Volume 23 | Number 7795 | 2 RiyalsThursday 7 February 2019 | 2 Jumada II 1440 www.thepeninsula.qa

BUSINESS | 01 SPORT | 08

Qatar football on right track, says Spanish great Xavi

UDC posts solid QR544m net profit for 2018; revenues

at QR1.6bn

Qatar National Football

Team Captain Hassan Al

Haydos and Coach Felix

Sanchez with students

of Shafalla Center,

cutting a cake during the

team’s visit to the center

yesterday.

PIC: SALIM

MATRAMKOT/

THE PENINSULA

�P20

Govt, private entities line up National Sport Day activitiesFAZEENA SALEEM/SIDI MOHAMED THE PENINSULA

A number of government and non-govern-mental entities are preparing by organising many activities to participate in National Sport Day 2019 which will be marked on February 12.

The National Sport Day 2019 coming this year after great victory achieved by the Qatari National Football Team in AFC Asian Cup. The Ministry of Municipality and Environment will organise a number of sports activities which aim to enhance the physical and psy-chological health of the participants.

“In preparation for the National Sport Day of the State, Al Dana Center for Girls in col-laboration with Public Parks Department will

organise a number of activ-ities including fitness exer-cises and some competi-tions that include mental and physical games,” the Ministry said on its official twitter account. The Min-istry will organize work-shops and educational lec-tures to raise awareness about health and the importance of sports.

Qatar Foundation (QF) will be bustling with activities in this year’s National Sport Day at Education City. With several new items, an array of community-focused activ-ities are designed to promote healthy life-styles and social interaction.

QF’s Sport Day events and activities will take place at four locations of Education City Oxygen Park, the Ceremonial Court, the Ceremonial Green Spine, and Multaqa (Education City Student Center). The activities are supported by local and international partners.

“Sport has a special capacity to engage, inspire,

and unite people, and this is the effect our National Sport Day activities at Qatar Foun-dation are intended to have on our com-munity,” said Khalifa Essa Al Kubaisi, Media Relations Manager at QF, while speaking to the media yesterday. �P3

Amiri Air Force receives first French fighter aircraft RafaleQNA BORDEAUX, FRANCE

The Qatari Amiri Air Force received the first French Fighter Aircraft ‘Rafale’ yesterday.

The aircraft delivery ceremony was held at the headquarters of Dassault Aviation in Bordeaux, France, in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs H E Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah, Secretary of State to the French Minister of the Armed Forces Genevieve Dar-rieussecq, and Chairman and CEO of Das-sault Aviation Eric Trappier.

In a speech on the occasion, H E Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs highlighted the historic rela-tions between the two friendly countries.

H E Al Attiyah chose ‘Al-Adiyat’ to be the official name of the Qatari Rafale aircraft, because it was mentioned in the Holy Quran.

The State of Qatar signed an agreement with the French Republic in 2015 to supply the Amiri Air Force with 24 Rafale aircraft, and later activated the item by increasing the number of aircraft by 12 more.

The ceremony was attended by Ambas-sador of the State of Qatar to the French Republic Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al Thani, Commander of Amiri Air Force H E Major-General (Pilot) Mubarak bin Mohammed Al Kumait Al Khayareen, Qatari Military Attache in France Brigadier-General Engineer Mohammed Mubarak Al Shahwani, and a number of senior officers of the Qatari Armed Forces. �P3

FM: Qatar plans to host regional meet to curb ISIS crimesQNA WASHINGTON

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdul-rahman Al Thani has announced that the State of Qatar intends to host this year a high-level regional meeting to address the brutal crimes committed by the ISIS group, in cooperation with the Special Advisor and Head of the International Investigation Team to promote accountability for crimes committed by ISIS group in Iraq.

In a speech at a meeting for the ministers of the Global Coa-lition to Defeat ISIS in Wash-ington, yesterday, H E the Deputy Prime Minister and Min-ister of Foreign Affairs said that the State of Qatar will spare no effort in supporting the brotherly Iraqi people at this stage, under-scoring Iraq’s ability to overcome the challenges facing the reconstruction process, while calling on the interna-tional community to support Iraq in its reconstruction efforts.

He stressed that the fight against terrorism is a high pri-ority for the State of Qatar, pointing out that Qatar has par-ticipated actively in all the activities of the Global Coalition and will continue its efforts at the national, regional and inter-national levels.

H E the Deputy Prime Min-ister and Minister of Foreign

Affairs said terrorism remains one of the most serious threats to international peace and security at present, adding that the success of the Global Coalition in defeating the group in Iraq and Syria reflects the international will to eradicate terrorism.

H E the Deputy Prime Min-ister and Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed that the success in combating ISIS group and eradicating its ideology can be sustained only by addressing the root causes of terrorism and extremism, ending and pre-venting armed conflicts, uniting efforts, promoting regional and international cooperation and abiding by the relevant provi-sions of international law. �P3

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs H E Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah, Secretary of State to the French Minister of the Armed Forces, Genevieve Darrieussecq, and Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation Eric Trappier with other officials during the ceremony.

‘Al-Adiyat’ to be the official name of the Qatari Rafale aircraft, because it was mentioned in the Holy Quran.

36 The State of Qatar signed an agreement with the French Republic in 2015 to supply the Amiri Air Force with 24 Rafale aircraft, and later activated the item by increasing 12 more aircraft.

State of Qatar will spare no effort in supporting the brotherly Iraqi people at this stage, underscoring Iraq’s ability to overcome the challenges facing the reconstruction process.

Asian Cup champions bring cheer to children at Shafallah Center

02 THURSDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2019HOME

Amir greets

Governor-General

of New Zealand

DOHA: Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin

Hamad Al Thani sent yesterday

a cable of congratulations to the

Governor-General of New Zealand,

Patsy Reddy, on the occasion of her

country’s National Day.

Deputy Amir H H Sheikh Abdullah

bin Hamad Al Thani also sent a cable

of congratulations to the Governor-

General. The Prime Minister and

Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah

bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani also

sent a cable of congratulations to

the Prime Minister of New Zealand,

Jacinda Ardern. QNA

Amir sends

congratulations

to Queen of UK

DOHA: Amir H H Sheikh

Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani

sent yesterday a cable of

congratulations to H M Queen

Elizabeth II of the United

Kingdom on the anniversary of

her accession to the throne.

The Deputy Amir H H Sheikh

Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani also

sent a cable of congratulations to

H M the Queen. QNA

Amir chairs Supreme Council for Economic Affairs and Investment meeting

THE PENINSULA DOHA

Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Chairman of the Supreme Council for Economic Affairs and Investment, yesterday morning chaired the coun-cil’s first meeting in 2019 at the Amiri Diwan.

Deputy Amir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani, the Deputy Chairman of the Council, attended the meeting along with the Prime Minister and Interior Min-ister, H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Executive Member of the Council and Their Excel-lencies the members of the Council. The Council dis-cussed topics on the meeting agenda and took the appro-priate measures regarding them.

The Council also reviewed the latest updates in investment affairs, the work process of the second National Development Strategy 2018-2022. The Council also reviewed a pres-entation on supporting and promoting local products and the steps taken to encourage national products.

Qatar values effective role played by Amnesty InternationalQNA DOHA

The State of Qatar welcomed Amnesty International’s continued interest and scrutiny of labour systems in Qatar and the wider region, as in its report ‘Reality Check’.

Qatar’s Government Communica-tions Office (GCO) said in a statement, “From the outset, we have said that we

understood labor reform would be a journey and not an end in itself. We have publicly stated, and restate here, our commitment to labor reform so that Qatar would have a suitable labor system that is fair to employers and employees alike.”

“Far from seeing time as running out, the Government of the State of Qatar understands further change is needed and we remain committed to

developing these changes as quickly as possible, while ensuring they are effective and appropriate for our labor market conditions. Practical, efficient and lasting change takes time and that is what we have committed to,” GCO’s statement added.

“We also understand the impor-tance of ensuring labor laws are effec-tively enforced. This is why we have not hesitated to make examples of

individuals or companies who fail to adhere to Qatar’s laws. In the first half of 2018, 11,994 companies were penalized or banned from operating for violating Qatar’s labor laws,” GCO’s statement pointed out.

GCO stressed that Qatar will con-tinue to engage and work with govern-ments, international organizations, and NGOs, as partners and advisors on labor reforms.

Amir holds phone

call with Tunisian

President

DOHA: Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin

Hamad Al Thani held a telephone

conversation with the President

of Tunisia, Beji Caid Essebsi, who

expressed congratulations to H H

the Amir and the Qatari people on

Qatar National Football team’s win

of the 2019 Asian Cup, wishing the

team continued success.

During the phone call which HH the

Amir received from the Tunisian

President yesterday evening, they

reviewed bilateral relations and

prospects of enhancing them. QNA

Amir congratulated on AFC Asian Cup victory Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met yesterday at his office at the Amiri Diwan with the Speaker of Congress of the Federated States of Micro-nesia and Asia-Pacific Group in the Inter-Parlia-mentary Union (IPU), Wesley Simina, and his accompanying delegation, on the occasion of their visit to the country. At the outset of the meeting, His Excellency congratu-lated H H the Amir for the victory of the Qatar National Team in the 2019 Asian Cup. They also reviewed cooperation rela-tions between the State of Qatar and IPU in parlia-mentary and legislative fields, in light of Qatar hosting the 140th Assembly of the IPU in April.

