahim also stated that Holdings’ objective of meeting calibre rounds to aircraft bombs QSTP has a lot of communica- Qatar’s long-term defence and and missile assembly. It is ex- tion with various countries, in- security needs. pected that over 200 skilled jobs cluding the US and Turkey and “By manufacturing pistols will be directly generated in con- QSTP will continue all of its en- and rifl es in Qatar, Bindig is not nection with the plant. deavours to come out with the only empowering the capabili- An MoU was signed be- best practices and methodolo- ties of the Qatar Armed Forces tween RBAT, Barzan Holdings gies related to research and de- but also bringing new tech- and other Ministry of Defence velopment. nologies and industry to the stakeholders to produce explo- As a result, QSTP has launched economy, and is helping to build sive ordnance in Qatar, and the its initiatives with the Ministry Qatar’s human capital through formal training of specialists in of Defence in co-ordination with knowledge exchange,” he explosive ordnance. Qatar Scientifi c Research Fund explained. In the presence of the Com- to support post-graduate schol- During the three days of Record deals signed at Dimdex 2018 mander of Qatar’s National arship students for the benefi t of Dimdex, Barzan Holdings has Service, RBAT signed an agree- all parties. signed a total of 24 agreements From Page 1 of the Type 31e frigate, as well as for USA, the UK, India, Pakistan and stealth guided-missile destroyers. ment to establish a highly re- Barzan Holdings signed an with international partners, Acting as a platform for present- the fi rst time in the Middle East, Bangladesh at Hamad Port. These In addition, an offi cial gala dinner alistic laser training solution agreement with Italian company marking a new beginning in ing state-of-the-art technologies, Sofresud’s Intuitive Pointing Device included the UK’s RFA Cardigan was hosted at the Sheraton Grand that will simulate live training Beretta Holding, for Beretta to Qatar’s defence industry that global industry giants utilised Dim- naval gun. Bay, a Bay-class landing ship dock, Doha Resort & Convention Hotel, scenarios within a mock urban supply rifl es to Qatar for use by will strengthen Qatar’s self- dex 2018 to debut their latest prod- As one of the four key elements and HMS Middleton, a Hunt- where ceremonial shields were environment to help ensure that diff erent military sectors. The suffi ciency in defence through ucts, including global fi rsts for Le- of the show, the fi rst day of Dim- class mine countermeasures ves- presented to naval ship command- Qatari National Service Cadets fi rst shipment will be made in building human and technologi- onardo showing the OTO Marlin 40 dex 2018 saw the arrival of 11 visit- sel, as well as India’s INS Kolkata, ers of visiting warships and offi cial are prepared in the best possible April this year, and represents cal capital, and facilitating new naval turret and BAE Systems design ing ships from Qatar, Oman, Italy, the lead ship of the Kolkata-class sponsors. way to serve the nation. the fi rst phase in an agreement research and development. Chairman: Next Dimdex Ecuador evinces interest in used ships, aircraft By Ramesh Mathew edition will be larger Staff Reporter cuador has evinced inter- est in buying used fi ghter QNA He noted that the equipment top leadership made them pos- Eaircrafts and battleships Doha presented by Dimdex were di- sess the best and most modern from Qatar, Ecuador’s Defence verse and not limited to maritime defence systems in the world. Minister Patricio Zambrano Re- defence only. They also include In a statement, he said work is strepo said in Doha yesterday. oha International Mari- land, air and electronic equip- under way to implement future Restropo was leading an of- time Defence Exhibition ment, especially in the fi eld of projects within the framework fi cial delegation at the Doha Dand Conference (Dim- cybersecurity, which adds to of modernisation and develop- International Maritime De- dex 2018) organising commit- the comprehensiveness of this ment in arming and training and fence Exhibition and Confer- tee chairman Staff Brigadier year’s edition, which features enhancing the capabilities of the ence (Dimdex 2018), that con- (Sea) Abdulbaqi Saleh al-Ansari devices and equipment that are Air Defence Forces and qualify- cluded at the Qatar National has said the next edition of the presented for the fi rst time. ing its personnel according to Convention Centre yesterday. event will be larger and more He pointed out that the deals the plans and strategies of the While expressing happiness sophisticated. signed at the conference in- Qatar Armed Forces. at the discussions with his de- This comes after exhibitors cluded international partner- He noted that the establish- fence counterparts from Qatar and heads of the participating ships, armament agreements ment of the Air Defence Train- and some other participat- Minister of Defence from Ecuador Patricio Zambrano Restrepo (second from left) with Ecuadorian Armed offi cial delegations at Dimdex and memorandums of under- ing Centre in 2016 contributed ing countries at the exhibition, Forces Commander Merizalde Caesar (left), ambassador Ivonne A-Baki and Chief of Naval Staff Renan 2018 stressed their intention standing with Barzan Holding, greatly to enhancing the capa- the Ecuadorian minister said Ruiz Cornejo yesterday: PICTURE: Ram Chand to actively participate in the the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces and bilities of air defence personnel. he could realise that Qatar is in next edition after they wit- Joint Special Forces. It also graduated a number of possession of some of the most exhibitions of naval and defence Ecuadorian Armed Forces tremely pleased to have toured nessed the size of the exhibi- He expected a signifi cant in- batches to join their counter- sophisticated equipment, fi ght- equipment he has ever came Commander Caeser Merizalde some of the most equipped tion, the organisation and de- crease in the number and value parts in other branches of the er planes and battleships. across. “The equipment show- said he was highly impressed by warships from the UK, the US, mand, as well as the number of of agreements, thanks to the armed forces. “We have adequate require- cased at the expo were of ex- the exhibits at Dimdex and high- Italy, India, Pakistan, Oman and deals concluded. modernisation and development He stressed that organising Dim- ments of battleships to provide tremely good quality,” he said. level of participation by various Bangladesh. Staff Brigadier (Sea) al-An- witnessed by the Qatari armed dex in the current circumstances, protection and security to the Restrapo also extended an in- delegations. “I am hopeful that At the meeting yesterday, Re- sari said in a statement that forces in all sectors. and amid the unjust blockade im- seas around our country as there vitation to a high-level defence our country would have a bigger strapo lauded the eff orts being the organising committee was Meanwhile, Emiri Air Defence posed on Qatar, represents a major have been incidents of pirate ac- delegation from Qatar to visit his delegation at the next edition of made by Ecuador’s ambassador praised by all visitors, partici- Forces Commander Major Gen- challenge that refl ects the extent tivities,” he said, citing the rea- country. A month ago, a ministe- Dimdex,” he said. to Qatar Ivonne Juez ABaki in pating delegations and offi cials eral Hamad Mubarak al-Douai of the support given by the State sons for showing interest in buy- rial delegation from Ecuador had Ecuador Naval Staff chief Re- helping their country build ex- of the pavilions and companies, said Qatar has one of the best to this global event and the eff orts ing ships and aircraft from Qatar. met the Qatar Airways manage- nan Ruiz Cornejo said he visited tremely good bilateral relations both in terms of the size of the air defence systems in the world, exerted by those responsible for its Restropo described Dimdex ment and sought a direct service the exhibition of warships at with Qatar in such a short period exhibition and its organisation. stressing that support from the organisation. as one of the most advanced between Qatar and Quito. the Hamad Port and was ex- after her arrival in Qatar. Gulf Times 6 Thursday, March 15, 2018 QATAR Indian schools to reopen on Sept 9 ndian schools in Qatar will to the Ministry for understand- reopen on September 9 af- ing the concerns and for the Iter the summer vacation as timely decision that supports the Ministry of Education and them. Higher Education has approved Indian schools had earlier a request from the institutions. had announced that they would The Ministry has also re- reopen in the fi rst week of Sep- voked the decision to reduce tember after the summer vaca- the upper age limit for KG class tion. However, a recent direc- admission by one year fol- tive of the Ministry asking the lowing the request of Indian schools to reopen by the end of schools and allowed them to August had put the schools and follow the existing practice. parents under great stress as Further, Indian schools have they had already made arrange- been exempted from a week- ments for their return after the long break in April announced vacation. by the Ministry for all schools in The new directive gives the country. This is because the a great relief to the parents academic year of Indian schools as they do not need to make ends in March and students get changes and re-book their air a break at the end of March. tickets. This special permission Children participating in the Money Week Qatar programme. K C Abdul Latheef, president is only for this year and all In- of Shantiniketan Indian School, dian schools are committed to and Dr Subhash Nair, convener follow from next year the min- of Indian School Principals’ Fo- istry calendar for reopening af- rum have expressed gratitude ter the vacation. CMU-Q alumni honoured 1,250 students taking for academic excellence

Three Carnegie Mellon CMU-Q in 2017. Al-Emadi, University in Qatar (CMU-Q) a business administration alumni received the Education graduate is now a strategy and Excellence Award from His investment analyst at beIN part in Money Week Highness the Emir Sheikh Media Group. Al-Mana, also a Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani business major, is a marketing number of Qatari entities tion and fi nancial inclusion. Fi- opment in line with Qatar Na- itiatives in an eff ort to give back make smart fi nancial decisions at a recent ceremony. Omar finance analyst at Qatar Shell, and businesses, includ- nancial illiteracy results in many tional Vision 2030. to the local community, provide throughout their lives.” al-Emadi received the platinum and al-Muftah, an information Aing Qatar Financial Cen- young people struggling with A variety of volunteers from youth with the necessary tools San Lie, project leader – Glo- award, while Noor al-Mana and systems graduate, is an tre (QFC), Qatar Stock Exchange large amounts of debt, which re- across the community, includ- to enter and prosper in the work- bal Money Week Qatar, added: Alanood al-Muftah received the information systems analyst at (QSE), QNB, Injaz Qatar, Bedaya sults in negative repercussions ing fi nancial professionals from force, and help establish leaders “Last year, I started off with only gold award. Qatar Central Bank. Centre and Qatar University, on their development and well- international institutions, local of tomorrow. one school; this year, with the “It is a deep honour that three The Education Excellence have launched Money Week Qa- being. businesses and senior students, Yousuf Mohamed al-Jaida, help of all volunteers and our new of our recent graduates were Award is presented by the tar 2018 under the motto ‘Money For Money Week Qatar, spon- are taking time throughout the chief executive offi cer of the QFC partners we grew it to 15 schools. recognised with this award,” Ministry of Education and Matters Matter’. sored by QNB, as many as 1,250 week to teach the children in- Authority, said: “Children and Hopefully, next year all primary CMU-Q dean Michael Trick said. Higher Education, and The initiative is part of the primary school students from teractive and engaging lessons youth are the next generation of schools in Qatar will participate.” “At Carnegie Mellon, we strive to given to students who have Global Money Week, an annual 15 schools across Doha is taking in fi nancial management. In ad- change makers and through this Money Week was launched educate global citizens who will demonstrated achievement worldwide campaign to raise part in a range of activities with dition, the children will have the initiative we can ensure that we eight years ago by Queen Máxima make a diff erence in their own, in the classroom and pass a awareness of the importance of an aim to instil within them the opportunity to visit QSE. are doing our very best to empow- of the Netherlands. Since then, it unique ways. Omar, Noor and rigorous interview process. fi nancial education and inclusion value of money, saving for the The QFC, the main partner er them to develop the right skills has grown into a worldwide initi- Alanood are very deserving of Winners are also judged on for children and youth. Some 137 future and spending money re- for Money Week Qatar, fi rmly they need to make smart fi nancial ative with over 130 countries and the award and I wish them every their community involvement, countries are taking part in the sponsibly. believes that education, skills decisions throughout their life.” more than 7mn children partici- success in their careers.” extracurricular activities and week-long event, which runs un- QNB’s sponsorship of this and training are the fundamen- Rashid bin Ali al-Mansoori, pating every year. All three graduated from leadership roles. til March 17. event comes within its corporate tal pillars needed when forging a CEO of QSE, noted: “We sub- Dr Bahia Tahzib-Lie, ambas- Global Money Week aims to social responsibility (CSR), long- knowledge-based society capa- scribe fully to the goals of Glo- sador of the Netherlands to Qa- promote the importance of fi - term strategy and its ongoing ef- ble of positively contributing to bal Money Week and Child & tar, said: “It is never too early, or nancial rights, especially for forts aimed at achieving human and diversifying Qatar’s econo- Youth Finance International in too late for young people to gain children and youth. Today, less and social development, build- my, a press statement notes. providing our youth with the the fi nancial skills they will need than 1% of children in the world ing a knowledge-based economy, As a part of its CSR, the QFC knowledge that will allow them to shape their lives and enhance have access to fi nancial educa- and achieving sustainable devel- continues to take part in such in- to develop the necessary skills to their future well-being.”

QNB seeks to boost children’s money management skills

NB is participating as the main sponsor in Global QMoney Week Qatar 2018, organised in Qatari schools by Qa- tar Financial Centre and the Neth- erlands embassy under the theme ‘Money Matters Matter’. The bank has also conducted a number of interactive sessions and workshops in classrooms at 15 primary schools in Qatar, tar- geting 1,250 students aged 6-12 years. These activities were aimed at developing the basic skills of chil- dren in the fi eld of money manage- ment and planning to ensure a sta- ble fi nancial future, QNB said in a statement. “QNB’s sponsorship of this event echoes its keenness to support vari- The activities are aimed at developing the basic skills of children in the ous initiatives meant to raise aware- field of money management and planning to ensure a stable financial ness among children in Qatar about future. the importance of fi nancial educa- tion, fi nancial inclusion and princi- fi nancial awareness campaign built countries across three continents ples of good fi nancial management to inspire children and young peo- providing a comprehensive range as essential tools to help them plan ple to learn about money matters, of advanced products and serv- a stable fi nancial future,” the state- livelihoods, fi nancial inclusion and ices. The total number of employ- ment noted. entrepreneurship. ees is more than 28,200 operating Observed in 137 countries world- QNB Group’s presence through through more than 1,230 locations, wide in the second week of March, its subsidiaries and associate com- with an ATM network of over 4,300 the Global Money Week is an annual panies extends to more than 31 machines. HMC stepping up colorectal cancer awareness campaign olorectal cancer is the third implementing the latest and best but some can develop into cancer. most commonly diagnosed surgical techniques,” Dr Abunada He said colorectal cancer symp- Ccancer in Qatar and a leading said. toms may not be immediately ap- cause of cancer-related deaths in Statistics released by the Min- parent but can include a change in both men and women in the coun- istry of Public Health’s Qatar Na- bowel habits, for example, diar- try, according to the Hamad Medi- tional Cancer Registry indicate rhoea or constipation, a change in cal Corporation. that among all male cancer cases stool consistency, rectal bleeding “Colorectal cancer is one of the in Qatar in 2015, colorectal can- or blood in the stool, persistent ab- leading causes of cancer-related cer was the second most common dominal discomfort and belly pain, deaths in Qatar. To reduce the with 94 new cases reported, fol- weakness and fatigue, and unin- number of cases we are doubling lowed by leukaemia with 65 new tended weight loss. our educational and awareness ef- cases. National Colorectal Cancer forts and highlighting preventive Colorectal cancer is cancer that Awareness Month is held every year measures,” Dr Mohamed Abunada, starts in the colon or rectum. in March, and this year the National lead colorectal surgeon at HMC Also known as bowel or colon Centre for Cancer Care and Re- said. cancer, most colorectal cancers be- search (NCCCR) is using the occa- “We are also working hard to im- gin as a growth called a polyp on the sion to host activities designed to prove the treatment off ered to peo- inner lining of the colon or rectum. raise public awareness of colorectal ple diagnosed with the disease by Polyps are often non-cancerous, cancer. Gulf Times Thursday, March 15, 2018 7 QATAR Over 2,500 ‘Al Bidda Park Spring Russians in Bazaar’ opens today Qatar to vote l Bidda Park, in collabo- ration with QSports, Awill officially open the first ‘Al Bidda Park Spring Ba- in election zaar’ today, it was announced in a statement. The Spring Bazaar will be the By Joseph Varghese tion Commission,” the offi cial first public event to be held at Staff Reporter disclosed. the newly-opened park where “For those who are outside over 60 exhibition booths have Russia on election day, polling been setup, along with 15 food ussians in Qatar will to- places will be organised. More court kiosks and a variety of morrow cast their vote at than 385 polling stations have children’s games that include a Rtheir embassy for elec- been organised abroad and are 1,000sqm outdoor trampoline tions to the next Russian Federa- ready to hold elections in ac- park, bike rentals, trackless tion president. The general day cordance with all accepted legis- train, and a 15m-high giant in- of voting in Russia is March 18. lative norms,” the diplomat said. flatable slide. “There are over 2,500 Russians The offi cial added that voters The event will run for seven in Qatar. The embassy has organ- will be able to vote wherever he weeks until May 8. ised voting for all citizens of Rus- is comfortable, regardless of the The bazaar off ers a wide vari- sia who work and live in Qatar on place of his permanent registra- ety of products and services such Friday as it is their offi cial day off . tion. as handicrafts, abayas, jalabiyas, The voting will take place from scarves, Arabic perfumes, ac- 8am to 8pm,” a Russian embassy “The embassy has cessories and other products, offi cial told Gulf Times. organised voting for all targeting citizens, residents, and The election results will be an- citizens of Russia who tourists. nounced on March 29. work and live in Qatar on Residents can also enjoy spe- Election commissions are or- Friday as it is their offi cial cial weekend stage performanc- Park visitors enjoy the food court. ganised in each of Russia’s prov- day off . The voting will es and kids’ games with a chance inces, as well as in foreign mis- take place from 8am to to win prizes. He said there are plenty of sions, and observers are invited 8pm” QSports, the offi cial event surprises with mini-weekend for the election. organisers, announced that the events being planned through- The offi cial explained that For the disabled, a special pro- door is still open to entrepre- out the next seven weeks. eight candidates from various cedure has been organised – spe- neurs, retailers, restaurants that One such event sure to drive political parties have joined the cial staff will arrive at the voter’s wish to participate in the Spring thousands of people to partici- pre-election race, including location and help them complete Bazaar 2018. pate is the fi rst ever ‘2K Infl at- Russian President Vladimir Pu- all necessary procedures allow- Participating businessmen able Run’ where families can join tin. ing every citizen of Russia to ful- will benefi t from the importance their children in conquering the “Such a high number of can- fi l their civic duty and make the of the event in promoting their “world’s largest infl atable ob- didates show that the population choice. products and services to a large stacle course.” of Russia is becoming more po- “The embassy of Russia in Qatar number of people visiting the More information on event litically active and is interested welcomes every Russian citizen to park daily. dates and schedules can be in the processes that are taking come to the embassy for voting in Ghanim al-Mohannadi, dep- found on www.springbazaar.qa place in the country,” he noted. a friendly and warm atmosphere. uty chairman of QSports, said or the event social media han- “According to Russian legis- During the event, Russian nation- the Spring Bazaar is part of the dles @springbazaar.qa lation, detailed information on als can also get more information overall direction of QSports The bazaar is open to visi- candidates, their pre-election about Russian activities in Doha, to promote outdoor activities tors from 4pm to 10pm from programmes, as well as fi nan- future plans, meet with embassy “while taking advantage of near Saturdays to Wednesdays, 4pm cial information on income is offi cials and interact with the most perfect weather in Qatar this to 12am on Thursdays and Fri- provided on the offi cial Internet active members of community,” he time of the year.” days. Children participate in one of the weekend events. resources of the Central Elec- added.

Gulf Times Thursday, March 15, 2018 9 QATAR

Doha Bank’s new Samsung Galaxy S9 and co-branded S9+ unveiled in Qatar mobile app to

By Joey Aguilar off er cardholders Staff Reporter

amsung Gulf Electron- ‘irresistible’ deals ics Co has unveiled in SQatar the Samsung Gal- axy S9 and S9+ on Tuesday at oha Bank has unveiled ence the all-new Doha Bank Shangri-La Doha, highlight- the latest release of the My Book Qatar App while they ing the smartphones’ advanced Dnew co-branded mo- share their moments of joy camera and enhanced enter- bile application, ‘Doha Bank My with loved ones.” tainment features. Book Qatar’ on Apple App Store Chief operating offi cer Peter Redesigned with new dual and Google Play Store. Roberts added: “The co-brand- aperture lens (F1.5 / F2.4), the The feature-packed mobile ed App, which is available on tech giant’s latest version of its app brings hundreds of irresist- both Android and iOS platforms, galaxy line allows users to take ible off ers at the fi ngertips of allows users to browse through high quality pictures even in Doha Bank’s cardholders at more off ers by location and service low light environments. than 300 outlets in Qatar. categories. An integrated map “Because camera is the sin- The new 2018 App is intro- also enables users to spot deals gle most used feature in any ducing more than 900 ‘buy one, that are nearest to their current phone, and by understand- get one free’ vouchers and over location. ing this we made sure that our 300 exciting off ers at hotels, fi ne “Furthermore, the App gives cameras have always been de- Samsung off icials and dignitaries at the event. PICTURE: Jayaram dining restaurants, cafes, lei- Doha Bank customers insight signed to capture your favourite sure spots and health and fi tness into their total savings that re- moments clearly and quickly,” told visitors at the event. late it for you, live,” he said. with Dolby Atmos and a refi ned ognition – so users can choose spas. The ‘Doha Bank My Book sult from using the vouchers, Samsung Electronics Qatar “Now the camera automati- “You can use Bixby to trans- edge-to-edge Infi nity Display the way they want to secure and Qatar’ App is set to deliver un- which are instantly redeemable managing director Andrew Shin cally adjusts to lighting condi- late individual words or whole – a key staple in Samsung’s protect their device and appli- precedented savings and gener- on the phone. What makes it tions,” he said. “We re-imag- sentences from a variety of design heritage – providing a cations. ate priceless moments for Doha even more exciting is the fact ined the S9 camera to simply languages from 54 diff erent one-of-its-kind entertainment Health-conscious users can Bank’s customers. that up to 10 devices can have Smartphones available work like your own eyes.” languages on input to 104 lan- experience for users. also rely on the devices’ im- Doha Bank acting chief re- the same account as long as the at Ooredoo outlets The smartphones’ dual ap- guages on output.” First introduced on the S8, proved optical sensor, built tail banking offi cer Braik Ali HS payment is done with a Doha erture lens also enable ‘super Users can translate foreign the super Amoled Infi nity Dis- directly into the device, which al-Marri said: “The launch of Bank card.” The new Samsung Galaxy S9 slow-mo’ video, which can languages and currency in real play lets users to use their new provide richer and more accu- the ‘Doha Bank My Book Qatar’ Doha Bank Group CEO Dr R and S9+ device is available in capture 960 frames per second time with Live Translation, devices even in direct sunlight. rate information on their health mobile app came fi rst to de- Seetharaman said: “As a trusted Ooredoo’s Villaggio, Landmark to ensure users do not miss a learn about their surroundings Besides maintaining its water status. liver more value for our clients’ fi nancial institution with a long- and HQ2 Shop, as well as via the moment. and track calories throughout and dust resistance and wireless The S9 and S9+ will be avail- spending through innovative standing reputation in the re- eShop, it was announced. With the ‘AR Emoji,’ the new the day. charging features, the S9 and able across major retailers and off erings suited with their life- gion, we are committed to capi- Customers who pre-ordered their devices allow users to create an “We have reimagined the S9+ also support expandable Samsung brand shops in Qatar style. Last year the App had a talising on the current retail and device should follow the instruc- emoji that looks, sounds and smartphone camera for today’s memory of up to 400GB with a from March 16 and will be of- massive success, especially the consumer trends in the society, tions given via SMS to collect acts like them. generation and the way they Micro SD Card. fered in Midnight Black, Tita- new generation of shoppers or especially amongst the youth. their new smartphone. Having a hard time com- communicate, helping them The devices are equipped nium Gray and a new hue, Lilac millennials, who seek to discover The co-branded mobile App For anyone who did not pre- municating to people with a unlock powerful experiences with the latest premium appli- Purple. new experiences at the click of a gives us a great platform to en- order a Samsung Galaxy S9 or diff erent language? It will not and share them eff ortlessly,” cation processors for powerful The price for both smart- button. gage with our diverse customer S9+ device, all purchases will be a problem anymore with Tarek Sabbagh, head of IT and performance and sophisticated phones will be dependent on “Hundreds of ‘buy one get base and reward them instantly include a free 20GB Data Card Samsung’s intelligent platform Mobile (IM) Division at Sam- image processing. memory size: QR2,999 (64GB), one free’ deals have been re- for their loyalty.” (worth QR200), screen insurance, ‘Bixby,’ according to Shin. sung Electronics Gulf. In addition, the S9 and S9+ QR3,199 (128GB), and QR3,399 deemed and this year we will Download the Doha Bank and a 35% off discount voucher “Just hold up your camera, The S9 and S9+ also fea- support three diff erent biomet- (256GB) for the S9, and QR3,399 ensure that our cardholders get My Book App at https://goo. for Clear-Coat. and Bixby will automatically tures powerful stereo speakers ric authentication options – (64GB), QR3,599 (128GB), and the most value and the great- gl/547oBR for Android and ht- detect the language and trans- tuned by AKG, immersive audio iris, fi ngerprint, and facial rec- QR3,799 (256GB) for the S9+. est savings while they experi- tps://goo.gl/BBsknZ for iOS.

