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Ooredoo Group Halep, Kerber records QR30bn advance to Qatar in revenue for Total Open 2018 quarters

Thursday 14 February 2019 | 9 Jumada II 1440 www.thepeninsula.qa Volume 23 | Number 7802 | 2 Riyals

Amir to attend Munich Security Conference Sheikha Moza, First Lady of Somalia discuss education QNA

Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will attend the 55th session of Munich Security Conference, which will be held from February 15 to 17 in Munich in the Federal Republic of Germany. Amiri decree sets date for election to CMC

QNA/THE PENINSULA headquarters will be ready as of Sunday Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al to receive nominations. Thani issued yesterday Amiri Decree No. Brigadier Abdulrahman Al Farahid Al 4 of 2019 to set the election date of Malki, Assistant Director General of Infor- members of the Central Municipal Council mation Systems and Chairman of the Tech- on Tuesday Sha’ban 11 of 1440, April 16 of nical Committee for CMC elections and 2019. The decree stated a call on citizens member of the Supervisory Committee, said who hold voting rights and are registered that the decisions of the appeals and on the voter lists, to vote in their constitu- grievance committees on which the final encies. The decree is effective starting from rolls of voters were issued cannot be its date of publication in the official gazette. appealed again. Al Malki pointed out that Meanwhile, another report said that according to the schedule of elections, all H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, the final electoral rolls of the 6th Central the headquarters of the constituencies will met yesterday with First Lady of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Sainab Abdi Moallim, during her visit to Qatar. Municipal Council elections will be begin on Sunday to receive requests for announced today at the headquarters of registration of candidates, and this period They discussed various topics of mutual interest in providing access to health and education in marginalised areas. all electoral constituencies, as these will continue until 21 February. `P2 H H Sheikha Moza hosted a luncheon in honour of the First Lady and the accompanying Somali delegation.

Qatari-Turkish QF's new school offers unique learning model Higher Joint

FAZEENA SALEEM experiential learning within an will have a fully-developed per- Military THE PENINSULA innovative educational eco- sonal plan, tailored to nurture Committee system that will work in close their personal growth and cre- Qatar Foundation (QF) has partnership with parents and ative process within a positive ends meeting announced the launch of a first- families. Academyati will and supportive environment,” of-its-kind school in Qatar, graduate students who are she added. QNA which will offer a globally unique aware, confident, empowered, She also emphasized that DOHA learning model to young and can bring positive change to the children will able to enter children. their world,” she added. international universities The Qatari-Turkish Higher Joint ‘Academyati’ is a progressive H E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani’s Placing an equal emphasis through the curriculum taught Military Committee concluded its school under the umbrella of idea turns into reality. on both personal and academic at Academyati. three-day meeting in Doha QF’s Pre-University Education development, Academyati will At Academyati children will yesterday. The conclusion of the (PUE) and admissions are open provide tailored, creative, and be grouped into multi-age meeting was attended by Chief of now for the 2019-20 academic ‘Academyati’ offers a globally unique nurturing learning experiences groups, rather than in a Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces year. It will open in August 2019 learning model that takes the concept designed to ensure children structure defined by grade levels H E Lieutenant-General (Pilot) for children aged 3 to 6 years, of personalised education into a new studying at the school achieve or determined by their age. This Ghanem bin Shaheen Al Ghanem said officials yesterday during a dimension. their full potential. will help children to learn at and Second Chief of the General press conference held at the QF “Academyati stands for their own pace and from older Staff, Corps General Metin Gurak. headquarters. ‘Innovation in Learning’. We or younger children, in a fluid, The meeting comes in the The school, which is an idea The new school will be based at Qatar believe in trusting today’s engaging, non-classroom framework of the strategic part- of H E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Foundation’s Education City and children. By exposing our setting. Each child will have a nership between the two countries Al Thani, Vice-Chairperson and enrol 48 children initially. children to experiences and portfolio that fully documents and the committee’s annual CEO of QF, has turned in to a quests as a way of learning, we their personal growth, as well meetings to review the progress reality and will offer a globally aim to fuel children’s inde- as their learning outcomes and achieved in the past, study future unique learning model that takes pendence, empathy, curiosity, products. cooperation, evaluate military the concept of personalised edu- children and young people aged school, Academyati, will bring a and creativity through their Applications to Academyati conditions, challenges in the region cation into a new dimension. 3-18. whole new educational expe- journey in Academyati. We have will be open until May 1. To and the fight against terrorism. ‘Academyati’ will be based “Designed to add to the rience to Qatar,” said Buthaina faith that their inner gifts will apply, visit ail.openapply.com. On the sidelines of the at QF’s Education City and enrol legacy of quality education that Ali Al Nuaimi, President, PUE. shape amazing outcomes,” said More information about QF’s meeting, H E Lieutenant-General 48 children initially. The school has already been created by its “Academyati is a bilingual Maryam Alhajri, Director, new progressive school, can be (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen Al is designed to eventually expand diverse and specialised schools, school offering individualised Academyati. had from: www.academyati.qa Ghanem met with Second Chief and ultimately accommodate QF’s new, progressive K-12 education, with an emphasis on “Each child at Academyati or through email [email protected] of the General Staff, Corps General Metin Gurak. The meeting dis- cussed areas of military cooper- ation. The meeting was attended Al Baker welcomes CAPA's ‘Doha Declaration’ by senior officers of the armed forces and military attaches of both THE PENINSULA supporting it.” The Doha Declaration says the Gulf region to achieve a countries. DOHA that 75 years after the aviation regulatory Comprehensive Air Transport framework was established, it is time for Agreement with the European Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, a serious global review of its relevance Union. This agreement, allied Akbar Al Baker (pictured), has welcomed today; the “business of freedom” underpins to the Doha Declaration, the publication of the Doha Declaration’, 10 percent of global GDP. It is too important shows the world that we are a manifesto that calls for a serious review to be constrained by economic regulation committed to building trust of the existing aviation regulatory that was designed to meet entirely different among nations, overcoming framework. conditions the fear of competition and The Declaration, which was announced The Doha Declaration recommends embracing the benefits of lib- at the conclusion of the CAPA Qatar Avi- that governments should relax restrictive eralisation in the Aviation ation, Aeropolitical and Regulatory Summit airline ownership and control rules, which field.” held in Doha, comes 75 years after the his- underpin the bilateral air services system, Speaking at the con- YESTERDAY’S RESULTS toric Chicago Convention, which estab- constraining rationalisation of market clusion of the CAPA Con- FIRST LEG FIXTURES lished the International Civil Aviation access; increase efforts to encourage ference, the first of its kind Organisation (ICAO) as well as a set of plurilateral liberalisation, for example as announcement that the State of Qatar and to be held in the Middle East, Henrik Tottenham Hotspur (ENG) 2 global rules for airspace, air safety and air promoted by the European Union; enhance the European Union have concluded their Hololei, the Director General Mobility Borussia Dortmund (GER) 1 travel. sustainability – in its broadest meaning – negotiations for a landmark Compre- and Transport at the European Com- Commenting on the Declaration, Al in the aviation sector and actively hensive Air Transport Agreement. mission commented on the Doha Dec- Baker said: “Qatar Airways wholeheartedly encourage aeropolitical discussion and Al Baker added: “Earlier this week, laration, saying: “It is a good conclusion Ajax (NED) 3 endorses the Doha Declaration and calls further engagement at the highest levels. Qatar Airways was proud to celebrate the of the one-and-a-half days we have spent Real Madrid (ENG) 0 on airlines all over the world to join us in The Declaration follows the recent milestone of becoming the first country in here.” 02 HOME THURSDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2019

OFFICIAL NEWS Shura Council Speaker meets envoys of Spain, Sweden and Peru Nod for draft decision Amir ratifies Cabinet decision setting up on poisonous seeds Statistics Committee QNA a draft cooperation agreement in DOHA: Amir H H Sheikh DOHA the field of education, higher edu- Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani cation, scientific research and ratified yesterday Cabinet The Cabinet, which met yesterday technology between Qatar and the Decision No. 2 of 2019 to with Prime Minister and Interior Kingdom of Eswatini and a draft establish a statistics com- Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Memorandum of Understanding mittee and regulate its Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani in the for scientific cooperation in the work. The decision is effec- chair, approved a draft decision of fields of agriculture, environ- tive starting from its date the Minister of Municipality and mental protection and rural affairs of publication in the official Environment to identify the between the Ministry of Munici- gazette. QNA poisonous seeds and seedlings that pality and Environment in Qatar are prohibited to be planted and and the Department for Envi- Amir ratifies decision enter the State of Qatar. ronment, Food and Rural Affairs on retirement and Under the provisions of the in the United Kingdom. pensions for Nationals draft decision, poisonous seeds The Cabinet reviewed the and seedlings that are prohibited report prepared by the Follow-up DOHA: Amir H H Sheikh to be planted and enter Qatar shall Committee of the Implementation Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani be determined in accordance with of Food Security Policies in the ratified yesterday Cabinet Table 1 attached to this decision. Public and Private Sectors on the Decision No. 3 of 2019 in Poisonous seeds and seedlings plans and projects for imple- Speaker of the Shura Council H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud held yesterday separate the validity of some provi- used in the medical field and pre- menting the National Strategy for meetings with the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain, Belen Alvaro Hernandez, and the Ambassador sions of Law No. 24 of 2002 vented to be planted and enter Food Security. The importance of regarding retirement and of the Kingdom of Sweden, Ewa Polano (pictured). The two meetings discussed the respective bilateral Qatar without the prior authori- this strategy is represented in the pensions on Qatari employ- ties between the State of Qatar on one side and the Kingdom of Spain and the Kingdom of Sweden zation of the competent authority unifying of stakeholders’ efforts ees in some companies. The on the other side, and the means to enhance them in the parliamentary field. They also reviewed shall be identified in accordance concerned with the food security decision is effective starting preparations of the 140th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and its accompanying with Table 2 which is annexed to system, the optimal use of the from its date of publication meetings, which will take place in Doha in April. The Speaker of the Shura Council also met with this decision. Minister of Justice State’s natural and financial in the official gazette. QNA the Ambassador of the Republic of Peru, Carlos Velasco Mendiola, whose term in office ended. The and Acting Minister of State for resources, strengthening of the meeting focused on bilateral ties, particularly in the parliamentary field. The Speaker wished the Cabinet Affairs H E Dr Issa bin Saad food security system against Amir issues two Ambassador well in future missions, and for further progress and prosperity for bilateral ties. Al Jafali Al Nuaimi stated that the shocks in emergencies, the prior- ratifications Cabinet reviewed topics on its itization of food security initiatives meeting’s agenda as following: and projects, protection and pro- DOHA: Amir H H Sheikh The Cabinet also approved a motion of local production, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani draft MoU for cooperation in the improvement of the quality and issued an instrument of Qatar to participate in national field of Islamic affairs and endow- safety of food and the provision of ratification approving a ments between Qatar and Sudan, a safe and healthy strategic stock. memorandum of under- standing between the State of Qatar and the Argentine celebrations of Kuwait Republic for cooperation in Date for election to CMC set FROM PAGE 1 the field of education, higher THE PENINSULA organisation of the Qatar Cul- heritage of the Gulf from Feb- entitled to run for membership of education and scientific DOHA tural and Heritage Center, which ruary 14 until March 2, 2019. The He urged anyone who sees the CMC. These conditions are research, signed in Buenos includes many big events which second event will take place in himself as capable of serving his that the candidate shall be a Aires on October 5, 2018. Qatar, represented by the Organ- will be held in cooperation with the Mrouj area from February 21 country to go to the headquarters Qatari citizen of Qatari origin or H H the Amir also issued an ising Committee for National a number of partners, including to February 26, 2019. of the electoral constituencies to who obtained Qatari citizenship instrument of ratification Day celebrations in cooperation the Culture and Arts Department. The events, to be held under fill in the candidacy form in front provided that the candidate shall approving a cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and These cultural, heritage, the activities of the village of of the election committee. be a descendant of a person born agreement between Qatar Sports, will participate in the media, heritage and sporting ‘popular heritage’, will include Concerning the conditions in Qatar. The candidate should be and the Kingdom of Morocco national celebrations of the State events contribute to the depth seven different cultural and her- that candidates must meet, he at least 30 years old and literate. in the field of construction of Kuwait by organising various of Qatar’s heritage, its historical itage activities. These events are explained that any Qatari male or Al Malki said candidates can and infrastructure projects, cultural, traditional, artistic and ties with Kuwait. divided into indoor events in the female who fulfils the conditions go to the concerned constituency signed in Marrakech on sporting events. The first event will be held Qatari pavilion and outdoor in accordance with Article 5 of headquarters which will be December 12, 2013. QNA The Qatari participation at the Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad events in the square of the Law No. 12 of 1998 regulating the opened from 4pm to 7pm to fill comes under the supervision and Heritage Village in the traditional village of the popular heritage. Central Municipal Council is up the prescribed form. THURSDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2019 HOME 03

QFFD, QC sign deal Minister, Swiss envoy discuss ties in culture & sports fields OFFICIAL NEWS Amir sends condolences for projects worth to Iranian President Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani sent yester- day a cable of condolences to QR18m for Syrians President of the Islamic Repub- lic of Iran, Dr Hassan Rowhani, on the victims of the attack on THE PENINSULA 39,000 people at the cost of a Revolutionary Guards’ bus in DOHA QR5.8m. Winter clothes, blankets southeastern Iran, wishing the and heating materials will be dis- injured a speedy recovery. The Qatar Fund For Development tributed as part of this project. Deputy Amir H H Sheikh Abdul- (QFFD) has signed a grant Furthermore, another project lah bin Hamad Al Thani and the agreement with Qatar Charity includes the distribution of winter Prime Minister and Minister of (QC) to address the humanitarian materials to Syrian refugees in the Interior H E Sheikh Abdullah situation of Syrians within their Lebanese town of Arsal, bene- bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani country and in Lebanon in 2019. fiting 60,500 persons. The cost of sent similar cables to the Ira- The pact came as part of the this project amounts to QR5m and nian President yesterday. QNA $50m grant from the Amir H H includes the provision of blankets Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al and mattresses for Syrian fam- Amir ratifies MoU in Thani to support the Syrian ilies in Lebanon, in addition to agriculture between people. The agreement, worth rehabilitating the tents and pro- QR18,165,880, includes three viding them with heating fuel, and Qatar and Morocco projects, benefiting nearly distributing food baskets to 5,000 DOHA: Amir H H Sheikh 108,500 people and 5,000 families for two months. Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani families. “The goal of this agreement issued yesterday an Amiri Minister of Culture and Sports H E Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali met yesterday with the Ambassador The first project will be is to quickly respond to the largest Decree No. 6 of 2019 to of the Swiss Confederation to the State of Qatar, Adgar Doereq. The meeting focused on bilateral carried out, as an urgent emer- number of beneficiaries of this ratify a memorandum of gency response, for the affected urgent aids, especially with regard cooperation in the culture and sports fields as well as the means to enhance them. understanding on cooper- families in the camps in the north to winter relief in northern Syria,” ating in the agricultural field of Syria, benefiting 9,000 persons said Khalifa bin Jassim Al Kuwari, between the governments at the cost of around QR7.3m. This Director General of QFFD. of Qatar and Morocco signed project will involve the distri- Yousif bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, Al Muraikhi bids farwell to Kyrgyzstan Ambassador in Rabat on March 3, 2018, bution of shelter materials CEO of Qatar Charity said: “These annexed to this decree and including tents, insulators, and projects fall within QC’s human- to have the force of law in winter garment bags. itarian efforts to help Syrian ref- line with Article 68 of the The agreement also com- ugees and displaced people in constitution. QNA prises a relief project, which will order to ease their hardship, sup- be implemented in the northern porting them with meeting their MoU between Qatar, Syrian countryside to benefit basic needs.” Argentina ratified DOHA: Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani issued an Amiri Decree No. 5 of 2019 to ratify a mem- orandum of understanding on cooperating in the legal field between the Ministry of Justice in Qatar and Ministry of Justice and Human Rights in the Argentine Republic, signed in Buenos Aires on Minister of State for Foreign Affairs H E Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi met yesterday with the Ambassador July 28, 2016, annexed to of the Kyrgyz Republic to the State of Qatar, Nuran Niyazaliyev, on the occasion of the end of his this decree and to have the tenure. The Minister extended his thanks to the Ambassador for his efforts in promoting bilateral force of law in line with Article Yousif bin Ahmed Al Kuwari (left) and Khalifa bin Jassim Al Kuwari relations, wishing him success in his future duties. 68 of the constitution. QNA exchanging documents after signing the agreement. Dean’s List luncheon celebrates students’ excellence at VCUarts Qatar

THE PENINSULA The Dean’s List is a your families here. As students DOHA recognition of superior on the Dean’s List you set an example and set the standard for Virginia Commonwealth academic performance all other students. By being here University School of the Arts in and only students with today you have set yourselves Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) recently a Grade Point Average up to be our outstanding alumni held a special event to honour of 3.5 qualify. Of leaders but you have to keep on the students whose hard work working both in your degree and and excellent academic skills the 103 outstanding outside of it.” earned them a place on the Dean’s List students, Certificates of Appreciation Dean’s List. 18 are freshmen, 31 were also awarded at the event The families of the students are sophomores, 17 to four graduates from the Class were also in attendance for the of 2018 who were recently rec- special occasion as the students are juniors and 37 are ognized at the Ministry of Edu- were awarded certificates hon- seniors. cation and Higher Education’s ouring their outstanding aca- Excellence Awards, which was demic achievements. held under the patronage of The Dean’s List is a recog- are juniors and 37 are seniors. Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin nition of superior academic per- Dr Donald Baker, the Exec- Hamad Al Thani. formance and only students with utive Dean at VCUarts Qatar The graduates were a Grade Point Average of 3.5 welcomed the students and their Noof Khalid M. A. Al Heidous, qualify. Of the 103 outstanding families, saying, “It is an honor Hissa A Al Hail, Al Jazi Khalid Al Dean’s List students, 18 are to be on the Dean’s List and an Thani, and Sara Haider A A freshmen, 31 are sophomores, 17 honor for us to welcome you and Mashhadi.