Education Ministry to train private schoolteachersTHE PENINSULA DOHA

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education announced yesterday a project to train teachers and leaders of private schools, its definition, objec-tives, beneficiary groups and

expected results. Ministry’s initiative towards

private schools emphasised the importance of professional development of teachers as the basis for the success of any school, said Assistant Under-secretary for Private Education at the Ministry, Omar Abdulaziz

Al Neama while addressing a press conference yesterday.

He noted that the training policy aims to improve quality in the private education sector, because it is a strategic partner in the educational process, and stressed the importance of the professional development of

the private school workers. Director of the training center at the minister Hessa Al Aali said that the project was a stra-tegic one for the ministry, as it was adopted in the ministry’s 2018-2020 strategy. She added that the center will oversee the project.

03THURSDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2019 HOME

Amir’s Asian tour welcomed The Cabinet welcomed the results of the Asian tour of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani from January 27 to 31, which included an official visit to the Republic of Korea, Japan, and the People’s Republic of China. The Cabinet stressed that the positive outcome of these visits at all levels have formed great momentum in the course of the relations of the State of Qatar with these friendly coun-tries, propelling them to a new stage, which was reflected in the successful talks H H the Amir held with the leaders of the three coun-tries and its ranking officials.

Cabinet to issue law regulating purchase, ownership of animals, dangerous speciesThe Cabinet, in its meeting yesterday, decided to take the appropriate measures to issue a law regulating the purchase and ownership of animals and dangerous species, after the cabinet studied the Shura Council’s recom-mendations regarding the draft law. The Prime Minister and Interior Minister, H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, chaired the cabinet meeting which was held at the Amiri Diwan, yesterday.

The new law will ban the purchase or dealings in animals or dangerous species unless a permit from the designated authority is obtained. The law also prohibits taking those animals to any public spaces. Owners of such animals must also take the measures stated in the minister’s decision to ensure their animals do not get away.

AFC Asian Cup victory hailed The Cabinet hailed the historic achievement of the Qatar national football team after they won the 2019 Asian Cup, especially the strong performances they showed and their sports-manship. The Cabinet expressed their pride with the wise leadership of H H the Amir, who adopted the right plan and vision for all ministers and state institutions, leading to the national team’s success at the AFC Asian Cup. The Cabinet also expressed their appreciation of the efforts of all the administrative and coaching staff of the national team for the role they played in the win, wishing them further success in the future.

Govt, private entities line up National Sport Day activities

FROM PAGE 1

“These inclusive, fun, and family-friendly activities are focused on providing people throughout the community of Qatar with opportunities for enjoyment, while also carrying an important message – that health and wellbeing, and social interaction, are cornerstones of both a happy and fulfilling life, and a strong and vibrant society.”

“Our National Sport Day 2019 celebrations at Education City reflect the openness of QF, and we look forward to wel-coming people from across the community to experience and enjoy this special day in Qatar’s calendar with us,” he added. QF’s National Sport Day 2019 activities will run from 9am-6pm.

It will feature the Qatar Cyclists Tour, beginning at 10am at the Ceremonial Court and covering a route of approxi-mately 20km to the Museum of Islamic Art and back to QF. It will be one of the main events and will include about 500 cyclists.

The QF Race, a test of speed, agility, stamina, and determi-nation across an obstacle course of more than 2km in Oxygen Park, with 17 challenges to be

overcome will also be held. QF’s Shukran Cup, a com-

petition that will see cricket and football finals being played at Education City by workers and it will symbolically applaud their efforts given.

At Education City’s Cere-monial Green Spine, the team from the Dogpound – one of New York City’s most high-profile gyms, will be hosting fitness sessions with profes-sional trainers, and Qatar-based gym F45 will run high-intensity interval training sessions, two of which will be for ladies only.

Visitors can watch or join football activities organized by the Paris Saint-Germain Football Academy, and children will be able to enjoy the QF Mini Track, a smaller-scale obstacle course tailored for younger participants.

The Ceremonial Court will play host to a series of wellness sessions offered by Vishnu Yoga – which will also have dedicated yoga sessions for ladies at Multaqa. Spinning classes organized by Qatar Cyclists and RideTribe and a combination of boxing and fitness training will be provided by Beatbox.

Qatar Football Association (QFA) and Qatar Shell announced yesterday that they

will jointly organize a set of family activities in the framework of their award-winning program “Koora Time”, on the occasion of the National Sport Day at Katara on Tuesday from 8am to 6pm.

The activities this year include a wide variety of football activities and sports practices suitable for all age groups in a friendly and fun-filled envi-ronment. Two football fields, one for children of 12 years or less, will host several sports competitions as well as six other football related activities.

Families will have the opportunity to participate in fitness exercises throughout the day, enhancing the healthy life-style of the entire family, and children will receive souvenirs. Koora Time is an award winning initiative launched by Qatar Shell in cooperation with Qatar Football Association, designed to improve the health and well-being of young people in Qatar through football, the most popular sport in the country.

Also, Aspire Zone Foun-dation has announced more than 27 sporting activities that will take place across several Aspire Zone and Aspire Dome sites in a unique collaboration between i ts Member Organisations.

France bestows Al Attiyah with highest honour

QNA PARIS

The French Republic granted the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs, H E Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah, the National Order of the Legion of Honour of Commander Rank, which is the highest decoration in France.

The ceremony was held at

the headquarters of the French Ministry of Defence. The Min-ister of French Armed Forces, Florence Barley, honoured the Deputy Prime Minister and Min-ister of State for Defence Affairs for his efforts.

After the ceremony, H E the Deputy Prime Minister and Min-ister of State for Defence Affairs met with the French Minister of the Armed Forces.

During the meeting, they

discussed bilateral relations between the two friendly coun-tries and means of strengthening and developing them in defence and military fields.

The Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the French Republic, Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al Thani, Qatari Military Attache in France Brig. Gen. Mohammed Mubarak Al Shahwani and a number of members of the Qatari armed forces attended the ceremony.

LEFT: The Minister of French Armed Forces, Florence Barley, honours the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs, H E Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah, the National Order of the Legion of Honour of Commander Rank, which is the highest decoration in France. RIGHT: H E the Minister sitting inside the Rafale fighter jet.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, at a meeting for the ministers of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in Washington, yesterday.

FM: Qatar plans to host regional meet to curb ISIS crimes

FROM PAGE 1

Meanwhile, H E the Deputy Prime Minister stressed Qatar’s firm position that calls for resolving the Syrian crisis in accordance with the Geneva res-olutions and relevant Security Council resolutions and holding war criminals accountable for crimes committed by terrorist groups or those who prac-tised State terrorism.

He noted that the phenomenon of foreign ter-rorist fighters is a very important issue and should be addressed through comprehensive approach and these fighters should be rehabilitated and inte-grated into their societies within the framework of criminal justice.

Last October, he said, Doha hosted a high-level conference of regional and international experts to discuss ways to address the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters, adding that the conference came out with important recommendations in this regard.

04 THURSDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2019HOME

Costa Mediterranea makes maiden voyage to QatarTHE PENINSULA DOHA

Costa Mediterranea arrived at Doha Port, marking the Italian cruise ship’s maiden voyage to Qatar, which brought 3,700 passengers and crew to the country’s shores.

Upon her arrival, the mega ship was welcomed by, the Min-ister of Transport and Commu-nications, H E Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti, Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC) Secretary General Akbar Al Baker, Italy’s Ambassador to Qatar Pasquale Salzano, and CEO of Mwani Qatar Captain Abdullah Al Khanji.

“We are pleased to see Doha Port playing a significant role in enhancing Qatar’s position as an attractive tourist destination through accommodating inter-national cruise ships. This in turn energizes various ancillary sectors such as hospitality, food and beverage, retail and other services making cruise shipping an important sector for diversi-fying the country’s economy in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the guidance of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani,” said Al Sulaiti.

He added, “The development of Doha Port is part of our ongoing efforts to make Doha a unique and attractive tourist des-tination in the region. Dredging

and drilling has recently begun to deepen the Port, enhancing its ability to accommodate the world’s largest cruise ships.”

Costa Mediterrenea’s arrival follows the signing of an agreement between QNTC and Costa Cruises last September. According to the agreement Costa Cruises’ flagship Costa Diadema will arrive in Qatar 16 times during its 2019/20 pro-gramme; therefore Costa will become the first cruise line to make Doha its turnaround port.

The MoU also paves the way for cooperation to build attractive packages and special services dedicated to Costa Cruises guests in addition to co-marketing efforts through joint

communication and familiari-sation trips.

Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC) Secretary General Akbar Al Baker said: “We are delighted to welcome Costa Cruises –as both cruise ship and partner — to Qatar’s shores and look forward to the cruise line being the first to make Doha Port a turnaround port next year.

Our collaboration with Costa Cruises is helping to expedite the development of the cruise industry in Qatar and Costa Med-iterranea’s arrival marks another step towards our target of 200,000 cruise visitors by 2020.”

He added, “As we continue

to work with our local partners in the country to provide mem-orable experiences to each and every cruise visitor, we look forward to seeing Qatar become an increasingly frequent desti-nation on Costa Cruises’ itineraries.”

