Volume 22 | Number 7421 | 2 RiyalsMonday 29 January 2018 | 12 Jumada 1 | 1439 www.thepeninsula.qa

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QNA

DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani sent yesterday a cable of condolences to President of the United Arab Emirates H H Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the death of his mother, praying to Allah the Almighty to have mercy on the soul of the late and make her residence in paradise.

Emir sends condolences to UAE President

Qatar-Oman deal to boost food production

THE PENINSULA

MUSCAT: Qatar and Oman have signed a memorandum of under-standing (MoU) on food production, marketing, joint investment and export of Omani products to Qatar.

The agreement was signed during the official talks held between the two countries in Muscat.

The talks session was chaired from the Qatari side by Minister of Municipality and Environment H E Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi and from the Omani side by Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries H E Dr Fuad bin Jaafar Al Sagwani, said the Min-istry of Municipality and Envi-ronment in a statement issued yesterday.

The session focused on the fields of agriculture, livestock and fisheries, ways of developing them and opening new prospects for enhancing cooperation and exchanging experiences and views between the two countries.

The Minister of Municipality and Environment stressed that

the strategic relations between the two countries are at the highest level and built on clear basis, pointing out that the signing of the memorandum of understanding was within the framework of strengthening the existing cooperation between the two countries in areas of common interest.

Dr Fuad bin Jaafar Al Sagwani, in a meeting with H E Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi, discussed issues of mutual interest in the agricul-tural, animal and fisheries sectors and means of developing and enhancing joint cooperation in these sectors.

They also discussed cooper-ation between the two countries

in the field of food security and ways to promote investment fields in the agricultural, animal and fisheries sectors.

Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi said that Qatar has many investments in various fields in Oman. Qatar is looking forward to see investment in the Special Economic Zone in Duqm in the areas of food industries and strategic storage as well as

investment in some fishing ports, in addition to the development of infrastructure and urban projects within urban planning of coastal regions, especially fishing ports as they are important for food industries and food security.

Dr Fuad bin Jaafar Al Sagwani said the signing of the MoU comes within the framework of the close bilateral

relations between the two sides, adding that the MoU included ways to explore possible oppor-tunities for investment in the Sultanate in the fisheries, agri-culture and food sector, pointing to the existence of a partnership between Oman and Qatar in this regard as well as to Qatar’s intention to benefit from investment opportunities in the Sultanate.

Qatar’s Minister of Municipality and Environment H E Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi and Oman’s Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries H E Dr Fuad bin Jaafar Al Sagwani signing a memorandum of understanding on food production, marketing, joint investment and export of Omani products to Qatar.

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Qatari-US strategic dialogue will kick off tomorrow in Washington DC wherein a number of agree-ments and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) will be signed between the two coun-tries in various fields, notably energy and information security.

A high-level Qatari dele-gation comprised of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign

Minister H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Min-ister of State for Defence Affairs, H E Dr Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, Minister of Energy and Industry H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, and Minister of Finance H E Ali Shareef Al Emadi will participate in the strategic dialogue.

The delegation will also be accompanied by representatives of various ministries and entities of Qatar.

They include, representatives from the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Ministry of Admin-istrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs, Ministry of Transport and Communications, Civil Aviation Authority, Qatar Airways, Qatar Central Bank, Qatar Investment Authority, and Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development.

→CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Qatar-US strategic talks tomorrow to bolster ties

The agreement was signed during the official talks held between the two countries in Muscat. The talks session was chaired from Qatari side by Minister of Municipality and Environment H E Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi and from Omani side by Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries H E Dr Fuad bin Jaafar Al Sagwani.

Strategic relations between the two countries are at the highest level and built on clear basis, said the Minister of Municipality and Environment.

FAZEENA SALEEM

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: The breast cancer survival rate in Qatar has touched remarkable level of 85 percent as a result of high standards of diagnosis and treatment methods.

The survival rate in Qatar is also considered higher than other countries, said Dr Mohammed Ussama Al Homsi, Senior Consultant Physician.

→FULL REPORT ON PAGE 2

85% patients survive breast cancer in Qatar

Preliminary frequency plans for 5G readyTHE PENINSULA

DOHA: The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) has completed the needed prepa-rations for the fifth generation (5G) frequency bands for mobile telecommunications services and has prepared preliminary frequency plans that can accommodate the demand of Qatar’s telecom service providers of the main candidate frequency bands for the use of 5G technology.

CRA is one of the regulatory bodies in the region that took the lead and held, in early 2017,

consultations with service pro-viders in Qatar, to identify their future demand regarding the required frequency bands for the deployment of 5G tech-nology in the country.

In addition, CRA held a number of meetings with stake-holders and major companies in ICT industry to discuss the global trends, the followed approaches by International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Study Groups and the approaches driven by the industry in this field.

→CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

SANAULLAH ATAULLAH

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Ministry of Munici-pality and Environment, represented by General Cleanliness Department is conducting a massive campaign to create awareness among people about new public hygiene law that will come into effect from Thursday. “Inspectors armed with judicial power are ready to round-up violators of the new public hygiene law at all municipalities,” Safar Al Shafi, Director of General Clean-liness Department told The Peninsula.

→FULL REPORT ON PAGE 3

Public hygiene law: Awareness drive in full swing

02 MONDAY 29 JANUARY 2018HOME

Minister of Culture & Sports with Ethiopian envoy

Minister of Culture and Sports H E Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali received the Ambassador of the Ethiopia to Qatar, Metasebia Tadesse, at his office yesterday. They discussed cooperation between both countries and ways to develop it in the field of sports and culture.

QNA

DOHA: Minister of Transport and Communications H E Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti met here yesterday with the Ukrainian Minister of Infra-structure, Volodymyr Omelyan.

They discussed aspects of coop-eration in the field of aviation, mar-itime transport, ports and railroads and means of further enhancing them, in addition to benefiting from investment opportunities in the field of transport in both countries.

The meeting also discussed a number of matters of common interest and was attended by the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority, Abdullah bin Nasser Turki Al Subaie, and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker.

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ has announced that it will close the Northern Service Road heading to Simsima on Umm Birka Interchange tomorrow for a period of 60 days, in coordination with the General Directorate of Traffic.

During the closure period, traffic heading to Simsima and North Road via the Northern Service Road on Umm Birka Interchange will be diverted to a parallel diversion road, as shown on the attached map. The traffic change is required to enable the works of laying Sewer rising mains as part of design, build, operate and maintain of Al Thakhira Sewage Treatment Works, Transfer Pumping Station and Associated Pipelines.

The Public Works Authority requests that all road users abide by the speed limit and follow diversion road signs installed by Ashghal to ensure their safety. With the camping season now underway, Ashghal also reminds road users to exercise special care while driving to their campsite, by further reducing speed as necessary.

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Qatar has deposited its instruments of accession to the TIR Convention, which will enter into force for the State of Qatar this July 25.

By so doing, Qatar has become the 73rd Contracting Party to the United Nations’ TIR Convention, the only global customs transit system, to facilitate trade and the seamless and secure movement of goods across its borders, according to a press release by the Ministry of Transport and Communi-cations yesterday.

The only global customs transit system for moving goods across international borders, TIR, or Transports Internationaux Routiers, has been supporting trade and development for over 60 years, by allowing customs-sealed vehicles and freight containers to transit countries with minimal border checks. It is governed by the United Nations TIR Convention, which is hosted by UNECE, and managed by the world

road transport organi-zation, IRU.

The TIR Convention came into effect in 1975. It facilitates the transport of goods between countries. It is the only global customs transit system in existence. It now has 73 Contracting Parties covering the whole of Europe, and reaches out to Asia, North Africa and the Middle East. The TIR Convention is expanding

rapidly, with Pakistan, China and India, which are home to almost 40 percent of the world population, acceding to the Convention within the last three years alone.

The Ministry of Transport and Communi-cations emphasizes that Qatar’s accession to TIR Convention will allow its land transport fleet and other land shipping modes to move to ports and harbors of TIR Convention countries by RoRo ships, move by land to where goods are released in any of TIR countries, and ship and transport goods on same track to Qatar.

The new system will enable free movement for land transport modes that belong to those countries when shipping goods from or to Qatar, the Ministry says, adding that this will con-tribute to saving transport costs significantly thanks to removing transaction fees for those goods, in addition to reducing transport duration from countries of origin to Qatar.

Qatar becomes a party to UN’s TIR Convention

Temporary traffic diversion at Umm Birka Interchange

Minister of Transport and Communications, H E Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti, with Ukrainian delegation headed by Minister of Infrastructure, Volodymyr Omelyan, in Doha, yesterday.

Qatar, Ukraine discuss cooperation in various fields

Qatar has become the 73rd Contracting Party to the United Nations’ TIR Convention, the only global customs transit system, to facilitate trade and the seamless and secure movement of goods across its borders.

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the annual art compe-tition for schoolchildren to mark the World Health Day 2018. The competition held on April 7 every year to commemorate its founding in 1948. This year’s competition will focus on comprehensive health coverage under the theme “Health for All”.

The competition is open for all school students between the ages of 8-18 years. Art

works should be presented on an appropriate type of drawing paper. The work will be judged according to age groups 8-9 years, 10-11 years, 12-13 years, 14 -15 years, and 16-18 years old.

The jury of the regional office selects the winners of the competition, and the organization is entitled to use the works of art provided by the students in its media products. Participation in the contest requires the participants to attach data forms with full name of the submitted work, the

name of the country of residency, age, full home address, school name, address and telephone number, the name of the guardian and telephone number and the email address of the student or parents.

Winners will be awarded prizes and an exhibition of winning works will be held at the WHO Regional Office. Students wishing to par-ticipate must send their artwork to the Department of International Health Relations at the Ministry of Public Health in the country of their residence by Thursday, March 1, 2018.

WHO art competition: Deadline set for March 1

QNA

DOHA: Qatar Chamber (QC) officials held a meeting yesterday with a 10-busi-nessmen Turkish delegation from Turkey headed by Zakaria Aslan board of Great National Association, which is currently visiting Doha.

The meeting discussed ways to enhance trade co-oper-ation and exchange as well as joint ventures between both countries businessmen.

Addressing the meeting, Rashid bin Hamad Al Athba, QC’s board member, said that the Qatari private sector wel-comes promoting cooperation ties with the Turkish side.

Al Athba noted that Qatar market is replete with investment opportunities which attract Turkish investors and businessmen, affirming that Qatari business owners have real desire to establish trade alliances and partnerships with their Turkish counterparts.

New business partnerships will be concluded soon between Qatari and Turkish firms, he pointed out.

He mentioned the MOU signed last year between Qatar

Chamber and Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) paves the ways for more coop-eration between the two parties.

There are about 186 Turkish-Qatari firms oper-ating in Qatar market and 19 firms with 100% Turkish capital.

On his part, Aslan said that the objective of this visit is to enhancing cooperation rela-tions between Qatari and Turkish businessmen, assuring that Turkish companies are interested in establishing joint ventures with Qatari companies in all economic sectors.

Turkish companies adopt cutting-edge technologies in industry, affirming that they are keen on transferring it to Qatar through establishing companies and factories in collaboration with Qatari businessmen.

FAZEENA SALEEM

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: The breast cancer survival rate in Qatar has touched remarkable level of 85 percent as a result of high standards of diagnosis and treatment methods. The survival rate is also considered higher than other coun-tries, said Dr Mohammed Ussama Al Homsi (pictured), Senior Consultant Physician.

“According to our statistics the breast cancer survival rate is 85 percent from diagnosis to five years and it is considered very good com-pared to other countries,” said Dr Mohammed Ussama Al Homsi, who is also Chairman of Medical Oncology and Hematology Department at Hamad Medical Cor-poration (HMC)’s National Center for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR).

He also said that patients with cancers such as breast, lymphoma, leukemia and multiple myeloma have a good response to treatment, while some types like pancreatic cancer and liver cancer have less response to treatment. However, the response to treatment could be 100 percent if the cancer is detected at an early stage.

The NCCCR offers patients a range of dedicated, specialised care

and a unique range of services including urgent care, hematology and oncology as well as palliative care. Suspected cancer cases are seen sooner, diagnosis is more accurate and faster, care pathways are smoother and support for patients along their treatment pathway is more comprehensive.

“We have a patient oriented pathway for cancer care. Any sus-pected case of cancer will be referred to us by physicians from public and private healthcare facilities. And we are obliged to see the person within 48 hours,” said Dr Al Homsi.

Also the number of patients seeking cancer care in foreign coun-tries has dramatically fallen due to the improved services at NCCCR.

“Number of patients going abroad has reduced a lot. We have

a committee to approve on medical grounds if a patients’ needs to go abroad for treatment. Only in case if the patient is with uncommon type of cancer would need to go abroad, such cases are very rare,” said Dr Al Homsi. The National Cancer Framework 2017–2022 stipulates a number of recommendations for improving the cancer journey for patients and these recommendations translate to direct improvements in patient care at NCCCR.

“The framework reinforces the need for rapid diagnosis, multi-dis-ciplinary sub-specialised precision cancer treatment, supported by local access to world leading clinical research programmes,” said Dr Al Homsi. Also the medical education and research programs are a strong focus for staff at NCCCR and efforts in these areas are translated into improvements in patient care.

NCCCR has received accredi-tation by Joint Commission Interna-tional (JCI) again in year 2016. JCI accreditation is based on quality and safety across all clinical and man-agement functions. In addition, NCCCR has been chosen as one of three hospitals in the Middle East to pilot a new hand hygiene initiative by JCI, based on their attention to quality and patient safety.

Turkish companies seek transferring technology to Qatar

85% patients survive breast cancer in Qatar

New business partnerships will be concluded soon between Qatari and Turkish firms.

03MONDAY 29 JANUARY 2018 HOME

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: With temperatures expected to drop even further this week, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is raising awareness of the dangers of burning wood or charcoal indoors or in an enclosed space because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning from the gas that is released when these are burnt.

Carbon monoxide is a very poisonous gas which is partic-ularly dangerous as it cannot be seen or smelt. This means that people who are exposed to it may not be aware of its pres-ence. Even small quantities of the gas can be extremely deadly particularly when this gas is released in a small space without proper ventilation.

One of the leading causes of carbon monoxide related poi-soning and death is the burning of wood or charcoal inside the home. Lack of proper ventila-tion results in the concentration of gas getting higher and higher until the level is so great that

people inside the room or house where the gas is present breathe it in and suffocate – leading to brain damage and death.

Dr Dominic Jenkins, Senior Consultant in Emergency Med-icine and Deputy Chair for Clinical Affairs at HMC, warns residents of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and the particular danger of burning wood and charcoal indoors.

He said: “When charcoal burns, it releases carbon mon-oxide gas. This has no taste or smell but it can be lethal as it displaces oxygen in the blood and deprives the heart, brain and other organs of oxygen. Large amounts of this gas can make a person lose conscious-ness in minutes without

warning—causing suffocation and sometimes death.

Dr Jenkins added, “Mild carbon monoxide poisoning may feel like food poisoning or the flu, although unlike the flu, it doesn’t cause a high temper-ature (fever). Symptoms can include headache, fatigue, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea or vomiting. More severe cases of poisoning may cause muscle cramps and fainting and loss of consciousness due to the poor delivery of oxygen to the heart and the brain. The effects of carbon monoxide poisoning are particularly dangerous for chil-dren, pregnant women, people with chronic heart diseases, res-piratory problems or anemia.”

Dr Jenkins warned that res-idents should never light wood or charcoal fires inside or in enclosed spaces and only approved heating appliances should be used. If symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are suspected, occupants should immediately leave the building, call 999 or seek medical assistance.

SANAULLAH ATAULLAH

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: The Ministry of Municipality and Environment, represented by the General Cleanliness Department is conducting a massive campaign to create awareness among people about new Public Hygiene Law that will come into effect from Thursday.

“Inspectors armed with judicial power are ready to round-up the vio-lators of the Public Hygiene Law No. 18 of 2017 at all municipalities,” Safar Al Shafi, Director of General Cleanliness Department told The Peninsula.

He said that the violators will have to pay the fines at the municipality’s office where the violation has taken place, within stipulated time otherwise they will be taken to the police station for further legal action under the law.

“As per the mechanism of law enforcement, the inspectors will book the violation and issue a copy to the vio-lators to pay the fine,” said Al Shafi.

Speaking about the awareness cam-paign, Al Shafi said that the Ministry has launched a massive programme through media to educate all segments of the community including workers.

“Details about new law have been published in all local newspapers including Arabic, English and those pub-lishing in other languages of expatriate communities,” said Al Shafi.

He said that a local radio has also been involved to broadcast the aware-ness programme in various expatriate languages including Urdu, Hindi, Nepali and Bangladeshi in a bid to approach maximum number of people.

“To intensify the awareness cam-paign, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment is all set to place billboards and posters carrying picture messages at streets and roadsides across the country,” said Al Shafi.

He said that the designs of posters and billboards have been approved and it will be issued soon adding that the picture messages will help educate easily people about violations, regard-less their languages and qualifications.

“The Ministry is also preparing a small video carrying message about vio-lations that will be released on local TVs and social sites. Under the campaign, leaflets are also being prepared to dis-tribute at public places including shop-ping centres and public parks and other areas of public gathering,” said Al Shafi.