The students recognised on the Dean’s List pose for a picture. 04 HOME THURSDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2019 Ibtihaj Muhammad narrates her journey as an athlete

THE PENINSULA DOHA

Qatar Foundation (QF) yesterday hosted a talk by pioneering US Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad as part of its Education City Speaker Series, where she spoke about her journey as an athlete, the chal- lenges and successes she has experienced as a woman in sport, and wearing a hijab in compe- tition. The lecture, held in collabo- ration with Qatar’s Government Communications Office (GCO), took place at Qatar National Library and was moderated by US Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad at the lecture held by QF in collaboration with Qatar’s Government Communications Office (GCO) at Qatar National Library. Amina Ahmadi, co-founder of the sportswear and sports apparel brand Oola. It was fol- competition, and the first “Before I qualified for my acceded to the idea of soci- no matter what age — that we Federation presented Ibtihaj lowed by an in-depth question- Muslim-American athlete to first national team, everyone ety’s expectations about always lead our lives with faith. with a fencing mask. and-answer session. become an Olympic medallist, thought that I was crazy. where I should be and what I And to always put faith ahead of The Education City Speaker Ibtihaj said: “I feel very when she competed as a member People aren’t on board all the should be doing, I wouldn’t fear, because fear can paralyse Series is a platform for Qatar’s strongly about using my platform of the bronze medal-winning US time with your dreams and be sitting here today. you. I know that I allowed fear youth and wider community to in meaningful ways, and I am saber fencing team. goals in the way that you see Offering a final piece of to do that to me at different learn from, and engage with, very conscious that I always Talking about her journey as them. But what I think is advice to her audience, Ibtihaj points in my life. I have learned experts and thought-leaders want to be an agent of change.” an athlete, she said: “I faced a lot really interesting about your said: “I hope that your dreams to always be faithful and to from a range of fields. Previous At the 2016 Olympics in of backlash. Not just within the journey is that it’s your own, are far greater than mine. I think believe.” speakers include United Nations Brazil, Ibtihaj became the first US fencing community, but even in and it’s not meant for other it’s really important — not just Wrapping up the event, Secretary-General António athlete to wear a hijab during my own household. people to understand. Had I for children, but for each of us, members of the Qatar Fencing Guterres. CRA holds radiocommunication services workshop Public Prosecution THE PENINSULA DOHA holds various sports The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) held a workshop at its premises with the major activities on NSD stakeholders yesterday, in prep- aration to the Second Session of THE PENINSULA tug-of-war. the Conference Preparatory DOHA The programmes and activ- Meeting (CPM) for the World ities organised by the Public Radiocommunication The Public Prosecution Prosecution aimed at empha- Conference 2019 (WRC-19), organised various sports activ- sizing the importance of the which will be held at the ITU in ities on the occasion of the active and healthy life of its Geneva this February 2019. National Sport Day, which aims employees, and to create The workshop aimed to to expand the participation of awareness about the importance inform the participants about the community in sports and of sport in life of the people. the CPM Report, discuss the physical activity, increase the Yousif Saif Buhindi, agenda items of the Conference rates of active participation and director of public relations and and agree on the positions that dissemination of sports culture communications at the Public would be of the interest of the among the members of the Prosecution, said that the country. community at the Sheraton sporting events of this year The workshop covered Park, Corniche. come in a different atmos- various topics related to the radi- The event was attended by phere, especially after Qatar’s The participants at the Communications Regulatory Authority workshop. ocommunication services, like the members of Public Prose- team historic achievement by land mobile and fixed services, cution and staff. The sport activ- winning the 2019 Asian Cup, mobile broadband applications, contributions submitted by Qatar Spectrum Management Group. Armed Forces, Ministry of ities included running compe- which confirms that Doha has satellite services, scientific Administration to the Con- The workshop was attended Interior, Qatar Media Corpo- tition, physical exercises, vol- become the capital of sport in services as well as marine, avi- ference Preparatory Meeting by representatives of a number ration, Ooredoo, Vodafone leyball, basketball and the region. ation and amateur services. The (CPM), along with the contribu- of government and private Qatar, and Qatar Satellite workshop also, discussed the tions submitted to the Arab entities including the Qatar Company (Es’hailSat).

Zakat Fund studied 6,861 requests for assistance

THE PENINSULA DOHA

Zakat Fund of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs studied 6,861 requests seeking assistance last year, of which 4,539 cases were in the men’s section and 2,322 cases in the women’s section. The files reviewed by the Social Research Division of the sections of men and women The participants at the Public Prosecution NSD activities. included 1,496 new cases for assistance, of which 927 were in the men’s section and 569 were in the women’s section, while the rest were for previous aid files. The researchers conducted 2,622 cases to Qatar Charity completes QR31m renew the ended assistance, of which 1,617 through the men’s section and 1,005 through the women’s fishing support project in Gaza section and study 1,958 requests for assistance, including 1,211 through the men’s section and 747 THE PENINSULA project was very important for the requests by women. DOHA fishing sector, as it was suitable The number of families applying for assistance, for relief and development inter- all of which was done through the men’s sections, Qatar Charity’s (QC) office in the ventions emphasizing the con- except one request that was through the women’s Gaza Strip celebrated the tinued commitment of Qatar section. completion of the Emergency Charity towards supporting the The research of social and field assistance Support Project for the Fisheries Palestinian people and meeting requests conducted by the Fund’s management Sector. their humanitarian and develop- is aimed at ascertaining the eligibility of appli- This project comes within the mental needs. cants for assistance and to ensure the delivery of framework of the Programme for He noted that the fishing the Zakat to its beneficiaries. the Promotion and Protection of project was one of the significant Food Security in Palestine, in projects implemented by Qatar cooperation with the Palestinian Charity during the past ten years, Ministry of Agriculture, at a cost in addition to several other pro- of more than QR31m, with grammes and projects carried out funding from the Qatar’s Ministry in several fields, including social of Foreign Affairs. welfare and orphans’ sponsor- Speaking at the ceremony ships, housing for the poor, edu- attended by government officials, cation, health, agriculture, relief, Mohamed Abu Haloub, director emergency and others. of Qatar Charity’s office in the The project, which benefited Gaza Strip, expressed his pleasure more than 5,000 fishermen, over the completion of the project, managed to build four fish hatch- which has been under implemen- eries with a capacity of 130 cubic tation for about eight years. meters, with the aim of fattening Abu Haloub said that the fishes for hatching. THURSDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2019 HOME 05 Ooredoo’s NSD activities at MIA Park a resounding success

THE PENINSULA One of Ooredoo’s corporate social responsibility DOHA National Sport Day strategy, and we are delighted we highlights was the could contribute to such a popular, Qatar National Sport Day 2019, worthwhile event. We hope eve- held on Tuesday at MIA Park, was football match that ryone found an activity they a huge success according to organ- took place between enjoyed, so Qatar stays fit and isers Ooredoo. the stars of Qatari active!.” One of Ooredoo’s National Ooredoo offered 200 MB free Sport Day highlights was the clubs, with the data for every 2,000 steps taken, football match that took place participation of the with the maximum free data on between the stars of Qatari clubs, Asian Cup champion offer 1 MB for walking 10,000 with the participation of the Asian Hassan Al Haydos, and steps. It also offered 500 MB free Cup champion Hassan Al Haydos, data for any customer scanning and the Ooredoo team. the Ooredoo team. the QR code hidden in MIA Park, Official data from the event making sure customers made their confirms some 31,000 participants way to the park to see what was registered to take part. A phe- on offer. In total, a whopping 7,658 nomenal over 75 million steps and basketball, as well as a variety GB of data was given away by the were taken throughout the day, of wacky, fun activities such as a telco leader, to enthusiastic cus- with plenty of those being taken three-legged race, human chess tomers taking strides around the while park visitors were enjoying and games of Ping Pong Waiter. Park and joining in the various some of the many activities on Sheikh Abdulla bin activities. offer. The Park was divided up into Mohammed bin Saud Al Thani, As part of the Qatar National six zones so participants could Chairman of Ooredoo, said : “We Sport Day celebrations, Ooredoo easily find activities to suit them are immensely proud to say the also held a contest to find out 2019 and their families. Little ones had 2019 Qatar National Sport Day goals; customers were asked to hours of fun on a range of giant was such a resounding success, video or photograph themselves inflatables in the kids zone, while and we were incredibly pleased explaining their goals for 2019, and Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Thani, Chairman of Ooredoo, participating in National a whole host of sports and games so many Qatari citizens and resi- two lucky winners – Bader Abu Sport Day activities. were on offer for the bigger ones dents came to MIA Park to enjoy Yasine and Tamara Anwar – were in the other zones. it with us. I had the pleasure of selected to win a whopping There were several traditional joining in with the day’s activities those just learning to walk to disciplines and generally having events that promote fitness and 500,000 Nojoom points to spend sports such as boxing, Zumba, and it was exceptionally rewarding senior generations – trying out fun being active. activity as part of a healthy life- with one or more of the awesome taekwondo, aerobics, volleyball to see so many participants – from new sports, enjoying favourite “Supporting community style is a key part of Ooredoo’s Nojoom network of partners. CLPP hosts Minister-President of Paraguay’s Supreme Court of Justice

THE PENINSULA at the Supreme Court of bilateral relations and engage in DOHA Paraguay. collaborative commitments. The In a lecture for faculty, stu- College of Law and Public Policy The College of Law and Public dents, and invited guests, Pres- regularly invites leading local Policy (CLPP) at Hamad Bin ident Kirmser discussed the role and international experts to Khalifa University (HBKU) of the Supreme Court of Par- share their expertise and per- recently hosted Dr José Raúl aguay and its jurisdiction. spectives on topics of interest Torres Kirmser, Minister-Pres- He responded to questions and global relevance. ident of the Supreme Court of concerning judicial inde- The college offers a graduate Justice of the Republic of pendence and the rights of indig- Juris Doctor (JD) degree, which Paraguay. enous peoples. equips students with the skills to President Kirmser also holds President Kirmser’s visit to identify and address complex the positions of President of the Qatar followed the agreement problems using civil law, Judicial Supreme Council and signed last October between common law and Sharia President of the Civil Chamber Qatar and Paraguay to expand principles. The dignitaries at the meeting, yesterday.

The Pediatric Neurology Department staff at Sidra Medicine. Sidra Medicine expands epilepsy services for children

THE PENINSULA Epilepsy clinic, Ketogenic Diet functions including his per- DOHA clinic and Spasticity clinic. The formance at school. He was clinics explore all possible admitted to the Sidra Medicine Sidra Medicine has launched new treatment options, beginning with EMU where his episodes where pediatric neurology sub-specialty conservative, non-invasive monitored and recorded. This services, installed state-of-the-art methods before considering neu- observation helped identify that technologies and embarked on a rosurgical procedures. Mohammed was in fact suffering clinical research study to under- Dr Khaled Zamel, Division from epileptic seizures. He was stand and advance the care and Chief of Pediatric Neurology said, immediately prescribed anti-epi- treatment of children with “The world-class neurology staff leptic medications and has made epilepsy. and state-of-the-art technology a full recovery of his symptoms. The Division of Pediatric Neu- assembled at Sidra Medicine has Abdulrahman, a 9-year-old rology at Sidra Medicine has set allowed us to care for patients in boy, had a history of frequent up a Neurodiagnostic laboratory a more integrated manner. We unexplained episodes especially that offers outpatient electroen- have had many children whose when he was sleeping. Electrodes cephalography (EEG) and ambu- lives have been transformed were placed on his head and an latory home EEG services to because of our application of ambulatory EEG device was measure brain activity and patient and family focused neu- attached which allowed his brain evaluate children with suspected rology care initiatives. For activity to be recorded for three or confirmed epilepsy. A dedicated example, thanks to the ambulatory consecutive days while he was at inpatient pediatric Epilepsy Mon- EEG service, several of our young home. This evaluation confirmed itoring Unit (EMU) has also been patients can be monitored at home that the episodes he was having installed. The EMU, a one-of-a- while being assured the same level were indeed seizures. He was pre- kind in the region and a first for of treatment and care without the scribed a new medication which Qatar, offers 24/7 simultaneous need to be in the hospital.” has helped control his condition. video EEG monitoring and has There have been a number of In addition to the clinical already helped in accurately diag- patient success cases at Sidra services, the Division of Pediatric nosing dozens of children. Medicine since the launch of the Neurology is currently under- The Neurology Division has EMU and EEG services including taking research that will further also launched new sub-specialty Mohammed a 11-year-old boy understanding of the landscape pediatric clinics including the who used to display recurrent epi- of childhood epilepsy in Qatar and Tuberous Sclerosis clinic, sodes of unexplained abnormal enable a personalized approach Headache clinic, Complex behavior that affected his social to treatment of the chronic illness. 06 HOME THURSDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2019 NU-Q students explore legacies at annual Creative Media Festival

THE PENINSULA what promises are being made their ideas about personal family DOHA to future generations. legacies and cultural traditions One team of students used that they carry with them. Working with the theme ‘Legacy photographs and live per- “The festival, now in its and Promise,’ students at North- formance for their project “The second year at NU-Q connects western University in Qatar Good, The Bad, and The Evil” to distinguished professionals as (NU-Q) spent 48-hours demonstrate how sometimes empowering mentors, and a producing multimedia projects only the bad things happening challenge to respond with imme- with film and photography as in the world get portrayed in diacy as the students create well as creative writing and live media while goodness is over- extraordinary projects over a performance at the University’s shadowed or simply does not mere 48-hours,” said Everette annual Creative Media Festival. receive deserved recognition. E. Dennis, dean and CEO of The theme inspired students The hope is to break that cycle NU-Q. “It shows that when we to explore how legacies are of coverage in the future and rise equip our students with the formed and what promises leg- above evil. knowledge, tools, experience, acies hold for the future. Moving Another group addressed and proper platform, they rise forward to increasingly critical climate change and the impor- to the occasion and work hard moments on the global scale tance of keeping the planet clean together to demonstrate their such as mass migration, climate as their promise for the future potential as effective communi- The students of Pakistan International School Qatar with the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of change, and political populism, through visual designs. Others cators and deliver powerful mes- Pakistan to the State of Qatar, Syed Ahsan Raza Shah, during the National Sport Day event organised students were urged to consider used film and dance to convey sages as a result,” said Dennis. by Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation. Festival of Cultures Exhibition on February 16 PISQ students delight Pakistan’s Ambassador

THE PENINSULA all to come together and expe- handmade items and others will at Sport Day event with stunning performance DOHA rience a wonderland of unique represent their countries with cultures. It will be a fun-filled vast variety of attractive com- THE PENINSULA International School (PIS) Qatar resolve to promote-cultural Marriott, one of the finest 5 star day for all communities to come modities for everyone. DOHA demonstrated various traditional sports and multi-cultural inte- hotels in Qatar, will be hosting and enjoy with their loved ones. The event will exhibit arts, sport of Pakistan. The Ambas- gration amongst various com- one-of-a-kind of exhibition The main purpose of this event exquisite handicraft, exotic jew- The Ambassador of the Islamic sador was extremely delighted munities through better under- where vendors of different is to promote peace, togeth- ellery, shoes, blue clay pottery, Republic of Pakistan to the State to see the enthusiasm of the par- standing and knowledge of their cultures and backgrounds will erness and spread love and home decor, accessories clothing of Qatar, Syed Ahsan Raza Shah, ticipants and thanked Qatar gov- cultural and tradition. The come together to display and appreciation of different cultures and much more. The event will attended the National Sport Day ernment for attributing the day Ambassador thanked higher showcase their products to illus- from around the globe. take place in a sophisticated lush event organised by Qatar Tennis, towards the importance of sport. organising committee of Qatar trate the diversity in Doha. Under the theme ‘Explore, setting of Marriott Hotel - Al Squash and Badminton Feder- He was of the view that Tennis Federation for organising ‘Festival of Cultures Exhi- Experience, Enjoy’, local vendors Fayrouz Ballroom on February ation. Sports Day was a clear manifes- a wonderful National Sport Day bition and Bazaar’ has welcomed will represent their talent of 16 from 11am to 7pm. The students of Pakistan tation of the State of Qatar’s event. Eugenio Caballero, Alice Rohrwacher join 2019 Qumra Masters line-up

THE PENINSULA Caballero and Rohrwacher join French New Wave them for their unique creative DOHA cinema legend Agnès Varda, prolific Japanese voice and cinematic expertise. director and writer Kiyoshi Kurosawa and Polish All visionaries in film, the Qumra The Academy Award winning auteur Pawel Pawlikowski for the 2019 edition Masters will make incredible Mexican production designer, contributions to benefit emerging Eugenio Caballero and the of DFI’s dedicated industry incubation and talent filmmakers.” acclaimed Italian writer and development event that focuses on first- and Hanaa Issa, Deputy Director director, Alice Rohrwacher, have second-time filmmakers. of Qumra, said: “We are excited been confirmed as additional to share the experiences of these Masters in the fifth edition of the amazing artists with young film- Doha Film Institute’s (DFI) join French New Wave cinema Qumra 2019 will provide 36 makers from the region and Qumra, to be held on March 15 legend Agnès Varda, prolific Jap- projects from 19 countries access beyond. Their personal perspec- Italian writer and director, Alice to 20. anese director and writer Kiyoshi to Masterclasses and networking tives on filmmaking will provide Rohrwacher (left) and Academy Caballero is celebrated for Kurosawa and Polish auteur opportunities for first and meaningful and lasting benefit his work on diverse projects Award winning Mexican production Pawel Pawlikowski for the 2019 second-time filmmakers, driving to all participants and open up a including Guillermo del Toro’s designer, Eugenio Caballero. edition of DFI’s dedicated Qumra’s mission to expand new depth of understanding and Pan’s Labyrinth for which he industry incubation and talent support for the development of possibilities in their earned an Academy Award while Cuarón. Among other directors winner of the Grand Jury Prize development event that focuses emerging filmmakers from discussions.” Rohrwacher was winner of the he has worked with are Jim Jar- at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. on first- and second-time Qatar, the Arab region and Over six days, the Qumra Grand Jury prize at the 2014 musch (The Limit of Control), Baz Born in 1981 in Fiesole, she has filmmakers. around the world. delegates will take part in Cannes Film Festival. Lurhman (Romeo and Juliet), worked in music and docu- The Qumra Masters will Fatma Hassan Al Remaihi, bespoke industry sessions Born in Mexico City, Sebastian Cordero (Cronicas, mentary projects as well as an share their insights with Chief Executive Officer of DFI, designed to progress their Caballero, credits include nearly Rabia and Europa Report) and editor and composer for theatre. emerging filmmakers, provide said: “We are proud to welcome projects and prepare them for 30 films, 20 of them as a Floria Sigismondi (The Her first feature Corpo Celeste feedback on projects in consul- Eugenio Caballero and Alice international markets, in designer. He is nominated at this Runaways). made its world premiere in the tation sessions, and discuss their Rohrwacher to the Qumra addition to the Masterclasses and year’s Academy Awards for the Rohrwacher directed Le Directors Fortnight in Cannes own inspiring creative journeys line-up. They have distinctive mentoring sessions by the Qumra film Roma directed by Alfonso Meraviglie (The Wonders), 2011. Caballero and Rohrwacher in daily Masterclasses. bodies of work that distinguish Masters. Oryx GTL marks NSD with several events

THE PENINSULA company and a number of area for children with several DOHA employees and their families. attractions like bouncy castles The executive management and in addition to some competitions As part of its Corporate Social a number of employees had a like Tug of war, Musical chairs, Responsibility (CSR) programme tour in the early morning around and Balloons Competition. and its commitment to Al Kharaitiyat Club on the CSR team was part of this contribute to the promotion of bicycles, accompanied by a pro- year’s sports day activities by a healthy lifestyle among its fessional team from Doha allocating a place for children’s employees and members of Cycling. After the warm up, par- cycling in cooperation with Doha society, Oryx GTL celebrated the ticipants moved to the different Cycling. Sasol also joined in the National Sport Day through areas to enjoy their favourite event and offered fun and inter- establishment of several sporting sport. Many popular sports like active game for children to play events in cooperation with Al football tournament, Cricket and during Sport Day. Medical and Kharaitiyat Football Club. table tennis were among the security support services were The event was attended by activities available. on stand-by, to ensure the safety executive management of the There was also a special and security of all participants.

