BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 7 Duhail begin Asian INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2-4 20 COMMENT 18, 19 4 1-6, 9-12 campaign REGION BUSINESS 24,601.27 8,987.51 59.34 ARAB WORLD 5 CLASSIFIED 7-9 IQ profi t jumps 12% +410.37 -57.31 +0.14 INTERNATIONAL 6-17 SPORTS 1-7 in style +1.70% -0.63% +0.24% to QR3.3bn in 2017 Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

TUESDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10728 February 13, 2018 Jumada I 27, 1439 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals FM says all In brief sportspeople QATAR | Aviation First Qatar Airways fl ight from Doha to Canberra The first Qatar Airways flight from are welcome Doha to Canberra, the capital city of Australia, touched down yesterday at Canberra Airport, to a celebratory water cannon salute. Qatar Airways flight QR906 departed Hamad International Airport (HIA) on Sunday in Qatar 7.55am and arrived at Canberra Airport at 8.35am yesterday. On board the zDoha wants a peaceful neighbourhood inaugural Qatar Airways flight to Canberra, Qatar Airways Group chief zQatar will continue to prosper despite siege executive Akbar al-Baker, was joined by the Australian ambassador to Qatar, portspeople from around the Axel Wabenhorst. Page 2 world, irrespective of their po- Slitical or national backgrounds, ARAB WORLD | Confl ict His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met yesterday morning at his Emiri Diwan off ice with the visiting are welcome in Qatar, HE the Deputy International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde. During the meeting, they reviewed the co-operation Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Russians killed in clash relations between Qatar and the IMF and the prospects for their development. Page 3 Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al- with US-led forces in Syria Thani has said. Russian fighters were among those In an interview to CNN, the minister killed when US-led coalition forces said Saudi footballers are welcome to clashed with pro-government forces in play in Qatar 2022 World Cup and they Syria this month, former associates of are welcome always, even today. the dead said yesterday. A US off icial Answering a question, he said Qatar has said more than 100 fighters aligned has not barred anyone from participat- with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad ing in sport activities in the country. died when coalition and local coalition- IMF chief lauds With reference to Saudi Arabia, he said backed forces thwarted a large attack it was Riyadh that has ordered its citi- HE the Deputy Prime Minister and overnight on February 7. Russia’s zens out of Qatar. Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Defence Ministry, which supports “We never politicise sports, educa- Abdulrahman al-Thani. Assad’s forces in the Syrian civil war, tion, culture or people’s life. It is their said at the time that pro-government decision, we cannot do anything with an important partner in countering ter- militias involved in the incident had that. Everybody from the GCC region rorism and the US recognised its role. been carrying out reconnaissance and Qatar’s robust or the rest of the world is welcome in “There is no evidence for the terror- no Russian servicemen had been in the Doha. Welcome to play football or to ism accusation… they failed to support area. play any type of sport or to study or to the charge with any evidence. In fact, do business. No one is being sanctioned Qatar is a front-runner when it comes AMERICA | Climate because of his ethnicity or because of to the fi ght against terror.” his background.” Asked how long can Qatar hold on in Sea level rise is Answering a query about Qatar’s the face of a prolonged boycott by Saudi accelerating: study non-oil growth ties with Iran, he said Doha wanted a Arabia and its siege partners, the for- Sea level rise is accelerating and peaceful neighbourhood. “We are shar- eign minister said: “Well, in Qatar we could reach 26 inches (66cm) by By Santhosh V Perumal tling of administered mechanism in the ing borders with Iran as we share bor- have no pressure. The main pressure for century’s end, in line with United Business Reporter domestic fuel prices and other fi scal ders with Saudi. We have diff erences us is when we see our people suff ering. Nations estimates and enough to measures. with Iran and their policies, and we are This is the only pressure. Economically, cause significant problems for coastal The Middle East in general and the sharing with them an LNG fi eld…the there were some challenges in the be- cities, a study said yesterday. The past he International Monetary Fund Gulf economies in particular had been largest natural gas fi eld. ginning and then it is done, life is mov- annual rate of sea level rise — about (IMF) yesterday said Qatar’s ro- taking series of reforms ever since the “The diff erences and confl icts be- ing on, everything is (okay), our growth 3mm (0.1 inches) per year — may more Tbust non-oil growth is a testa- oil prices fell from its high of $147 a tween us and the region won’t be solved rate is one of the best in the region, we than triple to 10mm per year by 2100, ment to its successful diversifi cation barrel but there were reports that some on the battlefi eld, they will be solved by are moving ahead.” said the report in the Proceedings of and hailed Doha’s sustained proactive of the economies had applied brakes to dialogue.” He went on to add: “The other as- the National Academy of Sciences strategic reforms despite complacen- the reforms due to the recent strength- To a question on allegations that pects, if there are no provocations, no (PNAS), a peer-reviewed US journal. cy in the Middle East owing to recent ening of oil prices. Qatar supported terrorism and the US market manipulation as they are do- The findings are “roughly in agreement strengthening of oil prices. Asserting that the recent increase views on it, the foreign minister said ing, trying to violate our skies or trying with the Intergovernmental Panel on Terming Qatar as a “highly valued in oil price is certainly not a reason to Washington recognises the partnership to provoke our people or incite against Climate Change (IPCC) 5th Assessment partner”, Christine Lagarde, the IMF slowdown the process (of reforms) and of Qatar in countering terrorism. “In them, life will go on, nothing will aff ect Report (AR5) model projections,” Managing Director, said growth in the IMF Managing Director Christine be complacent; she said “It seems not fact, the recently held Strategic Dia- it. But, this continuous provocation is said the report, based on 25 years of country’s non-hydrocarbon sector has Lagarde addresses QU roundtable in to be the case with this country (Qa- logue said very clearly that Qatar was just making the tension worse.” satellite data. been much on par with that of the oil Doha yesterday. tar).” importing countries. In his opening remarks, QU presi- SPORT | Tennis “This, in our view, is a clear indica- been growing faster than the hydrocar- dent Dr Hassan al-Derham welcomed tion of good diversifi cation strategy bons. On a yearly basis, the mining and Lagarde and said the university has Sharapova exits in that is actually generating growth,” she quarrying sector is estimated to have developed a new strategy aiming at en- Doha fi rst round said in Doha yesterday at the roundta- grown 0.2% and non-oil sector by 3.6% hancing its academic programmes and Maria Sharapova’s return to the Qatar ble organised by Qatar University (QU), during the third quarter of 2017. research, and to boosting its eff orts to Qatar deals cautiously Open for the first time in five years in collaboration with the Ministry of Within non-hydrocarbons, the support the development of the local was cut short yesterday when the wild Finance. wholesale and retail trade’s real growth economy. card was handed a first-round exit An IMF projection suggests that Qa- year-on-year is estimated to be 10.9%, “Qatar has developed many strate- with new media: GCO with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 loss to Romanian tar’s real gross domestic product (GDP) manufacturing 10%, construction gies to support the research fi eld. These qualifier Monica Niculescu. Sharapova is slated to expand 3.1% this year, which 8.8%, utilities 5%, information and include the establishment of Qatar Na- won the opening set but faced a is higher than the Gulf Co-operation communication 3.6%, real estate 1.5%; tional Research Fund and Qatar Science QNA It also requires that a reaction is only struggle from that point onwards as Council average of 2.2%. Doha’s non- while that of fi nance and insurance fell and Technology Park, and the launch Doha given to major issues and to not be she exited after more than two-and- oil (real) GDP is expected to grow 1.4% 1.4%, transport and storage 0.3% and of a new vision for Qatar Development dragged into sub-issues,” he said. a-half hours of battle. The five-time compared to a higher 4.7% in the non- accommodation and catering (0.1%), Bank. These eff orts play a crucial role in During the fi rst fi ve months of the grand slam champion struggled on hydrocarbon real GDP. MDPS had said. diversifying the economy and making it atar’s bilateral investment and crisis, the GCO held more than 500 tel- serve, striking 11 double faults and According to the Ministry of De- The Breton Woods’ institution was sustainable, while building a culture of economic relations have sig- evision interviews and local and inter- ending with a massive 52 unforced velopment Planning and Statistics highly appreciative of Qatar’s strate- entrepreneurship in the country,” he Qnifi cantly developed after the national press interviews with ministers errors. Sport Page 1 (MDPS), Qatar’s non-oil sector has gic reforms, which includes disman- said. Gulf crisis began, the Government and government offi cials to present the Communications Offi ce (GCO) direc- Qatari point of view and to inform the tor, HE Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed bin Saif Qatari public and the world about the lat- al-Thani, said yesterday. est developments and its repercussions. “Qatar has achieved a great global The Foreign Ministry spokesperson presence through the participation of HE Lulwa al-Khater spoke about means ministers and offi cials in various events of communication and the develop- All set for National Sport Day celebration today in diff erent countries,” he pointed out ment of the media and its relation with at a panel discussion held by the Diplo- diff erent levels of society and the public By Joseph Varghese Foundation (QF), the Museum of Islamic tions as well as 22 government organi- sports federations and 24 health and matic Institute of the Ministry of For- domain. Staff Reporter Art Park and The Pearl-Qatar are among sations and private companies are also food establishments. eign Aff airs. She believed that social media al- the venues hosting National Sport Day taking part in activities at Aspire Zone. The activities on off er include Roman “Qatar is not sensitive about the so- lows anyone to identify with alterna- activities today. Special events have also AZF’s National Sport Day is ex- wrestling, tennis, sailing boats, foot- cial media and new media, on the con- tive communities that are separate eople from around the country been organised by major malls/shop- pected to attract thousands of visi- ball, a parade of children with special trary it deals with it and fi nds it impor- from their social, religious, spatial and will join sports and cultural bod- ping centres as well as community or- tors. A number of outdoor and indoor needs as well as nautical games. Organ- tant, because it has nothing to fear or temporal space, thus creating a change Pies, ministries, public and private ganisations, while popular public places family-friendly activities are lined up ic healthy food, animal food products, be afraid of,” the offi cial told the event in the cultural environment within one organisations and various companies in such as the Corniche, parks around the for this occasion, some of which are low-calorie dishes, healthy sweets, or- on new media in confl ict and politi- society. celebrating the country’s seventh Na- country and beaches are also expected to being introduced for the fi rst time. ganic juices and healthy coconut water cal transformation in the Gulf region - “These media outlets have also al- tional Sport Day today. see a lot of activity today. This year’s highlights include the Fun will also be provided at the venue. The Gulf crisis as a model. lowed a person to waste temporal, A wide range of activities and at- Since 2012, the National Sport Day Run, dodgeball, Nordic Walk, Japanese activities will continue until 6pm along HE Sheikh Saif observed that while circumstantial and spatial context to tractions has been lined up at venues has been observed every year on the kendo demonstrations, various indoor the esplanade and Katara Beach. traditional media is easy to deal with, it achieve their personal purposes by around Qatar for all age groups, high- second Tuesday of February. activities at Aspire Dome and children’s QF will celebrate National Sport Day is diffi cult to handle what is published fabricating images, videos and audio lighting the importance of sports in de- AZF has said it is utilising its world- activities on Pitch 10. at a number of venues with a host of fun in the new media as it circulates and tracks and gluing them to other socie- veloping a healthy lifestyle and staying class indoor and outdoor facilities to The Katara Sport Day programme and exciting activities suitable for the develops so fast and focuses on the so- ties with no truth,” she said while re- fi t through the year. off er visitors a range of unique events as starts at 8am, and various activities whole family. Events will be held across cial aspects more than any other area. minding that such actions are currently Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF), Katara part of the Sport Day celebrations. Be- will be presented in co-operation with Oxygen Park, Al Shaqab, Ceremonial “Dealing with new media requires happening with Qatar in the context of – the Cultural Village Foundation, Qatar sides, a large number of sports federa- 62 entities, including 11 ministries, 10 Court and the Green Spine. To Page 20 speed, accuracy, focus and credibility. the Gulf crisis. Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, February 13, 2018 QATAR Message from Paraguay president Advisory Council OFFICIAL

discusses draft law Advisory Council panel studies draft laws on investment of The Advisory Council’s Financial and Economic Aff airs Committee held a meeting yesterday within the 46th regular session of the Council chaired by its Rapporteur non-Qatari capital Ali bin Abdullatif al-Misnad. The committee fully studied the following draft laws: QNA The Council also reviewed a gies and development plans. A draft law on national tourism Doha request for a general discussion After extensive discussions, council; a draft law on regulating presented by a number of mem- the Council decided to forward tourism; and a draft law on bers on the issue of food secu- the request for a general discus- organising business events. he weekly Advisory rity. sion to the Finance and Eco- The committee decided to submit Council meeting chaired Members of the Council nomic Aff airs Committee for its recommendations on the draft Tby Speaker, HE Ahmed stressed the exceptional impor- further study and a report. laws to the Advisory Council. bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mah- tance of this issue, particularly As part of the agenda of yes- moud, discussed a draft law reg- in light of the unjust siege im- terday’s session, al-Mahmoud Ministry issues ulating the investment of non- posed on the country, praising briefed the Council on the re- Qatari capital in the country’s the eff orts made in this regard sults of the third conference of first semester economic activity. which have so far achieved sig- the Arab Parliaments and Arab exam schedule This draft law comes within nifi cant results as high rates of Parliamentary Speakers which the framework of the State’s self-suffi ciency have reached in held on Saturday at the head- economic policy which is aimed a number of commodities and quarters of the Arab League The Ministry of Education and at encouraging investment and products such as vegetables, General Secretariat in Cairo. Higher Education has issued the attracting foreign investment, meat, dates, fi sh, dairy, poultry He also briefed the Council on first semester exam schedule for HE al-Mahmoud said, add- and eggs. the series of meetings he and the the academic year (2017-2018) for ing that it is expected to have a The Advisory Council Speaker accompanying delegation held regular day school students and His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has received a message from the positive impact on the Qatari affi rmed that these important on the sidelines of the confer- adult education students (from President of Paraguay Horacio Cartes, pertaining to bilateral relations and ways to develop them. economy. achievements were achieved ence, which included a meeting the first and second classes of The message was conveyed by Paraguay’s Minister of Industry and Commerce Gustavo Leite when The Council then decided to thanks to the directives of His with President of the Inter-Par- adult education to the eleventh the Emir met him at his Emiri Diwan off ice yesterday. refer the draft law to the Finance Highness the Emir Sheikh liamentary Union, secretary- grade). and Economic Aff airs Commit- Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, general of the Arab League and The Department of Student tee for further study and a re- who placed food security at the president of the Parliamentary Assessment has sent a circular port. forefront of the country’s strate- Assembly of the Mediterranean. to the principals and directors of public and private schools to the Deputy Emir meets Tunisian official eff ect. The exams will begin on Sunday and continue until Tuesday, February 27, when the 10th and 11th grades examinations end. Qatar-Estonian bilateral ties discussed

Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs Dr Ahmed bin Hassan al-Hammadi met the Undersecretary for Economic and Development Aff airs of the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs of Estonia Vaino Reinart in Doha His Highness the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani met the head of the Tunisian yesterday. Auditing Department and Secretary-General of the Arab Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions During the meeting, they (ARABOSAI), Najeeb al-Qattari, at his Emiri Diwan Off ice yesterday. During the meeting, relations discussed bilateral relations, between the two countries and issues of mutual interest were reviewed. means of boosting them, and Advisory Council Speaker, HE Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud, chairing yesterday’s session. matters of common concern.

Maiden Qatar Airways fl ight Ministry carries out surprise to Canberra touches down checks at sports goods stores QNA he fi rst Qatar Airways ice to Canberra, the total cargo Doha fl ight from Doha to Can- capacity out of the Australian Tberra, the capital city of continent has increased to more Australia, touched down yes- than 630 tonnes per week. Qatar he Ministry of Economy terday at Canberra Airport, to a Airways Cargo off ers exporters and Commerce carried celebratory water cannon salute. in Australia its innovative QR Tout surprise inspections Qatar Airways fl ight QR906 Fresh solution for the air freight at a large number of sports goods departed Hamad International of Australian meat and other stores in diff erent regions of the Airport (HIA) on Sunday 7.55am perishable products throughout country in conjunction with and arrived at Canberra Airport the world via its state-of-the- National Sport Day in order to at 8.35am yesterday. art hub in Doha. Its Quick Ramp monitor the suppliers’ compli- On board the inaugural Qatar Transfer (QRT) off ers the fast- ance with Law No 8 of 2008 on Airways fl ight to Canberra, Qa- est shipment transfer at Hamad consumer protection as well as tar Airways Group chief execu- International Airport and the ministerial laws and decisions. tive Akbar al-Baker, was joined use of reefer vehicles at its hub These campaigns come within by the Australian ambassador to ensures seamless temperature the framework of the ministry’s Qatar, Axel Wabenhorst. control for perishable products. keenness to regulate and moni- The VIP delegation was greet- The national carrier of Qatar tor the markets and commercial ed upon arrival by Minister for is one of the fastest-growing activities in Qatar with the aim Trade, Tourism and Investment airlines operating one of the of controlling prices and detect- Steven Ciobo; Qatar’s ambas- youngest fl eets in the world, ing violations in order to protect sador to Australia Nasser bin with a modern fl eet of more than the rights of consumers, the Hamad al-Khalifa; Australian 200 aircraft fl ying to business ministry said yesterday in a press Capital Territory (ACT) Chief and leisure destinations across release. Minister Andrew Barr MLA; six continents. The ministry said that dur- Canberra Airport chairman Ter- Doha – Canberra Flights ing these inspection campaigns ry Snow; and managing director Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar al-Baker being received Schedule: Doha (DOH) to Syd- notices were issued for three ir- Stephen Byron. by the Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Steven ney (SYD) QR906 departs: regularities – not issuing bills in Al-Baker said: “Qatar Air- Ciobo in Canberra yesterday. 7.55am arrives: 6.25+1. Arabic, not advertising in Ara- ways is delighted to be expand- Sydney (SYD) to Canberra bic, and not displaying the prices An off icial of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce inspecting a ing its reach in Australia by nised as the third best city in the enjoy the airline’s superior en- (CBR) QR906 departs: 7.25am of services. sports goods store. launching our fi fth gateway into world to visit by Lonely Planet.” tertainment system off ering a arrives: 8.35am. The ministry confi rmed that this beautiful country. In 2016, Canberra Airport managing wide variety of entertainment Canberra (CBR) to Sydney it will fi rmly confront all those tion campaigns to control such the rights of consumers. we launched fl ights to Sydney director Byron, said: “We are options. (SYD) QR907 departs: 1.45pm who are negligent in carrying practices and will refer anyone The economy ministry also and Adelaide, clearly demon- delighted to welcome Qatar Air- The inaugural fl ight was op- arrives: 2.45pm. out their obligations under the who violates laws and ministe- urged all consumers to report strating our commitment to ways to Canberra Airport, the erated by a Boeing B777 fi tted Sydney (SYD) to Doha (DOH) consumer protection law and its rial decisions to the competent any abuses or irregularities the people of Australia. We are second international airline to with the airline’s revolutionary QR907 departs: 3.55pm arrives: executive regulations. authorities to take appropriate through its communication extremely happy to be off ering come to Canberra. For the fi rst Qsuite. With new daily serv- 11.30pm. It will intensify its inspec- action against him and protect channels. our loyal Australian passen- time, Canberrans and around gers the chance to explore the one million people living in our newest and most exciting des- wider region will now have daily tinations we have added to our access to Qatar Airways’ global global network in the past year, network of more than 150 des- including many European cit- tinations, via a short stopover in Omani team briefed on Qatar school evaluation system ies such as Dublin, Kyiv, Prague Sydney.” and St Petersburg. We are also Al-Baker attended offi cial confi dent that Australian trav- meetings with Minister Ciobo QNA During the visit to Oth- The delegation also visited ellers will be as excited as we at Parliament House. During the Doha man Bin Aff an Model School in the School Evaluation Board and are about our many upcoming meetings the new fl ight to Can- Abu Sidra, which is subject to met the Director of the Evalua- new destinations set to launch berra as well as the airline’s on- the school performance qual- tion Authority Khalid al-Har- this year, including Cardiff , UK; going commitment to growth in n educational delega- ity evaluation, and after meet- qan, and the Director of Schools Malaga, Spain and Mykonos, Australia were discussed. tion from the Sultanate ing the school director, the del- Evaluation Department Omar Greece.” Qatar Airways will operate its Aof Oman visited Doha, egation learned more about the al-Naama, and a number of ACT Chief Minister Barr, said: daily Canberra service with a to review the experience of methods of evaluation, how to evaluators. “It is wonderful that Qatar Air- Boeing B777 aircraft, which fea- the Ministry of Education and activate its standards and tools The delegation given a de- ways has made the decision to tures 42 fl atbed seats in Business Higher Education in the fi eld of and its assessment indicators, as tailed briefi ng about the func- come to Canberra in 2018 – a Class and 316 seats in Economy The first Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Canberra, the capital city evaluation of school perform- well as its implementation on the tions of the authority and the year in which our city was recog- Class. Passengers will be able to of Australia, touching down yesterday at Canberra Airport. ance. ground. education system in Qatar. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 13, 2018 3 QATAR

Sheikha Moza meets IMF chief PM meets ambassadors India launches scheme for young scientists

ndia’s department of health HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani research, ministry of health yesterday met separately with Lebanese ambassador Hassan Qassim Najem, French ambassador Iand family welfare has an- Eric Chevallier, and Croatian ambassador Drago Lovric. During the meetings, bilateral relations nounced that it is administering were reviewed, in addition to ways of developing and strengthening them in various fields and a a scheme for ‘human resource number of issues of mutual interest. development for health research’ (HRD Scheme). The scheme has a sepa- rate component specifi cally for emerging young scientists among non-resident Indians, persons of Indian origin and overseas citizens of India serving abroad in health Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science research activities, so that they and Community Development (QF), met Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International return to India for undertaking Monetary Fund (IMF), in Doha yesterday. During the meeting, they discussed a number of topics research in identifi ed areas, the related to various projects and programmes of QF and the ‘Education Above All’ foundation. Indian embassy in Qatar has said PICTURE: Aisha Almusalam/HHOPL in a statement. The scheme envisages a sti- pend/salary, a Rs1crore grant for fi ve years and an opportunity for these persons/faculty to return to India and pursue research in PM meets Lagarde any institute across India, the statement notes. The guidelines regarding eli- gibility criteria, fi nancial com- ponents, including the formats of application, are available on www.dhr.gov.in Dr Kavitha Ra- jsekar, Scientist-D (kavitha. [email protected], +91-11- 23736085) may also be contacted for further clarifi cations. The initiative is intended to create a pool of talented health research personnel in the coun- try by upgrading skills of faculty of medical colleges by special- HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani met ised training in priority areas of International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Christine Lagarde, in Doha yesterday. health research. They reviewed the existing relations between Qatar and the International Monetary Fund, as For further details, one can well as issues of mutual interest. visit the embassy’s Facebook and Twitter accounts Experts make Ashghal completes two presentation at air quality meet in US projects in Bani Hajer aking a presentation in the fi eld, and opens doors to at the National Air future collaborations.” shghal held a meeting MQuality Conference Some of the topics covered yesterday in Bani Hajer in Austin, US, Hamad Bin Kha- included the six-point Air Ato explain to the local lifa University’s Qatar Envi- Quality Management Frame- residents about works executed ronment and Energy Research work developed by Qeeri, how in recent months in the area. Institute (Qeeri) scientist, Dr air quality is monitored in Qa- It was held at the Majlis of the Mohamed Ayoub, showcased tar, an air quality decision sup- Mohamed Saleh al-Khayareen, institutional eff orts to deliver port system and upcoming air a member of the Central Munic- high-impact, research-based quality forecasting capabilities. ipal Council (Constituency-16, solutions aimed at positively Dr al-Otoum said, “In or- Bani Hajer). impacting air quality in Qatar. der for our work to have a real Ashghal’s roads projects de- Organised by the United impact, collaboration is key. partment manager Saoud al- States Environmental Protec- We, at the Ministry of Pub- Tamimi, head of Northern Areas tion Agency, the conference lic Health, work closely with Section in the Roads Projects brought together leading local Qeeri to develop an innova- Department Ali Ashkanani and Ashghal off icials Saoud al-Tamimi, Ali Ashkanani CMC member Mohamed Saleh al-Khayareen and others at a meeting held in Bani Hajer yesterday. and international air quality tive and effi cient air quality other senior offi cials were in researchers to discuss fore- management system. We also attendance. addition to maintenance works works with a total length of humps were installed as part of to which all houses within this casting, mapping and innova- partner with other national At the meeting, offi cials an- that are being carried at regular 28km, widths averaging be- the packages in addition to in- package were connected. The tive outreach programmes. stakeholders, both in govern- nounced the completion of intervals.” tween 16 and 30m, in addition stalling 1,937 light poles, build- package seven will also provide Dr Ayoub, lead, Qeeri’s air ment and the private sector as packages one and seven of the Saoud al-Tamimi said works to providing signal-controlled ing parking bays, and providing a solution to these problems af- quality and climate change well as research and academia roads and infrastructure devel- in packages one and seven of the intersections. These improve- 94km of shared pedestrians and ter connecting the main trunk portfolio, and Dr Fatima al- to ensure we can successfully opment project in Bani Hajer roads and infrastructure devel- ments will ease the access to cyclist lanes to encourage resi- sewers to outfalls under future Toum, a health inspection ex- implement the proposed so- North – Rawdat Egdaim. opment projects in Bani Hajer all residential and business es- dents to adopt a healthy lifestyle. projects that Ashghal is currently pert at the Ministry of Public lutions to protect the public While expressing happiness North will bring large benefi ts tablishments in the area as well Both packages included ex- implementing. Health, represented Qatar in health from a wide spectrum at the completion of works in his for the residents of Bani Hajer, as a number of schools and tensive infrastructure develop- Mubarak Saleh al-Khayarin, this initiative. of adverse health outcomes constituency, Mohamed Saleh which these days is witness- mosques. Also as part of the ment works of highest standards, a resident, thanked Ashghal for During their presentation, due to possible exposure to al-Khayareen thanked offi cials ing a massive development. package, the western section including the construction of the attention that it pays for the the scientists spoke about how outdoor air pollution.” for their visit to the area and The projects provide integrated of Al-Terhab Street has been a 69km-long storm water and development of Bani Hajer. Qeeri enables the develop- The three-day conference, briefi ng on the developments infrastructure and the latest widened to connect Bani Hajer ground water drainage networks Another resident Mohamed ment and evaluation of na- which saw the attendance of there. roads networks linking Bani area with the Celebrations to solve the issues arising out of al-Mansouri expressed his hap- tional policies, strategies and state, local, regional and in- The CMC member also ex- Hajer to Doha, Dukhan and the Road and the Mall of Qatar. rainwater accumulation. piness at the meeting and he technologies to mitigate the ternational planning agencies, pressed his appreciation at the rest of the country through the Regarding package seven of the The construction of a 50km- praised works being carried out impact of poor air quality in environmental and research achievements of Ashghal in expressway networks. The new project Ashkanani said it serves long foul sewer drainage network in the area. Qatar. They also elaborated on organisations, and industry, Bani Hajer projects and the ef- road networks are expected to approximately 520 residential too has been completed. Addi- Rashid bin Saeed al-Khayreen how the institute contributes featured an opening plenary forts being made in the projects reduce travel time in Bani Hajer plots in a 1.35sq km area through tionally, both packages included al-Hajri, also a resident of the to adapting to climate change. session, exhibits and a poster currently under way and future area by 60% in addition to pro- the construction of 21km of local the construction of about 26km- area, said: “We are happy that Dr Ayoub said, “It is impor- session. There were also fo- projects. viding a direct access to the Mall roads using the latest standards long treated sewage effl uent net- Ashghal offi cials visited the area tant for us to be able to high- cused breakout sessions on air Al-Khayareen praised Ash- of Qatar. and specifi cations to replace the works. and showcased the projects in light the positive steps taken quality forecasting and map- ghal’s quick response to citi- Ali Ashkanani said the pack- temporary roads in the area. Ashkanani said the package Bani Hajer constituency. We are to tackle and mitigate air qual- ping, and communicating air zens’ requests: “In Bani Hajer, age one of the project serves The project also provided tel- one provides a permanent solu- proud of the achievements Ash- ity concerns in Qatar. A con- quality. The organising com- we are receiving a quick re- 663 residential plots in an area ecommunication lines and about tion for sewage overfl ow problem ghal has made and hope that ference like this also allows mittee selected presentations sponse from Ashghal as well as of 1.62sq km, where large- 40 electrical substations. and it allows the elimination of everything that has been pre- us to share knowledge and from submissions based on a permanent follow-up to our scale improvements have been To enhance traffi c safety in the the use of sewage tanks by pro- sented will be fully implemented information about the latest the quality of research, its im- area from their side. This is in carried out to the road net- area, many signboards and speed viding new drainage networks, as planned.” developments with colleagues pact and technical merit. QRCS, QFSW ink pact to promote social services atar Foundation for Social Hammadi welcomed the guests for joint action, he noted: “Hu- QRCS towards our common ob- spirit of good citizenship, na- Work (QFSW) and Qa- and highlighted their posi- manitarian and social work is a jectives, as detailed in the inter- tional loyalty, and volunteerism,” Qtar Red Crescent Society tive attitude in negotiating the noble yet challenging endeavour national legislation and instru- al-Mannai added. “It is the duty (QRCS) have signed a memoran- agreement, which would “add that no single organisation can ments concerned with human of social, educational and media dum of understanding (MoU) to great value to humanitarian and undertake alone. So, concerted rights and social work. institutions to raise public aware- enhance professional relations social work”. eff orts and a clear vision are key “Through all our affi liate centres, ness of the importance of social Amal bint Abdullatif al-Mannai and Ali Hassan al-Hammadi signing among civil society organisations “Both parties share the same to achieving the desired results. we seek to build eff ective partner- solidarity and compassion through the agreement. and pursue joint social goals. goal of improving living stand- We promise to be always there ships with government bodies, networking and volunteering ini- The pact was signed by Amal ards in Qatar across the board, for our cause, and are open to all NGOs and private enterprises in tiatives. Human capital is the cata- causes, psychosocial and legal ists, community awareness and bint Abdullatif al-Mannai, CEO by mobilising community re- innovative proposals that serve exchange of experience and infor- lyst of social development.” advice for vulnerable house- parenting, and sponsorship of of QFSW, and Ali Hassan al- sources to help the vulnerable humanity everywhere.” mation. Hopefully, this enables our The three-year agreement es- holds, collective eff ort in hu- social development projects. Hammadi, secretary-general of overcome their diffi culties and On her part, al-Mannai said: subsidiaries to further develop and tablishes bilateral co-operation manitarian advocacy, training of A joint committee was formed to QRCS. move forward,” he said. “By signing this MoU, we look contribute to the society at large.” in exchange of experience and social workers and emergency supervise the implementation and During the ceremony, al- Emphasising the potential forward to working closely with “We also work to promote the information in relation to social psychological support special- mechanisms of the agreement. Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, February 13, 2018 QATAR/REGION/ARAB WORLD Qatar promotes key role for women in all sectors