He said, workshops will be organ-ised at labour camps to educate workers about the law and inspectors will visit worksites to create awareness.

Speaking on the provisions of the law regarding the punishment, Al Shafi said that the new public hygiene Law stipulates severe punishments including hefty fines upto QR25,000 and jail sen-tences up to one year in case of serious violations.

The fines for some non-serious vio-lations that came under category of

reconciliation have been also increased in five times from QR100 to QR500 in a bid to curb violations and maintain hygiene at public places.

“The non-serious vio-lations like throwing cig-arette butts, papers, empty bottles, cans of cold drink at roads, public places and beaches and spitting on footpath, road or public places invites QR500 fine,” he said.

The law allows recon-ciliation in a total of 15 non-serious violations. Explaining serious viola-tion, Al Shafi said that a

non-serious violation can become serious, leading to further legal action by court where the provisions stipulate hefty fines and jail sentence.

Giving example, he said that throwing or leaving garbage at public park is considered non-serious viola-tion and it is reconcilable but if someone is caught throwing a heap of garbage would be subjected to stricter

legal procedure by court as there is no reconciliation in such cases. “The new public hygiene law No 18 of 2017 stipu-lates a fine of QR300 to QR6,000, according to the nature and seriousness of violation under the reconciliation pro-vision,” said Safar Al Shafi.

The reconcilable violations include throwing tissue papers, garbage, empty bottle or spiting on footpath, road or public places invites QR500 fines. Leaving waste, garbage bags, left-over foods or papers in front of houses, roads or public places levy QR300 fines.

A fine of QR500 is imposed on cleaning or hanging carpets on windows or balconies facing road or public places. Throwing waste of trees or gardens on roads or public places also invites QR500.

Releasing used water to public road levy QR300 fine. Throwing animal waste on unauthorised places attracts a fine of QR500.

Occupying fields, road, streets, thor-oughfare, streets, sidewalk , passageway, public yards, public parking with aban-doned vehicles, old equipment or part of it, also invites fine of QR1,000.

Throwing or leaving waste, garbage

bag, empty bottle in front of commer-cial shops or out of garbage containers placed for this purpose attracts QR500 fine. Throwing or leaving food waste in public places or beaches, public places or open land attracts fine of QR500.

Not covering the load on vehicles properly that may fall or leak anything from there, invites fine QR2,000. Releasing drainage water from suction hole, manhole or delivery pipe not fixed properly is caused fine QR1,000.

Washing cars, machines or other transport vehicles at unauthorised places invites fine QR300. Leaking any substance from vehicles while running on public road is caused QR3,000 fine.

Leaving, dumping or getting rid con-struction and demolition waste, solid waste from excavation at unauthorised places invite fine of QR6,000. Releasing drainage water at unauthorised places attracts fine of QR5,000.

Al Shafi said that the punishments in non-reconcilable cases include four types depending on the nature of vio-lation according to the Article No. 15 of the Law. A jail term of up to 1 year and penalty fines which shall not exceed twenty five thousand (QR25,000) or one

of these penalties, a term of up to six months’ imprison-ment and penalty fines which shall not exceed ten thousand (QR10,000) or one of these penalties.

“The law also includes penalty fines which shall not exceed twenty five t h o u s a n d (QR25,000), penalty fines which shall not exceed ten thousand (QR10,000),” said Al Shafi.

Public Hygiene Law: Awareness drive in full swing

Burning charcoal & wood indoors can lead to brain damage and death, warns HMC

Safar Al Shafi

The violators will have to pay the fines at the municipality’s office where the violation has taken place, within stipulated time otherwise they will be taken to the police station for further legal action under the law.

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Two BMW cars and QR500,000 worth of cash prizes were given away to 15 winners during the third weekly draw of Shop Qatar 2018 held at Tawar Mall on Thursday.

Winners of the QR10,000 cash prizes in the second week’s raffle draw are Saed Luseif (114832), Jathro Lanco (198654), Ismail Parambaih (125520) and Ahmad Zyada (030872). Win-ners of QR20,000 and QR30,000 are Krishna Bahadur (124915) and Bilal Saade (152682) respectively, while Ivory Abra-tigue (149253), Joan Valenano (058986), Khalil Ummer (119449) and Saed Luseif (034477) each won the QR40,000. The QR50,000 cash prize went to Sathuo Vallanchira (247489), and both Abdurrob Mollakutimia (127519) and Pra-deep Suvarna (149269) won QR100,000.

The BMW 520i prize went to Noura Al Sulaite (082605) and the winner of the grand prize, a BMW 730 Li, was JCJ (110049).

Visitors and residents still have a chance to win by shop-ping or dining at any of the par-ticipating malls. The final draw will be held at the festival’s

closing ceremony on February 8 at Doha Festival City’s Center Court which will feature a spe-cial open performance by Leb-anese singer, Ramy Ayach.

The third week of Shop Qatar, which ran from January 21 to 27, took Qatar’s residents and visi-tors on a tour around the world through unique fashion-forward events and activities at malls that sampled the arts and crafts from countries as far as Russia, the USA, Malaysia and Morocco.

The week kicked off with a three-day certified fashion course by Spain’s Alejandro Resta where 23 students learned the ins and outs of fashion design. Together they explored creating unique shapes and sil-houettes, and how to develop ideas from the first sketch to the final piece.

Later in the week, the festi-val’s third and final fashion show brought an international line-up of fashion creations from as far off as Mexico in the West to the Philippines in the East. In a true celebration of international fashion, 12 designers from eight different countries shared the runway to showcase their Spring/ Summer 2018 collections. The designers included Kuwait’s Thaher Baqir

and Lebanon’s Fouad Sarkis and the jewel in the show’s crown was a guest appearance by Paki-stani superstar Imran Abbas in an Alejandro Resta creation. The display of over 120 looks included menswear, bridal, pret-a-porter and couture designs.

On Thursday, American award-winning EDM pop duo The Chainsmokers performed their biggest hits at Doha Exhi-bition and Convention Center at a concert organised by The Social Studio and was part of their 2018 tour.

On Saturday, one of Holly-wood celebrities’ favourite make-up artists, Joyce Bonelli came to Doha for the first time to share her tips and tricks in beauty and makeup with the ladies at a make-up class in the Ritz-Carlton. The LA-based makeup artist and mogul is most known as the mastermind behind every Kardashian’s sig-nature cat eye and high-gloss cheekbone for over a decade.

In addition, malls partici-pating in Shop Qatar also hosted a variety of international hand-icraft activities inviting mall-goers to create their own Malay-sian kites, Russian embroidery and much more.

The festival’s third and final fashion show brought an international line-up of fashion creations.

Shop Qatar: 15 winners receive two BMW cars, QR500,000 cash prizes

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Ooredoo announced yesterday that all existing and new Ooredoo Passport, Ooredoo Passport Card and Ooredoo Monthly Passport subscribers will now enjoy bonus roaming data in three new countries.

To cater for the growing demand of Ooredoo customers flying to Turkey, the UK and USA, all Ooredoo Passport and Ooredoo Passport Card sub-scribers will now enjoy 1 GB of extra data, a bonus previously only available for travellers in the GCC.

The new data promotion, which will be avail-able until April 25, 2018, will see Ooredoo Pass-port and Ooredoo Passport Card users enjoy the usual 100 roaming minutes and 1 GB of data, plus

1 GB of extra roaming data, valid for seven days for just QR100.

Ooredoo Monthly Passport subscribers will also be rewarded with extra roaming data in Turkey, the UK, USA, and GCC and can enjoy 300 roaming minutes and 4 GB of roaming mobile data, plus 4 GB extra roaming data, valid for 30 days for QR350.

The new promotion has been designed to reward travellers for using the Ooredoo Passport and to ensure customers can stay in touch with loved ones whilst away. The Ooredoo Passport is available in more than 80 countries and cus-tomers can use their roaming allowance within Ooredoo’s Passport network of more than 190 roaming partners.

Ooredoo rewards travellers with more data

04 MONDAY 29 JANUARY 2018HOME

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) has successfully concluded a series of workshops to prepare Qatar’s team of kite flyers as they gear up to take part in the 2nd Aspire International Kite Festival for the first time.

This unique sporting spec-tacle, now in its second year, takes place from March 6 to 9 at Aspire Park.The two-day work-shops and training sessions were delivered by the international kite flying expert Gadis Widiyati Riyadi, Secretary of the Interna-tional ASEAN Kite Council and the Singapore Kite Association.

Commenting on the current preparations for the launch in March, Kholoud Al Hail, Chair-person of the Event’s Organising Committee said: “Our prepara-tions are intensifying. This is nec-essary because the second edition of the Kite Festival will see double the number of international teams and local schools take part. The success of last year’s event means we have ten teams returning to Doha this year.”

“Participants of the previous edition highlighted that the uniqueness of our International Kite Festival is that it offers morning and evening sessions allowing additional time for kite

flying along with inter-school competitions. The event also attracts huge numbers of fami-lies and children of all national-ities in Qatar. All these elements combined and the diversity of the audience and participants makes Aspire Kite Festival a unique event”, Al-Hail said.

“As soon as we had wrapped up the first edition, we approached the Ministry of Edu-cation and Higher Education to invite all schools to partake in the 2018 festival. We organised workshops for the children and also for teachers so that they could get their students excited about kite flying. We also focused on art teachers who can inspire their young students to express their creative side. And we have increased the numbers of compe-tition prizes this year to encourage as many students as possible to take part in kite flying activities that combine artistic and sporting elements,” she added.

“We want to leave a lasting legacy for future generations.

This event is an open invitation for everyone to turn off their electronic devices and enjoy the great outdoors and a lively atmosphere. Visitors to Aspire Park can also enjoy the country’s first kinetic wind decoration. Qatar is now the fourth country to host this beautiful spectacle after the USA, Russia and China. It represents ‘the colors of the world’ and embraces the maroon and white flag of Qatar”, she concluded.

The team representing Qatar includes a combination of tal-ented locals and residents. In the coming days they will select six members to comprise the core team that will represent Qatar during the second Aspire Inter-national Kite Festival and poten-tially represent the country in other international kite festivals overseas.

The two-day workshop which held over the weekend combined theory and practical aspects related to kite flying. The sessions covered the history of kites and how they have influ-enced technological develop-ments, the early uses of kites in Asia and Europe, how these have grown to encompass applica-tions ranging from studying the weather, lifting antenna for radio links and pulling canoes across

the English Channel, and how they have paved the way for modern-day drones.

Prior to the start of the prac-tical training sessions, the trainer explained to the participants the different types of kites that are available and the role of aero-dynamics and physics in their design and structure. She also explained how the usage of modern materials and tools has changed the face of this recrea-tional sport.

Qatar’s team captain Saud Al Muhannadi revealed that the team’s preparations for the tour-nament began last year and grew

out of a strong desire to partici-pate in the groundswell of interest and enthusiasm for kite flying in Qatar that followed the success of the first festival. He said: “We invite all young people and residents who are interested in joining the team to come for-ward. The door is open to help us build a strong team with the necessary abilities, skills and commitment to work together and have fun.”

Another participant, Amr Muhammad said: “Participating in these workshops has been an ideal opportunity for people to develop their artistic skills. I’ve

signed up because I really wanted to experience something different and special. I expect the festival to be like a theatre in the sky, and one which offers unlim-ited creative opportunities to people.”

The Aspire International Kite Festival has become a milestone success in Aspire Zone’s annual events calendar. It reflects the organisation’s capabilities and expertise in delivering a unique combination of sports and enter-tainment by attracting more than 40,000 visitors last year who enjoyed the outdoor atmosphere at Aspire Park.

AZF concludes workshops for International Kite Festival

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: One lucky winner in Qatar received an Audi A3 along with other gifts and blessings this festive season. MD Omar Faruk Md Rofikulislam, a Qatar resident originally from Bang-ladesh was overjoyed to be the grand prize winner of an Audi car in Joyalukkas’ recently concluded Shop & Win Promo-tion.

Twenty Five other winners went home with sparkling 8-gram coins each.

Audi A3 was presented to the winner MD Omar Faruk Rofikulislam by Jestin Anto Regional Manager Qatar, in the presence of Joyalukkas officials and various customers.

“I was very surprised to get the call that I won,” says Audi A3 winner Omar Faruk Rofikulislam “I bought jewellery to gift to my loved ones this fes-tive season and received this grand gift from Joyalukkas. I am beyond happy about this. Thank you very much!”

The Joyalukkas Shop & Win

promotion ended on January 13, 2017, with 25 winners of 8-gram gold coins.

“Year after year we try to give back to our customers with relevant offerings and promo-tions,” says Joy Alukkas, Chairman and MD Joyalukkas Group.

“It is simply heartwarming to see such a welcoming response to this year’s Shop & Win, and we hope they continue to support us for more givea-ways in the very near future,” he added.

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: The International Chamber of Commerce and Thomson Reuters will organise the a work-shop on VAT Compliance titled ‘The Impact of VAT Compliance on Businesses in Qatar by Pierre Arman’. The workshop will take place on February 7 at the Qatar Chamber of Commerce Conference Hall.

The workshop, which will begin at 10:00am and end at 12:00pm, will highlight the impact of VAT and how businesses can prepare. During the course of the session, the case for technology in relation to ongoing management will be highlighted further, along with sharing where we are now and projected to go once VAT is implemented in Qatar.

Ascertaining the impact VAT will have on a business and the changes required is an essential step in any VAT implementation process. Once understood, an effective VAT compliance and management plan can be developed and put into action. Given that VAT will be implemented soon, this session is timely as our members

continue to be at the forefront of this key fiscal reform.

This workshop is planned to take place in Doha three to four times this year in order to help create awareness and encourage people to know about the impact of VAT on businesses here in Qatar. The workshop is supported by Qatar Chamber.

“We are very pleased with this partnership with Qatar Chamber to raise more awareness about the challenges and impact of VAT on busi-nesses in Qatar. Our research suggests that while there is awareness that VAT will have a broad impact, only 11 percent of respondents understand the impact that VAT implementation will have on their business,” said Ahmed Hafez, Country Man-ager for Qatar at Thomson Reuters.

“As we strive, at Thomson Reuters, to provide professionals with the intelligence, technology and human expertise to find trusted answers, it is essential to have the accurate data, insights and trusted information in order to build the knowl-edge needed to make the right decisions, hence this session we are organising in partnership with Qatar Chamber”, he added.

Bangladesh expat wins Audi in Joyalukkas Shop & Win promotion

The winners with their prizes.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1For 5G technology of mobile

telecommunications services, CRA has identified the frequency bands 700 MHz, 3.5 GHz and 26 GHz, as each service provider will be assigned a frequency band-width in the mentioned frequency bands, in accordance with the approved preliminary plans, this will allow the service providers to start with the preliminary testing on pre-standard network, towards the standard networks that will provide 5G commercial services to the consumers.

“We are delighted that CRA is one of the first regulatory bodies regionally and interna-tionally to announce the readi-ness of 5G frequency plans. This announcement will see a great work by Qatar’s telecom service providers to start the formal testing of pre-standard

networks for 5G technology this year, and to deploy standard commercial networks late 2018 and early 2019,” said Mohammed Ali Al Mannai, Pres-ident of CRA.

“5G mobile telecommunica-tions technology services will benefit both, consumers and the service providers alike. It will also help to enhance Qatar’s tel-ecommunications market and sector. CRA will also continue to support the ITU Study Groups and other international organ-izations concerned with the reg-ulations and standards of inter-national mobile services, by participating and contributing in these working groups and by adopting the standards of Inter-national Mobile Telecommuni-cations “IMT-2020” by ITU,” he added. With 5G technology a massive global shift in mobile

telecommunications standards will happen, compared to the 4G technology that is currently used, with 5G technology, the peak internet connection speed will reach 1 Gbps. The goal of plan-ning in the 5G networks is to create a higher communication capacity compared to the current 4G net-works, which will allow for an increase in the number of mobile broadband users at the same time and using higher amount of unlim-ited data, also users will be able through their mobile phones to use high-quality streamed media for long periods every day.

The aim of research and devel-opment in the 5G networks is to provide better support for Machine-to-machine and Internet of Things (IoT) applications, at a lower cost and higher responsiveness time when compared to devices run-ning on 4G networks.

ICC Qatar, Thomson Reuters to organise workshop on VAT

Preliminary frequency plans for 5G ready

The second Aspire International Kite Festival will take place from March 6 to 9 at Aspire Park.

The participants at the workshop.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1From the United States, it

will be attended by the Secre-tary of State, Secretary of Defence, Secretary of Treasury and Secretary of Commerce along with officials of their respective departments and other representatives.

The dialogue will witness the signing of a number of agreements, MoUs and letters of intent, including an energy memorandum of under-standing, a memorandum of understanding between Qatar Ports Management Company and the US side, and a letter of intent between the US Depart-ment of Energy and the Min-istry of Transport and Commu-nications in the field of cybersecurity for the vital energy infrastructure.

All the signed agreements will be announced after the completion of the dialogue.

US State Department Spokeswoman Heather Nauert stressed at a press conference last Thursday that Doha is a strategic partner for Wash-ington, pointing out that the dia-logue aims to strengthen coop-eration between Qatar and the United States in many fields.