Various activities at Hyatt Plaza Mall as part of NSD celebrations. Hyatt Plaza Mall to extend NSD celebrations

THE PENINSULA continue until February 16 to Baseball, Mini Golf, Kinetic Gym DOHA ensure that all families and kids Video Game, Soft Archery, Mini get the chance to experience Bowling, Tennis, Football Drill Hyatt Plaza Mall offered a wide this activity and try all the sports (star-kick), Billiards, Small Bil- range of sport activities and games and challenges. liards, Stationary Bike, Mini Sta- competitions in partnership This event offers the perfect tionary Bike, Football Goal, etc. with Kiddy Zone and Jungle blend of sports and family fun National Sport Day activity Zone during the National Sport atmosphere that bring all com- is a part of Hyatt Plaza’s efforts Day (NSD) dedicated to munity members of all ages to promote physical activity emphasise the importance of together to create unforgettable through exercises and making healthy living. experiences. the right behavioural choices to This year Hyatt Plaza Mall Moreover, it includes dif- achieve Qatar’s national vision will extend their celebrations ferent kind of sports activities and human focus towards The employees of Oryx GTL during a tour around Al Kharaitiyat Club on bicycles as part of the National for 5 days of sports activities such as: Track Race, Table building a healthy and pros- Sport Day celebrations. and healthy lifestyle which will Tennis, Foosball, Mini Indoor perous society. THURSDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2019 HOME 07 08 HOME THURSDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2019 AL ASMAKH LISTINGS CALL CENTER: 4448 5111 / 4041 0757 We also offer our RICS regulated International valuation service VALUATIONS & RESEARCH [email protected]

Email: info@alasmakhrealestate/com Website: www.alasmakhrealestate.com

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RZ%' JK !K +JK!K+ THURSDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2019 MIDDLE EAST 09 Suicide bomber kills 27 members of Iran’s elite guards

AGENCIES A car bomber struck a bus carrying members TEHRAN of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, killing as many as 27 people in one of the deadliest ever A car bomber struck a bus carrying members of Iran’s assaults on the elite corps just two days after Revolutionary Guard, killing as celebrations marked the 40th anniversary of many as 27 people in one of the the Islamic revolution. deadliest ever assaults on the elite corps just two days after celebrations marked the 40th border guards who were headed engaged in a proxy confrontation anniversary of the Islamic revo- home. with Saudi Arabia and Israel lution. In September last year, across regional conflicts from The bus was travelling on a Islamic State militants and an Syria, where it backs President highway near the town of Chanali Arab group claimed responsi- Bashar Al Assad, to Yemen. in Iran’s southeastern Sistan-Bal- bility for a deadly assault on a In comments yesterday, uchistan province, the state-run military parade, in the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Fars news agency reported, citing oil-rich southwest, that killed Khamenei, who controls the officials it didn’t name. Ten others and wounded dozens of people, Guards, issued his latest denun- on board were wounded, the including members of the ciation of the US Problems agency said. Guards. between the two countries There was no immediate The Trump administration weren’t “solvable” and negotia- A bus that was reportedly blown up by a suicide attack in southeastern Iran, yesterday. claim of responsibility. In a has centered its Mideast policy tions with American officials statement published by the on countering Iran, supported by wouldn’t “lead anywhere apart Tasnim news agency, the Guards American allies in the region. from financial and moral organised assaults that directly and regions with minority pop- undermine Iran’s economy and accused “agents of intelligence Washington exited the 2015 mul- damage,” he said. target the Islamic Republic’s ulations who already suffer from curb its military influence in the services tied” to the US of car- tiparty nuclear accord last year While violence and bomb security services are still rare. low employment and harsher Middle East. European nations rying out the attack to mar anni- and re-imposed crippling sanc- attacks are not uncommon on Iranian authorities have living conditions. that remain committed to a 2015 versary celebrations this week. tions against the country. It has both Iran’s western and eastern blamed the US and its regional The attack also came as the deal with Iran aren’t sending top A “car loaded with explo- vowed to punish the country for frontiers — bordering unstable ally, Saudi Arabia, for attempting US convened a meeting in level officials. Neither Russia nor sives” targeted the bus, it said, its missile program and regional countries Iraq, Afghanistan and to fuel dissent inside the country, Warsaw, Poland, in part to China is attending the two-day adding that those killed were policies. The Islamic Republic is Pakistan — audacious and in particular in border provinces discuss American efforts to event. UN court has jurisdiction to Al-Quds TV faces hear part of Iran-US dispute risk of shutdown ANATOLIA/ GAZA CITY AP regulating commerce between THE HAGUE the two countries was among Lebanon-based Palestinian numerous ones signed in the television channel Al Quds TV The International Court of wake of World War II as the will go off the air by the end of Justice ruled yesterday that it has Truman and Eisenhower admin- February if it does not receive jurisdiction to hear part of a case istrations tried to assemble a desperately needed funding, its brought by Iran against the coalition of nations to counter director in Gaza said. United States that seeks to claw the Soviet Union. “If the necessary funds back around $2bn worth of It includes a clause that aren’t provided by the end of frozen Iranian assets. sends unresolved disputes about this month, it is inevitable that The US Supreme Court interpretation of the treaty to the the channel will shut down,” awarded the money to victims world court. Imad Ifranji said. of a 1983 bombing in Lebanon The attack at the heart of The channel has been and other attacks linked to the case was a suicide truck experiencing a financial crisis Iran. bombing of a US marine bar- for the last three years which it At hearings last year, the racks in Beirut in October 1983 has failed to overcome despite United States raised five that killed 241 military per- tightly managing its expenses objections to the court’s juris- sonnel and wounded many and cutting staff, Ifranji said. diction and the admissibility more. He said the channel’s Gaza of the case, which Iran filed A US court ruled that the office has been unable to cover Palestinians carry the body of Hassan Nabil Nofal, 17, who was hit in the head by an Israeli tear gas bomb in 2016. attack was carried out by an its operational costs for the past last Friday in the Bureij refugee camp and died yesterday, during his funeral in Gaza City, yesterday. The ruling came amid high Iranian agent supported by the four months and around 50 tensions between Washington Hezbollah militant group. employees have not received and Tehran after President The court, in an 11-4 their salaries for nearly a year. Donald Trump pulled America majority ruling, upheld a US Al Quds TV had 350 per- Hamas vows resistance out of the nuclear deal last objection to its jurisdiction based sonnel when it was founded in year. on state immunity claimed by 2008 but now has only 150, he The United Nations’ highest Iran, however they unanimously said. He noted that the channel in face of Israeli crimes court upheld one US objection rejected Washington’s assertion is around $6 million in debt. to its jurisdiction, but it rejected that measures freezing Iranian “If no savior comes and the ANATOLIA recently killed by Israeli troops zone in March of last year, more another and said the third assets fell outside the scope of Palestinian authorities take GAZA CITY near the buffer zone “had not than 250 protesters have been objection should be discussed at the treaty. action, we will lose a significant been shed in vain”. killed — and thousands more a later stage in the case. The judges unanimously media outlet that conveys the A leader of Palestinian resistance Last Friday, two Palestinian injured — by Israeli army The judges also rejected two rejected US claims that the case message of the Palestinian movement Hamas held Israel teens were killed — and 17 others gunfire. Demonstrators demand US objections to the admissi- was an abuse of process and people and undertakes the duty responsible for killing unarmed injured—by Israeli troops the right of Palestinian refugees bility of the case. that it should be thrown out of fighting against occupation Palestinian protesters — deployed near the fraught buffer to return to their homes in his- The case will now proceed because of Tehran’s alleged forces through the media,” including minors — along the zone. Gaza’s Health Ministry torical Palestine from which they to the merits phase and is sponsorship of terrorism and Ifranji added. Gaza-Israel buffer zone. later identified the pair as were driven in 1948 to make way expected to take months or involvement in nuclear “The Israeli occupation is Hassan Shalabi, 14, and Hamza for the new state of Israel. years to complete. proliferation. Israel refuses to fully responsible for these crimes Ashtiwi, 18. They also demand an end to Tehran filed the case in 2016 Iranian representative against humanity, which include “We will continue to wage Israel’s 12-year blockade of the based on the 1955 Treaty of Mohsen Mohebi called the let UN council visit the targeting of innocent and our resistance until the long- Gaza Strip, which has gutted the Amity between Iran and the US, decision a success, but added he unarmed children,” Ismail standing goals of our people are coastal enclave’s economy and a bilateral agreement that had expected the court to reject Palestinian areas Radwan told reporters. met,” said Radwan. deprived its roughly two million Washington withdrew from last all of the American objections. He went on to assert that the Since Palestinians began inhabitants of many basic year. American lawyers left the court AP/UNITED NATIONS blood of two Palestinian children holding rallies along the buffer commodities. The little-known treaty without commenting. UN diplomats say Israel has refused to let the UN Security Council visit territory that the Absent Iran takes center stage at Mideast conference in Poland Palestinians claim for a future independent state. Last week, the council AP foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini Pence will address the conference on Netanyahu made clear the conference is authorized its current pres- WARSAW is staying away. a range of Middle East issues, Pompeo will centered on Iran. ident, Equitorial Guinea’s U.N. Russia and China aren’t participating, talk about US plans in Syria following “It is a conference that unites the Ambassador Anatolio Ndong Although it is absent from the stage, Iran and the Palestinians, who have called for President Donald Trump’s decision to United States, Israel, many countries in Mba, to consult the Israeli and is nevertheless taking the spotlight at a the meeting to be boycotted, also will be withdraw US troops and Trump’s senior the world, many countries in the region, Palestinian ambassadors about Middle East security conference co-hosted absent. Iran, which is this week cele- adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner and Arab countries, against Iran’s aggressive a trip. Palestinian Ambassador by the United States and Poland that has brating the 40th anniversary of its Islamic his peace partner, Jason Greenblatt, will policy, its aggression, its desire to conquer Riyad Mansour responded that highlighted deep divisions between the Revolution, denounced the meeting as a speak about their as-yet unveiled Israeli- the Middle East and destroy Israel,” he a council visit would be viewed US and some of its traditional allies. “circus” aimed at “demonising” it. Palestinian peace plan. told reporters. “in the most positive way.” Amid uncertainty over its aims and In a bid to encourage better partici- Greenblatt, whose portfolio extends Pompeo has predicted that the con- But Kuwait’s UN Ambas- questions about what it will deliver, the pation, Pompeo and others sought to only the Israeli-Palestinian peace effort, ference will “deliver really good out- sador Mansour Al Otaibi says conference opens late Wednesday in broaden what was initially advertised as said Iran is the top priority and derided comes” and has played down the impact Ndong Mba reported to the Warsaw with some 60 nations in an Iran-centric meeting to include the the Palestinians for their boycott and of lower-level participation. “We think council Wednesday that “Israel attendance. Yet, in an apparent test of US Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the fight insistence that their case is the region’s we will make real progress,” Pompeo said. categorically refused the influence and suspicions in Europe and against the Islamic State group, and the most important issue. He didn’t, however, offer any details about council visit,” though Ambas- elsewhere over the Trump administra- conflicts in Syria and Yemen. That effort In a series of tweets yesterday, Green- specific outcomes. sador Danny Danon said the tion’s intentions in Iran, many countries produced only mixed results, particularly blatt said the Palestinian position Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Cza- government would welcome aren’t sending their top diplomats and will with longtime European allies who are “impedes nations from countering the putowicz, the conference co-host, also visits to Israel by individual be represented at levels lower than their trying to save the 2015 Iran nuclear deal common enemy of Iran.” steered clear of describing potential ambassadors. invited foreign ministers. after last year’s US withdrawal. “Iran is the primary threat to the results. And, even he could not paper over A council visit requires Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin And, while the agenda gives no hint future of regional peace/security,” he said. the differences between the US and support from all 15 council Netanyahu and US Vice-President Mike of any concrete actions that might result “That’s what Palestinian leaders don’t Europe, including Poland, over the Iran members and approval by the Pence are attending along with Secretary beyond creating “follow-on working grasp; as a consequence of being detached nuclear deal. “We consider this to be a countries concerned. of State Mike Pompeo and his counter- groups” on a variety of common concerns from new realities, we see Palestinians valuable element on the international Al-Otaibi said he wants to parts from numerous Arab nations. But like terrorism and cybersecurity, com- increasingly left behind/more isolated arena,” Czaputowicz told a joint news con- continue consultations so France and Germany are not sending Cab- ments from several participants belied than ever.” ference with Pompeo on the eve of the “hopefully we reach a inet-ranked officials, and European Union the underlying theme: countering Iran. And, on his way to Warsaw, conference. consensus.” 10 VIEWS THURSDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2019 Qatari embassies celebrate NSD

ESTABLISHED IN 1996 QNA

CHAIRMAN he diplomatic, consular and rep- SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI resentative missions of the State of Qatar abroad organized various sporting events on the EDITOR-IN-CHIEF T occasion of Qatar Sport Day, amid great DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI participation and interest. [email protected] In London, the Embassy of the State of Qatar in UK organized sports activ- ities on the occasion of the National ACTING MANAGING EDITOR Sport Day with the participation of MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED Ambassador of the State of Qatar in the [email protected] United Kingdom Yousef bin Ali Al Khater, and the diplomatic and embassy staff, in addition to a large number of DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR local school students. The program The Qatar embassy in the US celebrating Qatar National Sport Day. MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI included activities in athletics at an ath- [email protected] letics venue in the British capital to promote the IAAF World Champion- the diplomatic and embassy staff. activities on the occasion of the ships to be held in Doha in September. In Kiev, the Embassy of the State of National Sport Day with the partici- In Paris, the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Ukraine organized sports activ- pation of Consul General of the State of Qatar in the French Republic organized ities on the occasion of the National Qatar in Milan Fahd bin Ibrahim Al sports activities on the occasion of the Sport Day with the participation of Mushiri, in addition to the diplomatic National Sports Day with the partici- Ambassador of the State of Qatar to and consular staff. EDITORIAL pation of Ambassador of the State of Ukraine Hadi bin Nasser Al Hajri and the In Sarajevo, the Embassy of the Qatar to the French Republic Sheikh Ali diplomatic and administrative staff of State of Qatar to Bosnia and Herze- bin Jassim Al-Thani, and the diplomatic the Embassy. The program included govina organized sporting events on and embassy staff. various sports activities, including a the occasion of the National Sport Day Qatar-France partnership The Ambassador stressed the friendly football match between with the participation of Sultan bin Ali importance of Qatar’s role in sport, Ukrainian orphans. Al Khater, Ambassador of the State of eputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs pointing out that the country prepara- In Budapest, the Embassy of the Qatar to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani tions are continuing to host the World State of Qatar in Hungary organized diplomatic team and embassy staff. Drecently announced the signing of a declaration of Cup 2022, which will be a global event sports activities in one of the capital’s In Geneva, the Permanent Dele- intent to establish a strategic dialogue between the State of for peace. In Kuwait, the Embassy of the clubs on the occasion of the National gation of the State of Qatar to the Qatar and French Republic. The announcement was made State of Qatar in Kuwait organized events Sport Day with the participation of United Nations Office at Geneva after a meeting between H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdul- to celebrate the State’s Sports Day. The Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of the organized sporting events on the rahman Al Thani and the Minister of Europe and Foreign event was attended by Qatar’s Ambas- State of Qatar to Hungary Hassan bin occasion of the National Sport Day with Affairs of the French Republic Jean-Yves Le Drian, who was sador to Kuwait Bandar bin Mohammed Nasser Al Khalifa, and the diplomatic the participation of Ambassador Ali on a visit to Qatar. During the meeting Qatar and France Al Attiyah, Military Attache of the State of and embassy staff. The program Khalfan Al Mansouri, Permanent Rep- discussed issues of wide-ranging interests to both the coun- Qatar in Kuwait Major General Ibrahim included various sporting activities. resentative of the State of Qatar to the tries and issues of international importance and they bin Saad Al Kubaisi, Director General of In Dhaka, the Embassy of the United Nations Office at Geneva. The exchanged views on regional issues, especially the Gulf crisis the Kuwait Public Authority for Youth State of Qatar organized sports activ- program included various sporting and the Palestinian issue. Abdulrahman Badah Al Mutairi, and CEO ities on the occasion of the National activities. In the recent past, Qatar has been making its presence of Ooredoo Kuwait Sheikh Mohammed Sport Day with the participation of In Berlin, the Embassy of the State felt in the international arena through visits by Amir H H Bin Abdullah Al Thani, in addition to Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the of Qatar to Germany organized a sports Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to the United States, members of the diplomatic mission and Republic of Bangladesh Ahmed bin event on the occasion of the National Europe, Latin America, Asian countries etc. H E the Deputy its staff, a Mohammed Al Dhaimi, the diplomatic Sport Day with the participation of Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs has been number of and embassy staff. Ambassador of the State of Qatar to relentlessly touring countries across the world to enhance Qatari In Cairo, the Permanent Delegation Germany Sheikh Saud bin Abdul- Qatar’s relations with those countries and to find solutions nationals and of the State of Qatar to the Arab League rahman Al Thani, the diplomatic and to problems the world is facing in general. There has been representatives held sports activities on the occasion of embassy staff, as well as a number of a flurry of visits by heads of of Qatari insti- the National Sport Day in the presence Arab ambassadors and diplomats, states and top diplomats of dif- Ambassador of tutions in of the members of the mission and the Qataris. The program included various ferent countries to Qatar as well the State of Qatar Kuwait. In staff members of the delegation. sporting events at the Aspria Club in and the visit by the French Min- to the French Ankara, the The Deputy Permanent Repre- Berlin. ister is the latest among them. Republic Sheikh Embassy of the sentative to the Arab League Ambas- In Ottawa, the Embassy of the State The signing of the decla- State of Qatar sador Hassan Al Mutawa said that the of Qatar to Canada organized a sports The signing of ration of intent marks a quali- Ali bin Jassim to the Republic National Sport Day is an important event on the occasion of the National the declaration tative leap of the strategic part- Al-Thani stressed of Turkey annual event for all Qataris, making Sport Day with the participation of of intent marks a nership between Doha and Paris the importance organized a sport one of the most important pillars Ambassador of the State of Qatar to qualitative leap and it reaffirms the common, of Qatar’s role in sports event on of the National Vision 2030. Canada Saud Bin Abdullah Al solid and constructive aspects the occasion of In Beirut, the Embassy of the State Mahmoud, the diplomatic and embassy of the strategic of the bilateral relations. The sport, pointing out the National of Qatar to the Republic of Lebanon staff. The program included various partnership agreement covers several areas that the country Sport Day. The organized sports activities on the sporting events. between Doha such as defence, security, health, preparations are event was occasion of the National Sport Day with In Khartoum, the Embassy of the State of Qatar to The Sudan organized and Paris and education, culture, sports, attended by the participation of Ambassador of the economy, investment, com- continuing to host Ambassador of State of Qatar to the Republic of sports events on the occasion of the it reaffirms the bating terrorism and follow up the World Cup the State of Lebanon Mohammed Hassan Jaber Al National Sport Day with the partici- common, solid of the developments of the rela- 2022, which will be Qatar to the Jaber. pation of Ambassador of the State of and constructive tionship between the two coun- a global event for Republic of In Asmara, the Embassy of the Qatar to Sudan Abdulrahman bin Ali Al tries and the implementation of Turkey Salem State of Qatar to the State of Eritrea Kubaisi, and the diplomatic and aspects of the the different mutual agreements, peace. bin Mubarak Al organized sports activities on the embassy staff along with representa- bilateral relations. H E the Deputy Prime Minister Shafi, dip- occasion of the National Sport Day with tives of institutions, companies and and Minister of Foreign Affairs lomats at the Embassy and a number of the participation of Ambassador of the national organizations operating in said during a joint press con- Turkish citizens. State of Qatar to Eritrea Jaber Ali Al Sudan and representatives of the media ference with the French Minister. Such dialogue strategy In Stockholm, the Embassy of the Athba, the diplomatic and embassy staff and the press. The program included will create the right background and atmosphere for coor- State of Qatar organized sports activities and a number of citizens. various sports activities with the partic- dination of action and building partnership and material- in the center of Stockholm on the In Munich, the Consulate General ipation of all. In Rome, the Embassy of ising the vision of both the countries. occasion of the National Sport Day with of the State of Qatar in Munich, the State of Qatar to the Italian Republic The French minister praised the strong ties between his the participation of Ambassador of the Germany, organized sport activities on organized sporting events on the country and Qatar, which covers several areas of cooper- State of Qatar to the Kingdom of Sweden the occasion of the National Sport Day occasion of the National Sport Day. ation such as defence, security and culture. The visiting min- Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al Thani, and with the participation of Consul Ambassador of the State of Qatar to ister said that the dialogue will cover a wide scope of areas the diplomatic and embassy staff. General of the State of Qatar in Munich Italy, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Al Malki, and will continue on a regular basis. He added that the it In Brussels, the Embassy of the Rashid bin Saeed Al Khayarin, the dip- Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman will help finding a political solution in Libya resulting in State of Qatar to the Kingdom of lomatic and consular staff and a to Italy Ahmed bin Salim Ba Omar, and security and stability in the region. The dialogue will also Belgium organized sports activities on number of Qatari nationals and Acting Charge d’Affaires Sami Al focus on ways to resolve the Syrian crisis, support sover- the occasion of the National Sport Day members of the Arab community Zamanan of the Embassy of the State of eignty and stability of countries beset with crisis such as with the participation of Ambassador of residing in Munich. Kuwait, in addition to the staff of the Lebanon and Iraq. It is also expected to bring comfort to the State of Qatar to Belgium Abdul- In Milan, the Consulate General of diplomatic embassy and the staff par- the struggling Palestinian regions, especially Gaza, which rahman bin Mohammed Al Khulaifi, and the State of Qatar organized sports ticipated in the events. requires a concerted effort from the international community. The French minister said that the increasing number of threats and crises in the Middle East and elsewhere shows the importance of security and defence cooperation between ‘Nothing is agreed’: 50 days remaining before Brexit Qatar and France. AHMET GURHAN KARTAL between the UK and the EU. The Commons for her Plan B strategy – or, ANATOLIA 499-kilometer (310 mi.) border in actuality, Plan A minus the between Northern Ireland and the backstop. May has promised “alter- QUOTE OF THE DAY his was probably an overused Republic of Ireland will become the native arrangements” that would quip among all the other Brexit only land border between the UK and replace the backstop, but the EU have jargon during the divorce the bloc as of March 29 – given that maintained the deal was done around We continue to regret negotiations, as both the UK the UK will not ask for an extension on the red lines set by the British gov- the withdrawal of T and the EU tried to hold their cards the exit date, as indicated by Prime ernment and will not be renegotiated. Great Britain, but close to the chest. But now, a mere 50 Minister Theresa May. As the British premier travels to it’s a reality and days until the Brexit deadline, set to A special clause in the withdrawal Brussels on Thursday to speak with EU transform the UK into a non-EU agreement reached by May and EU negotiators about her still-to-be- therefore now it’s country on March 29, nothing has been officials, namely the backstop, aimed revealed alternative arrangements, about providing as agreed on, despite a seemingly endless to provide a sense of insurance to the there seems to be little hope that the much security as parade of discussions, negotiations, and seamless border continuing after EU will make any concessions on what joint declarations. Should any other EU Brexit, but it faces objections from a they have already agreed. ‘Special possible. member state have taken up exit nego- majority of MPs and Northern Ire- place in hell’ May’s visit comes a day tiations, they would probably have land’s Democratic Unionist Party after the European Council President Angela Merkel been over by now, with a straight- (DUP), the partners of May’s Donald Tusk stepped into a hornet’s German Chancellor forward deal long since signed. government. nest by wondering aloud “what a However, a unique border issue May has 50 more days until the special place in hell looks like for has so far played a huge but negative Brexit date, but she desperately needs those who promoted Brexit” without a part in all stages of the divorce talks wider support in the House of proper plan. THURSDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2019 OPINION 11 Trump shields the Saudi crown prince