“I am very proud to board today Costa Mediterranea on its maiden voyage to Qatar. The top-level technology and cus-tomer service of this mega cruise ship – similar to others in the Costa Fleet - are designed to meet the best of Italian inno-vation, lifestyle and engaging hospitality,” said Italian Ambassador.

Highlighting the growing ties between Italy and Qatar, the

Ambassador added, “We are proud that thanks to the new partnership between Qatar National Tourism Council and Costa Cruises, more international tourists will travel to Qatar in Italian style and comfort, bringing our countries closer.”

“Costa Cruises is a pioneering company, constantly innovating its product in order to deliver guests an unforgettable cruise experience.

Therefore, we are glad to start operating in an interesting destination such as Qatar, which has a big potential for the cruise industry and allows further strengthening of the entire region,” said Neil Palomba, Pres-ident of Costa Cruises.

The Minister of Transport and Communications, H E Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti (centre); Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC) Secretary General Akbar Al Baker (fifth right), Italy’s Ambassador to Qatar, Pasquale Salzano (fourth right), and CEO of Mwani Qatar, Captain Abdullah Al Khanji (fourth left) with other officials.

Costa Mediterranea docks at Doha Port.

FAZEENA SALEEM THE PENINSULA

Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Tobacco Control Center is seeing more people wanting to stop smoking as result of price hike in tobacco and its products following recent imposition of ‘Selective Tax’ on health damaging goods.

“The number of people who call the Centre’s hotline and those visit the Smoking Cessation Clinic for the first time have increased in the past several weeks. Many visitors have revealed that they intend to give up smoking due to the price hike,” said Dr Ahmad Al Mulla, Head of the HMC Tobacco Control Center, yesterday.

“The taxation on tobacco and its products has made an impact. The price hike has made people rethink about smoking. We see this trend increasing,” he added speaking at a press conference held at the Tobacco Control

Center. Located in Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City, building 311, the center recorded around 4000 visits at its Smoking Cessation Clinic in 2018. Each person intending to quit smoking attends at least six appointments. They are between the age of 12 and 70 years. About 35 to 40 percent of them have quit smoking for a at least six months. Many of those who seek treatment are con-sidered heavy smokers, smoking more than 30 cigarettes a day.

Patients attending the Smoking Cessation Clinic receive one-on-one counseling and appropriate nicotine replacement or pharmaceutical support. Patients also undergo a full assessment, including a complete medical history and related eval-uations, such as lung function tests.

As part of the assessment, cli-nicians talk to patients about available treatment options, which include the most modern and

effective solutions to quit smoking. Psychological support is also a core part of treatment.

“In addition to smoking ciga-rettes and sheesha, the most popular forms of tobacco use among people include chewing tobacco and a tobacco product mixed with aromatic leaf and bark herbs (Midwakh or Dokha). Some are smoking electronic cigarettes

although they are banned in Qatar,” said Dr Jamal Basuhai, Smoking Cessation Specialist.

Smoking Cessation Clinic also organizes awareness activities about its services and dangers of tobacco use. “We focus a lot on secondhand smoking in awareness activities. Secondhand smoking can cause damage to children and others. There is no

safe zone for secondhand smoking. It is really dangerous,” said Dr Basuhai.

“Now there is thirdhand smoking which is residual nicotine and other chemicals left on indoor surfaces by tobacco smoke. People are exposed to these chemicals by touching contaminated surfaces or breathing in the off-gassing from these surface,” he added.

Dr Ashaur Ibrahim (left), Clinical Psychologist; Dr. Ahmad Al Mulla, Director of Tobacco Control Center, Noor Hassan, Quality Controller and Dr Jamal Abdullah, Smoking Cessation Specialist, during a press conference held yesterday.

More people wanting to stop smoking due to price hike

THE PENINSULA DOHA

Qatar Charity (QC) received the Social Responsi-bility Award (SRA) for its “Future’s Writers” programme in the category of the best national initiative during the 6th Social Responsibility Ceremony, which was attended by the Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs H E Yousef bin Mohammed Al Othman Fakhro. Yousif bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, CEO of Qatar Charity has received the award at the ceremony.

Qatar Charity along with other winners of the award was honored at the ceremony.

Dar Al-Sharq aims, through organising the awards ceremony, aims to raise awareness and disseminate knowledge about social responsi-bility and its positive impact on building coop-erative societies, and encourage companies and governmental and private institutions to pay attention to this aspect for the benefit of the nation.

QC’s ‘Future’s Writers’ receives best national initiative award

QNA DOHA

The Speaker of the Shura Council HE Ahmed bin Abdulla bin Zaid Al Mahmoud met yesterday with President of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Paraguay Dr Jose Raul Torres Kirmser and his accompanying delegation.

During the meeting they discussed bilateral relations between both countries and ways to boost and develop them in various fields, espe-cially the legislative and legal fields.

The meeting was attended by Ambassador of Paraguay to Qatar Angel Ramon Bar-chini and a number of officials from the Shura Council.

Shura Council Speaker meets Paraguay’s President of the Supreme Court

05THURSDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2019 HOME

11 Qatari companies are signatories to the UN Global CompactSANAULLAH ATAULLAH THE PENINSULA

Eleven companies operating in Qatar are signatories to the UN Global Compact, a international initiative to promote social responsibility. The Social Responsibility Awards, an initiative of Dar Al Sharq Group, helps creating culture of social responsibility in the country. “Eleven companies operating in Qatar have already signed the Global Compact,” said David Grayson, Professor of Corporate Social Responsibility at Cranfield School of Management, adding that more Qatari busi-nesses should follow them to create a culture of social respon-sibility in the country.

The UN Global Compact is a principle-based framework for businesses, stating ten principles in the areas of human rights, labor, the environment and anti-cor-ruption. Under the Global

Compact, companies are brought together with UN agencies, labor groups and civil society.

“One of starting point is for more Qatari business to become signatories for United Nations Global Compact which comprises ten simple principles on how you run a responsible busies,” David Grayson told The Peninsula on the sidelines of 6th Social Responsi-bility Awards (SRA) ceremony.

He said that local companies can learn from each other on how to work together to find common solution about the challenges arise under social responsibility in a bid to create a culture of social respon-sibility in the country. The cer-emony was organised by Dar Al Sharq in cooperation with Social and Support Contribution Fund under a theme ‘Role of Social Responsibility in Supporting 2022 FIFA World Cup’. A number of companies from different sectors received awards. Occidental Petroleum of Qatar Ltd received

the award for best company in energy sector.

“There are growing expecta-tions in all over the world from businesses so the companies should take more responsibility for social, environmental and eco-nomic impacts,” said Grayson.

He said that social responsi-bility is not just about more reducing risks which is an important part but it will help also in creating new business oppor-tunities, sustainable services and products. “I think it is hugely important to create culture of social responsibility in any society specially the business which is a fundamental part of the society,” said Grayson.

He added: “Now it is important for the businesses to take responsibility for the negative impacts like pollution, excessive use of water among may more.” He said that the businesses have bigger role to play and look their interests in long term.

The Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs, H E Yousef bin Mohammed Al Othman Fakhro, presenting a Social Responsibility Award to an official of Occidental Petroleum of Qatar Ltd, as Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani Al Thani, the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dar Al Sharq Group, and Sheikh Thani bin Ali Al Thani, the Chairman of Social Responsibility Committee, look on.

CAPA Qatar Aviation Summit concludesTHE PENINSULA DOHA

CAPA Qatar Aviation, Aeropo-litical and Regulatory Summit concluded yesterday with unveiling of Doha Declaration which called for a serious global review of relevance of aviation regulatory framework. The two-day summit featured over 30 expert speakers from across the airline, legal and government sectors who discussed the latest develop-ments in international aviation regulation, both within the Gulf region and globally.

“75 years after the aviation regulatory framework was established, it is time for a serious global review of its rel-evance today; The “business of freedom” underpins 10% of global GDP. It is too important to be constrained by economic regulation that was designed to meet entirely different condi-tions,” said Doha Declaration which was released on the

second day of the high-profile summit.

The recommendations of the declarations said that gov-ernments should relax restrictive airline ownership and control rules, which underpin the bilateral air services system, constraining rationalisation of market access.

The governments should

increase efforts to encourage plurilateral liberalisation, for example as promoted by the European Union.

The recommendations pro-posed that the governments should enhance sustainability – in its broadest meaning – in the aviation sector and actively encourage aeropolitical dis-c u s s i o n a n d f u r t h e r engagement at the highest levels.

CAPA is one of the world’s most trusted sources of market intelligence for the aviation and travel industry, with a global network of researchers and analysts located across Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.

Established in 1990, CAPA hosts a series of global summit events in key markets throughout the year, offering valuable networking opportu-nities and in-depth insight on the issues and trends that are shaping the global airline industry.

Qatar participates in 103rd session of Arab Economic and Social CouncilQNA CAIRO

The 103rd session of the Arab Economic and Social Council at the level of senior officials of the Arab ministries of economy was held yesterday at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Arab League, in preparation for the ministerial session which will be held today, chaired by the Sultanate of Oman.

The State of Qatar is par-ticipating with a delegation from the Ministry of Com-merce and Industry.

Assistant Secretary-

General and Head of Social Affairs Ambassador Haifa Abu Ghazaleh said the meeting is held shortly after the fourth Arab Development, Economic and Social Summit in Lebanon, which issues a number of important deci-sions including work strat-egies and plans.

She added that the topics on the agenda come part of advancing the course of eco-nomic and social development in Arab countries.