Confi dent Group promotes real estate projects Jamie’s Italian eatery opens at Doha Festival City onfi dent Group, a leading housing brand of Kerala, is com- ing to Qatar to promote their new projects with ‘amazing Cprices and attractive off ers.’ ashion and lifestyle retail conglomer- fresh pasta made on site, every day, hand- Confi dent Group representatives will be available from March ate, Apparel Group has announced the stretched pizzas, rustic main courses and in- 16 to 18 at MovenPick Hotel, Corniche road, Doha, from 10am to Fopening of Jamie’s Italian restaurant in dulgent desserts, that the “whole family can 8pm. Customers can book villas and apartments at premium lo- Doha Festival City (DHFC). enjoy”. cations of Kerala. Jamie’s Italian has opened for the fi rst time “With a relaxed neighbourhood feel, “The projects available at Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Thris- in Qatar, giving diners and foodies an oppor- Jamie’s Italian restaurant is a true celebra- sur, Kozhikode and Kottayam are of international quality. The tunity to “indulge in some authentic Italian tion of the ‘Italian table’ where families and luxury villa projects in Kochi, Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram salads, grills, pizzas, pasta and desserts”, the friends come together and enjoy delicious, are available from Rs79 lakhs and apartment projects from Rs33 Group has said in a press statement. authentic food,” the statement noted. lakhs,” according to a statement. The restaurant, spread over 2,700sq m, Apparel Group stressed that Jamie’s Italian “First time home buyers can now avail a subsidy up to Rs 2.7 was inaugurated by British ambassador Ajay is a “great addition” to the Group’s F&B divi- lakhs through Pradhanmanthri Awas Yojna Scheme. Three cus- Sharma recently. sion, adding another award-winning dining tomers can win a fully furnished apartment in Kochi by buying Jamie’s Italian is a “rustic Italian casual concept that “sits perfectly within our port- a Confi dent group apartment or villa anywhere in Kerala,” the dining concept” from British chef Jamie Ol- folio”. statement added. iver. The menu is “simple and classic; cel- Jamie’s Italian is open from 12noon to Confi dent Group representatives can be contacted at 30647607 British ambassador Ajay Sharma and other dignitaries and off icials at the ebrating fresh, sustainable and impeccably 11pm, Saturday to Friday, on the ground fl oor and 70632011 while they are in Doha. opening of Jamie’s Italian in Doha Festival City. sourced ingredients”. The restaurant serves of DHFC. Canadian CNA-Q event aims to delegation ends develop STEM skills Doha visit ollege of the North Atlantic - Qatar (CNA-Q) hosted its Clargest co-curricular event visiting Canadian par- of the academic year, the 9th annual liamentary delegation CNA-Q Skills Competition, spon- Aconcluded its visit to sored by Qatar Petrochemical Com- Doha, after conducting fi eld pany (Qapco). trips through which they learnt The CNA-Q Skills Competition about the aspects of co-opera- off ers 50 diff erent competitions – in tion between Qatar and Canada Engineering Technology, Informa- and ways to bolster and develop tion Technology, Health Sciences, them. Business Studies and Academics – The delegation was made up of simulating a variety of real-world Borys Wrzesnewskyj, Fayçal El- tasks that students will perform in Khoury, Michael Cooper, Colin the workplace once they graduate. Fraser, Kelly McCauley and Ali The CNA-Q Skills Competition is Ehsassi. modelled after World Skills Interna- During the visit, HE the tional, a global initiative to promote Speaker of the Advisory Council the development of skilled trades. Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al- The Winner of the Qapco High- Mahmoud met the delegation led est Achiever Award was presented by Wrzesnewskyj, member of the to the student Abdulwahhab Saleh Students engaged in an activity. Canadian House of Commons’ al-Shatef. Standing Committee on Foreign He was presented his award for More than 550 college students students from University of Cal- Aff airs and International Devel- achievements in the Skills Compe- competed against their peers to test gary in Qatar and medical stu- opment. tition and academic studies, while the technical skills they are learning dents from Weill Cornell Medi- The meeting discussed parlia- maintaining perfect attendance, by through their studies. cine - Qatar participated in group mentary relations between Qa- Abdulrahman Sultan al-Darwish, For the second year, the col- health care-related competitions tar and Canada as well as ways strategic Qatarisation manager at lege partnered with local second- to strengthen inter-professional to develop them. The two sides Qapco, who stated, “By supporting ary schools to include hundreds of learning opportunities. also discussed the unjust siege CNA-Q’s innovative educational secondary students in the compe- “Most of the extra-curricular imposed on Qatar. The Advi- programmes such as the CNA-Q tition, giving more young people activities we host on campus are sory Council Speaker explained Skills Competition, we believe we the opportunity to be involved in also co-curricular, and involve how the siege violated the in- are making a diff erence to the future science, technology, engineering elements of experiential learn- ternational law and principles of of vocational training in Qatar by and mathematics (STEM). ing, which is the learning method good-neighbourliness. nurturing talent and expertise. Some competitions are com- we are known for here at the col- The Canadian delegation con- This competition is important as pleted individually, while others lege. We believe in applied educa- veyed its rejection of the siege it sharpens the skills of the students are group competitions where stu- tion and producing graduates to be and its full understanding of and ensures their marketability in dents solve real-life scenarios. As knowledge workers for the future,” Qatar’s stance and called for dia- an increasingly competitive work- in past years, pharmacy students said Dr Ken MacLeod, president of logue to resolve the confl ict. ing environment”. from Qatar University, nursing CNA-Q. Gulf Times 10 Thursday, March 15, 2018 REGION/ARAB WORLD Hamas widens probe into Gaza bomb attack

AFP dent Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah curity services in Gaza, said in a There has been no claim of re- those that have an interest in peace process, Nickolay Mlad- national donors aimed at raising Gaza City party. statement. sponsibility. Hamdallah said the maintaining the split. enov, condemned Tuesday’s funds for the United Nations’ It said a number of suspects After the attack, Abbas said attack would not end his govern- “It could be a group that split attack and called on Hamas to agency for Palestinian refugees, were being questioned after the he held Hamas responsible as ment’s commitment to continue from Hamas for ideological rea- hand over control in Gaza to the which is facing desperate short- aza’s rulers Hamas wid- roadside bomb targeted Ham- the de facto power in the strip, with reconciliation and again sons, such as a militant group,” recognised government. ages after the US froze tens of ened an investigation dallah’s convoy shortly after he though stopping short of direct- called on Hamas to hand over all he said. Mladenov has warned of the millions of dollars in aid. Gyesterday into a bomb entered Gaza, leaving him un- ly accusing the group of carrying power in Gaza. In October, Abu Naim, the consequences of the desper- The White House held a con- explosion that targeted Palestin- injured but lightly wounding six out the bombing. “We are talking about inter- Hamas security chief who is- ate humanitarian suff ering in ference on the deteriorating hu- ian prime minister Rami Ham- guards. Hamas shot back, saying such nal security — the police and the sued yesterday’s statement, was the strip, saying in January that manitarian situation in Gaza on dallah as he made a rare visit to It did not provide further de- rapid accusations were unhelp- civil defence,” he said. “Without wounded by a car bomb after Gaza “risks exploding in our face Tuesday, but no Palestinian of- the strip a day earlier. tails on the investigation yester- ful before in turn pointing the security there won’t be a gov- leaving a mosque. again.” fi cials attended. The interior ministry in Gaza day or release the identity of the fi nger of blame at Israel. ernment.” Hamas offi cials privately ad- Hamas has fought three wars They have refused to meet said it had launched a “high- suspects. Other potential suspects in- Jamal al-Fadi, a political sci- mit the assassination attempt with Israel since 2008 while the with President Donald Trump’s level investigative committee” “The door is open to anyone clude smaller, more radical entist in Gaza, said the aim of was by others, rather than Israel, Jewish state maintains a crip- administration since he broke into the bomb attack, which was who wants to participate in the groups that are opposed to Ha- the attack was to “sabotage any and like Tuesday’s attack the pling blockade of Gaza. with longstanding US policy in a further blow to reconciliation investigation,” Tawfeeq Abu mas but operate in Gaza, or a chance for reconciliation.” explosion was relatively small. Hamdallah travelled to Rome December by recognising Jeru- talks between Hamas and presi- Naim, the head of the Hamas se- Hamas splinter group. He said potential suspects are The UN envoy to the Middle East yesterday for a meeting of inter- salem as Israel’s capital.

SOLIDARITY Waters teams Turkey up with band in Trump protest ramps up Red Crescent says convoy Rock icon Roger Waters has joined Palestinian artists for a new song billed as a response to the US strikes on recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. To the sound of the oud lutes of Le Trio Joubran, one of the Kurdish to enter besieged Ghouta most prominent groups performing Palestinian traditional music, Waters Reuters recites verse from Mahmoud enclave Beirut/Geneva Darwish, considered the poet laure- ate of the Palestinians. Darwish’s poem, The Red Indian’s Penultimate AFP 25-truck convoy carry- Speech to the White Man, on the Beirut ing food and medical aid surface comes from the voice of a Awill enter the besieged, Native American mourning settle- rebel-held town of Douma in ments that will permanently alter urkey turned up the heat Syria’s eastern Ghouta today, the land but clearly draws a parallel on Syria’s Afrin yesterday, Ziad Msallati, a senior adviser to the Palestinians and Israel. Tlaunching deadly strikes in the Syrian Arab Red Cres- “Where, oh white master, are you on Damascus loyalists deployed cent, told Reuters yesterday. taking my people — and yours?” around the Kurdish enclave and A convoy with food and the British rocker recites in the closing in on its main city. medicine managed to get into English translation over the lutes The development — which eastern Ghouta last week amid and an ambient backdrop. Waters, could redraw the map of north- a massive army assault to re- best known as a former member ern Syria as the confl ict enters its capture the enclave on the out- of Pink Floyd who conceived the eighth year — came as Russian- skirts of the capital Damascus. rock opera “The Wall,” has long backed regime forces pounded UN Syria adviser Jan Ege- been a passionate supporter of the shrinking rebel pockets in East- land, who is also head of the Palestinian cause and has angered ern Ghouta near Damascus, kill- Norwegian Refugee Council, Israelis by leading calls for a cultural ing 25 civilians. said the Syrian government boycott. Le Trio Joubran wrote on Afrin’s encirclement “will had given its approval for a Facebook that the collaborative have been completed by the convoy today. song, entitled “Supremacy,” was evening”, a Turkish presidency “This would be potentially meant as a response to Trump. source said yesterday, toning a fairly large convoy with food They called Jerusalem the “#Capi- down President Recep Tayyip and hopefully as much as pos- talOfPalestine.” Trump has broken Erdogan’s earlier statement say- sible of the other material that international precedent by recognis- ing it would fall by evening. is in desperate need there, in- ing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and Afrin city lies in the heart cluding medical supplies,” he ordering the US embassy’s move of a Kurdish-majority enclave said. from Tel Aviv to the holy city. against which neighbouring But nothing was certain until Turkey launched a deadly ground the trucks unloaded, he added. and air off ensive on January 20. The last convoy to eastern TRAGEDY Before the retraction, Erdogan Ghouta, like many previous Members of the Syrian Red Crescent escort evacuated civilians from the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta enclave into the government side of Four dead, thousands had told supporters in Ankara he aid deliveries in Syria, was the Wafideen checkpoint on the outskirts of Damascus, yesterday. hurt in Iran fire hoped “Afrin will, God willing, stripped of medical items that have completely fallen by the the Syrian authorities did not al-Islam, which had enabled which has been split from seven years of war and assumed ing to stop the “rain of gre- festival celebrations evening.” want to fall into rebel hands, a the evacuation of 147 people to Douma by a Syrian government it was hopeless. “I don’t think nades and bullets” on civilians A top official in the Kurd- move that appeared to breach Damascus. off ensive. it’s hopeless. We can have an and to allow aid convoys in and Four people have been killed and ish People’s Protection Units humanitarian law. But he was not aware of Egeland said it was not too agreement for Douma, we can evacuees and people needing thousands injured during celebra- (YPG), which controls Afrin, Egeland said the fi ghting any such talks with Faylaq al- late to negotiate a peaceful end have an agreement for Kafr medical treatment out, he said. tions of Iran’s annual fire festival laughed off the claim. had diminished around Dou- Rahman, the main rebel group to the fi ghting there though Batna,” he said. That would be followed by a ahead of the Persian new year, Turkish and allied forces ma after talks with the main in the other rebel-held part of many people were disillu- Such a deal would bring an deal “to end this senseless bat- an off icial told state TV yesterday. have almost encircled Afrin insurgent group there, Jaysh eastern Ghouta, Kafr Batna, sioned with peacemaking after immediate pause in the fi ght- tle in an area full of civilians”. “Two people died on Tuesday night, city, from which thousands in addition to two others killed in started fleeing when it became recent days,” said Hassan Nouri, apparent Ankara’s goal was deputy director of the country’s nothing short of full capture. emergency services. Nouri said Yesterday, Turkish bombing Tillerson dismissal shows US ‘determined’ to quit nuclear deal: Tehran some 3,450 people had been raids killed 10 fighters loyal to US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s agency ISNA. US President Donald sanctions. Despite Tillerson’s determi- eration efforts.Tehran has repeatedly injured in this year’s festivities. The the regime, which last month sacking shows that Washington is set Trump announced Tillerson’s depar- nation to stick with the deal, Trump ruled out changing a single comma tradition remains popular among deployed pro-government on quitting the nuclear deal between ture in a tweet on Tuesday, saying he has threatened to scrap what he has of the text. The UN’s nuclear energy Iranians, who light and jump over forces after the Kurds asked for Tehran and world powers, Iran’s deputy would be replaced by Central Intel- dubbed a “terrible” agreement unless agency, the IAEA, confirmed in Febru- bonfires while singing songs to help. foreign minister said yesterday. ligence Agency chief Mike Pompeo, tough new restrictions were placed on ary that Tehran had met its obligations mark the arrival of spring. At this “The air strikes targeted a “The United States is determined to who takes a much harder line on Iran by May 12. A US exit could kill the under the agreement.”If the US quits year’s celebrations, young people checkpoint on the only road leave the nuclear deal, and changes at Iran than his predecessor. Trump has pact between Iran, Germany and the the nuclear deal, we will also quit it,” set off fireworks as others lobbed leading from Afrin to regime- the State Department were made with repeatedly slammed the 2015 nuclear five permanent members of the United Araghchi said yesterday.”We have told gas-filled bottles into fires, causing controlled territory to the that goal in mind — or at least it was deal, under which Iran agreed to freeze Nations Security Council. The deal’s the Europeans that if they can’t keep explosions. But following police southeast,” said the Britain- one of the reasons,” Abbas Araghchi its nuclear programme in return for backers have presented it as a victory the US in the deal, Iran will also warnings, the number of festival- based Syrian Observatory for said in comments carried by state new the lifting of crippling international for diplomacy and nuclear non-prolif- leave it.” related deaths and injuries fell this Human Rights. year in comparison to 2017. UN Palestinian agency in urgent search for funds

AFP launched by UNRWA after the funds, with UNRWA aiming to that will come forward and Jordan, will seek fresh momen- Ramallah US freeze has raised little new fi nd nearly half a billion dol- close that shortfall.” tum. money and diplomats are not lars in new money. But since the But UNRWA employees have UN Secretary General An- optimistic that the Rome meet- launch of the “Dignity is Price- deep concerns about the sheer tonio Guterres will attend, his lobal powers will gather ing will produce major pledges. less” campaign, the only new size of the gap. Nicola Jones, office confirmed on Tuesday, in Rome today to dis- UN offi cials want European funding was a $900,000 grant of the Overseas Development while Acting Assistant Secre- Gcuss the future of the UN countries to step in to fi ll part from Kuwait — although Eu- Institute think tank, said she tary for Near Eastern Affairs agency for Palestinian refugees, of the gap, but are focusing ropean countries have brought expected UNRWA heads to be David Satterfield is expected to which faces an unprecedented their fundraising eff orts on Gulf forward donations planned for “really concerned” by the slow represent the United States. crisis after the US froze tens of countries. the summer. pace of new funds. Sweden’s ambassador to the millions of dollars in funding. Fear is rife about the future of Private donations ran only “They really did try to have United Nations, Olof Skoog, The United Nations Relief and the organisation, which employs into the “hundreds of thou- a high profile public aware- said it was “reasonable” the Works Agency (UNRWA) only more than 20,000 mainly Pal- sands,” Krahenbuhl said, saying ness campaign about the cost world would do more for UN- has enough funds to keep schools estinian staff and relies on the the amount was “not ground- of withdrawing funding and RWA “but we expect the United and medical services open until United States for nearly 30% of breaking.” I think it is clearly extremely States to stay committed.” May, its commissioner general its funding. The UN Central Emergency disappointing that it hasn’t Hugh Lovatt, Israel/Pales- Pierre Krahenbuhl said. UNRWA was established af- Response Fund released $30mn been fruitful,” she said. tine analyst at the European US President Donald Trump’s ter the war surrounding Israel’s to UNRWA on Tuesday to keep Separately yesterday, the Council of Foreign Relations administration has so far com- creation in 1948, when around the agency’s food aid programme UN’s humanitarian co-ordina- think tank, said European mitted only $60mn to the agency 700,000 Palestinians fl ed or afl oat. tor for the Palestinian territo- countries were wary of being this year, down from $360mn in were expelled. Krahenbuhl played down ries called the US cuts to UN- seen to bridge the funding gap 2017. The agency off ers vital sup- concerns the world was not RWA a “big problem”. for fear of vindicating Trump’s He has frozen two planned port for these refugees and their stepping up to fill the gap. “Anything that is cut in attempts to cut international payments worth more than descendants in Syria, Lebanon, “It takes a lot of political dia- terms of humanitarian assist- aid funding. $100mn — one for UNRWA’s Jordan, the West Bank and Gaza, Jamie McGoldrick (centre), humanitarian response co-ordinator, arrives logue for these things to move ance to the people of Gaza cre- Trump is due to announce his central budget and one for food reaching more than three mn for a press conference in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, yesterday. forward, especially in light of ates a bigger problem for the proposal for new Israel-Pales- aid. people. the size of the shortfall,” he people of Gaza. tinian peace talks and Lovatt Trump continues to pressure It provides education to away from peace negotiations. agency’s worst ever fi nancial cri- said. We are struggling now to ad- said observers were waiting to Palestinian leaders to end their around half a million students. Two weeks later his adminis- sis and launched a major funding “States were planning to dress those needs,” Jamie Mc- see its vision for UNRWA. boycott of his administration, In January, Trump tweeted tration confi rmed it would hold drive, turning the front page of contribute $20-25mn to UN- Goldrick said at the launch of He said he expected Europe- sparked by his December recog- “we pay the Palestinians hun- back tens of millions in aid to its website into a plea for dona- RWA and suddenly see a a separate appeal for funds for ans in Rome to make a “con- nition of the disputed city of Je- dred of millions of dollars a year UNRWA, saying it wanted the tions. shortfall that has increased by Palestinians. certed eff ort to corner the rusalem as Israel’s capital. and get no appreciation or re- rest of the world to pay more. Senior offi cials travelled $300mn. It is quite natural you The Rome conference, co- Americans and convince them to A major funding drive spect,” accusing them of walking Krahenbuhl labelled it the around the world to push for will not have one single state hosted by Sweden, Egypt and reconsider.” Gulf Times Thursday, March 15, 2018 11 AFRICA

WAGE DISPUTE CRISIS INVESTIGATION MIGRATION LAND RIGHTS Doctors’ strike cripples Pests, disease destroy third SA police accused of abuse EU warns Africa of tougher 25 killed in fresh clashes in Zimbabwe hospitals of Mozambique crops during child assault probe visa policy over illegals central Nigeria: police

Zimbabwe’s main state hospitals yesterday Pests and disease sweeping through Mozambique South African police were yesterday probing one The EU yesterday warned African and other Herders are believed to have killed 25 villagers turned away many patients and only attended have destroyed at least a third of the country’s of their own off icers who was accused of molesting countries that their citizens will find it harder in central Nigeria’s Plateau state, police said to emergency cases as a strike by doctors agricultural crops over the past 11 months, a young girls while investigating sexual assault to get visas to Europe if they refuse to readmit yesterday, in the latest violence linked to land, escalated. The strike, which seek to pressure the government spokeswoman said yesterday. Ana of scores of primary school pupils. The forensic economic migrants under the bloc’s eff orts water and grazing rights. The killings happened government for salary increases and address Comoana, the spokeswoman, said more than investigator allegedly molested two girls aged seven to curb migration. Brussels has been seeking on Monday in the Bassa area of Plateau state, drugs shortages in hospitals, has spread since 41,000 hectares of crops in Mozambique had been and eight on Monday when he visited their school greater cooperation from such countries to take just a few days after at least five people were starting two weeks ago among junior doctors. aff ected by pests including caterpillars and fruit to prepare pupils for a court appearance. The girls back irregular migrants. “I cannot understand killed in the area. “The people were returning “We will only return to work when all issues flies. She said that more than 3,000 hectares of are among up to 87 girls allegedly sexually abused how a country can refuse to take back its to Zirechi (village) from Dundun when they raised have been fully resolved,” the Zimbabwe maize had been lost, and that coconut and banana by a security guard at a school in Johannesburg’s nationals” when they have entered Europe were attacked by gunmen believed to be Fulani Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) said in a production had also suff ered. Mozambique’s Soweto township last year. The guard is facing illegally, said EU migration commissioner Dimitris herdsmen,” state police commissioner Undie statement. “We note with concern the closure cabinet approved this week a 160mn metical rape and sexual assault charges. Police provincial Avramopoulos in Brussels. “We will introduce Adie told AFP. “I can confirm that 25 villagers of almost all central hospitals, children’s units, ($2.6mn) action plan to combat pests and disease. commissioner Deliwe de Lange said the allegations stricter conditions for processing visas when a were killed while two were injured. A number of provincial hospitals and cessation of emergency The country is one of the world’s poorest countries against the off icer were “receiving the necessary partner country does not co-operate suff iciently houses were also burnt down by the attackers,” life-saving procedures throughout the country.” and is in the throes of a debt and financial crisis. attention as a matter of priority”. on the readmission of irregular migrants.” he said. No arrests have yet been made.

Buhari vows return of Ramaphosa vows faster kidnapped schoolgirls

AFP SA land redistribution Damaturu, Nigeria AFP Johannesburg igeria’s president, in a visit to the country’s Ntroubled northeast, pre- outh African President Cyril Ramaphosa, dicted success in what he de- who came to power last month, yesterday scribed as relentless eff orts to Svowed to “escalate the pace” of redistribut- release more than 200 school- ing land from wealthy whites to poorer blacks. girls kidnapped by Boko Haram. Land ownership is a sensitive subject in South The extremists are still hold- Africa, 24 years after the end of apartheid rule, and ing 112 of the 219 students they Ramaphosa warned the issue would “implode” abducted from the Borno state unless it was addressed quickly. town of Chibok in April 2014, “We must — given the history we have had — and also 110 pupils taken from work with urgency to signifi cantly and sustainably Dapchi, in Yobe state, in Febru- escalate the pace of land reform,” Ramaphosa told ary. parliament. On a visit to the Yobe state “If we do not do so, this problem that has stayed capital, Damaturu, President with us as a nation for hundreds of years...will im- Muhammadu Buhari said he plode in our hands. had “no doubt” the Dapchi girls “This is the historic task that we have as South would be rescued or released. Africans to address this question once and for all.” “I can reassure parents, Nige- Ramaphosa, an anti-apartheid trade unionist rians and the international com- who became multi-millionaire businessman, faces munity that we will do all that is growing frustration among landless blacks over within our power to make sure lack of change since white-minority rule ended in that the girls are brought back 1994. safely to their families. White people still own around 72% of individu- “There will be no rest till the ally-owned farms in South Africa, with the black last girl, whether from Chibok or majority owning just 4%, according to an audit Dapchi, is released. cited by Ramaphosa. “The girls, like all our citizens, Land reform is set to be a key battleground in the must enjoy unhindered freedom 2019 general election, and the radical Economic and pursue their legitimate aspi- Freedom Fighters (EFF) opposition party has en- rations.” couraged supporters to seize property. Similarities have been drawn But Ramaphosa warned against illegal occupa- between the two abductions, af- tion. A woman holds a tape as she marks vacant land in Olievenhoutbosch, near Centurion, South Africa. ter heavily-armed militants were “We cannot have a situation where we allow land able to take so many pupils with- grabs because that is anarchy,” he said. tutional changes over land reform. Describing land dispossession as South Africa’s left many farms in ruins, and the drop in produc- out any resistance from security “We will not allow land grabs, we will not allow Ramaphosa is seen as a pro-business reformist “original sin”, Ramaphosa said he was committed “to tion triggered an economic crisis that still haunts forces. land invasions.” after Jacob Zuma’s graft-tainted rule. a comprehensive land reform programme that cor- the country. Buhari’s predecessor, Good- The ruling ANC party has backed expropriation But he must also boost support among ANC rects the historical injustices of land dispossession”. Ramaphosa has supported land expropriation luck Jonathan, was lambasted of land without compensation, and lawmakers last grassroot voters after years of declining election Botched and often violent redistribution of land without compensation as long as it increases food for his delayed and lacklustre month backed a motion that could lead to consti- results for the party. in neighbouring Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe production. response to Chibok, which hap- pened as Boko Haram rampaged across the northeast, seizing ter- ritory. South Africa rebukes Australian minister for white farmer comments The Dapchi kidnapping oc- curred despite repeated claims South Africa yesterday rebuked an Aus- As another threat to farmers, he also diplomatic channels available for them to Reuters was not able to verify the Speaking to parliament on Tuesday, from Buhari, his government and tralian government minister for suggest- pointed to plans by new President Cyril raise concerns or to seek clarification,” it figures independently. Ramaphosa said South Africa was not the military that Boko Haram ing white South African farmers needed Ramaphosa to allow expropriation of land added. Afriforum says that in many cases, farm heading down the road towards the type was a spent force, as a result of help from a “civilised country” and should as a solution to the massive land owner- Although violent crime is a serious murders also involve torture. of violent and chaotic seizure of white- a sustained counter-insurgency. get special visas due to the “horrific cir- ship inequalities that remain more than issue across South African society, killings The government denies that whites owned farms that triggered economic Nigeria’s political opposi- cumstances” they faced at home. two decades after the end of apartheid. on farms, the vast majority of which are are deliberately targeted and says farm collapse in Zimbabwe nearly 20 years tion has called into question the Commenting on a documentary about Pretoria dismissed his comments out white-owned, has become a particularly murders are part of South Africa’s wider ago. extent of those claims and also violent rural crime in South Africa, Austral- of hand. racially charged issue. violent crime problem. “We cannot have a situation where we urged him to meet parents of the ian immigration minister Peter Dutton “That threat does not exist,” the foreign Afriforum, a rights group that mainly Afriforum chief executive Kallie Kriel allow land grabs, because that is anarchy,” missing Dapchi girls. said the farmers deserved “special atten- ministry said. “There is no reason for any represents the views of the white Afri- applauded Dutton for highlighting the Ramaphosa said. His visit to Yobe was part of a tion”, according to Australian domestic government in the world to suspect that a kaner minority, describes being a white issue but said his organisation was not “We cannot have a situation of anarchy tour of states hit by unrest. media reports. section of South Africans is under danger farmer as one of the most dangerous jobs advocating mass emigration. when we have proper constitutional On Tuesday, the #BringBack- “I do think, on the information that I’ve from their own democratically elected in the country, saying a white farmer is “Our future is in Africa, not elsewhere,” means through which we can work to give OurGirls pressure group gave the seen, people do need help and they need government.” twice as likely to be murdered as a police- he said. “But it’s good that there’s interna- land to our people.” government a seven-day dead- help from a civilised country like ours,” “We regret that the Australian govern- men, and four times as likely as a private tional recognition that we have a problem He has also said redistribution will not line to free the remaining 112 Dutton said. ment chose not to use the available citizen. here.” jeopardise South Africa’s food supply. Chibok girls and 110 Dapchi girls or face court action.