he end of last week was the either. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said Istanbul. final date for the Trump the White House’s refusal to submit a “Evidence collected during my administration to submit a report by the deadline “violates the mission to Turkey shows prime facie congressional report law.” He added that he was “urging” case that Mr. Khashoggi was the T victim of a brutal and premeditated answering whether the Saudi crown the White House to act, saying, “I The complexities of prince was responsible for the expect them to comply with the law.” killing, planned and perpetrated by murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi Senators reintroduced a bill requiring officials of the State of Saudi Arabia,” Trump’s anti-Iran ISHAAN THAROOR in October. The administration let the sanctions for those responsible for special rapporteur Agnes Callamard campaign will be on THE WASHINGTON POST deadline pass with little Khashoggi’s death and brought sep- said in a statement. display in Warsaw, when acknowledgment. arate new legislation that would Key allies of the crown prince The snub drew outrage. Under place tough standards on a mooted may ultimately escape serious pun- Pompeo will co-host a the terms of the Magnitsky Act - US nuclear deal with Riyadh.”America ishment, too. According to a new conference ostensibly human rights legislation lawmakers should never descend to this level of report in the Wall Street Journal, one on the Middle East but had triggered shortly after moral bankruptcy,” Sen. Tim Kaine, of the main ringleaders that Saudi Khashoggi’s killing - Trump had 120 D-Va., said in a statement. “Congress Arabia has named in the plot, Saud Al widely seen as an anti- days to respond to the request and will not relent in its efforts to hold Qahtani, has retained much of his Iran summit. While then possibly move to impose further Saudi Arabia accountable for this power. Though fired from his official punitive sanctions. Anger over the heinous crime.” position in the court and included in Israeli and prominent killing of the Saudi citizen, a con- At a news conference in the list of Saudi individuals subjected Gulf officials will be tributor to The Washington Post’s Budapest, Secretary of State Mike to sanctions by the United States, he in attendance, some Global Opinions page, forged an Pompeo rejected Kaine’s comments. remains an informal adviser to the unusual bipartisan consensus in “America is not covering up for a crown prince and was recently traditional European Congress. murder,” the US top diplomat said spotted on a trip to the United Arab allies will not be: The So far, the White House has dog- Monday, insisting that American offi- Emirates. foreign ministers of gedly refused to turn on its allies in cials were seeking “additional infor- “For MBS, Qahtani was the Riyadh. It didn’t matter that the CIA’s mation” from Saudi counterparts and backbone of his court, and France and Germany own assessment was that the oper- taking further action. The Trump [Mohammed] assured him that he chose to skip the ation to abduct the dissident writer administration already announced will be untouched and will return proceedings. on a visit to Turkey was probably sanctions on 17 people linked to the when the Khashoggi case blows ordered by Crown Prince killing, he noted, including prom- over,” a Saudi royal told the Journal, For MBS, Qahtani Mohammed bin Salman himself; a inent Saudi courtiers. using the crown prince’s initials. was the backbone senior administration official But as more evidence comes to “MBS had no intention whatsoever to of his court, and released a statement arguing that the light, it looks increasingly as though let go of Qahtani.” proceedings. The Saudis, Israelis [Mohammed] assured president “maintains his discretion to the White House is seeking to shield Saudi officials are still waging a and Emiratis - “like-minded” decline to act on congressional com- the man with the most power in propaganda war over the killing. In a partners insofar as they oppose him that he will be mittee requests.” Saudi Arabia: the crown prince. Sunday interview with CBS’s “Face Tehran - will be better untouched and will “The non-answer is a blatant This week, The New York Times the Nation,” Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi represented. return when the dodge that ignores the finding of the reported on a 2017 conversation foreign minister, described Speaking to the National, an Khashoggi case blows CIA and the abundant evidence between the crown prince and a key Khashoggi’s death as “tragedy” and a Abu Dhabi-based newspaper, a behind it,” The Washington Post’s aide in which he vowed to use “a “mistake” but added that the “crown European official at the United over,” a Saudi royal editorial board noted in response. “It bullet” to end Khashoggi’s criticism prince had nothing to do with this.” Nations described the Trump told the Journal, using makes a mockery of the Magnitsky of the Saudi regime. Not long before He then endured an awkward administration’s pre-Warsaw the crown prince’s law, as well as of US principles by that, a UN human rights expert said exchange with his interlocutor, CBS planning as “a series of chaotic covering for the crown prince to that Saudi Arabia had “seriously cur- anchor Margaret Brennan, who decisions being made at random.” initials. “MBS had no protect the cozy relations between tailed and undermined” Turkish pressed him on how it was possible For now, that fumbling may be the intention whatsoever him and President Trump, as well as attempts to properly investigate that Saudi authorities had no idea best thing protecting senior Saudis to let go of Qahtani.” Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.” Khashoggi’s disappearance after where Khashoggi’s body was. from real repercussions over Lawmakers weren’t happy, entering the Saudi Consulate in “I think this investigation is Khashoggi’s killing. ongoing, and I would expect that eventually we will find the truth,” Jubeir finally mustered. Trump has his own reasons for rallying behind the Saudi throne. His dodging of the congressional request was a sign of how White House offi- cials “are slow-rolling” the D-RING ROAD Khashoggi affair, former State POST BOX: 3488 Department spokesman John Kirby DOHA - QATAR said in an interview with CNN. The [email protected] Saudis are vital allies in Trump’s maximum-pressure campaign on Iran - and the White House is scared EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE of tarnishing them. “This whole TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 episode shows you the degree to FAX: +974 4455 7758 which this administration has gone all in on Saudi Arabia,” Kirby added. MANAGING EDITOR “It shows you the degree to which TEL: 4462 7505 their Middle East policy is about Iran, and they see Saudi Arabia as the DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR TEL: biggest counterweight against Iran.” 4455 7769 The complexities of Trump’s anti- Iran campaign will be on display in LOCAL NEWS SECTION TEL: Warsaw on Wednesday, when 4455 7743 Pompeo will co-host a conference ostensibly on the Middle East but BUSINESS NEWS SECTION TEL: widely seen as an anti-Iran summit. 4462 7535 While Israeli and prominent Gulf SPORT NEWS SECTION officials will be in attendance, some TEL: 4455 7745 traditional European allies will not Murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s fiancee Hatice Cengiz speaking during a press conference on a book be: The foreign ministers of France ONLINE SECTION entitled “Jamal Khashoggi: His Life, Struggles and Secrets”at Turkish Arab Media Association in Istanbul. and Germany chose to skip the TEL: 4462 7501 [email protected]

PUBLIC RELATIONS Turkey, a large Muslim state with a assimilate the Muslim Uighur popu- TEL: 4455 7613 lation into the majority Han Chinese, significant Uighur [email protected] partially by flooding Xinjiang population,denounced China’s prac- province with migrants from else- tices as “violating the fundamental The Uighurs’ ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT where. But the effort to crush the human rights” of the Uighur popu- TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 population has picked up speed lation in Xinjiang and called the con- FAX: 4455 7870 under President Xi Jinping, whose centration camps “a great shame for [email protected] desperate situation government set up an archipelago of humanity.” Other governments also bleak outposts for carrying out should speak out against this cultural CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT forced indoctrination, to eradicate genocide. TEL: 4455 7857 the Uighur language, traditions and Isa is among those Uighurs abroad [email protected] culture. At first, China denied these who also have paid a terrible price. THE WASHINGTON POST camps existed; then China admitted His communications with his family SUBSCRIPTION & that they exist but claimed they are were cut off 22 months ago, and his DISTRIBUTION he strange case of the Uighur for “re- education” and vocational mother died without a farewell. His TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 musician and poet Abdurehim training. As eyewitnesses have ver- two brothers disappeared into the FAX: 44557819 Heyit reveals a lot about ified, the real purpose is much black hole of detention; one of them is [email protected] China’s incarceration and darker, to coerce the detainees to a professor, among the 338 Uighur T intellectuals whose detention has attempt to brainwash1 million or give up their language and culture. more minority Muslim Uighurs in Xin- Experts have said more than 1 million been documented. (The true number jiang province. Heyit, a master of the Uighurs are now detained, out of a is undoubtedly higher.) Isa told us of All thoughts and views China has sought for two-stringed dutar, was reported by population of more than 11 million. worrisome reports that Uighur expressed in these columns years to assimilate Turkey to have died in one of the Dolkun Isa, president of the World detainees are now being moved out of are those of the writers, the Muslim Uighur camps China built for the Uighurs. Uighur Congress, told us there may Xinjiang to prisons elsewhere in Denying that he was dead, China be 2 million or more imprisoned, China, clouding their fate even not of the newspaper. population into released a video of Heyit saying he based on word leaking out to Uighur further. China must be held to account the majority Han was in “good health,” but the video families and those who have been for crimes against the Uighur popu- All correspondence Chinese, partially could not be verified as genuine, and released. lation. Worthy legislation is pending regarding Views and by flooding Xinjiang the uncertainty over his fate raises Other nations, fearful of Chinese in Congress to address this, and the anew the disturbing question of what bullying and eager to preserve eco- time has come for the rest of the Opinion pages should be province with is going on in the concentration nomic ties, have been slow to world to demand admission to the send to editor-in-chief migrants from camps that China has tried to hide condemn or even acknowledge this camps, in search of a lost Uighur office or mailed to the elsewhere. from the world. ongoing crime against humanity. But musician and more than 1 million China has sought for years to on Saturday, the government of others. [email protected] 12 MIDDLE EAST/AFRICA THURSDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2019 IS defends last Syria redoubt as family members flee

AFP The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces on DAMASCUS Saturday launched a final push to expel IS Islamic State (IS) militants made fighters from the sole remaining morsel of the a desperate last stand in eastern proto-state they declared in 2014 across parts Syria yesterday, while their wives of Syria and Iraq. and children fled the final, blood- soaked implosion of its bastion. The US-backed Syrian Dem- sat in small groups. After fleeing Britain-based war monitor. “The ocratic Forces on Saturday Baghouz on foot on Tuesday SDF are firing rockets,” he said, launched a final push to expel IS afternoon, most had spent the and both sides were locked in fighters from the sole remaining night out in the open. heavy clashes on the edges of morsel of the proto-state they “I tried to go get a blanket for Baghouz village. declared in 2014 across parts of my kids but there weren’t Since December, more than Syria and Iraq. enough,” said Umm Ayham, a 38,000 people, mostly wives and Thousands of people have young Syrian woman from the children of IS fighters, have fled flooded out of the so-called northern province of Raqa. into SDF-held areas, the Observ- “Baghouz pocket” near the Iraqi “Some people had lit a fire, atory says. That figure includes A military vehicle with the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is seen in the Baghouz area border in recent days — mostly burning plastic they found on the around 3,500 suspected jihadists in the eastern Syrian province of Deir Ezzor yesterday, during an operation to expel hundreds of women and children, but also ground and baby diapers, so I detained by the SDF, according suspected jihadists. went by it to get warm.” to the monitor. Islamic State group (IS) militants from the region. Several dozen people fled Hundreds of people fled the In SDF-held territory earlier Baghouz yesterday afternoon, IS holdout in the night of Wednesday, two dozen members of Deir Ezzor in September. from Syria, as announced by made an unannounced visit to walking to an SDF-held position Tuesday, SDF spokesman of the coalition forces searched Since then, more than 1,300 Trump in December. The pullout Baghdad. A senior Pentagon four kilometres (two miles) away Mustefa Bali said. men who had escaped. jihadists as well as 650 SDF announcement shocked Wash- official told reporters travelling from the village. Inside, the Kurdish-led SDF About five waited in line to fighters have been killed, while ington’s allies, as well as US mil- with Shanahan that Washington As they approached, the SDF fighters were advancing slowly be patted down, including one more than 400 civilians have itary commanders. was pressing its allies to repat- rushed down to filter out the against hundreds of jihadists. man in a rickety wheelchair. lost their lives, the Observatory In a report last week, the US riate their nationals. men. They separated 15, all with “We have retaken positions A coalition force member led says. SDF spokesman Bali said Department of Defence warned “We think coalition long beards, and took them one lost in a counterattack launched one of the younger men to a sub- at the weekend that up to 600 that without sustained counter- members need to take respon- by one behind a rock to search two days ago by IS. We have pro- sequent point for a retina scan. jihadists could remain inside the terrorism pressure, IS could sibility for their citizens who are them. Afterwards, they loaded gressed and taken new posi- Further on, those that had pocket, most of them foreigners. resurge within months. fighters. It’s been a message them into a truck to take them to tions,” Bali said. The Syrian been searched were kneeling on US President Donald Trump on Syria’s Kurds hold hundreds we’ve delivered time and time a gathering point where coalition Observatory for Human Rights the ground with coalition troops Monday said the coalition may of suspected foreign IS fighters again. And we are seeing hopeful troops were present. also said the SDF fighters were circling around them. declare victory over IS in Syria and have long urged their home progress,” he said. In an open field serving as making painstaking progress. The alliance launched a mil- within days. countries to take them back, but Syria’s civil war has killed the main civilian reception “There are mines throughout itary offensive to expel IS from A victory in Baghouz would these have been reluctant. 360,000 people since it started location, about 300 women and the sector,” said Rami Abdel the eastern banks of the allow the United States to Acting Pentagon chief in 2011 with the brutal repression children, almost all of them Iraqi, Rahman, the head of the Euphrates in the oil-rich province withdraw all its 2,000 troops Patrick Shanahan on Tuesday of anti-government protests. Malawi removes 260 minors from US airstrikes in Somalia ‘won’t bring peace’: Experts ANATOLIA -- Al-Shabaab -- says it’s fighting Committee that repeated air- vulnerable communities, and its international partners to adult prisons JOHANNESBURG to create an Islamic state, while strikes had failed to degrade Al- building several hospitals and address the factors that led to the other groups fight for clan or Shabaab’s capabilities. schools in recent years, along 1991 coup that resulted in the AFP/BLANTYRE, MALAWI More US airstrikes in Somalia ethnic dominance.” “I think that “The bottom line is the with an airport. overthrow of late President against Al Shabaab will not bring US airstrikes are a short-term Somali national army needs to Yusuf Serunkuma, a research Mohamed Siad Barre. Malawi has removed nearly 270 peace to the troubled nation or [i.e., cosmetic] solution for sta- grow; it needs to step up and take fellow at Uganda’s Makerere Somalis, the majority of minors from two adult prisons, discourage the terrorist group bilizing Somalia,” Gutto said. responsibility for its own University, also believes that dia- whom are Muslim and who a legal action group said from continuing its operations, For the last several years, the security,” he was quoted as logue — rather than force— is the speak a single language, are yesterday, following a court experts said. U.S. has been conducting joint saying. Gutto also confirmed key to ending years of conflict. divided primarily along tribal ruling and warnings about food “Somalia needs a national operations with the African that the US had increased the “Neither having a strong lines. In recent years, however, shortages, disease risk and dialogue. International support Union Peacekeeping Mission in frequency of its air raids carried Somali national army nor Somali activists have cam- overcrowding. should focus on reaching a nego- Somalia (AMISOM), along with out in Somalia from 35 in 2017 increasing [the frequency of] paigned hard to rally their com- The move came after a High tiated peace and justice based on the Somali army, with the fre- to 47 in 2018. attacks on Al-Shabaab will pacify patriots against deep-seated clan Court ruling in June 2018 which reconciliation,” Shadrack Gutto, quency of U.S. airstrikes in the So far this year, Waldhauser Somalia,” he said. politics. ordered Bvumbwe and Kachere an emeritus professor at the Uni- country increasing noticeably in said, the U.S. had already carried “The Somali government Their efforts appear to have prisons to release all children versity of South Africa, told 2017. out over 10 airstrikes in the should instead engage all stake- yielded results, with the growth being held there in a case Anadolu Agency on Tuesday. Now a month rarely passes troubled Horn of Africa country. holders, including Al Shabaab, of “anti-tribal” movements brought by civil society Gutto said that the interna- without the Pentagon He went on to praise Tur- in dialogue,” he said by phone recently springing up across the organisations. tional community should help announcing a fresh round of key’s humanitarian efforts in from Kampala. country and in the Somali Victor Mhango of the train and equip the Somali strikes in Somalia ostensibly Somalia, describing Turkish An expert on the Horn of diaspora. Centre for Human Rights Edu- national army so it can achieve aimed at weakening Al-Shabaab, assistance as “critical” to Africa region, Serunkuma called Meanwhile, Somalia’s inter- cation, Advice and Assistance the capacity to protect its own an Al Qaeda ally that has fought rebuilding the country, much of on the Somali government to national partners, including said all 267 juveniles who were territory. for more than a decade to over- which was destroyed by decades grant local clan elders -- who Britain and Turkey, continue to being held at the two jails had He added: “No foreign power throw the Somali government. of conflict. wield considerable influence host dialogues between the been released. can bring stabilization to another Last week, Thomas Wald- Turkey provides badly- over their clans -- more power country’s rival factions — a “The welfare of children in country, especially where there hauser, commander of U.S. Africa needed humanitarian aid — in the country’s representative policy Serunkuma believes prison has always been a are divisions, as in the case of Command (AFRICOM), told the including food, medicine and assemblies. could, unlike US military might, serious matter of concern. Our Somalia, where one group US Senate’s Armed Services education -- to Somalia’s most He also urged the governzent eventually yield peace. laws have recognised that prisons are not suitable for children,” he said. Malawi only has two juvenile reform centres, Algeria’s Bouteflika dismisses which are often full. The court ordered that national police chief children awaiting trial should be transferred to remand REUTERS homes, and those found guilty ALGIERS should be transferred to reform homes within 30 days. Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika dismissed national police chief Mustapha Lahbiri yesterday, the presidency said in a statement Strike paralyses that gave no reason for the move. Bouteflika had named Lahbiri to the post in June 2018, replacing Algeria’s seaport Abdelghani Hamel, who had been in the post for eight years and was also fired without reasons provided. ANATOLIA/ALGIERS Analysts and local media linked Hamel’s removal to the seizure of 701 kg of cocaine at the western port of Oran at the end of May, Workers at the Port of Algiers and the handling of the subsequent investigation. abruptly declared a strike The presidency statement said Abdelkader Kara Bouhadja, yesterday, crippling operations hitherto director of the judicial police, would take over from at Algeria’s largest seaport. Lahbiri. Run by the Dubai Ports Bouteflika said on Sunday he would seek a fifth term in a pres- Group, the port only unloaded idential election set for April 18, according to the state news agency a single cargo ship yesterday — APS, ending months of uncertainty caused by his poor health. out of 14 — as a result of the Bouteflika, 81, who has been in office since 1999 but has been Campaign for Buhari strike. According to a trade seen in public only rarely since suffering a stroke in 2013 that con- People attend campaign rally for current President and Presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari union source, the strike comes fined him to a wheelchair, is likely to be re-elected as Algeria’s ahead of Saturday’s presidential and parliamentary elections in Abuja, Nigeria, yesterday. as part of a larger protest that opposition remains weak and fragmented. began Tuesday evening to demand higher wages. Speaking to Anadolu Agency on condition of ano- Boko Haram attacks governor’s convoy in northeast Nigeria nymity, the source said that a deal between port workers and management — signed over a ANATOLIA insurgents ambushed Governor ambushed and opened fired on “Some of the vehicles at the The governor has yet to year ago — had never been MAIDUGURI Kashim Shettima’s convoy near the long convoy,” a security source end of the convoy were tar- return to the capital after the implemented. the border with Cameroon while at the governor’s office said in geted,” an official said. incident. Due to the lack of According to the same Boko Haram insurgents attacked campaigning ahead of Saturday’s Maiduguri, the provincial capital, Over a dozen young soldiers phones in the area, reports of the source, port managers told the campaign convoy of the presidential and parliamentary on condition of anonymity due to supporting the military’s fight attack came to the capital this workers earlier this week that governor of Nigeria’s northeast elections in the volatile region. restrictions on speaking to the against Boko Haram were also evening. The attack came just implementation of the Borno State, security sources “The governor was going to media. in the convoy targeted by the days before the country’s general agreement had been postponed said yesterday. Gamboru from Dikwa to cam- Five people were feared insurgents. The military declined elections amid fears of security “indefinitely”. Early yesterday the paign when Boko Haram dead, according to the source. to comment on the incident. challenges. THURSDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2019 ASIA 13 India’s citizenship bill lapses in Upper House