She said that the prepa-ration for the economic and social topic for the Council of the League of Arab States at its

30th session to be held in Tunisia in March, is one of the main topics being discussed today, through the recommen-dations of the ministerial com-mittees and specialised organ-ization on the matter.

The session will also follow up on the decisions of the Arab-African Summit, which is important for promoting cooperation between both sides through developing joint work plan, which will posi-tively reflect on the devel-opment conditions in the two regions, and will strengthen the common positions in inter-national forums.

The two-day summit featured over 30 expert speakers from across the airline, legal and government sectors who discussed the latest developments in international aviation regulation, both within the Gulf region and globally.

Romanian FM meets Qatar’s envoy

The Romanian Foreign Minister, Teodor Melescanu met with Qatar’s Ambassador to Romania, Abdullah bin Nasser Al Humaidi. They discussed bilateral relations and ways of supporting and developing them, in addition to matters of common concern.

06 THURSDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2019HOME

QU establishes steering committee to guide new College of Dental Medicine

THE PENINSULA DOHA

Qatar University’s (QU) new College of Dental Medicine establishes and holds its first meeting for a steering committee that will guide and oversee the development of the new college, which will officially open in September 2019. The steering committee will be able to make strategic and oper-ational decisions and provide recommendations to the QU Board of Regents. President of QU, Dr. Hassan Al-Derham is the Chairperson of the committee and Vice President and Founding Dean of the College of Medicine, Dr. Egon Toft is the Vice-Chairperson.

Regular members of the committee are senior represent-atives of the local oral healthcare and health education systems: Hamad Medical Cor-poration (HMC) Chairman of Dental Services, Dr. Ghanim Al-Mannai; HMC Vice Chairman of the Hamad Dental Center, Dr. Khalifa Al-Ansari; HMC Director of Medical Education, Dr. Abdul-latif Al-Khal; Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) Man-aging Director, Dr. Mariam Abdulmalik; PHCC Manager of the Oral Health Division, Dr.

Asmaa Al Khatib; Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) Senior Consultant, Dr. Abdulla Al Emadi; Sidra Director of Den-tistry, Dr. Jamal Al Abdulla; QU Founding Dean for QU College of Dental Medicine, Prof. Johann de Vries; and finally QU Project Manager Strategic Development, Nicola Frank.

The purpose of the first meeting of the steering com-mittee is to introduce all members, provide everyone with key facts about the soon-to-be tenth college at QU and collect general feedback.

The committee also gathered advice and strategic direction on curriculum devel-opment, organizational structure and governance, recruitment strategy, student outreach, quality assurance, partnerships and a communi-cation plan.

The College of Dental Med-icine will offer a six-year program leading to the degree of Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD). With a yearly intake of up to 25 students, 70% of stu-dents are expected to be Qatari high-school applicants from within Qatar.

As the fourth college under QU Health, the new college will complement the existing health-related Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Health Sciences, and hence expand the possibil-ities of inter-professional learning at the university. This is the first dental medicine college in Qatar.

The curriculum will incor-porate pedagogical approaches and advanced e-learning and learning technologies, that foster students’ active learning and critical thinking.

It will be delivered in close collaboration with HMC and the PHCC, so that students can benefit from early clinical expe-rience in state-of-the-art facil-ities including a dental simu-lation clinic and academic dental hospital at HMC, student-tailored elective studies, com-munity-based education, and research possibilities, which are key elements of the curriculum.

The members of the College of Dental Medicine steering committee at QU hold its first meeting.

The purpose of the first meeting of the Steering Committee is to introduce all members, provide everyone with key facts about the soon-to-be tenth college at QU and collect general feedback.

DIFI to take part in commission for social development sessionTHE PENINSULA DOHA

The Doha International Family Institute (DIFI), a member of Qatar Foundation, will partic-ipate in a series of panel sessions held as part of the 57th Session of the Commission for Social Development, taking place at the United Nations Head-quarters in New York from February 11-21, 2019.

DIFI, in partnership with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and the International Federation for Family Devel-opment (IFFD), will host a dis-cussion titled ‘Doha Briefing’ on February 12.

The panel will present the ‘Civil Society Statement on Parenting’, which was launched at DIFI’s ‘Parenting, Child Well-being, and Development’ con-ference in Doha in October 2018.

On the same day, DIFI, with the IFFD, will co-host a panel titled the ‘Value of Unpaid Care and Domestic Work’.

The discussion will be held in collaboration with the Per-manent Mission of The State of Qatar to the United Nations; the Division for Inclusive Social Development, UN DESA; and the International Federation for Home Economics.

DIFI will conclude its par-ticipation with a panel titled ‘Towards Family Sensitive Pro-

tection’ on February 14. The discussion will be held

in collaboration with the Per-manent Mission of The State of Qatar to the United Nations, UN DESA, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, Berkeley Social Welfare, and the International Council on Social Welfare.

DIFI is a global policy and advocacy institute working to advance knowledge on Arab families through research and promote evidence-based polices at a national, regional, and inter-national level.

The institute has special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

Deadline for registration in Quran competition will be February 9QNA DOHA

The Calls and Religious Guidance Department of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs announced that Saturday (February 9) will be the last date for registration in Holy Quran competition for school students.

The Department continues to receive applications for reg-istration in the school compe-tition for the current year in its 58th edition, which is wit-nessing a great participation that is the largest in the local competitions held at the state level where the number of participants exceeds 33,000 students from all levels of study. Director of Calls and R e l i g i o u s G u i d a n c e Department, Malullah Al Jaber said that all preparations have been completed to launch the competition.

07THURSDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2019 HOME

EAA & the United Nations Development Programme students in Gaza host ‘Inspire 2019’

THE PENINSULA DOHA

Education Above All (EAA) Foundation’s programme Al Fakhoora in Gaza, successfully hosted ‘INSPIRE 2019,’ inspire hearts, minds and action.

This conference, in collab-oration with the United Nations Development Programme, Pro-gramme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (UNDP/PAPP) and Qatar Fund For Development and in part-nership with Al Nayzak organ-ization, took place on January 31. Organized entirely by Al Fakhoora students, Inspire was a first of its kind annual con-ference to discuss cutting edge and currently relevant issues in the field of education.

The aim of the conference was to empower youth to speak up and become part of the global conversation on issues in the forefront of education, as well as to share Al Fakhoora students’ personal journeys to becoming active agents of change in their communities.

Farooq Burney, Executive Director of Al Fakhoora Program, said, “Inspire 2019 was truly an impactful event, completely curated and exe-cuted by the students of the Al

Fakhoora Dynamic Futures pro-gramme. It’s very inspiring to see dedicated, passionate young minds leading the conversation on such critical, prevailing issues. These students are an inspiration not only to their families, peers and communities but also to us all, demonstrating through their actions how eve-ryone can play a positive role for the betterment of our societies.“

Geoffrey Prewitt, UNDP Deputy Special Representative of the Administrator highlighted the significance of education as a human right that allows youth to achieve their potential, realize opportunities for employment, and develop life skills.

“Education is central to growth and development and has remained high on the devel-opment agenda of the interna-tional community: education is one of the 17 Sustainable Devel-opment Goals.

Unemployment among youth in Gaza is over 60%. We have to scale up the investment in creating a movement of edu-cation and motivate youth to make social change happen”.

Students in large numbers took part in this event, com-prising 120 participants from Al

Fakhoora programme and 30 from different academic insti-tutions who were trained by seven world-class trainers on the importance of community building through youth involvement. The event was also attended by 300 delegates, including researchers, decision makers, educationalists, and members of the UN, INGOs and local NGOs.

This unique endeavour was developed and planned by EAA students to showcase their achievements as they have pro-gressed through Dynamic Future’s multi-stage inspira-tional civic leadership pro-gramme over the last two years.

The conference featured panels where students dis-cussed thought-provoking topics such as: “To succeed, does intelligence really matter?” and “Can social entrepre-neurship lead innovation in education?”

It included an exhibition for invitees to walk through dis-playing community initiatives which students designed and implemented during the pro-gramme, as well as a section showcasing art and featuring cultural activities led by the stu-dents, to engage the audience and conference participants.

The event was attended by 300 delegates.

Hydroponic Trial and Demonstration Center opens in Al KhorTHE PENINSULA DOHA

Hydroponic Trial and Demon-stration Center was opened in Al Khor on Tuesday. Qatar Ferti-liser Company (QAFCO), AGRICO and Yara International ASA (Norway) had signed a Cooper-ation Agreement on October 15, 2018 to establish a Hydroponic Trial and Demonstration Center in Qatar to test local greenhouse t e c h n o l o g i e s , n u t r i e n t management and best horticul-tural practices.

The objective is to develop a sustainable crop management system suited for the Qatari climate that achieves high yields and productivity while con-serving precious local water resources and limiting any neg-ative impact of vegetables pro-duction on the local environment.

The Trial and Demonstration Center’s growing area is 3,750 square meters and is established on a plot near AGRICO Farm in Al Khor.

The Center was designed and built by AGRICO using tech-nology, knowledge and expertise accumulated during 10 years of experience operating in pro-tected agriculture in Qatar. The Center is jointly operated by the three companies.

QAFCO Managing Director &

Chief Executive Officer, Abdul-rahman M Al Suwaidi, AGRICO General Manager, Nasser Al Khalaf, and Yara International ASA Chief Executive Officer and President, Svein Tore Holsether, officially opened the Trial and Demonstration Center in Al Khor.