rom its inception Qatar is in Qatar National Vision 2030. Thani as the Permanent Repre- who started the fi rst school at In sports also Qatar wom- 13, 2017, who received their resorting to arbitration under committed to protecting For the fi rst time in Qatar’s sentative of Qatar to the United home was named as the “pyra- en started their participa- certificates from HE Sheikh the QSAT should be expressly Fthe rights of women. history, recently, the Emir is- Nations. mid of education” later. tion in 1998, in a competition Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, agreed to in writing. Being an independent sov- sued the decision appointing An interesting fact is that Qa- HE Sheikha Ahmed al-Mah- of women’s athletic events, President of Qatar Olympic However, arbitrators may be ereign with Shariah as its main four women to the Advisory tar was one of the fi rst countries moud was appointed as Minis- hosted by the Qatar Athletics Committee which was a true appointed freely by the par- source of law, Qatar’s Consti- (Shura) Council, one of its most in the Gulf region which granted ter of Education in May 2003. Federation. recognition for them. ties, so long as they have the tution underlines the princi- important consultative bod- women the right to vote. She was the fi rst woman in Qa- A women’s sports commit- It is notable in this occasion necessary legal qualification ple of equality and it is against ies, who are Hessa Sultan Jaber Qatari women hold senior tar (and the Gulf) to take up this tee was established in 2000 that Ghada M Darwish was and obviously cannot appear discrimination on the ground Mohamed al-Jaber, Aisha Yous- positions in many government important ministerial position. and affiliated with the Qatar one among those who received as counsel before the QSAT. of sex, origin, language, or re- suf Omar al-Hamad al-Mannai, departments including the dip- It was a confirmation of Olympic Committee in 2001. such a recognition. There are also plans to ligion. Hend Abdurrahman Mohamed lomatic fi eld as well as the pri- His Highness Sheikh Hamad In Summer Olympics of At this point, it is important launch a Qatar Court of Arbi- The government of Qatar, led Mubarak al-Muftah and Reem vate sector. bin Khalifa al-Thani’s com- 2012 in London, Qatar’s fe- to note that there is actually tration for Sports which will by His Highness the Emir, has Mohamed Rashid al-Hammou- The fi rst female lawyer was mitment to the increasing male participants made their a sport arbitration centre in be fashioned after FIFA regu- played a very important role in di al-Mansouri. enrolled in Qatar in 2000 and importance of women’s role impression in shooting, swim- Qatar – the Qatar Sport Arbi- lations and of course, the CAS encouraging women in all sec- This could be a great recog- Sheikha Maha Mansour al-Tha- within Qatar’s educational ming and athletics to name a tration (“QSAT”). As it is clear Code. Qatar’s Government tors of society, including sports. nition for women in Qatar and ni became the fi rst female judge renaissance. few. from its name, the QSAT deals has achieved a lot in terms of The government is very eager also a true honour for them in the country in 2010. Meanwhile, Dr Sheikha Recently, Qatar Olympic with only football related dis- women empowerment, and it to observe women’s participa- from the government. It has been reported that Qa- Abdulla al-Misnad was ap- Academy conducted its Ex- putes and is composed of three continues to find ways to sup- tion in all sectors and encour- Another refl ection of Qatar’s tar was one of the fi rst countries pointed as president of the ecutive LLM Course, which divisions; ordinary, appeals port and encourage the role of age them in political decision- commitment to women can be to encourage the education of University of Qatar; she is also was the first one of its kind and mediation. women in all sectors of society. making and social protection observed in the appointment girls in the Gulf region in 1938. the first woman to hold this and some nine students/law- Similar to the CAS Code and z(Supplied by Ghada M and expects their inevitable role of Sheikha Alya bint Ahmed al- It is said that Amna al-Jaidah position. yers graduated on December the Arbitration Law of Qatar, Darwish Law Firm) QU’s new gymnasium launched Outreach offi ce U president Dr Hassan for QNMP opens al-Derham yesterday Qinaugurated Qatar Uni- versity’s (QU) new gymnasium. n introductory offi ce has consultations and achieve com- The event, which comes on been recently opened at munity outreach, in addition to the sidelines of the National Athe Ministry of Munici- better explain QNMP’s objec- Sport Day, refl ects QU’s com- pality and Environment on the tives, phases and main products mitment to motivate and en- occasion of launching Qatar to the public. courage the community mem- National Master Plan (QNMP) Experts and representatives of bers to exercise and practice and to achieve better commu- the Department of Urban Plan- sports in their daily life. nication with society and target ning are available on a daily basis The event was attended by groups concerned about urban to off er answers to all inquiries QU vice presidents Dr Kha- development. and questions from the public lid al-Khater (Administration The offi ce is located at the and private developers. The of- and Financial Aff airs), Dr Kha- ground fl oor of Planning Af- fi ce is equipped with the latest lid al-Khanji (student aff airs), fairs tower as an entity within communication techniques to chief strategy and development the ministry’s customer service better facilitate answering all the offi cer Dr Darwish al-Emadi, facility. The offi ce was opened questions of the public and pri- student services and activi- to answer all technical queries, vate sectors alike. ties director Abdulla al-Yafei, QU Student Activities Depart- ment’s Sports and Recreation Activities manager Asmaa al- Naemi, and aquatic centre sec- tion head Walid Dessouki as well as members of the univer- QU president Dr Hassan al-Derham cutting a ribbon to inaugurate the new gym as other off icials look on. sity community. The ceremony included an address by Dr Hassan al-Der- ham and performances of phys- ical and swimming activities by The new off ice is within the customer service facility of the Ministry QU student athletes. of Municipality and Environment. The new gymnasium, which is located at the Aquatic Centre, is equipped with world-class External Affairs Ministry offers fi tness equipment. The Aquatic Centre consists of scholarships for children of PIOs/NRIs three swimming pools – Olympic pool, diving pool, and learning India’s Ministry of External Aff airs has awarded 150 scholarships to pool. It also contains a gym as children (studying in India) of PIOs/NRIs and Indian workers working in well as a recreation centre, which ECR countries, with a monthly gross income of the parents not more includes a sauna and hot and cold than $4,500. A statement from the Indian embassy said a partial assist- jacuzzi. ance to the extent of 75% (maximum of $4,500) of the total Institutional The facilities are available for Economic Cost (IEC) per annum would be borne by the Government both QU members and the gen- of India under the scheme covering institutions such as i) NITs, IITs, eral community with annual Schools of Planning and Architecture, ii) ‘A’ Grade institutions accredited membership. by the National Accreditation and Assessment Committee and recog- Dr al-Derham said, “Qatar A demonstration by QU students at the opening of the new gym. nised by the University Grants Commission, iii) Central Universities University is committed to pro- of India and iv) Other institutions covered under DASA Scheme. Those viding its community with a new gymnasium for male stu- ty’s infrastructure and increase dents, staff and their families series of sporting and fi tness eligible may apply for the scholarship accordingly under the scholarship healthy and developed environ- dents and we will continue our our support of sports-related will celebrate today the annual events on the QU campus and programme for the diaspora children scheme. For further details, please ment. Today, we inaugurated a eff orts to develop the universi- activities.” QU faculty, stu- National Sport Day through a at Katara. refer to the website of the SPDC at www.spdcindia.gov.in

CONFLICT Turkish army says 31 soldiers killed Abbas tells Putin he wants in offensive The Turkish army yesterday said 31 soldiers had been killed since US mediator role diluted Ankara launched its off ensive against a Kurdish militia in Syria last month. Another 143 Turkish Reuters Abbas was quoted as saying he fl atly denied Israeli claims that talks soldiers were wounded in the Moscow wanted an expanded new mediation are underway to annex land claimed operation dubbed “Olive Branch” mechanism to replace the Middle by Palestinians, in a rare public which began on January 20 East Quartet. show of disunity. against the Syrian Kurdish Peo- alestinian leader Mahmoud “For instance, ‘the quartet’ plus Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin ple’s Protection Units (YPG) militia Abbas told Russian President some other countries like the model Netanyahu said he had been in talks in the western region of Afrin, a PVladimir Putin yesterday he used to achieve the deal on Iran,” Ab- with Washington about annexing statement said. While the United could no longer accept the role of bas said, referring to international settlements in the occupied West States has given armed support to the United States as a mediator in talks about Tehran’s nuclear pro- Bank, a move that could shatter a the YPG against the Islamic State talks with Israel because of Wash- gramme. Abbas and his allies were left peace process that is already on life group in Syria, Turkey says the ington’s behaviour, the Interfax furious in December when US Presi- support. That was denied by White militia is a “terrorist” off shoot of news agency reported. “We state dent Donald Trump reversed decades House spokesman Josh Raff el, who the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ that from now on we refuse to co- of US policy to recognise Jerusalem as works closely with Jared Kushner. Party (PKK). The PKK, proscribed operate in any form with the US in Israel’s capital and set in motion the “Reports that the United States as a terrorist organisation by its status of a mediator, as we stand process of moving the US embassy discussed with Israel an annexation Ankara and its Western allies, has against its actions,” Abbas told Pu- from Tel Aviv. plan for the West Bank are false,” he waged a three-decade insurgency tin at the start of talks in Moscow. Meanwhile, the White House has said. against the Turkish state. Turkey has been supporting Syrian rebels with ground troops and air strikes during the operation which Ankara has threatened to extend eastwards towards other YPG-held towns.

TALKS Oman FM set to visit Palestine The Minister Responsible for Foreign Aff airs of the Sultanate of Oman Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdul- lah will start a visit to Palestine today, during which he will meet with senior Palestinian off icials. The two sides will address a number of current regional and international issues, particularly the developments on the Palestin- Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas during their meeting at the ian issue, the Omani News Agency Kremlin in Moscow, yesterday. (ONA) reported yesterday. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 13, 2018 5 ARAB WORLD

Wounded Call for Iraq IS chief ‘alive in reconciliation Syria’ AFP Baghdad

n Iraqi interior ministry offi cial said the Islamic ahead of poll AState group’s head Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is alive and AFP saying that would pave the way in the coalition. We will also being treated at a fi eld hospital in Baghdad to “peaceful elections and... be there in the reconstruction Syria after being wounded in an an inclusive government”. phase,” he added. air strike. Le Drian, who previously vis- Iraq’s Foreign Minister Ibra- “We have irrefutable infor- rance’s Foreign Minister ited Baghdad in August last year, him al-Jaafari called for French mation and documents from Jean-Yves Le Drian yester- also met Iraq’s Prime Minister expertise to be used in the re- sources within the terrorist or- Fday urged Iraq to push for Haider al-Abadi, President Fuad construction. ganisation that al-Baghdadi is national reconciliation with its Massum and Kurdish parliament Le Drian also expressed still alive and hiding” in Syria’s minority communities ahead of speaker Salim al-Juburi. France’s opposition to any death northeastern Jazira region, said “inclusive” elections. France has been a key mem- penalty for two French women France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian meets with Iraqi President Fuad Massum in the capital intelligence and counterterror- On a visit to Baghdad follow- ber of the US-led military coali- awaiting trial in Iraq over accu- Baghdad, yesterday. ism department head Abu Ali ing its December declaration of tion fi ghting IS after the militant sations of joining IS. al-Basri, quoted yesterday in the victory over the Islamic State group seized large swathes of They risk the death penalty tions after it learnt of 106 in the $88.2bn to rebuild after years and economic crisis after a Sep- government daily As-Sabah. group, he said France would play Iraq and neighbouring Syria in under the country’s counter- country last year. of war against the Islamic State tember independence referen- IS retains a signifi cant pres- its part in Iraq’s reconstruction 2014. terrorism law. Iraq is still reeling from the group, Planning Minister Sal- dum bitterly opposed by Bagh- ence in the desert plains of and called for peaceful general Baghdad is looking to drum up “As happens every time rise of IS and the punishing man al-Jumaili said yesterday. dad. “It is really very desirable northeastern Syria’s Hasa- elections in May. funds at a reconstruction con- a French is potentially con- fi ghtback it took to crush the In 2017, France lent 430mn that the two parties overcome keh province despite having “The electoral process (must) ference in neighbouring Kuwait demned, we act very strongly to militants, with swathes of its euros (more than $500mn) to their diff erences, and this is the lost most of its cross-border take place under the best con- from Monday to tomorrow after make our position known, but territory in ruins and millions of oil-rich Iraq, whose coff ers have message that I am conveying,” “caliphate” which once also ditions and be based on an in- announcing the nationwide de- for now the procedure has not people displaced. suff ered from the war against he told journalists. covered a third of neighbouring clusive logic,” he said, urging feat of IS. started,” he said. Authorities in the resource- IS and a drop in world crude The French envoy is to travel Iraq. respect for “the diff erent com- “We have been present in the But he added that suspected rich nation say there has been a prices. on to Kuwait to attend the Iraq Basri said that Baghdadi was munities of the whole of Iraq.” fi ght against Daesh, we must be militants should face trial in the heavy toll on oil, electricity and Le Drian also headed to Iraqi reconstruction conference to- suffering from “injuries, dia- “We are in a period when Iraq present in peace,” Le Drian said, countries where they committed manufacturing infrastructure, Kurdistan, where he met lead- day and a meeting of the anti-IS betes and fractures to the body needs stability, reconstruction using an Arabic acronym for IS. their “crimes”. The United Na- as well as basic services such as ers of the autonomous region, coalition with his US counter- and legs that prevent him from and reconciliation,” he added, “We were there to participate tions urged Iraq to halt all execu- water and sanitation. Iraq needs which has been hit by a political part Rex Tillerson. walking without assistance”. The militant chief had been wounded in “air raids against IS strongholds in Iraq”. Iraqi authorities last week published a list of “interna- Tillerson says US backs Egypt on security at start of regional tour tionally wanted terrorist lead- ers” headed by the self-pro- claimed IS “caliph”, born in Reuters plex local and proxy confl icts. more embroiled, diplomatically and Jerusalem as its capital, angering Pal- message yesterday that relations re- 1971, under the name Ibrahim Cairo Tillerson stressed a need for free and militarily, in regional conflicts since estinians and drawing rebukes from mained strong with one of the key US Awad Ibrahim Ali al-Badri al- fair elections in all countries ahead of President Donald Trump took office other leaders. Arab allies. Samarrai. a March presidential vote in Egypt, more than a year ago. The United States has also forged “We agreed we would continue our Last June, Russia said it had S Secretary of State Rex Till- but withheld direct comment on what It stepped up support for Kurdish- closer ties with Saudi Arabia and oth- close co-operation on counter-ter- probably killed Abu Bakr al- erson said yesterday Washing- critics say is a crackdown on some led forces in Syria before its Nato er states while taking a tougher line rorism measures,” Tillerson said. Baghdadi in a late May air raid Uton stood by Egypt in its fi ght rivals seeking to challenge President ally Turkey began a military opera- against Iran since Trump took office. “Egypt deals with the threats of near Raqqa in Syria, but later against militants as he began a Middle Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the polls. tion against them last month, and has Tillerson and his Egyptian coun- ISIS themselves and are dealing with said it was still trying to verify East tour at a time of increasingly com- The United States has become sided firmly with Israel in recognising terpart Sameh Shoukry delivered a it certainly currently in the Sinai. his fate. Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, February 13, 2018 AFRICA

Sirleaf wins prestigious Spokesman denies Ibrahim Prize for African leadership

AFP Zuma agreed to go London

Reuters Johannesburg ormer Liberian president Ellen John- son Sirleaf yesterday won the rarely- Fawarded Ibrahim Prize for Achieve- outh Africa’s SABC state ment in African Leadership — the world’s broadcaster reported yes- biggest individual prize. The prize only goes Sterday that Jacob Zuma had to a democratically-elected African leader agreed to resign as head of state, cit- who has demonstrated exceptional leader- ing sources, but the embattled lead- ship, served their mandated term and left of- Sirleaf ... setting a high standard er’s spokesman quickly dismissed fi ce within the last three years. this as “fake news”. The award comes with $5mn, which is paid message on African leadership. Ibrahim said The rand, which had gained as over 10 years, and $200,000 annually for life he was delighted by yesterday’s decision. much as 1 % on expectations Zuma from then on. Sirleaf, Africa’s fi rst elected “In very diffi cult circumstances, she helped was on his way out, surrendered female head of state, left offi ce on January guide her nation towards a peaceful and some of its gains after the rebuttal 22 after a maximum 12 years as president, democratic future, paving the way for her by the spokesman but remained 0.5 served in two terms. The 79-year-old won successor to follow,” he said. % stronger on the day to the dollar. the 2017 Ibrahim Prize, only the second time “I am proud to see the fi rst woman Ib- Standing outside a meeting of it has been awarded in six years. In 2011, she rahim laureate, and I hope Ellen Johnson the top leadership of the ruling shared the Nobel Peace Prize as a champion Sirleaf will continue to inspire women in Af- ANC, SABC correspondent Tshepo for women’s rights. rica and beyond.” Ikaneng cited “authoritative sourc- Former African Union secretary general The London-based Mo Ibrahim Founda- es” saying 75-year-old Zuma had Salim Ahmed Salim, chairman of the prize tion produces an annual index of African agreed to step down and formalities committee, said Sirleaf had changed Libe- governance, allowing citizens to measure on how to tell the nation were be- ria’s fortunes. “Ellen Johnson Sirleaf took how well their countries are being run. ing discussed. The broadcaster also the helm of Liberia when it was completely Since 2006, Liberia was the only country tweeted the report on its Twitter destroyed by civil war and led a process of out of 54 to improve in every category on handle @SAfmnews. reconciliation that focused on building a na- the index. Liberia moved up 10 places in the He provided no further details in tion and its democratic institutions,” he said. overall African ranking to 28th since then. his brief live broadcast — the fi rst re- “Throughout her two terms in offi ce, she Former football star George Weah, the 1995 ports that Zuma might be throwing Julius Malema, leader of the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, speaks during a media briefing worked tirelessly on behalf of the people of FIFA World Player of the Year, won last year’s in the towel after repeated calls from at parliament in Cape Town yesterday. Liberia. Such a journey cannot be without Liberian presidential elections and took over his party to end his scandal-plagued some shortcomings and, today, Liberia con- from Johnson. The handover has been seen as second term a year early. Opposition calls for early elections to parliament tinues to face many challenges. a milestone in Liberia’s transition from a civil Zuma’s spokesman, Bongani “Nevertheless, during her 12 years in of- war that killed around a quarter of a million Ngqulunga, denied the reports in Eight South African opposition parties opposition party, Democratic Alliance, “It is therefore not suff icient to sim- fi ce, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf laid the founda- people between 1989 and 2003. a text message, describing them as yesterday called for the “immediate said in a statement. ply vote the president out and replace tions on which Liberia can now build.” Other major awards are the Fundamen- “fake news”. removal” of President Jacob Zuma as “The delaying tactics employed by him with another tainted candidate,” The prize, founded by Sudan-born tel- tal Physics Prize, worth $3mn, the Temple- The meeting of the ANC’s deci- the ruling African National Congress the ANC in negotiating a soft exit for the party said. “Parliament itself must ecoms tycoon Mo Ibrahim, has only been ton Foundation for spiritual contributions, sion-making National Executive (ANC) took part in hours-long nego- Jacob Zuma serve only the inter- be reconstituted.” given fi ve times in its 11-year existence. worth £1.1mn ($1.53mn) and the Nobel Prize, Committee (NEC) in a Pretoria ho- tiations to convince Zuma to resign. ests of Zuma himself as well as the A motion of no confidence against The philanthropist has said in the past which in 2017 was set at 9mn Swedish kronor tel had set the stage for a decisive Zuma should be removed through interests of the ANC,” the statement the 75-year-old president, currently that making no award sent just as strong a ($1.11mn) for each award. showdown between Zuma stalwarts a motion of no confidence, followed said, released after a joint opposition scheduled to be held on February 22, and those backing a swift transfer of by the dissolution of parliament to meeting in Cape Town, the seat of should be brought forward to this power to new party leader and cur- trigger early elections, the largest parliament. week, the party added. Boko Haram members go on trial in Nigeria rent Deputy President Cyril Ram- aphosa. Nigerian federal high court is to try to between three to 31 years in jail. The judge Ramaphosa, 65, says he has held within the NEC for him to quit. step down if the motion of no-con- ily, friends of Zuma, have used their hundreds of suspected members of also discharged 468 suspects, who were or- direct talks with Zuma over a trans- But analysts say there is greater fi dence against him was successful. links with the president to win state AIslamist terrorist group Boko Haram. dered to attend de-radicalisation and reha- fer of power, and said on Sunday support for him to step down now. Since becoming president in contracts and infl uence cabinet ap- The hearing in the town of Kainji in cen- bilitation programmes, while 34 cases were the meeting of the party’s executive Zuma’s tenure as president of- 2009, Zuma has been dogged by pointments. tral Niger State will be the second phase of an struck off the roll and 28 other suspects re- committee would be aiming to “fi - fi cially runs until mid-2019 and he scandal. The Guptas and Zuma himself unprecedented mass trial of more than 1,600 manded. nalise” the situation. has not said in public whether he He is fi ghting the reinstatement of have denied any wrongdoing. suspected insurgents. Boko Haram poses a steady threat to com- The party executive has the au- will step down voluntarily. 783 counts of corruption over a 30bn Ramaphosa has put the focus on The Nigerian government hopes the mass munities in the north-east of Nigeria and thority to order Zuma to step down Zuma is also facing a no-confi dence rand ($2.5bn) government arms deal rooting out corruption and revitalis- trial will end criticism of the military, which has also launched off ensives in neighbouring as as head of state, although there is motion in parliament set for February arranged in the late 1990s when he ing economic growth since defeating is holding tens of thousands of Boko Haram Chad, Niger and Cameroon. some domestic media speculation 22, but has survived several similar at- was deputy president. Zuma’s preferred successor, Zuma’s suspects in prisons and detention centres, Since 2009, tens of thousands of people that he might resist this. tempts to oust him in the past. Some within the ANC and the ex-wife Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, often for weeks, months or even years. have died at the hands of the Sunni funda- Zuma survived calls last year from His entire cabinet would have to opposition say the Gupta fam- in the ANC leadership race. After the fi rst phase of the trial in Octo- mentalists in the region and an estimated ber, 45 Boko Haram fi ghters were convicted 2.5mn people fl ed their homes.

Lions kill, consume poacher at South African game park Opposition, church to protest Kabila rule on Feb 25 A suspected illegal poacher has been mauled the other two managed to escape, Ngoepe to death by a pride of lions in a private game added. Police were still trying to identify the reserve in north-east South Africa. man, who had been almost completely eaten R Congo’s main opposition party gress scheduled for February 26-27 “is being tence, faces mounting protests over his refusal to leave of- A group of three poachers had secretly en- by the lions, according to the spokesman. said yesterday it would join a march postponed to support the march on February fi ce after his term expired in December 2016. tered a fenced-in game reserve near the town A manhunt for the other two poachers was Dbacked by the country’s powerful 25.” “All activists are urged to respond mas- The church brokered an accord under which Kabila of Hoedspruit in the province of Limpopo on underway, he said. Catholic Church on February 25 to demand sively,” it said. could remain in power provided new elections were held in the weekend, provincial police spokesman Illegal poaching, especially for rhino horns President Joseph Kabila’s resignation. Kabila, 46, took over from his assassinated 2017 — a deal that fell through after the electoral authori- Moatshe Ngoepe told DPA. and ivory, is rife in game parks across South In a statement, the Union for Democracy father in 2001. His regime, widely criticised ties said it needed more time to compile a voters’ register. One poacher was killed by the lions, while Africa. and Social Progress (UDPS) said a party con- for corruption, repression and incompe- It wants him to pledge to stand aside in the presidential vote set for December 23 this year, and to respect funda- mental freedom. An organisation closely associated with the Catholic Church, the Lay Coordination Committee (CLC), an- nouncing the February 25 march date on Saturday, called on the public “regardless of religious or political affi lia- tion...to say no to dictatorship.” “Let us be ready to face the worst in order to triumph in the best,” it said. Church leaders have escalated a rhetorical campaign against Kabila and thrown their weight behind two previous marches, on December 31, 2017, and January 21, that were brutally repressed. Fifteen people were killed in the two protests, according to UN and Church fi gures. The authori- ties say two people were killed. The Democratic Republic of Congo’s National Human Rights Commission lists seven dead in the New Year’s Eve protest, and four on January 21. The UDPS is holding a congress to elect a successor to its veteran leader, Etienne Tshisekedi, who died in Brussels on February 1, 2017. The repatriation of his body has in itself become a source of political tensions.