REUTERS Critics say the of its last session before the GUWAHATI legislation is as an election, on Wednesday. attempt by Prime Activists in the northeast Protesters in northeast India Minister Narendra welcomed parliament’s failure claimed victory yesterday after to push the legislation through. a bill that the government says Modi’s Bharatiya “This is a moral victory for will help Hindus in neighbouring Janata Party (BJP) the people of the northeast with countries settle in India lapsed burnish its Hindu- the BJP forced to bow down to before it could be ratified by the voices of struggle,” Samujjal parliament’s Upper House. nationalist credentials Bhattacharya, a leader of the All The Citizenship Amendment ahead of a general Assam Students’ Union, one of Bill is aimed at helping Hindus election, that must be the protesting groups, said. and members of other non- held by May. Members of the Assam state Muslim minority communities organisation had threatened to in neighbouring Muslim coun- “shed blood” to block the bill. Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, talks with his West Bengal counterpart, Mamata Banerjee, tries move to India. from Bangladesh are a burden Protests over recent days during the “Save Democracy” rally to protest against India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) But critics say the legislation on society. have also rocked the small state is as an attempt by Prime Min- For days, protesters have of Manipur, where authorities government in New Delhi, yesterday. ister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya taken to the streets, bringing imposed an indefinite curfew Janata Party (BJP) burnish its chaos to several cities in the and suspended mobile internet Hindu-nationalist credentials region. Authorities have services for five days late on Oppn’s Delhi rally wants Modi out ahead of a general election, that responded with curfews and Tuesday, following violent must be held by May. blocks on broadcasters in an protests. IANS Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) sup- issues as demonetization, farm The bill had incited excep- attempt to quell the unrest. Police said people were NEW DELHI porters, also saw the participation distress, rising unemployment, tional opposition in remote, eth- The lower house of par- defying the curfew. Protests also of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, misuse of CBI and other agencies nically diverse northeastern liament passed the bill last erupted in Mizoram state, where Top opposition leaders yesterday Farooq Abdullah of National Con- as well as attacks on the federal states where for years residents month but it was not ratified by some activists have given voice called for the ouster of Prime ference, Sharad Yadav, Ram Gopal structure. have complained that migrants the upper house before the end to old separatist aspirations. Minister Narendra Modi as they Yadav of Samajwadi Party, DMK’s Congress leader Anand rallied in the national capital in Kanimozhi, CPI-M’s Sitaram Sharma, who took part in the a show of strength but some of Yechury and rebel BJP MP rally despite persisting Con- them admitted to differences Shatrughan Sinha among others. gress-AAP tensions in Delhi, said 12 kids injured in blast at Kashmir school within their ranks ahead of the “The current situation is there will be agreements among Lok Sabha battle. worse than the Emergency,” opposition parties at some places REUTERS/SRINAGAR the blast in a 10th-grade classroom at the Falai- In fiery speeches, Chief Min- thundered Trinamool Congress and none at some others. e-Millat private school, just south of the state isters Mamata Banerjee (West leader Banerjee, saying attempts “However, attempts should be At least 12 students were injured in an explosion capital, Srinagar. Bengal), N Chandrababu Naidu by the Modi government to made in the country’s interest.” at a school in Kashmir yesterday, police said, “We were studying and all of a sudden there (Andhra Pradesh) and Arvind frighten her by sending CBI offi- Warning that the BJP was though the cause of the blast was not immediately was an explosion and we ran out and I saw my Kejriwal (Delhi), whose AAP cials will not succeed. using the communal card clear. Kashmir has been plagued by separatist legs bleeding,” Faisal Ahmad, 16, said. organised the public meeting near Naidu expressed the hope ahead of the elections, Abdullah violence for years, with clashes between security Police were investigating, a spokesman said. Jantar Mantar, described Modi and that Modi will become “ex-Prime asked the opposition parties to forces and militants killing more than 100 civilians A 13-year-old boy was killed and one injured BJP President Amit Shah as threats Minister soon”. The Telugu forget “conflicts among our- over the past year. in Kashmir last week after finding unexploded to Indian democracy. The rally, Desam Party President attacked selves” to forge a united anti- But witnesses did not report any clash before ordance after a clash. which drew thousands of mainly the Modi government over such Modi alliance. Maldives seeks whistleblowers Twitter gaffes pile up in search for for Indian ministers looted cash AFP government in multiple tweets. NEW DELHI The minister retweeted posts AFP with the hashtag #Modi- COLOMBO Two Indian ministers were left forNewIndia without red-faced yesterday after their reviewing the content. The Maldivian government attempts to glorify Prime “#Modi4NewIndia urged its citizens to support its Minister Narendra Modi’s Working for the middle class anti-corruption drive yesterday government on Twitter back- is low on the agenda of Modi after it launched a website to fired spectacularly. govt,” read one of his tweets. help trace millions of dollars Critics have accused Modi’s “Modi govt started the reportedly stolen during the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of process of online tracking of former regime. running a relentless propaganda applications for environmental The whistleblower site campaign on social media to approvals, bringing down went live on Tuesday, days increase its base of supporters. approval time from 600 days after the government sought Media reports have suggested to 1,800 days,” read another. international help to find mil- the party employs a “backroom Hundreds of other lions of dollars allegedly army of trolls” to attack its rivals accounts loyal to Modi and the siphoned off by former pres- and run smear campaigns. Yes- BJP retweeted Rad- ident Abdulla Yameen, who terday, Railway Minister Piyush hakrishnan’s posts verbatim. faces embezzlement and Goyal shared a video purportedly Some of the tweets have since money laundering charges. Huge fire hits paint factory in Bengaluru showing India’s first semi high- been deleted. Pratik Sinha, co- Launching the portal, Pres- speed train zipping past at founder of fact-checking ident Mohamed Ibrahim Solih Indian firefighters battle a massive industrial fire on the grounds of a paint factory on the outskirts lightning speed, in order to website Alt-News, said he had called on government of Bengaluru, yesterday. No casualties were reported in the blaze that ignited the United Paints trumpet Modi’s pet “Make in edited a shared Google doc- employees and ordinary cit- stockyard in Madanayakanahalli in the southern Karnataka state. India” initiative. ument that exposed how the izens to anonymously lodge But it turned out to be a BJP’s social media army reports of corruption, an digitally altered video with the churned out propaganda on a official in his office said. speed of the train enhanced by daily basis and was picked by “The campaign is to assure two times, prompting a government loyalists. “How do the community that his admin- Two managers of New Delhi hotel arrested backlash from Twitter users. you get a union minister to istration will not tolerate cor- “Massive respect for Piyush tweet what you want? Well, ruption at any level,” the AP which also injured four people, wedding said three members of Goyal. He just made the video you go and edit the trending official said. NEW DELHI was likely caused by a short the family had died from burns. 2X times faster and called it document made by BJP IT cell, Users were encouraged to circuit. The hotel developer had a semi-high speed train when he and then you control what they access the whistleblower site Two managers of a New Delhi Most of the deaths at the permit from the fire department could have made it 6X times tweet,” wrote Sinha. through proxy servers to budget hotel where a fire killed hotel in Karol Bagh, an area in to build up to four stories. But faster and called it super high India’s right-wing groups ensure anonymity. 17 people have been arrested, central New Delhi full of shops the building appeared to have speed train,” wrote one user. recently accused Twitter of a Maldivian police have said police said. The general manager and budget hotels that make it six floors, including an unau- Goyal has yet not com- “left-wing bias”, saying the their investigations found evi- of the Arpit Palace Hotel, popular with tourists, resulted thorized kitchen Jain said was mented on the video, which network was suspending dence linking Yameen and his Rajender Singh, and manager, from suffocation, according to built from sheets of fiberglass on can still be seen on his timeline. accounts supportive of the BJP. justice minister Azima Shakoor Vikar Kumar, were booked on the Delhi government minister top of the roof. A video shot by India’s junior minister for On Monday, a 31-member to the theft of state funds and suspicion of culpable homicide of health and urban devel- a witness showed the roof con- finance and shipping, Pon Rad- panel headed by a BJP law- money laundering. for the fire Tuesday, Delhi police opment, Satyendar Kumar Jain. sumed by flames. Fire author- hakrishnan also found himself maker, summoned Twitter In December, courts in the spokesman Anil Kumar said. A friend of a family of 13 who ities said wood-paneled at the receiving end after inad- CEO Jack Dorsey to appear tourist paradise froze some Police Additional Commis- had traveled to Delhi from hallways and stairwells fed the vertently criticising his own before it on February 25. $6.5m in accounts allegedly sioner Amit Sharma said the fire, southern India to attend a fire and cut off escape routes. linked to Yameen who suffered a shock defeat in elections in September. The authorities believe Bangladesh not to be part of Saudi-led armed struggle millions of dollars could be stashed abroad and talks were underway with foreign ANATOLIA -- Makkah and Madinah,” speaking at a press briefing on newly-built Bangladesh mission Bangladesh will just work on entities to repatriate any cash DHAKA Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s in the Saudi capital Riyadh. removing mines along the Saudi- found. AK Abdul Momen told maiden overseas tour to Once the deal is signed Yemen border as part of its com- Yameen, who came to Bangladesh will not take part in reporters. Germany after resuming office today, Bangladesh will deploy mitment to any peacebuilding power in 2013 and jailed many any Saudi-led military operation He was referring to the for third consecutive term. some 1,800 troops in Saudi process, he added. of his opponents or forced in anywhere including Yemen, Kaaba, the most sacred mon- On February 4, Bangladesh Arabia to defuse and remove Among the members of a them into exile, has also been its top diplomat said. ument of Islam, in Makkah and and Saudi Arabia agreed to sign mines along war-torn Saudi- Saudi-based Islamic military accused of receiving close to “Bangladeshi military will Al Masjid Al Nabawi, the mosque a defence deal to enhance mil- Yemen border. coalition comprised of 34 states $1.5 million in illicit payments take action only in case of an of Prophet Muhammed (peace itary cooperation while Bangla- Momen said the deal does to combat terrorism, Bangladesh during his failed bid for attack on the two sacred be upon him) in Madinah, as two desh’s army chief Aziz Ahmed not mean that Bangladesh is has more than two million re-election. mosques in two sacred cities sacred mosques, when he was was on a tour to visit the going to join the Saudi-led war. workers in Saudi Arabia. 14 ASIA THURSDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2019

Taliban announce Over 12,000 Qataris visited Azerbaijan last year talks with US in Islamabad SIDI MOHAMED THE PENINSULA FROM BAKU AFP/KABUL