QAFCO, AGRICO and Yara plan to share the data generated and the lessons learned from the Trial and Demonstration Center to educate and support Qatari farmers.

Accordingly, multiple training sessions are planned during the growing season. Fur-thermore, the Center is con-ducting workshops for schools and institutions who are inter-ested to learn more about agri-culture and hydroponics.

Currently the Trial and Dem-onstration Center features three different types of greenhouses. First type is multispan green-house protected by insect net. It

is the most affordable type of greenhouses and suitable for growing vegetables for 8-9 months per year.

Such technology allows better protection for the plants from insects, and reduces the use of agrochemicals whilst, at the same time, providing a more suitable micro-climate for growing vegetables than in the open field.

Second type is plastic tunnels with evaporative cooling are more expensive to build but allow better climate man-agement inside the greenhouse and longer growing season which might last to up to 10 months per year. Furthermore plastic tunnels are most appro-priate for small scale farming.

The third type is a multispan plastic greenhouse with evapo-rative cooling for achieving optimum temperature during the day and air conditioning for night

time cooling in the summer. These greenhouses allow better climate management where the growing season may last up to 11 months.

All crops in the Trial and Demonstration Center are grown in hydroponics, a method of growing fruits and vegetables without the use of natural soil.

This way of growing reduces the risk of plants being exposed to soil diseases and allows saving of water, fertilizers and agro-chemicals.

In addition yields in hydro-ponics are usually higher than in soil based cultivation, meaning more production using less land, fertilizers and water and the prevention of land contamination.

All plants are constantly fed with nutrient solution via a drip irrigation system that precisely combines water and required nutrients. The nutrient solution is prepared from Yara’s

fertilizers and is tailored for each crop, each stage of growth and each type of greenhouse.

Regular analysis of substrate, leaves, nutrient solutions and drainage water is performed in the QAFCO Laboratory.

This analysis allows the accurate monitoring of the quality of water, composition of the nutrients and nutrient absorption rate of plants and the correction of the nutrient recipes, if necessary.

Al Suwaidi, said, “QAFCO supports such initiatives similar to this demonstration center to share agricultural best practices, techniques and lessons learned with the Qatari agricultural sector as a contribution to Qatar’s goal of agricultural self-sufficiency.”

Al Khalaf said, “we are very proud of the cooperation between private and public sector to develop the local farms

production with higher yields and quality. The fruitful result from the hard work of every party can be seen today in the demonstration center. This cooperation and development is aligned with Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani’s 2030 vision to achieve food security in Qatar.”

Holsether expressed, “Yara International has committed to help to develop Qatar’s agricul-tural sector. We have achieved the first step and together with our partners established the very first demonstration center of such kind in Qatar.

We already see tremendous results from our mutual coop-eration when Yara’s deep knowledge in crop nutrition successfully combined with the local expertise of AGRICO and Qafco to make Qatari farming sector more efficient and ensure sustainable growth.”

QAFCO Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Abdulrahman M Al Suwaidi and AGRICO General Manager, Nasser Al Khalaf (left) at the event.

QAFCO, AGRICO and Yara plan to share the data generated and the lessons learned from the Trial and Demonstration Center to educate and support Qatari farmers. Accordingly, multiple training sessions are planned during the growing season. Furthermore, the Center is conducting workshops for schools and institutions who are interested to learn more about agriculture and hydroponics.

Yara International ASA Chief Executive Officer and President, Svein Tore Holsether.

08 THURSDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2019MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA

‘US still committed to fight IS in Syria, Iraq’ REUTERS WASHINGTON

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo yesterday reassured coalition partners that the with-drawal of US troops from Syria was not “the end of America’s fight” and called on them to help permanently defeat Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.

Pompeo — addressing foreign ministers and other senior officials from 79 coun-tries that have worked alongside the United States in fighting the militant group in Syria and Iraq — said Islamic State remained a menace.

“The US troops withdrawing from Syria is not the end of America’s fight. The fight is one we will continue to wage alongside you,” Pompeo said in opening remarks at the State Department.

“The drawdown in troops is essentially a tactical change, it is not a change in the mission. It simply represents a new stage in an old fight.” “Our mission is unwavering, but we need your help to accomplish it, just as we’ve had over the past months and years,” Pompeo said. “To that end, we ask that our

coalition partners seriously and rapidly consider requests that will enable our efforts to con-tinue. “Those requests are likely to come very soon,” he added, without elaborating.

Warnings by Pompeo and others that Islamic State remained a dangerous threat fly in the face of President Donald Trump’s December declaration that the militants had been defeated and the United States would withdraw its roughly 2,000 US troops from Syria.

The president’s sudden decision shocked coalition partners, including an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias that has been among the most effective against Islamic State,

and prompted the abrupt resig-nation of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. Yesterday’s meeting was the first of senior coalition offi-cials since Trump, who was scheduled to address delegates in the afternoon, announced US troops would withdraw. Partic-ipants included foreign min-isters from Turkey, France, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Morocco and Iraq. Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohamed Al Hakim, speaking after Pompeo, called on coun-tries to help expose Islamic State “sleeper cells” in Iraq and restore stability.

Pompeo said despite progress in fighting Islamic State in Iraq, the group retained a strong presence in that country and was trying to mount a clan-destine insurgency.

“The coalition must continue to support the government of Iraq in its efforts to secure the liberated areas of that country,” Pompeo said. “Mr. Foreign Min-ister, we’re with you,” he told Hakim. Earlier this week, Trump said it was important to keep a US military presence in Iraq so that Washington could keep a close eye on Iran, according to a CBS interview aired on Sunday.

South Africa’s Ramaphosa to give policy speech amid graft allegationsAFP CAPE TOWN

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa (pictured) will today deliver his last state-of-the-nation address ahead of elections in May with his party smarting from corruption alle-gations.

In his address to parliament last year, two days after Jacob Zuma resigned from office, Ramaphosa vowed a “new dawn”, promising economic revival and to fight endemic corruption, earning him plaudits even from the oppo-sition benches.

But a year later, growth is tepid and unemployment remains stubbornly high at more than 27 percent while embarrassing details have emerged of corruption within the government and among ANC ruling party officials.

An ongoing commission into graft has heard blow-by-blow details of how bribes were paid to several government and

party officials, including senior cabinet ministers serving in Ramaphosa’s government.

Mineral resources minister Gwede Mantashe and envi-ronment minister Nomvula Mokonyane are some of the top party guns whose names have been linked to corruption by witnesses at the graft hearings.

Ramaphosa is under pressure to move against the implicated officials, but he must also strive for party unity through the election.

Despite dipping in the polls, the ANC is tipped to win the parliamentary election with around 60 percent of the vote.

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa arrives for talks with leaders of opposition parties in Harare, Zimbabwe, yesterday.

Zimbabwe oppn leader snubs Mnangagwa dialogue callAFP HARARE

Zimbabwean opposition leader Nelson Chamisa snubbed an invitation by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to join a national summit yesterday, just weeks after security forces crushed protests over the wors-ening economy.

“He is not attending,” C h a m i s a ’ s s p o k e s m a n

Nkululeko Sibanda said ahead of the meeting of political leaders, scheduled to take place at the presidential offices.

Chamisa, who insists he won last July’s presidential elections, said he was in favour of dialogue but would only attend talks if they were called by a neutral party. “The dialogue should be facilitated by someone who is neutral, rather than Mnangagwa being an umpire when his

election is in dispute,” said S i b a n d a . M n a n g a g w a announced via Twitter: “I have invited the leaders of all political parties to come together, without preconditions, to begin a process of national dialogue.

“Let us all put the people first and politics second,” he said. But Chamisa tweeted that the “presidency is disputed” because of “rigged presidential election result”.

Lebanon names first female Arab minister in charge of securityAP BEIRUT

Lebanon’s new interior minister assumed her post yesterday, becoming her country’s and the Arab world’s first female official in charge of powerful security agencies.

Raya El Hassan welcomed the challenge, saying Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri put his trust in her and gave her “this big responsibility.” “As the first

female minister of interior, I have to prove the woman’s ability to assume an exceptional portfolio,” she said at the handover ceremony from her predecessor who had been in the post for five years.

El Hassan, who holds a Masters’ degree from George Washington University and is a member of Hariri’s Future Movement Party, is one of four women in the 30-member Cabinet - a record for female

political representation in Lebanon. El Hassan is used to headlines. She chaired one of Lebanon’s major private public partnerships designed to develop the port city of Tripoli and in 2009, she became the first Arab woman finance minister - a post she kept for two years.

As interior minister, she will be in charge of multiple, often competing security agencies, and of maintaining stability.

El Hassan said her priorities

are to improve cooperation between agencies, uphold human rights and improve Leb-anon’s notorious traffic problems. She said she would prioritize improving conditions in prisons and ensure domestic violence doesn’t go unreported. “I will seek to have my own very special touch,” building on the work done before me, she added.

Lebanon has been making an effort to improve representation of women in politics. In last

year’s parliamentary election, the first in nine years, six women were elected to the 128-seat par-liament, up from four in the pre-vious chamber.

Hariri’s party also named Violette Safadi as state minister and she successfully campaigned to promptly rename her post from the ministry from women’s affairs to ministry for “women and youth empowerment.” The post was previously held by a man.