Ethiopia drops charges against Gerba

thiopia yesterday dropped charges against top dissi- dent Bekele Gerba, state media reported, ending the Etrial of a critic whose detention fuelled deadly pro- tests and brought the country international condemna- tion. The move is the latest instance of Ethiopia’s govern- ment pardoning or dropping charges against high-profi le prisoners since Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn last month announced an unspecifi ed number of detainees would be released. “The federal attorney general today dropped charges against seven suspects, including Bekele Gerba,” state- affi liated Fana Broadcast Corporate reported. “The move is part of the decisions made by (the) executive committee of EPRDF to drop charges against and pardon politicians and individuals, in order to build national consensus and widen the political space,” the broadcaster said, referring to the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front. It is not clear when Bekele will be released, and if he must still serve two six-month sentences he was handed for contempt of court during his trial. A foreign-language professor and deputy leader of the opposition Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC), Bekele was arrested in December 2015 just as his ethnic group the Oro- mos began protesting a government plan they feared would cause them to lose their land. Since Hailemariam’s announcement, Ethiopia dropped charges against OFC chairman Merera Gudina, and an- nounced it would also release blogger Eskinder Nega and opposition leader Andualem Arage, though the latter two have yet to walk free. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 13, 2018 7 AMERICA

JUSTICE GROUNDED ART ‘NOT RIGHT’ STRANDED Cop sacked for refusing to Airline resumes operations Bard festival to premiere Tillerson backs mandatory US diplomats spark Mexico shoot suspect settles suit after de-icing breakdown dance on Four Quartets sexual harassment training volcano rescue mission

A former police off icer who said he was fired Southwest Airlines Co said yesterday its Seventy-five years after T S Eliot published Four Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said yesterday that Two US diplomats were involved in an accident after not shooting a man wielding an unloaded operations mostly returned to normal at Chicago Quartets, leading artists will turn the classic department employees must step in and intervene while climbing Mexico’s highest summit — the gun during a domestic dispute agreed to drop Midway Airport after the breakdown of one of its poems into an interlinked work of dance, music if they witness sexual harassment, one day after inactive Citlaltepetl volcano — authorities said, his lawsuit against the West Virginia city he plane de-icing machines forced the cancellation and visual art at the Bard SummerScape festival. US President Donald Trump expressed sympathy adding that bad weather forced them to postpone worked in after reaching a settlement, his of some 250 flights on Sunday. A weekend The world premiere will mark a highlight of the for those accused of harassment and not given air rescue eff orts. Off icials did not specify the lawyers said yesterday. Stephen Mader arrived winter storm in the region had blanketed the festival’s season announced yesterday, which due process. Tillerson said all State Department exact roles of the unidentified diplomats, one of at the home in Weirton on May 6, 2016, to find city in snow and ice, leading to hundreds of runs from June 28 to August 19 at Bard College, employees would undergo mandatory training whom suff ered a fall, forcing the other to seek Ronald Williams distraught and wanting to cancellations at its major airports. Dallas-based set along the Hudson River 145km north of to be completed by June 1. “There is no form of help from the US embassy. “In co-ordination with commit “suicide by cop”. Two other off icers Southwest ran into trouble de-icing its planes New York City. Eight dancers in the company disrespect for the individual that I can identify, Mexico’s mountain rescue brigade and the United arrived and one shot and killed Williams, whose when a pump on one of its glycol tanks stopped of modern choreographer Pam Tanowitz anything more demeaning than for someone to States embassy, action is being taken to rescue gun turned out not to be loaded. Mader was fired working, leaving workers unable to access some will perform Four Quartets to music by Kaija suff er this kind of treatment,” he said. “It’s not okay two diplomats missing on Citlaltepetl,” the civil soon after in what he said was “a flawed eff ort to of the antifreeze solution onsite. Southwest was Saariaho, the prominent Finnish composer who if you’re seeing it happening and just look away. protection authority for Puebla said. “They did not buttress the other off icer’s use of deadly force.” forced to cancel nearly all of its Sunday flights as creates rich masses of sound through research You must do something. You must notify someone. advise any authorities about the route or date of Weirton agreed to pay Mader $175,000. it waited for the pump to be repaired. at the IRCAM centre for acoustic science in Paris. You must step in and intervene.” their ascent,” a local government source told AFP. Congress Trump unveils plan to stimulate infrastructure improvements

Reuters mulls fate Washington resident Donald Trump yesterday un- veiled a long-awaited infrastructure Pplan that asks the US Congress to au- thorise $200bn over 10 years to stimulate $1.5tn in improvements paid for by states, of 1.8mn localities and private investors. The plan, which administration offi - cials acknowledge faces a tough path ahead, would reshape how the federal government funds roads, bridges, highways and other in- frastructure projects. If it comes to fruition, many Americans Dreamers could face higher local taxes, fees and tolls. In remarks at the White House, Trump AFP that Trump promised during his cited “the critical need to rebuild America’s Washington 2016 election campaign. crumbling infrastructure” and said his pro- “This is the only bill that has a posal would “spur the biggest and boldest chance of becoming law, and that’s infrastructure investment in American his- he citizenship hopes of 1.8mn because it’s the only bill that will tru- tory.” immigrants brought illegally ly solve the underlying problem,” said “Our roads are in bad shape,” Trump said. Tto the United States as chil- Senator Tom Cotton, a lead sponsor “And we’re going to get the roads in great dren hung in the balance yesterday of the legislation. shape. And, very important, we’re going to as Congress started up debate on “This bill is generous, humane, make our infrastructure modernised. And sweeping new immigration legisla- and responsible, and now we should we’re really way behind schedule. We’re way tion. send it to the president’s desk,” Cot- behind other countries.” In off ering a path to citizenship ton said in a statement. The plan does not off er as much new fed- for the so-called Dreamers, Presi- Several Democrats have suggested eral funding as Democrats wanted nor does it dent Donald Trump has exceeded the the Trump plan is dead on arrival, in directly address how the federal government demands of opposition Democrats large part because it would so dra- will fi nd the money it does call for. — but only in exchange for tough matically curb legal immigration. The administration called the proposal a cutbacks on overall immigration and Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mc- starting point for negotiations. funding for a massive wall on the Connell has pledged to oversee an Trump has made his infrastructure plan Mexican border. open-ended process by which both one of his top legislative priorities this year, His proposal will be front and cen- sides will be allowed to introduce ahead of the November mid-term congres- tre as senators from both sides of the amendments on immigration. sional elections in which Democrats will try to aisle begin an unpredictable proc- “Whoever gets to 60 wins,” McCo- take over control of Congress from his fellow ess that could yield a long-sought nnell said last week, referring to the Republicans. breakthrough on immigration, or end threshold for advancing most legis- Legislation for Trump’s infrastructure in failure, with hundreds of thou- lation in the 100-member chamber. proposal would need 60 votes for passage in US President Donald Trump takes part in a meeting on infrastructure with state and local off icials in the State Dining sands of immigrants at risk of los- “There’s no secret plan here to try the 100-seat Senate. Room of the White House in Washington yesterday. ing their legal protections beginning to push this in any direction. The But with Republicans holding only a 51-49 March 5. Senate is going to work its will, and majority, they would need some Democratic President vows ‘reciprocal tax’ on trading partners “It’s a real debate on an issue I hope that we will end up passing support for passage. where we really don’t know what the something.” With strong Democratic opposition ex- President Donald Trump yesterday much a reciprocal tax and you’ll be tough on trade and described previous outcome is going to be,” Republican With the fate of the Dreamers in pected, the plan faces an uphill battle. threatened retaliatory measures hearing about that during the week policy as a “disaster.” Senator Jeff Flake told NBC’s Meet limbo, a bipartisan group of about 25 “Trump’s plan is just another giveaway against US trade partners, accusing and the coming months.” He pulled the United States out of a the Press on Sunday. senators, which has become known to corporations and wealthy developers at them of “getting away with murder.” It was not clear what Trump was vast trans-Pacific trade deal and is re- A group of conservative sena- as the “Common Sense Coalition” is the expense of American workers, and it “We cannot continue to be taken referring to. negotiating Nafta — a free trade accord tors introduced a bill yesterday that trying to forge a compromise package. fails to address some of the most pressing advantage of by other countries,” White House off icials did not between the United States, Canada and closely follows Trump’s January pro- The clock is ticking: nearly infrastructure needs our country faces,” the Trump told cabinet, state and local of- immediately respond to request for Mexico. posals. 700,000 Dreamers who are reg- Democratic National Committee said. ficials gathered at the White House for comment. Trump said his presidential pred- The Secure and Succeed Act off ers istered under the Obama-era De- The president was yesterday meeting state a meeting on infrastructure. After initial remarks, Trump ecessors had been “too lazy” to fix the a 10-12 year path to citizenship for ferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and local offi cials including the governors of “We lose vast amounts of money turned to his Commerce Secretary problem. the 1.8mn Dreamers. (DACA) programme could begin los- Wisconsin, Louisiana, Virginia and Maine with China and Japan and South Ko- Wilbur Ross for endorsement of the “The truth is it was laziness. After But it will also end the popular ing protections from expulsion early and was due to meet congressional leaders rea,” he added. “They are getting away idea, which appears to be a work in World War II we helped Germany and “Green Card lottery,” a 28-year-old next month after Trump scrapped tomorrow on the proposal. with murder.” progress. helped all countries and we helped programme to diversify immigrant the scheme. “The problem the states have and local “We are going to charge countries “Do you agree with what I said about Korea after the Korean War.” arrivals, and sharply limit family- The programme’s March 5 expira- leaders have with funding the infrastruc- outside of our country — countries that the tax?” he asked. “If you don’t, ooh, “And the agreements basically based immigration. tion date is not set in stone, however; ture is horrendous,” Trump said at the White take advantage of the United States. would you be in trouble.” stayed the way they were and they be- In addition, it will allocate $25bn a San Francisco judge’s injunction House. Some of them are so-called allies but Amid laughter, Ross, aged 80, came very wealthy and they could pay for tougher immigration enforce- has at least temporarily blocked re- Trump is scheduled to visit the Orlando, they are not allies on trade. responded in the aff irmative. a tremendous amount and they could ment including the construction of moval of DACA protections ordered Florida area on Friday to try to sell the plan “So we’re going to be doing very Trump has long painted himself as pay us back, but nothing happened.” a wall along the US-Mexico border by Trump late last year. to the public.

Obama jokes about ears, grey hair as official portrait unveiled Former president Barack Obama yesterday joked about his ears and grey hair and Canine contest kicks off in New York praised his wife Michelle Obama’s “hotness” at the unveiling of the couple’s off icial por- traits at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait By John Biers, AFP Ohio-based Nina Fetter is also Professional handlers are a fi x- Gallery. New York showing eight dogs — running the ture of the dog show circuit, which The Obamas tapped artists Kehinde gamut in size, shape and coiff ure runs year-round. Wiley and Amy Sherald for the paintings, from the American Hairless Terrier to To show at Westminster, they which will be added to the National Portrait ur fl uff ed, coats sleeked and the Komondor, whose mop-like, all- charge up to $500 per dog, plus Gallery’s collection of presidential portraits. tails a-quiver, thousands of white coat is a reliable scene-stealer. expenses, compared with $150 or Wiley and Sherald were the first black art- Ffour-legged hopefuls squared Michigan handler Doug Bel- $250 at smaller shows. ists ever commissioned to paint a president off yesterday for perhaps the canine ter’s candidates this year include a Many professionals are sec- or first lady for the Smithsonian. world’s most prestigious honour, as Wire Fox Terrier and a Beagle, with ond- and third-generation show For his portrait by Wiley, Obama is depict- the Westminster Dog Show kicked whom he drove for 11 hours to get to dog people, while others grew up ed sitting in a brown chair with a backdrop off in New York. New York. around dogs in other roles, such as of bright green leaves and colourful flowers. The 142nd instalment of the sto- Show dogs are judged on the ba- hunting or protecting cattle. Michelle Obama’s painting shows her ried contest, the oldest continu- sis of how well they comport with Hiring a professional handler is sitting with one hand under her chin and ously run US sporting event after breed standards. a way to ensure a dog is adequate- the other draped across her lap, while the Kentucky Derby, culminates The beagle, Belter explained, ly groomed and learns the basics wearing a long flowing dress decorated with tonight at Madison Square Gar- must be presented in a much “soft- of the ring, such as walking in a geometric shapes. den with the selection of “Best in er” way than its pricklier terrier straight line, said Gail Miller Bish- Obama, who was the first African-Ameri- Show” among the 2,800 dogs in colleague. er, communications director for the can US president, complimented Sherald for competition. “If a beagle looks at you and you Westminster show. her portrait of Michelle. The fi rst stage began yesterday don’t melt, it’s not right,” he said. “The advantage of a professional “I want to thank you for so spectacu- at a showing area near the Hudson The fox terrier, by contrast, is handler is they go to shows every larly capturing the grace and beauty and River, with judges picking champs supposed to show with hauteur and weekend,” Bisher said. intelligence and charm and hotness of the among such prominent breeds as “almost a harsh look” in the eyes, “If you work in another profes- woman that I love,” Obama said. the German Shepherd and French consistent with its heritage as an sion, you may not be able to do He quipped that Wiley, who painted his Bulldog, as well as lesser known animal bred to hunt foxes. that.” portrait, was at a disadvantage because his Former president Barack Obama shakes hands with his portrait’s artist, Kehinde ones like the Portuguese Podengo The Wire Fox Terrier “wants you Stephen Cabral, a Los Angeles- subject was “less becoming.” Wiley, after its unveiling at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington. Pequenos. to get out of her way and she will area professional handler, used to “I tried to negotiate less grey hair and Handler Bruce Schultz travelled show herself,” Belter said. “She’s a work full time in health care and Kehinde’s artistic integrity would not allow Michelle Obama said she hoped the por- on their lives, because I was one of those from San Diego with a cohort of prima donna.” show dogs on weekends. him to do what I asked,” Obama said. trait would have an impact on young girls of girls.” eight dogs ranging in size from Belter presents most breeds, Nine years ago, he retired from his “I tried to negotiate smaller ears — struck colour in the years ahead. The Portrait Gallery’s tradition of com- the petite Cavalier King Charles but generally refers so-called Toy job of managing radiology tests and out on that as well.” “They will look up and they will see an missioning presidential portraits began with Spaniel to the Anatolian Shepherd breeds — such as Chihuahuas and building MRI imaging machines to The Obamas both expressed awe at their image of someone who looks like them, President George H W Bush. and Bloodhound, both over 100 Pugs — to handlers who specialize spend more time with his family — portraits, noting that they were the first peo- hanging on the wall of this great American Other portraits were acquired as gifts, pounds. in smaller dogs. and devote himself to shows, driving ple in their families to ever sit for an off icial institution,” she said. bought at auctions or through other “We took three separate fl ights He also avoids Poodles, which across the country over four days painting. “I know the kind of impact that will have means. and everything to get all the dogs in require an inordinate amount of this year with two dogs. “You do it here,” he said. shaving and primping. for the love,” he said. Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, February 13, 2018 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Lawyers question prior ruling in Kim Dotcom extradition fi ght

DPA United States to face criminal fact that information had been deed fl awed, the errors in the decades in jail if extradited to the ment for billions of dollars in Wellington charges including conspiracy to gathered illegally by the GCSB, judgment were immaterial. US and found guilty. damages for “enabling the un- commit racketeering, copyright and we have a judgement of the While Megaupload’s copyright In August New Zealand’s spy lawful destruction of Megau- infringement, money launder- High Court to demonstrate that infringements weren’t a crimi- agency GCSB was found to have pload and seizure of my global awyers for Internet mogul ing and wire fraud. illegality”, Grant Illingworth QC, nal off ence in New Zealand, the acted unlawfully when it spied assets.” Kim Dotcom yesterday at- A lawyer for Dotcom’s co- lawyer for Dotcom’s co-accused other charges qualifi ed as extra- on Dotcom and van der Kolk who The tech-mogul, born as Kim Ltacked the legal processes accused told the Court of Appeal for Matthias Ortmann and Bram dition off ences. were both New Zealand resi- Schmitz in Kiel in Germany, has which led to him being declared in Wellington that the judicial van der Kolk told the court. The United States claim the dents at the time of the FBI-led been a resident in New Zealand eligible for extradition to the process that led to the decision He also stressed that the US operators of fi le-sharing website Megaupload investigation. since 2010. United States, as a new set of to uphold a previous ruling was copyright charges do not ap- were involved in a worldwide In November Dotcom reached The 44-year-old has since hearings began in the long-run- fl awed. ply under New Zealand law, criminal organisation that led to a confi dential settlement, in his released a music album and dab- ning legal saga. An example of this was the and allowing extradition would an estimated loss to copyright lawsuit against the New Zealand bled in New Zealand politics and In February 2017, the coun- failure to disclose the illegal sur- Kim Dotcom go against what lawmakers in- holders of more than $500mn in police force over a “Hollywood- last month married 22-year-old try’s High Court ruled that Dot- veillance by New Zealand’s spy tended. revenue from “pirated” movies, style” raid on his luxurious Elizabeth Donnelly. The hear- com, founder of the fi le-sharing agency when applying for an say that there was misleading Last year the High Court music, and other media. mansion in 2012. ing has been set down for two service Megaupload, and his arrest warrant in 2012, the New conduct at that stage because found that although the De- Dotcom and three of his Last month he said he was weeks, but a decision could still associates could be sent to the Zealand Herald reported. “We there was no reference to the cember 2015 decision was in- former colleagues could face suing the New Zealand govern- be months away.

Don’t be ‘blinded’ by charm offensive: Japan

Japan yesterday warned briefing on Kono’s visit. against being “blinded” by He said Kono met Singapore North Korea’s diplomatic Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong charm off ensive at the Winter and Foreign Minister Vivian Head held high, Kim’s Olympics, saying the main goal Balakrishnan separately and remains ridding Pyongyang discussed regional issues, of nuclear weapons. Japan’s including developments on Foreign Minister Taro Kono used the Korean Peninsula. North a visit to Singapore, the current Korean leader Kim Jong-un has chair of the Asean regional bloc, used the Winter Games hosted to call for unity in dealing with by South Korea in Pyeongchang sister returns to North Pyongyang, a spokesman said. to unleash a diplomatic push “We need to maximise pressure for his isolated regime. Kim Reuters on North Korea, to corner North sent his powerful sister Kim Seoul Korea to change its policy by Yo-jong to the Games where she fully implementing the UN delivered a letter inviting South Security Council Resolution,” Korean President Moon Jae-in prim, young woman with said Toshihide Ando, deputy to a summit. a high forehead and hair press secretary at Japan’s She is the first member of Ahalf swept back quietly foreign aff airs ministry. “We the dynasty to set foot in the gazes at the throngs of people will continue to work with the South since the Korean War. pushing for a glimpse of her, a United States and South Korea North Korea’s delegation to faint smile on her lips and eye- on this issue. But it’s important the Games also included the lids low as four bodyguards jostle that we should not be blinded country’s ceremonial head of around her. by the charm off ensive by North state and hundreds of female In her fi rst appearance on the Korea,” he told reporters at a cheerleaders. global stage, Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, had her every move sion when she wasn’t meeting tionship with her brother, said closely scrutinised. with high-ranking South Korean An Chan-il, a former North Ko- Crowds applauded as she government offi cials and high- rean military offi cer who now stood for the South Korean an- tilted chin prompted scorn from runs a think tank in Seoul. “She them during the opening cer- many South Koreans, who said has been thought of as royalty emony for the start of the Winter she looked “too haughty” or “up- since she was born, and she sees Olympic Games, while her big pity”. herself that way as well.” smiles and relaxed manner left a “Her neck is straight and her The body language of the high- largely positive impression on the head is skewed to the right, auto- ranking North Korean offi cials South Korean public. matically sending her gaze down. who accompanied her was also But her sometimes aloof ex- I think this comes from her telling of her status in the North, pression and high-tilted chin thinking she is above everyone said analysts. also spoke of someone who sees else,” said Bae Sang-hoon, pro- North Korea’s 90-year-old herself “of royalty” and “above fessor of police science at Seoul nominal head of state Kim Yong- anyone else”, leadership experts Digital University and a former nam deferred to her upon arrival, and some critics said. criminal profi ler at the Seoul asking her to sit down fi rst ahead Kim Yo-jong’s visit to South Metropolitan Police Agency. of tea with the South’s unifi ca- Korea, the fi rst by a member of South Korean President Moon Jae-in talks with Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un, after watching North Korea’s Critics also highlighted Kim tion minister. the North’s ruling bloodline since Samjiyon Orchestra’s performance in Seoul, South Korea. Yo-jong’s senior role in a regime It is customary in Korea and their 1950-53 war, could hardly accused by a United Nations in- some other Asian countries for have come at a more acute time. requested of her by the presiden- to see all your friendly faces in expressions were cool and she “North Korea used ‘soft power’ quiry of systematic torture, star- the highest ranking, usually the US Vice President Mike Pence tial Blue House’s chief of staff . “I Pyongyang.” With so little known didn’t seem fl ustered.” Report- this time to engage the South vation and killings comparable to eldest, person in the group to sit was also in town, leading inter- can’t speak very well in public,” about her (even her age of 28 is edly schooled in Switzerland, and her being a woman may have Nazi-era atrocities. down fi rst for a meal or meeting. national pressure on North Korea she told guests attending a din- unconfi rmed), scrutiny on Kim the youngest daughter of former contributed more in that aspect,” Last January, the US Treasury While Kim Yo-jong demurred to give up its nuclear weapons ner at the fi ve-star Banyan Tree Yo-jong was intense, dominating leader Kim Jong-il was promoted Kim told Reuters. Department blacklisted her along in front of the cameras, insisting programme and reminding the Club and Spa in Seoul. local media and internet chat- by her brother to the country’s Even her elegant, sloping with six other North Korean of- Kim Yong-nam sit fi rst, the im- world of the Kim family’s brutal “I never thought I would visit rooms. top decision-making body in Oc- handwriting was parsed in South fi cials for “severe human rights pression had been made. regime. (the South) so suddenly and be- “Personally I think she looked tober. Korean media. Experts said it abuses” and censorship that “This showed Kim Yo-jong When shaking hands or eating lieved much would be strange very relaxed during her visit to Kim Man-heum, head of the conveyed confi dence, superiority concealed the regime’s “inhu- was the real person in power, and meals with offi cials such as South and diff erent but I saw many South Korea,” said Kang Mi- Korea Academy of Politics and and refl ected a positive attitude. mane and oppressive behaviour”. not just because of her lineage,” Korean President Moon Jae-in, things that were similar or the jin, a North Korean defector Leadership, said Kim Yo-jong Not everyone was impressed, “Among the upper class in said Cheong Seong-chang, sen- Kim Yo-jong was all smiles, even same. I hope the day we be- who works at the Seoul-based left a largely positive impres- however. Pyongyang, she is a frightening ior research fellow at the Sejong agreeing to give a toast suddenly come one comes soon and hope Daily NK website. “Her facial sion on the South Korean public. Kim Yo-jong’s aloof expres- presence,” because of her rela- Institute.

Tropical Cyclone Gita passes through Tonga

Tropical Cyclone Gita passed forcing authorities to hand Tonga shortly after midnight over the weather bulletin Millions of Chinese leave for Lunar yesterday with the main to the meteorological island plunging into darkness services in Fiji’s Nadi. Fiji as electricity authorities Meteorological Service cut the power off as a said Cyclone Gita’s central precautionary measure. pressure was estimated at holidays, but many may not return The eye of the cyclone 930 millibars when it reached passed through the south of Tongatapu, which is stronger Tongatapu, the Pacific nation’s than 2017’s Hurricane Harvey AFP do not plan to return to Beijing largest island, as a category- when it made landfall in Beijing when the 15-day festival is over. four storm with destructive Texas. Tonga’s Red Cross “The Beijing authorities don’t sustained winds of around said at least three houses want migrant workers to reside 233km per hour, according to have already been destroyed illions have begun here. They call it economic up- the US Joint Typhoon Warning in the country. But the true heading home from grading,” said Pablo Wang of Center. Tongan police said impact of the cyclone in MBeijing for Lunar New China Labour Bulletin. “A lot of the entire main island of Tongatapu, home to some Year, but many this year will not migrants are going back home. Tongatapu, including the 75,000 residents, will only return as China’s capital be- With these policies, they cannot capital of Nuku’alofa, was be known today. Poli Kefu, an comes increasingly unwelcom- come back.” without power. advisor for the Tongan Red ing for the migrants from the Authorities say the campaign The police have also imposed Cross, told Radio New Zealand provinces who once powered its to demolish sub-standard hous- a curfew in the capital city there were more than 60 economy. ing, which kicked into high gear until today morning. Tonga people hunkered down in his Crowds carrying parcels and after a fi re in an illegal structure meteorologists have forecast office. He said it was very dark suitcases and packs of instant killed 19 people in November, is that it will become a category- outside and the majority of noodles gathered at the Beijing necessary to clean the city up five cyclone in the early Tongans were “very fearful.” West Railway Station on Sat- once and for all. hours of today. But the roof A few Tonga residents shared urday, waiting to board packed Fire safety is a major prob- of Tonga’s Meteorological photos of their homes in trains ahead of the most impor- lem in the city’s cheap migrant Service building in Fua’amotu Nuku-alofa damaged by the tant holiday on the Chinese cal- housing, which often has jerry- was blown away by the storm, storm surge flooding and endar. rigged electrical wiring and a damaging equipment and torrential rainfall. Throughout the country, lack of emergency exits. But the hundreds of millions will be on brutal effi ciency of the demoli- the move in the world’s larg- tions and mass evictions over est annual human migration. the past year has provoked an Cruise ship returns after toilet brawl Among them Saturday was Li Passengers wait to board trains at Shanghai’s Hongqiao Railway Station as the annual Spring Festival unusual public outcry that has Wen, a 47-year-old restaurant travel rush begins ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year. put offi cials on edge. A cruise ship was forced to return to Sydney after a brawl over a worker and one of many Beijing Although relegated to the toilet queue, with a Russian women charged yesterday for allegedly residents who has bought a one- m of illegal structures – mostly Travellers must be home by in the hot and stuff y carriages, periphery, migrants have kept attacking a man with an empty wine bottle. A fight broke out way ticket in the face of a cam- shops and homes for low-in- tomorrow to usher in the new some people stood on top of China’s economy humming – between several men in the early hours of Sunday morning on the paign of demolitions that has come residents. year on Friday. But getting there the seats, surveying the scene handling the dreary, diffi cult, P&O ship as they waited in line to use a bathroom. “During the made life impossible for many of “I came to Beijing to work be- is an ordeal. below. But few complained. dirty and sometimes dangerous fight, a 37-year-old woman, who is the partner of one of the men, the city’s migrant workers. cause the salaries in the capital On one 28-hour train journey They passed the time playing on work that the city’s permanent allegedly struck a 21-year-old man on the head with an empty wine She moved to the capital 10 are much better than elsewhere. from Beijing to the southwest- smartphones, sharing food and residents shun. bottle, causing a laceration,” New South Wales police said. “Security years ago to earn money to sup- But in my neighbourhood, many ern city of Chengdu, only the chatting with fellow passengers. Industries like construction, separated the men and they were detained.” port her daughter, who now at- of the hutong (alleyway single- lucky passengers were able to Even the children mostly stayed domestic work and sanitation The ship, which was reportedly on a three-day “Comedy Cruise tends university in Chengdu. storey) homes have been torn snag a seat. Many had to stand quiet. are almost completely staff ed by Gala” voyage in Australian waters, steamed back to Sydney where However, many migrants like down already,” Li told AFP. “I for the entire trip, clogging the Yet the mood in the dining car migrants. six men and the woman were removed and met by police. The men her are no longer welcome in the won’t be able to survive in the aisles. Meals on plastic trays was sombre despite the cheer- Their exodus from Beijing were subsequently released pending further inquiries, while the overcrowded city, which seeks city if I need to pay three times were passed from passenger to ful red and gold Lunar New took a toll on the city’s growth woman was charged with reckless wounding and affray. She was to cap its population at 23mn more to rent in a normal apart- passenger. Year decorations. Like Li, some last year, which slowed from a granted bail to appear in a Sydney court on March 9. by 2020 and demolish 40mn sq ment building,” she said. To get some breathing space of those stuff ed into the train year earlier. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 13, 2018 9 BRITAIN/IRELAND

PEOPLE DECISION ENTERTAINMENT PROPOSAL CRIME Soham killer Huntley sorry Rail firms to face green Victoria Beckham rules out Minicab firms could be Man arrested after for murdering schoolgirls targets for franchise bids Spice Girls reunion tour forced to pay C-charge teen stabbed to death

Soham murderer Ian Huntley has expressed Rail companies must prove they can meet tough Victoria Beckham has disappointed legions of An end to the congestion charge exemption for A young man tried to save a dying teenager who remorse at having killed schoolgirls Holly Wells environmental targets before taking on new fans worldwide by ruling out a rumoured Spice minicab drivers moved a step closer yesterday, had been stabbed in Streatham, witnesses said and Jessica Chapman. Huntley, 44, who is serving franchises, Rail Minister Jo Johnson said yester- Girls reunion tour. “I’m not going on tour. The girls as the Transport for London confirmed it had yesterday. The victim, 19, was attacked in a house a life sentence for killing the two friends, is said day. His green pledge for firms comes as he said aren’t going on tour,” the 43-year-old told Vogue launched “further analysis” on the issue. It has ap- which is split into flats in Hopton Road, near to have apologised to their parents “for the pain diesel-only trains will be taken off the UK’s railway magazine. The news came after the Spice Girls pointed a consultancy to interview minicab firms Streatham Common, at 3.50pm on Sunday. He I have caused”. According to the Sun, the former by 2040 in a bid to tackle climate change. John- said earlier this month they were planning to to gauge their reaction to paying the daily £11.50 collapsed in the driveway. A witness described the school caretaker said in a interview: “I am genu- son told the Radio 4 Today Programme yesterday work together again on some “new opportunities,” charge. TfL said that depending on the research “heartbreaking” moment she saw a man, thought inely sorry and it breaks my heart when it is re- morning: “We will be setting tough environmental almost two decades after they split up. The pop results, it could launch a formal consultation to be the victim’s brother, try to save him before ported I have no remorse; that I relish something. targets through our franchising system. Franchis- quintet, made up of Victoria Beckham, Melanie “later this year”. The London Assembly Transport paramedics arrived. He was pronounced dead at I do not. I can’t change anything. I cannot remove es come up for renewal on a regular basis and we Brown, Melanie Chisholm, Geri Horner and Emma Committee has called on Mayor Sadiq Khan to the scene. The witness said: “The victim was just that day from history; what I have done. I know all want to ensure that we are setting demanding Bunton, had shared photos on social media of a investigate ways of reducing traff ic congestion — lying there and his brother was pleading with him. those girls would be 26 this year with families of targets in terms of the quality of rolling stock catch-up at Horner’s home outside London. It was and to consider the eff ect of making private hire He tried to stop the bleeding. He was shouting their own, jobs and lives.” The two girls went miss- and the environmental impact that operating the reportedly the first time the five had all been in drivers pay the C-charge. They have been exempt ‘no, no’ over and over.” A man, 23, was yesterday ing in Soham, Cambridgeshire, in August 2002. railways has in our system.” the same room since 2012. since the scheme began, in 2003. being questioned on suspicion of murder.