“Citizens of Qatar can get visa for 30 days upon The Taliban said yesterday that arrival and we are planning it for Qatar’s residents its negotiators would meet US envoys for talks this month in as well. We will send recommendation to the Islamabad, and also sit down authorities concerned in this regard,” said Kanan with Pakistan Prime Minister Guluzada, Head of Media and Public Relations Imran Khan to discuss Afghan- Services at State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan. istan. The announcement, not immediately confirmed by More than 12,000 Qataris visited government before but three years Washington or Islamabad, Azerbaijan last year due to many ago Azerbaijan government started comes as America’s chief nego- facilities provided to them to visit to develop this sector and “we have tiator tours the globe shoring the country including on arrival seen a great development as we up support for a peace process visa facility, said a senior official started to build many facilities that to end its longest war. at State Tourism Agency of attract tourists and we have about Zalmay Khalilzad, a former Azerbaijan. 600 hotels to welcome tourists from Heydar Aliyev Centre and ancient musical instruments (below) at the centre. ambassador to Afghanistan, “Citizens of Qatar can get 3 to 5 stars”. held extensive talks with the visa for 30 days upon arrival and As for Qatar, he said, Maiden Tower is 28 meters high militants last month in Qatar, we are planning it for Qatar’s Azerbaijan government was on its northern side and 31 where the Taliban have an residents as well. We will send organizing many activities meters on the southern side office. More talks are slated for recommendation to the author- through government’s represent- while the walls are 5 meters. later in February. ities concerned in this regard,” ative in the Middle East and ‘will Throughout the centuries, But a Taliban statement said Kanan Guluzada, Head of do more to make them know The Maiden Tower has suf- issued yesterday said separate Media and Public Relations more about Azerbaijan because fered the effects of both meetings would be held first on Services at State Tourism Agency relations between the two coun- natural and human attrition. February 18 in Islamabad “by of Azerbaijan. tries are strong’. Thus, restoration works have the formal invitation of the “In 2017, about 8,000 Qatari Azerbaijan is a beautiful been performed on it from government of Pakistan”. Talks citizens visited Azerbaijan and country and has many natural time to time. in Doha would follow a week this number increased to 12,458 tourist destinations as well as As for the new city (new later on February 25, the in 2018. Qatar Airways operates rich cultural heritage. Baku, the Baku), it was built after 2004, statement said. between Doha and Baku and has capital of Azerbaijan, is one of where the country witnessed Khalilzad is heading a two flights daily,” he said. the most beautiful tourist desti- an important economic renais- large delegation on a tour of Guluzada pointed out that tourism nations, where modern monu- sance. The infrastructure was Belgium, Germany, Turkey, was not a priority for the ments are combined with his- developed and many of the Qatar, Afghanistan and torical and archeological parts. Baku. The Center was designed by lasted about seven years and the country’s old tourist areas were Pakistan to boost the peace The buildings of Azerbaijan Zaha Hadid (an Iraqi-British total area of the center is about reconstructed and renovated, process and bring all Afghan are a glorious mixture of style, architect), and the overall shape 57,000 square meters and the characterized by its clean and parties to the table. reflecting the cultural shifts and of the building resembles a wave- height up to 80 meters. beautiful streets and its infra- He has expressed cautious changing trends of hundreds of like ascension from the ground Another important feature in structure, which mostly mimics hope for a deal before Afghan years. From minarets to mosaics, towards the sky followed by Azerbaijan is the Old City built European architectural grace. presidential elections slated for medieval to modern, every gradual descent down to the earth. inside a wall dating back to the Among the landmarks in the July, but says the Taliban must corner reveals something The Museum presents the pre-Christmas period. It has a Baku also is The Flame Towers come to the table with the different. information regarding the life mosque that is built around 1076 which are a trio of skyscrapers Kabul government, which the Among the most important and activities of Azerbaijan’s and has been frequently visited that dominates the skyline of insurgents consider a US tourist attractions in the city that national leader Heydar Aliyev, by many tourists, especially from Baku. The Flame Towers sym- puppet. President Ashraf Ghani The Peninsula visited is Heydar who is one of the most important the Gulf countries. bolize the long historic logo of — who has expressed frus- Kanan Guluzada, Head of Media Aliyev Center (Museum) which figures in the history of Inside the Old City, the the capital. They are completely tration at being sidelined from and Public Relations Services is considered as one of the main Azerbaijan and ruled the country Maiden Tower is the symbol of covered with LED screens, and recent talks — flew to Munich at State Tourism Agency of attractive places for tourists and from 1993 to 2003. Azerbaijan’s capital city Baku. It at night they light up with a yesterday to attend an interna- Azerbaijan. has also become a symbol of The Center was opened in is considered a magnificent display of fire that can seen from tional security conference, his modern Azerbaijan and modern 2013 after the construction work architectural monument. The anywhere in the city. office said. Afghanistan dismisses Pakistan announces massive social media crackdown AFP military establishment and have users spreading hate speech and journalist for allegedly posting ISLAMABAD blocked hundreds of websites violence,” he said. defamatory content on social 12 election officials and social media accounts over Self censorship in the South media. And on Tuesday an Pakistani authorities yesterday the years. Information minister Asia nation is widely believed to opinion piece in the Interna- vowed to carry out a “massive” Fawad Chaudhry announced the be rife at traditional news outlets. tional New York Times criticising REUTERS Other were not immediately crackdown targeting hate speech government was setting up a “Our problem is that digital Pakistan’s powerful army was KABUL available for comment. and extremism on social media, new enforcement arm to reg- media is over taking formal media censored by its local publisher The Attorney General’s as a minister boasted arrests ulate social media during a so it is important for us to regulate and replaced by a blank space. Afghanistan has dismissed 12 Office said in a statement on have already been made. speech in the capital Islamabad. this,” Chaudhry added, saying: Activists and bloggers fre- election officials amid an inves- Tuesday the 12 officials were Officials in Pakistan are fre- “We made some arrests last “Informal media is a greater quently report receiving tigation into corruption barred from leaving the country quently accused of muzzling the week and by the will of Allah we problem than formal media.” warnings from Facebook and following problems with the as an investigation had been media and targeting individuals are launching a massive The announcement comes Twitter for posting unlawful organisation of a general launched into accusations of critical of the country’s powerful crackdown against social media days after authorities arrested a content. election last year, with fears corruption, abuse of authority growing that the purge could and incompetence. delay a July presidential election. The Transparent Election President Ashraf Ghani’s Foundation for Afghanistan, an Manila arrests journalist government agreed to an independent election monitoring amendment of the election law group, said the dismissals were to improve transparency fol- a hasty political decision rather critical of President lowing meetings with political, than a reform that would help civil society groups and oppo- the electoral process. AP anti-drug campaign that has left sition parties, and his spokesman The parliamentary election MANILA thousands of mostly poor suspects said the removal of the 12 was a was held on Oct. 20 after months dead. consequence. of wrangling and delay, and The award-winning head of a Phil- Rappler Inc., the news site “After the election law was marred by accusations of wide- ippine online news site that has which Ressa heads, said National amended in a grand consensus, spread fraud, including ballot- aggressively covered President Bureau of Investigation agents endorsed by the cabinet and stuffing, technical problems with Rodrigo Duterte’s administration served the warrant yesterday signed by the president, then the biometric registration was arrested yesterday by afternoon, making it difficult for Rappler’s CEO Maria Ressa (right) and Managing Editor Glenda commissioners could no longer equipment as well as attacks by government agents in a libel case. Ressa to apply for bail, and Gloria wait inside the National Bureau of Investigation in stay in their jobs,” said Shah Taliban insurgents. Maria Ressa, who was selected escorted her from the Rappler Hussain Murtazawi, a presi- Election authorities have yet by Time magazine as one of its office to NBI headquarters. Manila, yesterday. dential palace spokesman. to announce the final results. Persons of the Year last year, was “We are not intimidated. No He did not elaborate on the New commissioners, once arrested over a libel complaint amount of legal cases, black prop- researcher, Reynaldo Santos Prevention Act, did not go into reason for the sacking of the appointed, will face the task of from a businessman which aganda, and lies can silence Fil- Jr., were indicted recently, the effect until months after the seven officials from the Inde- preparing for the presidential Amnesty International condemned ipino journalists who continue to Department of Justice said. article’s publication. pendent Election Commission election in which both Ghani as “brazenly politically motivated.” hold the line,” Ressa said in a Rappler said the busi- The article included alle- and five commissioners from the and his chief executive, Dr Duterte’s government said the statement. “These legal acrobatics nessman filed the libel com- gations that the businessman Election Complaints Com- Abdullah Abdullah, are candi- arrest was a normal step in show how far the government will plaint five years after the was linked to illegal drugs and mission. Wasima Badghisi, one dates. The presidential election response to the complaint. go to silence journalists, including article appeared in 2012, and human trafficking, and that a of the dismissed commissioners, was originally planned for April Duterte has openly lambasted the pettiness of forcing me to spend the law under which Ressa car registered in his name had said the decision was political this year but was pushed back journalists who write unfavorable the night in jail.” was charged by the gov- been used by the country’s and would not be accepted. to July. stories about him, including his Ressa and a former Rappler ernment, the Cybercrime chief justice. Thai party fighting for survival after gaffe with princess Australia to reopen island detention camp

AP/BANGKOK Thai Raksa Chart Party be dissolved Vajiralongkorn just hours later issued AP/CANBERRA Jakarta, Indonesia, was a favourite because its prime minister candidate was an edict effectively banning the action target of people smugglers who The Thai political party that took the “in conflict with the system of rule of because it was inappropriate and The Australian government said brought asylum seekers from Asia, unprecedented and ultimately unsuc- democracy with king as head of state.” unconstitutional. yesterday it would reopen a moth- Africa and the Middle East in rickety cessful step of nominating a member The recommendation was forwarded to What made Ubolratana’s bid partic- balled island detention camp in antic- boats from Indonesian ports before of the royal family as its candidate for the Constitutional Court, which said it ularly notable was her allying herself with ipation of a new wave of asylum the trade virtually stopped in recent prime minister was fighting for its would consider today whether to accept a party that is part of the political seekers arriving by boat after years. political life yesterday, while the the case. machine of former Prime Minister Parliament passed legislation that Prime Minister Scott Morrison princess herself appeared to criticise The party on Feb. 8 named Princess Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in would give sick asylum seekers easier said a security committee of his the fallout. Ubolratana Mahidol its candidate for a 2006 coup and is loathed by many roy- access to mainland hospitals. cabinet agreed to reopen the camp The country’s Election Commission prime minister for a general election alists and others in the country’s tradi- The Christmas Island immi- on the advice of senior security said yesterday that it recommended the next month. But King Maha tional establishment. gration detention camp, south of officials. THURSDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2019 EUROPE 15 UK govt downplays report it will seek Brexit delay AP German Chancellor parliaments before March 29, the LONDON UK faces a messy sudden Brexit Angela Merkel said that could cause severe eco- On the eve of more divisive votes yesterday that the nomic disruption. in Parliament over Brexit, the EU wanted to “do Brexit Secretary Stephen British government yesterday everything for a Barclay said the government downplayed a report that it plans wants to secure a deal, but is also to offer lawmakers a choice deal, but it certainly preparing for a “no-deal” Brexit. between backing Prime Minister it has to be a fair Opposition politicians have Theresa May’s unpopular divorce deal... and there we accused May of trying to fritter deal and a delay to the UK’s exit away time as the clock ticks from the European Union. unfortunately still down, in order to leave law- An ITV News correspondent, have a bit of work makers with a last-minute choice Angus Walker, said he overheard ahead of us.” between her deal and no deal. negotiator Olly Robbins in a Britain’s Parliament on Brussels bar saying the gov- Thursday will hold the latest in ernment would ask Parliament is now trying to secure changes a series of debates and votes, in in late March to back her before bringing it back for which pro-EU lawmakers will try agreement, rejected by law- another vote. to change the government’s makers last month, or seek an The EU insists it won’t rene- course, ruling out a “no-deal” extension to the Brexit deadline. gotiate the legally binding with- Brexit and aiming for close post- May told lawmakers that drawal agreement, though it is Brexit ties with the EU. Parliament had approved a two- still holding talks with Britain The votes are not legally year countdown to Brexit, and about potential tweaks to a non- binding, and a House of “that ends on March 29. We want binding political declaration that Commons split between Brexit- Anti-Brexit demonstrators protest outside the Houses of Parliament, in Westminster, London, yesterday. to leave with a deal, and that’s accompanies it. German Chan- backers and EU supporters has what we’re working for.” cellor Angela Merkel said yes- so far sent contradictory mes- She told parliamentarians terday that the EU wanted to “do sages. In previous votes on On Tuesday, May urged law- deal by then. “What the prime another two weeks, edging her not to set much store in “what everything for a deal, but it cer- January 29, lawmakers voted to makers to give her more time, minister is up to is obvious,” way toward March 21, when the someone said to someone else tainly it has to be a fair deal... and rule out a “no-deal” exit — promising Parliament yet Labour Party Brexit spokesman next EU summit is, to try to put as overheard by someone else in there we unfortunately still have without signalling how that another series of votes on the Keir Starmer said yesterday. her deal up against no-deal in a bar.” Lawmakers overwhelm- a bit of work ahead of us.” should happen — and also told next steps in the Brexit process She’s coming to Parliament every those final few weeks. ingly rejected May’s Brexit deal If a deal is not approved by May to seek changes to her Brexit on February 27 if she has not other week, pretending there’s “Parliament needs to say with the EU last month, and she the British and European agreement from the EU. secured changes to the Brexit progress and trying to buy ‘That’s not on.’” Austria plans tougher Gorbachev slams Washington over arms treaty exit

AFP bachev and Ronald Reagan bro- daily, Gorbachev asked if Wash- bound by the INF pact were sentences for crimes MOSCOW kered in 1987. ington, the world’s biggest mil- stockpiling missiles. Russian President Vladimir itary spender, had been able to “This is not convincing The last Soviet leader Mikhail Putin quickly followed suit, “explain itself to the interna- either,” he said, adding that against women Gorbachev issued a stinging crit- tasking his government with tional community” and the UN Russia and the United States still icism of Washington yesterday, developing new ground-based Security Council. controlled 90 percent of all REUTERS of the far-right Freedom Party accusing it of misleading the missiles and banning his min- “No, this has not been done,” nuclear weapons. VIENNA told a news conference out- world over its exit from a key isters from initiating any future Gorbachev said, adding that “Behind the US decision to lining the planned measures. arms treaty and seeking to gain talks to salvage the agreement. instead the United States pre- exit the treaty are not the reasons Austria’s right-wing “We observe that very, very military superiority at the Gorbachev said that ferred to accuse Russia of vio- the US leaders are citing but government announced often people involved in these expense of international security. according to the treaty the lating the agreement. something completely different,” yesterday tougher sentences for violent crimes are not Austrian This month US President country exiting it should notify The 87-year-old also said Gorbachev. It is, he said, “a violent crimes, particularly and are from other countries Donald Trump ripped up a key the global community of “excep- claimed Washington misled the desire by the United States to against female victims, while and other cultures,” Kickl told arms control agreement, the tional circumstances” that world when it said it needed to free itself of any constraints in pointing to a recent spate of the joint news conference with Intermediate-Range Nuclear prompted it to do so. In a column abandon the treaty also because the arms sphere (and) gain cases in which foreigners are conservative Chancellor Forces (INF) Treaty, that Gor- published by Vedomosti liberal China and other countries not absolute military superiority.” suspected of murdering women. Sebastian Kurz and other Austria’s ruling coalition of ministers. conservatives and the far right The package of measures came to power on the back of itself, which includes raising the Nato chief to Europe’s migration crisis, minimum sentence for physical pledging to prevent a repeat of abuse and putting female genital meet Lavrov that influx in which the country mutilation on the statute book, took in about 1 percent of its does not specifically target for- on missile population in asylum seekers eigners. It has also been months in 2015 alone, many from the in the making, following up on Middle East and Afghanistan. a coalition pledge to toughen pact crisis The latest crime statistics sentences for physical abuse available, those for 2017, show offences and violent crimes. AFP the number of crimes overall Kickl’s comments, however, BRUSSELS and violent crimes falling in the are the latest by this gov- Alpine republic, which also has ernment juxtaposing immi- Nato Secretary-General Jens one of the lowest murder rates gration and crime but stopping Stoltenberg announced in the European Union. short of saying one causes the yesterday that he will hold talks But the tabloid press and the other. The main suspect in the with Russian Foreign Minister government have seized on latest murder, committed in Sergei Lavrov this week, as part eight unrelated killings of Vienna on Tuesday night, is a of efforts to save a key arms women this year, most believed Bosnian citizen. Kickl and Kurz control treaty that is on the point by police to have been com- said they are examining of collapse. mitted by foreigners, as an whether they can legally The pair will meet at the unacceptable spike. increase the number of offenses Munich Security Conference, “We have seen at the for which refugees can be which starts tomorrow, as Nato beginning of this year that an stripped of their status and Clearing snow tries to persuade Moscow to almost eerie series of murders deported, beyond the current abandon a new missile system has struck this country,” list of severe crimes such as Workers clear snow from the “Brockenbahnhof” train station of the Harzer Schmalspurbahn narrow the alliance says breaches the Interior Minister Herbert Kickl murder. gauge train on the Brocken mountain in Schierke, central Germany, yesterday. Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. The US began the process of exiting the treaty earlier this Spanish prosecutor accuses Catalan Germany arrests two alleged month in response to Moscow’s deployment of the 9M729 missile, Syrian ex-secret service officers prompting Russia to announce separatists of using ‘human shields’ its own withdrawal. “I expect to AFP The aim was to use the intelli- meet minister Lavrov in Munich, BERLIN gence services to stop the protest and I think it is important to have AFP convicted of rebellion or other trapped by the crowds outside. movement as early as possible.” dialogue with Russia especially MADRID charges for pushing an inde- Prosecutors also accuse the Germany has arrested two Anwar R had allegedly led a when we face so many difficult pendence referendum in separatists of fostering “acts of alleged former Syrian secret secret service division that issues as we face today,” A Spanish public prosecutor October 2017, in defiance of a violence and aggression against service officers accused of operated a prison in the Stoltenberg said as he arrived for accused Catalan separatist court ban, and a brief declaration police officers” on the day of the torture and crimes against Damascus area, and had partic- a meeting of Nato defence leaders yesterday on the second of independence. referendum. humanity, prosecutors said ipated in the torture and abuse ministers. day of their trial of having tried Under Spanish law, rebellion Supporters of independence yesterday. of prisoners from April 2011 to The future of the INF treaty to use “human shields” to block is defined as “rising up in a deny the accusation of violence. The men, 56-year-old September 2012. — and what steps Nato will take police during their failed violent and public manner”. But They instead condemn a police Anwar R and Eyad A, 42, were “As head of the Investigative to bolster its defence against new secession bid in 2017. the key, divisive question is operation to shut down the ref- arrested on Tuesday in Berlin Department, Anwar R directed Russian medium-range missiles Supreme Court prosecutor whether there actually was any erendum, which saw voters and Rhineland-Palatinate state. and commanded prison opera- -- are top of the agenda for the Fidel Cadena rejected arguments violence. Prosecutors point to beaten with batons and dragged Both left Syria in 2012. tions, including the use of sys- defence ministers’ two-day by defence lawyers who said the “violent incidents” during pro- away from polling stations, Also on Tuesday, another tematic and brutal torture,” it meeting. The collapse of the 1987 trial is politically motivated, tests orchestrated by two grass- images of which were seen in Syrian believed to have worked said. Eyad A, a former officer treaty, which banned ground- saying “anyone can have the roots groups in the lead up to the media around the world. for the secret service was who had manned checkpoints launched missiles with a range ideas they want”. “What is referendum. Activists sur- “It is not separatism which arrested in France in what was and hunted protesters, had of 500 to 5,500 kilometres, has penalised...is behaviour carried rounded a Catalan ministry is being tried... but the series of a “coordinated” operation, the allegedly aided and abetted two sparked fears of a new arms race out over time which aimed... at building on September 20, 2017 events which took place in Sep- federal prosecution in Karlsruhe killings and the physical abuse in Europe. But Stoltenberg said the subversion and rupture of while national police carried out tember and October 2017,” pros- said. “From April 2011 at the of some 2,000 people between Nato had no intention of the constitutional order, calling a search inside to try to stop the ecutor Javier Zaragoza said. latest, the Syrian regime started July 2011 and January 2012. deploying “new nuclear land- for violent methods through the vote from going ahead. “Political activity is not a to suppress with brutal force all In the summer of 2011, he based weapons systems in use of the masses as human At least three police vehicles licence which justifies carrying anti-government activities of the manned a checkpoint near Europe”.Moscow denies the shields” against police, he said. were vandalised and their occu- out criminal actions,” like opposition nationwide,” a pros- Damascus where around 100 missile breaches the terms of the Twelve Catalan separatist pants forced to flee into the ignoring the ban of the refer- ecution statement said. people per day were arrested INF treaty and has made various politicians and activists face building, where for hours a endum by the Constitutional “The Syrian secret services then jailed and tortured in the counter-allegations against the years behind bars if they are group of agents remained court, he said. played an essential role in this. prison headed by Anwar R. US. 16 EUROPE THURSDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2019 Early vote risk as Spain’s lawmakers reject budget