Nauert added that Wash-ington is looking forward to dis-cussing cooperation between

the two countries in fields like trade, investment, defence, security, law, counter-terrorism and aviation regulation.

When the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani vis-ited Washington on September 19, 2017, he met with US Presi-dent Donald Trump where they discussed regional and interna-tional issues, including the Gulf crisis and the efforts exerted to resolve it through dialogue and diplomacy.

During this meeting, the Emir affirmed that Qatar is the first country to sign the anti-ter-rorism agreement with the US and that there are many agree-ments between the two coun-tries in the field of trade as well as in military and security cooperation.

In the military field, Qatari-US signed in June 2017, a mili-tary agreement to purchase F-15 fighter jets at an initial cost amounting to $12 billion. This agreement will create 60,000 jobs in 24 US states, and it reaf-firms Qatar’s long-term com-mitment to enhance strategic cooperation in the fight against extreme violence and to pro-mote security and stability in the Arab region and the world.

Among other most impor-tant agreements between the two countries were MoU on

combating terrorism financing and Qatar was the first country to sign an agreement with the US on combating the financing of terrorism.

On the economic side, the US Chamber of Commerce established the first foreign trade chamber in Qatar in 2010, where trade between Qatar and the US reached about $6bn in 2016. The US is the sixth largest trading partner of Qatar, major US exports to Qatar are aircraft, vehicles, electrical machinery, and medical equipment, while US imports from Qatar are fuels and fertilizers.

Qatar’s investments are diversified and included tech-nology, media, entertainment, energy, real estate and others. Qatar Investment Authority aims to increase investment in the US by investing $35bn in the US market over the next five years, creating thousands of US jobs.

In the field of education and culture, Qatar and US have established a link between them as six US universities have established branches in Educa-tion City in Doha. There are also student exchange programs between the US and Qatar, and dozens of Qatari students, including scholarship students, are studying in the US.

Qatar-US strategic talks to bolster ties

05MONDAY 29 JANUARY 2018 HOME

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Indonesian Deputy Speaker of the House of Repre-sentative, Dr Fadli Zon and his accompanying delegation met the Indonesian community in Qatar at a gathering at the Ambassador’s Residence recently.

Indonesian Ambassador to Qatar, Air Marshal (Retd) Muhammad Basri Sidehabi, wel-comed the Deputy Speaker and praised community members for their excellent contributions in bilateral relation between the two countries, said a statement.

The community comprised of Indonesian expatriates working in various sectors such as banking, trade, services, tel-ecommunication, oil and gas industry and other sector. The community is under the aegis of Indonesian Community in Doha (PERMIQA) led by Edwin Kurniawan.

In his speech, Fadli Zon praised Indonesian community in Qatar for their important role in supporting the mission of the government to promote good relations between Indonesia and Qatar particularly in economic and socio-cultural activities. He

also urged the community to revive their local traditions as well as to respect the law and traditions of the host country to further strengthening the friendly cooperation between Qatar and Indonesia as well as keep unity and integrity among Indonesians in Qatar.

He was delighted that the

bilateral relations continue to flourish and develop in future particularly after the visit of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Indonesia on October 2017. According to Ambassador Basri, the gathering was also aimed to provide a knowledge for the community of the current situation including the update of

socio-economic and political development in Indonesia. According to Indonesian Embas-sy’s official, Boy Dharmawan, the visit of Deputy Speaker and his accompanying delegation to Qatar was on the invitation of the Speaker of the Advisory Council H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud.

Indonesian community urged to back friendly ties with Qatar

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: The Qatar Foundation For Rehabilitation Of Special Needs (QSRSN) organised a training course under the title “Art and skill in learning sign language”.

The course was presented by a number of experts and specialists. The course dealt with basic skills in sign language through direct training, practical explanation, simulation of the deaf and dialogue with trainers.

Amir Al Mulla, QSRSN Executive Director, said, “The course came within the training plans of the foun-dation, which aims to train persons with disabilities. Such courses pro-vide ways and means to communi-cate with people with disabilities. Al Mulla said QSRSN’s training plans comes within the framework of reha-bilitation of persons with disabilities. This course caters the families and caregivers to be able to mingle up and communicate positively.

QSRSN hones up language skills of disabled

FAZEENA SALEEM

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC)’s National Center for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR) is still treating patients from neigh-bouring countries, despite the ongoing unjust blockade imposed on Qatar.

Some of the cases are new but there are other patients who were undergoing treat-ment at NCCCR before the siege started, a senior official said.

“There are patients coming from the neighbouring states:

these are patients from Bah-rain, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. They come here because they have relatives, or hear about our services. Some of them started treatment before the blockade,” said Dr Mohammed Ussama Al Homsi, Senior Con-sultant Physician, Chairman of Medical Oncology and Hema-tology Department, NCCCR.

“Even during the blockade we are receiving patients from neighbouring countries; we are not closing the door for them, we are serving them in the best way.

Patients from the Gulf States are receiving treatment

same as the Qatari patients,” he added.

Further, the number of patients seeking treatment at the NCCCR has increased since 2004 due to several reasons including a jump in population.

According to available data, a total of 1400 new cancer cases were diagnosed in 2016 and 220 of them were Qataris. Also 1600 in-patients were admitted for treatment at the NCCCR in 2016, while 1430 patients received day-care services, 2400 visited the outpatient clinics, and 6615 have sought urgent care.

The most common type of cancer was breast cancer, con-stituting 30 percent of all malignant cancer cases, fol-lowed by colorectal across all nationalities and genders. Also lung cancer was the third most common in Qatar.

Dr Al Homsi said that the number of lung cancer cases are increasing as result of smoking, which is common in Qatar as well as other coun-tries. He also said that smoking contributes around 30 percent of deaths of all types of can-cers and 85% of patients diag-nosed with lung cancer are smokers.

Citizens of siege states still seek care at HMC

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: The Embassy of India organised five consular camps in Salwa, Mesaieed, Al Khor and Dukhan & Zikreet and Al Shamal areas and rendered 154 consular services to the Indian nationals this month.

An Embassy team visited the Central Prison and Depor-tation Centre last week to enquire about the welfare of detainees from India, said a release. The total number of Indian nationals in the Central Prison and the Deportation Centre currently is 168 and 137 respectively.

Since January, 2017, 13 Open Houses have been held, including the Open House held on 25 January, 2018. A total of 83 complaintswere received during these Open Houses. Out of these, 58complaints have been resolved, 25 are under active follow up of the Embassy.

The Embassy has issued 72 Emergency Certificates (ECs) in January, 2018 to Indian nationals for their repatriation to India. The Embassy also issued 16 air tickets to needy Indian nationals for their return to India in January, 2018.

The monthly Open House to address urgent consular and labour issues/cases of Indian nationals in Qatar was held at

the Embassy on 25 January, 2018. The grievances brought to the notice of the Embassy related to issues of delayed payment of wages and viola-tions of contract terms and conditions.

Ambassador Shri P. Kumaran, Third Secretary (Labour & Community Welfare) Dr. M. Aleem and other officials met all the complainants, dis-cussed their problems in detail and assured them of the Embassy’s active follow up of their cases with the concerned authorities in the Government of Qatar.

Devis Edakulathur, Presi-dent, Babu Rajan, Vice-Presi-dent and Mahesh Gowda, Gen-eral Secretary, Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF),the apex community association working under the aegis of the Embassy for the welfare of Indian workers, along with some other mem-bers of the ICBF Management Committee also participated in the Open House.

The ICBF supports efforts of the Embassy and helps Indian workers through various welfare measures, including supply of foodstuff, transport support, medical assistance and other minor assistances. During January, 2018, ICBF helped such 35 Indian nationals.

Indian Embassy renders 154 consular services this month

RAYNALD C RIVERA

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Up-and-coming Qatari designers are benefitting in a big way from the Young Qatari Designers (YQDs) initia-tive, which returns for the second year at the Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhi-bition (DJWE) next month.

This DJWE initiative under the patronage of Prime Minister and Inte-rior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani will set the stage for six local designers at the six-day show which will see more than 400 world renowned brands take part.

Sara Al Hammadi, one of the Qatari designers featured at YQD’s inaugural edition, said her participation last year provided her invaluable experience and insights.

“It was a great experience. We shared ideas and learned from one another. I also got to know more in depth what my clients like and gained a better

view of what the tastes of the local women are,” Sara told The Peninsula.

There was a great deal of knowledge sharing through the programme in terms of the technical aspect of jewellery-making as well as insights on the industry.

“The initiative helped by exchanging ideas in terms of jewellery-making such as what raw materials to use in a certain jewellery piece. They shared with me ideas on how to gain recognition in the industry and on top of that, we gained more access to the market,” she said.

After her successful participation at YQD, Sara will have her own booth at this year’s DJWE which she sees as an excellent opportunity to take the brand to another level.

“I find it a great opportunity; the society will get to know more about us in Qatar. It will be a great chance to meet the other new Qatari designers and dis-cover their unique ideas alongside. I will also get to know other new clients. I

believe this step will make us gain expe-rience for our company,” she explained.

Visitors to Sarah’s&Co’s booth can

expect a new line of very current and functional designs as well as collections with a hint of traditional Qatari cultural elements.

“This year, we are focusing on jew-ellery with a modern design and multi-purpose attributes such as a Necklace which can be worn in different styles, as a long chain and detachable into a brooch. We will have a variety of jewels on display including large diamond necklace sets, certified solitaires, along with natural pearls. Being of historical significance to Qatar, pearls will be one of the many highlights in our collection,” she said, giving a sneak peek on her new collection.

Sara has always had a penchant for jewellery, particularly bridal pieces, prior to taking a career on jewellery design. “There were times I’ve attended wed-dings in Qatar and I have watched women enter the ballroom with gor-geous gleaming jewellery. I’ve always seen bridal jewellery like one of

Picasso’s well known artworks; they always seem like a mixed up puzzle with shapes but at the same time they all somehow fit so smoothly together in one place,” she explained.

She added: “I’ve also always loved to draw repeating patterns throughout my life, and in such a way I have always found resemblance between patterns and jewellery designs and this in result brought out my interest in making bridal jewellery.”

The YQDs initiative this year will shine a spotlight on three new and three returning talented Qatari designers, by providing them with a unique platform to showcase their new collections along-side renowned international brands.

The designers include Nada Al Sulaiti (Hairaat); Nouf Al Meer (Nouf Jewellery) ; Ghada Al Buainain ; Leila Abu Issa (Leila Issam Fine Jewellery); Shikha Mohamed (Al Ghla Jewellery); and Jawaher and Hissa Mohammed Al Mannai (Ghand Jewellery).

Qatari designers to share & gain ideas at DJWE

A jewellery set created by Qatari designer Sara Al Hammadi.

Participants and officials during the training organised by Qatar Foundation For Rehabilitation Of Special Needs.

The Speaker of the Advisory Council H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud with Indonesian Deputy Speaker of the House of Representative, Dr Fadli Zon and his accompanying delegation and other Qatari officials, during a ceremony.

06 MONDAY 29 JANUARY 2018HOME

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Msheireb Museums, the new cultural destination located at Msheireb Downtown Doha, in partnership with Institut Français du Qatar, hosted the ‘Night of Ideas’ on Thursday under the theme: ‘Power to the Imagination: Doha 2022- Paris 2024.’

Launched by Institut Français last year, the ‘Night of Ideas’ is a global project staged simultaneously around the world where people gather to celebrate ideas. This year, Msheireb Museums brought together design leaders at Bin Jelmood House to join 41 other cities across five continents taking part in the global innova-

tion initiative. The event welcomed four

expert Arab and European pan-elists who discussed with the audience ‘the main challenges facing urban areas in Doha and Paris,’ ‘how major events can help shape cities,’ and ‘if public spaces can humanise cities’.

The panelists included Ibrahim Mohamed Jaidah, Group Chief Executive Officer, Chief Architect, Arab Engineering Bureau; Dr. Ali A. Alraouf, Pro-fessor of Architecture and Urbanism, Head of Research and Development at QNMP- Doha; Pierre Alain Trévelo, Architect (DPLG – National School of Architecture–Marne-la-Vallée) and urban designer (MDesS – Harvard GSD), founder with

Antoine Viger-Kohler of Paris based international architecture and urban design office TVK; and Stéphane Lecler, Deputy director of urban planning for the City of Paris.

Hafiz Ali, Director of Msheireb Museums, said: “We at Msheireb Museums are proud of hosting this global event in part-nership with Institut Français du Qatar. The ‘Night of Ideas’ helped

create a platform to discuss art and design issues and provide creative solutions.”

Olivier DESEEZ, Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural Affairs at the French Embassy, Director of the Institut Français du Qatar, said: “The goal of the Night of Ideas (‘La Nuit des idées’) is to celebrate the stream of ideas between countries, cul-tures, topics and generations.”

Experts speak on challenges in urban areas at ‘Night of Ideas’

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Methods for safe-guarding human subjects in biomedical research were discussed at the latest confer-ence in Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar’s (WCM-Q) Law and Medicine series.

Entitled ‘The Role of Data and Safety Monitoring Boards in Human Subject Research’, the conference brought physi-cians, researchers and health-care professionals together at WCM-Q to hear expert speakers from around the globe explaining the ethics and safe-guards used when conducting studies on humans.

The expert speakers included Susan Ellenberg, pro-fessor of biostatistics at the Uni-versity of Pennsylvania, who explained how statistical anal-ysis and data can be used to monitor and maximise safety of participants in clinical trials.

Zoe Doran, head of the clinical trials support group at Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit in Bangkok, dis-cussed the unique challenges posed when conducting multi-national clinical trials in many different countries at the same time. She also listed the expec-tations of data and safety mon-itoring boards (DSMB) that oversee these multinational trials.

Also speaking at the event were, Dr. Shahrad Taheri, pro-fessor of medicine and assistant dean for clinical investigations at WCM-Q, and Dr. Ziyad Mah-foud, WCM-Q’s associate pro-fessor of healthcare policy and research. The conference con-cluded with a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Sunanda Holmes, WCM-Q’s deputy chief administrative officer & asso-ciate university counsel, and assistant professor of health-care policy and research.

Call to safeguard human subjects during research

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Qatar Charity handed over 55 income-generating projects worth QR600,000 to the families of orphans in Indo-nesia, aiming to protect their dignity and provide them with a permanent source of liveli-hood.

These projects have been implemented, with the support of philanthropists in Qatar and they are part of QC’ Economic Empowerment Projects to trans-form poor people from needy groups to productive, giving pri-ority to families of orphans who lost their breadwinner to enjoy better living conditions.

Karam Zainham, Director of the QC Office in Indonesian, said: “Qatar Charity has conducted a survey in Aceh, where it

sponsors 1,000 orphans, to assess their needs and ability to manage projects that economi-cally empowers them, explaining that it has become clear through the study, that there are specific occupations and projects, which can be carried out by orphans and their families.

As a compliment, projects suiting their skills and abilities have been marketed to grab the attention of philanthropists and sponsors, pointing out that they have been funded by the grace of Allah.

He noted that 55 projects implemented by Qatar Charity in Indonesia are related to agri-cultural equipment, dairy cattle, livestock, sewing machines, cot-tage industries, flowerpots, homes decorating handicrafts, small shops, and motorcycle

refueling machines. These projects have had a

good impact on the lives of orphans and their families, making their dreams come true. In this regard, Nima Adham, a beneficiary of the flowerpot project, said “I was frequently talking to myself regarding this project, which I love and learned at a neighbouring small factory and now the dream came true and I have acquired this project”

“During this small period of time, not exceeding six months, I managed to manufacture more than 30 products, thanks to Allah and the generous sponsor who made this dream came true for me and my family” Adham added.

Khadija, whom Qatar Charity gave a motorcycle refu-eling machine, said “I was not

doing any work earlier and I did not have a specific occupation or profession, but when I saw a trader doing this job in a place away from my house, I talked to myself if I have such machine next to my home, then I can earn

enough to take care of my chil-dren. Thanks to Allah, good people knocked the door and made my dream came true”.

Mariani Jaafar mentioned that her family used to take agri-cultural types of machinery on

lease from others, but today, thanks to Allah, we have one of them, noting that she will use it in the harvest of the land we own and we rent it out to others well as and there will be a smile rent for all, she added smiling.

QC projects worth QR0.6m for orphans’ families in Indonesia

Families of orphans in Indonesia waiting to receive Qatar Charity’s aid.

Experts and participants pose at the conference in Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar’s Law and Medicine series.

IRFAN BUKHARI

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: The illegal blockade on Qatar is not only violating right to education of hundreds of students but also damaging the promotion of science and research in the region.

Times Higher Education (THE), London-based publica-tion which extensively covers news and issues related to higher education, has published a latest article titled “The blockade on Qatar will damage science across the region” to highlight the negative impact of siege on promotion of science in the region.

“During the years prior to the blockade, proactive steps were taken by the scientific communities in Gulf countries to promote exchange and col-laboration in both higher edu-cation and research. For instance, the Qatar Foundation

invested in a series of initiatives to promote entrepreneurship and technical innovation, and to make Qatar a destination for scientists, entrepreneurs and investors from around the region,” writes Hilal A. Lashuel.