New bid to end Deputy head N Ireland political crisis of Oxfam

Reuters Belfast resigns over rime Minister Theresa May and Irish leader Leo Varad- Pkar began talks with politi- cal parties in Northern Ireland yesterday to urge them to restore devolved government and avoid the introduction of direct rule sex scandal from London. The British province has been Guardian News and Media of the 2010 earthquake, calling velopment secretary Priti Patel without a devolved executive London for them to be prosecuted “in the claimed the Oxfam scandal was for over a year since Irish na- international system”, and said the “tip of the iceberg”. She told tionalists Sinn Fein withdrew it was considering legal action BBC Radio 5 Live that people in from a power-sharing govern- xfam’s deputy chief ex- against the charity. It is alleged the department for international ment with their arch-rivals, ecutive has resigned after that those who were paid by the development knew about wider the Democratic Unionist Party Oit emerged that concerns staff may have been underage. problems of sexual abuse in the (DUP). about the behaviour of sen- Bocchit Edmond, Haiti’s am- aid sector. The two sides said on Friday ior staff in Haiti and Chad were bassador to the UK, said the coun- Oxfam is also braced for an im- progress had been made and a raised with the charity but not try was “shocked and appalled” by pact on donations from the pub- breakthrough was possible this properly handled. the way Oxfam allowed the senior lic after days of escalating stories week. Penny Lawrence, who was the workers in question to leave the about the conduct of its workers. May and Varadkar met near international programmes direc- country without reporting them to Any hopes the charity’s leader- Northern Ireland’s Stormont tor when the concerns were re- the Haitian authorities. ship had that the scandal might parliament yesterday, ahead of ported, quit yesterday. “For the executive to know quickly subside were dashed when their individual meetings with Oxfam’s chief executive, Mark these crimes were committed it was reported in the Observer that the parties, Britain’s Northern Goldring, said: “Penny feels that and to allow those people to leave Oxfam staff in Chad had also paid Ireland Offi ce said. happened on her watch and she without informing the authori- sex workers and when Oxfam’s an- A failure to form a government takes responsibility. More stories ties is wrong,” he told the Guard- nual report resurfaced, showing it would probably result in the in- have come out over the weekend, ian. “We might be dealing with a dealt with 87 allegations of sexual troduction of direct rule from which have suggested people paedophile ring. Prostitution is abuse by staff in 2016-17. London for the fi rst time in a did report concerns in Chad and illegal and we believe they may It emerged yesterday that decade and reignite a diplomatic Haiti which were not properly have been underage kids.” Oxfam managers were concerned dispute over what role the Irish acted on at the time.” On Sunday, Oxfam’s chief ex- about the behaviour of two of the government should have in the Her resignation came after a ecutive, Mark Goldring, said the men who were involved in the region. meeting between senior Oxfam charity did not report its work- Haiti scandal while they were It could also further desta- staff and the International Devel- ers to Haitian police because it working in Chad. bilise the delicate balance be- opment Secretary, Penny Mor- feared this would endanger the An internal document about tween Irish nationalists and daunt, who has threatened to re- women involved. Roland van Hauwermeiren, who unionists who, until last year, move the charity’s state funding. But Edmond described this later became the Haiti director, re- had run the province since Lawrence said: “It is now clear as “wrong and really insulting”. ported by the Times, said “recruit- 2007 under the terms of the that these allegations, involving “How do they know the women ment (process) identifi ed some 1998 Good Friday peace accord the use of prostitutes and which would have been endangered?” weaknesses in his management which ended three decades of related to behaviour of both the he said. “Oxfam should recognise (e.g. gender issues)” and reported- violence. country director and members they failed and showed a lack of ly asked: “Were suffi cient checks The meetings come as Britain of his team in Chad, were raised leadership.” put in place to monitor this?” bids to secure a breakthrough in before he moved to Haiti. I am An Oxfam spokesperson said: Further documents showed Van talks with the European Union ashamed that this happened on my “Consideration was given at the Hauwermeiren handled at least on the terms of its exit from the watch and I take full responsibility. time to contacting the police, four complaints of sexual harass- bloc, which could have dramatic “I am desperately sorry for the but the legal advice we received ment or misconduct against an- implications for Northern Ire- harm and distress that this has in Haiti was that given the na- other worker, but allowed him land. caused to Oxfam’s supporters, ture of the allegations, especially to stay in his job, the newspaper The future trading relation- the wider development sector with the continued upheaval and reported. The concerns included ship will help determine whether and most of all, the vulnerable chaos post the earthquake, it was the use of sex workers and sexual physical infrastructure will be people who trusted us.” extremely unlikely that any ac- harassment of female colleagues. required to control the border Earlier, Haiti demanded tion would be taken.” The two were among seven men between the region and the Re- Prime Minister Theresa May is shown around by Michael Ryan (second left), president of Bombardier Oxfam and the British govern- Edmond said legal action against dismissed or allowed to resign by public of Ireland, which will be- Aerostructures and Engineering services division, during a visit to the Belfast Bombardier factory in ment identify the aid workers Oxfam was also being considered. Oxfam in 2011, following allega- come an EU frontier. Belfast yesterday. who paid for sex in the aftermath The former international de- tions including paying sex workers.

Hyde Park run Derry woman’s American Harry, Meghan off er husband ‘free to live in UK’ wedding day details AFP spiritual leader, will offi ciate as the London couple make their marriage vows, Guardian News and Media have implications for any Irish The fi rst-tier tribunal ruled in while the Dean of Windsor, David London passport holder married to a his favour. Conner, will conduct the wedding non-EU citizen, lawyers say. “Under the terms of the Good rince Harry and his US service, the palace announced. Emma de Souza found herself Friday Agreement, people of bride Meghan Markle will The ceremony comes on the potential loophole in Brit- at the centre of a legal battle af- Northern Ireland are in a unique Phave a public horse-drawn same day as the FA Cup Final — a ain’s strict immigration ter her application in 2015 for a position within the United King- carriage ride after marrying in major fi xture in Britain’s sport- Alaws has been exposed af- residence card for her US-born dom. The British and Irish gov- Windsor Castle on May 19, Ken- ing calendar — and fans will be ter the Home offi ce lost a case in husband, Jake de Souza, was re- ernments recognised the birth- sington Palace said. relieved to fi nd that any clash is Northern Ireland that hinged on jected. right of all the people of Northern Following a midday highly unlikely as the showpiece the unique peace deal rights that The Home Offi ce initially re- Ireland to identify themselves (1100GMT) ceremony in St football match traditionally allow citizens to identify as Irish jected his application on the as Irish or British, or both,” said George’s Chapel, the newlyweds kicks off later in the afternoon. and not British. grounds that his wife was British, judge Gillespie in his conclusion will make a “short journey” by As president of the Football As- A Derry woman at the cen- even though she never carried a at the tribunal. carriage through the town of sociation, Harry’s brother Prince tre of the case has spoken of her British passport. “Initially I had a lot of people Windsor, leaving the castle at William usually attends the cup fi - joy after a Belfast court rejected They said as she was born I know say, ‘but the Home Offi ce 1pm (1200GMT), it said. nal and presents the trophy but may the Home Offi ce’s bid to appeal in Northern Ireland, under the is right, you are British, just sign “Prince Harry and Meghan not do this year given the date clash. against a recent ruling that her British Nationality Act 1981 she the form to denounce being Brit- Markle are hugely grateful for Harry was William’s best man American husband should be al- was automatically deemed Brit- ish and make the application,’” the many good wishes they have but the elder brother has not yet lowed to live in the UK without ish and would have to apply said Emma. received since announcing their been invited to return the favour. going through immigration pro- through the normal routes for “But I feel very strongly that I engagement,” the palace said in a “He hasn’t asked me yet — it cedures because she carried an third country citizens. The Home am Irish. I grew up in the Trou- statement. could be a sensitive issue,” Wil- Irish passport. Offi ce told Jake the only way they bles and as a child I experienced “They are very much looking liam joked last month. The Home Offi ce has been told could deal with his case was for the sectarian violence and then forward to the day and to being After the ceremony, wedding that it cannot appeal against the his wife to “renounce her status to be told that you can’t identify able to share their celebrations guests will move to St George’s decision on the grounds that “no as a British citizen”. as Irish? I felt like even though with the public. They hope this Hall for a reception, which the error in law” was made by the Jake challenged that decision the Good Friday Agreement up- short journey will provide an happy couple will rejoin after the fi rst-tier tribunal in Belfast. on the grounds that his wife had holds my rights, I felt I was being opportunity for more people to carriage procession. The extraordinary immigra- the right to be treated as an Irish classed as a lesser identity,” she come together around Windsor Later that evening, Harry’s fa- tion case hinged on the 1998 citizen under the Good Friday said. and to enjoy the atmosphere of ther Prince Charles, the heir to the Good Friday agreement, which agreement and was therefore an “I wanted to take a stand A man runs on a winter afternoon in Hyde Park, London, this special day.” throne, will host another recep- allows citizens to be identifi ed as EU citizen exercising her free- not just for me, but for others,” yesterday. Archbishop of Canterbury Jus- tion for the couple and their “close Irish, British or both and could dom of movement rights. Emma added. tin Welby, the Church of England’s friends and family”, it added. Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, February 13, 2018 BRITAIN ‘Brexit betrayal’ would plunge UK into crisis, warns Farage

Reuters els — between jokes and cigarettes London — in the role he played in what he calls the “Brexit revolution”. He dismissed worries from f Prime Minister Theresa major banks such as Goldman May allows Brexit to be wa- Sachs that the City of London Itered down or halted by could lose business as a result supporters of European Union of Brexit and cast the European membership, Britain will be Union as a doomed German- thrust into its gravest constitu- dominated experiment in Euro- tional crisis since World War II, pean integration. A bomb disposal team approaches London City Airport, in London, yesterday as grounded planes are seen in the background. Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage Since the referendum, sup- said. porters of EU membership have Farage, who as Ukip leader con- been exploring a range of legal vinced Prime Minister Theresa and political methods to prevent May’s predecessor, David Cam- what they see as a colossal his- eron, to call the Brexit referendum torical mistake. and then helped lead the cam- May, whose government and paign to leave the EU, said Brexit party is divided over Brexit, was now in danger of being scut- has just eight months to strike Thousands hit as WWII tled by the establishment. a withdrawal deal with the EU The 53-year-old former com- but insists Britain will leave at modities trader cast May, who 2300GMT on March 29, 2019. voted to stay in the EU, as “There- Opponents of Brexit are try- sa the appeaser” for giving in to ing to garner enough support in Brussels on almost every element the lower house of parliament, of Brexit negotiations and said the House of Commons, to block bomb shuts city airport Britain was being humiliated by any possible withdrawal deal the EU. May brings back from Brussels London Evening Standard the airport’s closure and requir- Street, Tate Road, Muir Street parting “on time”. in particular some of our local “The best-case scenario right in October. London ing offi cers and Newham coun- and Kennard Street. Some The bomb was discovered by residents.” now under our current pathetic “The real crunch point is ulti- cil to evacuate residents within residents refused to leave their construction workers 11m under Airlines using London City leadership is Brexit in name only mately going to be the meaning- the exclusion zone. The council homes. Others went to stay with water in the dock, just south of Airport include British Air- — that is about as good as it gets,” ful vote in the House of Com- housands of passengers was providing them with emer- friends or family. the eastern side of the airport ways, Flybe, CityJet, KLM and Farage told Reuters in his offi ce mons on whatever deal we get had fl ights in and out of gency accommodation. The council said: “Work will terminal. A series of road clo- Lufthansa. The airport is a fa- a few metres from Westminster and that is the point at which it is TLondon cancelled or di- The evacuation continued not start on lifting and remov- sures were put in place. Passen- vourite of business travellers Abbey. not impossible to see this coun- verted yesterday after an unex- yesterday ahead of the arrival of ing the device until the initial gers were unable to remove ve- and is undergoing a £400mn “At worst they are going to try plunged into a constitutional ploded World War II bomb was a Royal Navy team who will at- 214-metre zone is clear. When hicles from the airport car parks. expansion so it can welcome an make us fi ght the whole thing crisis,” Farage said. found under water near City tempt to disable and remove the work starts to remove it, it is ex- Docklands Light Railway extra 2mn passengers a year by again,” said Farage. “That is a sig- “The chances of this being the Airport. bomb. pected the exclusion zone will services between the airport and 2025. nifi cant betrayal of what many case get higher with every week The airport was closed for The airport said it “hopes” be extended to 250 metres and Woolwich Arsenal were sus- It is currently the 14th busi- millions voted for.” that goes by,” he said. “If the the whole day, leading to about to reopen today but Newham more properties will need to be pended. Robert Sinclair, chief est airport in the UK with In the United Kingdom’s 2016 deal is rejected on a confi dence 300 arrivals and departures be- council said the operation to re- evacuated.” Passengers were ad- executive of London City Air- 4,540,000 passengers last year, referendum, 51.9%, or 17.4mn motion, then you are looking ing cancelled, with about 9,000 move the bomb “is expected to vised to contact their airlines. port, said: “All fl ights in and out according to the Civil Aviation people, voted to leave the EU while at general elections or you are passengers aff ected. It came continue until Tuesday morn- CityJet fl ights were fl ying in and of London City yesterday were Authority. 48.1%, or 16.1mn, voted to stay. looking at another referendum.” after the discovery of a “500kg ing”. out of Southend, while Alitalia cancelled and an exclusion zone The Met said a decision was Farage was once ridiculed by French President Emmanuel fused device” in King George Newham said offi cers were was diverting to Stansted. is in place. I urge any passengers made with the Navy to imple- Cameron as the leader of a bunch Macron and European Coun- V Dock, next to the airport, at assisting with a controlled However, confusion was due to fl y to contact their air- ment the exclusion zone “to of “fruitcakes and loonies and cil president Donald Tusk have about 5am on Sunday. The Met evacuation of residents in sev- caused by City Airport’s website line for further information. “I ensure that the ordnance can be closet racists”. A supporter of US raised the prospect of Britain police decided to impose a 700ft en streets: Holt Road, Leonard yesterday morning as it claimed recognise this is causing incon- safely dealt with while limiting President Donald Trump, he rev- changing its mind on Brexit. security cordon at 10pm, forcing Street, Lord Street, Newland fl ights were arriving and de- venience for our passengers, and any risk to the public”. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 13, 2018 11 EUROPE

ACCIDENT POLITICS CONFESSION DIPLOMATIC ROW BORDER CONTROL Woman killed as Austria Saakashvili deported by Dutch foreign minister ‘lied’ EU urges Turkey, Cyprus to Albania allows EU police to train scrapes another Ukraine to Poland about Putin comments tamp down ship incident handle immigration

One woman was killed and 22 people were hurt Mikheil Saakashvili — a former president of Dutch Foreign Minister Halbe Zijlstra yesterday The European Union’s executive yesterday The European Union and Albania reached a deal yesterday when two trains scraped against Georgia and ally of Ukrainian President Petro admitted he had lied about hearing Russian called on Turkey to “refrain from any actions yesterday to allow European police to deploy each other in Niklasdorf in Austria, police said. Poroshenko, but now a protest leader against the President Vladimir Putin make comments that might damage good neighbourly relations” on Albanian territory to handle immigration Photos of the accident site in Styria province Ukrainian government — was deported yesterday about plans for a “greater Russia”, unleashing after Cyprus, a member of the bloc, accused issues, which Brussels hopes can be a model showed that the windows of one carriage to Poland, authorities said. Saakashvili, who has a storm of criticism. “I told an untruth, it was the Turkish military of obstructing a ship for other countries in the Western Balkans. were ripped off in the accident. Police did not been stripped of his Georgian and Ukrainian unacceptable,” he told reporters. Zijlstra, who exploring for gas. Cyprus on Sunday said Dimitris Avramopoulos, the EU’s Commissioner immediately explain how the two trains came to citizenship, walked across the border from is scheduled to meet his Russian counterpart the Turkish military had obstructed a vessel for Migration, Home Aff airs and Citizenship hit each other at the Niklasdorf railway station. Poland into Ukraine in September. “In compliance Sergei Lavrov in Moscow in two days’ time, contracted by Italian oil company Eni which initialled the accord along with Albania’s Interior One of the trains had departed in nearby Graz with a court decision that this individual was said he had been “stupid” and regretted his was approaching an area to explore for natural Minister Fatmir Xhafaj. It still must be approved for the German city of Saarbruecken, while the illegally located on Ukraine’s territory...he was behaviour. While election campaigning two years gas. “Turkey needs to commit unequivocally by EU member states. EU off icials have aimed to other was a local commuter train, according returned to the country from which he arrived,” ago, Zijlstra said that in 2006 he had been at to neighbourly relations and avoid any kind improve immigration operations in the Western to Austria’s national rail company OeBB. Police the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine said in Putin’s dacha when he heard the Kremlin leader of source of friction, threat or action directed Balkans, especially since 2015 when the countries said that 22 passengers including three children a statement. Saakashvili was detained yesterday speak of plans for a “greater Russia” which would against a member state,” a spokeswoman for in the region became the main route for the were lightly injured. in central Kiev before being deported. include some of Russia’s neighbours. the executive European Commission said. biggest migration into Europe since World War II. Merkel, SPD Powder play! again come under fi re for coalition deal

Reuters term as chancellor, and she said decision to give up the powerful Berlin criticism among her conserva- fi nance ministry to the SPD. tives was not a sign her authority “That did not go down well was waning. with our (party) base,” he said. erman Chancellor Angela Guenther Oettinger, a senior Many in the SPD rank and fi le People throw talcum powder yesterday during the street carnival ‘Los Indianos’ in Santa Cruz de la Palma, on the Spanish Canary Merkel and the leader of CDU member and the European are also unhappy with the coali- island of La Palma. Gthe Social Democrats (SPD) Union’s budget commissioner, tion deal, which will renew an yesterday faced further criticism rushed to her defence yesterday, awkward ruling alliance with from within their own parties over saying: “I fi nd her still strong... Merkel’s bloc that has governed a new coalition deal that must still and am sure she will meet the Germany since 2013. be approved by disgruntled SPD expectations of our party and the The leader of the SPD’s youth rank-and-fi le members. public in the coming days.” wing is travelling around Ger- Germany has been without a But Oettinger also conceded many urging the party’s 464,000 proper government since an in- that this would be her fi nal term members to vote against the deal conclusive election last Septem- as chancellor, if the new ‘grand in the postal ballot. Top SPD offi - Tell-all writer on trial over ber, which saw Merkel’s conserv- coalition’ goes ahead, address- cials will meet today to decide on atives and the centre-left SPD ing a succession debate that is a change of leadership. both lose seats and a far-right starting to take hold as the CDU Martin Schulz said last week he party enter the Bundestag lower slowly starts to look ahead to a would quit as leader so the party house for the fi rst time. post-Merkel era. could reinvent itself, and urged France ‘heist of century’ Merkel annoyed members of “It is clear to everyone that members to back parliamentary her Christian Democrats (CDU) the chancellor is going into a last fl oor leader Andrea Nahles as his By Francois Becker, AFP fessed that their father had often bragged bery, using rubber rafts in the sewers to by agreeing in the coalition talks term,” he told Deutschlandfunk successor. Marseille about the robbery. access the spot where they dug their 8m to cede the fi nance ministry to radio, adding that she would “We can’t have a situation He eventually admitted to orchestrating tunnel, installing hundreds of metres of the SPD. “skilfully set in motion the suc- where two, three or four people the intricately planned job that involved at electrical cables to provide lights. And members of the SPD could cession in these four years”. have a discussion and say who he suspected mastermind of France’s least six people and 30 tanks of acetylene Racy pictures of women were hung along yet reject the coalition deal in a Paul Ziemiak, leader of the does what. Rather, there should “heist of the century” went on trial to fuel the welding torches used to cut into the walls of the tunnel, which were rein- ballot whose results will be an- conservatives’ youth wing, wel- be an orderly procedure,” said Tyesterday nearly half a century after safes and safety deposit boxes. forced with concrete, and police later found nounced on March 4. comed Merkel’s readiness to set SPD lawmaker Hilde Mattheis. robbers tunnelled through sewers to snatch He said he got only the equivalent of about remains of meals, wine bottles and packs of On Sunday, Merkel defended out her picks for ministerial posts Ralf Stegner, one of the SPD’s the equivalent of 29mn euros from a bank 2mn euros, which he quickly spent. cigarettes. Breaking in on a weekend, they “painful” concessions she made before a CDU party conference deputy leaders, called for an end vault. But an investigating magistrate was not took their time going through nearly 200 to the SPD to win herself a fourth on February 26, but lamented the to “indiscipline” in the party. The 1976 robbery at a Societe Generale convinced, saying Cassandri was broke in safe-deposit boxes in the vault as well as the branch in the southern city of Nice con- 1976 but now sits atop an empire that in- bank’s fi ve-ton safe. founded the police for decades. cludes several businesses and real estate. Cash, jewellery and gold bars were dis- Only one person was ever charged with the “This book is a novel, and a novel is not a covered missing when employees fi nally crime, with most of the gang disappearing, piece of evidence,” one of Cassandri’s law- realised what had happened on Monday and the loot — 46mn francs (about $36mn) yers has argued. morning — the robbers had welded the door Serbian president visits Croatia in today’s money — was never found. But Cassandri and several of his relatives to the vault shut. But in 2010, the case took an unexpected are facing a series of questions on his busi- Inside they left a message on the wall: twist when a career criminal wrote a book ness dealings, with prosecutors also alleging “Sans arme, sans violence et sans haine” By Boris Babic, DPA with diff erent relations,” Croatian describing present relations as in which he portrayed himself as the heist’s social security fraud and a real estate scam — Without weapons, without violence and Belgrade President Kolinda Grabar Kitar- friendly,” at least Vucic had ac- mastermind. in Corsica. without hate. ovic said. But “after the latest cepted the invitation, Grabar Ki- He used a pen name but investigators It is not his fi rst time in court, having An AFP report at the time told of hun- escalation of the verbal war, I de- tarovic said at a joint news confer- quickly concluded the writer was Jacques been arrested in the early 1970s when police dreds of panicky clients mobbing the bank, erbian President Ale- cided to end it” with an invitation ence with the Serbian president. Cassandri, a key mafi a fi gure in Marseille, broke up the “French Connection” heroin desperate to know if their wealth was safe. ksandar Vucic yesterday for Vucic to visit, she said. Vucic met Grabar Kitar- where he is now standing trial. trade centred in Marseille. One woman fainted upon hearing her Sarrived for a two-day visit Belgrade and Zagreb have re- ovic and Prime Minister Andrej He had assumed he was safe because the In 1994 he and his wife were sentenced to jewels were missing. to Croatia organised by the two cently clashed over their views Plenkovic on the fi rst day of his crime was too old to be prosecuted, but Cas- four years in prison for pimping. Spaggiari escaped a few months after his Western Balkans countries in an about the extermination of Serbs visit with which the two sides sandri is being charged with laundering the Until his book appeared in 2010, police arrest by jumping out of a window at the eff ort to ease their chronically during World War II in Croatia, seek to reduce tensions over is- millions from the heist — a crime for which had assumed the Nice heist was the work Marseille courthouse where an accomplice strained relations. migrants and cargo transport. sues such as people missing since France has no statute of limitations. of Albert Spaggiari, who was arrested a few was waiting on a motorcycle. “I wanted to have this meeting While the “burden of the past the war, border disputes and war Police found the manuscript on Cassan- months afterwards. He was never caught again, eventually under diff erent circumstances, unfortunately prevents us from damages. dri’s computer, and his children later con- The team spent weeks preparing the rob- dying of throat cancer in 1989. Investigators hunt clues to deadly Russia crash

AFP receiving information” about listed by the emergency services news agency reported, citing the Stepanovskoye, Russia the crash, his spokesman Dmitry ministry. A Kazakh citizen may rescue team. Peskov said. also have died, transport minister One black box has been found, Putin — who is running for re- Maxim Sokolov said. containing fl ight data but not escuers yesterday searched election in a March 18 poll — yes- Other victims included the voice recordings, the Investiga- through deep snow for terday cancelled plans to travel 22-year-old fi ancee of a Russian tive Committee said. Rbody parts and debris af- to the Black Sea resort of Sochi professional hockey player and a Witnesses said they heard a ter a Russian passenger plane to meet Palestinian leader Mah- 27-year-old singer from Orsk. crash or felt an explosive force crashed near Moscow minutes moud Abbas. Instead, the meet- Vice Prime Minister Arkady when the plane came down. after take-off , killing all 71 people ing was to take place in Moscow. Dvorkovich said the families of “When it hit the ground we on board, in the country’s deadli- The Investigative Committee, each victims will receive over heard a loud bang. We saw a large est air crash since 2016. which is probing the crash of the 3.5mn rubles ($60,000) in com- fi ery ball rise up from the spot,” The Antonov An-148 plane eight-year-old plane, said the pensation. said Tatiana Zhukova, a house- went down in a snow-covered aircraft caught fi re on the ground With wreckage of the plane wife living in the nearby village fi eld, making it diffi cult to access, after crashing. spread over more than 30 hec- of Stepanovskoye. “We thought with emergency workers forced “At the moment of falling, the tares, it will take a week to in- it was a meteorite.” to reach the wreckage by foot or aeroplane was intact, without a spect the whole area, the emer- The plane was built in Ukraine on snowmobiles. fi re. An explosion took place after gency services ministry said. in 2010 and bought by Saratov The accident happened in Ra- the plane crashed,” it said, adding “We plan to carry out the main Airlines from another Russian mensky district around 70km it is looking into various factors stage of the search operation in airline a year ago, the carrier said. southeast of Moscow on Sunday including the pilots’ training and seven days because the plane It said it was suspending all after the plane departed from the plane’s technical state. debris is scattered over a very fl ights using that model of plane. Domodedovo airport outside the The Ukrainian manufacturer large area,” emergency services Saratov Airlines was founded Russian capital and disappeared of the plane, Antonov, said yes- minister Vladimir Puchkov said, in the 1930s and fl ies to around 35 off the radar at 2.28pm (1128 terday it was ready to send its quoted by Interfax news agency. Russian cities. Its hub is the central GMT). Emergency Ministry rescuers work at the site of a plane crash on the outskirts of Moscow yesterday. specialists to participate in the He added that “heavy snow” airport of Saratov on the Volga river. Sixty-fi ve passengers and six investigation. and diffi cult terrain hampered The governor of the Oren- crew members were on board and The fl ight was operated by the Rescuers in dark uniforms yes- The victims’ remains were so Russia’s Aviation Committee searchers. burg region where the plane was all of them died, the Investigative domestic Saratov Airlines and terday trudged across the site in damaged that genetic testing is said Kiev had appointed a repre- By noon yesterday eight hec- heading and most passengers Committee said. Three victims was headed for the city of Orsk formation, using shovels to shift required, investigators said. sentative for the probe. tares had been examined, turn- lived, yesterday declared a day of were children, including a fi ve- in the Orenburg region close to snow around 40cm deep, an AFP President Vladimir Putin sent A Swiss citizen and a citizen of ing up numerous body fragments mourning with fl ags lowered and year-old girl. Russia’s border with Kazakhstan. video journalist saw. condolences and “is constantly Azerbaijan were among the dead and plane debris, state TASS entertainment events cancelled. Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, February 13, 2018 INDIA