AFP All eyes are now on While Madrid says it initiated MADRID talks to try and find a way out of whether the socialist an ongoing crisis as Catalonia’s Right-wing and Catalan sepa- premier, who leads a government continues to want ratist lawmakers yesterday minority government, independence, the opposition rejected Spain’s draft 2019 will call early elections has accused it of yielding to sep- budget, a move that could force aratist demands merely to stay Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez with opinion polls in power. into calling early elections. showing one outcome Pablo Casado, leader of the Sanchez, who came to power could be a right-wing conservative Popular Party (PP), in June thanks in part to parlia- majority in parliament, said the budget rejection marked mentary support from 17 Catalan “the end of the road for Pedro lawmakers, was depending on including a newly Sanchez as prime minister.” “It’s their votes to push his first emerged far-right. now really pressing to call budget through but they general elections.” Apart from withdrew their backing. social measures, the budget also Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Equality, All eyes are now on whether on the social progress of this contained an increase in Carmen Calvo, attend a debate on the government’s 2019 budget during a parliament session in the socialist premier, who leads budget and this government,” investment in Catalonia. a minority government, will call Budget Minister Maria Jesus But with pro-secession Madrid, yesterday. early elections with opinion polls Montero said after the rejection. leaders in the dock for their role showing one outcome could be “It’s trying to stop this in the 2017 attempt to break Sanchez’ government would analysis group. budget that contrasts with the a right-wing majority in par- country from moving forward,” Catalonia from Spain — a trial now in theory have to present a Various opinion polls — the austerity of Mariano Rajoy’s pre- liament, including a newly she said, adding it was likely labelled a “farce” by separatists new, revised version of its latest published yesterday in vious conservative executive. emerged far-right. early elections would be called — Catalan lawmakers whom budget. online daily eldiario.es — point “After seven years of social Sanchez’s socialists are but refusing to comment further. Sanchez depends on filed In the current climate, to a right-wing majority in par- injustice, right-wing forces and already adopting a campaign- Conservatives are furious amendments to block the budget though, with Sanchez left with liament post-elections formed the independence movement like tone, accusing conservatives with the socialist government for last week. So it was that the par- so little parliamentary support, by the PP, centre-right Ciu- will vote against a social budget,” and Catalonia separatists of negotiating with Catalonia’s sep- liament approved their amend- analysts predict he will call early dadanos and far-right Vox party. Sanchez tweeted on Tuesday. blocking a budget that included aratist executive as Madrid tries ments on Wednesday with 191 general elections. “Legally he is Even before the vote, the “Both want the same thing: many social spending measures. to ease tensions with the north- votes in favour in the 350- not obliged to do so,” said socialist government was that Catalonia be at war with “The right-wing in this eastern region after a secession member assembly, defeating the Antonio Barroso, Deputy accusing right-wing and sepa- itself and that Spain be at war country is trying to put a brake attempt in October 2017. budget. Research Director at the Teneo ratist parties of opposing a social with itself.” Bulgaria asks Bulgaria freezes suspicious payments from Venezuela Britain for help AFP had been seized in bank accounts authorities suspect that the to prevent them being taken out Venezuela is not stolen,” he said. in poisoning case SOFIA in Bulgaria. reasons given for the money of the country,” Tsatsarov said. Oil makes up 96 percent of The funds — ostensibly ear- transfers “have nothing to do Bulgaria’s central bank and the revenue of crisis-hit Vene- Bulgaria and the United States marked for the purchase of food with reality,” he said. its national security agency, zuela and Washington is using AFP have halted what they believe and to finance a Venezuelan “We will most probably open DANS, were checking whether sanctions to try to starve the SOFIA could be a scheme to illegally sports federation — had been a probe for money laundering,” similar transfers had been made regime of Nicolas Maduro, while channel money out of Venezuela, paid into a number of accounts Tsatsarov continued, adding that into other accounts in the backing opposition leader and Bulgaria has asked Britain to which is under sanctions from held by a lawyer with dual Bul- the authorities refused to country, said DANS chief Dimitar self-proclaimed president Juan help determine whether a Washington amid the ongoing garian and foreign nationality, confirm at this stage whether the Georgiev. Guaido. chemical agent used in the 2015 political crisis in the South who had now left the country. transfers were related to the US ambassador Rubin said it In a tweet on Sunday, poisoning of a local busi- American country, officials said. Some of the money had current political crisis in was “critical” to “stop the illegal Guaido’s aide and commissioner nessman was Novichok or a Bulgarian officials and US already been transferred out of Venezuela. transfer of funds to support the of finance Carlos Paparoni related substance, Chief Pros- ambassador Eric Rubin told a the accounts to other countries, “We have undertaken illegal authorities in Venezuela.” warned that the state-owned ecutor Sotir Tsatsarov said news briefing that “millions of Bulgarian chief prosecutor Sotir measures to place the remaining The US was working with its PDVSA oil company had been yesterday. euros” in payments from Vene- Tsatsarov said. funds, which are quite sub- European partners “to ensure the illegally wiring funds through Bulgarian arms manufac- zuela’s state oil company PVDSA The Bulgarian and US stantial, under control in order wealth of the people in Bulgarian accounts. turer Emiliyan Gebrev, his son and a company executive were hospitalised in 2015 and treated for symptoms of severe EU adds Saudi Arabia poisoning. Gebrev fell into a coma but to dirty-money blacklist survived and all three later recovered. But the perpetrator REUTERS be removed from the list of the poisoning attempt was STRASBOURG because it recently adopted never found and the investi- stronger rules against money gation was closed. The European Commission laundering. However, it was re-opened added Saudi Arabia, Panama, Despite pressure to exclude at Gebrev’s request following Nigeria and other jurisdictions Riyadh from the list, the com- last year’s attack in the English to a blacklist of nations seen as mission decided to list the city of Salisbury on former posing a threat because of lax kingdom, confirming a report in Russian spy Sergei Skripal and controls on terrorism financing January. his daughter. Gebrev said he and money laundering, the EU Apart from reputational believed he was targeted with executive said yesterday. damage, inclusion on the list a Novichok-related The move is part of a complicates financial relations substance. crackdown on money laun- with the EU. The bloc’s banks According to an analysis dering after several scandals at will have to carry out additional Gebrev obtained from a labo- EU banks but has been criticised checks on payments involving ratory in Finland — the results by several EU countries entities from listed of which appeared in Bulgarian including Britain worried about jurisdictions. Capital weekly — a pesticide their economic relations with The list now includes 23 and another unidentified sub- the listed states, notably Saudi jurisdictions, up from 16. The stance were found in his urine Arabia. commission said it added juris- sample. The Saudi government dictions with “strategic defi- Up in arms The Salisbury attack is con- media office did not immedi- ciencies in their anti-money sidered to be the first offensive ately respond to a request for laundering and countering ter- People protest against Netflix before the premiere of the film “Elisa and Marcela” at the 69th Berlinale use of chemical weapons in comment. Panama said it should rorist financing regimes”. film festival in Berlin yesterday. Europe since World War II. German anti-Semitic offences rise in 2018 Pence hails $414m deal

AFP coarsened and grown more other Jewish community leaders which was subsequently axed. on US rockets for Poland BERLIN polarised. have accused the AfD of Days after the belt assault, A mass influx of mostly fomenting hate against refugees, some 2,000 people rallied at a AFP His comments were echoed Anti-Semitic offences rose almost Muslim refugees and migrants to Muslims and Jews. Germany has “Berlin Wears Kippa” solidarity WARSAW by Polish President Andrzej 10 percent in Germany last year, Germany from 2015 drove the also witnessed a rise in anti- demonstration, matched by Duda, who has lobbied Wash- and violent attacks were up more rise of the far-right and anti- Semitic attacks committed by smaller events in several other The US and Poland finalised a ington hard for a permanent US than 60 percent, crime statistics immigration Alternative for migrants from Arab states. German cities. deal yesterday for Warsaw to military presence in Poland. showed yesterday. Germany (AfD) party, which since In one prominent case last Most anti-Semitic offences buy American mobile rocket The purchase will have “a Police recorded 1,646 late 2017 is the biggest opposition year a 19-year-old Syrian man were however committed by far- launchers worth $414m as it huge impact not only on offences motivated by hatred group in parliament. was convicted for assault after right perpetrators, reported the lobbies Washington to boost strengthening the defence against Jews, said a government Party co-leader Alexander lashing out with his belt at an Berlin daily Tagesspiegel in an troops on Polish soil. potential of Poland and the answer to a request by far-left Gauland described Nazi Ger- Israeli man”. A video of the street article on the new crime statistics. “We are pleased to partner Polish army but will also Die Linke party lawmaker Petra many’s industrial-scale murder assault, filmed by the victim on Pau in her statement charged that with you in Poland’s national increase security in our part of Pau. of Jews and other minorities as a his smartphone, had sparked “we are seeing that militant right- defence,” US Vice-President Europe, on the eastern flank of Among these were 62 violent mere “speck of bird poo in over widespread public revulsion as wing extremists can openly call Mike Pence said in Warsaw as the Atlantic Alliance,” Duda said. offences that left 43 people 1,000 years of successful German it spread on social media, and for the desecration of Jewish the deal was inked in an air The first stage of the acqui- injured, up from 37 physical history”. triggered street rallies in soli- institutions and attacks against hangar filled with Polish and US sition of “20 HIMARS systems” attacks the previous year. Another leading AfD poli- darity with Jews. Jewish people”. troops. will go ahead in 2023, he added. Germany, like other western tician, Bjoern Hoecke, has criti- News of the belt attack coin- A rising number of people It means that “Poland is Pence and US Secretary of countries, has watched with cised the sprawling Holocaust cided with another public outcry, and groups in the “grey zone taking its place among the most State Mike Pompeo are head- alarm as anti-Semitic and other memorial in Berlin as a “mon- over a rap duo who made light between conservatism and right- capable and formidable nations lining a conference in Warsaw racist hate speech and violence ument of shame”. The president of Nazi death camp prisoners but wing extremism are denying the in the world,” he added, under- on security issues in the Middle have increased in recent years as of the Central Council of Jews in went on to win the music indus- Holocaust and engaging in anti- scoring that US will “always” East that the US is co-hosting the political climate has Germany, Josef Schuster, and try’s sales-based Echo award, Semitic agitation,” she said. stand with Nato ally Poland. with Poland. THURSDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2019 AMERICAS 17 Trump still coy on border deal, but expected to sign

AP Trump and his aides new, longer-term bill separately, WASHINGTON have also signalled as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, that he is preparing D-Calif, is pushing. US President Donald Trump isn’t to use executive Democrats are also pressing showing his hand yet. But with to try to make sure employees little Washington appetite for action to try to secure of federal contractors receive another shutdown, he’s expected additional funding for back pay for wages lost during to grudgingly accept an the wall by shifting the last shutdown. The continued agreement that would keep the federal dollars without haggling means that a House government open but provide vote can’t come before Thursday just a fraction of the money he’s congressional sign-off. night, at the earliest. been demanding for his Mexican Given the back-and-forth, border wall. dollars without congressional Press Secretary Sarah Sanders Addressing the deal at the sign-off. told reporters the President was White House yesterday, Trump Accepting the deal, worked awaiting a final version before said he would be taking “a very out by congressional negotiators making a final call. “We want to serious look” at the text when from both parties, would be a see the final piece of legislation, Diplomacy with Colombia the White House receives it from disappointment for a president and we’ll make a determination US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greet Colombian President Ivan Duque Congress. Lawmakers on Capitol who has repeatedly insisted he at that point,” she said. (second right) and his wife Maria Ruiz (right) at the White House in Washington, DC, yesterday. The Hill were still haggling over final needs $5.7bn for a barrier along Trump added that, no matter details, but they appeared on the US-Mexico border and what, “The wall is being built as US President hosted his Colombian counterpart to discuss their campaign to pressure Venezuela’s track to finish soon. painted the project as para- we speak.” “We’re going to have far left President, Nicolas Maduro, to give up his power. “We’re going to look at the mount for national security. a great wall. It’s going to be a legislation when it comes and I’ll Trump turned down a similar great, powerful wall,” he said. make a determination,” Trump deal in December, forcing the In conversations with allies, said, telling reporters he’d be 35-day partial shutdown that left however, Trump has complained looking out for any “land mines”. hundreds of thousands of federal about the deal, calling the com- Brazil President leaves hospital Still, he reiterated his workers without paychecks and mittee members poor negoti- aversion to another shutdown, Republicans reeling. ators, said a person familiar with AFP repeatedly pushed back over the in charge from his hospital bed. the likely result if he rejects the Lawmakers tentatively the conversations. Trump has SAO PAULO past couple of weeks as he was But jockeying within the agreement, saying one would be agreed to a deal that would also made clear that he’d wanted treated for post-op complica- government during his absence “a terrible thing”. White House provide nearly $1.4bn for border more money for the wall and has Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro tions including vomiting, fluid led some observers to say he had officials cautioned that they have barriers and keep the gov- expressed concern the plan is left hospital Wednesday, ending buildup and a bout of left Brazil rudderless shortly yet to receive full legislative lan- ernment funded for the rest of being spun as a defeat for him in a 17-day hiatus at the helm of pneumonia. after taking office at the guage. And Trump has a history the fiscal year, which ends on the media. Latin America’s biggest economy A convoy took him from the beginning of January. of suddenly balking at deals after September 30. Filling in the Still, allies believe the pres- during which several high- Sao Paulo hospital where he was There was “a kind of power signaling he would sign them. details has taken some time, as ident has little choice but to sign profile political issues were put treated to the airport. He then vacuum,” Thomaz Favaro of the But barring any major changes, is typical, and aides reported and move on. The agreement on the backburner. took an air force plane to fly to political risk consultancy Control he is nonetheless expected to Wednesday that the measure would allow 88km of new Bolsonaro, 63, underwent the capital Brasilia. A photo Risks told AFP. acquiesce, according to two had hit some snags, though they fencing — constructed using surgery on January 28 to remove posted by his office showed Bol- He said there was “a bit of White House officials. doubted they would prove fatal. existing designs such as metal a colostomy bag and seal intes- sonaro smiling as he walked worry” among hundreds of offi- Trump and his aides have Last-minute hang-ups slats — but far less than the tines perforated when he was down a corridor with officials in cials appointed to run gov- also signalled that he is pre- include whether to include a 345km the White House stabbed by a lone assailant last tow. ernment ministries, agencies and paring to use executive action to simple extension of the Violence demanded in December. The September while campaigning The far-right leader, a state-run companies on how to try to secure additional funding Against Women Act as Senate fencing would be built in Texas’ to be president. former paratrooper, had sought implement Bolsonaro’s agenda for the wall by shifting federal Republicans want or move a Rio Grande Valley. His discharge date was to project an image of still being while he was in hospital.

Canadian woman charged for Former US Air Force officer faces spy charges after defecting to Iran throwing chairs REUTERS She defected to Iran in 2013 Horizon Organisation, that it said counterintelligence missions in WASHINGTON and presumably still lives there, works to recruit foreign the Middle East. off balcony US officials said. attendees. Witt appears to have turned US authorities yesterday charged “She decided to turn against Witt faces two counts of against the United States some AFP former Air Force intelligence the United States and shift her delivering military information time before February 2012, when OTTAWA officer Monica Witt (pictured) loyalty to Iran,” said Jay Tabb, the to a foreign government and one she traveled to Iran to attend a with helping Iran launch a cyber- FBI’s executive assistant director count of conspiracy. New Horizon conference that A Canadian woman captured spying operation that targeted for national security. “Her According to an indictment featured anti-US propaganda. in a video posted on social her former colleagues after she primary motivation appears to unsealed yesterday, Witt served When warned by the FBI that media throwing chairs from a defected from the United States. be ideological.” Washington also as a counterintelligence officer trip that Iranian intelligence high-rise condo onto a major The US Justice Department charged four Iranian nationals in the Air Force from 1997 until services were trying to recruit Toronto thoroughfare below said Witt, 39, assembled dossiers who it said were involved in the 2008 and worked as contractor her, Witt allegedly promised that was charged yesterday with on eight US military intelligence cyberattacks. US officials also for two years after that. she would not talk about her mischief and endangering lives. agents she had worked with for imposed sanctions on an Iran During that time, she was counterintelligence work if she anti-American propaganda film. Marcella Zoia, 19, surren- Iranian hackers, who then used firm, Net Peygard Samavat granted high-level security returned to Iran. “I am endeavoring to put the dered to police following a Facebook and e-mail to try to Company, that it said conducted clearances, learned Farsi at a U.S. But later that year, she training I received to good use public outcry, and now faces a install spyware on their the hacking operation, and military language school, and helped an unnamed Iranian- instead of evil,” she told that possible jail sentence if con- computers. Iranian events company, New was deployed overseas for American official produce an person in an email. victed on all three counts. She was due to appear in court. It’s unclear what motivated her to throw two chairs and FBI releases drawings other items off the balcony from what police said was a “very high floor” early Saturday. by US serial killer Police said the items could have maimed or killed a pedes- to identify victims trian or caused a major traffic accident on the city’s Gardiner AFP in identifying them. Expressway — one of the WASHINGTON The drawings include details busiest streets in Canada. such as the color of a victim’s Instead, the chairs smashed The FBI has released 16 chilling eyes or hair or the blue head- onto the sidewalk at the con- portraits drawn by a man who scarf she was wearing when she dominium building’s entrance. may be the most prolific serial was abducted. Nobody was injured. killer in US history in an attempt One picture, for example, to identify some of his victims. depicts a white woman with Samuel Little, a 78-year-old green eyes and brown hair aged 78 detainees drifter, has confessed to 90 between 20 and 25 years old murders committed between who was killed in Maryland in escape Haiti jail 1970 and 2005 and law 1972. enforcement authorities have Another is of a black woman A man pulls a child in a sled during a winter snowstorm in Ottawa, Ontario, yesterday. AFP corroborated more than 40 of between 23 and 25 years old PORT-AU-PRINCE them so far. with bright red lipstick and red Little, a 6ft 3in (1.9m) former earrings. She was killed in 1984 At least six people have died in Eastern Canada digs out from snowstorm boxer also known as Samuel in Georgia and may have been nearly weeklong protests McDowell, is serving a life sen- a college student. demanding that President AFP hour were also expected in the heavy parkas trying to dig out. tence for murder in a Texas Another is of a black woman Jovenel Moise resign in Haiti, OTTAWA evening, blowing snow and The odd commuter on skis was prison. with purple hair aged between which saw fresh tensions and severely reducing visibility from spotted headed to work. Others Little mainly targeted drug 25 and 28 years old who was a major prison break Tuesday. A huge snowstorm blanketed Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal wore snowshoes. addicts and prostitutes during killed in Houston, Texas, All 78 detainees at the eastern Canada yesterday, to the Atlantic coast provinces. Public broadcaster CBC his decades-long coast-to-coast decades ago. prison in Aquin, a city of around closing schools, grounding A winter storm warning was Radio started reporting the murder spree and many of his - Nomadic life - Bobby 100,000 on the south coast of hundreds of flights and forcing in place for much of the region near-record dump in height of victims were never identified. Bland, the district attorney in the country’s Tiburon many workers to stay home as and travel was not advised. dog breeds - from a Beagle to a Little usually strangled his Ector County, Texas, told AFP in Peninsula, escaped around tens of thousands of plows Nearly 250 flights were can- Great Dane, and invited kids to victims, the FBI said, and many December that the total number midday, a national police toiled to clear roads. celled in Montreal since call in to share their “snow day” of the deaths were not investi- of confirmed killings attributed spokesman said. Big white fluffy snowflakes Tuesday, while travellers stories after scheduled guests gated as homicides but were to Little is now more than 40. The exact circumstances of began falling Tuesday afternoon, described disruptions at the cancelled. attributed to drug overdoses, “He’s talking about things, the prison break are unclear, with more than 30 centimeters country’s biggest airport in Ice sculptures for the city’s accidents or natural causes. cases that happened up to 50 but witnesses said it took place (12 inches) accumulated on the Toronto, where flight cancella- annual Winterlude festival, The Federal Bureau of years ago, and he’s giving details during an anti-Moise demon- ground by the next morning and tions topped 400, as a meanwhile, were wrapped to Investigation on Tuesday pub- on all these different murders, stration in front of the police more on the way, according to nightmare. protect them from snow, ice lished the 16 portraits drawn by and none of the statements he’s station adjoining the weather forecasts. In Ottawa, residents pellets, possible freezing rain Little from memory in his prison made have proven to be false,” penitentiary. Wind gusts up to 70km per sweated under toques and and strong winds. cell and asked the public for help Bland said. 18 HOME THURSDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2019 Admissions in private school streamlined

The Peninsula recently organised an interactive session with the representatives of Students of Olive International School private schools to discuss number of issues including availability of private school seats, admission process, fee structures, recently approved two shifts in some schools and the measures taken by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and private schools to improve system and quality of education in the country. A number of representatives from The Next Generation (TNG) School, Stafford Sri Lankan School-Doha and Olive International School participated in the panel discussion.