With bottle walls and a recycled ship, Kenya’s coast takes on plastic waste

By Benson Rioba, Reuters “You should see the inside of this instruments and infrastructure usual eff ort to raise awareness Watamu, Kenya house at night when there is a full to help recycle and reuse waste about the problem: A plastic moon. It’s mesmerising,” he said. material,” the association noted ship, being built in Lamu County, He said building his three- in a statement. that is set to sail to South Africa ike many places in the bedroom house last year in part Because throw-away plastic to raise awareness on the impor- world, Kenya’s coast fac- with waste plastic and glass cut creates environmental pollution tance of recycling plastic to pro- Les challenges with waste the costs by about 40%. and takes fossil fuels to produce, tect the sea. plastic, from used shopping bags Justin Kitsao, chairman of the cutting back on its use is impor- Ali Skanda, who hopes to cap- that block drains to throw-away Watamu Marine Association, tant to curb climate change and tain the voyage in June, said cut- water bottles that litter streets an environmental non-govern- improve the environment, Ken- ting the amount of plastic waste and wash into the sea. mental group, said constructing yan environmentalists say. reaching the ocean is becoming But this Indian Ocean resort houses using plastic and glass In Watamu, Eco World, a non- increasingly urgent. village, best known for its tropi- bottles reduces the need for oth- governmental organisation, has “If we continue to litter our cal beaches and Swahili history, er building materials, particular- hired 17 local people to collect water bodies, the marine life is taking on plastic waste, turn- ly sand and concrete blocks. plastic along the Indian Ocean might disappear one day,” he ing it into homes, furniture — Watamu’s not the only part of beach each week. predicted in a telephone inter- and maybe even a ship capable of Kenya taking action on plastic The group then separates the view with the Thomson Reuters sailing all the way to South Africa waste. plastics according to weight be- Foundation. to raise awareness about plastic The country has banned the fore grinding some of them into Melinda Ress, meanwhile, the pollution. sale and use of disposable plas- tiny pieces that are sold to ar- operations manager at Heming- Sammy Baya, for instance, one tic carry bags and last month tisans, who use them to make ways, a Watamu resort, said her resident of the coastal communi- Charles Sunkuli, Kenya’s envi- chairs, poles and tables. facility has begun to replace palm ty, now owns a house with walls ronmental principal secretary, Intact plastic and glass bot- leaf roofs on some structures made of stacked glass and plastic said his ministry will launch a tles also are washed and bound with recycled plastic roofi ng. bottles. plastic bottle buy-back scheme together with sand and cement For now the material is im- “It just like living in any other in April. to create walls that can replace ported from Malaysia, but the re- house but this one, unlike other The move is a step back from brick and block walls in homes sort hopes to begin using locally ordinary houses, allows more an earlier proposed total ban on and other structures. recycled plastic soon, she said. light to enter the house and plastic bottles — but it has won Bottles of diff erent sizes and “I fully support the ban on therefore I don’t use my solar the support of the key Kenyan colours can be used to create dif- plastic bags and I wish they could (panels) for lighting when there Association of Manufacturers. ferent eff ects. extend it to the plastic straws. is a full moon,” Baya told the Waste disposal planning Any plastic waste Eco World Plastic has been a menace to the Thomson Reuters Foundation. “needs to be coupled with the cannot sell is donated to an un- marine ecosystem,” she said. A man walks past a gate made with plastic bottles at Eco World in Watamu, Kenya. Gulf Times 12 Thursday, March 15, 2018 AMERICAS

RIOT SLED RACE JUSTICE HATE CRIME OPPOSITION APPEAL 6 inmates die as Bolivia Norway’s Ulsom adds name Catholic priest jailed in Three men charged with UN studying request to police storm prison to Iditarod winner’s list Mexico for abusing boy Minnesota mosque attack help in Venezuela vote

Police yesterday stormed a riot-torn prison Norwegian Joar Leifseth Ulsom became just A Mexican judge on Tuesday sentenced a Three men from a rural Illinois community were The United Nations said Tuesday it is considering in Bolivia, killing six inmates in an operation the third international born musher to win the Catholic priest to 63 years in prison for sexually arrested on Tuesday and charged in the 2017 a request from Venezuela to help prepare the that also left nearly two dozen people injured, Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race when he arrived abusing a boy between 1994 and 1998, the victim bombing of a mosque outside Minneapolis and May 20 presidential election in which President authorities said. Deputy Interior Minister Jose in Nome, Alaska in the early morning darkness and his lawyer said. Carlos Lopez Valdes, 72, was the attempted bombing of an Illinois clinic, US Nicolas Maduro is seeking a new term. UN Luis Quiroga said the six dead at the Palmasola yesterday to the cheers of gathered spectators. also ordered to pay 4,000 dollars in damages to prosecutors said. Michael Mcwhorter, 29, Joe political aff airs chief Jeff rey Feltman met for prison were inmates “who resisted the police Billed as ‘The Last Great Race on Earth’, Ulsom Jesus Romero Colin. Lopez was found guilty of Morris, 22, and Michael B Hari, 47, were accused two hours at UN headquarters with opposition incursion.” Police said five police and 18 inmates covered the nearly 1,600km of the annual abusing Romero while he was between 11 and 16 of carrying out a pipe bomb attack on the Dar al- candidate Henri Falcon, Venezuelan Ambassador were injured in the operation, which was endurance test through the Alaskan wilderness years old. The boy was assisting the priest at a Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, Samuel Moncada and other opposition launched to search the prison for weapons and in nine days, 12 hours to claim a winner’s Mexico City church. Romero’s lawyer David Pena on August 5 that damaged the building but caused representatives to discuss the request. “The UN drugs in the wake of a riot. About 2,000 police cheque of $50,000 and a new pickup truck. described the case as a “watershed” for being no injuries, according to a statement from the Secretariat is considering a request from the surged into the cell blocks before dawn, a week Ulsom made it to Nome first to end the reign of the first guilty verdict of a Catholic priest in a Minnesota US Attorney’s Off ice. A representative Venezuelan government for accompaniment after an uprising triggered by a government the Seavey family. Defending champion Mitch sex abuse case in Mexico City, one of the world’s from that off ice was not immediately able to of the electoral process in the run-up to order that bars children younger than six from Seavey and his son Dallas had claimed every largest Catholic dioceses, though there have identify lawyers who might be representing the presidential polls set for 20 May,” said Jose Luis visiting jailed relatives. Iditarod since 2011. been guilty verdicts elsewhere in the country. men, who are in custody in Illinois. Diaz, a spokesman for UN political aff airs.

Mystery of Texas bombs Students in nationwide breeds fear, walkout on gun reform speculation Reuters “Can you hear the children Parkland, Florida screaming?” read one of the signs. At New York City’s Fiorello H Reuters LaGuardia High School, crowds of Austin S students spilled out of students poured into the streets of classrooms by the thou- Manhattan, many dressed in or- Usands yesterday morning, ange, the color adopted in recent f police in Austin, Texas, see a pattern in the three package waving signs and chanting slogans years by the gun-control move- bombs that have struck fear in the state’s capital city since like “We want change” in a coast- ment. Iearly this month, they are not revealing it, insisting they to-coast protest against gun vio- “Thoughts and prayers are not do not know the motive or see a common thread among the lence prompted by a deadly rampage enough,” read one sign, needling victims. As a consequence, residents of the three neighbour- at a Florida high school last month. the rote response many lawmakers hoods where the bombs exploded quickly fi lled the vacuum The #ENOUGH National School make after mass shootings. with theories of their own. Walkout began in the Eastern time At 10am, the hundreds of stu- The fi rst bombing on March 2 killed Anthony Stephan zone at 10am and was scheduled to dents sat down on the sidewalk, House, a 39-year-old black man. last 17 minutes, though many pro- fi lling half a city block, and fell si- A bomb on Monday morning killed Draylen Mason, a tests went longer. lent. 17-year-old African American teenager, and injured his The protest rolled westward, The walkouts were part of a mother. with students in other time zones burgeoning, grassroots movement A few hours later, a third bombing injured a 75-year-old walking out at 10am local time, in- that grew out of the Parkland at- Hispanic woman. cluding at Colorado’s Columbine tack. The demographics of the victims has fuelled speculation High School, where two gunmen Some survivors have lobbied that the attacks were racially motivated, but police say they killed 13 people in 1999. state and federal lawmakers, and do not know why the victims were targeted. The announced duration of the even met with President Donald Perhaps local political rivalries, someone displaced by Aus- walkouts was intended to com- Trump, to call for new restrictions tin’s gentrifi cation or even a Unabomber-type attacker angry memorate the 17 students and on gun ownership, a right protect- at city’s emergence as a technology centre may be responsible staff killed at Marjory Stoneman ed by the Second Amendment of for the attacks, some residents have wondered aloud. Douglas High School in Parkland, the US Constitution. Thousands of local students sit for 17 minutes, in honour of the 17 students killed last month in a high “You would think there would be a note, or a reason. At this Florida, on February 14. “We don’t feel safe in schools school shooting in Florida, during a nationwide student walkout for gun control in front the White House in point, it is just random maliciousness,” said Ryan Jones, 39, The massacre was the latest anymore,” said Sarah Chatfi eld, a Washington, DC. who runs the lunch program at a local charter school. in a series of shootings that have high school student from Mary- Jones lives with his wife and two children a few doors down plagued US schools and colleges land, standing in a crowd of hun- from 18, although lawmakers re- the money to be used to arm teachers Pennsylvania, despite warnings from the 75-year-old woman who was injured, in a predomi- since the Columbine attack. dreds protesting outside the White jected a ban on the sort of semiau- or other school offi cials. The measure from school administration that nately Hispanic neighbourhood of small homes with sporadic While many school districts House, with some sitting silent tomatic rifl e used in the Parkland has broad bipartisan support. doing so would bring discipline. petty crime. gave their blessings for the pro- with their backs turned. attack. Students from more than 2,800 The district, citing safety con- The Jones children used to run to the door when a package tests, others warned of discipline “Trump is talking about arming In Washington, however, plans schools and groups are joining the cerns, had organized an alternative was delivered, but their parents have warned them to stop. for any students who joined the teachers with guns,” the 15-year- to strengthen the background- walkouts, many with the backing event, allowing students to walk “Our children are very aware now. And they are scared as walkout, though many defi ed the old said. “That is not a step in the check system for gun sales, among of their school districts, according out of their classrooms but remain well,” said his wife Janet, 39, and a business owner. warnings and left school anyway. right direction.” other measures, appear to be lan- to the event’s organizers, who also in the building. “Students deserve The bombings have targeted three diff erent neighbour- In Parkland, thousands of stu- Some of the students began guishing. coordinated the Women’s March the right to go to school feeling hoods of Austin so far, both affl uent and not so much. dents slowly fi led onto the Stone- marching toward Capitol Hill. Students crammed into a packed protests staged nationwide over safe and comfortable, not feeling Each of them is miles away from the others. man Douglas school football fi eld “Hey hey, ho ho, the NRA has hearing yesterday before the US the past two years. scared that their school will be the Police said the powerful devices were similar to one anoth- to the applause of families and got to go!” they chanted, referring Senate Judiciary Committee about The protests took place a day after next target,” a student said into a er, all of them packed in parcels that were delivered at night, supporters beyond the fences as to the powerful gun-rights interest gun laws and school safety, which Florida prosecutors said they would megaphone to the group outside. but not by the US Postal Service or any commercial package law enforcement offi cers looked group, the National Rifl e Associa- was to include testimony from seek the death penalty for Nikolas In Bentonville, Arkansas, a high delivery company. on. tion. federal law enforcement offi cials Cruz, who has been charged with 17 school student was suspended on “We need to put a stop to this before anybody else in our News helicopters thrummed Some Democratic lawmakers and the father of one of the Park- counts of premeditated murder and Tuesday after handing out unau- community is seriously injured or killed,” Austin Police Chief overhead. emerged from the Republican- land victims. 17 counts of attempted murder in thorised fl yers promoting the walk- Brian Manley told a news conference on Tuesday. Ty Thompson, the school’s controlled US Congress to praise The House of Representatives is the Parkland attack. out, local news media reported. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and other US agencies principal, called for the “big- the students. to debate and pass a bill to spend In districts where school au- Students reciting the names of are helping local police link the bombs to a suspect. gest group hug,” and the students The Parkland survivors’ eff orts $50mn a year on training schools thorities warned against joining the the Parkland victims outside Lake- “It reminded me of the Unabomber,” said Brandon Ren- obliged around the 50-yard line. helped bring about a tightening of and law enforcement agencies to protests, some students protested wood High School in Cleveland, don, 27, a contractor who lives a few houses down from the “We want change!” students Florida’s gun laws last week, when detect potential violent acts before anyway. Some 200 students walked Ohio, brushed off a heckle from a 75-year-old woman. chanted on the sidewalks outside the minimum age for buying any they occur. out of the Council Rock High passing driver, who shouted out: Ted Kaczynski, better known as the Unabomber, was con- the school. kind of gun was raised to 21 years It would not, however, allow any of School North building in Newtown, “Go back to class.” victed in 1998 of killing three people and injuring 23 others in a mail bombing campaign against modern technology that was waged for almost two decades. Two of the bombings in Austin took place during the South by Southwest festival of movies, innovation and music that draws about half a million people to city, many to celebrate Democrats claim too-close-to-call Pennsylvania vote the latest technology developments. Police have said there is no link between the parcel bomb- ing and the festival, but urged visitors to be vigilant. Reuters If they fl ip 24 seats, they could “We need to be aware because ‘South by’ could be a target Canonsburg, Pennsylvania reclaim a majority in the House. for something similar,” said Trent Koch, 22, a Colorado State Lamb’s win could vindicate a University student who is taking part. strategy Democrats are using in Jay Brewer, 52, an African-American security guard, lives emocrats are claiming vic- some races to enlist candidates a few doors down from the 17-year-old boy who was killed. tory in a special congres- whose positions and ideologies are The block of stone ranch houses with manicured lawns Dsional election in a Penn- well suited to the district even while is home to several black families, and he believes race could sylvania Republican heartland, a confl icting in signifi cant ways with have been a motivating factor in the attacks. vote seen as a referendum on Pres- the positions of the Democratic “For most people of colour and Hispanics...this is par for ident Donald Trump’s perform- leadership in Washington. the course. Sadly, you have insane people out there who tar- ance, although the vote yesterday Lamb advocated for gun rights get you, and in their minds, your only crime is how you were remained offi cially too close to call. and campaigned against House born,” he said. In an ominous sign for Trump’s Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, Republicans eight months before and may be seen as a template national midterm elections, mod- for the Democrats to fl ip certain erate Democrat Conor Lamb led Republican seats that went for conservative Republican Rick Sac- Trump. cone by a fraction of a percentage Republicans found it harder point in the race for the seat in the than expected to mount eff ective US House of Representatives. attacks on Lamb’s positions on The fi nal result may not be abortion, guns and the national available until tomorrow. Democratic Party. Republican Speaker Paul Ryan Saccone, a former Air Force called the race a “wakeup call” in counter-intelligence offi cer, drew a meeting yesterday with Repub- criticism toward the end of the cam- lican House members and pushed US President Donald Trump inspects border wall prototypes in San Diego on Tuesday. Trump — making his first paign by saying that some of his op- them to raise more campaign trip to California as president — warned there would be “bedlam” without the controversial wall he wants to ponents “have a hatred for God.” funding. build on the border with Mexico, as he inspected several prototype barriers. The election, held to replace a He also urged them to do more to Republican who resigned amid highlight tax cuts approved by the Trump had campaigned for Sac- scribed himself as “Trump before cratic side and have pressed on the a scandal last year, was the lat- Republican-dominated Congress cone, holding a high-profi le rally Trump was Trump,” said the con- need to motivate Republican vot- est good election showing for the and signed by Trump. last Saturday in the district, which test was not yet over. ers to turn out to retain its grip on Democrats, who also won a gov- Republicans have not conceded he won by almost 20 points in the “We’re going to fi ght all the way the US Senate and House. ernor’s race in Virginia and scored the race in Pennsylvania’s 18th 2016 presidential election. to the end. You know I never give Republicans had long domi- a US Senate upset in conservative congressional district and were Trump also announced tariff s on up,” the 60-year-old state repre- nated the Pennsylvania district, a Alabama. not ruling out a recount or other imported steel last week that had sentative told supporters. patchwork of small towns, farms Saccone’s poor performance legal action, a spokesman for the been expected to appeal to voters The strong showing by Lamb and Pittsburgh suburbs — so much is worrying for Republicans who National Republican Congression- in Pennsylvania. seems certain to buoy Democrats so that Democrats did not even were sure that tax cuts, the party’s al Committee said. “It took a little longer than we nationally as they seek to win fi eld candidates in the previous only major legislative achievement Provisional ballots will not be thought but we did it. You did it,” control of the US House of Repre- two US House elections. under Trump, would be a vote counted until tomorrow. Lamb, 33, a US Marines veteran, sentatives from Republicans in the Saccone led the race by more winner this year. Democratic sources said they told cheering supporters late on November elections. than 10 percentage points in Janu- But that sweeping overhaul did expected the fi nal count will show Tuesday. Republican donors and strate- ary. little to energize local voters, some Lamb won the election by more Speaking before Lamb claimed gies have been anxious about high Democrats see 118 Republican- of whom dismissed it as a giveaway than 400 votes. victory, Saccone, who has de- levels of enthusiasm on the Demo- held districts in play. to the wealthy. Gulf Times Thursday, March 15, 2018 13 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

Defence lawyers slam Malaysian police over Jong-nam murder probe

AFP he was about the take a fl ight to day detention. He was question- her fi ngernail cuttings, nail swabs – was looking for actresses to Shah Alam, Malaysia Macau. The women are on trial ing the case’s chief investigating and blood had no traces of VX, play in short, funny videos just for allegedly smearing the banned offi cer Wan Azirul Nizam Che Gooi told the court. “The failure weeks before the assassination. nerve agent VX on the face of Wan Aziz on the 32nd day of the to investigate certain evidence Thuy’s testimony would have he Malaysian police’s in- Kim, who died in agony minutes trial. and not to allow lawyers access to reinforced the defence’s argu- vestigation into the mur- later. Kim had been living in exile Gooi at yesterday’s hearing Aisyah during her initial 14-day ment that Huong was in Malaysia Tder of the North Korean since a family fallout. criticised the offi cer for show- police detention have resulted in thinking she was taking part in a leader’s estranged half-brother Defence lawyers have argued ing the court only bits of closed- a lopsided and shoddy investi- prank show, the lawyer said. was “shoddy” and could result in that the women were recruited circuit television footage related gation,” Gooi told AFP after the “Because you as the investi- an unfair trial, a court heard yes- to take part in what they thought to the killing, which did not paint morning session. gating offi cer failed to question terday. Defence lawyers for two were prank TV shows but were an accurate picture of what hap- The Vietnamese woman’s law- Nguyen Bich Thuy, you have young women – Indonesian Siti instead tricked into becoming in- pened. yer, Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, in the prejudiced the second accused,” Aisyah and Vietnamese Doan Thi advertent assassins, in an elabo- “I put it to you that your fail- afternoon also fl agged lapses by Hisyam told the court. I put to Huong – charged with the Cold rate plot by a group of North Ko- ure to copy all the footages from police when he questioned the you that you are a biased offi cer War-style killing of Kim Jong- rean agents. the CCTV server ... had com- investigating offi cer for the rst fi and not independent.” nam sought to discredit the man- The brazen daylight killing un- promised the defence of Siti Kim Jong-nam time in the trial. Hisyam told the Hisyam said her client’s fi rst ner in which the police conducted leashed diplomatic shockwaves (Aisyah),” Gooi told Wan Azirul, court the offi cer failed to inter- practice for the prank – with the their probe. and widespread condemnation of who is being presented as a pros- to a police report which said she have also poisoned herself when view Nguyen Bich Thuy, a key Korean watching from the side- Kim, the estranged half- North Korea. Gooi Soon Seng, Ai- ecution witness. He also pointed was walking fast with her hands when she touched her glasses, witness from Vietnam who said lines – was outside a theatre in brother of North Korean leader syah’s lawyer, told the court that out that video footage in the af- far apart. according to Gooi. Aisyah’s jeans she was the one who introduced Hanoi where she was supposed Kim Jong-un, was poisoned at police failed to investigate certain termath of the killing showed his This was important because and glasses were not sent for the suspect Huong to a Korean to say “hi” to a man the Korean Kuala Lumpur’s international evidence and denied him access client adjusting her sunglasses if she had smeared VX on Kim’s laboratory tests and the chemis- man in Hanoi. The man – be- picked and give him a kiss on the airport in February last year while to his client during her initial 14- after the attack on Kim, contrary face using her hands, she would try department tests showed that lieved to be a North Korean agent cheek. With Tillerson out, Seoul awaits seasoned Pompeo

Reuters impact the development of rela- Seoul/Tokyo tions and important areas of co- Rex Tillerson operation. “We of course hope that the is more likely to see China as a from the US tariff s, welcomed apan’s foreign minister positive momentum on the Ko- threat but his views will probably Pompeo’s appointment. “We said yesterday he person- rean peninsula, including the soften, Jia said. “Once you are in know him very well,” Prime Min- Jally regretted the departure of political will for talks of both the secretary of state position, ister Malcolm Turnbull told re- “frank, trustworthy” US Secre- the United States and North Ko- you need to be more pragmatic porters. tary of State Rex Tillerson ahead rea, will be maintained,” Lu told and take into account the huge “He’s a great friend of Aus- of a proposed summit between a daily news briefi ng. Shares in stakes involved, so the impact tralia. The transition will be ab- President Donald Trump and Japanese defence equipment will not be as big as some people solutely seamless. Our relation- North Korean leader Kim Jong- makers rose sharply on specula- expect.” ship with the United States, as un. tion that geopolitical tensions Most important for China was you know, is outstanding at so Trump fi red Tillerson on may rise after the fi ring of Tiller- that Pompeo makes contact with many levels from the president Tuesday after a series of public son and Pompeo’s appointment. his Chinese counterparts to en- and myself, right through the rifts over policy on North Korea Ishikawa Seisakusho surged as sure a smooth meeting between military, intelligence, diplomacy and other issues, replacing him much as 15%, while Howa Ma- Kim and Trump as soon as pos- and business.” with loyalist Central Intelligence chinery jumped 11%. sible, said Ruan Zongze, a former South Korea is the largest sup- Agency Director Mike Pom- Jia Qingguo, an expert on Chi- Chinese diplomat now with the plier of steel to the United States peo. “He (Tillerson) was a frank, nese diplomacy at Peking Uni- China Institute of International not to have secured an exemp- trustworthy counterpart and I Mike Pompeo versity in Beijing, said China may Studies, a think tank affi liated tion from the tariff s and is facing thought we would deal with the South Korea’s National Intelligence Service chief Suh Hoon waits for ar- see positive outcomes from the with the Foreign Ministry. pressure from Trump over the North Korea issue together, but rival of Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe prior to their meeting in Tokyo to know how to compromise. change when it comes to the US “Time is short. There are a lot two countries’ free-trade deal. personally, I feel that this situa- earlier this week. “We’re aware that Pompeo was position on the Belt and Road things to do. Every day is very “It is our joint understand- tion that has developed is unfor- one of the strongest voices in the initiative, Chinese President Xi important,” he said. ing with the United States that tunate,” Japanese Foreign Min- diplomats so soon before the erson’s departure, the ministry talk of military action and fed Jinping’s signature foreign policy Pompeo is also known for his strong co-operation be main- ister Taro Kono told reporters in unprecedented potential meet- said in a text message. An offi cial Trump related assessments, but initiative. hawkish views on trade. He takes tained through close communi- Tokyo. ing between Kim and Trump, had earlier said she would cancel things have since changed a lot,” “Tillerson has at times been over as the chief US diplomat as cation between South Korea and “For sure, America holds the and worried that Pompeo would the visit. one senior offi cial said, referring quite critical of China, includ- the United States is fi nalising the United States regardless of key, so I want to meet his succes- encourage Trump to be hawkish Other South Korean offi cials, to upcoming inter-Korean talks ing of Belt and Road,” Jia said. the imposition of hefty tariff s on US personnel changes as there sor as secretary of state soon and on North Korea. South Korea’s also speaking on the condition of and the prospect of a Kim-Trump “Trump is not as hawkish on steel and aluminium that have are important issues, including exchange views on North Korea Foreign Minister Kang Kyung- anonymity, said that while Pom- summit. “So, we will see.” Chi- China as many assume. He has upset a number of Asian trading the North Korea nuclear issue, and other matters,” Kono said. wha decided to go ahead with a peo was known to have hardline nese Foreign Ministry spokes- tried to communicate and to cut partners. the US-South Korea alliance and Critics expressed dismay at planned trip to Washington to views on North Korea, he was a man Lu Kang said China hopes a deal.” Close ally Australia, which is trade matters,” South Korea’s the decision to swap out top discuss North Korea despite Till- seasoned politician and seemed the change in personnel will not Coming from the CIA, Pompeo working through an exemption Foreign Ministry said.