TOURISM OFFBEAT AVIATION TRAGEDY POLITICS India’s longest drive-in Woman constructs Airport closed for Two students killed by train It was party decision not beach to get facelift toilet in Bihar by begging runway expansion while taking pictures to contest polls: Nitish

Billed as the longest drive-in beach in India, Setting a rare example that has drawn The Chandigarh International Airport was closed for Two college students died and another was Janata Dal-United president and Bihar Chief extending close to 6km, Muzhappilangad applause, a poverty-stricken woman in all air traff ic yesterday for authorities to carry out critically injured after getting hit by a train while Minister Nitish Kumar yesterday said the decision beach in Kerala is all set to get a Rs500mn Bihar collected money through begging for runway expansion and repairs. Flight operations clicking pictures standing on the railway track in not to contest bye-elections to one Lok Sabha and facelift, an off icial said yesterday. The beach constructing a toilet at her house in Bihar, will remain suspended until February 26, an airport Kolkata yesterday afternoon, police said. “Two boys two assembly seats was taken by the state unit was featured by the BBC among the top six an off icial said yesterday. Amina Khatoon, a off icial said yesterday. The 15-day closure of the have died after getting hit by a moving local train of the party and not him. Kumar was responding best beaches for driving in the world. “The resident of Pathra Uttar village in flood-prone airport will roughly aff ect over 80,000 passengers, between Dumdum and Belgharia railway station in to questions from reporters over the decision beach is located in Dharmadom in Kannur Koshi region, begged in the neighbouring an off icial said. Flight operations will resume on north 24 Parganas district at around 1pm. Another of the ruling party not to field candidates in the district which is the constituency of Chief villages to collect the money for constructing February 27. Airport Chief Executive Off icer (CEO) boy from that group got injured in the incident,” a three seats where bye-elections will take place in Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. We will give this a toilet, the off icial said. Moved by her Sunil Dutt said the runway was being upgraded police off icer said. “It was found that they were busy March. Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav taunted destination a huge facelift by way of new commitment, a mason and a labourer who to increase its length from 9,000ft to 10,400ft to clicking group pictures on their cell phone standing the chief minister saying: “It shows Nitish Kumar’s rooms and facilities for the visitors,” Kerala built the toilet, refused to take their wages, enable the operation of wide-bodied aircraft. This on the railway track when the train arrived. The abject surrender before the BJP which will not Tourism Development Corp (KTDC) chairman Amina said. She was felicitated by the district would better enable air carriers to connect the city injured student has been hospitalised,” he said. allow him to call the shots. What an irony! The M Vijayakumar said. “Despite its uniqueness, administration on Sunday at a function in her with destinations in Europe, the US and Australia. The police said the three were students of Bhairab ruling party is running away from a contest.” Two this destination has not received much village for her unique eff ort. Amina, a widow in The airport is a defence facility and is controlled Ganguly College in Belgharia. “The bodies have days ago JD-U state president Vashisht Narain response. We will invest Rs50 crore to make it her late 40s and the mother of a minor boy, is by the Indian Air Force (IAF) which operates a been taken for autopsy. It is not sure how none of Singh announced that the party will not field any a world-class destination,” said Vijayakumar. working as a labourer to earn her livelihood. transport squadron there. them noticed the train coming,” the off icer added. candidate for any of the three seats. Congress is helping CPM in Tripura, says BJP chief

IANS the BJP chief said that following toral ally, the Indigenous People’s Agartala the Finance Commission’s rec- Front of Tripura (IPFT). ommendations, the Tripura gov- Congress candidates have fi led ernment has received Rs180bn nominations in 59 of the state’s haratiya Janata Party pres- and Rs9.5bn was sanctioned by 60 constituencies. ident Amit Shah yester- the central government in diff er- Trinamool Congress has nom- Bday said the Congress was ent projects and schemes. inated 24 candidates. Firefighters extinguish a fire on a bus set by protesters near Allahabad University over the murder of a Dalit student. helping the ruling Communist “The Left government is mis- Meanwhile in neighbouring Party of India (Marxist) in Tripu- using the central funds. Twen- Shillong, senior BJP leader Rajiv ra by splitting the non-Left vote ty-fi ve years ago, the number Pratap Rudy expressed confi - share for the February 18 assem- of unemployed was 25,000, and dence that his party will form the bly elections. after 25 years of rule by the CPM next government in Meghalaya, “The Congress is practically government, the number has Nagaland and Tripura. helping the CPM. However, it risen to seven lakh,” the BJP chief Tripura will go to the polls on Violence erupts after Dalit would not be an obstacle for BJP claimed. February 18, followed by Naga- to come to power in the state af- Shah said that the BJP govern- land and Meghalaya on February ter next week’s elections,” Shah ment would implement the 7th 27. The counting of votes will be said at a press conference here. Pay Commission recommenda- held on March 3. “The BJP had little base in Ma- tions for Manipur government “The BJP has marched ahead student killed in Allahabad nipur and Assam, but we came to employees, and once it comes to in forming government from power there. Similarly, our party power in Tripura this would be nine states in 2009 to 19 now on IANS and the All India Students’ As- chief Mayawati has slammed encounters,” the 44-year-old did not have an adequate base in done for the state’s employees as its own and with the coalition Allahabad sociation (AISA) took out a pro- Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said in a statement. Tripura earlier and the BJP got a well. partners. We are going to add test march yesterday and raised for the killing of the Dalit stu- He asked the government to very small percentage of votes “Under the Left rule, Tripura three more, fi rst from Megha- anti-government and anti-po- dent. give the student’s family Rs5mn previously (the party secured had gone backward. After the BJP laya, Tripura, and Nagaland, and tudents Allahabad Uni- lice slogans. In a statement, she said the in compensation. 1.54% votes in the 2013 polls) in comes to power, Tripura would the fourth is Karnataka,” Rudy versity yesterday went on They demanded the imme- atmosphere in the country and Yadav added that in the 10 Tripura. This time the BJP is a be a model state in the country,” said. Sa rampage, setting fi re to a diate arrest of the culprits, and the state had become “vicious months of BJP rule in Uttar big political force... continuously Shah added. The former central minister, bus in protest against the killing also sought adequate compen- and violent” due to the politics Pradesh, insecurity has crept expanding its base,” Shah said. Besides Shah, top BJP leaders, who was in Shillong drumming of a Dalit student. sation for the dead student’s pursued by the Bharatiya Janata into the minds of people and no “Prime Minister Narendra several central ministers includ- up support for party candidates The angry students also laid family. Party (BJP). section of the society was feel- Modi’s popularity and the BJP’s ing Arun Jaitley, Nitin Gadkari, contesting from the urban as- siege to the house of District Saroj was a law student and Samajwadi Party chief ing safe. performance helped the party to Smriti Irani, party general sec- sembly constituencies of East Magistrate Suhas L Y, police hailed from Pratapgarh. A Akhilesh Yadav also launched The twin murder of a mother expand its base in newer areas retary Ram Madhav, Shahnawaz Shillong, South Shillong, North said. video of the killing has gone a scathing attack on the gov- and son in Meerut, the brutal and all the regions of the coun- Hussain, West Bengal’s Mukul Shillong and Pynthorumkhrah, Dalit student Dilip Saroj was viral, leaving the police red- ernment and accused the chief assault on a milkman in Buland- try.” Roy and Locket Chatterjee, As- said: “In Meghalaya, I can read brutally assaulted by four men, faced. minister of failing to check shahr, the fake encounter by po- Shah said that Tripura would sam’s minister Himanta Biswa the pulse of change and it looks and died on Sunday night after No one in the Uttar Pradesh soaring crime in the state. lice in Noida, the triple murders become the 20th state the BJP Sarma are campaigning for the like people have made up their slipping into a coma. He was government has reacted to the The former chief minister in Bareilly and the murder of a would rule in the country. party. minds for a change as we have attacked outside a restaurant in gruesome killing which in- said the daylight killing of the trader in Allahabad had proved “Fearing the BJP’s massive The ruling CPM has fi elded witnessed across the country.” Colonelganj on Friday night. censed the opposition parties. student had proved that crimi- beyond doubt that all talk of growth, the CPM cadres are at- 57 candidates, leaving one seat “The Congress has no vision, A waiter at the restaurant, Health Minister Siddhartha nals had no fear of law. peace and prosperity in the state tacking BJP members. A section each to its Left Front partners – it has lost foothold across the Munna Singh Chauhan, has Nath Singh, a legislator from “On one hand innocent as- was a farce. of the police and administration the Communist Party of India, country and the last few states been arrested and two police- Allahabad and spokesman for piring youngsters are facing “With such soaring crime, are working on the direction of Forward Bloc and Revolutionary are crumbling and one of them is men have been suspended. the Uttar Pradesh government, such fate at the hands of crimi- the chief minister is inviting the CPM cadres.” Socialist Party. Meghalaya,” he said adding that Angry students aligned to the refused to comment. nals and on the other the police people to invest in UP. Who will Coming down heavily on the The BJP is contesting 51 seats. the BJP has a clear manifesto – Samajwadi Yuvjan Sabha (SYS) Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) are targeting innocent people in invest?” Yadav asked. CPM-led Left Front government, It has left nine seats for its elec- development. Pune woman skydives Court summons former in sari, sets new record Himachal CM and wife IANS New Delhi IANS sari’ properly, plus to wear the had to be postponed due to sud- Mumbai parachutes on it, the safety gear den heavy rains and stormy and communication equipment, weather in Pattaya, though she New Delhi court yester- helmet, goggles, shoes, etc, add managed a jump from 9,000ft day issued summonses to une adventurist Shital on to and make it all quite a chal- height. Aformer Himachal Pradesh Rane-Mahajan set a new lenge,” Rane-Mahajan said, as With this, the Padma Shri chief minister Virbhadra Singh Precord by becoming the she seemed to stumble in her fi rst laureate and a mother of nine- and his wife, accused of money fi rst Indian to skydive sporting landing but escaped unhurt. year old twins has set around 18 laundering. a colourful “Nav-wari sari” in She grinned and admitted she national skydiving records, plus After accepting the Enforce- Thailand yesterday. had to make a lot of “extra prep- six international records and ment Directorate (ED) charge- Speaking to IANS shortly after arations and precautions” for completed 704 jumps around the sheet, Special Judge Santosh landing, an elated Rane-Mahajan draping the “Nav-wari sari”, in- world, bagging several national Snehi Mann asked Virbhadra said owing to favourable weather cluding pinning it up tightly and and international honours. Singh, his wife Pratibha Singh Singh: faces trouble conditions, she was able to sky- taping it in many places to ensure She shot to global fame on and three others – Chunni Lal dive twice from an aircraft at it did not come off her body from April 18, 2004, when she made Chauhan, Prem Raj and Lawan his family members, including heights of around 13,000ft above the staggering height as she de- her maiden jump – without prac- Kumar Roach to appear before his wife. the world-famous tourist resort scended, with strong winds from tice dives – on the North Pole her on March 22. A probe had found that Vir- of Pattaya. the Gulf of Thailand lashing all from a Russian MI-8 helicopter The ED has charged all under bahdra Singh had accumulated “I wanted to do something dif- through. hovering at a height of 2,400ft the provisions of the Preven- assets worth Rs60mn in his ferent with International Wom- Rane-Mahajan said the sari is in minus 37 degree temperatures, tion of Money Laundering Act name and in the names of his en’s Day coming up next month, draped in diff erent styles all over making her the fi rst woman in (PMLA). family members, which were so I decided on wearing the Ma- India, but the Maharashtrian the world to accomplish the feat. Special Public Prosecutor N K disproportionate to his known harashtrian ‘Nav-wari sari’ for style of “Nav-wari sari” is prob- Two years later, on December Matta told the court there was sources of income, during his my skydives,” Rane-Mahajan ably the most diffi cult to manage. 15, 2006, Rane-Mahajan made enough material evidence on tenure as the federal steel minis- said by phone from Thai Skydiv- “I wanted to prove that Indian the world’s First Accelerated Free record to proceed against the ac- ter from 2009 to 2011. ing Centre. women can not only carry the Fall Parachute Jump on South cused. The ED alleged Virbhadra Recounting her experiences, sari graciously in their routine Pole in Antarctica, from a Twin Earlier, the ED had fi led its fi rst Singh, with the help of his wife she said wearing the “Nav-wari lives, but can also use it for high Otter aircraft, coming down charge-sheet against Life Insur- and Chauhan, indulged in money sari” itself was a challenge since adventure like skydiving,” the 35- from a height of 11,600ft. ance Corporation (LIC) agent laundering by investing tainted the attire is nine-yards (8.25m) year old extreme sportswoman This made her the fi rst and the Anand Chauhan, accusing him money in LIC policies in the long - compared to six yards of said. youngest woman in the world to of investing Virbhadra Singh’s name of his family members and the regular Indian sari. The jump was originally achieve the feat at both the Poles Rs50.14mn in LIC policies pur- to show legitimate income aris- “First, to drape the ‘Nav-wari scheduled on February 11, but at the age of 23. Rane-Mahajan: record chased in his name and those of ing out of insurance policies. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 13, 2018 13 INDIA Gujarat villagers rebel against urbanisation

By Raksha Kumar “Leave us alone,” says La- minister of Gujarat – of which The government proposes to to strategise ways to oppose cit- of Nasmed. “Crops will not grow Chief Minister of Gujarat, Vijay Ahmedabad lji Bhai Thakor of Bhavanpur, Ahmedabad is the biggest city – develop 40% of villages’ land, ies’ expansion. Some have even well on smaller tracts, and we Rupani, tweeted that the state a village about 15km west of the state government has tried to paving roads and building hos- launched challenges in the Gu- cannot sustain ourselves with had India’s lowest unemploy- Ahmedabad. “We are happy expand the areas of land under pitals, schools and housing colo- jarat High Court. that.” ment rate – 0.9%, against the s you move west from with our agriculture and do not the control of 12 cities to swallow nies. In turn, it says this will lead “We suspect this is a large They also fear that large-scale national average of 5%. The im- the crowded old neigh- want a large city in place of our up some 800 villages. the remaining 60% to appreciate land scam,” says Jassu Ba, 70, urbanisation will further rob plication was clear: Gujarat’s Abourhoods of inner-city homes.” Villages near Morbi-Wankan- in value. “And that is supposed from Nasmed village. “Why do them of water. Most parts of success was down to it being an Ahmedabad, the roads broaden, They may have no choice. The er, Surat and Himmatnagar have to compensate for the 40% we they need so much land to pave northern and central Gujarat are industrial and urban state. buildings rise taller and BMWs story of modern India has been protested against their inclu- initially give up,” says Thakor. roads? A fraction of it should irrigated by the Narmada river, But these numbers are con- line the streets. Old-timers clear: industrialise, or perish. sion into urban development Like many farmers in the 68 suffi ce.” but last month the state govern- tested, and young people in par- here remember watching these The government says agriculture authorities. In September 2015, villages around Ahmedabad, he Many villagers grow ground- ment said farmers would only ticular question the quality of wealthy, modern neighbour- has not done enough to generate after demonstrations, 42 villages is not thrilled to give up nearly nuts, cotton, wheat, rice and cu- be supplied until March, blam- that employment. “We have no hoods engulf the countryside – employment, and has pushed managed to get themselves re- half of his land for the mere min; losing nearly half their land ing insuffi cient rainfall. This has skills to work in an urban set- the lush fi elds of wheat and corn industry as a more lucrative al- moved from the Junagadh Urban promise of a better future. “More would split up large holdings, forced farmers to rely heavily on ting,” says Thakor. “If we will that are now gone. ternative. Development Authority; but in importantly, we don’t think this posing a risk to their agricultural groundwater. “If they pour con- end up being daily wage workers Those who live in villages on That means cities. Since other parts of Gujarat, including is a better future.” industry. “Farming small tracts crete everywhere, there will not in cities, it will hit our dignity the city’s fringes today fear that 2012, when current Prime Min- Ahmedabad, villagers continue About 100,000 farmers in dif- of lands is a disaster,” says Dara be any groundwater,” says Singh. the most.” – Guardian News and the same will happen to them. ister Narendra Modi was chief to protest to little avail. ferent parts of the state have met Singh, the village council head In November, the current Media Rajasthan CM doles out sops for farmers with eye on polls

IANS She declared Rs910mn to be Jaipur spent for setting up a counter- terrorism centre at Sardar Pa- tel Police University in Jodh- ajasthan Chief Minister pur. Vasundhara Raje yester- The chief minister an- Rday kept farmers’ inter- nounced free travel for people est in mind while announcing above 80 years of age and one the fi nal budget before state attendee on half fare on state assembly elections. roadways buses. No new taxes have been im- She announced Rs2.5mn posed in the budget. for player Nagarkoti, who Raje, who also holds the fi - was part of India’s Under nance portfolio, announced 19 team. Rs20mn has been a one-time loan waiver of up sanctioned for upgrading to Rs50,000 for small and Sawai Mansingh Stadium in marginal farmers in the state, Jaipur. which would cost Rs80bn to A Youth Icon scheme has the exchequer. been announced to promote An army ambulance leaves Sunjuwan camp after it was attacked by militants, in Jammu yesterday. She also announced set- sports in the state. ting up of a farmers’ loan re- Meanwhile, a recorded lief commission where farm- telephone conversation of ers can approach and present Bharatiya Janata Party MLA their case for getting relief on Gyan Dev Ahuja seeking merit basis. change in the party leader- The chief minister an- ship in the state has gone nounced a new scheme viral. named after late Bhairon Ahuja is heard telling a party RSS chief’s remarks on Singh Shekhawat, under worker that he “has already which Rs200,000 interest predicted the results” and free loan will be provided “requested the organisational for the self-employed in the general secretary in Delhi to unorganised sector. This has change the leadership in Ra- been a long pending demand jasthan”. of Rajputs. The audio clip has been army spark outrage Under the Bhairon Singh leaked at a time when a let- Shekhawat Swarojgar Anto- ter sent by BJP leader Ashok Agencies “Swayamsevaks practise disci- stitution permits,” Bhagwat world. The RSS should apolo- dlers from across the border,” daya Yojana, 50,000 families Choudhary to BJP New Delhi pline regularly”. said. gise.” she told reporters. will get up to Rs50,000 inter- “This is government’s de- “This was no way a compari- “The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Communist Party of In- “Pakistan is expanding the est-free loan. feat, not our defeat,” Ahuja son between the Indian army Sangh is not a military organisa- dia (Marxist) leader and Kerala arc of terror... resorting to Rs100,000 insurance has is heard telling the party ontroversial comments and the Sangh swayamsevaks tion, but we have discipline like Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan ceasefi re violations (on the bor- been declared for Bhamasah worker. by Rashtriya Swayamse- but it was a comparison between the military. If the country re- said Bhagwat’s comments were der) to assist infi ltration. Paki- card holders. In the audio clip, the MLA Cvak Sangh chief Mohan the general society and swayam- quires and the country’s Consti- “in poor taste, against Constitu- stan will pay for this misadven- It was also announced that also says that though “we Bhagwat on the army’s prepar- sevaks. tution allows, the RSS is ready to tional propriety”. ture,” she said. state women employees will have been defeated by 40,000 edness for a war has triggered Both are to be trained by the fi ght on the borders against the The controversy came as In- Sitharaman also corrected the get two years’ child care leave. votes, I am still smiling as I outrage among opposition par- Indian army only,” RSS spokes- enemy,” he said. dia warned Pakistan it “will pay” earlier death toll given by police, She also announced funds knew this was bound to hap- ties. man Manmohan Vaidya said. Congress president Rahul for an attack on an army base in who said ten including four at- worth Rs332.5mn for renova- pen.” On social media, the Congress The RSS chief, who is in Bihar Gandhi said Bhagwat’s speech Kashmir that killed nine includ- tackers had been killed in the at- tion of 19 historical buildings. Ahuja tells the other caller and Communist parties sought on a 10-day visit, was on Sunday was “an insult to every Indian ing fi ve soldiers and a civilian. tack. A new museum will be set up that on January 25, he wrote a an apology from Bhagwat for quoted as saying that his organi- because it disrespects those who A fi refi ght erupted on Satur- “The terrorists have been at Bundi. letter to general secretary Ram the “insulting” remarks against sation has the ability to prepare have died for our nation.” day when heavily armed mili- eliminated although there was According to the chief min- Lal in which he has clearly the army even though an RSS an army to fi ght for the country “It is an insult to our fl ag be- tants stormed the base in Jam- information of four terrorists in ister, Amer Fort will be devel- mentioned that the BJP will statement said its chief never within three days, if such a situ- cause it insults every soldier who mu. the area ... likely that the fourth oped as an iconic destination be a loser if Raje and BJP state compared the army with his or- ation arises and the Constitution ever saluted it. Shame on you Defence Minister Nirmala (attacker) was a guide and didn’t with Rs200mn funds. president Ashok Parnami are ganisation. permits. Bhagwat, for disrespecting our Sitharaman, who visited the enter the premises,” the minister She also announced subsi- not changed. The RSS statement said Bhag- “The Sangh will prepare martyrs and our army.” injured in hospital, said that said, putting the overall toll at dised meals under Annapurna The caller on the other side wat told a gathering in Muzaf- within three days which the Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi counter-terror operations at the nine. scheme to be provided at all is heard saying that the same farpur on Sunday that in case of army would do in 6-7 months. said the comments were “bru- camp had been called off yester- The intruders took positions collectorate offi ces. message should be sent to a war the Indian army would take This is our capability. Swayam- tally insensitive” particularly day. inside a residential complex Raje announced funds higher authorities or else “we six months to prepare the soci- sevaks will be ready to take on when the army was battling “Our intelligence inputs in- meant for soldiers’ families as worth Rs550mn for a tunnel to will all collapse badly in the ety whereas RSS volunteers can the front if the country faces militants in Jammu and Kashmir. dicate that these terrorists were the army launched a counter- connect Ajmer-Pushkar. ensuing elections.” be trained in three days because such a situation and the Con- “Our army is the bravest in the being controlled by their han- off ensive to drive them out. Rouhani to off er Friday Snow snaps road links in Shimla prayers in Hyderabad IANS have been experiencing snow Shimla since early yesterday, a Met department offi cial said. Agencies two-day stay before leaving for southeastern Iran that was inau- Shimla, which saw intermit- Tehran New Delhi. gurated in December. imachal Pradesh’s tent snow almost throughout After his arrival on Thurs- The port has been touted as a capital Shimla and the day, recorded a minimum day evening, the Iranian presi- way for India to establish trade Hits nearby tourist temperature of 1.1 degrees Cel- ran’s President Hassan dent will interact with selected routes that bypass Pakistan, but destinations were yesterday sius while the maximum stayed Rouhani will visit India ulema of both Shia and Sunni the project has seen multiple de- wrapped in snow, giving them at 6.4 degrees. Manali saw a I this week for three days, sects, intellectuals, and aca- lays. a picturesque look. Likewise, low of 0.2 degree. local media reported yester- demics. India has been a key purchaser Manali and its uphill Solang Jammu and Kashmir also day. The next day, Rouhani will of Iranian oil and gas, and main- ski slopes and Kalpa, 250km received heavy snowfall. Rouhani is due to leave for In- off er Friday prayers at Makkah tained trade ties even as interna- from here, saw snowfall. Heavy snowfall in Banihal dia on Thursday to discuss “the Masjid, a 17th-century mosque, tional sanctions were imposed Towns in upper Shimla dis- sector of Jammu-Srinagar latest regional and global devel- located near the historic on Iran over its nuclear pro- trict were cut off with snow Highway closed the road. opments”, the semi-offi cial Isna Charminar in the Muslim-ma- gramme between 2012 and 2016. piled up on roads, an offi cial People throughout the news agency said. jority old city. However, there have been ten- said. Kashmir Valley greeted the He was invited by Prime Min- After ‘Namaz-e-Juma’, the sions in the relationship, with This was the season’s second snowfall that will replenish ister Narendra Modi last year, Iranian leader will address the the Indian media reporting frus- signifi cant snowfall that froze the perennial water reservoirs Isna said. gathering, said an offi cial at the trations over delays in awarding the “Queen of Hills”, as Shimla in the mountains. These res- Rouhani will fi rst visit Hy- Iranian consulate in the south- a contract to develop a major gas was called by the erstwhile ervoirs sustain various rivers, derabad where he will off er ern Indian city. fi eld known as Farzad B in the British rulers, and Manali. streams, springs and lakes Friday prayers at the historic The Iranian president will also Gulf. As news of the snowfall during the summer months. Makkah Masjid and will also visit Qutub Shahi tombs, a histor- That led India to announce it spread, tourists started arriv- Authorities have set up hel- address the gathering, offi cials ic monument near Golconda Fort. was reducing its oil imports from ing here and in nearby Kufri, pline numbers for people to said. India and Iran have col- Iran in protest in March 2017, Mashobra and Narkanda. approach in case of emergen- The president will attend laborated on key projects, most leading Tehran to say it was re- People walk on a snow-covered road after fresh snowfall on the Hills overlooking Manali cies in diff erent districts of the various programmes during his notably the Chabahar port in stricting credit lines to India. outskirts of the hill town Shimla in Himachal Pradesh yesterday. like Gulaba, Solang and Kothi valley. Gulf Times 14 Tuesday, February 13, 2018 LATIN AMERICA

Worthless cash becomes art, of sorts, in struggling Venezuela

AFP technique, a needle and thread the way. “People throw them of its value against the euro. crown he made out of bolivar the same size and you don’t have In downtown Caracas, other Caracas to make handbags with an eye away because they are no good Infl ation this year is forecast notes. to waste time cutting them,” Ro- hungry artisans are selling wo- to selling them — maybe even to buy anything. No one even ac- by the International Monetary “Here there are about 50,000 jas said. ven bags like these. They get as abroad, where people have real cepts them anymore,” Rojas said Fund to come in at a staggering bolivars, which is maybe enough He hopes to start selling his much as 300,000 bolivars for enezuela’s currency has money. outside a subway station, where 13,000%. for a pack of cigarettes,” he ex- creations soon. one of them. That will buy you a lost so much value that Rojas can use as many as 800 he also sells coff ee and cigarettes With two-, five- and 10-bo- plains. But he fears Venezuela’s eco- kilo of meat. Vpeople simply throw bills to make such a purse. And in addition to his unusual bag- livar notes, “you can’t even buy Rojas says he learned his craft nomic crisis may foil his plans. Economist Tamara Herrera away their small bills — they are if you add up the face value of all weaving work. a piece of candy,” Rojas says, from another makeshift artist. “Here, people barely have said the fact that Venezuela’s virtually worthless anyway. that money, it’s enough to buy... Meanwhile, inflation in this explaining how he used 400 “You can use magazine paper enough to put food on the table currency is now used as play Enter Wilmer Rojas, 25, who half a kilo of rice. oil-rich, cash-poor economy such bills to make a smaller or newspaper pulp, but currency and are not going to shell out money is the maximum expres- scoops them up off the street, Rojas and his wife have three churns on and on: since Au- handbag. notes are better because they are money for something that re- sion of how much value it has uses an origami-like folding kids to feed, and another is on gust, the bolivar has lost 87% Rojas then points to a queen’s not worth anything, they are all quired a lot of work,” he says. lost. Brazil fashion Extreme bike race models seek success in China