Hilal A. Lashuel is associate professor of neuroscience at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.

He writes that for the past n i n e y e a r s , t h e

Qatar Foundation has funded the popular “edutainment reality” Stars of Science televi-sion show, aired across the Arab world. “This is a competition among young science and tech-nology entrepreneurs for signif-icant seed funding to help them commercialise their innova-tions. The winners have mostly come from outside Qatar – including all those countries leading the blockade ... More recently, the foundation launched the Arab Innovation Academy, in partnership with the European Innovation Academy.”

According to statistics released by QNHRC in Sep-tember 207, a total of 919 stu-dents at different levels of edu-cation were forced to discontinue their studies because of the crisis and meas-ures taken by the siege countries.

National Human Rights

Committee (NHRC) Chairman Dr. Ali bin Sumaikh Al Marri has recently stated that the com-mittee has so far received 3993 complaints of human rights vio-lations committed by the siege countries.

Al Marri has frequently asked the blockading countries to separate political differences from humanitarian issues and people’s rights to education, travel, doing business, per-forming religious rites and meeting relatives must not be violated.

“We, as scientists from the region, were thrilled to see such initiatives, and were hopeful that they would pave the way for more strategic regional coor-dination and collaboration in science and research and devel-opment. The current crisis, if not resolved quickly, could under-mine these efforts,” Lashuel says.

In November last year,

Qatar’s Minister of Education and Higher Education H E Dr Mohammed Abdul Wahed Ali Al Hammadi during a speech in the 39th conference of Unesco had said that the siege countries had violated all human rights prin-ciples and values including the right to education with the measures it took against Qatar.

Some of those measures were not allowing Qatari stu-dents continue their academic years, and not providing Qatari graduates any proof of their studies in those countries.

Qatar National Human Rights Committee (QNHRC) has also repeatedly asked the blockade countries to respect international laws guaranteeing rights of students.

Hilal A. Lashuel further writes in the article: “There are no winners in the current con-flict between Qatar and some of its closest Arab neighbours – but science, scientists and the

region’s youth are certainly big losers.

”He says that since the deci-sion last June by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bah-rain and Egypt to sever all ties with Qatar, scientists from those countries have been discour-aged from collaborating with those from Qatar, or from pub-lishing papers with them – even if the collaborative work is complete.

“The current travel ban is not only denying such opportu-nities to scientists from the Gulf region but also making confer-ences in these countries less attractive beyond the region, as most renowned international speakers and institutions use such events to learn about the state of higher education and research in the entire region, and to explore the possibilities for new collaborations and stra-tegic partnerships,” Lashuel points out.

Siege hampers promotion of science in GulfTimes Higher Education has published a latest article titled “The blockade on Qatar will damage science across the region” to highlight the negative impact of siege on promotion of science in the region.

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Prominent hypermarket group in Doha Safari’s popular promotion Biryani & Kebab Fest in the bakery & hot food section and Meat Festival in the butchery section has begun yesterday.

In the fest, customers can experience the wide varieties of biryanis & kebab which is soothing to the taste buds. More than 50 varieties of biryani including Lucknow Gosht Biri-yani, Kashmeeri Vegetable Biri-yani, Mussels Biriyani, Prawns Biryani, Hara Machi Biryani, Egg. Biryani, Harkmas (Beef) Biryani, Malabar Chicken Briyani, Mat-tanjery Chicken Biriyani , Kayik-ka’s Beef Biriyani , Thalassery

Mutton Biriyani , and about 40 different varieties of Kebab including Filly Kebab , Lala Grilled Tikka , Coco Coriander Chicken Kebab , Rangoli Sheek Kebab ,Tandoori Fish Kebab , Beef Sheek Kebab, Grilled Lamb Chops, Kali Mirchi Kebab, Camel Seekh Kebab prepared under the supervision of the best chefs available. Come and experience the delicious dishes offered in the festival at the best price possible.

Safari’s habitual customer friendly offers are being resorted once again in the meet festival were the customers can avail meat at the lowest prices. Many Varieties of meat from across the globe including New Zealand

Topside, Pakistan Mutton, and Arabian Lamb are available in the butchery section. The major highlights of the festival are the availability of Indian Mutton at QR.28 per kg and Indian Buffalo at QR.20 for 1kg. This offer is available in all Safari outlets across Doha.

Safari has always presented great Offers, Promotions and

Lucky raffle draws for the cus-tomers. Now, Safari’s Mega pro-motion Win 10 Nissan Patrol Car promotion is running where the customers can win 2 Patrol Cars in each draw. Customers can participate in the Lucky draw by using the coupons, which can be obtained on purchasing any product worth of or above 50 Riyals.

Biryani, Kebab & Meat festival begins at Safari

Experts and panellists during the conference.

07MONDAY 29 JANUARY 2018 MIDDLE EAST

Eking out a living

Yemen govt warns of coup as rebels take over HQAFP

ADEN: Yemen’s government accused southern separatists of an attempted coup yesterday after they took over its head-quarters amid fierce clashes in the city of Aden.

The fighting, which killed at least 15 people, threw war-torn Yemen into further chaos and threatened to undermine Presi-dent Abedrabu Mansour Hadi, who ordered his forces to stand down.

Security sources and resi-dents said clashes appeared to have spread to most of the city, with reports of running gun battles.

The southern separatists —who want the return of an inde-pendent state that ended with Yemen’s unification in 1990 —backed Hadi’s government against the Houthis but tensions between the two sides had been on the rise.

“A coup is ongoing here in Aden against legitimacy and the country’s unity,” Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher said in a statement.

Shortly afterwards, it was reported loyalist commanders had received orders from the president to put down their

weapons. “After talks with the Arab coalition... you must order all military units to cease fire immediately,” a government statement said.

Yesterday afternoon, coali-tion planes were seen flying over the city. Security sources said that pro-separatist units trained and backed by the United Arab Emirates had taken over the gov-ernment headquarters in Aden after clashes.

The 15 people killed included three civilians, hospital sources said. Dozens more were wounded.

The fighting erupted after separatist protestors were pre-vented from entering the city for a rally to demand the govern-ment’s ouster in Aden,

established as its interim base after the Iran-backed Houthis seized control of the capital Sana’a in 2014.

The coalition, which launched its intervention against the rebels in March 2015, had urged restraint ahead of the planned protest.

It called on all sides to “adhere to the language of calm dialogue”, according to a state-ment cited late Saturday by Saudi state news agency SPA.

Universities, schools and the only international airport in the city had all been closed, according to witnesses.

The UN children’s agency Unicef said on Twitter it was “very concerned about the situ-ation in Aden.”

Dagher said that events in Aden were headed towards “total military confrontation” and urged members of the coalition, in particular the United Arab Emirates, to take action.

The premier also warned that separating south Yemen from the rest of the country would benefit Iran and the Houthis.

“Iran is trying to consolidate its presence in Yemen through the Houthis and by splitting Yemen, we are giving

them one-third of the land and three-quarters of the popula-tion,” Dagher said.

Yesterday’s rally was called by the Southern Transitional Council, an autonomous body aimed at overseeing self-governance among southern provinces.

The 26-member council, which is not recognised by Hadi’s government, includes the gov-ernors of five southern provinces and two cabinet ministers.

Former Aden governor Aid-arous al-Zoubeidi formed the council in May after Hadi fired

him the previous month.The council had asked Hadi

to make changes in the govern-ment and gave him one week to do so—a deadline that expired yesterday. It had warned that if Hadi did not accept the demand, its supporters would begin a pro-test campaign to oust Dagher’s government.

The separatists have long campaigned for the secession of southern Yemen.

South Yemen was an inde-pendent state — with former British colony Aden as its capital

— from its formation in 1967 until 1990, when it was unified with North Yemen under northern leader Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Four years later, it launched a separatist rebellion that culmi-nated in its occupation by northern forces.

The Houthis seized Sana’a in September 2014 with the help of Saleh and army units loyal to him.

In March 2015, the rebels advanced on Aden, where Hadi took refuge after escaping house arrest in the capital.

Pro-government Popular Resistance fighters ride a motorcycle during clashes between Houthi fighters and government forces in Taiz, Yemen, yesterday.

Gazan with multiple sclerosis pleads for help

AGENCIES

GAZA CITY: Graduating from Ankara University in Turkey, Palestinian Mohamed Abdu-latif had high hopes of leading an honourable life for his family.

His dream, however, has turned into a nightmare when he contracted Multiple Scle-rosis disease.

“Multiple Sclerosis (MS) took a firm grip on my life. There is no cure and it spreads in my body day by day,” Abdulatif said yesterday.

“In the beginning, it was just tingling in my fingers but now my whole body is in agony,” he said.

Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable, often disabling disease that affects the brain and central nervous system — disrupting the flow of informa-tion from the brain to the body and often limits mobility.

Symptoms include tin-gling, numbness, blindness and paralysis.

Abdulatif, from the Gaza Strip, said he was in raptures when he graduated from Food Engineering Depart-ment of Ankara University and started to work in a fac-tory in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

“After I started my job, I contracted the disease, which has turned my life upside-down,” he recalled.”Medicines only ease my pains and pre-vent the disease from spreading,” he said.

Abdulatif, who is now unemployed, said his wife also suffers from spinal cord inflammation, adding that their economic conditions prevent them from pursuing sophisticated drugs devel-oped in Europe or the US.

“I barely make ends meet with the 200 dollars I get from the Social Affairs Ministry in Gaza every three months,” he said.”I could do Turkish trans-lation, but there is no such job available in Gaza.”

“I just want to provide for my family and lead an hon-orable life,” Abdulatif said.

Turkey intensifies campaign against Kurdish militiaAFP

HASSA: Turkey yesterday stepped up its offensive against Kurdish militia in Syria on ninth day, in a campaign that has strained relations with the United States.

After several days of poor vis-ibility because of heavy rain and fog, Turkish warplanes and artil-lery took advantage of the clear skies and pounded the hill of Bar-saya near the Kurdish town of Afrin in northwestern Syria, offi-cial news agency Anadolu said.

Turkey launched operation “Olive Branch” on January 20 against the Syrian Kurdish Peo-ple’s Protection Units (YPG) in Afrin, supporting Syrian oppo-sition fighters with ground troops and air strikes.

While Turkey brands the YPG a “terror” group, the militia has received support from the US, its fighters spearheading the battle against the Islamic State group across swathes of Syria.

Despite souring relations with Nato ally Washington, Pres-ident Recep Tayyip Erdogan has

threatened to expand the offen-sive against the YPG to Manbij, east of Afrin.

And in a sign the Turkish campaign has rendered pros-pects for peace in Syria even fainter, authorities in the war-torn country’s Kurdish autono-mous region said they will not attend peace talks in Russia’s Sochi.

“We said before that if the situation remained the same in Afrin we could not attend Sochi,” regional official Fawza Al Yussef said.

Rebel backer Turkey is one of the sponsors of the talks in the Black Sea resort on Monday and Tuesday, along with Damascus allies Russia and Iran.

Turkey’s air and artillery strikes on Sunday were even fiercer than previous days, said a reporter on the Syrian-Turkish border.

Turkish channel NTV broad-cast live footage Sunday showing rocket fire targeting Barsaya hill, located to the north of Afrin, near the strategic border town of Azaz.

“I spoke earlier with a

commander who said: ‘With God’s help, we will take over Barsaya very soon,’” Erdogan said in a speech in Corum in northern Turkey.

Turkish troops and their Syrian opposition allies said Monday they had captured the hill, before losing it again a few hours later.

Sunday’s battles “are very fierce on Barsaya... which is stra-tegic because it overlooks Azaz on the Syrian side and Kilis on the Turkish side”, Syrian Observ-atory for Human Rights director Rami Abdel Rahman said.

A displaced Iraqi woman weaves beads at a school in the northern city of Samarra yesterday. In a small classroom that has been turned into a workshop women work away busily to make some vital income for their loved ones.

‘Time has come’ for S.Sudan sanctions, says AU chiefAFP

ADDIS ABABA: African Union chief Moussa Faki said yesterday that “the time has come” to slap sanctions on those blocking peace in South Sudan, one of the most intrac-table wars facing African leaders as they meet in Ethi-opia.

At the opening of the 30th annual African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Faki deplored the “unbelievable cruelty” and “senseless violence” of warring parties in South Sudan, which has been torn apart by conflict since December 2013, just two years after gaining independence.

Tens of thousands have died and nearly four million South Sudanese have been driven from their homes, while millions are going hungry in a humanitarian crisis expected to worsen as the lean season sets in.

Efforts to revitalise a 2015 peace agreement resulted in a ceasefire in December which lasted just hours before warring parties accused each other of breaking the truce.

“The time has come to sanction those who are blocking peace,” said Faki.

The United States, biggest aid donor to the country, again called for an arms embargo last week in front of the UN Security Council.

Northern Iran gets massive snow dumpAFP

TEHRAN: After months of waiting for the snow to arrive, Tehranis were hit by massive snowfall overnight yesterday that shut airports and schools but delighted the ski commu-nity.

The capital’s Imam Kho-meini International and Mehrabad airports were shut due to poor visibility “until fur-ther notice”, state television said.

Some 20 provinces in the west and north of Iran were affected by the snowfall that began on Thursday and peaked on Saturday night, with some mountainous areas receiving as much 1.3 metres (more than four feet) of snow according to official news agency IRNA.

With many schools closed and offices delaying their opening times, Tehrani fami-lies made the most of the blizzard.

“This past year we have had very bad news and this is the first good news we have had, and we are happy,” Hadi, a transporta-tion worker who had taken the day off to make snowmen with his children, said.

Iran’s skiiers, who have been denied much action in recent months due to an uncommonly warm winter, were also pleased.

“It’s incredible.

There’s been a metre of powder today, and it’s still snowing.

My car is buried up to its side mirror,” said a Western diplomat, waiting for the lifts to open at Dizin ski resort, an hour north of the capital.

Iran’s drivers were having less fun, with thousands blocked on motorways out of the capital.

Mohammad Ali Abtahi, who served as cabinet chief under ex-president Mohammad Khatami, posted a message on social media showing his car stuck on the motorway to the religious centre of Qom, around 150km south of the capital.

“It’s been nine hours that we are stuck out here with hun-dreds of other cars.

We haven’t budged one metre,” he wrote.

Hundreds of Red Crescent teams were mobilised to bring help to the stranded motorists, with many having run out of petrol after hours of keeping their cars heated.

A Red Crescent spokesman told the official IRNA news agency that 6,600 people had been put up in emergency accommodation.

The state gas company said it was bracing for a major surge in demand as temperatures were set to drop to minus-20 Celsius (minus-4 Fahrenheit) in certain northern regions.

The fighting, which killed at least 15 people, threw war-torn Yemen into further chaos and threatened to undermine President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, who ordered his forces to stand down.

“WHEN people are forgotten the world becomes fractured,” President Donald

Trump observed to the Davos forum in his breathlessly-awaited speech Friday. That he himself was the fracturer-in-chief must have entered the minds of more than a few in the crowded hall.

Many expected the speech to be a clash of civilisations: that of America First, the pursuit of national advantage, the raising of the barriers both to trade and to immigration – and that of cooperation, a lowering of borders and barriers, a privileging of free trade and – at least until recently – free movement of labor. Along with that, there was a zany, unpredictable often deeply unpleasant governing style, based heavily on tweets, and a hatred of news media – which in a post-speech Q&A he could not refrain from branding as “nasty, vicious…and fake.” (He got a few hisses and boos for that.)

But the speech was crafted for a kind of virtual togetherness, a merging of “America first” with everybody else as partners. America was certainly first, and Trump said he had put it there: the stock market had added $7 trillion, 2.4 million new jobs had been created and U.S. unemployment was at a new low “since my election.” This was good for everyone. And for many of the attendees

there, they are part of the everyone. The top part, in the past, present and future.

Not surprising. The world economy is growing. The giants are growing especially rapidly, with India, at over 7 percent in 2017, growing faster than China, at 6.9 percent. Trump can tweet with delight: the International Monetary Fund, not a friend, says that his tax

The government is providing all the needed support to private companies and budding entrepreneurs, which has brought tangible results on the ground. The steps taken by the authorities will go long way to achieve the economic diversification and will further strengthen Qatar’s private sector.

CHAIRMANSHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFDR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI

editorinchief@pen.com.qa

ACTING MANAGING EDITORMOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED

m.salim@pen.com.qa

08 MONDAY 29 JANUARY 2018VIEWS

EDITORIAL

SSteps taken by the authorities in Qatar are playing crucial role in encouraging entrepreneurship the country. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country have benefitted by the several

initiatives taken by the government. Local SMEs have bagged business opportunities worth QR750m from the second edition of the Government Procurement & Contracting Conference and Exhibition (Moushtarayat 2017).

The latest value of the awarded contracts were announced last week by Qatar Development Bank’s (QDB) CEO Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al Khalifa during his address at the Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q).

Moushtarayat 2017, which was held in April 6 to 8, at Doha Exhibition and Convention Center, was organised by QDB in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance (MoF).

The expo offered about 2,000 job opportunities to local SMEs with an estimated cumulative value worth up to QR2.5bn.