Japan PM Abe denies involvement Myanmar urged by him, wife in discount land sale Dog’s day out not to drag out case against Japanese Prime Minister Shin- ments even before they were zo Abe yesterday remained altered, it is clear that my wife Reuters reporters steadfast that he and his wife and I were not involved,” Abe were not involved in a discount told an upper house budget Some international observers land-sale deal that has seen the committee, a statement ech- urged Myanmar yesterday not to opposition call for the resigna- oed by chief cabinet secretary drag out legal proceedings against tion of his ally, Finance Minister Yoshihide Suga. Abe has said two Reuters journalists, as they Taro Aso. Abe and Aso have he would resign if evidence appeared in court for the 10th time come under fresh pressure were found that they had. since they were arrested in De- over the ministry’s admission According to the ministry cember and accused of possess- this week that it had altered documents, a comment from ing secret government papers. documents related to the sale Moritomo Gakuen citing Akie A Yangon court began preliminary of state-owned land at a steep Abe as telling him, “This is good hearings in January to decide discount to a school operator land so please proceed”, was whether reporters Wa Lone, 31, and with ties to Abe’s wife, Akie. removed. Yasunori Kagoike, Kyaw Soe Oo, 27, will face charges Suspicion of a cover-up could the former head of Moritomo under the colonial-era Off icials slash Abe’s ratings and dash his Gakuen, and his wife remain in Secrets Act, which carries a maxi- hopes for a third term as leader custody after being arrested mum penalty of 14 years in prison. of his Liberal Democratic Party last July over the deal. Denmark’s embassy in Yangon, (LDP). Victory in the LDP Sep- Asked about the reference which has closely followed the tember leadership vote would yesterday, Abe said: “I checked case, said ahead of the latest put him on track to become Ja- with my wife and she says hearing that the journalists should pan’s longest-serving premier. she said no such thing. My be “thanked and not punished” Copies of documents released wife was neither the person for their reporting on northern by the finance ministry on in charge of establishing the Rakhine state – where they found Monday showed that refer- school nor Mr Kagoike’s boss, evidence of security forces’ ences to Abe, his wife and so naturally she would not involvement in the killing of 10 Aso were removed from the have made such a remark.” Abe Rohingya Muslim men. ministry’s records of the sale and Aso told parliament they “Nor should they be subject to to school operator Moritomo had never instructed off icials at a dragged out trial that appears Gakuen. the finance ministry to alter the to be set to last for months while “When you look at the docu- documents. A police dog takes part in a training session with an off icer in Shenyang, Liaoning province, China, yesterday. keeping Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo incarcerated, away from their families and their work,” the embassy said in a statement. Two civilians that police brought to wit- ness a search of Wa Lone’s family home the evening after the report- South Australia poll off ers voters a choice of clean or cheap power ers were arrested gave testimony yesterday. Min Min, a neighbourhood off icial Reuters ernment, which has mocked the state’s lithium-ion battery at a windfarm run Australia has the nation’s highest power by cancelling Labor’s plan for a new in north Yangon, told the court Melbourne/Sydney “big experiment” in wind and solar en- by France’s Neoen, and British billion- prices, which are a big deterrent to other gas-fi red power plant and fund instead he joined nine or 10 policemen ergy. aire Sanjeev Gupta, who wants to revive investors, along with supply reliability a new power link to a neighbouring searching the residence and South Australia’s economy has suf- steel works using solar power. concerns. “South Australians know that state, to back up wind and solar power. signed a form to confirm a laptop outh Australians go to the polls on fered blow after blow in the last six “We’re sending, really, a market sig- Jay Weatherill is like a problem gam- “The federal government has proposed with a charger and a bag, a hard Saturday in a tight race with big years, with mining giant BHP Billiton nal to the world to come to South Aus- bler doubling down to chase his losses its own plan but it requires all the states drive and a notebook were discov- Simplications for national politics scrapping a $20-bn plan to expand its tralia,” state premier Jay Weatherill said on energy policy,” Josh Frydenberg, the to sign up. South Australia has refused ered there. and foreign investment in a state with Olympic Dam copper mine in 2012, the at the launch of a poll campaign that federal energy minister, said in an e- to go along, concluding it could inhibit Asked by defence lawyer Than the most wind and solar power, but the collapse of steel maker Arrium and a targets 75% of state energy to come from mail to Reuters. their plans for higher renewables,” said Zaw Aung during cross-exami- highest electricity prices in the country. state-wide blackout in 2016, followed renewables by 2025. South Australia al- If Labor wins an unprecedented fi fth David Blowers, an energy policy spe- nation whether any government While its outcome will not dislodge by General Motors’ closure of its Holden ready gets nearly half its electricity from term, it will be a blow to the federal gov- cialist at the Grattan Institute think- papers were discovered in the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, the car plant last year. renewables but has suff ered blackouts ernment’s plans for a national energy thank. search, he said no. Min Aung, a vote presents a choice between renew- Labor, in power for 16 years, has when back-up power from coal and gas policy that has no renewable energy tar- “If the Liberals were to win in South ward administrator who joined the able energy, pushed by South Australia’s turned to renewable energy luring for- is unavailable. get but sets requirements for emissions Australia, you would expect the govern- search and gave testimony, said he centre-left Labor government, and coal, eign investors, such as Elon Musk’s The plan is a potential bonanza for cuts and reliability. South Australia’s ment will get the approval it needs to could not remember seeing police backed by Turnbull’s conservative gov- Tesla, which built the world’s biggest renewable energy developers as South Liberal party promises to cut power bills proceed.” find off icial documents. Gulf Times 14 Thursday, March 15, 2018 BRITAIN/IRELAND

WEATHER OBITUARY INVESTIGATION DECISION LEGAL Fresh snow, rain Bullseye presenter New footage on 10-year-old WhatsApp probe ended Judge to sue Institute of and winds forecast Bowen dies aged 80 murder case released after compliance pledge Directors over racism row

Don’t put away those winter hats and gloves just Jim Bowen, the comedian and broadcaster best The father of a Norwegian student who was Britain’s privacy watchdog said it had dropped an Barbara Judge, the chair of the Institute of yet: parts of the UK are set for rain, high winds and known for hosting the darts-based gameshow murdered in London 10 years ago yesterday issued investigation into WhatsApp after the messaging Directors until she was forced to step aside last more snow this week, forecasters have warned. Bullseye, has died at the age of 80. Bowen, a former a plea for her suspected killer to return to the UK service signed an undertaking not to share the week after a raft of allegations of racism and A front moving from the south-west towards the teacher whose entry into showbusiness came and face justice. Detectives have released fresh personal data of users with its owner Facebook. bullying, told fellow guests at Downing Street north-east is set to bring heavy rain today along via standup comedy, became a household name CCTV footage showing 23-year-old business student The decision by information Commissioner reception that she will be suing the organisation. with strong winds. The latter part of the week will when he began presenting the ITV show in 1981. A Martine Vik Magnussen leaving a Mayfair nightclub Elizabeth Denham means WhatsApp, which Asked what she was planning to do now that she see a return to colder temperatures, according to number of strokes – in 2011 and in 2014 – left him with the suspect, to mark the 10th anniversary of has 1.5bn monthly users, will not be fined and has departed, the 71-year-old said: “I’m planning the Met Off ice. Met Off ice spokeswoman Nicky struggling to walk and talk for some time but did her death. Her body was discovered hidden in that any future sharing of user data would be to take legal action.” Lady Judge stepped Maxey said temperatures in London, which not aff ect his trademark sense of humour. “I’m very rubble in the basement of flats in Great Portland governed by European privacy rules that enter down last Friday after 41 accusations from 14 reached double digits on Tuesday, would fall as low well and I’m expecting to make it! Between your Street on March 14, 2008. She had been raped into force in May. “I am pleased to state that employees about her behaviour. In one instance as 5C by Sunday. In some rural areas temperatures ears you feel 35 but when it gets to your legs and and strangled. Farouk Abdulhak, the son of WhatsApp has now signed an ‘undertaking’ she allegedly told the Director General of the IoD may struggle to climb above zero. She said there arms your body doesn’t know,” he told the Daily Yemeni billionaire Shaher Abdulhak, fled to his wherein they have given a public commitment that “the problem is, we have one black and we was a higher risk of snow on Sunday as the cold air Mirror last year. Bowen’s death was confirmed by native country after she disappeared and has not to share personal data with Facebook,” have one pregnant woman, and that is the worst moved across the southern half of the UK. his agent. never returned to face questioning. Denham said in a blog post yesterday. combination we could possibly have”. Teachers face tighter rules for setting exams to avoid cheating

Guardian News and Media and 2016 by staff in schools and London colleges off ering OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA) awarding body exams, according to data easures are being in- obtained through a freedom of in- troduced to tighten formation request by the Sunday Mregulation of classroom Times. teachers who help set public Ofqual’s chief regulator, Sally examinations in an attempt to Collier, said: “Our rules on confi - avoid a repeat of the cheating dentiality and malpractice are al- scandal that hit two prestigious ready demanding. The proposals private schools last summer. we have put forward today build The exams watchdog Ofqual on them and provide greater clar- had considered banning teachers ity about our expectations and from instructing topics on which the implications for awarding or- they have written exam questions ganisations if information about but ruled this out, saying that an assessment is disclosed by a keeping active teachers involved teacher who has been involved in Military personnel wearing protective coveralls work to remove a vehicle connected to the March 4 nerve agent attack in Salisbury, from a residential street in Gillingham, in preparing exams would ensure its development. southeast England, yesterday. quality. “There is no one-size-fi ts-all In future, teachers will not be solution to the challenge of main- told whether or when any of the taining confi dentiality. How- exams they have developed will be ever, the events of summer 2017 used, and exam boards will be ex- showed how public confi dence in pected to keep up-to-date records assessments and, in turn, quali- of all confl icts of interest. fi cations, can be damaged if con- Exam boards will have to pro- fi dential information is wrongly vide ethical training to teach- used.” 23 Russian diplomats ers who write exam papers to This year’s summer exams have support them “to do the right already been written so cannot thing”. They will also be required be fully subject to the new safe- to detect malpractice by looking guards. But all exam boards are out for any unusual patterns in expected to have made signifi cant the results of pupils taught by progress by summer 2019 and to teacher-examiners. have fully revised their safeguard- expelled over spy attack The crackdown comes amid ing procedures by 2020. growing concern about exam The Joint Council for Qualifi - malpractice, in particular teach- cations, which represents exam Reuters Yulia, who have been critical in strated complete disdain for acceptable, unjustified and and there would be a common ers cheating to try to improve their boards in England, said it would be London hospital since they were found the gravity of these events,” shortsighted”. Moscow has European stance, although “we pupils’ results. Last summer, pu- writing to every school and college unconscious on March 4 on a May said in a statement to par- repeatedly warned London to must still talk responsibly” pils at Eton and Winchester had with guidance on how to identify bench in Salisbury. liament. “They have treated expect retaliation. with Russia despite differences marks annulled in economics and and manage potential confl icts of ritain is to kick out 23 May announced measures the use of a military-grade The two governments of opinion. art history papers for the Pre-U – interest for teachers who also set Russian diplomats, the including the potential freez- nerve agent in Europe with blamed each other for the cri- A French government an exam favoured by some schools exams. Bbiggest such expulsion ing of Russian state assets that sarcasm, contempt and defi- sis. “Many of us looked at a spokesman said Paris was as an alternative to A-levels – af- A spokesman said: “Malprac- since the Cold War, signalling pose a security threat, new ance.” post-Soviet Russia with hope. awaiting proof before decid- ter it emerged that students had tice undertaken by assessment a plunge in relations to their laws to counter hostile state May said the only possible We wanted a better relation- ing if it would act in solidarity prior access to material that later setters involved in the produc- lowest point in decades in the activity and a downgrading conclusion was that the Rus- ship and it is tragic that Presi- with London. appeared in their fi nal exams. tion of question papers seriously wake of a chemical attack on a of Britain’s attendance at the sian state was culpable for the dent Putin has chosen to act in May said the Organisation The teachers responsible for damages the integrity of the entire former Russian spy in southern soccer World Cup in Russia. attempted murder of the Skri- this way,” said May. for the Prohibition of Chemi- leaking the material subsequently examination system and under- England. She had given Moscow un- pals and the harm to Nick Bai- Britain, which has received cal Weapons has been notified left their schools. The Eton head- mines public confi dence. Prime Minister Theresa May til midnight on Tuesday night ley, a police officer who is in a statements of support from the of Britain’s findings and would master, Simon Henderson, later “The very low number of such pointed the finger of blame to explain how the Novichok serious condition after being US, the European Union and verify its analysis of the sub- revealed to a committee of MPs instances is due to the profes- firmly at Russian President nerve agent came to be de- exposed to the nerve agent. Nato, has said it would seek to stance used in the attack. that teachers at the school were sional integrity of the vast ma- Vladimir Putin yesterday as ployed on the streets of Salis- “This represents an unlaw- co-ordinate an international Skripal betrayed dozens of involved in setting seven public jority of assessment setters – and she outlined a series of retali- bury, saying either the Russian ful use of force by the Russian response to the attack. Russian agents to Britain before exams taken by their own pupils. others involved in the preparation atory measures in parliament. state was responsible or it had state against the UK,” she said. German Chancellor Angela being arrested in Moscow and It emerged in February that of examination papers – and the Russia denies any involve- lost control of a stock of the The Russian embassy in Merkel said after May’s state- later jailed in 2006. He was freed nearly 2,300 malpractice off ences current system of support and ment in the attack on ex-spy substance. London described the steps ment that she took the British under a spy swap deal in 2010 were committed between 2012 safeguards”. Sergei Skripal and his daughter “Their response demon- announced by May as “un- findings on Salisbury seriously and took refuge in Britain.

Corbyn ‘forced to ditch Brexit ‘threatens Good peerage for key ally’

Friday agreement’ London Evening Standard Corbyn’s remaining two choices London are Tony Woodley, former co- leader of the powerful Unite un- Guardian News and Media the Good Friday agreement sim- outcome. But that led to calls ion, and former London councillor London ply because it threatens to drive from Scotland for a similar ar- eremy Corbyn retracted the Martha Osamor, whose daughter a wedge between Britain and rangement. tacit off er of a peerage to a Kate Osamor MP is the shadow Ireland, between Northern Ire- Meanwhile the Irish govern- Jclose ally to instead reward international development secre- reland’s prime minister has land and the Republic of Ireland, ment’s efforts to maintain a soft the outgoing general secretary tary. warned that Brexit threatens and potentially between the two border, in particular its demand of the Labour Party, the Stand- A source claimed Qureshi was Ithe Good Friday agreement communities in Northern Ire- that Northern Ireland contin- ard revealed. Sources say Murad approached by an aide to Corbyn and could “drive a wedge” be- land. And that’s why we must do ues to align with many EU regu- Qureshi, chair of the Stop the War and asked if he would step aside tween Britain and Ireland. all that we can to make sure that lations, has spooked unionists. Coalition and a former London for McNicol. The Standard under- Leo Varadkar also sought to those wedges, that that risk, does Last year the Irish Foreign Min- Assembly member, had been on stands he said he would not “make reassure unionists, who fear that not become reality.” ister Simon Coveney said he a shortlist of three Left-wingers life diffi cult for Jeremy”. his government is using the mo- Varadkar continued: “I think would like to see a united Ire- whom the Labour leader planned A senior Labour source, asked ment to push for a united Ireland, for unionists – and I take no land in his “political lifetime”. to put in the House of Lords. whether a peerage was withdrawn that he does not have “a hidden pleasure in this – it also cre- The Democratic Unionist However, it is believed his name or if McNicol demanded one, said: agenda”. ates risks for the union itself Party (DUP) described the re- was withdrawn from considera- “This is categorically untrue on The taoiseach was joined on because it asks Scotland and mark as “aggressive” and con- tion following Iain McNicol’s res- both counts.” McNicol’s exit from Tuesday by the former Sinn Fein Northern Ireland to leave the demned “the megaphone diplo- ignation as head of the Labour Labour HQ was followed by the leader Gerry Adams and the Brit- European Union even though macy” of Dublin. Party organisation. resignation on Tuesday night of ish ambassador, Kim Darroch, at the majority of people in both On Tuesday, in a message McNicol, a former trade un- executive director for governance an event in Washington to mark those countries voted not to do aimed at unionists, Varadkar ionist, had clashed with Corbyn and membership Emilie Oldknow. the 20th anniversary of the peace so.” said: “I know many are con- and was seen as a block to the Left A moderate who has been La- deal. Brexit has raised fears of a re- cerned, perhaps worried, per- taking full control of the party. “It bour’s most senior female staff er Refl ections on the scale of turn to a hard border between haps even angry at some recent looks like McNicol drove a hard for six years, she had been consid- that “historic achievement” fell the Republic of Ireland and political developments and I bargain, with the peerage part of ered a natural successor to McNi- under the shadow of Britain’s Northern Ireland reminiscent want to recognise that recent his price for leaving,” a senior par- col but said in a letter to colleagues planned exit from the EU. Brexit of the Troubles. Last month it statements and recent actions by ty fi gure told the Standard. she had decided to step down this had “undoubtedly changed the emerged that officials from the Irish nationalists, including the McNicol’s peerage is expected summer to pursue “other oppor- political weather”, Varadkar told UK and the EU are devising a Irish government, about Brexit to be confi rmed shortly, possibly tunities”. “With them both gone, an audience including US politi- plan to, in effect, keep Northern have been seen by some as disre- next week, alongside places in the Jeremy is now in complete con- cians at the Library of Congress. Ireland in the customs union spectful and by others as intru- Lords for nearly a dozen Brexit- trol,” said one senior Labour fi g- “To me, Brexit is a threat to and single market to avoid this sive or interfering”. Corbyn: rewards outgoing general secretary backing Conservatives. ure. Gulf Times Thursday, March 15, 2018 15

BRITAIN Parole Board hails courage of victims at Worboys hearing

Guardian News and Media forensic and analytical debate are Worboys, 60, who used to drive and Justice Jay – that the board’s prisoner is guilty of a crime for therefore entitled to be released prison. He has now served more London stories of real and serious suf- a black cab, now goes under the decision to release Worboys “was which he has not been charged, if it is not necessary for the pro- than 10 years in prison. He re- fering on the part of the victims. name John Radford. He was jailed rational and lawful”. consistent with the requirements tection of the public that he be mains in custody pending the I wish to acknowledge that on indefi nitely in 2009 with a mini- The Parole Board could not be of fairness.” detained”. outcome of the case. he Parole Board has ac- behalf of the board ... and also to mum term of eight years after expected to investigate other al- But Leveson told Collins that He added: “The Parole Board Part of the Parole Board’s knowledged the “serious acknowledge the courage of the being found guilty of 19 off ences, legations made against inmates the issues raised by the case had directed his release, he was proposed release conditions for Tsuff ering” and “courage” victims in pursuing their claims.” including rape, sexual assault and if the original trial judge had not were fundamental. “It’s a ques- entitled on their direction to Worboys, the high court was of the victims of the serial sex Lawyers for the two unnamed drugging, committed against 12 found them proved in court, he tion of whether someone is safe freedom and he has had that tak- told, was that he would be ex- attacker John Worboys during a victims have argued that the Pa- victims. Police, however, believe said. “The board indeed does not to be released. That doesn’t de- en away. I think it is a unique case cluded from London and Sussex. high court challenge brought by role Board failed to take into ac- he committed crimes against 105 have to determine whether there pend just on (convictions) but in which someone who has been He would also have to wear an two women opposing his release count the full extent of Worboys’ women between 2002 and 2008 has been a crime, or what it is, on a whole raft of other mat- granted his freedom has then had electronic tag on his ankle with a from prison. off ending and that the decision when he was caught. because there has been a criminal ters,” he said. Edward Fitzger- it taken away from him.” GPS tracker. Ben Collins QC, representing to free him on licence, even on Collins told the three judges trial and a sentencing exercise.” ald QC, representing Worboys, Throughout the two-day At the end of the two-day the board, said: “We are acutely the evidence considered, was hearing the judicial review – Sir Collins added: “It is impos- told the court that his client hearing, Worboys watched pro- hearing the judges reserved their conscious that underlying this “irrational”. Brian Leveson, Justice Garnham sible for the board to fi nd that a had completed his tariff and “is ceedings via videolink from his decision to a later date.

‘He was the greatest scientist’

Tears fl owed at Stephen Hawking’s Cambridge University college as former students, fellow academics and admirers came to May leads pay tribute to the world-famous physicist who died yesterday. The Gonville and Caius fl ag fl ew at half-mast over the 14th-century college, where Hawking had been a fellow since 1965. The college at the prestigious English university opened a tributes as book of condolence in its chapel and announced his death with a monochrome picture of him pinned on a notice board in the street. Hu Xiaohua, a teacher in China and a visiting scholar at the English faculty in Cambridge, broke down in tears as she looked Hawking at the image. “I read his books and was inspired. He said ‘never give up’ — and he never gave up,” the 49-year-old said, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief. Hu said Hawking, who was confi ned to a wheelchair for fi ve decades by motor neurone dies aged 76 disease, was one of the reasons why she came to Cambridge Reuters achieve mass appeal, which stayed Web, said: “We have lost a colossal and had inspired her interest London on the Sunday Times best-sellers mind and a wonderful spirit.” in quantum physics. “He was list for no fewer than 237 weeks. Hawking’s popular recognition the greatest scientist of the 21st “My original aim was to write became such that he appeared as century...I prayed for him every tephen Hawking, who a book that would sell on airport himself on the television show day. I wished he could stand up,” sought to explain the ori- bookstalls,” he told reporters at the Star Trek: Next Generation and his she said. Hawking, who died aged Sgins of the universe, the time. “In order to make sure it was cartoon caricature appeared on 76, had a study at the college which mysteries of black holes and the understandable I tried the book The Simpsons. he shared with other fellows. His nature of time itself, died yester- out on my nurses. I think they un- He narrated a segment of the name is painted in black and white day aged 76. derstood most of it.” opening ceremony of the London on the stone arch entrance and Hawking’s formidable mind The physicist’s disease spurred Paralympic Games in August 2012, above the room’s wooden door. probed the very limits of human him to work harder but also con- the year he turned 70. “He was an amazing person,” understanding both in the vast- tributed to the collapse of his A 2014 fi lm, The Theory of Eve- said Edo Dzafi c, 26, a molecular ness of space and in the bizarre two marriages, he wrote in a 2013 rything, with Eddie Redmayne biology doctoral student from sub-molecular world of quantum memoir My Brief History. playing Hawking, charted the on- Slovenia who came to sign the theory, which he said could predict In the book he related how he set of his illness and his early life as condolence book. Dzafi c said he what happens at the beginning was fi rst diagnosed: “I felt it was a brilliant student. “got people to think outside the and end of time. very unfair — why should this He caused some controversy box about what’s out there. It’s Ravaged by the wasting mo- happen to me,” he wrote. “At the among biologists when he said what we all wonder about”. tor neurone disease he developed time, I thought my life was over he saw computer viruses as a life Justin Hayward, who was at 21, Hawking was confi ned to a and that I would never realise the form, and thus the human race’s Hawking’s doctoral student wheelchair for most of his life. potential I felt I had. But now, 50 fi rst act of creation. from 1991 to 1995, said the As his condition worsened, he years later, I can be quietly satis- “I think it says something about groundbreaking theoretical had to speak through a voice syn- fi ed with my life.” human nature that the only form physicist had come to his thesiser and communicating by Prime Minister Theresa May of life we have created so far is wedding in 2006. “He was a fun moving his eyebrows — but at the said: “Stephen Hawking was a purely destructive,” he told a fo- person to work with and had same time became the world’s brilliant and extraordinary mind rum in Boston. “We’ve created life a great sense of humour. For most recognisable scientist. - one of the great scientists of his in our own image.” his students at the blackboard, Hawking died peacefully at generation. His courage, humour Another major area of his re- sometimes a little scary,” Hayward his home in the university city of and determination to get the most search was into black holes, the re- said. Other former pupils, Cambridge in the early hours of from life was an inspiration. gions of space-time where grav- neighbours and people inspired yesterday. “He was a great sci- His legacy will not be ity is so strong that nothing, to take up the pursuit of science entist and an extraordinary man forgotten.” not even light, can escape. paid tribute to the cosmology whose work and legacy will live on US space agency He married undergradu- giant in the condolence book. for many years,” his children Lucy, Nasa said: “His theo- ate Jane Wilde in July 1965 “The greatest man leading us Robert and Tim said. “His cour- ries unlocked a and the couple had Robert, human beings through the whole age and persistence with his bril- universe of pos- Lucy and Timothy. universe,” said one comment, liance and humour inspired people sibilities that we But Hawking tells in his others calling him “an inspirational across the world.” and the world are 2013 memoir how Wilde demonstration of human Hawking shot to international exploring.” became more and more determination”, who “proved that fame after the 1988 publication Tim Berners- depressed as her no matter what, you can”. Students wait in line to sign a book of condolence opened at Gonville and Caius College, where Stephen of A Brief History of Time, one of Lee, inventor of husband’s condi- Hawking was a fellow for over 50 years, at Cambridge University in Cambridge. the most complex books ever to the World Wide tion worsened.