AFP lingerie model for brands sold on Sao Goncalo Chinese online giant Taobao. But the success which earned her that “Cinderella” nickname model dubbed “Brazil’s in the Brazilian media didn’t Cinderella” hopes to come quickly. Abuild on her own improb- “I went around the world able success story by introduc- without knowing English, much ing a more Brazilian sense of less Mandarin, not having a pen- beauty to the rapidly growing ny and hardly even knowing what Chinese fashion market. I was doing there,” she recalls. Sandra Passos, 28, is already a “It took me time to adapt. It was sensation. six years before I broke through.” After a childhood that included Eventually Passos expanded picking through garbage dumps beyond fashion shoots to running near Rio de Janeiro to survive, she her own agency in Guangzhou, not only built a career as a model Rio Model Management. in China a decade ago but went on Already Passos has had some to open her own agency. success in China with a plus-size Now back in her native town model called Caroline Patrao, of Sao Goncalo, outside Rio, she who is from near Rio de Janeiro. is teaching other young Brazilian “I know that Chinese concepts women the basics of modelling of beauty are rigid but we want and English. to try and change all that. Be- In February, she hopes to take fore Caroline came, they weren’t Mario Jarrin of Ecuador takes part in the Valparaiso, Chile, mountain bike downhill race. The race involves riders having to navigate down streets, stairs and some of them to Guangzhou in even accepting plus-size mod- cobblestones and a tight course to reach the finishing line in the fastest time. southern China, where her busi- els,” she explains. ness is based. Ivan Li, a booker and make-up The idea is to bring something artist who works with Passos, new to China, where black and said “people are becoming more plus-size models are still a rar- accepting of new things.” ity, Passos explained. Li said he’d worked with Pas- In all, there are 24 models en- sos and her models in Guangzhou, rolled at Passos’ Rio School, more Shanghai, Beijing and Hangzhou, than half of them non-whites and focusing on the e-commerce mar- four of them plus-size. ket. “You can see the more popu- A mixed-race male model, lar ones among the two shooting 18 illegal miners ‘killed 26-year-old Luiz Filho, is also Taobao ads for robes, plus-size of a heavier build than typically bridal wear and gowns,” he said. seen in clothing catalogues. Although Li doubts that plus- “My selection process has size and black models will ever nothing to do with the market be as popular as white and Asian norms, which wants girls to look models, they’re fi nding their like Barbies — tall, thin, blonde, niche in China. by Venezuela soldiers’ blue-eyed,” Passos said. “Plus-size models won’t be- Passos herself comes close to come the mainstream, but they Agencies in an area known for gold and locally as “the boss” who is “Massacres are the narco- bouring Brazil who try to make the more standard look. will have a market,” Li said. Guasipati, Venezuela diamond mining. suspected of taking control of dictatorship’s state policy,” a living there. She is white and has green eyes At the Rio School, Passos gives The confrontation was also the area following the murder he said, accusing the security Local media said the army and used her looks and remark- modelling lessons in person and confi rmed by an army offi cer last year of her brother, Ander- forces. captured guns and explosives able determination to launch a online. It’s a way to fi nd new tal- oldiers clashed with il- who spoke on the condition of son Rodriguez, an alleged gang The government did not during the operation. seemingly impossible career. ent. legal miners in southern anonymity because he was not leader known for his ruthless respond to requests for com- It was the most violent inci- Her childhood was spent ac- During a recent practice ses- SVenezuela on the week- allowed to discuss the opera- treatment of miners. ment. dent at a mine in Bolivar state companying her father “who sion at a sports club, mixed- end, killing 18 people in a region tion. He said it broke out when Clashes over illegal mines are since the bodies of 17 wildcat raised animals and searched race and plus-size model Jessica notorious for violence and gang the army travelled to the Cic- Local newspaper Correo common in the remote, miner- miners were found in a mass through garbage dumps for re- Soares paraded in heels and a rivalries, a lawmaker and local apra mine after receiving in- del Caroni reported that al-rich area near the border of grave in 2016 after allegedly be- cyclable refuse,” she said. white and black bikini. media said. formation that an armed gang 17 men and one woman Guyana, with at least 17 people ing killed by a criminal gang. Encouraged by her mother, “Going to China sounds Bolivar state governor Justo was threatening wildcat miners died in the incident in an killed in a gang feud there in Violence has been on the rise she took part in beauty contests frightening. It’s another coun- Noguera said a military unit had in the remote area. Four assault area known for gold and 2016. in Bolivar as Venezuela’s cash- for girls. try, with another culture, an- fought off an attack, but gave no weapons, grenades and several diamond mining That year, President Nico- strapped government looks to By the time she was 16, she other language. Until now, I’ve more details. “An investigation light fi rearms were seized. las Maduro declared the area a open the resource-rich area had been recruited by several never traveled out of Sao Gonca- is under way,” he told reporters. The offi cer said none of the A local opposition lawmaker, strategic priority, naming it the to foreign investment amid an modeling agencies and suddenly lo,” Soares, 22, said. “But today Local newspaper Correo del dead carried identifi cation, but Americo De Grazia, said rela- Mining Arc and declaring war ongoing turf war in the lawless sent to work in China. I know I can become a plus-size Caroni reported that 17 men and that one of those killed is be- tives had described the victims on the hundreds of illegal min- area between criminal gangs Today she makes a living as a model in China.” one woman died in the incident lieved to be a woman known as having bullets in the head. ers from Venezuela and neigh- and the military.

Campaigning for votes Silva taps Brazil’s anger at Peru to go easy on fi rms graft in presidential bid helping fi ght corruption Reuters capital or dividends abroad, Lima the ministry said. Reuters has made two prior presiden- age 16 after overcoming child- Companies under investiga- Brasilia tial bids, winning about 20% of hood malaria and mercury poi- tion but not convicted of cor- votes in 2010 and 2014. soning. ompanies operating in ruption could opt to form an Neither was suffi cient to en- She fi rst gained fame as a rain- Peru that help prosecu- escrow account managed by nprecedented graft probes able her to reach a second round forest activist, kicking off a po- Ctors investigate corrup- the state to ensure its opera- have scorched Brazil’s run-off . litical career that made her the tion help would be shielded tions continue, it added. Upolitical landscape and Silva’s chances will be much fi rst environment minister un- from fi nancial restrictions un- But companies would be ex- created the opening for a clean improved this time around if the der Lula. der a proposed law to replace cluded “entirely or partially” outsider to win the presidential potential frontrunner, the still Now Brazil’s four main po- expiring anti-graft rules, the from the restrictions if they election this October, environ- popular former president Luiz litical parties, including Lula’s government of President Pedro broker a plea deal with the at- mentalist and candidate to the Inacio Lula da Silva, is barred Workers’ Party, have lost sight Pablo Kuczynski said. torney general’s offi ce, the highest offi ce Marina Silva said. from running due to a corruption of the nation’s interests and only The fi nance ministry said ministry said. Though she has been in poli- conviction. wanted to cling to power by any proposed revisions to the year- Speaking at a joint news tics for 30 years and spent most The two candidates are not means, Silva said. old law that expires today aim conference at the opposition- of that time with the once- related. If elected, Silva said she would to keep a massive graft probe controlled Congress, Justice mighty Workers’ Party, Silva has Absent Lula, a recent Datafolha strengthen anti-corruption in- from paralysing Peru’s scan- Minister Enrique Mendoza denounced Brazil’s traditional opinion poll indicated that right- vestigations and move to end dal-plagued construction sec- and Finance Minister Clau- parties for leaning on vast kick- wing candidate Jair Bolsonaro some legal protections from tor while encouraging compa- dia Cooper asked lawmakers back schemes to keep offi ce. would win the fi rst-round vote prosecution that sitting politi- nies and individuals to provide to pass its bill in coming days, She started her own party and Silva would come second. cians enjoy. evidence on wrongdoing to despite a legislative recess that from scratch four years ago. “I Silva would likely triumph in With only a handful of law- public prosecutors. ends next month. am not ashamed to be a politi- a second-round runoff , the poll makers in her party at present, Under the proposed law, the “We want to ensure that any cian. I am a political person, but suggested. Silva said she was in talks with state would seize a “non-mi- company found guilty would completely outside the criminal That poll showed 35% of Lula’s other parties on possible elec- nority” portion of assets sold be able to pay civil repara- structures that took over Bra- supporters would vote for no toral alliances. by companies that have ac- tions,” Cooper told journalists. zilian politics,” Silva said at the one if he cannot run, while Silva Still, she said she would not knowledged or been convicted It was unclear if the opposi- headquarters of her Sustainabil- would draw 15% of his voters, the forfeit her ideas to gain more of corruption, according to a tion, which has been preparing ity Network party, or REDE. most of any candidate in the poll. electoral clout. She said her main document distributed by the a new motion to impeach Kuc- Silva is counting on pub- The 59-year-old Silva was aim was to stop the destruction Indigenous presidential independent pre-candidate Maria fi nance ministry. zynski, would support voting lic outrage at Brazil’s political born into poverty, the daughter of the Amazon rainforest, and de Jesus Patricio, ‘Marichuy’ meets with university students Those companies — as well on the legislation in a limited class to help propel her to the of rubber tappers in the Amazon that she was also committed to in Mexico City, Mexico, yesterday. as their partners — would also congressional committee ac- presidency. The former senator rainforest. She learned to read at fi scal responsibility. be barred from transferring tive during the recess. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 13, 2018 15 PAKISTAN India warned Govt to go tough on against raid UN-banned outfi ts across border Reuters “We hope that the inter- Internews als and terror outfi ts, like sealing “The relevant ministry will In December last year, the continue to be on the NACTA Islamabad/Srinagar national community would Islamabad their offi ces and freezing their notify and comment on it,” said government had planned to take “watch list”. urge India to stop the untold bank accounts. the offi cial. over two charities belonging to Laskar-e-Tayyiba was de- atrocities and gross violations The sources in the National It is learnt that the authori- Hafi z Saeed – the JuD and the clared as banned organisation akistan warned India of human rights in IoK (Indian akistani President Mam- Counter Terrorism Author- ties concerned are bound under FIF – and an action plan in this under the UNSC resolution 1267 against cross-border occupied Kashmir) (and) re- noon Hussain has signed ity (NACTA) confi rm the new international obligations to take connection was supposed to be in 2005. Pstrikes in the disputed frain from any misadventure Pan ordinance aimed at move, saying the ministries measures against such outfi ts submitted. The US State Department region of Kashmir after In- across the Line of Control...” tightening the noose around of Interior, Finance and For- under the framework of the fi - In the fi rst week of Janu- in 2014 had named the JuD as dian authorities blamed a it said. the individuals and organisa- eign Aff airs as well as NACTA’s nancial action task force (FATF) ary, the government had also “foreign terrorist organisation”, Pakistan-based group for an India has long accused Pa- tions which have been banned Counter Financing of Terrorism – an international body that banned companies and indi- a status that freezes assets the attack on an army camp in kistan of training and arming by United Nations Security (CFT) wing are working on the combats money laundering and viduals from making donations organisation has under the US which soldiers and their fami- militants and helping them Council (UNSC), according to matter. terrorist fi nancing. to the JuD, the FIF and other jurisdiction. lies were targeted. infi ltrate across the heav- sources. An offi cial in the Presidency The UNSC sanctions list in- organisations. India has also blamed JuD Saturday’s attack on the ily militarised Line of Control The ordinance amends a sec- familiar with the development cludes Al Qaeda, Tehreek-e-Tali- Jundullah was the last organi- leader Saeed for the Mumbai camp near Jammu, the win- into Jammu and Kashmir, its tion of the Anti-Terrorism Act confi rmed the said legislation ban Pakistan, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, sation declared “proscribed” attacks in November 2006, but ter capital of the revolt-torn only Muslim majority state. (ATA), enabling the authorities but refused to share details, say- Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), Falah- by the Pakistan government on Pakistan argues India has failed state of Jammu and Kashmir, The head of the Jammu and concerned to take action against ing the ministry of defence was e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF), January 31 on the NACTA web- to provide incriminating evi- was the worst in months, with Kashmir state police, S P Vaid, the UNSC-proscribed individu- the notifying authority. Lashkar-e-Taiba and others. site. However, JuD and the FIF dence against him. fi ve soldiers and the father of told reporters over the week- one of the soldiers killed and end that they had communi- women and children among cations intercepts pointing to the ten wounded. the JeM, which has emerged as India said the heavily armed a top group fi ghting hundreds attackers were members of the of thousands of Indian forces Veteran Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mo- in Kashmir. ‘We have lost a human rights giant’ hammad (JeM) militant group, The army said the attackers drawing criticism from Paki- wore fatigues and had assault actor Wajid stan about rushing to judg- rifl es, a grenade launcher and AFP ment without a full inquiry. grenades. Islamabad “It is a well-established In 2016, India said its elite is dead pattern that Indian offi cials troops had crossed the Line of begin making irresponsible Control into Pakistan and car- he United Nations Sec- statements and levelling un- ried out a raid on militants af- Internews retary General has paid founded allegations, even be- ter 18 soldiers were killed in an Islamabad Ttribute to Pakistan’s fore any proper investigation attack on an Indian army base “human rights giant” Asma Ja- in any incident has been initi- in Kashmir. hangir following her death by ated,” Pakistan’s foreign min- Pakistan denies giving ma- eteran television, radio, cardiac arrest at the weekend, istry said in a statement. terial aid to the fi ghters in fi lm and theatre artist praising her courage in cam- India, it said, was making Kashmir and says it only pro- VQazi Wajid died yester- paigns for justice and equality these allegations to divert at- vides diplomatic and moral day, bringing down the curtain for all. tention from its brutality in support to the Kashmiri peo- on the career of one of the most Antonio Guterres issued his trying to control the armed ple in their struggle for self- versatile actors in Pakistan. “heartfelt condolences” to revolt in Kashmir, and warned determination. Hospitalised for chest pain on those grieving the 66-year-old against any retaliatory meas- Yesterday, Indian soldiers Saturday night, the Raja of iconic lawyer, who co-founded the ures across the Line of Control foiled an attack on another TV serial Khuda ki Basti passed Human Rights Commission of that divides Kashmir between camp in Srinagar, the summer away in the early hours of Sunday Pakistan and also once served the nuclear-armed countries. capital of Indian Kashmir. morning. as UN Special Rapporteur on His funeral was attended by human rights in Iran. people from diff erent walks of “We have lost a human rights life including actors Qavi Khan, giant,” the UN chief said in a Jawed Sheikh, Shakeel, Adnan statement released after Ja- Siddiqui, Behroz Sabzwari, Ayaz hangir’s death was announced People light candles for the human rights campaigner Asma Jahangir, who died on Sunday in Lahore, 11 dead in road crash Khan and Shahzad Raza (the last on Sunday. during candlelight vigil in Karachi, yesterday. three had accompanied him to “She was a tireless advocate Saudi Arabia last month) in the for inalienable rights of all peo- leading human rights activist. daily, The News wrote that she which she helped create made DPA ing 10 women have died in the evening. He was buried at Eesa ple and for equality - whether In its editorial “Asma the “spoke out bravely and with its name defending religious Islamabad accident,” said Ashraf Ali from Nagri graveyard. in her capacity as a Pakistani fearless”, Pakistan’s Dawn immense courage for all the op- minorities and tackling highly the Hyderabad police. Born in Gwalior, India in 1944, lawyer in the domestic justice newspaper said Jahangir was a pressed people of the country, charged blasphemy accusations Another two people were Wajid was one of the longest- system, as a global civil society citizen that all of Pakistan could essentially acting as the con- along with cases of “honour” t least 11 people died wounded in the accident and serving actors of Pakistan. activist, or as a Special Rap- be proud of and whom most can science of Pakistan”. killings – in which victims, yesterday in southern have been taken to nearby He made his debut way back in porteur. Asma was brilliant, only hope to emulate. “Only her sudden death normally women, are murdered APakistan when a pas- hospital for treatment. the 1950s when he was a teenager deeply principled, courageous “Principled and courageous, could silence her and steal away by a relative for bringing shame senger van collided with a Due to lack of infrastruc- and continued to act till his last and kind.” Asma’s willingness and deter- from us the bravest of the brave on the family. lorry, a police offi cial said. ture, poorly maintained ve- breath. Pakistan social media has mination to confront evil, de- this country has produced,” it Jahangir secured a number of The incident took place in hicles and careless driving, He joined Radio Pakistan as a been fl ooded with an out- fend the vulnerable, and insist said. victories during her life, from Hyderabad district of Sindh road accidents are common in child artist in the 1950s and was pouring of grief for the loss of on Pakistan living up to the Jahangir faced death threats, winning freedom for bonded province when a van carry- Pakistan. part of numerous hit shows in- what many described as the ideals of its democratic, con- beatings and imprisonment to labourers from their “owners” ing saleswomen of a private According to Pakistan Bu- cluding Qazi Jee, Hamid Mian country’s “moral compass”, stitutional and secular founda- win landmark human rights through pioneering litigation, company collided with a reau of Statistics (PBS) around Kay Haan and the super popular while yesterday newspaper tions made her truly iconic,” the cases while standing up to to a landmark court case that lorry coming from opposite 9,000 road accidents are re- Naunehal. It was in 1956 that his front pages were dominated paper wrote. dictators. allowed women to marry of direction. ported every year killing more fi rst fi lm, Bedaari, was launched by tributes to the nation’s Another English language The rights commission their own volition. “At least 11 people includ- than 4,000 people on average. in which he stood out as an actor for stammering. In those pre-TV days, Wajid worked extensively with Ibra- him Nafees on theatre; Khwaja Moinuddin picked him from Court indicts suspect in child killer case Punjab to amend law of evidence one of these performances and transformed him into an over- night star with Mirza Ghalib AFP “The police have levelled The killing sparked calls for Internews convictions in criminal cases ernment had spent billions on Bandar Road Per and Taleem-i- Lahore baseless and false allegations the public execution of Ali after Lahore because they are irrefutable. establishing a forensic science Baalighan. against my client,” Multani offi cials said his DNA had been But the attempt was resisted laboratory and engaging top Wajid polished his skills in Ra- said. recovered from the scene of the by the law department on two most experts in the fi eld to fol- dio Pakistan but it was TV where Pakistan court yester- The hearing was held in La- crime and matched samples he Punjab province gov- grounds. One, the Qanoon- low the world which is relying he became an indispensable ac- day charged a man with hore’s Kot Lakhpat prison for from similar cases. ernment is all set to have i-Shahadat was made by the on irrefutable scientifi c evi- tor due to his ability to play any Araping and murdering a security reasons. Witnesses At least four other cases of TQanoon-i-Shahadat federal government which the dence for convicting criminals. kind of a role. young girl in a case that enraged will be called today. rape and murder have been re- amended to make scientifi c ev- province could not amend. An offi cial says the law is on Be it his performance on TV, the country and sparked major Zainab’s murder last month corded in the Kasur area in the idence, including DNA reports, Second, scientifi c reports were the concurrent list of the Con- fi lm or radio, Wajid was always riots in his home district. sparked outrage across Pa- past two years, but it is not yet admissible for convictions in mere expert opinions which stitution and hence the prov- on top of his game. He claimed Imran Ali, 24, pleaded not kistan, with riots erupting in clear if they are linked. criminal cases, offi cial sources could not be conclusive for ince has all the rights to have it to have never played the hero guilty to the off ences against Kasur as thousands swarmed According to the victim’s father said. conviction. amended to ensure conviction in his life because the pro- six-year-old Zainab Fatima police stations and set fi re to Ameen Ansari, Ali – who lived At present, the Qanoon-i- Such reports should cor- of criminals who dodge human tagonist’s role didn’t provide Ameen in the Punjab city of politicians’ homes, while Pa- nearby – had taken part in the Shahadat (the law of evidence) roborate other evidence to cre- ability to detect their wrong him the margin to explore his Kasur last month, said defence kistanis took to social media initial protests that erupted after does not provide for this. The ate a chain of links the one end doings. abilities. lawyer Mehr Multani. demanding action. Zainab’s body was discovered. apex court has also declared of which starts from the victim “A number of anti-terrorism that DNA cannot be considered and the other goes to the neck courts are already making con- the sole admissible evidence of the accused. victions on scientifi c evidence for convictions. Another opinion was that including the DNA reports. According to offi cial sourc- though the subject was con- The suspect in the Zainab es, the provincial government current the province could not case was arrested mainly on the Taliban deputy chief killed in US drone strike had in the past attempted to make or amend any law of the basis of the DNA report. And provide in the Qanoon-i-Sha- fi eld already occupied by the the reports which reveal who hadat the admissibility of sci- federal government. the culprit of a crime is should Reuters e-Taliban Pakistan, also known Militant sources said Wali, militants in 2014, forcing many entifi c evidence, mainly DNA The home department’s be given weight accordingly,” a Peshawar as Pakistani Taliban, who are known by the nickname Ghar of them to withdrawn into reports, as the sole evidence for view is that the provincial gov- senior offi cial said. fi ghting to bring down the Paki- Starga, is a ruthless leader with Afghanistan. stani state, said the drone strike experience working in Paki- The border region is off lim- he Pakistani Taliban con- was in the North Waziristan re- stani urban areas including the its to journalists and verifying Islamabad businesses demand passing of rent control act fi rmed yesterday that gion, on the Pakistani side of the southern city of Karachi. information independently is Ttheir deputy leader was border. He studied in a seminary in diffi cult. Business community control act in Islamabad. He also urged the government killed in a suspected US drone “We confi rm that deputy Faisalabad city in the heartland US drone strikes in the border in the Pakistani capital He urged for passing the amended for paying urgent attention strike last week and said they head of the TTP Khalid Meh- province of Punjab and recent- region have picked up since US Islamabad yesterday urged bill of rent control act in 52nd to this serious issue and had appointed a new deputy in sud died in a drone strike,” said ly wrote a book eulogising the President Donald Trump took the government for taking session of National Assembly, arranging the early passage of his place. the spokesman, Mohammad founder of the Pakistani Tali- offi ce in January 2017, though appropriate measures to pass which will start from February 12, rent restriction law from the A pair of suspected US missile Khurasani. ban, Baitullah Mehsud, who was they are a long way off their peak the amended rent control to resolve this longstanding issues parliament so that traders could strikes killed the militant leader, He said Pakistani Taliban chief killed in a 2009 drone attack. in 2010. act for Islamabad during the of local traders once for all. fully focus on the growth of Khalid Mehsud, also known by Mullah Fazlullah appointed a While US and Afghan forces Relations between the United 52nd session of the National Naveed appealed to the prime business activities. his alias Sajna, on Thursday last commander called Mufti Noor accuse Pakistan of failing to stop States and Pakistan have been Assembly, which was to start minister to honour his promise Sheikh Jamshed, president, week in Afghanistan’s Paktika Wali Wali to replace their dead Afghan Taliban militants using strained since January 1 when yesterday. for promulgation of new rent PML-N traders’ wing, said the province, near the border with deputy. safe havens on the Pakistani side Trump’s denounced Pakistani “lies Talking to delegation of local law in Islamabad as without the wing was fully supportive of Pakistan, Pakistani security Wali, like his predecessor, of the border, Pakistani Taliban and deceit” over its support for the traders, Islamabad Chamber of said law, traders were being the genuine demand of traders offi cials said. would lead militants in South militants have been waging a Afghan Taliban and their allies. Commerce and Industry senior evicted from shops forcefully for a balanced rent control act But there were confl icting ac- Waziristan, a rugged mountain- campaign of bombings and other Last month, the United vice president Muhammad and this situation has created in Islamabad as it was badly counts of the drone attack from ous region on the Afghan border attacks on Pakistan’s security States suspended about $2bn Naveed said the prime minister lot of concerns in the trading needed so that they could Pakistani intelligence offi cials which has long been home to forces. assistance to Pakistan. in a recent meeting with community of the federal promote business activities and militant sources. Pakistani, Afghan and Al Qaeda- The Pakistani military mount- Pakistan denies sheltering business leaders had promised capital as they were feeling in a secure and peaceful A spokesman for the Tehrik- linked foreign militants. ed a major off ensive against the militants. for early promulgation of rent insecure about their future. environment. Gulf Times 16 Tuesday, February 13, 2018 PHILIPPINES

Promoting adoption of pets Psychological tests all set to delay VP vote recount

By Jomar Canlas also undergo intensive training Manila Times to be conducted by representa- tives from the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET). The SET rep- mandatory psycho- resentatives shall evaluate and logical testing and ex- rank the applicants based on Aamination has been their performance and output ordered for all applicants for during the entire exercise,” it head revisers in the recount of stated. Caguioa has present- the vice-presidential results ed to the court, sitting as the sought by former senator Fer- Presidential Electoral Tribunal dinand “Bongbong” Marcos (PET), the projected timeline Jr, who is protesting the 2016 of activities leading to the re- victory of Vice President Maria visions, with March 19 as the Leonor Robredo. fi rst day of revision. The Manila Times was able In his protest, Marcos is as- to obtain a two-page inter- sailing the results in 39,221 nal memorandum of Supreme clustered precincts. He paid for Court Associate Justice Ben- a recount in 36,465 precincts jamin Caguioa dated January and wants the votes in the re- 29, 2018, which also contained maining 2,756 nullifi ed. the whole timeline or schedule Marcos lost to Robredo by of the court in connection with only 263,473 votes. the revision of ballots. He accuses the vice president This new suggestion to the of benefi ting from “massive high court has caused a delay electoral fraud, anomalies and in the revision of ballots, in- irregularities” such as preshad- stead of the earlier February to ing of ballots, pre-loaded secure until March 19. Preparations digital data storage cards, mis- for the psychological examina- reading of ballots, malfunction- tions started yesterday. ing counting machines, and an A member (centre) of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) wearing a six-foot-tall dog costume plays with homeless children as activists distribute pamphlets “The psychological exam is a “abnormally high” unaccounted in Manila’s Chinatown district yesterday, ahead of the Lunar New Year this month, marking Year of the Dog. The animal rights proponents encouraged people to adopt dogs pre-qualifi cation requirement votes/undervotes for the posi- from their local shelters or rescue groups instead of buying purebreds from pet stores. and is meant to test an appli- tion of vice president. cant’s integrity, logical reason- The PET has ordered the re- ing, verbal ability, as well as trieval of all the ballot boxes and propensity for deceit and bias,” election paraphernalia in the the document stated. three pilot provinces of Cama- “Aside from the psychologi- rines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Ori- cal exam, the applicants will ental identifi ed by Marcos. Aquino among three Duterte criticised for remarks against women facing new graft charges DPA Philippines to commit more Manila bloody human rights viola- By Jeff erson Antiporda Yolanda Oliveros as well as di- during the 2016 election period. tions and grave abuses of in- Manila Times rectors and offi cers or employees Other respondents were liable ternational humanitarian law,” of pharmaceutical distributor because of their involvement in ights groups yesterday she said.“He has further pre- Zuellig and Sanofi Pasteur, the the planning and implementa- slammed Philippine sented himself as the epitome nti-crime advocates fi led maker of Dengvaxia. tion of the anti-dengue immu- RPresident Rodrigo Du- of misogyny and fascism terri- a complaint before the According to the complaint, nisation programme that has put terte for encouraging violence bly rolled into one,” she added. AJustice department yes- the respondents should be held the health of thousands of chil- against women when he said New York-based Human terday against former president directly and proximately re- dren at risk, the complaint said. soldiers should shoot female Rights Watch noted it was not Benigno Aquino and past Cabi- sponsible for the Dengvaxia The respondents failed to rebels in their private parts. the fi rst time that Duterte has net and health offi cials involved mess, not only for the ensuing comply with the World Health Duterte made the remarks made “misogynist, derogatory in the Dengvaxia mass vaccina- deaths but also for the undue Organisation standards on the last Wednesday during a and demeaning statements” tion programme. injury caused any private party licensing and post-licensing meeting with more than 200 about women. In a 16-page joint complaint- and the government. monitoring of Dengvaxia and did former communist rebels who “It encourages state forces affi davit, the Volunteers Against Aquino and other respondents not disclose adverse events as- have surrendered, including to commit sexual violence Crime and Corruption (VACC), should be held liable for viola- sociated with the mass vaccina- 48 women. during armed confl ict, which whistleblowerFrancisco Cruz Lawyers Nasser Maromsalic, Manuelito Luna and Eligio Mallari tion of Republic Act (RA) 9184 tion, contrary to law and existing In his speech, Duterte talked is a violation of international and Vanguard of the Phil Consti- show a copy of the complaint they filed at the Department of or the Government Procurement regulations, they also said. about female fi ghters and said humanitarian law,” it said. tution Inc., sought the fi ling of Justice against former president Benigno Aquino and other Act and RA 3019 or the Anti- “Since correlation between that soldiers should “shoot Last month, Duterte came charges against Aquino, former former government officials. Graft and Corrupt Practices Act Dengvaxia and deaths had been their private parts.” under fi re for saying he would Budget secretary Florencio Abad for malversation of public funds, established prima facie, re- Representative Emmi De Je- off er young women to attract and former Health secretary Jan- curement of P3.5bn worth of directors Laureano Cruz, Joyce the complainant said. spondents Aquino, Abad, Garin, sus of the Gabriela Women’s tourists to visit the country. ette Garin for the procurement Dengvaxia vaccines,” said Dante Ducusin, Mar Wynn Bello, Leo- The complainants noted that and the other respondents Party said the remarks only In May last year, he told sol- of the anti-dengue vaccine and Jimenez, chairman of the VACC. nila Gorgolon, Rio Magpantay, Aquino met Sanofi offi cials should stand trial for criminal confi rm that Duterte is “the diers he would protect them inoculation of almost a million Also named respondents were Ariel Valencia and Julius Lec- abroad, juggled funds and au- negligence,” the respondents most dangerous macho-fas- against criminal charges even individuals, mostly children. Health undersecretaries Carol ciones. thorised the releases of a total stated in the joint-complaint. cist in the government right if they rape three women “We will hold all of them ac- Tanio, Gerardo Bayugo, Lilibeth Also named in the complaint of P3.5bn for the procurement The VACC was represented now.” while implementing martial countable for the highly ir- David and Mario Villaverde; as- were former health offi cials of the Dengvaxia vaccine for by lawyer Manuelito Luna, and “He is dangerously pushing law in the southern region of regular and disadvantageous… sistant secretaries Lyndon Lee Nemesio Gako, Vicente Belizario the Dengue Immunisation Pro- Vanguard by its president, law- the fascist armed forces of the Mindanao. if not downright unlawful, pro- Suy and Nestor Santiago; and Jr, Kenneth Hartigan-Go and gramme of the DoH launched yer Eligio Mallari. New destinations eyed for OFWs employment