The second edition followed the success of the first edition of this event -Moushtarayat 2016. The first edition of the exhibition saw the participation of 25 governmental and quasi-governmental entities, including Ashghal, Kahramaa, and several ministries, offering 450 jobs with an estimated cumulative value worth up to QR3bn. Contracts valued at approximately QR111m were signed as an outcome of the event.

QDB, which was established as Industrial Development Bank in 1997 with an initial capital of QR200m was renamed as QDB in 2008, and today it has grown into big organization with a capital value of QR10bn. It is serving more diversified sectors of the economy with a debt portfolio of about QR8.5bn.

QDB through its various initiatives, such as export promotion programme, loan guarantee programme, exhibitions, conferences, seminars, workshops, and Majlis, has been consistently supporting local SMEs so that the private sector may become active contributors to the diversification of the economy.

In addition to providing m a r k e t i n f o r m a t i o n , consultancy, financial support, accessibility, and training and incubation facilities, QDB is also providing market access both at local and international levels.

Under its export promotion programme (Tasdeer) over 150 companies participated in 20 exhibitions around the world.

QDB also participate very aggressively in various exhibitions and match making events. This helps improve competitiveness and expand operations of small and medium firms to a larger scale.

The government is providing all the needed support to private companies and budding entrepreneurs, which has brought tangible results on the ground. The steps taken by the authorities will go long way to achieve the economic diversification and will further strengthen Qatar’s private sector.

Encouraging entrepreneurship

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Step by step, we will clean our entire

Syrian border.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan Turkish President

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

Global takeaways from Trump’s Davos speech

JOHN LLOYD

REUTERS

cuts approved by Congress last month will likely cause businesses to invest more, create more jobs. Most boats are raised by this tide – even perhaps, a little, poor old Britain, suffering side effects of Brexit before it’s got to the exit, growing by only 1.8 per cent in 2017 but forecast by a government treasury minister to do better than the 1.6 percent this year that several forecasts claim.

Trump did not hint at the widespread skepticism that this can last. William White, head of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s review board, said that “all the market indicators right now look very similar to what we saw before the Lehman crisis, but the lesson has somehow been forgotten.” Even if that can be disregarded, many of those in Davos this past week spoke as much about reforms and shifts in attitudes and troubles ahead as of growth.

Christine Lagarde, the IMF’s managing director, though happy about improvement, warned of a social disaster even while economies grow, saying that, in Europe, “working-age people, especially the young, are falling behind. Without action, a generation may never be able to recover.” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a somber speech, arguing that “it feels like the opposite of globalization is happening…(it) cannot be considered less dangerous than climate change or terrorism.”

Still more chillingly, Freedom House, the U.S.-based institute which surveys the progress of democracy, civil society, freedom of speech and the media round the world has produced a report headlined “Democracy in Crisis” – a grim reportage showing that democracy’s “basic tenets – including guarantees of free and fair elections, the rights of minorities, freedom of the press, and the rule of law – came under attack around the world.”

The new element in this from last time Freedom House looked is Trump and his radically anti-globalization, anti -free trade, anti-immigrant rhetoric. The U.S. president’s actions have been milder – or thwarted – than his words, but even as he told Davos delegates that “America First does not mean America alone,” he stressed that he was taking steps to secure an immigration system “stuck in the past.”

Trump’s approach has fazed foreign political and business leaders and called into question some of the fundamentals of the Western world’s post-war assumptions – not least, that the United States was on the globalizers’ side.

The top people, bankers, industrialists, politicians, celebrities – the U.S. president is an unusual exception – are avatars of globalization. But the politicians among

them mix with and solicit votes from ordinary people, who live their lives locally rather than globally and who are – in David Goodhart’s analysis – “somewhere” people as against the “anywhere” globalizers. The politicians know that in order to retain globalization and the benefits which flow from it, the “somewhere” people must share more in the fruits of globalization than they presently do. Unless that happens, the angry challenge to mainstream politics, to free markets and to capitalism itself will continue, grow and may become ungovernable.

Trump has made it clear in the past he despises the Davos crowd. His erstwhile friend and chief counselor, Steve Bannon, now out of the White House and presumably no longer on the president’s speed dial, has said that “I’d rather be governed by the first hundred people at a Trump rally than by the Party of Davos,” continuing, in the same interview, to note that blue-collar workers like his father and grandfather, were “more decent, and have the community’s well-being more than these guys.”

There was none of that disdain for the white-collar executives in Trump’s carefully-crafted Davos speech. Instead, the U.S. president touted his tax changes and the message the “there’s never been a better time to do business in America.”

However, globalization is a political as much as an economic movement, and in the end requires political support. The globalizers need at least the passive assent from those like the left-behinds, the somewheres, the people who have not done well out of the past decade since the financial crash and who will do much worse should the forecasts by experts like White and Lagarde prove well-founded. Every democratic leader must now be consumed with fear of a revolt, seeking policies which address that discontent and calms it, while trying to avoid even more debt on the nation’s balance sheet.

That’s a difficult trick – and one that democratic leaders must turn to now that the febrile anticipation of Trump’s speech is over and they descend from the snowy peaks of the Swiss Alps.

That’s a difficult trick – and one that democratic leaders must turn to now that the febrile anticipation of Trump’s speech is over and they descend from the snowy peaks of the Swiss Alps.

Many expected the speech to be a clash of civilizations: that of America First, the pursuit of national advantage, the raising of the barriers both to trade and to immigration – and that of cooperation, a lowering of borders and barriers, a privileging of free trade and – at least until recently – free movement of labor.

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Aung San Suu Kyi, the country’s effective leader, is isolated and unwilling to listen to constructive criticism. Her government is focused on getting things done quickly instead of getting them done right.

BILL RICHARDSON THE WASHINGTON POST

FOR the past two months, I have served on an international panel

designed to help the Myanmar government arrive at just and reasonable policies for its conflict in Rakhine state, including its long-suffering Rohingya minority. This week I resigned. The reason: I have little confidence in the body’s ability to address the critical challenges facing the region and the country.

Aung San Suu Kyi, the country’s effective leader, is isolated and unwilling to listen to constructive criticism. Her government is focused on getting things done quickly instead of getting them done right. If Myanmar, also known as Burma, is to have any hope of preventing a further downward spiral to the crisis in Rakhine state and restoring its international reputation, immediate and dramatic changes are

required. A continuation of the current approach is likely to lead to a dangerous cycle of violence that threatens both Myanmar’s hopes for peace and democracy and broader regional stability.

To be sure, Myanmar faces daunting challenges on Rakhine. Coordinated attacks by a new Muslim militant group triggered a brutal and sustained “security clearance operations” by the Myanmar military that, in just 15 months, forced nearly 800,000 people to flee to Bangladesh. Deep-seated mistrust festers between Buddhist and Muslim communities in Rakhine, as well as between each of these communities and the government. Systemic discrimination against minority groups, especially Muslims, remains rampant. Major drug-smuggling and human-trafficking networks plague the region. And

chronic underinvestment in health, education and the economy exacerbate the problems.

These challenges are compounded by Myanmar’s botched efforts to address them. Though the Kofi Annan-led Rakhine Advisory Commission’s final report provides the foundation, Myanmar has yet to develop or articulate a strategy for Rakhine. The government is focused on outputs at the expense of impact and rapid implementation to show progress rather than efforts to design processes that help to build trust and confidence. Moreover, Aung San Suu Kyi’s lack of moral leadership in a domestic political environment that is increasingly nationalistic, anti-Muslim and hostile to the changes required to de-escalate the situation in Rakhine is particularly troubling. Myanmar’s renewed penchant for attacking freedom of the

press, highlighted by the recent arrest of two Reuters journalists investigating the conflict in Rakhine, surely does not help.

Myanmar is rightly facing tremendous international pressure to implement changes, but this does not justify the government’s siege mentality and its resistance to constructive criticism from an international community that wants to see Myanmar succeed in its efforts to establish peace and development in Rakhine and to entrench democratic norms.

To begin to turn the situation around, the government of Myanmar should take three steps immediately. First, Aung San Suu Kyi must establish her moral leadership on the Rakhine issue. Although her popularity is lower than when her party swept elections two years ago, she is still widely respected in Myanmar, particularly among the majority ethnic Burmese. She should use her stature to unequivocally condemn hate speech and discrimination in her public communications to the people of Myanmar. It would also be helpful if she ensured that state media, which has referred to Muslims from Rakhine as “human fleas,” does not exacerbate the potential for conflict.

Second, Myanmar must establish effective accountability mechanisms for perpetrators of violence. The signal that impunity is tolerated is a threat to the rule of law that Aung San Suu Kyi has repeatedly stated she seeks to instill. I am encouraged by Myanmar’s seeming willingness to establish an

THE irony in Iran’s recent explosion of protests was that it was the country’s theocratic government itself that provided

the oxygen that fueled their startlingly swift spread, blazing from city to city.

For the past four years, authorities have encouraged wider internet use, allowing service providers to offer 3G and 4G networks, which in turn prompted a massive expansion in the use of smart phones. In 2014, around 2 million Iranian had smart phones; today,

an estimated 48 million do. That means around half the population has in their pockets a device that can broadcast images and videos to the entire world and trade information away from state control and censorship.

The government snuffed out the protests in part by shutting down that oxygen, blocking the encrypted Telegram messaging app that protesters used to communicate. But the block was only temporary: Business people quickly complained over the shutdown of Telegram channels they use to promote and sell their goods.

As the Islamic Republic approaches the 40th anniversary of the revolution that brought it to power, it is trying to reap the benefits of a tool indispensable for modern life, while keeping a tight control over how Iranians use it and what information they receive. Tehran’s solution to exert control over cyberspace is by creating a so-called “halal net,” a totally locally controlled version of the internet.

“The Islamic Republic is not black

and white. It shows a myriad of contradictions and its internet policy I think is one of the great examples of those contradictions,” said Sanam Vakil, an associate fellow at Chatham House who studies Iran.

Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the government has tightly controlled information. The internet, however, has threatened that control. During Iran’s 2009 protests surrounding the disputed re-election of hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, still nascent social media spread word of the events among Iranians and brought videos of the shooting death of 26-year-old Neda Agha Soltan to the world.

Since that unrest, Iran has barred Facebook, Twitter and other sites along with YouTube, which it had already been blocking. That has led to many Iranians to use virtual private networks, or VPNs, to elude the blocks.

It was the policies of President Hasan Rouhani, a relative moderate in the ruling clerical establishment, which allowed the proliferation of smart phones since he came to office in 2014. Rouhani’s aim was to provide a tool for commerce as he tried to rebuild a damaged economy. Even after the latest protests ended, he argued that it was as impossible to stop people from using the internet.

“If you want cyberspace to be useful to the community, come forward with a solution using it to promote the culture instead of blocking it,” he said.

The idea of Iran setting up its own “halal,” or “permissible,” internet first came in 2011 in the wake of the 2009 protests. It’s evolved into what’s known as the National Information Network.

It is essentially a net neutrality supporter’s nightmare: The network has some 500 government-approved national websites that stream content far faster than those based abroad, which are intentionally slowed, according to a recent report by the Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. Service providers offer cheaper packages to customers accessing only the NIN websites. Search results also are gamed within the network, allowing the government to censor what users find.

One of the principal designers of the network is the Iran Telecommunications Co., owned by proxies of the powerful Revolutionary Guard.

It resembles in a way China’s “Great Firewall,” which blocks access to thousands of websites. Chinese internet users also find access to websites outside of the country slower.

Iran’s “performance in strangling access to opposition content during the most recent protests proved that Iran is hard on China’s heels in terms of controlling the flow of information,” the private U.S. intelligence firm Stratfor wrote in a Jan. 17 analysis.

Hard-liners have suggested removing Iran entirely from the internet and creating its own at home.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration is trying to find ways to increase Iranians’ access to the internet. Officials have met with Google, Facebook, Twitter and other tech companies to ask what more they can do to help people in Iran and other authoritarian-run countries communicate freely, according to U.S. officials briefed on the meetings.

But fear of crossing U.S. sanctions has made companies skittish. Some firms don’t allow their services to be used in Iran. That prevents Iranians from accessing many encrypted communication apps or VPNs. They’ve remained reluctant even when the Trump administration has floated possibly easing some sanctions or offering carve-outs, said the officials, who weren’t authorized to discuss the conversations and demanded anonymity.

So it remains in question whether Iranians will have access to an open internet if anger over the economy boils over into protests again, as many predict it will Organizations like the Washington-based Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans and others have called on the U.S. to offer specific guidance to online firms allowing Iranians to access apps and services.

“This movement has continued despite persecution by hard-line elements,” said Morad Ghorban of the PIAA.

Steps Myanmar should take to turn around Rohingya disaster

After unrest, Iran seeks control through ‘halal’ internet

JON GAMBRELL

AP

09MONDAY 29 JANUARY 2018 OPINION

For the past four years, authorities have encouraged wider internet use, allowing service providers to offer 3G and 4G networks, which in turn prompted a massive expansion in the use of smart phones. In 2014, around 2 million Iranian had smart phones; today, an estimated 48 million do.

independent and credible investigation into the discovery of mass graves in Rakhine, and I hope that this will be the first of several steps to further understand and account for the violence that has occurred there since October 2016.

Finally, Myanmar must develop a strategy to deal with Rakhine that appropriately prioritizes and sequences among the recommendations of the Rakhine Advisory Commission. The government’s focus on infrastructure and development, while important, is insufficient to address the structural changes necessary. To ensure that key challenges such as freedom of movement, citizenship and the closure of internally displaced persons camps are addressed effectively and in the spirit in which they were intended, the Myanmar government should work closely with international partners to develop clear and public plans that lay out the step-by-step process by which these issues will be addressed and bench marks met.

Left unaddressed, the situation could quickly become an even bigger headache for Myanmar, the region and the world. In the short term, the repatriation process that Myanmar is racing to implement is sure to be symbolic at best: Provided returns are safe, voluntary and dignified, few refugees will go back to a country in which they have been violated, which does not respect their basic rights and which offers no means of redress for wrongs. That leaves a large, destitute and aggrieved population just across the border in Bangladesh that is susceptible to radicalization. For the sake of its own interests and those of the region, Myanmar must immediately correct course and recognize that the international community wants to help it to do so..

10 MONDAY 29 JANUARY 2018ASIA

National Immunisation Day

India signs crucial deal with SeychellesIANS

VICTORIA/NEW DELHI: In a significant step to New Delhi’s quest for influence in the Indo-Pacific region, India has signed an agreement with the Indian Ocean archipelago nation of Seychelles for the development, management, operation and maintenance of facilities on Assumption Island.

The island in Seychelles is leased to India for the operation of a naval base and air strip by the Indian navy.

Foreign Secretary S Jais-hankar and Seychelles Secre-tary of State Barry Faure signed the agreement on Saturday.

“Relations with countries in the Indian Ocean Region and nurturing a climate of peace and stability are important corner-stones of India’s foreign policy,” Jaishankar said following the signing of the agreement.

“Our vision for the region is based on cooperation and col-lective action to tackle maritime security challenges.”

Jaishankar referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks during his visit to the Seychelles in March 2015 when the latter said that India’s goal was to seek a cli-mate of trust and transparency, respect for international maritime rules and norms by all countries, sensitivity to each other’s interests, peaceful resolution of maritime issues, and increase in maritime cooperation.

“We seek a future for Indian Ocean that lives up to the name of Sagar— an acronym that stands for Security And Growth for All in the Region”, Jaishankar said.

Sagar is an Indian initiative to have a positive effect on sea-borne trade.

India, after leasing Assump-tion Island, began preparations for infrastructure development, including quarters for the Sey-chelles Coast Guard and fixing the airstrip on the remote island where there is very little human activity.

India and Seychelles have had cooperation in the field of defence and maritime security for many years, which has seen India helping to patrol the Sey-chelles waters and gifting sev-eral equipment to the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF).During Modi’s 2015 visit, India announced gifting of a second Dornier surveillance aircraft to the Seychelles Coast Guard to increase maritime security.

India gifted Seychelles its first Dornier in 2013.

India and the Seychelles had inked an agreement in the course of that visit to develop infrastruc-ture on Assumption Island, which

lies 1,140km southwest of the mainland of Mahe, and is one of the 115 islands that constitute Seychelles.

Jaishankar said that India and Seychelles have over the years built an elaborate archi-tecture of defence and security cooperation. “As two maritime neighbours, we have a stake in each other’s security and safety.

Seychelles with its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) spread over 1.3 million square km is particularly vulnerable,” he stated.

“Recognising this, India and Seychelles have drawn up a coop-eration agenda that covers within its purview shared efforts in anti-piracy operations, and enhanced EEZ surveillance and monitoring to prevent intrusions by potential economic offenders indulging in illegal fishing, poaching, drug and human trafficking.”

The Foreign Secretary said that the India-Seychelles cooperation was further exemplified by the operationalisation of the Coastal Surveillance Radar System in March 2016, “and our commitment to augment defence assets and capability of Seychelles”.

“We are proud of the role played by patrol ships Topaz, Constant and Hermes and the Dornier aircraft in securing the resource rich waters of Sey-chelles,” he stated.