Amnesty accuses UAE of diverting arms to militias in YemenREUTERS DUBAI

Amnesty International accused the United Arab Emirates yesterday of diverting arms supplied by Western and other states to “unaccountable militias accused of war crimes” in Yemen.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia are leading a military coalition, including local forces drawn from various Yemeni factions,

that is trying to restore the internationally recognised government ousted from power in 2014 by the Iranian-aligned Houthi group.

“Emirati forces receive bil-lions of dollars’ worth of arms from Western states and others, only to syphon them off to militias in Yemen that answer to no-one and are known to be committing war crimes,” Amnesty said in a statement.

“The proliferation of these fighting forces is a recipe for disaster for Yemeni civilians who have already been killed in their thousands, while mil-lions more are on the brink of famine as a direct result of the war,” the human rights group said.

The UAE government media office did not immedi-ately respond to a request for comment on the Amnesty statement.

Kenya vows to help Tshisekedi achieve stabilityAFP NAIROBI

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday offered to train DR Congo civil servants, as he expressed his country’s commitment to political stability during a visit by President Felix

Tshisekedi.The new DRC president is on

his maiden tour which has already taken in Angola and will end in Congo Brazzaville, since his inauguration last month fol-lowing a hotly disputed election.

In Nairobi he held separate talks with opposition leader Raila

Odinga and Kenyatta, who have grown close and are working to promote peace after a dramatic 2017 election that left at least 92 dead, according to rights groups.

Kenyatta told Tshisekedi that Kenya had learned valuable lessons from past political ten-sions, which it was willing to

share, his office said in a statement. “We will continue to help you achieve peace and sta-bility because we have had similar experience which we can share,” he said.

Kenyatta said that Kenya would offer training opportu-nities to Congolese public

servants. “We are ready to partner in building infra-structure, sharing skills in extractive industry and in many other areas of mutual benefit,” he said.

Kenyatta also called for the deepening of trade ties.

Tshisekedi’s inauguration

after December polls marked the first-ever peaceful transfer of power since independence from Belgium in 1960.

However runner-up Martin Fayulu dismissed his victory as an “electoral coup” master-minded by long-term outgoing president Joseph Kabila.

Top Iraqi cleric rejects Trump’s plan for US troops in IraqAP BAGHDAD

Iraq’s most senior Shiah cleric yesterday joined a chorus of Iraqi politicians and clerics crit-icizing recent statements by President Donald Trump in which he said US troops should stay in Iraq to keep an eye on neighbouring Iran.

Grand Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani said Iraq aspires to have “good

and balanced relations” with all of its neighbours “based on mutual interests and without intervention in internal affairs.” Iraq “rejects being a launching pad for harming any other country,” he said during a meeting with UN Iraq envoy Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert at the cleric’s base in Najaf.

Both Iraq’s president and prime minister have hit back at Trump’s statements to US media

this week stating that US troops should stay at a base in Iraq so that America can “watch Iran.” “We spent a fortune on building this incredible base,” Trump said. “We might as well keep it. And one of the reasons I want to keep it is because I want to be looking a little bit at Iran because Iran is a real problem.” Trump apparently was referring to the Al Asad air base in western Iraq, where he paid a brief visit to US

forces in December. The base hosts American troops but belongs to the Iraqi army.

Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi, at his weekly news con-ference late Tuesday, reminded Trump that there are no US bases in Iraq and said he doesn’t accept the idea of Iraq becoming an arena for fighting a neigh-boring country. He called on Trump to retract his statements.

“The US troops withdrawing from Syria is not the end of America’s fight. The fight is one we will continue to wage alongside you,” Pompeo said in opening remarks at the State Department.

UN aid convoy reaches Rukban camp in SyriaREUTERS AMMAN

The largest United Nations humanitarian aid convoy since the start of the Syrian conflict has reached Rukban refugee camp, where thou-sands of desperate people are stranded in the desert close to the border with Jordan, the UN said yesterday.

The United Nations said the convoy of more than 100 trucks was carrying food, sanitation and hygiene sup-plies, and health assistance to the camp. “Conditions at Rukban are increasingly des-perate. The vast majority of people at the site are women and children who have been staying there for more than two years in harsh condi-tions,” Fadwa AbedRabou Baroud, a UN Damascus-based spokeswoman said.

The Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) is also taking part in the convoy, which will involve an emergency vacci-nation campaign for 10,000 children against measles, polio and other diseases.

09THURSDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2019 HOME

The draft law was prepared by the Ministry of Culture and Sports to implement its provisions, whether in relation to publications, publishing and press or practicing in advertising activities, public relations, artistic production, artistic works.

THE WASHINGTON POST

10 THURSDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2019VIEWS

Qatar consolidates freedom of media with draft law regulating publications, media activities and arts

The State of Qatar affirmed its keenness to support and develop the freedom of media, based on the political and

social awareness of its people and its recognition of the right of its citizens to know the full truth.

The State has consolidated the citi-zen’s right to free and constructive media in a manner that distinguishes the truth from rumors and false and fabricated news through a draft law regulating publications, publishing, media activities and arts, which was approved by the Cabinet last Sep-tember. The draft law was prepared in the framework of modernising legis-lation and keeping abreast of the tech-nical and technological development in the field of publications, publishing, media activities and arts, and in support of the freedom of opinion and expression and freedom of the press and media in Qatar. It also comes in response the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights in which Article 19 provides that everyone shall be guaranteed the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani has announced Qatar’s accession to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Cov-enant on Economic, Social and Cul-tural Rights (ICESCR) in the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly.

In an exclusive interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), Director of the Department of Publications and Art Works at the Ministry of Culture

and Sports Abeer Shaheen Al Kuwari said that the new draft law stems from the State’s keenness on the interest of society and on the regu-lation of work in the relevant institutions.

She noted that the draft law, which its legislative procedures will be com-pleted after it

was approved by the Cabinet until it will be finalized, includes provisions relating to the organisation of press, printing houses, the circulation of publications, publishers, the estab-lishment and management of cinemas and theaters, the organization of works of art, film production, radio and television broadcasting,

advertising, media services and public relations. One of the most important articles of this draft law is the emphasis on freedom of press and there are no prison sentences in pub-lishing cases due to the freedom of expression, she added.

Al Kuwari pointed out that the draft law was prepared by the Ministry of Culture and Sports as the adminis-trative authority competent to implement its provisions, whether in relation to publications, publishing and press or practicing in advertising activities, public relations, artistic pro-duction, artistic works and supervising actors operating in these areas through regulation, supervision and granting of licenses.

As for the reasons for the new leg-islation, she said that it came due to the great technical and technological development that affected the printing industry, artistic works , press, other media activities and arts.

It was also necessary to amend a number of articles of the current two laws and add a number of activities that were not previously organized such as film production, artistic pro-duction and radio and television broadcasting, she underlined, she said, adding that the new draft law incorpo-rated the publications and publishing law No. 8 of 1979 and the decree law No.16 of 1993 on regulating the practice of advertising, public rela-tions, artistic production and artistic works as the main legislations in the fields of the Ministry’s work.

On the main features of the new draft law, Director of the Department of Publications and Art Works at the Ministry of Culture and Sports Abeer Shaheen Al Kuwari said that the draft law adopted some basic amendments concerning the press, which is con-sidered one of the most important means of expression, in line with article 19 of United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 19 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

She noted that the importance of freedom of expression lies in three main aspects which are the respect for human dignity, free exchange of ideas and views and the flow of information.

The new draft law, she said, affirms the freedom of Journalists in accordance with the Qatari Consti-tution, United Nations Universal Dec-laration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, adding that it also rec-ognizes the general obligations of the journalist which represent in general the code of ethics of the press work.

The draft law adopted the estab-lishment of a committee in the Min-istry of Culture and Sports for the reg-istration of journalists competent to accept the affairs of journalists and media professionals, she told QNA.

Provisions for publishing and elec-tronic circulation have been added to the new draft in a number of its articles, Al Kuwari said.

In addition, articles concerning the establishment and management of cinemas and theaters were also intro-duced, she underlined, noting that the draft also introduced a chapter on audiovisual broadcasting.

Regarding the existence of facil-ities for the establishment of cinemas and theaters in the new draft law, Al Kuwari said that the current law actually grants licenses for such activ-ities, and it comes for more regulation for these activities or other media activities.

She stressed that the department is responsible for implementing laws and regulations related to publications and publishing, studying and issuing the necessary licenses for press publica-tions and issuing procedures in accordance with the regulated law, as well as issuing licenses for printing presses, publishing houses, bookshops, Import, institutions of publications’ export and distribution, issuing business licenses in press, issuing licenses to practice journalism, issuing the necessary licenses to start printing publications, issuing licenses for adver-tising activities, public relations and artistic production and licenses for selling and distributing artistic works.

It is also authorized to approve the issuance and distribution of publica-tions and leaflets of diplomatic and consular missions accredited to the State, in coordination with the rel-evant administrative units.

QNA

QUOTE OF THE DAYThe Palestinians have

not been invited to next week’s Mideast

conference in Poland and have no desire to participate unless the

US changes its policies. The current American

policies will only lead to futile results.