Cheltenham Ladies Day Hammond’s economic Facebook removes far-right group’s pages optimism is savaged the two leaders with immediate AFP London eff ect. London Evening Standard well. Well not so much.” need to fi nd an additional £14bn “We do not do this lightly, but London In brutally stark terms, he added: a year by 2022-23 to avoid spend- they have repeatedly posted con- “Dismal productivity growth, dis- ing falling as a fraction of national acebook yesterday an- tent designed to incite animos- mal earnings growth and dismal income. nounced it had removed ity and hatred against minor- hilip Hammond’s new economic growth are not just part In contrast, to eliminate the Fthe pages of far-right ity groups, which disqualifi es the “Tiggerish” economic of the history of the last decade, defi cit by the mid-2020s he group Britain First and its two pages from our service.” Poutlook was clawed apart they appear to be the new normal.” would need to fi nd some £18bn leaders for posting content “de- The social media giant said it yesterday by leading experts who He said the economic forecasts extra of tax increases or spending signed to incite animosity and was an open platform for all ide- warned of tax hikes as the govern- were still considerably worse cuts. He added: “Put these two hatred” against minorities. as, and “we are careful not to re- ment faces having to raise up to than before the 2016 Brexit vote together and on current forecasts, The move comes just days after move posts or pages just because £41bn. and that the economy is at least just keeping spending constant Britain First’s leader Paul Golding some people don’t like them”. The respected Institute for Fis- £300bn smaller than expected as a fraction of national income and deputy leader Jayda Fransen, But it warned that “there are cal Studies also said that Britain’s based on 2008 forecasts. National beyond 2019-20 and reaching who hit the headlines last year times though when legitimate debt mountain could still be spi- income per person is £5,900 low- budget balance by the mid-2020s after her posts were retweeted political speech crosses the line ralling even after the chancellor er on a similar basis. would require tax rises of £30bn a by US President Donald Trump, and becomes hate speech”. has ended the Budget defi cit. Hammond on Tuesday gave a year.” were jailed for hate crimes. Facebook is regularly criti- Hammond sought to brush strong hint that austerity will be On top of this, the ageing pop- In a blog post, Facebook said: cised over content which it bans off his “Eeyore” reputation with eased in November, telling MPs: ulation and other demographic “Content posted on the Britain or indeed content it allows to be his Spring Statement, in which “If, in the autumn, the public fi - pressures could mean another First Facebook page and the pag- published. he proclaimed Britain was at a nances continue to refl ect the £11bn a year needed by 2025 to es of party leaders Paul Golding Prime Minister Theresa May “turning point” and raised the improvements that today’s report fund additional demands for and Jayda Fransen has repeatedly has been particularly vocal in de- prospect of more public spending hints at, then I would have capac- health, pensions and social care. broken our community stand- manding that social media com- in coming years. ity to enable further increases in Hammond hailed slightly im- ards. panies act on extremist content. The chancellor described him- public spending and investment proved GDP fi gures and said fore- “We recently gave the adminis- Fransen, 31, was jailed for 36 self as “positively Tigger-like”, in the years ahead while continu- casts confi rmed “the fi rst sus- trators of the pages a written fi nal weeks last week for religiously saying there was “light at the end ing to drive value for money.” tained fall in debt for 17 years”. But warning, and they have continued aggravated harassment, while of the tunnel”. But the IFS believes he may have Johnson said public services like Zara Tindall attends the Ladies Day at the Cheltenham to post content that violates our Golding, 36, was given an 18- But in a scathing analysis of to choose between achieving his the NHS, prisons and councils Festival yesterday. The Queen’s pregnant grand-daughter, community standards. week term for the same off ence. his statement, IFS director Paul goal of ending the Budget defi cit were “struggling” and it was not who is due three months after Catherine, the Duchess of “As a result, in accordance Britain First was a largely un- Johnson said: “To listen to the by the mid-2020s or a hefty cash clear how wage rises of more than Cambridge, appeared in good spirits for her second day at with our policies, we have now known marginal group before suddenly Tiggerish Hammond injection into public services. one per cent for nurses and other the renowned racing event. removed the offi cial Britain First Trump retweeted three infl amma- you might think all was now Johnson said Hammond would public workers could be fi nanced. Facebook page and the pages of tory videos it posted in November. Gulf Times 16 Thursday, March 15, 2018 EUROPE

POLITICS AUSTERITY BLAST FROM THE PAST EU MEMBERSHIP WAGE WOES Italy League open to any Greeks protest property 23,000 evacuated in Italy Serbia ready for compromise Slovenian school teachers govt sans Democratic Party repossession auction after WWII bomb found over Kosovo: president strike for pay hikes

The leader of Italy’s eurosceptic League said Dozens of Greek protesters clashed yesterday Some 23,000 people were evacuated overnight Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Most schools and kindergartens in Slovenia yesterday he was open to forming any sort with police as they tried to storm a notary’s off ice in the central Italian town of Fano due to the yesterday his country is ready for a compromise were closed yesterday for the second time this of coalition government so long as it did not to prevent an e-auction of repossessed properties accidental discovery of a large British-made over Kosovo since resolving a dispute with its year as teachers staged another one-day strike include the Democratic Party (PD), which has under the country’s international bailout. explosive dating to World War II. Fano is located former province is key to its EU bid. Serbia has for higher wages. Some 40,000 teachers went ruled for the past five years. “Barring the PD, The protesters, led by the left-wing Popular on Italy’s eastern Adriatic coast, just under refused to recognise Kosovo’s independence, on strike and around 15,000 attended street everything is possible,” Salvini said at Rome’s Unity party, chanted “No home in the hands of 300km north of Rome. The bomb was found declared unilaterally a decade ago. Brussels protests in 11 Slovenian cities at noon, according foreign press club. The League is the biggest bankers!” and threw eggs and garbage at a line of Tuesday during hydraulic works on the city’s insists normalisation of ties between the former to their trade union SVIZ. In the largest protest, party in a right-wing coalition including former police guarding the off ice’s entrance. At least one seafront, and prompted the local town hall to foes, who fought each other in a 1990s war, is about 3,000 people gathered in front of the premier Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia (Go Italy!), protester was visibly injured in the scuff les, with clear everybody within a 1.8km radius. The town a key condition they both must meet in order government building in Ljubljana. Teachers blew which won the most seats at a March 4 election. blood around his eye. The auctions, a condition of hall said yesterday the bomb was neutralized in to join the European Union. “For us, the most whistles and waved union flags and banners. However, no party or group won an outright the bailouts Greece negotiated with the European “a special and highly risky operation” by army diff icult hurdle on the European path is indeed “Teachers — big heart, small salary” one banner majority, leaving Salvini jockeying for power Union and the International Monetary Fund, have and navy experts, who lifted it and dropped it the situation over Kosovo and that is why Serbia said. “The work of a teacher is undervalued. with the 5-Star Movement, which emerged as the often been disrupted by leftist activists who say in the sea. Mayor Massimo Seri announced that is....ready to talk about possible compromises,” Our wages do not match our responsibilities,” biggest individual party. they are unfair and target the poor. Fano was “out of danger and fully safe”. Vucic told reporters. geography teacher Ludvik Mihelic told Reuters.

Finland is world’s Merkel begins 4th term happiest country

Reuters Rome

inland is the world’s happiest country, accord- beset by challenges ing to an annual survey issued yesterday that put FBurundi at the bottom of the happiness index and Reuters found Americans were getting less happy even as their Berlin country became richer. The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Net- work’s (SDSN) 2018 World Happiness Report ranked 156 erman lawmakers yester- countries according to their scores for things such as day voted to re-elect Angela GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, GMerkel as chancellor for a social freedom, generosity and absence of corruption. fourth, and likely fi nal, term that Finland, rose from fi fth place last year to oust Norway may prove her most challenging from the top spot. The 2018 top-10, as ever dominated yet as she takes charge of a fragile by the Nordics, is: Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, coalition with her personal stand- Switzerland, Netherlands Canada, New Zealand, Sweden ing diminished. and Australia. The United States came in at 18th, down Lawmakers voted by 364 to 315, from 14th place last year. Britain was 19th. with nine abstentions, in favour One chapter of the 170-page report is dedicated to of re-electing Merkel, a humbling emerging health problems such as obesity, depression start as the coalition of her con- and the opioid crisis, particularly in the United States servatives and the centre-left So- where the prevalence of all three has grown faster than cial Democrats (SPD) has 399 votes in most other countries. in the Bundestag lower house of While income per capita has increased markedly in the parliament. United States over the last half century, the happiness in- “I accept the vote,” a beaming dex has been hit by weakened social support networks, a Merkel, 63, told lawmakers before rise in perception of corruption in government and busi- being sworn in by Bundestag Presi- ness and declining confi dence in public institutions. dent Wolfgang Schaeuble. “We obviously have a social crisis in the United In offi ce since 2005, she has States: more inequality, less trust, less confi dence in dominated Germany’s political government,” the head of the SDSN, Professor Jeff rey landscape and steered the Europe- Sachs of New York’s Columbia University, told Reuters an Union through economic crisis. as the report was launched at the Vatican’s Pontifi cal But her authority was dented Academy of Sciences. “It’s pretty stark right now. The by her decision in 2015 to commit signs are not good for the US It is getting richer and Germany to an open-door policy richer but not getting happier.” on refugees, resulting in an infl ux of more than 1mn people that laid bare deep divisions within the EU Poland’s Duda likens European Union over migration. membership to past occupations While also being locked in a trade stand-off with the United States, Polish President Andrzej Duda has likened Poland’s Merkel must now juggle competing membership of the European Union to the successive domestic demands from within her occupations of the country by Russia, Austria and Prussia, coalition. press reports said yesterday. Her conservative CDU/CSU al- He said that today, as during the 123 years between liance only turned to the SPD to 1795 and 1918 when Poles answered to an occupying prolong the ‘grand coalition’ that power, “in faraway capitals, they make decisions for us... has governed Germany since 2013 and in reality we are working on behalf of others.” out of desperation, after talks on a Speaking at an event in southwestern Poland marking three-way alliance with two small- 100 years since the country’s sovereignty was restored er parties collapsed last November. following World War I, Duda said: “We have today a sover- “It will not be an easy coalition, German Chancellor Angela Merkel is off ered flowers after she was re-elected at the Bundestag in Berlin. eign and independent Poland where I believe...we will live we have some diffi cult tasks ahead,” better and better. Talk about it to your children.” said Volker Kauder, parliamentary in parliament. “It will probably be certainty is over,” he said at a cer- England for which May held Mos- ment’s progress after two years, giv- To people who say the European Union is more impor- leader of the conservative bloc. Angela Merkel’s last term and at emony with Merkel’s cabinet min- cow responsible. ing each the opportunity to pull out tant than Poland, Duda said “everyone should remember Ministers, younger and more di- some point it will be enough.” isters. Despite that, Russian President then if it is not working for them. the 123 years of partitions” when the country answered to verse than the last cabinet, take up Merkel starts work with a full in- Merkel’s spokesman said she Vladimir Putin congratulated Mer- Fault lines have emerged in the occupying powers. their posts almost six months after box. would head to France tomorrow to kel on her re-election in a telegram new government even before its “People would say (at the time), maybe it’s better, there last September’s national election Abroad she faces the trade ten- discuss bilateral, European and in- and emphasized the importance of fi rst cabinet meeting, with ten- won’t be any more quarrels, uprisings...we’ll finally have in which both coalition partners sions with Washington, pressure ternational topics with President further developing bilateral ties, sions evident over the sequencing peace,” he said. lost support to the far-right Alter- from France to reform Europe, and Emmanuel Macron. the Kremlin said. and extent of reforms. But they “soon realised that while the wars continued... native for Germany (AfD). from Britain to stand up to Russia. On Tuesday, Merkel’s spokes- At home, the pressure is on both The SPD only agreed to ally with we don’t decide for ourselves anymore, now somewhere “I have the feeling that noth- President Frank-Walter Stein- man said she spoke by phone with sides of the coalition to deliver for Merkel after promising a list of far away, in faraway capitals they make decisions for us, ing good is going to be done for the meier said it was “high time for a British Prime Minister Theresa their rank and fi le. distinctive policies after the last they take the money we earn through our work, and in country in this legislature period,” new government” to go to work. May and condemned a nerve agent Their deal includes a clause that four years in coalition damaged its reality we work on behalf of others.” said Alice Weidel, the AfD’s leader “It is good that the time of un- attack on an ex-Russian spy in envisages a review of the govern- standing among voters. Celebrated abroad, Macron struggles to fi nd love at home

By Michel Rose, Reuters highest in six years, falling un- trodden by several French leaders cial privileges” have also run Paris employment, and international before him by backing off from up against a deeper, more en- newspapers and magazine cov- economic reforms under pres- trenched characteristic of the ers celebrating “Macronmania”, sure from the streets. French psyche. e may have won elec- Macron’s approval rating is now “I know I’m asking for an eff ort It is what French sociologist tion on a promise to be at its lowest since his election, at from the oldest, that sometimes Philippe d’Iribarne called the H“neither of the left, nor around 43%. some of them grumble,” Macron “logic of honour” — the pride the right”, but France’s mould- And nowhere is the frustration said this month on the sidelines French feel about the system of breaking young president is fi nd- more acute than among France’s of a visit in the Champagne re- rights and duties particular to ing out that enacting broad wel- over-65s — the age group where gion, where a pensioner publicly each working group, inherited fare and labour reforms without Macron found the strongest sup- complained to him. from the pre-Revolution era. a traditional power base has its port in the presidential vote last “It doesn’t make me popu- “In France, the feeling of hav- price. year. lar — but I won’t apologise for ing your honour besmirched is In a by-election last month, In one survey, Macron suf- it,” he later told reporters, in the one of the strongest impedi- the voters of the tidy market town fered a nine-point fall in Febru- combative — some say arrogant ments to reforms,” Cautres said, of Pontoise, west of Paris, made ary alone, after most pensioners — manner that has become his adding that it was especially in- clear their disenchantment with noticed a decline in their pension hallmark. grained among the 5mn public Emmanuel Macron by stripping payments in January. Elysee insiders say they always sector workers. his party of a parliamentary seat Sensing an opportunity after knew there would be no honey- “It’s a French cultural trait, won only eight months earlier. several failed attempts to chal- moon, since Macron decided to forged by history, which is very Chief among their complaints lenge Macron’s reforms — which launch a whirlwind of reforms important. You can’t reform the is cuts to pensions — one of the he says will galvanise a hide- targeting vested interests right public administration just by ways the 40-year-old former in- bound economy — the French from the start of his mandate. using managerial arguments, as vestment banker has tried to pay unions have called a day of pro- Apart from pensioners, his Macron is doing.” for a reduction in taxes on sala- tests today on behalf of pension- moves to make hiring and fi r- In the medieval alleys of Pon- ries. ers. ing easier and slash a wealth tax, toise, which has swung back and “For pensioners such as my- That will provide an indication while putting off increases in forth between left and right in re- self, it’s a real catastrophe. It’s of what unions hope will become welfare spending, have alienated cent decades, they put their view been presented as ‘only fair’, but a “spring of discontent”, with na- many of the left-leaning voters of the young centrist, as he would it’s an injustice, pure and simple,” tional strikes called for March 22 who switched to him from the French President Emmanuel Macron poses for a selfie with Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo (left) during a visit have it, more bluntly. said Yvan Mary, a 71-year-old against the government’s plans mainstream Socialists in 2017, to a site on the Pont Alexandre III in Paris. “To him, it’s: ‘I do what I say — pensioner standing outside the to shake up totems of the French making up almost half his vote. live with it. Whether you agree or bakery on the main square. “social model”, such as jobs-for- Just over a third of left-wing “It’s about his policy choices — Macron. to show off in international con- disagree — you voted for me, so “It’s not what people expected, life in public administration and sympathisers now support Ma- but also his style,” Bruno Cautres, “Some of the words used, ferences’,” he said. that’s how it is,’” said 61-year- including those who voted for the railways. cron, according to an Ifop-Fidu- a sociologist at Paris’s Sciences- even by some who voted for him, But Cautres said Macron’s old Anita Deliers, a retired ad- him. There’s a sense of betrayal.” But as yet, Macron is show- cial poll this month, compared Po university who recently ran are particularly negative: ‘He’s reformist zeal and his appar- ministrator. “He’s too much of a Despite economic growth at its ing no sign of following the path with 43% of right-wing voters. a focus group on perceptions of haughty, contemptuous, he likes ent resolve to break down “spe- neoliberal for my liking.” Gulf Times Thursday, March 15, 2018 17 INDIA BJP suff ers jolt in by-elections zSamajwadi Party, RJD win key seats in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar

IANS was became the chief minister Lucknow/Patna of Uttar Pradesh. Before him, his mentor Yogi Avaidyanath was the MP from the seat for two n results that can set the tone terms, in 1991 and 1993. for the 2019 general elec- In the Phulpur constituency, Itions, the Bharatiya Janata which was once represented by Party yesterday suff ered a se- India’s fi rst prime minister Ja- vere jolt in the Lok Sabha and waharlal Nehru, SP candidate assembly by-elections in Uttar Nagendra Pratap Singh Patel de- Pradesh and Bihar. feated Kaushalendra Singh of the The BJP lost four of fi ve seats, BJP by 59,613 votes. including the prestigious Gora- The winner polled 342,796 votes khpur and Phulpur parliamen- while the BJP candidate got 283,183. tary constituencies, after rival Former mafi a don-turned politi- parties teamed up in alliances in cian Ateeq Ahmed secured 48,087 the two states. votes while the Congress’s Manish The BJP also lost the Araria Mishra polled 19,334 votes. Lok Sabha constituency and the The SP was the runner-up in Jehanabad assembly seat while Gorakhpur many times, while it scoring a consolation win in had won the Phulpur seat four Bhabhua assembly seat in Bihar. times since 1996. The BJP won The results in both states trig- Phulphur Lok Sabha seat for the gered calls for a Grand Alliance fi rst time in 2014 when Keshav all across India to take on the BJP Prasad Maurya, who is now the in the next Lok Sabha elections. deputy chief minister won by a After sweeping the Lok Sabha margin of over 300,000 votes. elections in 2014 and the assembly In 2014, BJP and its ally Apna polls last year, BJP faced formida- Dal had won 73 of 80 Lok Sabha ble rivals in Uttar Pradesh in the seats and 325 out of 403 seats in form of Samajwadi Party (SP) and the 2017 assembly elections. Bahujan Samaj Party who stitched “This is a rejection of both a last-minute alliance. BSP supre- (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi mo Mayawati had announced the and Yogi (Adityanath),” Sama- backing of her party for SP candi- jwadi Party spokesman Anurag dates in both the constituencies Bhaudauria said. in return for SP’s support to her “They have been making tall party candidate in the Rajya Sabha promises but not delivering on biennial elections. the ground,” he said, explaining Samajwadi Party workers celebrate their party’s success in Phulpur yesterday. The BJP lost Gorakhpur seat why the voters appeared to have to the SP by a margin of 21,961 turned against the BJP so dra- Minister Nitsh Kumar when it an RJD ally, by 15,000 votes in RJD, JD-U, BJP and Congress. votes. SP candidate Pravin Ku- matically in these two seats since bagged the Araria Lok Sabha Bhabua assembly constituency. Workers of SP and RJD cel- Underestimated SP-BSP deal: Yogi Adityanath mar Nishad got 456,437 votes the 2014 Lok Sabha battle. seat. It was a direct fi ght between ebrated across Uttar Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi and Congress were fighting while the BJP’s Upendra Dutt In a rare show of camaraderie, The RJD’s Sarfaraz Alam de- the BJP-led National Democrat- Bihar by distributing sweets and Adityanath yesterday said the separately. Towards the end... Shukla secured 4,34,476 votes. Samajwadi Party leaders admit- feated BJP candidate Pradeep ic Alliance and the Grand Alli- bursting fi recrackers. Bharatiya Janata Party under- in the midst of campaigning, Congress candidate Sureetha ted that the BSP decision to back Kumar Singh by over 60,000 ance of the RJD-Congress in Bi- RJD workers beat drums and estimated the Samajwadi Party- the SP and BSP entered into an Kareem polled 18,844 votes. their party played a critical role votes in Araria. har, a year ahead of the next Lok raised slogans hailing party chief Bahujan Samaj Party alliance unnatural deal in view of the Yogi Adityanath, who had rep- in the outcome. In Jehanabad assembly con- Sabha battle. With the original Lalu Prasad Yadav, who is in jail that led to its defeat and termed Rajya Sabha biennial elections resented Gorakhpur seat in the In neighbouring Bihar, the stituency, Suday Yadav of the Grand Alliance having come for corruption, and his son Te- it a lesson for the party. “When and there was some shortcoming Lok Sabha for fi ve times, win- opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal RJD defeated JD-U’s Abhiram apart after the JD-U deserted it jashwi Yadav, who asked opposi- the parliamentary by-elections on our part in understanding its ning the last elections in 2014 (RJD) dealt a stunning blow to Sharma by 35,036 votes while and joined hands with the BJP, tion leaders to join hands at the were declared, all opposition impact and over-confidence is a with a margin of 313,000 votes, the saff ron party and its ally Ja- BJP’s Rinki Pandey scored over there was a lot at stake for eve- national level to take on the BJP parties including the SP, BSP factor in this,” Adityanath said. resigned from the seat after he nata Dal-United headed by Chief Sambhu Patel of the Congress, ryone in the by-elections: the in the 2019 Lok Sabha battle. Akhilesh meets Mayawati to thank her for support

IANS Lucknow

etting aside bitter and historic rivalry of 25 years, Samajwadi SParty chief Akhilesh Yadav yes- terday evening drove to the residence of Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati to thank her for the support to his party candidates in the Phulpur and Gorakhpur parliamentary by- elections. While Yadav had thanked the BSP chief whom he fondly calls ‘Buaji’ (aunt) at a hurriedly-called press con- ference in the evening, he created a fl utter in political circles here as his cavalcade drove from his Vikramadi- tya Marg residence to the sprawling Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav arrives to meet BSP supremo Mayawati at bungalow of Mayawati at Mall Avenue, her residence in Lucknow yesterday. a kilometre away. They were closeted for about 20 the two parties on lines of a grand al- ‘Navnirman’ in Uttar Pradesh, it won’t minutes. liance in the run-up to the 2019 gen- happen overnight,” he added, indicat- What transpired between the two eral elections, when Prime Minister ing at rebuilding his party in the coun- is not yet known but it is understood Narendra Modi seeks a second term try’s most populous state. that they discussed the poll outcome for himself. Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief in which their parties together routed In New Delhi, Congress president Minister Mamata Banerjee congratu- the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Rahul Gandhi said the BJP’s defeat lated Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati and Sporting the ‘brand SP’ red cap, Ya- proves the electorate is very angry Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Pras- dav merely waved at the waiting media with the party. ad Yadav. on his return and said nothing. “Congratulations to the winning “Great victory. Congratulations His security personnel had a tough candidates in today’s by-elections,” to Mayawatiji and Akhileshji... The time clearing the route as the media Gandhi tweeted. beginning of the end has started,” wanted to know the details of one of “It is clear from the by-poll results the Trinamool Congress leader the biggest political developments in that voters are angry with BJP and they tweeted. the state in the past two decades. will vote for the non-BJP candidate, “Congratulations to Lalu Prasadji The meeting has triggered specula- who has a better chance of winning. for winning Araria and Jehanabad. tion about a possible tie-up between “The Congress will look forward to This is a great victory,” she said.