“In recognition of our stra-tegic convergence in the Indian Ocean region, the agreement that we sign today is an impor-tant step forward in the further deepening of our cooperation in the spirit of our unique bilat-eral ties,” he added.

Health workers along with Joanna Gower (right), member of Rotary Club, administer polio vaccine drops to a child on the occasion of the National Immunisation Day in Amritsar yesterday. Across the country children of less than five years old will receive vaccine drops as part of a program to eradicate polio virus.

Modi says women power setting milestonesIANS

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday said “woman power” has contributed a lot in the positive transforma-tion seen in the country and that there are no limits to “Nari Shakti”. Addressing this year’s first episode of “Mann ki Baat” radio talk, the Prime Minister also lauded the progress women have made in several spheres, saying with resolve and will-power “nothing is impossible”.

“A daughter is equivalent to

10 sons. The ‘punya’ you earn through 10 sons is equalled by one daughter. This underscores the importance given to women in our society. That is why, in our society, women have the status of Shakti.

“This woman power binds together society, the family, on the axis of unity. Be it the eru-dition of the vidushis of Vedic period. Woman power has always inspired us. They have always brought glory to the nation,” he said referring to Gargi, Maitreyee, Meerabai,

Ahilyabai Holkar and Rani Lak-shmi Bai.

He referred to astronaut Kalpana Chawla. “It’s a matter of sorrow that we lost Kalpana at that early age. Her life, her work is a message to young women across the world, especially in India, that there are no upper limits for Nari Shakti…. “If one possesses will, determination, a firm resolve, nothing is impossible.”

The Prime Minister said Matunga in Mumbai was the first railway station in India man-aged by women.

Bangladesh begins work on anger management park

AFP

DHAKA: Bangladesh started work yesterday on an “anger management park” in the capital Dhaka which the mayor said would help the 15 million inhabitants cope with rising daily stress.

Traffic jams which keep commuters imprisoned in their cars for up to five hours a day, noise and dust pollu-tion, rainy season chaos and petty crime are daily complaints.

Sayeed Khokon, mayor of the southern half of the giant city, hopes the $7m 38-acre park near the main government offices will ease the stress.

The Goswa Nibaroni (anger management) Park is expected to take 12-14 months to complete and will feature a lake, snack corners, relaxing music and giant-screen televisions.

The concept comes from an ancient Bangladeshi tra-dition in which villages had an “anger hut” on the nearest riverbank for angry people to calm down, the mayor said. “Such ideas have long gone.

Urban life can be very stressful. City dwellers easily become victims of anxiety,” Khokon said. “If you quarrel with your wife, you can go this park and relax.”

Dhaka, one of the world’s fastest growing metropolises, has been losing green space to the mass construction of new residential districts.

Once a Mughal-era gar-rison town famed for its tree-lined roads, Dhaka has become one of the world’s most pol-luted cities with levels inching closer to New Delhi.

The anger management park has divided social media opinion between supporters and those who believe it is a waste of money.

China intensifies crackdown on social mediaAFP

BEIJING: Chinese authorities have ordered a major social media platform to curb “harmful content” more effectively as they intensify oversight of online expression — even taking aim at rap music, crude cartoons, dirty jokes and celeb-rity gossip.

The campaign is intended not just to stamp out dissent but to ensure that all media “serves the direction of socialism”.

Sina Weibo has failed to comply, Beijing’s Cyberspace Administration said Saturday on its official WeChat social media account, berating the site for let-ting users post “content of wrong public opinion orientation, obscenity, low taste and ethnic discrimination”.

The company “has violated the country’s laws and regula-tions, led online public opinions to wrong direction and left a very bad influence,” it said.

In another case announced

Friday, China’s securities watchdog said it had punished a blogger on WeChat with a 200,000 yuan ($31,000) fine for posting market-moving “misin-formation” about meetings between corporations and regulators.

China has some of the world’s tightest controls over web content, protected by what is called “The Great Firewall”.Restrictions on free speech have increased since President Xi Jin-ping assumed power in 2012.

A controversial cybersecu-rity law, which took effect last June, has given authorities even more leeway to regulate a wide variety of information.

At the time, the cyberspace administrator told major internet companies to obey the provi-sions of the new law requiring online news and information services to “serve the direction of socialism and correctly guide public opinion”.

Since then they have taken aim at not just explicit

depictions of sex and violence, but anything the authorities consider low brow: from crude cartoons and dirty jokes to celebrity gossip.

Earlier in January, social media began circulating a gov-ernment order apparently issued to Chinese broadcasters banning them from giving air time to “artists with tattoos, hip hop music” and other per-formers who are “in conflict with the party’s core values and morals”.

Japan’s Foreign Minister Taro Kono (left) talks to China’s Premier Li Keqiang (right) during their meeting at the Zhongnanhai Leadership Compound in Beijing, yesterday.

China expresses intention to improve ties with JapanREUTERS

BEIJING: China hopes to work with Japan to establish more cordial relations, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Japanese counterpart yesterday, aiming to move on from a series of disputes, some dating back to before the Second World War.

China and Japan have sparred frequently about their painful history.

Ties between China and Japan have also been plagued by a long-running territorial dispute over a cluster of East China Sea islets and suspicion

in China about Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s efforts to amend Japan’s pacifist constitution.

The two nations have, how-ever, sought to improve ties more recently, with Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping having met in November on the sidelines of a regional summit in Vietnam.

Wang told Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono that his trip to Beijing, coming so early in the year, showed Japan’s strong wish to improve relations and that China approves of this because better ties would be in both nations’ interests.

Young man sucked into MRI machine in MumbaiIANS

MUMBAI: In a chilling incident, a young man died when he was accidentally sucked into a MRI machine at a government hospital here, official sources said yesterday.

A hospital doctor and two staff, including a woman, have

been booked and arrested.Rajesh Maru, 32, was the sole

breadwinner of his family living in Lalbaug, central Mumbai. He was working as a salesman.

The family cried foul and accused the doctors and the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Cor-poration of gross negligence that led to his death.

Maru had gone to visit his sister’s mother-in-law Laxmi Solanki, 62, who was undergoing treatment at the BYL Nair Hos-pital in Mumbai Central, run by the BMC, on Saturday evening.

“A ward boy asked him to help in taking an oxygen cylinder to the MRI room — which is strictly prohibited,” said Maru’s

brother-in-law Harish Solanki.Accusing the hospital admin-

istration and doctors of “care-lessness”, Solanki said there were no security personnel to warn Maru that he should not carry the oxygen cylinder to the Medical Resonance Imaging (MRI) room.

“As soon as he stepped

inside, the MRI machine literally sucked him in due to the mag-netic force since he was carrying the oxygen cylinder,” he added.

Relatives of Solanki and the Maru community members, who hail from Gujarat and Rajasthan, staged a sit-in at Nair Hospital Dean Dr Ramesh Bharmal’s chamber yesterday.

“Relations with countries in the Indian Ocean Region and nurturing a climate of peace and stability are important cornerstones of India’s foreign policy,” Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said following the signing of the agreement.

Through the alley to the festival

Kabul on high alert after bomb toll tops 100AFP

KABUL: Afghanistan yesterday declared a day of national mourning as the toll for those killed by a huge bomb hidden in an ambulance in Kabul topped 100 people and tensions remained high after insurgents struck in the city for the second time in a week.

At least 103 people were killed and 235 wounded in Sat-urday’s lunchtime attack claimed by the Taliban, which caused panic in the war-torn capital and overwhelmed its hospitals.

Kabul remained on high alert as the presidential palace declared a national day of mourning for yesterday, with flags flying at half-mast.

The attack was one of the worst to strike the capital in recent years.

Central Kabul was unusually quiet yesterday, a normal workday in Afghanistan, with little traffic and few people on the streets.

In contrast, security check-points have been beefed up,

particularly near the blast scene, as the city braced for the possi-bility of further violence.

A security alert issued yes-terday warned that the Islamic State group — which claimed a deadly attack on Save the Chil-dren’s office in Afghanistan’s east on Wednesday — was planning to attack supermarkets and shops in Kabul frequented by foreigners.

US President Donald Trump called for “decisive action” against the Taliban over the assault as other international leaders also condemned the attack.

Afghan authorities gave an updated toll Sunday for those killed and maimed in the huge blast.

“Unfortunately a number of wounded people have died in hospital.

The number of martyrs is now 103 and wounded is 235,” Interior Minister Wais Barmak told reporters.

Most of the victims were rel-atives of patients at a nearby hospital, said Mohammad

Masoom Stanekzai, the head of Afghanistan’s spy agency, describing the attack as a reac-tion by the Taliban to losses on the battlefield.

“It does not mean a lapse (in security).We have foiled many attacks, but some are difficult to control,” the head of National Directorate of Security told reporters.

Ordinary Afghans took to social media to express their anguish and sorrow at rapidly worsening security as the

Taliban and IS militants step up attacks on Kabul, turning it into one of the deadliest places in Afghanistan for civilians.

“We are so heartbroken in Kabul that we don’t know how to start our new day,” Freshta Karim wrote on Twitter.

“Shall we stay home or go to work, shall we meet our friends and cry or shall we force our-selves to create an illusion of hope? How are you starting your day in Kabul?”

Naser Danesh tweeted: “In Kabul starting a day without explosion, it would be a surprise.

One could only imagine that kind of a day.”

On Facebook, Naweed Qaderi wrote: “It is a big shame for the government, they repeat-edly fail to protect people.

The leaders must lose a son or daughter to feel the pain of poor people.”

The blast happened in a crowded area of the city where several high-profile organisa-tions including the European Union have offices.

The force of the explosion shook the windows of buildings hundreds of metres away and caused some low-rise structures in the immediate vicinity to collapse.

The scene of the attack was scattered with body parts, blood and debris.

Children were among the wounded.

The government has blamed the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani Network, which Afghan and Western officials suspect of involvement in at least some of the recent attacks in the capital.

Aerial footage showed two ambulances -- the second one driven by the suicide attacker -- approaching the first checkpoint, Barmak told reporters.

Police checked the first vehicle and, assuming the two ambulances were together, waved them through, he said.

Both ambulances went to the parking lot of the Jamhuriat hospital.

After 20 minutes the suicide attacker drove on to the second checkpoint.

“At the second checkpoint he was recognised and blew (up) his explosive-laden car,” interior ministry deputy spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said earlier.

He said four suspects had been arrested.

The attack came exactly a week after Taliban insurgents stormed Kabul’s landmark Inter-continental hotel and killed at least 25 people, the majority foreigners.

But there is still confusion over the true toll from that attack with conflicting figures given by officials and Afghan media reporting higher numbers.

Stanekzai said five people had been arrested so far over the hotel raid.

Some foreign organisations are reassessing their presence in Afghanistan following the spate of deadly violence.

The Aga Khan Foundation is moving its foreign staff out of the country, several sources said.

At least one Western human-itarian group is relocating its for-eign staff to other cities in Afghanistan, a source said.

French climber saved on ‘killer mountain’AFP

ISLAMABAD: An elite group of climbers saved a French moun-taineer in a daring night-time rescue on a Pakistan peak nick-named “killer mountain”, but officials yesterday called off the search for a second missing climber.

The team of Polish climbers with support from the Pakistani military launched the attempt Saturday afternoon to rescue stranded French mountaineer Elisabeth Revol, but were unable to reach Polish national Tomek (Tomasz) Mackiewicz on Nanga Parbat.

“The rescue for Tomasz is unfortunately not possible — because of the weather and alti-tude it would put the life of res-cuers in extreme danger,” wrote Ludovic Giambiasi, a friend of Revol, in a series of updates on Facebook. “It’s a terrible and painful decision.”

The four rescuers were flown by the Pakistani military from the base camp of K2 — the world’s second-highest peak — to reach the stranded climbers.

They were part of a Polish expedition seeking to become the first mountaineers to summit K2’s peak during the winter,

when good climbing days are rare.

“The K2 climbers who stopped their historic effort for a winter K2 summit will descend with Elisabeth Revol — one life saved,” said Karar Haideri, spokesman for the Alpine Club of Pakistan, in a statement on Sunday.

The team was evacuated by helicopter after a five and a half hour descent down the moun-tain to Nanga Parbat’s Camp One early yesterday.

The group were then airlifted by helicopter to a hospital in nearby Skardu, where Revol was set to be treated for a number of injuries.

“(Revol) has frostbite and some (snow) blindness,” said Asghar Ali Porik from Jasmine Tours, who helped organise the K2 expedition.

Pakistani climber Karim Shah, who was in contact with the expedition, said the rescue effort was unmatched in the climbing world, with the team ascending 1,200 metres in com-plete darkness along a treach-erous route without a fixed rope.

“No one did such a climb before,” Shah said.

“Most people, it takes two or three days, and they did it in

eight hours in the darkness.”Following the operation the

Polish team are set to return to K2 base camp where they will continue their summit attempt.

“This operation hasn’t affected the K2 (expedition),” Michal Leksinski, a spokesman for the team, said.

“This will go into the history of mountaineering.

It was one of the greatest rescue attempts in history.”

The rescue mission was launched after the missing alpi-nists were located Friday by fellow mountaineers using bin-oculars, who spotted Revol attempting to climb down while Mackiewicz appeared to be crawling due to frostbite.

The pair ran into trouble after making a late descent to a camp Thursday.

They were trapped on the side of the mountain for the night without a tent, battered by frigid temperatures and high winds, said Shah. Nanga Parbat, in northern Pakistan, is the world’s ninth-highest mountain at 8,125 metres (26,660 feet).

It earned the nickname “killer mountain” after more than 30 climbers died trying to climb it before the first successful summit in 1953.

The mountain was first sum-mited in the winter in February 2016 by Italian alpinst Simone Moro and his team — Alex Txikon

of Spain and Pakistani climber Ali Sadpara — who overcame frostbite and pummelling winds to reach the peak.

Members of the Polish K2 expedition heading to take part in a rescue mission of French climber Elisabeth Revol and Polish climber Tomasz Mackiewicz in Nanga Parbat.

Foreign currency accounts immunity likely to endINTERNEWS

KARACHI: The government of Pakistan has planned to withdraw an immunity, and bring regulations requiring scrutiny of overseas money transfer in individuals’ foreign currency accounts, a minister said yesterday.

“There are some miscon-ceptions about the proposed amnesty on declaration of foreign assets,” Miftah Ismail, adviser to Prime Minister on Finance, Revenue and Eco-nomic Affairs said.“The amnesty will (actually) block all those amnesties that have been granted since 1990s on foreign exchange inflows.”

Government planned an amnesty for Pakistan’s expa-triates to document their undeclared assets against cer-tain tax payment.

Ismail, speaking at an event organised by the Insti-tute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan, said the govern-ment will also plug loopholes in a law under which the Fed-eral Board of Revenue (FBR) could not probe into the source of the remittances.

“To end such amnesties there should be one-time amnesty for Pakistanis living abroad to declare undeclared assets,” he added.

A devotee walks along the alley as he arrives to take part in religious rituals during the Swasthani Brata Katha festival in Thecho, Lalitpur, Nepal, yesterday.

Malaysia criticises oppn meeting with EU envoysREUTERS

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has criticised the federal opposition alliance’s meeting with senior EU ambassadors last week and its call for foreign intervention in the forthcoming general election.

Mahathir Mohamad, the 92-year-old former premier seen as the most serious chal-lenger to Prime Minister Najib Razak in an election that must be held by August, met the EU ambassadors on Thursday and asked for help to ensure that the vote is conducted fairly, local media reports said, quoting opposition leaders.

The Malaysian foreign min-ister slammed the meeting in a statement yesterday, saying that issues raised at the meeting affected the country’s dignity and sovereignty.

Anifah Aman said that Malaysia will not stop foreign

ambassadors from conducting international diplomacy, in line with the Vienna Convention.

But it would take strong action to protect its sovereignty. “The government will not hes-itate, in defending the rights of the people and the sovereignty and dignity of the country, to take appropriately strong action on any foreign party that con-travenes such norms and values as enshrined in the convention,” Anifah said in a statement.

The EU ambassadors could not be reached immediately for comment while the embassies were closed for the weekend.

Opposition parties have long accused the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), which has been in power since Malaysia’s independence in 1957, of election rigging and fraud.

The accusations have been consistently denied by the government.

Pakistani surgeon wins prestigious British award

INTERNEWS

KARACHI: A Pakistani surgeon has won the prestigious Young Investigators Award given by the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society.

Dr Jaffar Khan, 34, was educated at Cambridge and Oxford and initially worked at St Thomas Hospital in London before going for his PhD at the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Washington DC.

He has developed a pro-cedure that allows some types of heart surgery to be con-ducted with minimal invasive procedures. The technique has been dubbed ‘Lampoon’ from its medical acronym.

It is a ‘keyhole’ cardiac sur-gery technique that resects heart tissue for the first time using minimally invasive techniques.

The research involves invention of the concept, testing in animals and applica-tion to humans.

A security alert issued yesterday warned that the Islamic State group — which claimed a deadly attack on Save the Children’s office in Afghanistan’s east on Wednesday — was planning to attack supermarkets and shops in Kabul.

11MONDAY 29 JANUARY 2018 ASIA

12 MONDAY 29 JANUARY 2018EUROPE

Court suspends Puigdemont’s return to powerAFP

MADRID: Spain’s constitutional court yesterday announced it was blocking Catalonia’s ousted separatist leader Carles Puigde-mont from returning to power in the region while he remains the subject of legal action.