Nabil Abu Rdeneh Spokesman for

Palestinian President

Out with the old in El Salvador

If any country can be said to have suffered enough, it would surely be El Salvador, the tiny nation of 6.4 million people on the Pacific

coast of Central America. It has a long history of inequality and violence, the ugliest chapter of which occurred during the 1980s, when a civil war between a U.S.-backed government army and Cuban- supported guer-rillas claimed tens of thousands of lives. Hundreds of thousands of Salva-dorans went north to escape human rights violations and poverty. The Sal-vadoran American community, 2 million strong, is now the third-largest Hispanic-origin group in the United States. The northbound flow continues, as entire families continue to seek refuge here from gang vio-lence that produced a murder rate - 50 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2018 - 10 times worse than that of the United States.

It therefore should not be sur-prising that the Salvadoran people would eventually cast out parties and politicians, rooted in the factions that waged the three-decade-old civil war, that have alternated in power since a

1992 peace settlement. In Sunday’s presidential election, voters rejected candidates of the right-wing Arena party and the left-wing FMLN in favor of an independent, Nayib Bukele, 37, who has the twin distinction of being both the youngest to be elected pres-ident in El Salvador’s modern history and the first of Muslim origin. Bukele won 54 percent of the vote running on a vague, populist, anti-corruption platform, which made political sense because the last Arena president is now serving 10 years in prison for embezzlement and an FMLN prede-cessor fled to Nicaragua rather than face charges of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Official corruption is the Salva-doran electorate’s perennial grievance, yet it may not be their most urgent issue. That would be criminal violence, specifically the murderous activities of MS-13 and other extortion rackets, which are infecting all levels of the society, spreading fear and sapping people’s will to engage in honest, productive activity. Past governments have tried cracking down, and they have tried negotiated truces - nothing, so far, has managed to eradicate the gangs

and pacify society. The United States can help by extending the temporary residence in this country of Salva-dorans obliged to settle here after another of their country’s occasional disasters: a 2001 earthquake. Their remittances back home help float the economy.

A nonideological outsider with a flair for social media, Bukele has shown some troubling tendencies to make unrealistic promises and dodge press scrutiny; he has also been refreshingly willing to question his country’s close ties with a major font of transnational crime - Venezuela. The real test of his presidency will be its ability to translate electoral victory into focused, pragmatic gov-ernance. In his last job, mayor of San Salvador, Bukele impressed citizens by organizing the beautification and reconstruction of the city’s historic center. That job was easy, though, by comparison with the task of estab-lishing, at long last, a stable, legit-imate national political order. Exhausted and disillusioned with the political options of the past, Salva-dorans have deposited their hopes in Bukele. For now, all of El Salvador’s friends must do the same.

The joint venture reiterates FIFA’s confidence in Qatar with regards to the preparation for the Cup, which represents an important step in the efforts of cooperation between Qatar and FIFA to deliver a successful tournament which will be remembered for decades to come for the legacy it is expected to leave behind.

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

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITORMOHAMMED OSMAN ALI

osman@pen.com.qa

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

EDITORIAL

Quest to host the best World Cup

Qatar has been making steady progress through its tireless efforts in its aspiration to host the best FIFA World Cup ever in 2022. Since winning the bid to

host the world’s most popular sport event in 2010, the country has been racing against time to make its dream come true by planning and preparing all the facilities such as world-class stadiums, infrastructure facilities, hassle-free transport, taking measures to ensure the safety and security of the players and thousands of spectators expected to descend on Doha. The announcement of the new joint venture, “FIFA World Cup 2022 LLC” comes as another great leap in the preparation for the World Cup.

The tournament entered into delivery mode with the formation of the joint venture by the State of Qatar and the world football governing body, the Federation of Interna-tional Football Associations (FIFA), which will be entrusted with the task of organising the game’s showpiece event. This new delivery mode will capitalise on the efforts and planning expertise Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) has built up in the past nine years.

Creating the joint venture reflects Qatar’s shared vision represented by the SC and FIFA to facilitate the smooth oper-ation and hosting of the FIFA World Cup 2022, which will be an unprecedented event for Qatar, the entire Arab World and third world countries.

FIFA’s professional capabil-ities and extensive experience in organising World Cup tour-naments will add to the profes-sionalism, hard work and the will and determination of the SC to deliver an exceptional World Cup experience for the players and fans in Qatar and all over the world. The SC Sec-retary-General, Hassan Al Thawadi, who is also the Chairman of the new entity, said: “The formation of this new joint venture comes at a strate-gically important time in Qatar’s World Cup project as we com-plete our various infrastructure projects such as stadiums and training sites and turn our attention to finalising the unique fan and player experience that Qatar 2022 will provide.”

Thawadi was very confident in saying that the combination of FIFA’s extensive tournament experience and the nine years hard work already invested in

the project by the SC will ensure that the first FIFA World Cup in the Arab region is one of the best ever. The joint venture reiterates FIFA’s confidence in Qatar with regards to the preparation for the Cup, which represents an important step in the efforts of cooperation between Qatar and FIFA to deliver a successful tournament which will be remembered for decades to come for the legacy it is expected to leave behind.

All local stakeholders - government officials, opposition leaders and tribal elders - will need to reach a consensus among themselves on what they want from the peace settlement. For now, they all appear to be more focused on holding on to their seats after the next election than reaching a deal with the Taliban. If they continue to be more concerned about maintaining their grip on power than bringing stability to their country, and refuse to negotiate a power-sharing deal, any peace efforts will be doomed for failure.

11THURSDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2019 OPINION

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICETEL: 4455 7741 / 767FAX: +974 4455 7758

MANAGING EDITORTEL: 4462 7505

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITORTEL: 4455 7769

LOCAL NEWS SECTION TEL: 4455 7743

BUSINESS NEWS SECTION TEL: 4462 7535

SPORT NEWS SECTION TEL: 4455 7745

ONLINE SECTION TEL: 4462 7501info@pen.com.qa

PUBLIC RELATIONSTEL: 4455 7613pr@pen.com.qa

ADVERTISING DEPARTMENTTEL: 4455 7837 / 780FAX: 4455 7870 adv@pen.com.qa

CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENTTEL: 4455 7857adv@pen.com.qa

SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTIONTEL: 4455 7809 / 839FAX: 44557819info@tawseelqatar.com

D-RING ROADPOST BOX: 3488DOHA - QATAReditor@pen.com.qa

All thoughts and views expressed in these columns are those of the writers,not of the newspaper.

All correspondence regarding Views and Opinion pages should be send to editor-in-chiefoffice or mailed to the editorinchief@pen.com.qa

Forget about Trump’s new immigration position. He will.

Understanding the Taliban will be key to peace in Afghanistan

RAMESH PONNURU BLOOMBERG

NADIR NAIM AL JAZEERA

An ad-libbed moment in Pres-ident Donald Trump’s latest State of the Union address is the key to interpreting it.

“I want people to come into our country in the largest numbers ever, but they have to come in legally,” Trump said. The words “ in the largest numbers ever” did not appear in the

prepared version of the remarks.They are also a poor fit for the

Trump administration’s record. In 2017, Trump endorsed the RAISE Act, a bill that would sharply reduce legal immigration. As the White House put it, “The RAISE Act reduces overall immigration numbers to limit low-skilled and unskilled labor entering the United States.”

When senators offered legislation in 2018 to provide $25 billion for border security in return for per-manent legal status for illegal immi-grants who came to our country as minors, Trump said he would veto it in large part because the legislation did not include the cuts in legal immi-gration he wanted.

There’s a case for Trump’s 2017-18

position that legal immigration levels should be cut. There’s a case for his position last night that the levels should be raised. Obviously you can’t take both views simultaneously. Perhaps the way to make sense of his shift from the first to the second is to assume that Trump has decided to give up on cutting legal immigration in order to achieve his more important goal of sealing the southern border -- that he is tacitly admitting that his previous stance was a tactical mistake.

But there’s another way to explain the shift, and I think there’s more evi-dence for it: Trump wasn’t serious about either position. Trump did almost nothing to win support for the legal-immigration cuts. When 14 Republican senators joined almost all Democrats to vote against those cuts, he didn’t even tweet about it. He hasn’t returned to the topic of cutting legal immigration since then.

We are used to presidents who have legislative priorities, stick to them and make deals with con-gressmen to advance them. President Trump is either unwilling or unable to do much of this work, even on his signature issue of immigration control. His copious day-to-day commentary is often disconnected from that work.

A few days after losing the immi-gration vote, for example, he told a group of lawmakers that he favored taking guns away from the mentally ill before going to court, raising the age for buying rifles and taking on the National Rifle Association. He never

followed through on any of it. Nobody really expected anything else: His own aides largely ignored his comments.

Over the last two months, the president has said that the southern border is already secure, that he would shut down the government to get a wall on that secure border, that actually the Democrats had shut down the government, and that he is considering declaring a national emergency in the name of a wall that he assures us is being built. There was no master strategy behind all of these remarks, just a president who says things serially without caring whether they cohere.

In the hours before the State of the Union speech, aides explained that Trump would emphasize the theme of unity and plug bipartisan initiatives, and so he did. It would not be a bad strategy for him to follow. But those themes don’t line up with how Trump has behaved in the past and are unlikely to govern how he or his aides will act after, at most, a few days. Sticking to plans, even flexible ones, has not been a hallmark of this presi-dency. It’s not a presidency that places a lot of weight on the president’s words, either.