By Ralph Villanueva by the deployment ban to that P20,000 for “alternative live- nado Say, was tasked to han- Manila Times country, including Czechoslo- lihood” from the Department dle the repatriation of OFWs vakia, Germany, Japan, South of Social Welfare and Develop- pursuant to the directive of the Korea, Europe and the United ment. The deployment ban was president to repatriate them he Rodrigo Duterte ad- States. announced by the Department within 72 hours. ministration is eyeing “There are more than of Labour and Employment Bello pointed out though that TOman and Bahrain as 100,000 jobs available to our (DoLE) yesterday. the repatriation would be vol- alternative employment des- OFWs. That would not be This was amid an investi- untary in nature, saying that tinations for overseas Filipino enough but we will also provide gation on Filipino household “those who wanted to go home workers (OFWs) displaced by them with livelihood alterna- workers dying in that country. and those who have no more the government’s decision to tives,” Bello added. Bello yesterday said the de- jobs they will be repatriated but stop deployment to Kuwait. More than 300 OFWs re- ployment ban to that country those who have good jobs and “We are particularly keen on turned home in two separate would be eff ective immediately are being treated well by their fi nding alternative employment fl ights from Kuwait, the Over- and would last until revoked. employers can stay for as long in countries such as Oman and seas Workers Welfare Admin- “In pursuit of national in- as they want.” Bahrain, both of which are sig- istration (OWWA) said yester- terest, and with the advent of The second task force, head- natories to the relevant Inter- day. the series of reports involving ed by Labuor Undersecretary national Labour Organisation Roque said the repatriated abuse and death of overseas Ciriaco Lagunzad, is scheduled (ILO) Convention that pro- Filipinos who arrived in Manila Filipino workers, a total ban to go the Middle East for an as- tects migrant workers,” Palace yesterday morning was only the on the deployment of overseas sessment mission to fi nd out spokesman Harry Roque Jr said fi rst batch of Filipinos allowed Filipino workers pursuant to the conditions of the OFWs and in a news briefi ng yesterday. to leave the Gulf state after ap- the directive of the president how the DoLE could be of as- Roque said Labour Secretary plying for amnesty. of the Philippines is hereby en- sistance to them. Silvestre Bello was also work- OWWA said 220 OFWs ar- forced,” Administrative Order The third task force, head- ing on a mechanism to deploy rived via Philippine Airlines (AO) No54, series of 2018, stat- ed by Labour Undersecretary workers to China as another al- (PAL) PR669 while Gulf Air ed. Bello has formed task forces Claro Arellano, was tasked to ternative destination. fl ight GF154 carried the second to address the issue, provide hold job fairs and recruit OFWs “The mechanism is being batch of 102 Filipino workers. protection to other OFWs in to take advantage of the 18,000 worked out. Hopefully, there The fi gure includes Filipinos the Middle East and convince jobs for skilled workers being will be bilateral agreements who have overstayed or escaped others to come home and avail off ered by former Senate presi- soon,” Roque said. from their employers. themselves of local job oppor- dent Manuel Villar Jr. Bello in a statement said there Returning OFWs will be given tunities. The OWWA has allocated an Filipino workers who were repatriated from Kuwait take part in a dialogue with a Department of Labour were lots of other alternative fi nancial assistance of P5,000 The fi rst task force, headed by initial P50mn for the repatria- official at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Paranaque, Metro Manila, yesterday. job markets for OFWs aff ected from OWWA, and another Labour Undersecretary Domi- tion of OFWs, Gulf Times Tuesday, February 13, 2018 17 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL

ADB pledges BNP supporters demand $100mn for Nepal he ADB yesterday said it will provide $100mn to release of Zia, fair polls TNepal government for up- grading nearly 400km of rural AFP Thousands of BNP roads to all-weather standards. Dhaka activists in cities The Rural Connectivity Im- across Bangladesh provement Project will also serve joined hands in a the agriculture sector and bring housands of Bangladeshi march calling for Zia’s access to 7.5mn people in 16 dis- opposition supporters immediate release tricts, according to a release is- Tstaged rallies across the from a prison in sued by the Asian Development country yesterday demanding Dhaka Bank (ADB) Nepal. the release of their jailed leader The project aims to increase Khaleda Zia and free and fair try and keep her detained on transport effi ciency in project elections. other charges. areas. It is expected to improve Zia, twice prime minister She is accused of doz- the rural road conditions be- in the Muslim-majority na- ens of other criminal viola- tween the selected rural com- tion of 160mn, was impris- tions including corruption and munities, agriculture production oned for fi ve years last week violence. areas and enhance capacity of for embezzlement, sparking One of her lawyers, Zainul rural infrastructure agency and riots from supporters who re- Abedin, said authorities were road users in project areas. jected the verdict as politically attempting yesterday to hold Similarly, the ADB has also motivated. Zia in connection with an arson pledged to provide $1mn to re- The leader of the Bangla- attack in 2015. structure the department of local desh Nationalist Party (BNP) Alamgir said at least 4,300 infrastructure development and is expected to appeal but the opposition offi cials had been agricultural roads into a state-of- conviction may aff ect her abil- arrested in the past fortnight the-art rural road agency, it said. ity to stand in a general election as police sought to off set re- The project is expected to be slated for December. sistance ahead of Zia’s sen- completed by January 31, 2023, Thousands of BNP activ- tencing. A party vice chair- the release said. ists in cities across Bangladesh man and two former ministers Finance secretary Shankhar joined hands in a march calling were among those detained, Adhikari and ADB country di- for Zia’s immediate release from he added. rector for Nepal Mukhtor Kha- a prison in Dhaka. Police have not commented mudhhanov signed the loan “We want her immediate re- on the arrests. agreement on behalf of the Nepal lease and a free and fair elec- Zia is a former ally-turned- government and the ADB, re- tion,” BNP secretary-general archrival of Prime Minister spectively, it said. Fakhrul Alamgir said outside Sheikh Hasina. The ADB, conceived in the the national press club in The BNP boycotted the early 1960s as a fi nancial in- Dhaka where more than 5,000 general election in 2014 that BNP leaders and supporters protest against the verdict in the corruption case of party chairperson Khaleda Zia in Dhaka yesterday. stitution, assists its mem- gathered. saw Hasina return to power, bers and partners by provid- Zia, 72, is expected to be freed but Zia is expected to con- who lives in exile in London, sentia for ten years on the same his alleged role in a deadly 2004 by an army-backed government ing loans, technical assistance, on bail once the appeal has been test the upcoming poll in has been named as the acting charges as Zia. grenade attack that injured in 2007 and spent a year and a grants and equity investments lodged but her supporters fear December. opposition chief, despite be- Last month prosecutors Hasina. half in detention pending trials to promote social and economic Bangladesh’s ruling party will Her son Tarique Rahman, ing convicted and jailed in ab- sought the death penalty over Zia and her son were detained for alleged corruption. development. Hasina at Vatican UN to take part in Rohingya return: Bangladesh minister

AFP out repatriation forms in the presence so that no one can say Refugees are still enter- Cox’s Bazar presence of UN offi cials. they been forced by someone ing Bangladesh with claims of Bangladesh reached a deal or sent back against their will,” rights abuses by Buddhist mobs with Myanmar late last year to he told reporters at a Rohingya and the military. angladesh has signed repatriate the nearly 700,000 refugee camp in Bangladesh’s Many have lost their homes a deal to involve the Rohingya who have fl ed southeastern border district of to arson attacks in their na- BUnited Nations in the across the border since Au- Cox’s Bazar. tive Rakhine state, where controversial process of re- gust to escape a brutal military There was no immedi- witnesses and rights groups turning Rohingya refugees crackdown. ate comment from the UN, say entire Rohingya settle- to Myanmar, a minister said That was meant to start which has said previously ments have been burned to yesterday. last month, but was delayed that any repatriation must be the ground. Junior foreign minister by a lack of preparations and voluntary. New arrivals have brought Shahriar Alam said the gov- protests by Rohingya refu- Alam urged patience and harrowing tales of rape, murder ernment was involving the gees, most of whom say they said Bangladesh did not want and torture. UN refugee agency so that it do not wish to return without to send back the refugees only The Rohingya also want could not be accused of send- guarantees of safety. to have them return, as has guarantees of citizenship be- ing anyone from the stateless “We have repeatedly said happened after past rounds of fore returning to Myanmar, Muslim minority back against this repatriation process is very repatriation. which views them as illegal im- Pope Francis, second right, exchanges gift with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, centre, their will. complex,” Alam told reporters. Bangladesh “wants to make migrants from Bangladesh even prior to their meeting at the Vatican, yesterday. He gave few details, but said “We want to fi ll up the (re- sure the situation in Myanmar though many have been there refugees would be asked to fi ll patriation) forms in their (UN) is safe and secure”, he said. for generations. Rule of law under siege in Lanka ex-leader demands Maldives crisis: UN group snap elections after victory AFP Colombo Reuters ability to protect constitutional Opposition protests arrests of family members Male principles and to uphold hu- man rights and fundamental The Maldives opposition is amounting to a witch-hunt ri Lanka’s former leader freedoms,” the UN group said in yesterday said the wives of an of the political opposition, the Mahinda Rajapakse yester- UN rights group said a statement. opposition lawmaker and a judges and their families,” the Sday demanded a snap gen- yesterday the detention “It is clear that the rule of law Supreme Court judge had been opposition said in a statement. eral election and challenged his Aof two Supreme Court in the Maldives is now under arrested in what it said was The opposition also said that successor’s right to govern after judges in the tiny Indian Ocean siege. We call on the govern- becoming a “witch-hunt of the jailed former president Abdul drubbing the ruling coalition in archipelago of the Maldives was ment to refrain from any threats political opposition, the judges Gayoom – Yameen’s estranged crucial mid-term polls. an attack on the independence or interference that may ham- and their families”, DPA reports. half-brother – and former Rajapakse’s new party se- of the judiciary and under- per the court’s independence The opposition said police defence minister Mohamed cured two-thirds of Sri Lanka’s mined the rule of law. as the supreme guardian of arrested Hameed’s wife on Nazim have been denied family councils in a surprise blitz of Regional power India has the country’s constitution and Sunday, and also detained the visits and access to lawyers. local elections, humiliating the joined Britain, the United legislation.” wife of lawmaker Ilham Ahmed. The Maldives Correctional governing alliance as it reels Mahinda Rajapakse waves to supporters at the party off ice following States and the United Nations Police have also arrest- She was to be held until her Services denied those allegations. from internal crises and a press conference in Colombo yesterday. in calling for the lifting of last ed former president Abdul husband presented himself to Gayoom ruled the tropical divisions over leadership. week’s state of emergency and Gayoom, 80, for his alleged role the police, the opposition said. paradise for three decades before “The government no longer Rajapakse’s party comfortably the proposed arrangements to the freeing of the two judges. in soliciting bribes to overthrow “The police did not have court losing in democratic elections has a mandate,” said Rajapakse, won in all regions bar the battle- share political power with Tamils The Muslim-majority Mal- the government. warrants for any of the arrests, to former political prisoner and who lost presidential and par- scarred north and east where, as but has made little ground. dives, best known for its luxury A lawyer for Gayoom said using the ‘state of emergency’ to Maldivian Democratic Party liamentary polls in 2015 after president, he brutally crushed Rajapakse – a member of the beach resorts, has been in cri- that if police had evidence, bypass all due process in what leader Mohamed Nasheed. ruling the island with an iron a separatist Tamil movement majority Sinhalese community sis since the Supreme Court there was no reason for a state fi st for a decade. to end the island’s ethnic war – said the election result at the quashed convictions ranging of emergency. “I ask the president to call a in 2009. weekend was a referendum on from corruption to terrorism of “President Gayoom has not ers likely to challenge Yameen litical developments will be on general election.” The vote aff ects only the low- these reforms. nine opposition fi gures, and or- even been questioned yet. If in a presidential poll later this tourist arrivals,” Moody’s rating Rajapakse, whose family est rung of politics but the result “People voted against the di- dered the government to release this is such a huge investiga- year are facing jail sentences. agency said in a statement. wields enormous infl uence in is being seen as a stinging rebuke vision of the country,” he said. them. tion and Gayoom is a dangerous Some have urged India to Some countries, notably In- Sri Lanka, staged a dramatic to the ruling coalition, which has The president has no power to President Abdulla Yameen person of interest, why have intervene. dia, China, Singapore and Brit- comeback at the weekend as his struggled to pass promised post- sack the legislature but parlia- defi ed the ruling and the judges they not questioned him in over The tumult comes during the ain, had already issued travel Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna – war reforms. ment – whose term ends in 2020 were arrested. 140 hours?” peak tourism season in Mal- advisories recommending SLPP or People’s Front – pulled President Maithripala Sirisena – can vote to dissolve and call He said he ordered the state Opposition legislators in the dives, which earned $2.7bn in avoiding all but essential travel off the landslide victory. was elected in part on a prom- early elections with the support of emergency and put down a past have complained of au- 2016 from holidaymakers vis- to the Maldives, it said. SLPP won control of 231 local ise to reform the constitution, of two-thirds of its members. coup. thorities targeting them with iting luxury hotels and scuba “The US since January has councils out of a total 340 while grant greater autonomy to mi- There has been no reaction “This direct attack on the false allegations. diving resorts scattered round had Maldives on a Level 2 travel United National Party (UNP) of nority Tamils and reconcile for from Sirisena or his coalition Supreme Court undermines its Yameen has denied the the myriad tiny tropical islands advisory, which recommends Prime Minister Ranil Wickremes- a decades-long ethnic war that ally Prime Minister Ranil Wick- legitimacy and independence, accusations. and coral atolls. that tourists exercise caution inghe took 34 councils and the rest claimed more than 100,000 lives. remesinghe since their thumping and casts serious doubt on its Most of the opposition lead- “An immediate eff ect of po- owing to terrorism risks.” were split among other parties. Parliament has been debating defeat. Gulf Times 18 Tuesday, February 13, 2018 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko

P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Will Olympic diplomacy lead to permanent peace?

North Korea has emerged as the early favourite to grab 13-02-2018 one of the Winter Olympics’ most important medals: the diplomatic gold. That is the assessment of a former South Korean government minister and political experts who say the North has used the Games to drive a wedge between South Korea and its US ally and to potentially ease pressure on its sanctions-crippled state. In barely a month since North Korean leader Kim Jong-un Safe, happy and free: does surprised the world and said his nation was ready to join the Games, South Korean President Moon Jae-in has delayed military exercises, feted Kim’s sister at the Pyeongchang Olympics and given conditional consent to a bilateral summit in the North. “North Korea clearly appears to be winning the gold,” Finland have all answers? said Kim Sung-han, who served as Korea’s vice foreign minister in 2012-2013 and who now teaches at Seoul’s Korea 2000 to 2012, says carefully, “in a cold, fi rm, games studio Supercell, creator seriously, and men accepted it,” says University. By Jon Henley Helsinki harsh and remote place. of Clash of Clans, paid over €800mn in Halonen. “Its delegation and athletes are getting all the spotlight, Every person has to work hard for tax, producing seven of Finland’s top 10 Other ingredients have since added to and Kim Jong-un’s sister is showing elegant smiles before themselves. income tax payers in 2016. the sauce. the South Korean public and the world. Even for a moment, estern Europe’s last But that is not always enough. Along with the rest of the country’s Finland benefi ted enormously from it appears to be a normal naturally caused famine You have to help your neighbours.” 10,000 or so highest earners, the wise wartime and postwar leaders, state.” ended 150 years ago this Bruce Oreck, who served as Barack amount they pay is published in an insists Holmström: “They thought winter. Obama’s ambassador to Helsinki (he annual list, on “national envy day”. about the good of the country; took big, North Korea has US Vice President Mike W In a poor and backward part of the liked it so much he stayed), says this has Finland is big on civic duty, but also on sensible decisions. And the consensus shown no interest Pence, who attended Russian empire called Finland, more been “a profound, long-term infl uence. transparency. backed them, because everyone knew Friday’s opening than a quarter of a million people – It’s made Finns self-reliant, private, but The success of the country’s we were fi ghting for our existence.” in negotiating ceremony along with the nearly 10% of the population – starved also dependent on a highly co-operative free national education system, Responsible choices were made, North Koreans, said “no to death. society, where rules matter. It’s cultural, established before independence in invariably by continuity-conscious over demands to daylight” existed between Last year, on the centenary of its but it’s become part of the chemistry.” 1866 and regularly ranked among coalition governments, on big industrial Of all the Finnish words that are the world’s best, also has its roots and infrastructure investments, that the United States, South independence, Finland was ranked, by give up its nuclear assorted international indices, the most hard to translate into English, the one in a more egalitarian society, says have paid dividends many times over. Korea and Japan on the stable, the safest and the best-governed Finns cite most is sisu: a kind of dogged, Jallinoja: “Education was the key to More recently, today’s high-tech, programme need to isolate North country in the world. courageous persistence regardless of advancement.” startup-friendly Finland was born Korea. It was also the third wealthiest, the consequence. Not only that, says the philosopher of record investment in research and A US offi cial, speaking on condition of anonymity, said third least corrupt, the second most It is what, in 1939-40, allowed an and professor emeritus Ilkka Niiniluoto, development in the 1990s, nearing 4% more important would be how Pyongyang behaved after the socially progressive and the third most army of 350,000 men to twice fi ght off but the whole country is actually of GDP. socially just. Soviet forces three times their number, “a social construction created by Steady growth – through war, the Olympics. It had shown no interest so far in negotiating over Finland’s judicial system is the most and infl ict losses fi ve times heavier than university professors.” The academics collapse of the Soviet Union and a demands to give up its nuclear and missile programmes. independent in the world, its police the those they sustained. who led the country’s nationalist deep recession in the 1990s, Finland’s Douglas Paal, a former senior US diplomat under previous most trusted, its banks the soundest, But there is another that is, perhaps, movement “created Finland as a nation: economy has expanded over the past Republican administrations, said North Korea held the its companies the second most ethical, more revealing, says Sirpa Kähkönen, its language, history, literature, music, century at a rate equalled only by propaganda edge for now because, “it’s tough not to get its elections the second freest, and an award-winning historical novelist. symbols, folklore. The nationalist Japan’s – has bolstered trust in the caught up in the emotions of an Olympics event”. its citizens enjoy the highest levels of Talkoo means “working together, leader was a philosophy professor.” nation’s institutions. personal freedom, choice and well- collectively, for a specifi c good”, she Since independence, nearly 30% “People criticise the government The warm North-South body language at the Games not being. says.“Getting the harvest in, stocking of Finland’s heads of state and constantly, and often for very good only fanned talk of a split between Seoul and Washington, it The Nordic country’s 5.5mn wood, raising money. It’s about co- government have been university reason,” says Kähkönen. contrasted with a cold encounter between South Korea and inhabitants are also the third most operating. Everyone together, equally.” professors, including half its early prime “But fundamentally, they do trust it.” Japan, an ally in US-led eff orts to pressure North Korea. gender-equal in the world and have the Co-operation, but also relative ministers.“They shaped the country as As they do, on the whole, their Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who looked fi fth lowest income inequality. equality, are recurring themes. we know it,” says Jallinoja. “But vitally, welfare state – on which Finland uncomfortable at times during the opening ceremony, Their babies are the least Ruled for almost 600 years by they also created confi dence in social spends 31% of its GDP, the second underweight, their kids feel the most Sweden and a further century by mobility, and real belief in education. highest proportion in the OECD. (“If irritated his hosts by telling the South Korean leader that secure, and their teens perform the Russia, Finland was “generally and That history comes with us.” you’re going to have a welfare state,” joint South Korea-US military drills should be promptly second best at reading (only third at democratically poor”, says Kähkönen. If, however, Finland has been rated the says Halonen, “the only real way to it resumed after the Games. science, though). In a century and a “There were no serfs, but no wildly world’s most literate country, it may also is so well that there’s no point having a North Korea is under a heavy UN sanctions regime which half, they seem to have done rather wealthy aristocrats either. Society was have something to do with a 19th-century private alternative.”) was originally targeted at stopping the proliferation of arms well. not hierarchical.” decree that a couple could not marry in But Finns also trust each other and nuclear and missile technologies, but has become more And so, as the Guardian embarks on Since long before independence in the Lutheran church before both passed more than most, says André Chaker, a new series investigating the things 1917, says Riitta Jallinoja, a sociologist, a reading test.“Quite an incentive,” a Canadian-born lawyer and public all-encompassing after its accelerated missile testing. that are going right in the world, it feels “gaps between the social classes in observes Halonen, “to learn to read.” speaker who has lived in the country for After years of ineff ective implementation, those sanctions natural to start in Helsinki. Finland have been smaller than usual. Ilkka Paananen, CEO of game 25 years. may have begun to fi nally bite, which, according to a “If you look at where we were Even the industrial revolution here developer Supercell, which paid over Corruption and organised crime are Japanese government offi cial and experts, helps explain why then and where we are now, I think, was modest: no Rothschilds, no Fords, €800m in tax in 2016. all but nonexistent. “That feeds into Kim Jong-un agreed to send a national team and his sister to absolutely, you can talk about a Finnish not even a dynasty like Sweden’s Facebook Twitter Pinterest Ilkka the business environment,” he says. the Olympics. miracle,” said Bengt Holmström, a Wallenbergs.” Paananen, CEO of game developer “Things get done here faster, more In Pyeongchang, though, the two Koreas avoided talk of Helsinki-born Nobel prize-winning Even in today’s clean, functional, Supercell, which paid over €800m in reliably.” economist not much given to visibly prosperous Helsinki, that still tax in 2016. And it is trust that breeds confi dence, sanctions and basked instead in Olympic goodwill, which exaggeration. “How and why did it sort of holds.“You can be walking down In 1906, Finnish women became, if and a willingness to innovate: the World was nowhere more evident than on Saturday night when a happen? Now that’s a question.” the street next to the richest guy in not quite the fi rst to win the vote, the Economic Forum ranks Finland the joint Korean women’s ice hockey team took to the ice. There are limits, of course, to the town, and you really wouldn’t know,” fi rst to run for electoral offi ce. most innovative country, per capita, in It inspired an American member of the International usefulness of this kind of exercise: no says Oreck. Nearly 10% of MPs in Finland’s fi rst the world. Olympic Committee to call for the team, which included 12 two countries – their circumstances, In Finland, insists Halonen, “You parliament were women (the fi gure is For years dominated by monolithic North Korean players, to be nominated for the Nobel Peace their histories, their people – can be the don’t look up at people, and you don’t now 42%); as early as 1930, up to 30% mining and forestry fi rms, then by the same. look down. You look level.” of university students were women. once-mighty Nokia, Finland today Prize. Learnings may not be transferrable. The country’s most successful current “Women in Finland took their rights is close behind Silicon Valley in the But will the bonhomie continue after the Games? That The magic sauce that made Finland number of startups per head. remains the million dollar question. Atmospherics only have would not produce the same results in, The magic sauce, then, seems a temporary eff ect but for permanent peace to return they say, France. based mainly on basic virtues: self- should be followed up with more concrete steps. It is true, too, that shown the long confi dence, co-operation, equality, list of social and economic measures by respect for education, trust. which their country can only be judged At bottom and in practice, says Anu a success, many Finns snort: emerging Partanen, a Finnish journalist who now To Advertise slowly from a long recession, with lives in New York, it boils down to a unemployment at 8% and a populist, diff erent quality of relationship. [email protected] nationalist party garnering up to 20% of She calls it – since it is shared to a Display the vote, the country’s not what it was, greater or lesser extent by Sweden, they say. Norway and Denmark – the Nordic 44466621 44418811 Often, the response – only semi- theory of love. joking – is, “You mean other countries “In the family, it’s realising that Classified are worse?” relationships can only really fl ourish 44466609 44418811 But inquiring after the sauce’s between individuals – parents, recipe of, among others, an economist, children, spouses – who are equal Subscription a philosopher, a sociologist and an and independent,” Partanen says. ex-president, intriguing ingredients “In a society, it means policy choices [email protected] emerge. aimed at ensuring the greatest possible To begin with, the geography – and degree of independence, freedom and its consequence, the climate.“We live,” opportunity for everyone.” – Guardian © 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Tarja Halonen, Finland’s president from ‘It’s about co-operating. Everyone together, equally’: Helsinki, the Finnish capital. News & Media Gulf Times Tuesday, February 13, 2018 19 COMMENT Changing the way we look at dementia