The court said in a state-ment that its 12 magistrates had decided unanimously “to pre-ventively suspend the investi-ture of Puigdemont unless he appears in the (regional) parlia-ment in person with prior judi-cial authorisation”.

Puigdemont, who fled to Belgium after the Catalan par-liament declared independence in October, was earlier this week

chosen as a candidate to lead Catalonia again, with the regional parliament set to vote for a new leader tomorrow in Barcelona.

However, he faces arrest for rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds over his attempt

to break Catalonia away from Spain as soon as he returns to the country.

Puigdemont has said he could be sworn in to office remotely via videoconference from Brussels, a plan Spain’s central government opposes.

The constitutional court warned all members of the Cat-alan parliament of “their respon-sibilities” and warned against disobeying the order to suspend any investiture.

The magistrates said they needed six more days to con-sider a government bid to annul the nomination of Puigdemont as a candidate for the regional presidency.

“The government must use

every tool made available by the laws and the constitution to make sure that a fugitive, someone who is on the run from the law and the courts, cannot be illegitimately be sworn in,” Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said after the government lodged the legal bid to keep Puigdemont from returning to power.

After the court’s announce-ment, Puigdemont tweeted that “even the constitutional court has rejected the tricks of Mon-cloa,” referring to the prime minister’s official residence.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said on Twitter that “the government would continue to do its duty in respecting the law”.

Cyprus votes for new presidentAFP

NICOSIA: Voters in Cyprus headed to the polls yesterday for a presidential election that could determine if the divided island makes another push to reunite after the collapse of talks last year.

After a lacklustre campaign, opinion polls put conservative incumbent Nicos Anastasiades, 71, ahead as he pledges to restart negotiations with the Turkish-backed north quickly after the vote.

The former lawyer -- under the slogan “Steady Steps For-ward” -- has taken credit for an impressive recovery by the Euro-pean Union’s most easterly member since a debilitating financial crisis in 2013.

But apathy appears to be growing and Anastasiades seems unlikely to win outright in the first round.

He is expected to face a Feb-ruary 4 run-off against either dovish communist-backed Sta-vros Malas or Nikolas Papa-dopoulos, a former president’s son who takes a tougher line on peace efforts.

“The economy is doing rea-sonably well -- but for me the main criterion is still the Cyprus problem,” said university lec-turer Andres Karageorghis after casting his ballot at a school in Nicosia.

“To carry on and hopefully find a solution.”

If the first round is not deci-sive there is set to be intense horse-trading, and analysts say a backroom deal between the opponents of Anastasiades could still deny him a second and final five-year term.

As always, the nearly 44-year division of the island between the internationally

recognised Greek-majority Republic of Cyprus and a Turkish Cypriot statelet in the north looms large.

In July, two years of UN-backed talks between Anastasi-ades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci came closer than ever to reunifying the island but collapsed in acrimony before a deal.

Despite the failure to bridge key issues, including the future of tens of thousands of Turkish troops in the north, Anastasiades insists he wants talks with Akinci to restart soon.

But there is deep scepticism among the international com-munity over whether there is the political will to make a breakthrough.

During the campaign Anas-tasiades was attacked for being either too pliant or not keen enough to seal a deal.

Retired treasury worker George Georgallides said he voted for more hardline Papa-dopoulos because he felt “Anas-tasiades gave up everything” at the negotiations.

“If we do restart talks then it needs to be from the very

beginning again,” he said. Signs are that the road to

reunification will only get tougher as fatigue mounts after decades of failure.

For the first time ultra-nationalist party ELAM -- fiercely opposed to the proposed reuni-fication -- is fielding a candidate.

While the “national problem” is ever present, this time around the economy has been a dominant issue.

When Anastasiades took over, the banking sector was in meltdown and he took a more than $12bn bailout that entailed biting austerity measures.

That included a drastic haircut on accounts of over 100,000 euros held in the country’s biggest lender, Bank of Cyprus.

Since then the economy has rebounded faster than many expected and growth has been steady since 2015.

Tourism reached a record

high last year and explorations are going on for oil and gas offshore.

But analysts warn there are major challenges left.

The economy is still smaller than it was before the crisis, unemployment is around 11 per-cent and banks are awash with bad loans.

“The recovery is relative,” said Fiona Mullen, director of Cyprus-based Sapienta Economics.

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiaades (second right) prepares to cast his vote in the 2018 Cypriot presidential election at a polling station, in the coastal city of Limassol, yesterday.

Call for unity after Brexit riftsREUTERS

LONDON: Britain’s Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington (pictured) urged his party to unite to heal growing rifts over how to leave the European Union that could threaten the prime minister’s fragile grip on the leadership.

After a series of public rows in recent days, Lidington, who works closely with Prime Min-ister Theresa May, said all sides of the ruling centre-right Con-servative party should unite to confront Jeremy Corbyn’s opposition Labour party.

“What I say to all my col-leagues is the Conservative family needs to come together in a spirit of mutual respect and look at what the bigger picture is showing,” Lidington said.

May is struggling to juggle competing demands from within her party on the best route out of the bloc which Britain is scheduled to leave in March 2019.

In comments likely to gal-vanise supporters of a clean break with the EU, US President Donald Trump criticised the way May is negotiating Brexit.

He said he would take a tougher line in the talks in an interview that will be broadcast later yesterday.

Lidington stepped in after

a series of public clashes over Brexit, the latest of which saw the former Northern Ireland secretary Theresa Villiers warn that Britain risked remaining in the EU “in all but name”.

Villiers, a cabinet minister under Prime Minister David Cameron and who campaigned to leave the EU in the 2016 ref-erendum, used an article in the Sunday Telegraph to warn against a deal that could lead to a “a dilution of Brexit”.

Many Brexit backers are voicing concern that the refer-endum result may be betrayed with the government agreeing to have a two-year transition period with the EU in which little changes.

Britain’s finance minister Philip Hammond enraged members of his party last week for saying the UK’s trade rela-tions with the EU would change only “very modestly” after Brexit.

If the first round is not decisive there is set to be intense horse-trading, and analysts say a backroom deal between the opponents of Anastasiades could still deny him a second and final five-year term.

Turkish culture body attacked in HagueANATOLIA

THE HAGUE: Four masked men attacked the building of Azerbaijan-Turkish Culture Association in The Hague city of Netherlands in the wee hours yesterday.

Locals at a nearby cafe wit-nessed the incident, which took place at around 2:30am, and they ran to the association’s building but the attackers fled the site, Ilhan Askin, the head of the association, said Saturday.

Askin said that the footage of security cameras installed at

the building and the neigh-boring cafe showed four people were trying to tear down the windows using stones.

He asserted that such inci-dents will not disturb the peace of Turkish people in the Neth-erlands and added: “We will continue to serve the way we always do.”

Local police authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.

The pro-PYD/PKK sup-porters in European countries, primarily in Germany, have attacked a total of six mosques during the last week.

Navalny arrested at anti-Putin rallyAFP

MOSCOW: Russian police yesterday detained opposition leader Alexei Navalny in Moscow as thousands rallied across the country against a March election expected to extend Vladimir Putin’s Kremlin term.

Surrounded by supporters, the charismatic politician chanted “Swindlers and thieves” before being detained shortly afterwards at an unsanctioned gathering in the city centre amid

heavy police presence. Navalny urged Muscovites

to take to the streets despite his arrest.

“You are not rallying for me, but for yourselves and your future,” he tweeted.

Heeding a call by Putin’s bete noire, thousands braved freezing temperatures to stage rallies in dozens of cities to pro-test upcoming “pseudo-elec-tions,” as Navalny and his sup-porters refer to them.

Many chanted and bran-dished placards saying “Voters’

strike” and “Without me.” About 3,000 to 4,000

people turned up for the unsanctioned rally in Moscow, a witness said.

Authorities beefed up secu-rity, dispatching police vans and passenger buses to the city centre, but police largely refrained from arresting protesters.

Ahead of the Moscow rally police broke into Navalny’s headquarters using a power saw, interrupting a live broad-cast covering protests in the east of the country.

Police officers detaining opposition leader Alexei Navalny during a rally calling for a boycott of March 18 presidential elections, in Moscow, yesterday.

Paris on alert amid floodingAFP

PARIS: Paris was on alert as the swollen Seine crept higher, with forecasters expecting the flooding to peak before the weekend is out.

The river had risen 11cm in 24 hours by Saturday evening, more than four metres above its normal height, causing headaches for commuters as well as people living near its overflowing banks.

Tourists suffered too with Bateaux Mouches rivercraft out of service, and only emer-gency services authorised to navigate the Seine.

The Vigicrues flooding agency believe the river will continue to rise, peaking at 5.95 metres yesterday night or today, but not quite reaching the 2016 high of 6.1 metres, when the Louvre museum was forced to close its doors for four days.

But the world’s most vis-ited museum was on high alert, along with the Musee d’Orsay and Orangerie gal-leries, with the lower level of the Louvre’s Islamic arts wing closed to visitors.

Leaks started to appear in some basements in the French capital on Friday, while some residents on the city’s outskirts were forced to travel by boat through waterlogged streets.

The constitutional court warned all members of the Catalan parliament of “their responsibilities” and warned against disobeying the order to suspend any investiture.

US likely to stay in Paris Climate PactBLOOMBERG

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said he’d be open to keeping the US in the Paris climate accord, partly because of his warm relationship with French President Emmanuel Macron - but also cast doubt on the science of climate change.

Trump pledged in June that he was pulling the US out of the Paris climate agreement, signed in 2015 by almost 200 countries after years of negotiations. He continues to call it a bad deal for the US.

“The Paris accord, for us, would have been a disaster,” Trump said in excerpts of an interview with Piers Morgan on the UK television network ITV that will be broadcast later yesterday.

“Would I go back in? Yeah, I’d go back in. I like, as you know, I like Emmanuel Macron.”

“I would love to, but it’s got to be a good deal for the United States,” Trump added. The com-ments were similar to ones he made January 10, after a meeting with Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg at the White House.

“We can conceivably go back in,” Trump said at the time. Countries can’t formally submit paperwork to leave the Paris cli-mate agreement until 2019, with their exits effective no earlier than November 4, 2020 - a day

after the next US presidential election.

Trump also expressed skep-ticism in the ITV interview that the global climate is warming, as a majority of scientists have concluded.

“There is a cooling, and there’s a heating,” he said.

“I mean, look, it used to not be climate change, it used to be global warming. That wasn’t working too well because it was getting too cold all over the place. The ice caps were going

to melt, they were going to be gone by now, but now they’re setting records.”

Trump’s comment was con-sistent with one he made on Twitter in late December as the eastern US shivered through a brief cold snap.

“Perhaps we could use a little bit of that good old Global Warming that our Country, but not other countries, was going to pay TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS to protect against. Bundle up!”

In 2014, two years before he was elected president, Trump said on Twitter that the “POLAR ICE CAPS are at an all time high, the POLAR BEAR population has never been stronger. Where the hell is global warming.”

Data released this month from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration show 2017 was the third hottest year on record. Seven of the 18 hottest years have been logged in the 21st century, according to NOAA.

The cost of natural disasters hit records in the US in 2017, straining the US budget.

NOAA tallied 16 major bil-lion-dollar-plus storms, fires and floods in the year 2017, including Hurricanes Maria and Harvey, which devastated Puerto Rico and Houston, respectively.

The price-tag for damage from those weather and climate events was $306bn.

Peru leader’s approval rating fallsREUTERS

LIMA: Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski’s approval rating has fallen to 19% since he granted a pardon to authori-tarian former President Alberto Fujimori, a decision that has deeply divided the South Amer-ican country, a poll showed yesterday.

The latest poll marked a decline from November and December, when 26% and 22% of Peruvians approved of the business-friendly former Wall

Street banker’s performance.In late December, Kuczynski

granted the 79-year-old Fuji-mori a pardon on medical grounds, allowing him to leave prison.

Fujimori had been serving a 25-year sentence for graft and human rights crimes during his 1990-2000 right-wing populist government.

But eight in 10 respondents believe the pardon was part of political deal, and not given for humanitarian reasons, according to the poll of 1,293

respondents conducted by GfK January 22 to 24 and published in local newspaper La Repub-lica. The margin of error was 2.8 percent.

The poll found 50% of Peru-vians supported the pardon, while 49% were opposed. That reflected deep divisions over the legacy of Fujimori.

Some credit him with sta-bilising the economy and defeating leftist rebels during his 10-year rule starting in 1990, but others see him as a corrupt dictator.

2 officers dead after Colombia second attack REUTERS

BOGOTA: Two overnight bombings that targeted police stations in Colombia’s Carib-bean region killed two officers and wounded seven other people, authorities said yesterday, a day after a similar attack killed five officers and wounded 40.

One of the new attacks killed two officers and wounded a third just before midnight in rural Bolivar province, police said in a statement, while the other occurred in Soledad about four hours later, according to a police source.

“Six people were wounded by the explosion there, five of them police officers,” the source said.

Dumek Turbay, the gov-ernor of Bolivar province, wrote on Twitter that the vio-lence was “disgusting and vile”.

Authorities have arrested one person in connection to Saturday morning’s bombing in the port city of Barran-quilla, which officials said could have been retaliation for police raids targeting criminal gangs.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos visited the wounded after that explosion and vowed the government would not rest until the per-petrators were caught.

Argentina refuses to recognise Venezuela polls

Political body warns Trump over immigration cuts

AFP

PARIS: Argentina will not recog-nise the results of upcoming elections in Venezuela, President Mauricio Macri has said, accusing strongman Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro of running a “dictatorship”.

Venezuela’s top court last week excluded the main oppo-sition coalition from contesting

the presidential election, smoothing the way for Maduro to be returned as leader of a once prosperous country mired in political and economic chaos.

The court’s decision is the latest twist in a monthslate socialist leader’s Hugo Chavez’s handpicked successor -- and the opposition.

No date has been set for the

vote but it is to be held before April 30.

“Argentina will not recog-nise this election,” the centre-right Macri said in an interview in Paris.

“Maduro is making a mockery of the region and the entire world,” he said.

After “generating hope” by allowing the Dominican Republic and other Latin

American nations mediate in the crisis, “the only thing he has done is continue trampling human rights,” Macri added.

On Friday, President Macron denounced Venezuela’s “unac-ceptable authoritarian slide” and said he backed increased EU sanctions against the oil-rich state -- remarks that Caracas termed a “hostile and unfriendly act”.

Lawmakers concern on Trump’s plan to Mueller

REUTERS

WASHINGTON: The US Congress should revisit proposed legislation to protect special counsel Robert Mueller (pictured) after President Donald Trump tried to fire him last year while he investigated the Trump campaign’s ties with Russia, two Republican sena-tors said yesterday.

In separate television inter-views, Senators Susan Collins and Lindsey Graham expressed dismay at reports the Repub-lican president had told the top White House lawyer to order US Justice Department officials to fire Mueller. “I’ve got legislation protecting Mr Mueller, and I’d be glad to pass it tomorrow,” Graham told the ABC News “This Week” programme.

On CNN’s “State of the Union,” Collins said: “It cer-tainly wouldn’t hurt to put that extra safeguard in place, given the latest stories.”

Tensions over Mueller’s

probe are hovering over Trump’s year-old presidency as he prepares to give his first State of the Union Address tomorrow.

The New York Times reported on Thursday that Trump ordered White House counsel Donald McGahn to fire Mueller in June but backed down after McGahn threatened to resign rather than carry out the order.

McGahn was “fed up” after Trump’s order, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters. He did not issue an ultimatum directly to the pres-ident but told then-White House chief of staff Reince Priebus and then-chief strate-gist Steve Bannon that he wanted to quit, the source said.

Graham and three Demo-cratic senators introduced legis-lation last August that would pro-tect special counsels, including Mueller, by requiring that a panel of federal judges review any action to remove them.

The likelihood that such a bill would become law have seemed remote. Republicans in the US House of Representa-tives have shown little enthu-siasm for the idea.

“I don’t think there’s a need for legislation right now to pro-tect Mueller,” House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” pro-gramme. “The president and his team have fully cooperated” with the special counsel.”

Protest in CaliforniaPeople protest during the ‘March Against Slavery’ to raise international awareness of migrants being abused and exploited, held in Los Angeles, California, yesterday.

BLOOMBERG

WASHINGTON: The Koch polit-ical network yesterday called on President Donald Trump and members of Congress to avoid any “arbitrary” reductions in immigration as part of negotia-tions over the future of undocu-mented “dreamers” brought to the US as children.

“Immigrants are essential to the success of our country and

addressing the plight of the dreamers is a top priority for this network,” Brian Hooks, a senior official with the Koch organisa-tion, said in a statement. “We are committed to working with Con-gress and the White House to find a solution that does this without arbitrarily reducing the number of people who come here to contribute.”

A statement from the group was issued as hundreds of

donors and potential donors gathered for a weekend summit at a desert resort near Palm Springs, California.