Court stays CBI probe Won’t back BJP, into Kannur murder says Kerala ally

IANS against the verdict. IANS Kochi Young Communist Party of Alappuzha, Kerala India (Marxist) legislator A N Shamseer, who represents the he Kerala High Court yes- Thalassery assembly constitu- he Bharat Dharma Jana Sena, the terday stayed a Central ency in Kannur, welcomed the Bharatiya Janata Party’s strongest ally TBureau of Investigation stay order. Tin Kerala, yesterday announced it won’t probe into the murder of a Youth “We have nothing to fear in back the BJP in the assembly by-election in Congress worker in Kannur on this case even as four of the ac- Chengannur. February 12. cused belong to our party. The BDJS is the political arm of the Sree The stay came on a plea by the “We have ousted the four from Narayana Dharma Paripalana, which works state government, exactly a week the party. The one reason why predominantly for the backward Ezhava after a single-bench ordered a we opposed the CBI probe is be- community. It was formed in 2015 and got CBI probe into the murder of cause the state police have done 4.47% votes in 2016 in the state assembly 30-year-old Shoaib Mohamed. a clean job and arrested 11,” said elections. Senior Congress leader K Shamseer. “We have also decided to call a meeting of Sudhakaran said his party will The murder took place on all the allies of the NDA barring the BJP,” BDJS approach the Supreme Court February 12. chief Tushar Vellapally said. Gulf Times 18 Thursday, March 15, 2018 INDIA

PEOPLE SURVEY INVESTIGATION JUDICIARY PROBE Bollywood actor Pune tops in improved TN govt sets up panel No bail for MLA’s Hindu rightwing leader Narendra Jha dies quality governance to probe forest fire son in assault case arrested over caste riots

Bollywood actor Pune has emerged as the top city to show The Tamil Nadu government yesterday said it The Karnataka High Court yesterday rejected Pune police yesterday arrested prominent Hindu Narendra Jha, seen improvement in quality of governance, has set up a committee to probe the death of the bail petition of ruling Congress legislator rightwing leader Milind Ekbote, who is accused of in films like Haider according to a survey released yesterday. The 11 trekkers in a forest fire in Kurangani Hills in N A Haris’s son Mohammed Nalapad, who was instigating the Bhima-Koregaon caste violence of and Raees, died early other cities that came in the top five include Theni district on Sunday. The probe team will in judicial custody for allegedly assaulting a January 1, shortly after his anticipatory bail plea yesterday due to a heart Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram, Bhubaneswar and be headed by Atulya Misra, principal secretary, man at a cafe on February 17. “The bail petition was rejected by the Supreme Court, off icials said. attack. He was 55. Jha Surat. Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Patna Revenue and Disaster Management. The team will has been dismissed,” Justice S Harish Kumar Significantly, the development came a day after was at his farmhouse in and Chennai constituted the bottom five cities, find out the circumstances leading to the forest said. Nalapad and six others were sent to the Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Nanegaon, Maharashtra, said the survey conducted by Janaagraha Centre fire, as well as trekking activity without proper central jail, after a court sent them to 14-day announced that all police cases pertaining to when he complained of for Citizenship and Democracy. According to permission from Forest Department in a forest judicial custody. A sessions court had earlier his the caste riots of January 1 and later would be chest pain, the actor’s driver said. Jha also acted the study, Bhubaneswar stood out for showing fire-prone area, off icials said. The committee’s Nalapad’s bail plea on March 2. “The judge felt withdrawn. A team of Pune police picked up in films like Mohenjo Daro and Kaabil. He worked steady improvement and moving six positions to terms of also reference include a review of the that the attack on the youth was ghastly and Ekbote, 60, from his home in Shivajinagar amid with iconic filmmakers like Shyam Benegal in fourth this year from tenth position in 2016 while procedure established in the Forest Department hence dismissed the bail petition after going tight security. The arrest came in the wake of two Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten two new cities added this year – Guwahati and for regulation and permission of trekking in through the evidence,” special public prosecutor cases lodged by Dalit activists Sushma Andhare Hero. He also featured in a play Samvidhaan, in Vishakhapatnam – showed disappointing results. reserved forest area, the role and lapses on the M S Shyam Sundar said. Meanwhile, Nalapad’s and Anita Salve against Ekbote and another leader which he played Mohamed Ali Jinnah, and did “The survey underlines the need for sharp focus part of trekking organisers and forest off icials, and lawyer C V Nagesh told reporters he would from Sangli, Sambhaji Bhide alias Guruji. Earlier, shows on television. Jha was also signed up for on city-systems or institutional reforms to city recommendations to avoid such incidents. The appeal against the order. Nalapad and the six the police had summoned Ekbote on at least five the upcoming Salman Khan starrer Race 3. governance in our cities,” the Centre said. inquiry will be completed and the report sent to accused were arrested on February 19 after they occasions, but he appeared only once and then the government in two months, the off icials said. surrendered at the Cubbon Park police station. allegedly did not co-operate in the probe. Kovind starts Madagascar visit Gujarat MLAs trade blows, 2 suspended for three years President Ram Nath Kovind and his Madagascar counterpart Hery Rajaonarimampianina shake hands at the Presidential palace in Madagascar’s capital Antananarivo yesterday. The Indian president arrived in Antananarivo after a three-day visit to Mauritius. Agencies But the speaker ruled that such “We are also going to request Gandhinagar points of order were not allowed. the speaker to take strict action Another Congress member Am- against the violent behaviour by brish Der joined Madam and start- the three opposition members. wo Congress legislators ed questioning the speaker’s ruling. None of our MLAs were such vio- were yesterday suspended As other Congress MLAs also start- lent or used any foul language.” Tfor an unprecedented three ed asking the same question, there However, Dudhat said: “The years from the Gujarat Assembly was chaos in the assembly and the BJP is trying to shift the people’s SC dismisses appeal to review and another for one year after atmosphere became tense. attention from public issues like members came to blows over a Apparently upset over some- the death of children in Asaram demand for a discussion on the thing BJP MLA Jagdish Panchal Ashram. We, as opposition, have death of two children in Sabar- told him, Dudhat rushed from his every right to know about such mati’s Asaram Ashram. seat towards the treasury bench- public issues. But our voices are verdict in Rajiv murder case Speaker Rajendra Trivedi sus- es, grabbed a microphone from being gagged. pended Pratap Dudhat and Amr- the desk and threw it towards “For the last six to seven days, IANS dhi at Sriperumbudur in Tamil sional statement under TADA, vestigation into the role of the ish Der for three years and Baldev Panchal. Fortunately, the micro- BJP MLA Jagdish Panchal has New Delhi Nadu on May 21, 1991. said in an affi davit that the Cen- petitioner was scrutinised at Thakore for a year following acri- phone missed Panchal. been uttering bad words and us- “We are satisfi ed that the or- tral Bureau of Investigation sup- various levels of judiciary, leg- monious scenes in the assembly. Dudhat’s action created a fu- ing foul language against me der of this court doesn’t require pressed a part of Perarivalan’s islative and executive authority The entire opposition Congress rore as almost everybody got agi- in the assembly. Today also, he he Supreme Court yes- to be reconsidered. We dismiss statement that he was not aware and no fault was noticed on the staged a walkout after the strong tated and started shouting. This spoke something bad about my terday dismissed an ap- the plea for a recall of the order,” of the conspiracy and the pur- investigation.” action by the speaker. forced the speaker to adjourn the mother which infuriated me and, Tpeal by A G Perarivalan, said the court. pose for which the batteries sup- The agency also told the court The disruptions erupted im- assembly for 10 minutes, which in a spate of anger, I rushed to- convicted in the conspiracy The top court had upheld the plied by him would be used. that the response was being fi led mediately after Question Hour as was later extended till 2.30pm. wards him.” leading to the assassination of conviction of Perarivalan and Perarivalan had been con- by the Multi-Disciplinary Mon- Congress legislator Vikram Mad- Deputy Chief Minister Ni- Later, the speaker suspended former prime minister Rajiv six others on May 11, 1998, and victed on the basis of his confes- itoring Agency – looking into am sought to raise a point of order tin Patel later reporters: “This is Dudhat for the entire budget ses- Gandhi, for a review of the 1999 their review plea was dismissed sional statement. the larger conspiracy angle – as over the death of two children in a shameful incident which has sion, but subsequently decided judgment upholding life impris- on October 8, 1999. The CBI wanted the plea dis- the Special Investigating Team the ashram in 2008, as the ruling never happened in the history of to suspend him and Der for three onment to him. Perarivalan is one of the seven missed as the agency said Per- that probed the assassination Bharatiya Janata Party’s Pradeep- Gujarat Assembly. Misdoings of years, and Thakore for one year. A bench headed by Justice convicts serving life imprison- arivalan sought to reopen the had ceased to exist. sinh Jadeja wanted a discussion Congress MLAs Vikram Madam, A day earlier the Telangana As- Ranjan Gogoi refused to recall ment in the assassination case. entire issue that has attained The now-vanquished Tamil on wasting time in the assembly. Pratap Dudhat and Ambrish Der sembly too witnessed a ruckus its order while hearing Perar- Perarivalan had approached a fi nality after a gap of 17 years Tigers of Sri Lanka were blamed Madam wanted to know wheth- have been recorded by the CCTV and Speaker S Madhusudhana ivalan’s plea, who supplied two the apex court after Superin- and also because it was devoid for the Congress leader’s killing er the government intended to ta- cameras and we are going to re- Chary expelled two Congress 9-volt batteries used in the ex- tendent of Police V Thiyagarajan, of both merit and law. by a suicide bomber at an elec- ble the report of a commission en- quest the speaker to make it ac- MLAs and suspended 11 others for plosive device that killed Gan- who had recorded his confes- The CBI said: “... the in- tion rally near Chennai. trusted to investigate the incident. cessible to the media. the entire session.

Maran brothers, others acquitted in illegal telephone exchange case

IANS The seven had fi led a discharge was used for Sun TV operations. Besides this, 10 BSNL postpaid Velusamy, the former minister’s number of high-end telecom- judgment. We will examine the Chennai petition which the Special Cen- Bills were not raised for these mobile connections with vanity personal secretary V Gowthaman, munication facilities were in- judgment and seek appropriate tral Bureau of Investigation court lines during the period 2004 to numbers were given to Sun TV and Sun TV network employees S stalled illegally at the residence legal remedy.” allowed on the grounds of lack 2007, the CBI alleged. From June Network Group on the verbal or- Kannan and K S Ravi. of Dayanidhi in Chennai when he During the hearing, the Maran court in Chennai yesterday of prima facie material against 2004 to December 2006, about ders of Dayanidhi Maran through This is the second major legal was the telecom minister under brothers and others argued they acquitted Dravida Munne- them. 364 telephone numbers/lines which huge data transfer, includ- victory for a DMK leader. the service category. were innocent and did not com- Atra Kazhagam leader and The Central Bureau of Investi- were allegedly installed at Daya- ing voice, video and audio were Some months ago, the party’s But judge S Natarajan said: mit any irregularities as alleged former telecom minister Daya- gation (CBI) had alleged a loss of nidhi Maran’s residence. After made, the prosecution alleged. Rajya Sabha member Kanimozhi “There is no prima facie material by the prosecution. nidhi Maran, his brother and Sun Rs17.8mn to the government due that, about 353 telephone lines The others who were acquitted and former telecom minister A against you. Hence you are dis- Senior lawyer Kabil Sibal, who TV group head Kalanithi Maran to the installation of an alleged were installed at his residence on were BSNL’s former chief general Raja were acquitted by a court in charged from case.” appeared for the brothers, con- and fi ve others in the alleged ille- illegal telephone exchange at Boat Club Road in Chennai, the manager K Brahmanathan and the 2G spectrum case. A CBI spokesman said: “We tended that the case was foisted gal telephone exchange case. Dayanidhi Maran’s house which CBI alleged. former deputy general manager M The CBI had alleged that a are yet to receive a copy of the on them.

Aamir turns 53 Ayodhya parties free to Dileep appears in settle dispute, says court court as trial begins IANS The case has now been posted IANS tice on it,” asked Justice Bhush- tion applications including by Ernakulam, Kerala for March 28. New Delhi an, making it clear that it was for Bharatiya Janata Party MP Sub- Dileep was arrested after two the parties to settle the issue but ramanian Swamy, 32 eminent rounds of questioning on July as far the court was concerned it people including Shyam Ben- alayalam actor Dileep 10, 2017, for his alleged role in he Supreme Court yes- would not get into it except for egal, Aparna Sen, Anil Dharkar, and nine others ap- the conspiracy in the abduction terday said that the deciding the title suit. Teesta Setalvad and others, the Mpeared before the Er- of the young actress. Dileep’s Tparties to the Ayodhya The court also said this to court said it would hear only nakulam District and Sessions former wife Manju Warrier is one dispute were free to settle the former federal minister Arif those parties which were before Court as the trial in the infamous of the witnesses in the case. contentious issue between Mohamad Khan who said two the Allahabad High Court. actress abduction case began After remaining in jail for 85 themselves but it will not ask experts have drawn a plan to However, later the court yesterday. days, Dileep was granted bail. them take it as a way forward convert the disputed site into a revived the writ petition by The accused stood in the dock The actress was allegedly ab- except for deciding the title is- place of worship for all religions Swamy saying that it would as the victim’s lawyer actress ducted on February 17 last year sue. and teaching of their spiritual be listed before an appropriate said his client would prefer a when she was on way to Kochi A bench of Chief Justice Dipak tenets. bench. Swamy told the court woman judge and wished to have from Thrissur. Misra, Justice Ashok Bhushan “If anybody is a professor or that his contention was that the an in-camera trial. Pulsar Suni, the prime ac- and Justice S Abdul Nazeer said academician, he can speak to right of the worshippers is on a Two other accused, however, cused, drove her around for two this as a number of applicants both the parties and if he suc- higher pedestal than the parties failed to report on the opening hours before she was dropped including the residents of Ayo- ceeds, then he can approach us,” to the dispute to the title suit. day of the trial. near the home of director-actor dhya and Faizabad urged the Chief Justice Misra said declin- Having rejected all the inter- The court directed that all Lal, who later called the police. court to ask the parties to the ing the plea for court exercis- vention applicants, the court records of the case barring the A British TV media company dispute – the Sunni Wakf Board ing its extra-ordinary power. asked senior lawyer Rajeev visuals, which were shot when also was covering the day’s de- and Nirmohi Akhara – to arrive “Inherent power must not grow Dhavan to address it on his plea Film director Kiran Rao Khan gives birthday cake to her the actress was harassed, be velopments as they have listed at a compromise. up to this. It has its own limita- that all the petitions should husband Bollywood actor Aamir Khan during his 53th birthday handed over to Dileep, who is this case as one of the various “You say that they must com- tion,” he noted. be heard by a larger fi ve-judge celebration in Mumbai yesterday. the eighth accused in the charge- high-profi le cases they are docu- promise, how can we issue a no- Rejecting about 20 interven- constitution bench. sheet. menting. Gulf Times Thursday, March 15, 2018 19 PAKISTAN

7 killed, Anti-terror agency launches 18 injured in blast

Reuters app to tackle hate content Lahore bomb blast ripped through Internews options to send a photograph, “Sure, someone can record in through social media. [The data from their database. problem here and it is also a part a police checkpoint in Karachi video, banners and activities an audio or send them Nacta website, on the other “They can use my phone of the National Action Plan. Athe eastern Pakistani or written material which will a video these are good hand, suggests that users can number and give it to the tel- I had been thinking about it city of Lahore yesterday, kill- then be passed on to the rele- features but it doesn’t off er log in anonymously]. ecom company and fi nd my real in terms of our helpline [1717] ing seven people and wounding n order to report and fi ght vant law enforcement agencies. anything in terms of what Dad claimed that the app time location and LEAs have the which had an option for people 18, a rescue offi cial said. hate speech in the country, Tat’heer, which means “to sani- describes hate speech or did not mention any privacy privilege to ask for these things to report hate speech, but we Jam Sajjad Hussain, spokesman Ithe National Counterter- tise”, has been conceived to coun- the law there’s nothing policies or data protection. in case it is related to national didn’t get that good a response. of a state-run rescue service, told rorism Authority (Nacta) of ter radicalism and extremism on there about protecting the “Sure, someone can record an security,” she explained. I wanted to take report- Reuters that his offi cials had taken Pakistan has launched a smart- the internet – which roughly 35mn complainants” audio or send them a video these Nacta’s national coordina- ing hate speech into the pub- seven dead bodies to hospitals. phone app ‘Chaukas’ under its Pakistanis have access to. are good features but it doesn’t tor Ihsan Ghani said that the lic sphere and this is when the “Our rescuers are at work,” he Tat’heer programme, a cyber However it does not discuss ent consultants may also step off er anything in terms of what procedure was pretty straight minister [Ahsan Iqbal] suggest- said. “They have shifted so far counterterrorism drive that in- privacy policies, data protection forward. describes hate speech or the forward. ed that we should come up with seven bodies.” cludes mapping radical content or even what hate speech is. However, Digital Rights law there’s nothing there about “Anything that is reported an app,” he said. Deputy Inspector General of Po- available on the internet. According to the app’s in- Foundation’s Nighat Dad protecting the complainants. to us will then be passed on to Discussing what constitutes lice Haider Ashraf said the bomb The app was launched at the troduction page, it is an online claimed that the app was not “The user is very visible. a committee which will look hate speech, Ghani said that exploded when the police were Nacta headquarters on Mon- reporting portal for Pakista- easy to use. They claim that they will for- at the content and see if it they were adhering to the Anti- changing guards at the checkpoint day by Interior Minister Ah- nis to report extremist online “When we heard about the ward complaints to LEAs. falls into the category of hate Terrorism Act and a Supreme just outside an annual religious san Iqbal. The app has been content freely, securely and app, we downloaded it and What if a person complains speech. Since we are not an en- Court ruling which defi ned hate congregation, where nearly 80,000 launched under Tat’heer’s anonymously. checked it out,” she said, adding and they are called to the forcement agency, we will then speech along with constitutional people were in attendance. Surfsafe portal. Apart from the commu- that they were cautious while police station? forward the complaint to the provisions on free speech. “I can at the moment say that According to Nacta, the app nity, netizens and e-scouts, installing the app as it could According to Dad, there Federal Investigation Agency or The Chaukas app is available police was the target,” he said. aims to help people identify the academia, intelligentsia, not be accessed without shar- is an option to log out but others,” he said. and free to download on the No claim of responsibility was hate content, giving the user NGOs/INGOs and independ- ing a phone number or signing there is no option to delete “Hate speech is a very real Google play and Apple stores. immediately made. National Accountability Polio vaccination campaign Bureau to probe graft in motorway project

Internews the National High Authority Chaudhry did not take any Islamabad (NHA) Shahid Ashraf Tarar and action. contractors of the project. The NHA had awarded the According to NAB, the in- Rs148bn contract in August he National Account- quiry against NHA offi cers and 2015, ignoring serious short- ability Bureau (NAB) of the contractors has been start- comings in the successful bid. TPakistan has decided ed on the basis of a complaint The meeting also approved to probe into Rs14bn losses of the Transparency Interna- a reference against former di- caused to the national excheq- tional (TI) and some evidence rector general of the Gilyat uer allegedly by an award of a collected by the bureau dur- Development Authority Tariq contract for Karachi-Lahore ing its complaint verifi cation Khan and others for allotting motorway’s Abdul Hakeem process. its precious land, causing Rs- section (230km). “We have started the in- 90mon losses to the national The decision was taken at quiry into Karachi-Lahore exchequer. a meeting presided over by motorway project after we NAB also accorded approval NAB chairman Javed Iqbal found some evidences dur- to investigations into the alle- yesterday. ing the complaint verifi cation gations against former manag- The decision negated a process,” a NAB offi cial said, ing director of the Water and claim of former prime min- adding that the inquiry was Sanitation Agency Hamid Latif ister Nawaz Sharif that not a ordered into alleged corrup- Rana, Lt Gen (retired) Moham- single corruption case had sur- tion in awarding the contract mad Afzal Janjua, Brig (re- faced during the tenure of his in violation of laws / rules at tired) Iftikhar Mehdi, former government. exorbitant rates. fi nance secretary Mehfooz When the NAB chairman Interestingly, Transparency Khan, former MNAs Mudassar took up the case last month, International had lodged the Qayyum Nehra and Azhar Ne- Health workers mark the finger of a child after administering polio vaccine drops during the polio campaign in Karachi yesterday. the bureau had decided to complaint two years ago, but hra and offi cials of the Sarhad Pakistan is one of only two countries in the world where polio, a crippling childhood disease, remains endemic. summon former chairman of former NAB chairman Qamar Development Authority. Chamber urges removal of tariff barriers

Internews Pervez were also present on the hore. “They needed progressive Pakistan and Afghanistan were vice president Zeshan Khalil said Lahore occasion. support of Lahore Chamber for very important for the peace and that exchanges of business dele- Zubair said that smuggling work here.” development in the region. “If gations could produce better re- should be eliminated with iron There were some hotel reser- the relations between the two sults in improving the trade links muggling is obstructing hands as it was equally destruc- vation issues in Lahore, assert- countries were not good due to between two countries. the legal trade between tive for the both countries. ing that a comprehensive pro- some internal or external rea- He said there was a dire need Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Khan Bosan SPakistan and Afghanistan, She said that regulatory duty posal from the Lahore Chamber sons, it directly aff ects their bi- to develop deeper ties between therefore, this issue should be imposed by Afghanistan on Pa- of Commerce and Industry was lateral and transit trade.” the respective chambers of com- tackled through rationalising kistani goods was 400 times required about bilateral trade He said that Pakistan was the merce and industry so that peo- and removing the tariff barriers. more than duty imposed by Pa- problems and their solutions in best option for exports and im- ple to people contacts could be This was stated by secretary kistan on Afghani products. Afghanistan and central Asia. ports for Afghanistan. He men- built up further. Call for revitalising general of Pak-Afghan Joint “Mutual trade could not grow She viewed, “Economically tioned that in 2010-11, the to- He said that there were is- Chamber of Commerce and In- in the presence of such duty and socially we can resolve the tal volume of transit trade was sues that needed resolution and dustry (PAJCCI) Faiza Zubair structure,” she said, adding that political issues of the two coun- $3.8bn which was exceeded to the two states were working to- agriculture research while talking to LCCI acting there was a need of an export tries. That is why we are going to $3.5bn in 2015-16. gether to fi nd solutions to these president Khawaja Rashid, vice house for check and balance of arrange a grand combine meet- In 2016-17 with a decline the problems. president Zeshan Khalil and the quality specifi cations of ex- ing of all chambers of Pakistan trade volume remains $2.9bn. This included possible de- Internews sector including production executive committee members port goods of both countries be- very soon to discuss the export But hopefully it would be $3bn fense co-operation and intelli- Islamabad planning, cost of productions, at Lahore Chamber of Com- fore full payments to overcome issue of the countries.” by the end of fi scal year 2017-18. gence sharing as well as further crops scenario, policies for re- merce and Industry yesterday. trust defi cit. On this occasion, LCCI acting He stressed the need to diver- enhancing the two-way trade search, seed purity and quality. Awais Saeed Piracha, Fahim- She said that Afghan busi- president Khawaja Rashid said sify trade patterns for the sake of and abolishment of visas for akistani Minister for Na- The board of governors also ur-Rehamn Saigol and Lala nessmen wanted to work in La- that bilateral relations between bringing some innovation. LCCI diplomats from the two nations. tional Food Security and discussed the future prospects PResearch Sikandar Khan of technologies, innovations Bosan yesterday stressed the future planning and the re- ‘KP spends Rs240mn on ads in three months’ need for making wheat, maize search agenda for 2017-18. and rice bio-fortifi ed to im- Federal Secretary National The information secretary of Rs240mn on advertisements, prove human health, besides Food Security and Research Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) none of which carried ensure access to health and Fazal Maken said that it was Man spends 25 years province yesterday informed the photographs of Chief Minister nutritious food for the people expected that the food policy Supreme Court that the provincial Pervez Khattak or PTI chief Imran in the country. implementation would help government had spent Rs240mn Khan, he added. Addressing the 42nd meet- in promotion of value added on advertisements during last Justice Bandial pointed out that ing of Pakistan Agriculture Re- food production while creat- three months. the funds used for advertisements search Council (PARC) board ing a new class of agricultural in India, returns A three-member SC bench headed were taken from the national kitty. of governors, he called upon businesspersons. by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar The chief justice remarked the members for utilising their As a result the availabil- Internews Siraj erroneously made his gained freedom yesterday. and comprising Justice Umar Ata that the court would order the vision and experience in revi- ity of diversifi ed food products Lahore way into India at the age of 11. An Indian NGO fought for Bandial and Justice Ijazul Ahsan provincial government to return talising agricultural research will increase that will help to After running from his home in Siraj’s right to Indian citizen- heard the suo moto case on hefty such funds to the exchequer. in the country. improve the economic ac- Mansehra, Siraj reached Lahore ship, however, he was sent to advertisement expenditure by He also observed that the He said that PARC had cess of food to the socially de- Pakistani citizen was and by mistake took Samjhota jail again. provincial governments. government ads should be played a vital role towards im- prived communities living in released from an Indian Express to India. After Siraj’s plight made The KP information secretary distributed among media outlets proving the agriculture sector marginal and areas. Aprison yesterday, after After spending a great deal rounds on Indian media, the told the court that the provincial without discrimination and the issue in various ways over the past Yusuf Zafar, chairman, spending 25 years in the neigh- of time in India, Siraj married Ansar Burney Trust jumped government had spent Rs1.63bn would be examined separately. “We and lauded the eff orts of its PARC, informed the board bouring country. a woman from a Muslim family into action to bring him home. on media campaigns since its don’t diff erentiate between Jang or scientists. about various steps for im- The citizen named Sirajud- in 2005. After reaching Pakistan, Siraj inception. Nawa-e-Waqt,” he added. The minister highlighted provement of performance din Mohammad reached Paki- In 2009, Siraj presented was handed over to Edhi Wel- He submitted the KP A lawyer representing the All- various PARC new interven- and effi ciency of PARC re- stan yesterday after obtaining himself before police and ex- fare Organisation. government’s record of Pakistan Newspapers Society tions and projects which in- search system and said that his freedom from the prison. pressed the desire to go to Pa- Despite reaching his home advertisement expenditure over also said that no provincial clude olive initiatives and dis- achieving food security and The Ansar Burney Trust played kistan with his family. country, Siraj’s heart aches for the last three months. From government should run an ad cussed research priorities and nutrition was a high priority a major role in bringing Siraj to Following which the police his wife, two twin sons and a December 1, 2017 to February 28, campaign using funds from the various issues of agriculture for the government. Pakistan. sent him to jail, from which he daughter back in India. 2018, the KP government spent national kitty. Gulf Times 20 Thursday, March 15, 2018 PHILIPPINES