By Judith Graham in 33 countries are involved in the Speak slowly, using short, simple Kaiser Health News movement, which originated in Japan. sentences and give the person adequate To become a Dementia Friend, time to respond. Remain calm and most people attend an hour-long reassuring and avoid arguing or n November, six people with presentation focused on several embarrassing the person who may have Alzheimer’s disease and related themes: forgotten where they’re going. types of cognitive impairment Disease vs. typical ageing. Bob Savage, an 86-year-old Istood before an audience of 100 in Alzheimer’s disease and other types of diagnosed two years ago with North Haven, Connecticut. dementia are illnesses of the brain, not Alzheimer’s disease, became a One by one, they talked about what a natural consequence of ageing. Dementia Friend last year and now it was like to live with dementia in Scope of symptoms. Dementia speaks to groups in Connecticut who deeply personal terms. triggers a wide array of symptoms, not are promoting the programme. Before the presentation, audience just memory loss. Some of what he tells them: “As soon members were asked to write down fi ve Quality of life. People with dementia as people learn you have Alzheimer’s, words they associated with dementia. can live well, often for years. you’re stigmatised. People treat you Afterwards, they were asked to do the Maintaining identity and respect. diff erent, like you don’t understand, same, this time refl ecting on what People with dementia retain a sense of and that’s very upsetting.” they’d learned. self and aren’t defi ned exclusively by Even if memory is lost, intuition “Without exception, the words this condition. (Testimonials by people and emotional understanding remain people used had changed – from with dementia are sometimes, but not intact, Savage explained. ‘hopeless’ to ‘hope,’ from ‘depressed’ always, included.) What he and other people with to ‘courageous,’ from ‘empty’ to “If we can change the way people dementia want most is “emotional ‘fulfi lled,’ “ said Erica DeFrancesco, look at dementia and talk about connection – that feeling of love that a clinical assistant professor of it, we can make a big diff erence in we had, that we may have lost” when occupational therapy at Quinnipiac people’s lives,” said Philippa Tree, a diagnosis was delivered and a sense University who helped organise the who spearheads a well-established There is a new grassroots movement in the US aimed at educating people about Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. of being a burden to other people event. Dementia Friends programme in descended. The session, followed by an hour- England and Wales, with about 2.3mn middle,” Anderson said, adding that visiting or phoning a family member American Indian, West African In 2016, Savage moved to a campus long discussion about dementia, is part members, that has licensed its model this was only a partial list. with Alzheimer’s regularly, watching and Hmong communities in their in Southington, Connecticut, where of a new grassroots movement in the to the US. “The point they were making out for a neighbour, volunteering state to make culturally sensitive 133 people with dementia reside in US aimed at educating people about “It’s about increasing awareness was that folks with dementia might with a community organisation or adaptations to their programmes. assisted living or a skilled nursing Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of and empathy so that if you encounter remember some of these steps but trying to make public venues easier And they’re piloting a modifi ed facility. Stephani Shivers, chief dementia, dispelling the painful stigma someone in the community who needs not others. At some point, they’ll get to navigate, for instance – is required version of Dementia Friends in operating offi cer of LiveWell (formerly associated with these conditions and some help, you have some basic skills,” distracted or forget what they were to become a Dementia Friend, though several elementary schools “to create the Alzheimer’s Resource Centre), enhancing public understanding. said Meredith Hanley, project lead for doing and go on to something else. To sponsors don’t check if people follow a dementia-friendly generation of which owns the campus, is leading A centrepiece of that eff ort, known Dementia Friends USA. me, that was eye-opening; it explained through. youth,” Farah-Miller said. Connecticut’s Dementia Friends as “Dementia Friends,” began just William Anderson, chief of police for a lot.” “This is a social action movement,” Individuals can also earn a initiative. over a year ago under the auspices of St Cloud, Minnesota, went to a session Now, Anderson thinks about “how said Emily Farah-Miller, executive “Dementia Friends” designation “What I’ve seen is that barriers Dementia Friendly America, an eff ort of this kind late last year, with about we can make life more manageable lead for ACT on Alzheimer’s, a by watching an introductory video seem to dissolve for people who spearheaded by 35 organisations across 40 members of his department. One for these folks, in simple ways.” statewide eff ort in Minnesota to create on Dementia Friends’ USA website, attend” information sessions, she said. the country. exercise – writing down all the steps An example: The St Cloud Police dementia-friendly communities and as well as a second video about “Whether it’s ‘I’m not sure what to Currently, more than 13,200 people involved in making a peanut butter and Department’s building has a large disseminate best practices regarding dealing with people with dementia in say to someone with dementia’ or ‘I’m are registered as Dementia Friends in jelly sandwich – made an especially vestibule, with two big glass doors. dementia in health care settings. various settings such as restaurants, nervous about being with someone the US, and organisations in 14 states strong impression. “If you have dementia, you’re going to More than 10,000 US Dementia stores, banks, libraries, pharmacies, with dementia,’ the ‘I don’t know what (Arizona, California, Connecticut, “I’d never thought about everything walk into that vestibule and probably Friends come from Minnesota, which faith communities and public to do’ falls away. Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, that goes into something that simple: turn around in circles because began recruiting residents for the transportation. “It becomes me relating to you, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, taking the peanut butter and jelly out the doors don’t have an identifi er programme two years ago, before it If you encounter someone who a person with dementia, as another Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia, and of the cabinet, unscrewing the tops, saying ‘police,’” he said, adding that became a national initiative. seems confused and disoriented on human being – a human being Wyoming) are hosting events to sign getting a knife, spreading the sides introducing new signage is under This year, Minnesota ACT on a bus, train, taxi or subway, try to living with a cognitive disability, up more. of the bread, putting the pieces on consideration. Alzheimer’s leaders are working understand what that person might just like people living with physical Globally, almost 14mn people top of each other, cutting it down the Committing to a concrete action – with African-American, Hispanic, need, one of these videos advises. disabilities.” – Tribune News Service

The science of meat and nutrition Three-day forecast TODAY Maximum Temperature : 280c Minimum Temperature : 170c By Barbara Quinn (bad) LDL cholesterol in the blood.” The Monterey County Herald Choose lean cuts of meat, she advises. WEDNESDAY Still, there’s a lot of scary news Maximum Temperature : 280c about beef out there. Minimum Temperature : 180c es, there really is a college First consider the source of the THURSDAY major in the science of meat. information, she advises. “While Maximum Temperature : 260c And it has a lot to do with technology is a great tool, it allows Minimum Temperature : 180c the science of nutrition, I people to freely share information Y Fisherman's forecast was informed by Hannah Kesterson, even on topics they are not well- a beautiful young lady who will informed about.” WARNING Inshore : Expected strong wind soon graduate from Colorado State “There have been several studies at places at times University with a master of science looking at the impact of beef on health Offshore : Expected strong wind degree in Animal Science, Meat issues. For example, results of the with high seas and Science and Human Nutrition. Wow. BOLD (Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet) poor visibility at places later. I was curious why she decided to go study showed that eating a healthy diet WEATHER into this particular fi eld of study? “My including daily servings of lean beef Inshore : Hazy at places at first interest in agriculture, food science, can help people to lower LDL and total becomes moderate temperature with scat- and health started when I was young Beef “provides more than 10 essential nutrients which play a role in muscle cholesterol, and improve risk factors for tered clouds and slight and grew as I learned more about maintenance, brain, and immune function.” cardiovascular disease. Also, the WISE dust to blowing dust at these topics in the 4-H programme,” (Weight Improvement, Satisfaction, and times at places. WIND she said. (Hannah’s dad, by the way, We sure are. I asked her to share in this protein source, especially Energy) study compared two diet plans: Inshore : Southeasterly-South- is a veterinarian and her mom is a some of what she has learned about saturated fatty acids. However, less one plan was high in protein and rich in westerly 8-17/20 KT registered dietitian.) the science (and nutrition) of meat. than half of the fatty acids in beef are lean beef, while the other plan restricted Offshrore : Southeasterly-Easterly 12-22/ KT 32 Through her studies, she found she “Beef is a nutrient dense food,” saturated. And about one-third of this overall red meat intake. Researchers Visibility : 4 - 9/3 KM at places at had an affi nity to science. “I realised she began. “It provides more than 10 saturated fat is stearic acid, which has found that both were eff ective in times that my love for both agriculture and essential nutrients which play a role been shown to be neutral on blood decreasing body weight and improving SEA STATE nutrition could possibly be combined, in muscle maintenance, brain, and cholesterol levels. Of the total fat (in health. These indicate that for those Offshore : 3-7 FT, Rises to 12 FT at especially in a culture where people immune function.” beef) about half is monounsaturated who want to include it, meat can be part Around the region are becoming more concerned about “There is often a stigma associated fatty acids (the same type of fat found of a healthy diet and lifestyle.” – Tribune Weather where their food comes from.” with beef due to the presence of fat in olive oil), which can help reduce News Service Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Baghdad S Showers 19/09 Sunny 20/08 Kuwait City P Cloudy 34/13 Sunny 23/10 Manama M Sunny 29/19 Cloudy 22/17 Muscat M Sunny 28/19 M Sunny 29/19 Live issues Tehran Rain 12/07 P Cloudy 13/03 Free public transport for elders lessens depression

By Cheryl Platzman Weinstock Reinhard, of the department of global enough to help people interact with they found that it was associated Reuters Health health and social medicine at King’s one another. Sharing good times and with a 51% increased odds of people College London, told Reuters Health providing and receiving mutual aid using public transportation. After by e-mail. and assistance are more important,” adjustment for factors like age, liminating cost as a barrier “This study should motivate said Cacioppo, who was not involved gender, disability and employment to getting around town policymakers from other countries in the study. “If you put lonely people and pension status, increased use of may improve the mental to adopt similar concessionary fare together they won’t be happy.” public transportation was linked to health of older adults by schemes that encourage public Reinhard and colleagues examined an average 1-point decrease in scores E Around the world reducing loneliness and lack of social transport use, increase social data collected on 18,453 people on an 8-point scale for measuring engagement, suggests a UK study that engagement and improve mental residing in England (age 50 or older) depression symptoms. Weather Weather followed over 18,000 people for more health.” who were surveyed one or more times Increased transportation use was today Max/min tomorrow Max/min than a decade. In 2050, the US population age 65 between 2002 and 2014 for a long- not linked to any change in measures Athens M Sunny 15/09 Sunny 16/08 Researchers found that increased or older is projected to reach 83.7mn, term study. of social isolation or membership in Beirut Rain 16/14 P Cloudy 17/13 eligibility for a free bus pass led to according to the Census Bureau. In 2006, free local bus travel groups, however. Bangkok Sunny 32/22 Sunny 33/23 an 8% increase in the use of public The likelihood of older adults living for people 60 or older was The findings “suggest that Berlin M Sunny 04/-6 Sunny 04/-3 transportation among older people, alone increases as they age, and past implemented in England, and in benefits from increased transport Cairo M Sunny 21/10 P Cloudy 21/11 and a 12% decline in depression research has shown that older people 2008 the programme was extended use likely stem from reduced Cape Town Sunny 33/22 M Sunny 28/19 symptoms among those who started who stay engaged in activities have to free bus travel nationwide. This loneliness, increased participation in Colombo M Sunny 31/24 P Cloudy 31/25 taking the bus when they became better physical and mental health than “natural experiment” allowed the volunteering activities and increased Dhaka P Cloudy 31/17 P Cloudy 28/16 eligible for the programme. those who are isolated and lonely. A researchers to follow changes in contact with children and friends,” Hong Kong Sunny 18/17 P Cloudy 21/18 Among the depression symptoms lack of social engagement can trigger mental health symptoms before Reinhard said. Istanbul M Sunny 09/06 Showers 12/07 that people who took up bus travel mental health problems and chronic and after people became eligible for A key limitation of the study, she Jakarta T Storm 30/24 T Storm 30/24 reported as reduced were “not illnesses, such as heart disease, in this free travel. acknowledged, is that they did not Karachi Sunny 28/14 M Sunny 2/14 enjoying life,” trouble sleeping, feeling population, Reinhard’s team writes. Overall, 8.9% of the study group have information on whether study London Rain 06/-2 S Showers 07/07 unhappy, lonely, sad, not motivated “I think this study is the fi rst used public transportation “a lot” participants lived in urban, suburban, Manila P Cloudy 29/24 Cloudy 29/24 or that everything was an eff ort, the step forward to the development of or nearly every day during the study or rural areas. Moscow P Cloudy -8/-14 Cloudy -8/-15 study team notes in the Journal of more eff ective treatments and the period. Another 11.3% used it “quite “Since public transport New Delhi Sunny 23/09 Sunny 23/11 Epidemiology and Community Health. reduction of loneliness in the elderly,” often,” or two to three times per infrastructure varies between New York M Cloudy 04/0 P Cloudy 11/06 “There has been a push from the Dr Stephanie Cacioppo, director week; 17.2% used it “sometimes,” or urban and rural areas, it is plausible Paris Rain&Snow 05/-2 P Cloudy 07/04 World Health Organisation to make of the brain dynamics laboratory two to five times per month. About that the free bus passes may have Sao Paulo Showers 22/18 Showers 22/17 cities and communities more age- at University of Chicago’s Pritzker 30% used it rarely or less than once diff erent impacts based on where Seoul Sunny 05/-1 P Cloudy 08/-6 friendly, and our study suggests that School of Medicine, told Reuters a month, and 32% never used public people live and the quality of public Singapore P Cloudy 31/23 S T Storms 31/24 one way for governments to do so is Health in a phone interview. transportation. transportation available. This is Sydney Rain 25/21 P Cloudy 33/21 by subsidising public transportation “This won’t be achieved easily, When researchers investigated the something we would like to examine in Tokyo Clear 09/-1 Clear 11/0 for older people,” lead author Erica however. Giving free passes is not impact of eligibility for free bus travel, future research,” she said. Gulf Times 20 Tuesday, February 13, 2018 QATAR

What, where and when of National Sport Day 2018

Following are some of the 10 from 9am until 1pm. Aspire Football Tournament: 6.30pm (women only). 6pm along the esplanade and Fair; a BMX, skating and rope also been organised at The highlights of today’s National Japanese kendo: From 9am to To be held on Aspire Zone’s Student Centre events include Katara Beach. jumping show until February 21, Pearl-Qatar and Katara between Sport Day activities around 12noon on football Pitch 10. outdoor pitches 3, 4 and 5 from special activities for women and at 5.30pm and 8.30pm at the 8am and 6pm; Qatar Olympic Qatar: Nordic Walk: The Nordic Walk 9am until 12noon. children. MIA Park Oasis Stage. Committee (Aspire), Supreme will take place from 11am to 1pm Family-oriented activities will Ooredoo is hosting over 40 Doha Festival City: The mall Committee for Delivery & Aspire Zone Foundation at Aspetar’s West Wing. Qatar Foundation take place at the Recreation activities from 8am to 5pm at is hosting an indoor obstacle Legacy (Aspire), National Human Outdoor activities Indoor activities at Aspire A number of events will Centre, including swimming for the Museum of Islamic Art Park. course in the Centre Court and a Rights Committee (Aspire), Qatar Fun Run – Taking place on a Dome be held across venues such children with autism, goal ball – Highlights include football popup area where children can Charity (Aspire) and others. 3km course around Khalifa ‘Challenge the Champion’ from as Oxygen Park, Al Shaqab, a football activity for the blind, matches, a penalty shootout, test their skills in tennis, golf and Celebrations have also been lined International Stadium. 10am to 4pm at Aspire Dome’s Ceremonial Court, Recreation a gymnastics and trampoline handball, human chess, mini football in the South Food Court. up at The Pearl-Qatar, from 8am Registration is from 6.30am to Indoor Athletics Track. Centre and the Green Spine. display, a squash tournament golf, boxing, table tennis, The activities will take place to 4pm, at the Lido Venezia Beach 7.30am, and the race starts at ‘Football Performance and Activities include a 2km and slalom football – blindfolded archery, tug-of-war, karate, from 10am until 8pm. and Porto Arabia Boardwalk), 8am and is expected to finish Science Activities’ take place on walkathon, from 8am at Student football to raise blind awareness. aerobics, and basketball. Various government, private according to information available at 11am. the Indoor Football Pitch from Centre before heading towards and other entities are holding on its website. Opening Ceremony (Warm- 10am to 4pm. the Ceremonial Court. Katara – the Cultural Village Miscellaneous National Sport Day activities At Asian Town, the programme up) – ‘Step Choreography’ and Multi-skill activities for little 50km ultra marathon from the Katara will receive visitors A host of activities is taking at diff erent venues in the includes a bicycle fun race at ‘Be Strong’ demonstrations, boys from 10am to 4pm in Ceremonial Court at 8.20am, from 8am to enjoy diff erent place at several other venues. country. These include the 8.30am, followed by basketball followed by a 15-minute warm- Multipurpose Hall 01, while going around Education City. sports activities presented in co- Mall of Qatar: a yoga class, a Qatar Armed Forces, from 7am (male), volleyball (male and up exercise in Aspire Park, from young girls can enjoy racket 40km cycling from the operation diff erent entities in the fitness challenge and a healthy to 4pm at Katara; Kahramaa, female), cycling, skating, team- 8am to 8.30am. sports and gymnastic circuit Ceremonial Court at 8.20am. country. Activities include roman breakfast along with a lunch from 8am at Katara; Hamad building/obstacle relay, a karate Children-only activities: activities in Multipurpose Hall 02 Oxygen Park activities from 9am wrestling, tennis, sailing boats, corner at AlRayyan Hotel Doha; Medical Corporation, which demonstration class, poster- Activities organised especially from 10am to 1pm. ‘Teamwork to 4pm. football, a parade of children fencing in the luxury court, will hold events for patients, painting competition, tug-of-war for children on Pitch 10 from Challenges’ take places from ‘The Challenge’ at Al Shaqab with special needs as well as basketball competitions at East staff and other members of the competition in association, 9am to 3pm. 10am to 3pm at the Gymnastics takes place from 9am to 4pm nautical games, etc. Gate 1, zumba and stretching community at a number of its cricket match, car show and kids’ Dodgeball: Taking place on Pitch Hall. (general) and from 4.30pm to The activities will continue until at East Gate 3, the outdoor Fun facilities, and activities have sports meet. Qatar’s sports family unites at Aspire spire Zone Foundation wider National Sport Day 2018 8.30am until 4pm in Aspire Park, and indoor family-friendly ac- (AZF) has said it is utilis- celebrations in Aspire Zone. behind Hyatt Plaza. tivities are lined up for this oc- Aing its indoor and outdoor Also, AZF has said it will “dazzle casion, some of which are being facilities to bring visitors a range visitors” with more than 120 art Qatar’s ‘football family’ introduced for the fi rst time. of events at this year’s National installations on National Sport gathers in Aspire Zone This year’s highlights include Sport Day. Day. Qatar’s ‘football family’, com- the Fun Run, dodgeball, Nordic For the seventh year in a row, prising the QFA, SC and QNB Walk, Japanese kendo demon- AZF will also lend these facilities Al-Adaam Village features Stars League, will also celebrate strations, various indoor ac- to Qatar’s leading sports organi- 14 diff erent sports alongside National Sport Day 2018 in tivities at Aspire Dome and chil- sations, bringing the country’s Qatar’s best athletes Aspire Zone, with the annual dren’s activities on Pitch 10. sports family together in one In addition to Aspire Zone’s ‘Football Family’ tournament Visitors can park in the car place. activities, which cater to com- returning to Aspire Zone for the parks near Aspetar, Villaggio or The Qatar Olympic Commit- munity members of all ages and seventh consecutive year on the on Al Furousiya Street. Shuttle tee (QOC), more than 27 sports physical capabilities, the QOC’s outdoor pitches behind Möven- buses will be available to pick at- federations, Supreme Commit- Al-Adaam Village will see some pick Hotel Al Aziziyah Doha. tendees up from the Blue Build- tee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), of Qatar’s best athletes partici- ing opposite Aspetar from 7am Qatar Football Association (QFA) pate in diff erent types of sports. Aspire Zone introduces and will drop them off near out- and the QNB Stars League have These include gymnastics, ath- new sports and incorporates door Football Pitch 10. placed their trust in Qatar’s letics, fencing, weightlifting, fun activities for all More information about Na- Sports City to deliver an array of boxing, wrestling, judo, taek- AZF has stressed that its Na- tional Sport Day 2018 at Aspire activities yet again, AZF has said wondo, basketball, tennis, sail- tional Sport Day 2018 will be can be found through the ‘Life in in a statement. ing, kayaking, squash, volleyball, Qatar’s largest and longest cele- Aspire’ mobile app, or through In total, 22 government or- indoor hockey, cricket, table bration and is expected to attract AZF’s offi cial website, http:// ganisations and private com- tennis and golf. thousands of visitors again this www.lifeinaspire.qa, and social panies are set to take part in the The activities will run from each year. A number of outdoor media channels. More than 120 art installations will ‘dazzle visitors’ at Aspire Park.

MoI timings Ooredoo hosts sport Fun, games, fi tness to mark The service-oriented departments of the Ministry of Interior (MoI) will work from 8am until noon today on the occasion of National Sport Day, events at MIA Park the day at The St Regis Doha the MoI has announced on Twitter. Patients, staff, community to oredoo announced that it we encourage everyone to come will once again host a Na- along, join in, and fi nd their new he St Regis Doha has in- the sack race follows at 10.30am nature moments, Gold mem- participate in HMC activities Otional Sport Day event at favourite sport.” vited people to indulge in a with participants hopping their bership guests can enjoy a spe- the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) To further encourage every- Tday fi lled with entertaining way with bags through to the fi n- cial promotion available for 12 Off icials from Hamad Medical activity as part of a healthy Park today. one to be active, Nojoom Mem- activities and celebrate the Na- ish line. months and receive a 50% dis- Corporation (HMC) are lifestyle. There is a strong link This is the seventh year that bers who register their Ooredoo tional Sport Day with “extraordi- There is an extra dose of fun at count and additional benefi ts. promoting the positive eff ects between regular physical activity Ooredoo has provided free number via www.ooredoo.qa/ nary experiences”. 11.30am with the hula hoop chal- These include QR17,000 for of physical activity as part of and the prevention of several sporting activities for the public sportsday before the day will be The activities are “designed to lenge with the participation of single membership with one a healthy lifestyle and raising chronic diseases, including on National Sport Day inside the able to walk MIA Park and earn please all ages”, The St Regis Doha the little ones, a fun game that complimentary lunch or dinner awareness of the link between cardiovascular disease, diabetes, MIA Park. Ooredoo said there up to 750 Nojoom points. As well has said in a statement. will put everyone’s endurance to for two persons at Vine restau- sports and mental, physical, hypertension, obesity, and will be over 40 activities avail- as sporting activities, healthy On off er is a full schedule of test. Teamwork will be at its best rant, food only; QR22,000 for and emotional health. HMC depression. HMC is proud to be able to the public this year from food options will be sold at the games, competitions and fun ac- with volleyball at noon, while couples membership — includ- will hold events for patients, part of Qatar’s annual National 8am to 5pm. park alongside fresh juice and tivities, taking place today from some adventure is on the cards ing two complimentary Cabana staff , and other members of the Sport Day celebrations. The day Highlights of the activities in- water, and Ooredoo encourages 9am until 3pm. At 9am, guests at 2pm when participants collect usage during weekdays; and community at a number of its represents an opportunity to clude several high-profi le foot- families to bring a picnic and en- will gather around the Olym- coins spread inside the swim- QR28,000 for family member- facilities, with the Ambulance participate in a wide range of ball matches, a penalty shoot- joy the daylong event. pic-size pool to learn about the ming pool in the Finding Nemo ship — including three compli- Service, Qatar Metabolic physical activities – not only to out, handball, human chess, On top of the sporting event, schedule of fun games and activi- competition. mentary Cabana usage during Institute, Tobacco Control have fun but also to highlight the mini golf, boxing, table tennis, a host of service off ers will be ties during the opening speech. Also, at 2.30pm, there is an op- weekdays. Center, and Kulluna Programme importance of sport in building archery, tug-of-war, karate, available for customers to help At 9.25am, the lineup of games portunity to cool off and learn a The off er is available until organising activities at The a healthy community. As Qatar’s aerobics, and basketball, among celebrate the day, including free will offi cially start with a walk variety of water exercises with a April 1. Tareq Derbas, area general Pearl-Qatar and Katara Cultural main healthcare provider, HMC is many others. data for all Hala customers who straight competition, in which 30-minute aqua-aerobics session manager of The St Regis Doha, Village between 8am and 6pm. committed to providing each and Ooredoo director of PR and top-up their account with QR50 participants will make a line of led by qualifi ed instructors. said: “We are proud to support Staff from HMC will provide every one of its patients with the Corporate Communications or above or a QR60 or above 10 people in each group and walk The day’s activities wrap up this distinguished health and fi t- health advice and discuss the safest, most eff ective, and most Manar Khalifa al-Muraikhi said: data recharge, and 50% off all with their eyes closed. at 3pm with the raffl e draw of- ness initiative led by the State of importance of good nutrition compassionate care. “National Sport Day is a day new Endless Internet Pack QR70 At 9.45am, the boot camp will fering a variety of prizes, includ- Qatar and celebrate in this yearly and physical activity. Educational Qatar was the first country in to bring communities together or above subscriptions for six be launched with a warm-up in- ing 10 vouchers for day passes to event. materials will be distributed and the world to dedicate one day and inspire everyone to live a months. volving a 30-minute body weight the pool and beach, 10 vouchers “This festival of sports activi- free health screening checks for its citizens and residents healthier and more active life- Ooredoo’s support for Nation- exercise and a yoga session next worth QR100 each, valid for use at ties is also a great opportunity for will be available. This year, the to celebrate sports and the style. We’re delighted to partner al Sport Day is part of its ongoing to The St Regis pool. Then there Remède Spa, and 10 vouchers for us to entertain our guests with healthcare provider’s National promotion of a healthy lifestyle. once again with MIA Park to of- commitment to raise awareness will be ‘pass, shoot and goal’ at The St Regis Grand Friday Brunch. fun experiences along with our Sport Day events will focus on The country’s strong focus on fer free fi tness activities for Qa- of the importance of fi tness and 10am with the beach soccer on To celebrate National Sport bespoke culinary off ers, at the raising awareness of the positive health is an integral part of the tar on National Sport Day, and health to the people of Qatar. the golden St Regis beach, and Day with The St Regis Doha sig- fi nest address in Qatar.” eff ects of sport and physical Qatar National Vision 2030.

All set for National Sport Day celebration

From Page 1 awareness activities at its QF’s programme will kick off facilities and diff erent venues. Football for blind scores a goal at Aspire Hall with a 2km walkathon, setting A large number of companies out from the Education City have also arranged a number of Student Centre at 8am. A 40km events for their staff members on By Ramesh Mathew people, including those rep- cycling event and a 50km ultra the occasion. Several expatriate Staff Reporter resenting the companies and marathon will take place for organisations have invited sports organisations that backed the more experienced athletes, celebrities from their countries event, joined the visually im- starting at the Ceremonial Court who will be joining the events he footballing skills of a paired on the wooden courts. at 8.20am. Al Shaqab will stage along with the community number of visually im- The organisers said besides a day-long sporting festival titled members on the occasion. Tpaired and blindfolded demonstrating to the world ‘The Challenge’, where members individuals came alive at a that visually impaired are as of the community are invited Strong winds today lively session held yesterday to capable and competent as oth- to compete in teams across a Strong winds are expected mark the National Sport Day ers they also want to convey series of challenging physical in parts of the country at celebrations at Aspire Wom- that there is enough space for activities. The event, which runs times today, the Qatar Met en’s Hall. all diff erently abled people in from 9am to 4pm, is for those department has said. Windy The event, hosted by Save the world. over 16 years and will include conditions are also likely the Dream, a Doha-based non- The event was labelled as the activities that focus on strength, off shore along with high seas, governmental forum, working “fi rst ever football event in Qa- strategy, balance, concentration and poor visibility is expected for the uplift and rehabilitation tar for the blind”. One of the or- and competition. later. The wind speed may go of diff erently abled children, ganisers said they hope to host Meanwhile, other venues such up 20 knots inshore and 32 including those having visual matches of great magnitude in as The Museum of Islamic Art knots off shore, with the sea problems. future. Park, Asian Town, Mall of Qatar, level rising to 12ft. It could The game was supported He said they are now in Doha Festival City and The also get dusty in inshore by the Qatar Financial Cen- the process of developing Pearl-Qatar, among others, will areas at times and moderate tre, Aspire Logistics, and Sasol more customer-friendly pro- also host several events that are temperature is likely during among others and had scores of grammes to suit the require- expected to attract big crowds. the day along with a cold night. youth, both visually impaired ments of visually impaired Ministries and government Dusty conditions have been and otherwise, taking part, people, especially children in bodies, too, have lined up forecast off shore later in the representing four teams. The Qatar. special events to mark the day. The temperature in Doha day’s action mainly involved The organisers also hon- occasion, while Hamad Medical is expected to range from 17C spot kicks by participants, us- oured the companies and in- Corporation will carry out to 28C. ing specially designed balls stitutions that supported the The event in progress. PICTURE: Jayan Orma with jingles. Some blindfolded event with mementos.