SANAULLAH ATAULLAH from pillar to post for admission of their children THE PENINSULA earlier. Differences in admission schedule from one school to another also used to create problems for The linking private schools’ enrolment process with parents that could eventually lead missing one aca- online registration mechanism of the Ministry of demic year in some cases. Education and Higher Education has brought more Since private schools operating in Qatar are fol- transparency in school admissions within a spec- lowing different curricula like Indian, British, Paki- ified period of time under different curriculum. stani, Sri Lankan etc. which require the schools to The system is part of a number of measures taken abide by the academic years of respective by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education curricula. Administrator at Stafford Sri Lankan date given by the Ministry,” said Sivapragasam Sivam, in cooperation with private schools to solve the The guidelines from the Ministry of Education School-Doha. Principal of Stafford Sri Lankan School-Doha. “Our problems of parents seeking admission of their and Higher Education and portals run by the schools “Last time, the Ministry instructed us to begin admission system requires parents to apply online children in a suitable private school. are helpful in providing enough and accurate infor- registration from March 1 onward,” said Mariam through our portal which has detailed information The registration system of the Ministry also made mation to parents regarding admissions deadline. Khan, Registrar at The Next Generation School about registration process,” said Uzma Ansari, Exec- some schools set priority to the students of their Detailed answers about the admission process during the meeting. She said that the school had utive Administrator at The Next Generation School. respective nationalities as the system requires in private schools and existing confusions about it started taking applications and admission tests She said that as soon as school get confirmation approval from the Ministry to enrol stu- were by the representatives of private schools in a earlier but the registration started from the Ministry about the deadline, dents from other nationalities. meeting with The Peninsula recently. from March 1 as per the the parents are called to Following the instructions of the The meeting, chaired by Deputy Man- instruction of the bring their children for Ministry, private schools upgraded aging Editor of The Peninsula, Mohammed Ministry. test. their systems and they launched Osman Ali, was attended by Samir Rai, “The Ministry “In Qatar, Indian portals offering online regis- Administrative Officer at Olive Interna- has provided an schools’ session tration and posting details about tional School; Uzma Ansari, Executive online system for begins in April. We the admission including deadline, Administrator at The Next Generation registration which run an academic year admission criteria and other latest (TNG) School; Amna Inam, Executive did not allow to from April to March,” information in this regard. Administrator at TNG School; Mariam enter any data said Samir Rai, Admin- The move also helped reduce Khan, Registrar at TNG School; Sivapragasam regarding admission istrative Officer at Olive the suffering of parents who would run Sivam, Principal and Edward S. Fernando, before the registration International School.

The Ministry has provided an online Our admission system requires The decision to allow schools to oper- system for registration which did not parents to apply online through ate classes in two shifts will have sig- allow to enter any data regarding ad- our portal which has detailed nificant positive impact on the Qatar’s mission before the registration date information about registration education sector because it will create given by the Ministry. process. new jobs.

Sivapragasam Sivam, Principal of Uzma Ansari, Executive Samir Rai, Administrative Officer Stafford Sri Lankan School-Doha. Administrator at The Next at Olive International School. Generation School.

Quality education Students of Stafford Sri Lankan School Doha ensured through strict recruitment criteria

SANAULLAH ATAULLAH problems in hiring teachers. “For THE PENINSULA example, graduates from teachers’ training schools like To maintain and continuously Colleges of Education in Sri upgrade quality standards in Lanka offer diploma programme Two shifts in schools to create new jobs private schools, the Ministry of in teachers’ education. It is three Education and Higher Education years course running in Sri has implemented strict rules for Lnaka,” said Sivam. SACHIN KUMAR gave green signal to three Indian many positive impact in general. classes. hiring teaching staff. He said that the graduates of THE PENINSULA schools to run a two-shift system The first direct impact will be on “It is a great initiative and we Though some schools faced this college are qualified teachers from the new academic year the demand of new teachers. are planning to approach the some difficulties in finding in Sri Lanka. “But we cannot The decision by the Ministry of (2019-20), starting from April Two- shifts mean schools will Ministry of Education and Higher teachers meeting set standards recruit them here in Qatar Education and Higher Education this year. need more teachers because Education to seek their approval initially but private schools’ rep- because they are not holding a to allow schools to operate two The MES Indian School, Ideal existing teachers will not be able for running two shift in our resentatives in a meeting with Bachelor’s degree according to shifts will create new job oppor- Indian School and Shantiniketan to work in two shifts simultane- schools. We always face high The Peninsula said that the move the regulation of the Ministry,” tunities in country’ education Indian School have been given ously,” said Uzma Ansari from demand for admissions. This will help improve the education he added. According to repre- sector. Experts believe that new permission by the Ministry of run The Next Generation School. huge demand can be met by quality in the country. sentatives of the schools, spouses system will also solve the classes in morning and afternoon When a school is planned, it allowing more schools to run two “There are very qualified and on the sponsorship of their hus- problem of shortage of seats for shifts. creates demand for many other shifts,” said a senior official of a specialist teachers in the schools bands can teach if they have new students. “The decision to allow two goods and services. Teacher is private school. operating in Qatar because of the Bachelor’s degrees in education The Ministry of Education shifts in schools is a step in the one important aspect of school Qatar is witnessing rapid requirements of the Ministry after issuance of work permit. and Higher Education recently right direction as it will have but there are other associated economic growth which is regarding the qualification of services like administrative staff, attracting high number of skilled teachers,” said Uzma Ansari from security persons, school expatriates from across the The Next Generation School. Students of Stafford Sri Lankan School Doha transport, stationary goods and globe. Qatar needs new schools For example, she said, a with their trophies during an event. other such related things. A and new initiatives such as two- teacher with a educational school is an important element shift system to create additional degree like Bachelors in Islamic of country’s economy. seats for new students. studies cannot be a class teacher “The decision to allow Realising the growing or teach other subject beyond schools to operate classes in two demand for more schools and their specialization. “A teacher shifts will have significant pos- attract private sector investment holding a Bachelor’s degree in itive impact on the Qatar’s edu- in the education sector, the Min- Islamic studies is allowed only to cation sector because it will istry of Education and Higher teach Islamic studies even if they create new jobs,” said Samir Rai, Education last month announced hold diploma in computer or Administrative Officer, Olive plans to build 45 schools in the Master’s degree in economics,” International School. coming years under public- said Ansari. There will also be a positive private partnership. She said that as per the Min- impact on the country’s transport According to the plan, the istry’s rules and regulations, sector. A big part of students use first phase consisting of eight schools should hire specialist bus transport provided by schools whose plots of land were teachers of bachelor degree in schools. It means that there will allocated, are expected to be education and take approval strong demand for new buses, offered during the summer of from the Ministry before drivers and attendants who 2021 . recruitment. Sivapragasam ensure safety of students in the The approved project system Sivam from from Stafford Sri bus. will include design, construction, Lankan School-Doha said that Encouraged by this new ini- finance, operation, maintenance there were some practical tiative, several other schools are of buildings and transfer of own- planning to apply for two-shift ership of schools. THURSDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2019 HOME 19 through online registration, enrolment

no confusion if the parents follow the guidelines of the Ministry. SPOTLIGHT ON “Few parents are facing diffi- culties due to the fact that usually back in their home countries they EDUCATION follow one curriculum whereas Qatar provides variety of curricula,” said Amna Inam from The Next Generation School. She said that the He said generally registration for admission in Indian admissions process had closed on October 31 for schools begins in December. current session (2018-19) but the registration “Admissions in Stafford Sri Lankan School-Doha remained opened until January 31 for all curricula normally start in March,” said Edward S. Fernando. for those students who arrived in the country after “Session timing of schools are different according passage of first deadline. to the curriculum. For example two Pakistani schools “The Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Qatar which are simultaneously running British has provided portal for admission which remains curriculum with Pakistani curriculum are following open for specific time. Even if we want to enrol any two different timing sessions; August for British cur- student beyond that given time, the system rejects riculum and March for Pakistani curriculum,” said the attempt,” said Sivapragasam Sivam, Principal of Mariam Khan. Stafford Sri Lankan School-Doha. “We checked with the Ministry of Education and He said that as per admissions rules set by the “We just got an application from a child who moved The Ministry held a workshop to introduce an Higher Education about possibility of having Sri Ministry, schools cannot register students after Qatar from Dubai. His younger sister got admission online system to schools for better communication Lankan curriculum with British one, they said that October 31. “For example a student come from Sri as it was approved by the Ministry upon the request with parents. The school received user names and you could not have like that because of two calendars Lanka in February so they will have to wait for next of parents.” passwords and the system partially started oper- and two different methodologies,” said Edward S. session to get the admission,” said Sivam. She said that the child got admission in class 2 ation. However, schools have their own online Fernando, Administrator of the school. He said that Edward S. Fernando said that in Sri Lanka the but the parents requested the school and the Min- systems to receive the application from parents if it is allowed, it will be better for the future of school academic year ends in December. “So if they istry to allow the student to repeat class 1. “So the seeking admission and communicate with them. students. shift to Qatar in January expecting to get enrolled in Ministry asked the school to submit another request Uzam Ansari said that as per regis- “I believe the parents are January it is not possible as by that time we have for this purpose. We submitted the request and are tration process of TNG School, the confused when they covered quarter of an academic year,” said expecting approval within a couple of days,” candidate should apply online come from other coun- Fernando. said Ansari. first as paper application forms tries they find dif- Samir Rai said that Olive Interna- Sivapragasam Sivam said that are no more acceptable. “We ferent types of cur- tional School posted detailed infor- the Ministry asked the schools to use OpenSees software for ricula especially mation about the admissions on the follow rules strictly in cases like admission process and a when they see portal of the school including date repeating classes and enrolling mobile application to com- Pakistani schools of registration and availability of after the deadline of admis- municate with parents and following British seats. sions. “In such cases, we send homework through it if and US curriculum,” Uzma Ansari said that schools approach the Ministry seeking student could not attend classes said Uzma Ansari. She require approval from the Ministry approval otherwise we get warning during leave.” said that there will be for exceptional cases of admission. from the Ministry,” said Sivam.

Few parents are facing difficulties Session timing of schools are different In Sri Lanka the school academic due to the fact that usually back in according to the curriculum. For year ends in December. “So if they their home countries they follow example two Pakistani schools in Qatar shift to Qatar in January expecting one curriculum whereas Qatar which are simultaneously running British to get enrolled in January it is not provides variety of curricula. curriculum with Pakistani curriculum are possible as by that time we have following two different timing sessions covered quarter of an academic year Amna Inam, Executive Administrator at The Next Generation School. Mariam Khan, Registrar at The Next Edward S. Fernando, Administrator at Generation School. Stafford Sri Lankan School-Doha. More seats, two shifts bring relief for private schools

SANAULLAH ATAULLAH Allotment of plots of land to community THE PENINSULA schools and a recent decision to allow some private schools to run afternoon shifts from The measures taken by the Ministry of Education and Higher next academic year are among major steps Education to increase the avail- taken by the Ministry to maintain the supply of ability of seats in private schools seats to private schools meeting the increasing has brought relief for some schools. However, some other demand. schools plan to build new campuses and add more classes afternoon shifts as well. students unlike Indian schools to meet the growing demand of DPS MIS that already has a which allow only Indian stu- seats. school in Al Wakra will be dents,” said Mariam Khan. Allotment of plots of land to opening its second campus in Al Uzma Ansari from the same community schools and a recent Wukair this year. Samir Rai said school said: “We have some seats decision to allow some private that the move will help to solve only at our new fifth campus.” schools to run afternoon shifts the problem of the shortage of She said that as per the policy of from next academic year are seats in a big way in coming aca- the Ministry, a classroom should among major steps taken by the demic year. not exceed 30 students for Ministry to maintain the supply “The biggest challenge for primary level and 25 for upper Students of Olive International School of seats to private schools our school is to provide seats,” levels. during a function. meeting the increasing demand. said Mariam Khan, Registrar of Sivapragasam Sivam, Prin- Representatives of private The Next Generation (TNG) cipal of Stafford Sri Lankan schools in a meeting with The School, adding that the school is School-Doha said: “We, as the growing number of students as Khor to build a new campus. another campus. Peninsula have lauded the move looking forward to have a new only Sri Lnankan school oper- we are operating on full capacity. “Now we are trying to build new “Following the instruction of the Ministry which according campus. ating in Qatar, are instructed by “Recently, we built 25 classrooms campus,” he added. of Traffic Department, we are to them ‘will solve the problems “We receive complaints the Embassy of Sri Lanka to give to increase the capacity during Uzma Ansari said that fifth trying to accommodate the stu- of schools and parents’ by sup- from parents regarding admis- admissions to all Sri Lankan stu- last summer vacations and hired campus of The Next Generation dents as per their locations so plying sufficient number of seats. sions that is why we as Pakistani dents. So we cannot reject any more staff to meet the demand,” School located close to Lusail that specific campuses we had The Ministry has allowed school (due to its Pakistani man- application regarding said Sivam. Edward S Fernadno area behind Lusial Stadium is a built for the students coming Shantiniketan Indian School agement while TNG School offers admission.” from same school said that the big villa comprising of 14 class- from those areas,” said Mariam (SIS), MES Indian School, and only British curriculum) are also However, he said, this is a government allocated a plat of rooms but there is empty land so Khan from The Next Generation Ideal Indian School to run enrolling other nationalities’ challenge to accommodate the land to Sri Lankan School in Al the school plans to construct School.

Students of The Next Generation School during an exhibition.

Staff and students of The Next Generation School celebrating an achievement. 20 MORNING BREAK THURSDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2019

PRAYER TIMINGS Your genes may Azerbaijan Ambassador visits The Peninsula FAJR 04. 53 AM SHOROOK 06. 10 AM determine how ZUHR 11. 48 AM MAGHRIB 05. 29 PM marriage will fare ASR 03. 02 PM ISHA 06. 59 PM IANS NEW YORK WEATHER TODAY Do you think you could lead a happy married life? The answer is in your genes, a new study has said. Although prior research has hinted that marital quality is, at least partially, impacted by genetic factors, and that oxytocin may be relevant to social support, according to recent studies, variation on specific genes related to oxytocin functioning impact overall marital quality, in part. They are relevant to how partners provide and receive support from each other. The study eval- uated whether different genotypes — possible genetic combinations of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) — influenced how spouses support one another, which is a key determinant of overall marital quality. OXTR was targeted because it is related to the regulation and release of oxytocin. “Genes matter when it comes to the quality of marriage, because genes are relevant to who we Dr. Khalid bin Mubarak Al-Shafi (right), Editor-in-Chief of The Peninsula, with Rashad Ismayilov (second are as individuals, and characteristics of the indi- right), Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the State of Qatar, during a visit of the Ambassador vidual can impact the marriage,” said Richard The Peninsula Mattson, Associate Professor from the Binghamton to office recently.PIC: BAHER AMIN / THE PENINSULA University in the US. 14oC 21oC Qatar-Russia Year of Culture made Minimum Maximum

Moderate temperature daytime with scat- tered clouds, cold by night. significant impact on bilateral ties

HIGH TIDE 00:54 – 09:30 LOW TIDE 06:03 –17:51 Courtesy: Qatar Meteorology Department RAYNALD C RIVERA In an interview with The THE PENINSULA Peninsula, Al Attiyah was upbeat of the long-term The Qatar-Russia 2018 Year of Culture impact of the Year of has made a significant impact on the relations between the two countries, Culture towards further said Fahad bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, strengthening the ties Ambassador of Qatar to Russia. between the two countries In an interview with The Peninsula, with partnerships Al Attiyah was upbeat of the long-term impact of the Year of Culture towards forged between various further strengthening the ties between institutions which he the two countries with partnerships termed legacy of the Year forged between various institutions which he termed legacy of the Year of of Culture. Culture. “We see that there is more awareness from people in Qatar of and even pull more investments in what Russia is and the culture that it making it a key pillar in presenting our presents, and we see that there is more culture to the rest of the world,” he eagerness with people wanting to go said. Fahad bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, Ambassador of Qatar to Russia. and visit Russia. We see the same thing Al Attiyah was speaking on the PIC: ABDUL BASIT / THE PENINSULA in Russia as a lot of Russians now want sidelines of the opening performance to come visit Qatar,” he said. of Anna Karenina by the highly Al Attiyah stressed that the impact he said. strength,” he said. acclaimed Boris Eifman Ballet of St. of Year of Culture on both the coun- The envoy was positive of the long- He underlined that the purpose of Petersburg on Tuesday. tries goes beyond cultural exchange term impact of the Year to people of the Year of Culture is to kick-start part- “We have developed over the last towards other fields such as economy. both countries. nerships and collaborations between year more than 34 events spread “The Year of Culture has an eco- “We have now partnerships nations - its different institutions, uni- between Qatar and Russia and we are nomic impact. It does not just give between the institutions, partnerships versities and academic organisations, very glad to see that we are nearing people the opportunity to watch ballet which are the legacy of the Year of among others. towards the very end. This per- and other events but also have the Culture. They will translate into “I think the Year of Culture concept formance comes just before the con- desire to go and visit, perhaps invest perhaps greater agreements, joint ven- is one of the greatest ideas I have ever clusion of Qatar Russia Year of Culture or explore Russia and that is in itself tures, collaborations, and it will just come across. I think we should put which will culminate with the Love Ball part of the legacy of Year of Culture,” continue to go from strength to enormous amount of emphasis on it by the end of March,” he said. Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg marks Doha debut

RAYNALD C RIVERA happy and pleased,” said Al THE PENINSULA Attiyah. H E Nurmakhmad Kholov, Critically acclaimed Eifman the Ambassador of the Russian Ballet of St. Petersburg marked Federation to Qatar, said: “As the its successful Doha debut with a Ambassador of the Russian Fed- deeply riveting interpretation of eration, I’m happy to provide the Leo Tolstoy’s classic novel Anna friendly Qatari people and res- Karenina to capacity crowds on idents of the country with an Tuesday and yesterday at Qatar opportunity to see this fantastic National Convention Center’s Al ballet performance for the first Mayassa Theatre. time.” Dance fans who thronged “As one of the main cultural the venue applauded the bulwarks of Russia, ballet has a two-act version of the great special place in the hearts of our novel by the Russian literary people and in our history. We are giant given a fresh take by multi- pleased to share this experience award winning choreographer with the people of Qatar, who Boris Eifman with music by continue to welcome cultural revered Russian composer Pyotr exchange and mutual under- Tchaikovsky. standing. I am hopeful that The performance centred on Russia and Qatar continue their the love triangle of Anna, mutual cooperation in the field Karenin and Vronsky and the of culture as well as other circumstances that led to the important venues pertaining to Critically acclaimed Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg makes its Doha debut with a deeply riveting interpretation of Leo Tolstoy’s classic main protagonist’s path to self- our relationship,” said Kholov. novel Anna Karenina to capacity crowds on Tuesday and yesterday at Qatar National Convention Center’s Al Mayassa Theatre. destruction, as well as reflected On the sidelines of the show, PIC: ABDUL BASIT / THE PENINSULA Russian society during Tolstoy’s Eifman Ballet also held a tour for time. young ballet students, intro- The highly theatrical two- productions and captured the featured Angela Turko (Anna), provided great opportunity to the context of Qatar Russia 2018 ducing them to their per- hour long show blending music, time with spectacular costumes Sergey Volobuev (Karenin) and bring Eifaman Ballet to Doha for Year of Culture and it is very formance onstage. The young light and movement executed and stage design. Igor Subbotin (Vronsky). the first time. vital that we expose both Qataris attendees included both Qatar with exceptional skill by Eif- The opening night cast was Speaking to The Peninsula “Eifman Ballet is one of the and residents in Qatar to the Foundation Ballet and Sophie man’s virtuoso dancers enter- led by ballet laureates Daria at the opening night, H E Fahad most renowned in the world and gems of Russian literature and McDonald Dance Company stu- tained hundreds in the audience. Reznik in the titular role along bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah, they are performing Anna theatre and ballet is one of them, dents, with movable ballet bars It charmed the audience with its with Oleg Markov as Karenin Ambassador of the State of Qatar Karenina based on the novel by and vice versa in Russia. We produced especially for the tour. psychological energy character- and Oleg Gabyshev as Vronsky to the Russian Federation, said Leo Tolstoy, one of Russia’s have a full house today and The ballet bars will be left as a istic of many of Eifman’s ballet while yesterday’s performance Qatar Russia Year of Culture has greatest writers. It comes within tomorrow which makes me very legacy to Qatar Foundation.