Botched Indigenous people protest over plan for dams Dismissed cop on abduction ‘most wanted’ list ends in for drugs arrested wedding Manila Times tion, and was a beat patroller Manila at the Northern Police District in Malabon. vows “I was transferred to several dismissed policeman districts to escape from my on the “most wanted” bad records,” Mabutol told re- By Ted Khan Juanite Alist of drug personali- porters. Manila Times/IliganCity ties in Quezon City has been A warrant of arrest for rob- arrested, authorities said. bery was issued against Mabu- Former Police Offi cer 3 Al- tol when he took the personal he City Police Offi ce re- fredo Mabutol was presented belongings of complainant ported that witnesses saw to media yesterday after his Reynaldo Miranda, which in- Ta young man being forced apprehension on Tuesday in cluded a Tag Huer wristwatch, into a car at the port area here on his house at Barangay Salva- a wallet with P11,000 cash and Tuesday. cion, La Loma in a joint op- identifi cation cards when he A police patrol in the area eration of the District Special participated in an anti-drug chased the car until the suspects Operations Unit and District operation in La Loma last May and the supposed victim were Intelligence Division. 27, 2007. intercepted and brought to Po- QCPD director Guillermo Eleazar added that the sus- lice Station 5 at Poblacion. Eleazar said Mabutol was pect was only issued a warrant Senior Insp. Leony Roy Ga, No 1 on the “most wanted” in 2016 for his robbery case city police director, said that list in the district level and of and was formally dismissed in upon investigation, it turned out the La Loma Police Station. July 2017, after his last assign- that a Maranao family was forced Eleazar said Mabutol was ment with the National Capital to abduct the man, a 17-year-old the alleged leader of an ille- Region Police Offi ce Regional student, since he was suspected gal drug group operating in Holding and Accounting Unit. of impregnating their daughter, La Loma, and was responsible Mabutol also had bench reportedly 16 years old. for the proliferation of illegal warrants of arrest between The young man and his ab- drugs along Calavite Street 2011 and 2013 for failure to tes- ductors are all from Lanao del and Tagaytay Street. tify in court hearings in Pasay Sur. The suspect worked at the City where cases were fi led The supposed kidnap victim QCPD Police Intelligence and against drug suspects arrested called up his parents to tell them Operations Unit from 2001 to during his term. that he would marry the girl, 2002 and served the La Loma “He has been into diff er- belonging to the irate Maranao Police Station Anti-Illegal ent units and areas that’s why family. Drugs Unit from 2002 to 2004. we were not able to notice his The fi ve-hour investigation Indigenous people hold a protest in front of the Chinese consular off ice, shouting against the building of mega dams in their Between 2009 and 2016, record at once when we were into the abduction turned into ancestral territories under the Philippine-China deals in Manila, yesterday. Chinese Off icial Development Aid (ODA) will fund Mabutol was transferred to the trying to look for former po- negotiations for a wedding. renewed plans to build mega dams in the ancestral territories of indigenous peoples. Manila Police District, South- licemen involved in drugs,” Investigators said the would- ern Police District-Pasay Sta- Eleazar said. be kidnap victim and his ab- ductors had to wait it out, since the young man’s parents were making the trip from Marawi to Iligan. Ga said the two families agreed to the marriage of the young man and the girl. Since the young man and his Duterte to withdraw nation from abductors refused to consider the matter a police incident and requested that the matter not be placed in the station’s blot- ter, the police did not release the ICC over ‘outrageous attacks’ names of those involved in the incident to the media. “No one wants to fi le charges,” Critics say withdrawal against humanity. But in a 15- where his crackdown has broad will proceed to an investiga- Ga said. shows president page statement, dated March support. tion,” Sabio told Reuters, add- The withholding of any infor- in panic mode 13, Duterte said he was with- He has refused to accept ing the withdrawal “will have mation to the public is to protect drawing from the ICC’s found- some police may be systemati- no binding legal eff ect”.The the “maratabat” or pride of the Reuters ing treaty, the Rome Statute, cally executing suspected deal- ICC can only intervene when a Maranaos, the police added. Manila because of “baseless, unprece- ers, as activists say. member state is unable or un- dented and outrageous attacks” Police deny allegations of willing to carry out investiga- by UN offi cials, and ICC actions murder and cover-ups and say tions and prosecute suspected he Philippines said yes- that he said failed to follow due they killed about 4,100 drug perpetrators. Indonesian held over terday it is withdrawing process and presumption of in- dealers in shootouts, but have The Philippines says that is alleged terrorist links Tfrom the International nocence. nothing to do with an estimated far from the case. Criminal Court (ICC) due to “There appears to be a con- 2,300 largely unsolved drug- The ICC’s examination seeks An Indonesian national has been what President Rodrigo Duterte certed eff ort on the part of the related homicides. to establish whether crimes arrested in the southern Philip- called “outrageous” attacks by UN special rapporteurs to paint Last month, he indicated he have taken place, and such a pines on suspicion of having links UN offi cials and violations of me as a ruthless and heartless would co-operate with the ICC process typically takes years. with terrorist organisations such as due process by the ICC. violator of human rights who Rodrigo Duterte: defiant examination and even said he Duterte’s spokesman, Harry the Islamic State movement. The decision marks a stun- allegedly caused thousands of would prefer a fi ring squad to Roque, said the ICC was “sid- The suspect, identified as 32-year- ning about-face by Duterte, extrajudicial killings,” Duterte now in panic mode. The Lon- not impact jurisdiction retroac- prison. ing with the enemies of the old Mushalah Somina Rasim, was who has repeatedly dared the said. don-based rights group Am- tively. But he soon changed his tune, president”, while Duterte’s apprehended on March 10 in the ICC to indict him and said he The ICC’s examination was nesty International called the Duterte’s bloody campaign telling security forces not to legal counsel Salvador Panelo town of Palimbang in the province was willing to “rot in jail” or go premature, he added, and “ef- withdrawal “misguided” and has caused international alarm co-operate in any international said the accession to the Rome of Sultan Kudarat, 980 kilometres on trial to defend a war on drugs fectively created the impression “cowardly”. An ICC spokesman and fi erce criticism from some investigation, and that “not in Statute in 2011 was never an- south of Manila. Rasim, who uses that has killed thousands of his that I am to be charged...for referred most questions to the UN representatives, including a million years” would the ICC nounced in the Philippines the alias Abu Omar, was helping own people. serious crimes falling under its court’s prosecutors, who could High Commissioner for Human have jurisdiction. official gazette, thus did not a local terrorist group recruit The mercurial former mayor jurisdiction.” not immediately be reached. Rights Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, Jude Sabio, the lawyer who apply. new members in the villages had initially welcomed last He made no mention of the According to ICC rules, a who on Friday said Duterte fi led the ICC complaint last Panelo insisted Duterte was around Palimbang, regional police month’s announcement by the withdrawal in a speech yester- withdrawal is eff ective one year should submit himself for a psy- year, said Duterte’s move was not afraid, but objected to the spokesman Superintendent Aldrin ICC of its preliminary examina- day. after receipt of notifi cation. chiatric examination. predictable, futile and designed ICC becoming “a political tool Gonzales said yesterday, citing tion into a complaint fi led by a Duterte’s chief critics said the The Philippines comes under Duterte’s defi ance is among to appeal to his base. to harass a particular country, intelligence information. Philippine lawyer accusing Du- move was a U-turn that showed the its jurisdiction because it is the traits that make him wild- “Looks like they are really like ours”. Duterte’s critics ar- terte and top offi cials of crimes the tough-talking leader was a member, and pulling out can- ly popular in the Philippines, afraid. Why? They feel that this gued otherwise. Senator reveals more Daily life anomalies in 2016 election

By Bernadette E Tamayo from the United Sates. Sotto opment Authority chairman “To reiterate, there were two Manila Times said the Comelec had assured Francis Tolentino is also ques- servers that were functioning the public that these tioning Sen. Leila de Lima’s during the elections, CNTADNS “un-transmitted votes” were victory in the senatorial elec- that is used by all VCMs and CCS enate Majority Leader included in the fi nal count by tions. Tolentino landed outside (Consolidating Canvassing Sys- Vicente Sotto yesterday manually tallying of the con- the “Magic 12” with 12,518,891 tem), and CNTBDNS used only Sclaimed nearly 4% of tents of the SD (secure digital) votes, while de Lima ranked by four IP addresses from May 10 election returns, representing data storage cards. 12th with 13,793,947 votes. to 11 only,” he said. at least 1.7mn votes, were “not But he pointed to the re- “In the observance of fairness “Here, all VCM’s queries were transmitted electronically” port of the National Citizens’ and due process, the Comelec communicated only to one serv- during the 2016 polls. Movement for Free Elections and Smartmatic can fully and er, and that is CNTADNS server. Fishermen unload caught fish at the Bulungan fishport in Paranaque, Metro Manila, yesterday. Sotto, in a privilege speech, or Namfrel, which said further appropriately present their side The recipients are the Munici- continued his expose of sup- clarifi cation was “needed as to in a full-blown Senate hearing. pal/City Board of Canvassers, posed irregularities in the 2016 the guideline that was observed It is the proper venue to answer Provincial/Regional Board of elections, heaping two more by Comelec on the chain of these allegations and to educate Canvassers, Transparency Serv- issues on the Commission on custody of these SD cards.” us on what really transpired in ers and the Central Servers,” he Elections (Comelec) and its “Also, were the political par- the 2016 national elections,” said. This was the procedure supplier Smartmatic—the in- ties, accredited citizen’s arm Sotto said. done during the peak period of House postpones village polls complete transmission of elec- allowed or were asked to ob- Sotto also pointed to Comelec transmissions on May 9 to 10. tion returns and the existence serve the manual tallying of and Smartmatic’s use of “four Suddenly, on May 10 to 11, the of four “queuing servers.” these 3.86% un-transmitted queuing servers,” without the rules changed in the middle of By Llanesca T Panti plebiscite for the new constitution that will pave On March 6, Sotto sought an votes? These 1.7mn votes are knowledge of political parties, the game, the senator said. Manila Times the way for the shift to a federal government. Rep. investigation into the alleged very crucial to ongoing elec- candidates and watchdogs. “For some unknown rea- Antonio Tinio of Alliance of Concerned Teachers irregularities in the May 2016 toral protests,” Sotto said. The senator said the technical son, the transmissions from the party-list however said the election should not national and local elections, Former senator Ferdinand process of voting results trans- VCMs did not go straight to the he House of Representatives has approved a be postponed. such as early transmissions of “Bongbong” Marcos has a mission was that the Smartmatic Consolidating Canvassing Sys- measure postponing the barangay (village) This will be the third postponement of the vil- votes and “foreign access” to pending election protest vote counting machines or VCMs tem (CCS) but instead, went Tpolls from May 14, 2018 to October 8, 2018. lage polls. Congress first moved the barangay the election server. against Vice President Maria would ask for the IP or Internet through either one of the four Rep. Sherwin Tugna of Citizens Battle Against elections to October 2017 from October 2016, and The senator claimed there Leonor Robredo, who won Protocol address – a unique ad- ‘queuing servers’ before reach- Corruption party-list, chairman of the House then to May 2018 from October 2017. were “early transmission of the vice presidency by a mere dress – of the recipient from the ing the CCS. By then, two servers Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, The House also approved the proposed Act of votes” as well as “remote ac- 263,473 votes. Domain Name Server (DNS) so it are now involved in the process,” justified the move, saying it is aimed at syn- Absolute Divorce and Dissolution of Marriage on cess” to the election server Former Metro Manila Devel- could transmit the data. he said. chronising the village polls with the conduct of a second reading yesterday via voice vote. Gulf Times Thursday, March 15, 2018 21 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL Facebook Lanka to lift social expresses media ban: minister concern Reuters a major menace to national whether 10 suspected ringlead- Colombo security. ers of the wave of attacks on Muslims had outside funding or over ban “We have seen the destruction due to Facebook messages. We foreign help. ri Lanka is likely to lift a have requested the Facebook to Police spokesman Ruwan Gu- AFP ban on social media net- help us to stop hate speech and nasekara said that the police’s Colombo Sworks this week, a govern- the problems those messages terrorism investigation unit had ment minister has said, almost a have created,” he said. found more than 10,000 leafl ets week after blocking access to In a statement to Reuters, Fa- aiming to instigate communal acebook said yesterday prevent the spread of communal cebook, which owns WhatsApp, clashes from one of the suspect’s it was responding to Sri violence. said it had clear rules against offi ce in Kandy. FLanka’s concerns over in- At least two people were hate speech and incitement to He also said 280 people have cendiary material shared on its killed in clashes in early March violence. been arrested so far and the po- platform and hoped Internet re- when Sinhalese Buddhists, an- It was responding to the situ- lice have been able to fi nd seven strictions imposed during anti- gered by a killing of a driver, ation in Sri Lanka and was in petrol bombs from the infor- Muslim riots last week would be attacked mosques and Muslim- contact with the government and mation supplied by some of lifted soon. ing staff numbers but gave no owned properties in the central Telecommunication Minister Harin Fernando: “Once we discuss with the non-government bodies to sup- those among the 10 arrested The government has re- further details. Kandy district, a popular tourist Facebook off icials on Thursday, the ban is likely to be lifted on Friday.” port eff orts to identify and re- ringleaders. fused to end an island-wide It is believed to have 14,000 destination. move such content, it added. A police curfew in Kandy was blackout on Facebook until staff across the globe tasked Some of the violence was to lift the ban on both Facebook accusing Muslims of forcing “We are concerned with the lifted on Saturday, but since then the tech giant agrees to take with reviewing off ensive con- instigated by postings on Fa- and WhatsApp access. people to convert to Islam and way access to the internet is be- two isolated attacks on Muslim- quicker action to remove tent and the number is tipped cebook threatening more at- “Once we discuss with the vandalising Buddhist archaeo- ing restricted and depriving peo- owned properties have been re- hateful content. to rise to 20,000 by the end of tacks on Muslims, according Facebook offi cials on Thursday, logical sites. Muslim groups deny ple of important connections and ported from the country’s South “We are responding to the this year. to the government, which on the ban is likely to be lifted on these allegations. expression, and we hope that and North Western district. situation in Sri Lanka and are Censorship and media op- March 7 cut access to Face- Friday,” he said, adding Facebook Fernando said authorities access will be restored soon,” it Sri Lanka’s Muslims make up in contact with the government pression was used widely by book, Viber and WhatsApp. had been ‘slow’ to address the would closely monitor the net- said. about 9% of its 21mn people and and non-governmental organi- strongman president Ma- It initially said the ban would government’s concerns. works for any hate speech that US ambassador Atul Keshap mostly live in the east and centre sations to support eff orts to hinda Rajapakse, who for a last for three days, but us- The government said in a could damage ethnic harmony. said on his Twitter feed that the of the island. Buddhist Sinhalese identify and remove such con- decade in power ordered local ers say the services have re- separate statement it lifted the He said without elaborating longer Sri Lanka’s social media account for about 70% and eth- tent,” a Facebook spokesperson internet providers to block mained blocked, indicating ban on Viber from midnight on that two state-run institutions ban persisted, the greater the nic Tamils, most of whom are said. anti-government sentiment that in practice the ban has Tuesday. The government will would be directly working with damage to tourism, the informa- Hindus, about 13%. “We are concerned with the online. been extended. lift the ban on WhatsApp from the Facebook company on the tion technology sector, business, Some Buddhist national- way access to the internet is His successor President Harin Fernando, the telecom- midnight, Austin Fernando, the monitoring. and its reputation for freedom ists have protested against the being restricted and depriving Maithripala Sirisena was elected munication minister, told re- head of the telecommunications He added that the government and openness. presence in Sri Lanka of Mus- people of important connec- in 2015 promising an end to dra- porters that senior Facebook regulator, said yesterday. could not control hate speech “So many Sri Lankans also rely lim Rohingya asylum-seekers tions and expression, and we conian government restrictions, company offi cials were expected Communal tensions have and fake messages on Facebook on social media to connect with from mostly Buddhist Myanmar, hope that access will be restored but some websites critical of the to visit Sri Lanka on Thursday grown over the past year with by both “extreme” Buddhists loved ones overseas,” he said. where Buddhist nationalism has soon.” government were blocked even and the government was likely some hardline Buddhist groups and Muslims and it had become Police are investigating also been on the rise. Facebook said it was increas- before the ban on Facebook.

President Bhandari takes oath of office Nepal chief justice sacked for faking date of birth

AFP for offi cial positions in Nepal. court charges for a series of ar- Kathmandu “He has been removed from ticles that said he had given up the post after the age of retire- to fi ve diff erent dates of birth on ment was found to have been various offi cial documents. epal’s divisive Chief Jus- crossed last August in our inves- The charges were widely con- tice Gopal Parajuli was tigation,” the council’s secretary demned as an attack on press Nsacked yesterday for fak- Nripdhoj Niraula said. freedom, and Parajuli attracted ing his date of birth in order to The decision came just mo- further outrage when he said remain in offi ce longer. ments before Parajuli adminis- he would preside over the case The controversy over Para- tered the oath of offi ce to Nepal’s himself. juli’s date of birth has been President Bidya Bhandari, who In January, Parajuli also or- brewing for months after he was re-elected for a second term dered the arrest of anti-corrup- charged a prominent activist on Tuesday. tion activist Dr Govinda K C, an and Nepal’s largest newspaper He administered the oath orthopedic surgeon well-loved with contempt of court for rais- nonetheless. It is not clear if in Nepal for his philanthropic ing concerns about his multiple Bhandari will have to be sworn work, for raising questions about birthdays. in again. his date of birth. A judicial council concluded In late February, Parajuli sub- Parajuli became chief justice Newly elected Nepali President Bidhya Bhandari, right, is sworn in by Chief of Justice Gopal Parajuli, left, as Vice President Nanda Kishor that Parajuli should have re- poenaed the Kantipur Daily – last June after his predecessor Pun looks on at the presidential residence in Kathmandu yesterday. tired seven months ago when he Nepal’s largest newspaper by Sushila Karki – the fi rst woman turned 65, the age of retirement circulation – on contempt of to hold the position – turned 65.

Bangladesh to mourn victims of plane crash today Monsoon fl oods, landslides Ties with India The prime minister of Bangladesh has declared Thursday a day of mourning for the victims of a deadly plane crash in Nepal earlier this week, threaten Rohingya refugees ‘time tested’: DPA reports from Dhaka. A flight operated by Dhaka-based private US-Bangla Airlines with Reuters Nations refugee agency Bangladesh is lashed ahead of the monsoon. 71 people aboard crashed and Chakmakul Refugee Camp (UNHCR) shows that more by typhoons, and the Flooding increases the burst into fire at Kathmandu’s than 100,000 refugees will Rohingya camps are risk of disease outbreaks. It Nepal minister Tribhuvan International Airport be threatened by landslides clustered in a part of the could also threaten access on Monday. he Rohingya refu- and fl oods in the coming country that records the to medical facilities, mak- The death toll rose to 50 with gees who live in shacks monsoon. highest rainfall ing them diffi cult to reach IANS “My impression is the passing of a pilot at a Nepal Tclinging to these steep, The rains typically begin and restock, the modelling Kathmandu that both the defence hospital on Tuesday, according denuded hills in southern in April and peak in July, improve roads and stabilise shows. Latrines, wash- ministries of Nepal to the Bangladeshi foreign Bangladesh pray that the according to the Bang- slopes. It is also setting up rooms and tube wells may and India are very ministry. sandbags fortifying the slopes ladesh Meteorological emergency diarrhoea treat- also be fl ooded. epal’s new Defence Min- much eager to Twenty-six of those killed were will survive the upcoming Department. ment centres and providing The risk of landslides has ister Ishwor Pokhrel boost ties and work from Bangladesh. monsoon. In Kutupalong-Balukhali, search and rescue and fi rst been exacerbated by refugee Nyesterday pledged to closely” Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, “They make it safer, but the biggest of the makeshift aid training. families needing fi rewood to strengthen military and defence who cut short a trip to Singapore they won’t hold if the rain is camps, up to a third of the Bangladesh disaster cook. Trees were cut down ties with India. On his part, Puri highlighted to return home after the really heavy,” said Moham- land could be fl ooded, leav- management secretary to make way for the refugees, He made the remarks during the various facets of bilateral accident, declared the day med Hares, 18. Cracks have ing more than 85,000 refu- Shah Kamal said the gov- who also dug up the roots for a meeting with Indian ambas- ties between the two coun- of mourning at a meeting already formed in the packed gees homeless, according to ernment was working with fi rewood, making the slopes sador to Nepal, Manjeev Singh tries which are “unique” and yesterday, PM’s press off icer mud on which his shack is the UNHCR. Another 23,000 the UN to relocate 133,000 even weaker and prone to col- Puri. Pokhrel said that Nepal- “special”. Ashraful Alam Khokon said. built. refugees live on slopes at risk people living in high-risk lapse. India ties were “time tested” Puri appreciated the role of Special prayers will be off ered Nearly 700,000 Rohingya of landslide. areas. It is also launching “This was a forest when I and thanked India for providing the Nepal army in providing glo- at the mosques, temples and Muslims have fl ed to Bang- The UNHCR, Interna- a Rohingya-language ra- fi rst arrived,” said Arafa Be- various kinds of assistance to bal peace and security and as- churches across Bangladesh on ladesh since last August to tional Organisation for Mi- dio station that will act as gum, 40, who lives with her the Nepal army for its capacity sured that Indian assistance to Friday to seek salvation of the escape a military crackdown gration (IOM) and World a natural disaster warning three children in a shack on building, among others. Nepal army like imparting train- departed souls, the off icer said. in neighbouring Myanmar. Food Programme are using system, he said. a barren, vertiginous slope “My impression is that both ing, providing military hardware A delegation led by Bangladesh’s Most now live in fl imsy, bam- bulldozers to level 123 acres Bangladesh govern- in Chakmakul camp. She the defence ministries of Nepal and other kind of assistance will Civil Aviation and Tourism boo-and-plastic structures in northern Kutupalong- ment offi cials have also said she wanted to move and India are very much eager to continue. Minister Shahjahan Kamal left perched on what were once Balukhali camp in an ef- previously told Reuters before the monsoon but boost ties and work closely,” said Currently, there are 39 bat- Dhaka for Kathmandu after the forested hills. fort to make the area safer, they are pushing ahead must await the instruc- Pokhrel. talions serving in 7 Gorkha crash to bring back the bodies of Bangladesh is lashed by said UNHCR spokeswoman with a controversial plan tions of the majhi, or block Among other things, the up- regiments in the Indian army. the Bangladeshi passengers. typhoons, and the Rohingya Caroline Gluck. to turn an uninhabited is- leader. coming 12th edition of Nepal- The regiments comprise Authorities in Nepal have camps are clustered in a part IOM is putting debris- land in the Bay of Bengal “The majhi’s name is Jahid India military drills named of both Indian and Nepali launched an investigation to of the country that records removal equipment and into a temporary home for Hussain. I don’t know what Surya-Kiran, also fi gured in the Gorkha soldiers. Also, there determine the causes of the the highest rainfall. Compu- work crews throughout the the Rohingya and move I’ll do when the rain comes,” meeting. India is hosting the are about 90,000 Indian army accident. ter modelling by the United camps, it said, and trying to 100,000 refugees there he said. joint military drill this time. pensioners in Nepal. Gulf Times 22 Thursday, March 15, 2018 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES British PM May stops well short HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani addressing the gathering at the launch of Qatar’s Second National Development of bothering Putin Strategy (2018-2022) yesterday. PICTURE: Thaujdheen Prime Minister Theresa May’s response to Russia Second National Development Strategy after a nerve agent attack on British soil is unlikely to trouble Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin unduly, despite the expression of outrage that greeted it in Moscow. After the fi rst known use of a military-grade nerve to ensure economic prosperity of Qatar toxin on British soil since World War Two, May expelled 23 Russian spies using diplomatic cover and promised to freeze Russian State assets if they were used to threaten QNA to determine the safety of their productivity at all levels, and devote economic infrastructure, which in British interests. Doha implementation. eff orts of economic diversifi cation, turn would raise the effi ciency of the According to the strategy book issued and participants in the second economy and expand its absorptive May also said Britain would work on new powers to yesterday, effi cient implementation of national development strategy are capacity, avoid bottlenecks and increase defend against hostile state activity, beef up counter atar’s Second National the national development strategy will expected to focus on strengthening its competitiveness. espionage powers and cut back offi cial participation in the Development Strategy continue to be subject to modernisation their institutional and organisational It cautioned that although many soccer World Cup. (2018-2022), launched by of the public sector and upgrading its capacities, formulating incentive achievements have been made in Other measures may be considered, she said. QHE the Prime Minister and performance, in order to complement frameworks and policies to attract the economic infrastructure sector Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin the eff orts exerted in this direction and the private sector, enhancing their such as transport, communications But her announcement, just days before an election in Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani yesterday, the transition of the implementing contribution to the local economy and information and the supply of which Putin, a former KGB offi cer, is expected to coast has outlined a national strategic government entities from the state of and enhancing productivity in all its electricity, water, sanitation and to a fourth term, gave no examples of Russian offi cials or roadmap for the next fi ve years, after recognising the importance of planning dimensions. construction networks, it is diffi cult companies that would be targeted or barred from London’s mobilising eff orts to guide the activities as a tool to achieve the results, to the The new strategy seeks to achieve its to determine the extent to which they fi nancial centre. and resources available to meet the regular application of institutional objectives driven by expectations that meet the economic and human needs national priorities set for this period, practices in the preparation of the the real economy will grow during the and the effi ciency of operation and London remains open to Russian investment, albeit with and thus making it clear that the executive plans, medium-term strategy period (2018-2022) by the activities of maintenance. a political chill. economic prosperity of Qatar will be and annual output plans. the non-oil and gas sector, especially in In this context, the strategy cited Other than the sustained through the development The new strategy book said that the sectors of merchandise and traded international indicators, including the Britain to work expulsions, May went no of economic infrastructure, economic its preparation was infl uenced by services, while the rationalisation of infrastructure index, in which Qatar further than current EU diversifi cation, private sector the emerging conditions in terms of government spending in this period will ranked 18th out of 138 countries in on new powers development, natural resources government structure and economic balance the public fi nancial balance of 2016, and the logistics performance sanctions which include management, human development, developments, the number of sectors the country, and facilitates the creation index in which Qatar ranked 30th out to defend against travel restrictions and sustainable social development and was reduced from 14 sectors in the fi rst of a wider space for private sector of 160 countries in 2016. The strategy, asset freezes against sustainable environment development. strategy to eight sectors in the second activities. however, called for action to overcome hostile state 150 people and 38 The new strategy is characterised strategy, organised according to the four The second National Development future challenges facing the economic companies. by the addition of a new chapter pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030. Strategy stressed that maintaining infrastructure sector by developing activity dealing with global partnerships The second national development the economic performance of Qatar to a supportive infrastructure for the “The Kremlin will for development, which aims to strategy (2018-2022) addressed the achieve the goals of its National Vision national economy that is sustainable, understand this as a very mild response,” said Mathieu strengthen Qatar’s role at regional most important challenges facing 2030 should be institutionally linked to high quality and able to keep up with Boulegue, a Russia expert at Chatham House think-tank in and international levels, raise the level the fi rst national development sustainable development programmes the latest technology systems. London. “Putin is unlikely to be worried by this.” of international partnerships and strategy (2011-2016). Through a broad and plans. The strategy noted that This can be achieved through A senior British government offi cial said further options contribute eff ectively to regional and participatory process, the second despite the great legislative and the provision of sustainable water, international peace and security. national strategy, adopted the national regulatory eff orts to consolidate these increasing the production of traditional remained on the table: “Economic, diplomatic, legislative, The strategy also included a new priority development agenda for values, achieving sustainability requires and renewable energy, recycling of and our security capabilities can all be brought to bear if chapter on strategic performance the coming years to the end of 2022, continuous and integrated eff orts project waste, more co-ordination needed.” management, which is also by emphasising and re-evaluating based on outstanding international among relevant government agencies, But after days of full-volume rhetoric from London considered as a compass to monitor national development goals, identifying experiences, as well as vigorous eff orts particularly in the identifi cation of about the suspected Russian attack and a midnight implementation, ensure smooth obstacles and re-evaluating priorities, to build national economic capacities, project priorities, the exact size of their and effi cient follow-up, and to know lessons learned and what can be both institutional and human, and to investments, the expected demand and deadline that Moscow scorned, May has shown just how obstacles and work to overcome them achieved on the ground. preserve them as a national wealth and the issuance of appropriate legislation, little appetite Britain has for a fi ght on the eve of Brexit. in a timely manner, taking advantage According to the new strategy, heritage for future generations. as well as the provision of data and While the United States and European Union joined of the lessons of the fi rst strategy to Qatar will focus during the next According to the strategy, the technical capabilities of human cadres, criticism of Moscow — albeit with a delayed response from focus on results and outputs through fi ve years on reforms in the area of sustainability of the economic boom and addressing issues related to electronic US President Donald Trump — there was little evidence monitoring key performance indicators policy and motivation, and enhance requires more investment in the security, according to the Strategy. of appetite in Paris, Berlin or Washington for anything beyond a scolding. Russia denied any involvement in the attack and simply declined to say anything about how a Soviet-era nerve toxin ended up striking down a former double agent on the normally genteel streets of the English city of Salisbury. The foreign ministry described May’s measures as a fl agrant provocation and promised a speedy response. If Russia — or Russians — were behind the nerve attack, some of their aims may have been achieved: Britain has shown just how little power it is willing to exercise while every Kremlin opponent will be more nervous about retribution. For many Russian experts, the attack on Sergei Skripal, a former GRU military intelligence offi cer who betrayed dozens of Russian agents to MI6, was a test for Britain after years of turning a blind eye to the reality of modern Russia. Part of that policy is due to money. One of the biggest exports since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union was money and London, as one of the top two fi nancial capitals in the world, is a major benefi ciary. London, or Londongrad as it is sometimes dubbed, is the Western capital of choice for the oligarchs and Russian offi cials who fl aunt their wealth across Europe’s most luxurious destinations.