It was delivered following a proposal on Thursday from the Trump administration that calls for a path to citizenship for as many as 1.8 million undocu-mented immigrants brought to the US as children. But Trump also called for a reduction of legal immigration, as well as a

$25bn trust fund to pay for a southern border wall and other enhanced border security measures.

A reduction in immigration runs counter to the views of the group’s top benefactors, billion-aires Charles and David Koch. Charles Koch in December wrote an opinion piece with Apple Inc. Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook that said it was a “political, eco-nomic and moral imperative” to

quickly help the young immi-grants with a permanent solu-tion so they can “plan their lives and develop their talents.”

Keeping the Kochs and their donors happy is important for the GOP in an election year. The network pledged to spend $300m to $400m on policy and political campaigns in 2017 and 2018, up from the roughly $250m during the 2015 to 2016 campaign season.

The Paris accord, for us, would have been a disaster. Would I go back in? Yeah, I’d go back in. I like, as you know, I like Emmanuel Macron: Trump

Cuba celebrates Jose Marti’s 165th birth anniversary Cuban President Raul Castro (centre) is seen together with Second Secretary of Cuba’s Communist Party Jose Ramon Machado Ventura (centre right) before a march in celebration of the 165th birth anniversary of Cuba’s independence hero Jose Marti, in Havana, yesterday.

US President Donald Trump

13MONDAY 29 JANUARY 2018 AMERICAS

14 MONDAY 29 JANUARY 2018HOME

InterContinental Doha receives 5-star accreditationDOHA: InterContinental® Doha is proud to be the first hotel in Qatar to receive the 5-star hotel accreditation from the Qatar Tourism Authority, after successfully completing the requirements for the latest QTA stand-ards audit for hotels in the country.

The certificate was received by the management from the Qatar Tourism Authority on January 18. The classification is based on the criteria of the Hotel Classification System of Qatar.

According to the Qatar Tourism Authority, they have instituted a stand-ardised system for the classification of hotels, hotel apartments and other accommodation providers. It was designed according to international best practice and adapted to local con-ditions. Provisions cover the full range of facilities and services that hotels or hotel apartments must offer to qualify for grading. Following self-evaluation, each hotel’s submission is then veri-fied by an on-site inspection of every property by QTA officials to ensure that all the criteria are fully complied with.

“We are proud to be the first hotel

in the country to have passed all the classification requirements of the Qatar Tourism Authority to receive the accreditation once more as a five star hotel in the country,” said Gilles Longuet, General Manager of Inter-Continental Doha - The City.

“A special thank you to our

owner, Ahmed Al Kubaisi, for all of his support in enabling us to achieve this honor. I would also like to thank our colleagues for all of their hard work as they have delivered con-sistent service excellence of the highest standards to all of our guests.”

Football tournament for Indonesian children heldDOHA: Indonesian children residing in Qatar took part in the Indoqapco Junior Football Tournament 2018 (IJFT) at Alreem football field, Al Reem Club, in Mesaieed, recently.

The tournament was initiated and sponsored by Indonesian community working at Qatar Petrochemical Com-pany (IndoQapco) in cooperation with Indonesian Embassy and its community association in Qatar (Permiqa), the Qatar Football Association (QFA) and Indone-sian Football Association in Qatar (IFQ).

According to IndoQapco Chairman, Jazuli Ramadhan, the tournament were followed by 338 Indonesian children from 26 football club teams of five categories of ages such as U8, U10, U12, U14 and U16.

The team competed for the trophies

sponsored by Indonesian Ambassador to Qatar, Air Marshal (Ret) Muhammad Basri Sidehabi.

While IJFT Head of Steering Com-mittee, Mohamad Onny Vhonna, said that the main aim of the competition is to introduce football in early stage for chil-dren as one of sport activities, coaching and development the sportsmanship and physical fitness as well as to find out the football young talent from the early ages.

Head of IJFT Organising Committee, Fathullah Adrai conveyed his gratitude and appreciation for the CEO of Qapco management, Dr Mohammed Yousef Al Mulla and Ahmad Yasseen Al Hammadi, Chairman of the Committee and HR Man-ager for their continues support since day one.

TNG school hosts Science Fair expoDOHA: The Next Generation (TNG) school recently hosted a Science Fair exhibition, where students from Year I to Year XI got the opportunity to create and display model-based science projects in their respective campuses.

The exhibition is an integral part of the science curriculum where stu-dents explore their creative ideas and knowledge through practical research.

The exhibition covered a range of topics such as habitats, salt energy, smart home automation, capillary

action, balloon popping magic, effect of sugary drinks on eggshells and many more interesting ideas. Students created display boards to support their project ideas. Teachers and peers vis-ited each stall and were explained about the project by the team . The cre-ativity and dedication visualised in each project was very impressive. The event enabled students to demonstrate teamwork, critical thinking and com-munication skills were the important learning areas of this event.

TNG Al Wakra campus took the

science fair one step ahead by organ-ising a science competition where hon-ourary judges , Asfandyar Ansari and Owais Qidwai, were invited to select the best projects. Parents were also invited to show their support to the students.

TNG Science fair exhibition aims to motivate students for a positive learning experience with the spirit of team work. It also allows students to understand practical learning of var-ious subjects and expand the horizon of learning.

VILLAGGIO & CITY CENTERCROSSWORD NOVO Pearl Qatar

MALL

Note: Programme is subject to change without prior notice.

GUARDIANS OF THE TOMB

LANDMARK

ROXY

AL KHOR

ASIAN TOWN

Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2D/Action) 10:00, 10:15, 11:30am, 1:00, 3:00, 3:45, 6:30, 8:00, 9:15 & 11:55pmJumanji: Welcome To The Jungle (2D/Action) 12:45, 5:45 & 10:45pm The Commuter (2D/Action) 12:30, 5:10 & 9:50pm All The Money In The World (2D/Drama) 10:00am, 12:45, 2:30, 3:30, 6:15, 8:30, 9:00 & 11:45pm 12 Strong (2D/Action) 10:00am, 2:40, 7:20pm & 1200am The Pirates Of Somalia (2D) 10:00am, 2:45, 7:30pm & 12:10amThe Breadwinner (2D/Animation) 10:00am, 2:00, 6:00& 10:00Guardians Of The Tomb (2D/Action) 12:00noon, 4:00, 8:00pm & 12:00midnigh Dead Awake (2D/Horror) 10:00am, 12:00noon, 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00, 10:00pm & 12:00midnight The Post 10:30am, 3:30 & 8:30pmDownsizing (2D/Comedy) 12:45, 5:45 & 10:45pmPadmaavat (2D/Hindi) 10:00am, 1:30, 5:00, 8:30pm & 12:00midnightPadmaavat (3D IMAX/Hindi) 1:15 & 7:30pmMaze Runner: The Death Cure (2D IMAX/Action) 10:30am, 4:45 & 11:00pm

The Breadwinner (2D/Animation) 2:30 & 4:30pmStreet Lights 2:30 & 9:15pm Nimir (Tamil) 3:00pmBagamathi (2D/Telugu) 3:00pm Guardians Of The Tomb (2D/Action) 5:30 & 9:45pmJumanji: Welcome To The Jungle (2D/Action) 6:30pm Habet Caramel (2D/Arabic) 7:15pm All The Money In The World (2D/Drama) 7:30pm Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2D/Action) 8:30 & 11:00pm Dead Awake (2D/Horror) 11:30pm Bagamathi (2D/Tamil) 11:30pm

ROYAL PLAZA

Bagamathi (2D/Telugu) 2:30pm The Breadwinner (2D/Animation) 3:00 & 4:45pm Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle (2D/Action) 3:00pmHabet Caramel (2D/Arabic) 5:00pm Street Lights 5:30 & 11:15pm Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2D/Action) 6:30 & 9:00pm All The Money In The World (Drama) 7:00 & 9:15pm Guardians Of The Tomb (Action) 8:00 & 11:30pmDead Awake (2D/Horror) 9:30pm Bagamathi (2D/Tamil) 11:30pm

Bagamathi (2D/Tamil)) 5:00 & 11:30pm Nimir (Tamil) 2:15pmThe Commuter 7:00pm Street Lights 2:30 & 9:00pm The Breadwinner (2D/Animation) 2:15 & 3:45pmMaze Runner: The Death Cure (2D/Action) 4:30 & 7:30pm Habet Caramel (2D/Arabic) 5:30 & 7:00pm All The Money In The World (2D/Drama) 7:30 & 9:15pm Dead Awake (2D/Horror) 9:45pm Nimir (2D/Tamil) 11:30pmGuardians Of The Tomb (2D/Action) 10:00 & 11:30pm

Street Lights (Malayalam) 6:00, 8:30, 11:00pm Aadu 2 (Malayalam) 9:00pm Nimir (Tamil) 6:00 & 11:30pm Pamaavat (Hindi) 6:00 & 11:45pm Bhaagmathie (Tamil) 6:00, 8:45, 11:30pm Bhaagmathie (Telugu) 8:45

Padmaavat (Hindi) 11:00am, 2:15, 5:20, 8:45pm & 12:00midnight Maze Runner (2D/Action) 11:15am, 5:15 & 11:15pm Bagamathi (2D/Tamil) 12:30, 6:00 & 11:30pm Street Lights (Malayalam) 2:15 & 8:15pm

Bunyan And Babe (Animation) 10:30am, 12:30 & 2:30pm Bhaagamathi (Telugu) 4:30, 7:10 &12:10 Bhaagamathi (Tamil) 4:30, 7:10, 9:50 & 12:10Street Lights (Action) 10:30am, 1:30 & 12:30

Maze Runner (Action) 10:30am, 1:10, 6:10 & 11:10pm

Padmaavat (2D/Drama) 10:30am, 1:40, 5:40 & 9:00pm

Habet Caramel (2D/Arabic) 3:50, 8:50 & 9:50pm

Guardians of the Tomb is an upcoming Chinese-Australian science fiction horror thriller film directed and written by Kimble Rendall, starring Li Bingbing, Kellan Lutz, Wu Chun and Kelsey Grammer. It is the largest Chinese-Australian co-production to date.

15MONDAY 29 JANUARY 2018 HOME

FAJRSHOROOK

04.59am

06.18 am

ZUHRASR

11.47 am

02.54 pm

MAGHRIBISHA

05.18pm

06.48pm

PRAYER TIMINGS

HIGH TIDE 03:45 – 14:00 LOW TIDE 10:30 – 20:45

Moderate temperature with some clouds

and slight dust, cold by night.

WEATHER TODAY

COURTESY: Qatar Meteorology Department

Minimum Maximum 13oC 21oC

16 MONDAY 29 JANUARY 2018MORNING BREAK

Dust winds and clouds in DohaLEFT: Vehicles move slowly during dusty wind at D-Ring Road, yesterday. There were reports of dusty wind, in various corners of the city, which disrupted traffic. RIGHT: People walk in the backdrop of cloudy sky at Doha Corniche. PICS: SALIM MATRAMKOT / THE PENINSULA

SANAULLAH ATAULLAH

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: GCC countries should resolve their differences through constructive dialogue and peaceful negotiations, said Ambassador of India, P Kumaran yesterday. Speaking at a reception to celebrate 69th Republic Day of India, he said year 2019 will be cele-brated as the India-Qatar Year of Culture.

“Peace and security in the Gulf are of paramount impor-tance for the continued progress and prosperity of the countries in the region,” said the ambassador in reception held at Doha Sheraton. “We are of the view that the coun-tries concerned should resolve their differences through a process of constructive dia-logue and peaceful negotia-tions based on well-estab-lished international principles of mutual respect, sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of other coun-tries,” he added.

He said that India wel-comes the efforts of the Emir of Kuwait to promote a peaceful resolution of the crisis.

The event was attended by the Minister of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs, H E Dr Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi; Min-ister of Development Planning and Statistics H E Dr Saleh Mohammed Salem Al Nabit; Ibrahim Fakhroo, Chief of Protocol, several ambassadors and members of Indian community.

Students of Delhi Public School (DPS) and Birla Public School (BPS) presented patri-otic songs and performed cul-tural programme.

“The year 2019 will be cel-ebrated as the India-Qatar Year of Culture. We expect to organize in partnership with Qatar Museums a plethora of exciting cultural exhibitions and events that will highlight the cultural and traditional ties that bind us,” he added.

The Indian ambassador said that it was on this day, 68 years ago, that the Constitu-tion of a newly independent India came in to force.

Indian corporate look at Qatar as a promising market and are today pursuing col-laborations in a number of areas, including infrastructure, information and communica-tion technology, energy and

other areas to the mutual ben-efit of both sides.

“Qatar’s exports to India amount to nearly $10bn per year, making India the third largest export destination for Qatari products. On the other hand, Qatar’s imports from India, currently at about $1.2bn, have grown at a healthy rate over the past sev-eral years,” said the ambassador.

He said that there has been a substantial increase in Qatar’s imports from India in recent months, facilitated by the opening of direct shipping lines linking Indian ports with Qatar adding that a total of 24 fully owned Indian companies and an estimated 6000 Qatar-India joint ventures operate in various sectors of the Qatari economy.

Qatar Petroleum’s deci-sion to expand LNG output from the North Field to 100 million tonnes, Liberalisation of visa regulations, changes

introduced to Company Law, the new Free Zone regulations

and the proposed Permanent Residency scheme for

longstanding foreign residents are developments that offer exciting new opportunities.

A number of Indian trade delegations have visited Qatar in recent months, to partici-pate in trade exhibitions and explore business opportuni-ties. Similarly, we would wel-come Qatari companies to visit trade events in India to identify the best possible part-ners for collaboration.

“We appreciate Qatar’s contribution to India’s energy security, as a reliable long-term partner for our increasing energy needs. Qatar is the largest exporter of LNG and LPG to India. Our Petroleum Minister is on record as having said that India plans to increase the share of natural gas in India’s energy mix, currently at about 7 percent to 20 percent by 2030,” he added.

“Qatar will therefore con-tinue to be a key partner in our energy security calculus for many years to come,” he said.

The welfare and well-being at the India community in Qatar is a matter of priority for us. Our interface with the community and our outreach to the blue collar workers in particular is being continu-ously expanded both being continuously expanded both directly and through the medium of Indian community organizations. We remain in close contact with authorities concerned in Qatar to ensure the welfare and wellbeing of Indian nationals.

2019 to be India-Qatar Year of Culture

H E Dr Saleh Mohamed Al Nabit (third right), Minister of Development, Planning and Statistics and H E Dr Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi (left), Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs cutting a cake with P Kumaran (second left), Ambassador of India to Qatar and other officials during a reception held as part of the 69th Indian Republic Day in Doha, yesterday. BELOW: Delhi public school students perform during the ceremony. PICS: ABDUL BASIT / THE PENINSULA

AFP

MIAMIL: A cosmic event not seen in 36 years — a rare “super blood blue moon” — may be glimpsed January 31 in parts of western North America, Asia, the Middle East, Russia and Australia.

The event is causing a buzz because it combines three unusual lunar events — an extra big super moon, a

blue moon and a total lunar eclipse. “It’s an astronomical trifecta,” said Kelly Beatty, a senior editor at Sky and Tel-escope magazine.

A blue moon refers to the second full moon in a month. Typically, a blue moon hap-pens every two years and eight months. This full moon is also the third in a series of “supermoons,” which happen when the moon is closest to

Earth in its orbit. This point, called the perigee, makes the moon appear 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter.

The moon will glide into Earth’s shadow, gradually turning the white disk of light to orange or red. “That red light you see is sunlight that has skimmed and bent through Earth’s atmosphere and continued on through space to the moon,” said Alan

MacRobert of Sky and Tele-scope magazine.

“In other words, it’s from all the sunrises and sunsets that ring the world at the moment.” The alignment of the sun, moon and Earth will last one hour and 16 minutes, visible before dawn across the western US and Canada.

Those in the Middle East, Asia, eastern Russia, Australia and New Zealand should look

for it in the evening, as the moon rises. Unlike a solar eclipse, this lunar eclipse can be safely viewed. “We’ve had a lot of supermoons and we’ve had lunar eclipses, but it’s rare that it also happens to be a blue moon,” said Jason Aufdenberg, professor of physics and astronomy at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s campus in Day-tona Beach, Florida.

‘Super blood blue moon’ to be visible on Jan 31

IANS

NEW YORK: Thinking that you may receive mosquito bites if you are more sweet may not be that far-fetched as a new study suggests that mosquitoes may abandon hosts who swat at them, according to a new study.

The study, published in the journal Current Biology, shows that mosquitoes can rapidly learn and remember the smells of hosts and that dopamine is a key mediator of this process.

Mosquitoes use this information and incorporate it with other stimuli to develop preferences for a particular ver-tebrate host species, and, within that pop-ulation, certain individuals.

However, the study also proved that even if an individual is deemed delicious-smelling, a mosquito’s preference can shift if that person’s smell is associated with an unpleasant sensation.

According to the researchers, hosts who swat at mosquitoes or perform other defensive behaviour may be abandoned, no matter how sweet they are.

“We now know that mosquitoes are able to learn odours emitted by their host and avoid those that were more defen-sive,” said co-author of the study, Chloe Lahondere, Research Assistant Professor at Virginia Tech in the US.

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are vectors for zika fever, dengue fever, chikungunya and yellow fever viruses.

Mosquitoes remember smells of hosts: Study