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© 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Gulf Times Thursday, March 15, 2018 23 COMMENT Germany’s dangerous political marriage

By Helmut K Anheier Bundestag and showing the public the SPD, with no CDU cabinet minister Berlin that political parties matter, and that hailing from eastern Germany, an AfD a grand coalition isn’t essential to stronghold. progress. Unlike the CDU, whose members ore than fi ve months Instead, Germany got a government will soon feel short-changed, the after Germany’s federal that will implement a predetermined SPD has rediscovered the virtues of election last September, set of policies, contained in a 170-page internal democracy, which revealed Ma new grand coalition agreement hammered out behind a signifi cant disconnect between government – comprising Chancellor closed doors – one that promises the party’s leadership and its base. Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic more of the same. Its members will Whatever success the SPD has had Union, the CDU’s Bavarian sister party, engage in all of the same professionally playing the coalition game, the party’s the Christian Social Union (CSU), and choreographed and well-rehearsed participation in yet another Merkel-led the Social Democratic Party (SPD) – debates, the ritualistic display of government stands to cost it growing has fi nally been formed. But there is legislative process that devalues numbers of lower- and middle-income little reason to celebrate. parliament because the outcome is voters. Germany has endured nearly six of pre-determined. Both the CDU and the SPD face a months under a caretaker government For Europe, this means that shrinking electoral base and a falling (the longest in the Federal Republic’s no signifi cant shift in Germany’s supply of leadership cadres. As a result, history), a failed coalition agreement, approach – for better or for worse – both parties and their coalition will weeks of arduous negotiations, should be expected. French President become increasingly unstable over painful internal party rumblings, and Emmanuel Macron will not see a time, a trend that would be accelerated much politicking. Moreover, a recent German hand reaching out to work by their poor performance in the 2019 national poll dealt yet another blow to with him on European Union reform, European Parliament election, not to the centre-left SPD, indicating that though he might be able to grasp a mention in Germany’s upcoming state if elections were held today, the party fi nger or two. and local elections. would be outperformed by the far- To be sure, the new grand Meanwhile, in the absence of a crisis right Alternative for Germany (AfD). coalition’s policy approach will be that demands political attention, all of Add to that Europe’s ongoing right- diff erent in some respects from the the problems and risks that Germany’s wing backlash (exemplifi ed, most last. In her determination to form a previous coalition governments have recently, by Italy’s election) and the government, Merkel yielded to the failed to address will continue to be threat of a trade war with the United SPD on important issues, including ignored. At a time when German States, and Germany’s new grand EU policy and labour-market matters. leadership is so badly needed in coalition reeks of desperation. Not As a result, the overall legislative Europe, the country is set to continue surprisingly, reactions to its formation programme outlined in the coalition to play a passive role. were subdued, with the public and agreement is more social democratic Until recently, the SPD seemed to political insiders alike mostly just than that of any previous grand prefer a loss to a half-victory, much relieved to have the long ordeal behind coalition. as a person might decide that it is them. But, ultimately, Germany can expect better to be alone than in a mediocre Germany’s new grand coalition – the Merkel: I look forward to working with the SPD again for the good of our country. more of the same for the time being. relationship. But now the SPD third in Merkel’s long chancellorship This will keep the government stable seems to think that being in power, – is a marriage of convenience: One might argue that it is good for that are only semi-loyal to liberal SPD remained in opposition, as it in the near term. But it is a feast for by joining the ruling coalition, is loveless, largely unloved, and devoid democracy that Merkel’s coalition democracy – the AfD and its left-wing vowed to do after its poor election populists – and a missed opportunity automatically better than being in of any overarching vision. It is a good has shrunk. Because the government counterpart Die Linke (the Left) – now result, it could have spent the next for democracy. opposition, no matter the cost. And outcome for Germany’s short-term parties control barely more than half approaches one-quarter. Not since the four years renewing its platform In fact, whatever stability the CDU/ the cost could be very high indeed. stability, especially with regard to of the Bundestag, they no longer Weimar Republic has a far-right party and membership, while acting as a CSU and the SPD think that they have Loveless marriages can last a long Europe. But it is an uncertain outcome overwhelm the opposition, rendering been the largest opposition force, or strong challenger to both Merkel and secured, there are plenty of reasons time, but they rarely end well. – in the longer term, given the coalition’s it irrelevant. The problem is that the have anti-liberal forces controlled such the right- and left-wing populists. for concern in the medium term. The Project Syndicate considerable political baggage, and largest offi cial opposition party is now a large share of the Bundestag. A Merkel-led CDU/CSU minority CDU is increasingly impatient with it is a bad outcome for democracy, the populist AfD. This illiberal result is a direct government would have meant open Merkel and her policy approach. And, zHelmut K Anheier is President and especially at a time when populist Moreover, the share of the consequence of the SPD’s participation debate on all major policy issues and though it is the largest party, it has Professor of Sociology at the Hertie forces are a growing threat. Bundestag held by opposition parties in Merkel’s government. Had the legislative proposals, enlivening the relatively fewer government posts than School of Governance in Berlin. What the Second Amendment says about guns Three-day forecast Yet if that is so, the Founding Fathers see how a “shotgun having a barrel purposes. Gun-owners’ right to TODAY By Ron Grossman Maximum Temperature : 330c Chicago Tribune must have dug a really deep hole to less than 18 inches long has today any possess not just handguns and hunting house that entitlement. reasonable relation to the preservation rifl es but military-style weapons Minimum Temperature : 210c Because for 220 years, no one or effi ciency of a well regulated remains an article of faith for many FRIDAY urvivors of the massacre at uncovered it. militia.” conservatives and a few liberals. The Maximum Temperature : 320c a Parkland, Florida, high The Second Amendment went into The court’s fl ip-fl op on gun control National Rifl e Association preaches an Minimum Temperature : 230c school have held vigils, eff ect with the ratifi cation of the US in 2008 wasn’t unique. Such reversals apocalyptic vision of the government SATURDAY angrily chanting “No more Constitution in 1788. It only gained a are usually explained as in line with out to take away our guns en route to Maximum Temperature : 310c S Minimum Temperature : 210c guns!” They’ve demanded that state stranglehold over gun-control eff orts an evolving body of jurisprudence, or taking away our liberties. in 2008. That year, by a 5 to 4 vote, some such explanation. But that leaves Wary of the NRA, politicians are legislators outlaw the AR-15, the kind Fisherman's forecast of rapid-fi re weapon with which 17 of the US Supreme Court struck down me with a vexing question about the afraid to ban the AR-15. their classmates and staff members Washington, DC’s gun regulations. judiciary: Its availability is still protected WARNING were killed. The court’s majority ruled that You mean it took them 220 years to by the right of self-defence. But Inshore : Nil Other students added their voices Washington’s law infringed on fi gure out that the Founding Fathers does anyone really believe that’s Offshore : Nil to the anti-gun-violence chorus. In residents’ right of self-defence _ meant to say what they didn’t say? why the suspect in the Parkland, Washington, DC, they marched on a right guaranteed by the Second I’m more comfortable with what Florida, massacre wanted one? Or the WEATHER Inshore : Misty at places at first the US Capitol, shouting: “Our blood, Amendment, according to the justices. the great humorist Will Rogers once shooter who murdered 28 students becomes relatively hot your hands!” That decision required a bit of legal observed: “The Supreme Court and staff members at Sandy Hook daytime Similar expressions of pain gymnastics, since the term “self- reads the election returns.” Crime Elementary School in Newton, Conn.? WIND Inshore : Northwesterly-North- and frustration, outrage and defence” doesn’t appear in the Second rates soared in the run-up to the Or the shooters who took a sawed- easterly 04-13 KT determination, have followed previous Amendment. Its writers tied gun overturning of Washington’s fi rearms off shotgun and a semi-automatic school shootings. But up until now, ownership to “a well regulated militia regulations. Politicians and the public handgun into Columbine High School Offshrore : Northwesterly-South- westerly 05-15 /21 KT they have been drowned out by three being necessary to the security of a demanded something be done, and in Colorado, and killed 12 students and little words: the Second Amendment. free state.” so the court did something. Still, that a teacher? Visibility : 4-8/3 KM or less at Their Latin equivalent is “veto.” In fact, the Supreme Court used that posed an issue that is with us still: How many more students will weep places at first. militia phrasing to support gun-control Does the right of self-defence entitle over murdered classmates before By proclaiming that word, an ancient SEA STATE Roman offi cial called the Tribune laws, long before it decided that the someone to own an AR-15? opponents and supporters of gun Offshore : 2 - 4 FT, Rises to 6 FT at could halt debate in the Senate if he words meant that Washington’s gun- The question was akin to the issue controls get beyond splitting hairs over places at first. felt Rome’s legislature was headed in control law had to go. of cut-off shotguns, and again the what the Second Amendment says, or court was wary. might have said, or should have said. an unacceptable direction. In the 1930s, a well-known Around the region Now it’s pretty much the same with bank robber claimed his Second Former Justice Antonin Scalia, The starting point for a more fruitful Weather us. Invoking the Second Amendment Amendment rights had been violated who wrote the decision enshrining discussion of the issue is obvious. Just Weather tomorrow Max/min eff ectively ends even modest proposals by a federal regulation requiring that the Second Amendment, noted an recall what Justice Scalia said about today Max/min M Sunny 27/12 for gun control. sawed-off shotguns be registered. The important exception: The “historical “dangerous and unusual weapons.” Baghdad M Sunny 30/16 P Cloudy 28/18 The knock-out power rests on the law had been enacted in response to tradition of prohibiting the carrying of And he wasn’t some dreamy-eyed Kuwait City Sunny 29/19 M Sunny 31/22 assumption that Americans’ right to Prohibition-era gang wars. dangerous and unusual weapons.” liberal, but a conservative icon – an Manama Sunny 30/21 Sunny 28/22 keep a gun for their personal safety is The Supreme Court rejected the In the years since, Scalia’s exception unfl inching champion of the Second Muscat Sunny 27/21 P Cloudy 22/11 embedded in the Second Amendment. fellow’s argument, saying it couldn’t has been forgotten, for all practical Amendment. – Tribune News Service Tehran M Sunny 21/12 Live issues How the fl u aff ects your heart

Stephen Kopecky, a Mayo Clinic Tribune News Service Around the world Washington, DC cardiologist. Seriously? Yes. You see, Weather Weather the influenza virus can cause today Max/min tomorrow Max/min mid the most intense an inflammatory reaction all Athens Clear 19/11 Sunny 20/11 flu season in more over your body. That’s why Beirut P Cloudy 19/14 Showers 18/14 than a decade, a new you feel miserable. And, when Bangkok Sunny 33/26 P Cloudy 32/26 Astudy published in that reaction happens, it also Berlin Cloudy 07/-1 Cloudy 03/-7 the The New England Journal can irritate the lining of your Cairo M Cloudy 24/13 Sunny 26/14 of Medicine confirms that the arteries. If those arteries are Cape Town P Cloudy 18/13 Cloudy 19/14 flu virus significantly raises already in trouble with plaque Colombo S T Storms 31/25 S T Storms 31/25 your risk of having a heart buildup, the inflammation can Dhaka P Cloudy 36/24 M Cloudy 32/23 attack within a week of being prompt a tear. A blood clot Hong Kong S T Storms 23/19 P Cloudy 23/19 diagnosed. The Centre for could form, blocking blood Istanbul P Cloudy 13/08 M Sunny 14/12 Disease Control and Prevention flow to your heart or brain, Jakarta T Storms 33/24 T Storms 32/24 (CDC) still recommends all causing a heart attack or Karachi Sunny 33/19 Sunny 33/19 people over six months of age, stroke. London Showers 12/07 S Showers 13/01 with few exceptions, should get “So I tell patients, get a fl u Manila Sunny 34/24 S T Storms 32/25 a flu shot. shot,” says Kopecky. “Not Moscow Snow -2/-13 M Cloudy -8/-18 Everyone should know because I’m so concerned about New Delhi M Sunny 32/26 Sunny 32/26 that getting a flu shot helps them getting the fl u, but I’m New York M Cloudy 08/0 P Cloudy 03/-2 prevent the flu. But that’s not concerned about them having Paris Showers 13/06 P Cloudy 13/04 all. a heart attack or a stroke. And Sao Paulo M Sunny 33/22 S T Storms 28/22 “It’s been shown that if patients, once you tell them Seoul Rain 12/02 Sunny 12/-2 you get a fl u shot, it will lower that, they say, ‘Oh, I didn’t Singapore S T Storms 32/26 S T Storms 32/26 your risk of having a heart realise that. I’ll get my fl u shot Sydney M Sunny 29/20 S Showers 23/19 attack or stroke by about 50% this year.’“ – Mayo Clinic News Preliminary data from five sites around the country suggest that people who got vaccinated Tokyo Clear 22/08 Cloudy 16/04 during that fl u season,” says Dr Network this flu season reduced their risk of getting a serious case of influenza by 36%. Gulf Times 24 Thursday, March 15, 2018 QATAR QM welcomes Ai Weiwei’s Laundromat

By Joey Aguilar The camp was shut down in Staff Reporter May 2016 and the refugees that had been living there were evac- uated, leaving their possessions enowned Chinese artist Ai behind. Weiwei’s Laundromat ex- Apart from the clothing, QM Rhibition opened yesterday added that Laundromat also fea- in Doha, displaying some 2,046 tures the fi lm Idomeni (2016) items of clothing, a wallpaper of which captures the everyday con- 17,062 pictures relating to refu- ditions of the refugees up to now gees and meticulously arranged when the camp was evacuated; shoes. ‘1.12-09.08.2016’ – a wallpaper The Doha show, which will run which consists of a selection of until June 1 at the Fire Station’s 17,062 images relating to refugees Garage Gallery, is a response taken by the artist on his phone from Qatar Museums’ (QM) in- during the fi lming of his docu- vitation for the artist to bring mentary feature “Human Flow.” the powerful commentary on the Alongside Laundromat, QM global refugee crisis to the Gulf Khalifa al-Obaidly at the event. said other projects by Ai Weiwei region for the fi rst time. will be exhibited at the Fire Sta- “My relationship with Qa- “By bringing such interna- to the wider community as well. tion, including Stacked Porcelain tar began when I fi rst visited tionally signifi cant talent to Qa- This is a show that should not be Vases as a Pillar (2017), which the country last year. I had the Laundromat exhibition features meticulously arranged shoes and thousands of clothing items, as well as tar, we hope to spark creativity missed, and we urge all those who represents six themes of the chance to tour the Fire Station 17,062 pictures relating to refugees. PICTURES: Jayan Orma for a young generation of artists live in and visit Qatar to experi- refugee condition — War, Ruins, and meet with the artists who and build an exciting future for ence it,” he noted. Journey, Crossing the Sea, Refu- had residencies there,” Ai Weiwei and continue taking my message Such a unique exhibition, QM inspiring future generations of Qatar,” QM’s Fire Station Artist Laundromat features thou- gee Camps, and Demonstrations; said in a statement. to people around the world,” he noted, refl ects the determination artists and engage the local com- in Residence Programme director sands of articles of clothing col- and Tyre (2016), a traditional “It was a great experience to added. Laundromat highlights of QM and its Chairperson HE munity. Khalifa al-Obaidly said. lected from a makeshift refugee symbol of safety turned on its see the openness with which Qatar’s development as a creative Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad The exhibition also off ers a “An exhibition such as this, camp in Idomeni – a small village head by being crafted from mar- they practised their craft and I and artistic hub that encourages bin Khalifa al-Thani to bring the regional platform to some of the which brings attention to an is- in northern Greece and offi cial ble and representing the struggle am pleased to have the chance to dialogue through art, according world’s leading contemporary world’s most unique and reso- sue that has preoccupied a gen- border crossing to the former faced by refugees crossing the bring Laundromat to this space to QM. artists to the country aimed at nant voices. eration, is sure to be of interest Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Mediterranean Sea.

Qatar Airways is the off icial airline 11 days of culinary sponsor of food fest Qatar Airways is the off icial airline sponsor of the ninth Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF), extravaganza kicks which kicks off today at Hotel Park. The airline will fly in a lineup of regional celebrity chefs to Doha for the festival’s Live Cooking Theatre, a highlight of the annual event. off in Doha today They include famed Michelin- starred chef Wolfgang Puck and Qatari chef and food programme From Page 1 an American music band will tainment, hospitality and food presenter Aisha al-Tamimi; Cultural performances from perform throughout the fes- and beverage sectors in Qatar. Lebanese celebrity chef Ramzi various countries, including tival. The festival’s strategic partner Choueiri; Filipino celebrity TV French ambassador Eric Chevallier (centre) with chefs from eight restaurants participating in Gout de/ Ethiopia, India, South Africa, A fi ve-minute fi reworks dis- is Katara Hospitality, the glo- chef Nino Logarta; Food Network Good France 2018. PICTURE: Jayan Orma Turkey and Vietnam, will be play will light up the sky above bal hotel owner, developer and pastry chef Anna Olson; Turkish held at the main stage. the Doha corniche at 8pm fol- operator based in Qatar. celebrity chef Murat Bozok; Kuwaiti The second week of QIFF lowed by daily fi lm screenings, The award-winning fi ve- celebrity TV chef Sulaiman al- will witness Kuwaiti singer courtesy of festival partner, star national carrier Qatar Qassar; Indian chef Ajay Chopra; Abdulaziz Louis and Lebanese Doha Film Institute (DFI). Airways is the festival’s offi cial Kuwaiti chef Asmaa al-Bahar; US band Wahdon entertaining The screenings include airline while other partners 2012 Masterchef winner Christine Gout de/Good France to fete visitors for free on March 23 Made In Qatar Shorts Pro- include Msheireb Museums, Ha, IDAM Executive Chef Damien and 24. gramme, Winnie the Pooh and DFI, beIN, Qatar Culinary Leroux, and Kuwaiti chef Fawaz Doha-based hip hop dance Finding Nemo on rotation each Professionals, Askar, Mini Zoo al-Omaim. troupe Beats and Bytes, as evening. QIFF 2018 is organ- Events, AlRayyan Water, RAW “We help bring the world to Qatar renowned chef Paul Bocuse well as Music Vending Ma- ised and delivered by QTA with ME, Zomato, Talabat, Uber, and off er visitors their first taste chine, The Doha String Quar- the support of numerous part- Qatar TV, Al Rayyan TV and of Arabian hospitality when they tet & Friends, Doha Jazz and ners representing the enter- Olive Radio. arrive in Doha. Every year, QIFF is a By Joey Aguilar away early this year, the envoy tractiveness for tourists and is an celebration of Qatar’s extraordinary Staff Reporter noted. Participating chefs from active component of its cultural cultural and culinary diversity, around the world can include a outreach,” Chevallier said. and we could not be more proud dish in their menus from the rep- “The richness and singularity to participate in this event,” Qatar ome 3,000 restaurants in ertoire of Bocuse or “one inspired of our cuisine, the diversity of Airways’ marketing and corporate more than 150 countries, by the spirit of his cuisine.” our local producing regions, as communications senior vice Sincluding those in Qatar, The Gout de/Good France well as the inclusion of the ‘gas- president Salam al-Shawa said. will be preparing a unique dinner menu includes an aperitif with tronomic meal of the French’ on “As our national carrier and award- on March 21 to mark the fourth fi nger food, a starter, one or two the Unesco list of intangible cul- winning airline, Qatar Airways is edition of Gout de/Good France. main courses, a cheese platter tural heritage, are all key advan- a key component of our eff orts A one-of-its-kind culinary and a dessert, accompanied by tages that help keep France at the to develop and promote unique celebration, organised by the French beverages. top of the list of the world’s tour- end-to-end visitor experiences, that French Ministry for Europe and In Qatar, Chevallier said ist destinations,” he stressed. extend our message of welcome Foreign Aff airs, and renowned eight well-known restaurants IDAM executive chef Damien to the world,” Qatar Tourism chef Alain Ducasse, it highlights will take part in Good France: Leroux told reporters that he will Authority’s chief marketing and the art of living “a la francaise” Fauchon, Idam (Museum of Is- dedicate his special menu to hon- promotion off icer Rashed al-Qurese (the French way of life), promotes lamic Art – Alain Ducasse), La our Bocuse: Red mullet, crispy Asma al-Bahr Murat Bozok Christine Ha said. French products and France as a Villa (Mercure), Market by Jean potato scales and Tart Tatin. “It tourism destination. Georges (W Hotel Doha), Olive is an honour for me to create this “We will have the largest din- Oil (City Centre Rotana) Por- plate for Bocuse because he is ner in the world to celebrate cini (Ritz-Carlton Doha), Prime like one of the fi rst French chefs French cuisine,” French ambas- Steakhouse (Intercontinental to export our knowledge to the sador Eric Chevallier told a press Doha-The City), and Walima world,” he said. conference yesterday at his resi- (Mondrian Doha). As part of the event, Leroux dence in Doha. Gout de/Good He added that the Qatar Culi- will also prepare a full French France 2018, a global event which nary Professionals in Doha, rep- menu using special cheese, will also involve 1,500 chefs cur- resented by two French chefs at French bread and other tradi- rently registered in France, will the press conference, is also sup- tional French products such as pay tribute to renowned French porting the culinary event. “Gas- wild lavender, healthy cucumber, chef Paul Bocuse who passed tronomy is a pillar of France’s at- seasonal rose and red harvest.

AAB displays latest models of Toyota, Lexus at Mall of Qatar

Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros Co noted. The latest models of present the latest technology (AAB) is displaying the latest Toyota and Lexus are on display and unique selling points of the models of Toyota and Lexus in its in the gallery, ranging from small models displayed, including the gallery at Mall of Qatar. passenger vehicles to sports “legendary” Toyota Land Cruiser AAB is the exclusive dealer of coupes and SUVs. AAB has and its history in the region, the Toyota and Lexus in Qatar. stressed that it seeks to “make “iconic” all-new 2018 Camry and In a press statement yesterday, it easier for visitors to discover the hybrid Prius, the “bestselling AAB said it was undertaking all the exceptional features vehicle in its segment globally”. “new initiatives to think outside and advantages via the gallery Lexus will have on display the the box and reach its Toyota and located in Mall of Qatar where the “state-of-the-art” LC500 coupe Lexus fan base locally by opening latest models are on display”. with its futuristic design and Winners of awards with Yousuf bin Jassim al-Darwish, and Faleh bin Hussein al-Hajri and other off icials. PICTURE: Jayan Orma promotional galleries outside the The gallery is open to customers sporty characteristics. The GS-F parameters of the conventional and all visitors to the mall from is also on display highlighting its showroom”. 10am to 11pm on weekdays powerful V8 engine and 471hp, Oryx Publishing and Advertising unveils Progress Qatar 2017-18 “The new strategy is not for and from 10am to midnight on making it a “true force to be customers to come to the weekends. During these hours, reckoned with”. Visitors can also showroom but for the showroom the sales staff will welcome feast their eyes on the new seven- Oryx Publishing and Advertising of Culture and Sports, jointly with the situation. At the event, of the participating companies to come to them,” the statement visitors to the gallery and seater RX350. unveiled the 2017-18 edition of released the publication at the several awards were distributed as well. its annual publication Progress event. Al-Hajri attended the event to organisations that had Progress Qatar has been Qatar yesterday under the on behalf of HE the Minister of excelled in their fields. Q-Auto, providing detailed analysis of patronage of the Ministry of Culture and Sports Salah bin the off icial sponsor for the event, the nation’s developments in Culture and Sports at a special Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali. A was presented an award which various fields - sports, economy, event. The event, sponsored large number of representatives was received by the company’s infrastructure, education, health, by Q-Auto, was held to mark from several companies also general manager Ahmed Shariefi. etc – for over a decade. The Qatar’s achievements in various participated. Al-Darwish thanked Gulf Publishing and Printing inaugural edition of the yearly sectors last year in the face of all the participants and said that Company was awarded the best book was published in 2003-04. the blockade imposed by some Qatar’s economy had thrived printing and publishing house Oryx Publishing & Advertising of its neighbours. Yousuf bin despite the blockade by some award. A special award was also has been one of Qatar’s leading Jassim al-Darwish, chairman of countries since June last year. given to Qatari artist Ali Hassan media houses for 40 years. Oryx Publishing & Advertising, He also stressed the importance whose painting was used for the The major magazines under its and Faleh bin Hussein al- Hajri, of the latest edition of Progress cover of Progress Qatar 2017-18. banner are Qatar Today, Qatar director, Research and Cultural Qatar because it highlighted Al-Darwish and al-Hajri presented Al Youm, T Qatar, and T Qatar Studies Department, Ministry how well the nation had coped awards to the representatives (Arabic). Toyota models on display. Lexus models in the gallery.