Whether you loved the speech or hated it, it’s not going to set the agenda for Washington, D.C. this year, or for the administration, or even for Trump himself. Immigration enthu-siasts shouldn’t take heart, and restrictionists shouldn’t despair, about Trump’s comment about welcoming record levels of immigration. He may have forgotten he said it already.

On January 28, following six consecutive days of talks in Qatar’s capital Doha, Washington’s main nego-

tiator Zalmay Khalilzad announced that the US and the Taliban finally have a “draft framework” in place for a deal which could pave the way for peace talks with the Afghan government.

Khalilzad’s comments undoubtedly ignited hopes of a breakthrough in the grinding 17-year conflict, but neither the US nor the Taliban officials offered any details on the specifics of the framework.

Historically, due to its strategic location, Afghanistan often served as a battleground on which global and regional powers settled their rivalries. Series of invasions, interventions, wars and long-term confrontations caused major devastation and loss for all involved parties, with the highest price inevitably being paid by the Afghan nation.

Over the years, the warring parties participated in countless rounds of talks and negotiations, at times creating cautious optimism. However, due to decision-makers’ short-sightedness, overconfidence and refusal to learn from past mis-takes, peace always proved evasive and the suffering of millions continued.

Today, we seem to be facing yet another opportunity to break this cycle of violence and start a peace process that could finally allow the people of Afghanistan to unite, heal and prosper. However, as has been proven many times over in the past, sustainable peace cannot be achieved unless all parties learn from past mis-takes, understand their enemy’s needs

and motivations, and come up with a settlement that satisfies the local pop-ulation as well as all regional and global stakeholders.

This is why it is crucial at this his-toric juncture to examine the factors that led to the rise of the Taliban in the 1990s and the motivations that guide the group to this day.

What does the Taliban want?The Taliban was formed in the

early 1990s by a faction of “muja-hideen”, Muslim Afghan fighters who had resisted the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan (1979-1989). Taking advantage of the power vacuum created by the withdrawal of Soviet troops, the group easily expanded its sphere of influence in the years fol-lowing its formation and seized control of Afghanistan in 1996. It held control of most of the country until being over-thrown after the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in December 2001 fol-lowing the September 11 attacks.

After the toppling of the Taliban regime, the group’s members were ready and willing to accept a peace deal that would allow them a modest but dignified existence in the country. Yet, politicians and decision-makers both inside and outside Afghanistan, intoxicated by their decisive victory, refused to entertain this option and swiftly kicked the Taliban off the negotiating table.

At the Bonn Conference, which determined the country’s destiny, they completely ignored the group’s most basic demands and facilitated the formation of a strictly anti-Taliban government. This was the fundamental mistake that triggered the latest round of bloodshed in Afghanistan and brought us to where we are today.

Today, we are dealing with a group whose members view them-selves as holy warriors who managed to defeat an unjust foreign invasion.

In the past 17 years, countless Taliban leaders were killed, humil-iated and forced into exile by US forces. The ones that were not so lucky ended up in cages at Guan-tanamo or Bagram, where they were subjected to unspeakable torture and degradation. All this caused members of the group to view their fight against US forces as inevitable, necessary and even sacred.

Moreover, the governing powers forced members of the Taliban to live in conditions so grave - as fugi-tives always on the run - that entering the battleground became an easy, even natural, choice for them. Perhaps more significantly, over the years the Taliban continued to expand its zone of influence in Afghanistan and came to think of itself as the victor in the conflict. The group also managed to win the hearts and minds of a portion of the disenchanted rural population that views the central government as ineffective in providing them with basic services and is overwhelmingly drowned in endemic corruption.

Now, as an influential political and military entity recognized by all involved parties, the Taliban wants to achieve two long term goals: The complete withdrawal of all foreign troops from Afghanistan and the establishment of an inclusive Islamic government. Of course, the group, which believes it has the upper hand in negotiations, also has multiple short-term demands aimed at building confidence.

The Taliban wants its leaders to be taken off international sanctions lists, its prisoners to be released and its political office in Doha to be recog-nized internationally. Unlike the period following its defeat in 2001, the Taliban now believes it has earned the right to remain a substantial political force in Afghanistan following a set-tlement. It has a clear political vision and wants to set some parameters for its future international relations. This is why it is also keen to sign bilateral non-aggression treaties with regional and international powers.

The ongoing negotiations can only succeed if all involved parties acknowledge the Taliban’s position and avoid underestimating the group.

Afghan people are ready for peace Last year’s successful three-day

Eid ceasefire between the Taliban and the Afghan government - the first of its kind since the start of the US-led invasion in 2001 - was a clear indi-cation that ordinary Afghans are ready to make peace with the Taliban. Indeed, my people are des-perate for a return to normalcy after

In the hours before the State of the Union speech, aides explained that Trump would emphasize the theme of unity and plug bipartisan initiatives, and so he did. It would not be a bad strategy for him to follow.

four decades of war. However, this does not mean they are willing to accept any peace settlement with the group. Many Afghan women think a peace deal with the Taliban will limit their rights. Members of the Hazara minority, who are Shia Muslims, also believe a poorly con-figured peace settlement may put their future in the country at risk.

To achieve sustainable peace, the Afghan government, with the help of the US, will need to strike a balance between acknowledging the needs and expectations of the Taliban and providing the nec-essary protections for segments of the Afghan population that feel threatened by the group.

Moreover, all local stake-holders - government officials, opposition leaders and tribal elders - will need to reach a consensus among themselves on what they want from the peace settlement. For now, they all appear to be more focused on holding on to their seats after the next election than reaching a deal with the Taliban. If they continue to be more concerned about maintaining their grip on power than bringing stability to their country, and refuse to negotiate a power-sharing deal, any peace efforts will be doomed for failure.

Further complicating matters, regional and international powers have not yet reached a consensus on the specifics of a peace set-tlement in Afghanistan. An inclusive regional consensus is imperative; the US won’t be able to do this alone if it wants sustainable peace in Afghanistan. Moscow, Beijing, Islamabad, Tehran, New Delhi and Ankara would all want a say in the final settlement.

According to a financial probe agency official, Vadra was asked questions relating to transactions, purchase and possession of certain immovable assets in London.

12 THURSDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2019ASIA

ED questions Robert Vadra in money laundering caseIANS NEW DELHI

Four days after a Delhi court ordered Robert Vadra to join the Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation, he was questioned for over six hours yesterday.

Vadra, the brother-in-law of Congress President Rahul Gandhi, arrived at the ED’s office located in central Delhi’s Jam-nagar House at 3.45pm and left at 9.35pm.

He was accompanied by his wife and Congress general sec-retary for Uttar Pradesh East, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to the agency office earlier in the day.

However, after dropping Vadra at the ED office, Priyanka left the premises. It was the first time that Vadra was questioned by any investigative agencies.

He was questioned by a team of seven ED officials of the rank of Deputy Director and Assistant Directors under the sections of Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

According to a financial probe agency official, Vadra was asked questions relating to trans-actions, purchase and possession of certain immovable assets in London. The case relates to the ownership of £1.9m of undis-closed assets abroad, allegedly

belonging to Vadra.The ED also lodged a money

laundering case against Vadra’s close aide Manoj Arora after his role surfaced during a probe by the Income Tax Department into another case under the new Black Money Act and tax law against absconding arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari.

The London property was allegedly bought by Bhandari and sold in 2010 for the same amount despite incurring addi-tional expenses on its renovation. On December 7, as part of the investigation, the ED conducted searches at a number of premises in Delhi-NCR and Bengaluru.

The ED counsel told the court earlier that the London property was part of the kickbacks received in a petroleum deal. The money was transferred by Santech International, FZC, a UAE-based company controlled

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (left), a leader of India’s main opposition Congress party, and her husband Robert Vadra are pictured outside the Enforcement Directorate (ED), a government agency that fights financial crime, in New Delhi, yesterday.

by Bhandari. There were a few more properties that needed to be probed, the counsel said.

The official said that Arora, an employee of Vadra’s Skylight Hospitality LLP, is a key suspect in the case as he is aware of the overseas investments and pur-chases made by his employer.

He also said that the agency

also confronted Vadra with the statement given by Arora.

The questioning came in the wake of an order by a Delhi Court on February 2 directing Vadra to appear before the ED for ques-tioning while hearing the antici-patory bail plea filed by him.

The court had on Saturday also granted interim bail to

Vadra till February 16. Earlier in the day, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who accompanied her husband to the ED office made a strong political statement. “I stand by my family,” she told reporters at the AICC headquarters where Congress workers shouted slogans hailing her. “Priyanka you fight on, we are with you!”

BJP disrupts Karnataka Governor’s address; 10 Congress MLAs skip sessionIANS BENGALURU

The 10-day Budget session of the Karnataka legislature began on a stormy note yesterday with the opposition BJP legislators dis-rupting Governor Vajubhai Vala’s address and 10 Congress law-makers skipping the joint session.

Though the session began cordially at 11am with the Gov-ernor reading his address in Hindi, 5 minutes later, about 30-40 BJP members trooped into well of the House, raising slogans against the JD-S-Con-gress coalition government and made the former’s speech inau-dible in the din.

As the BJP sloganeering intensified, Vala abruptly cut short his speech and concluded by reading the last page of his address. Soon after the Governor left, Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar tabled his address as ‘read’ for adoption by the House after a motion of thanks during the budget session till February 15.

Kumar adjourned the House after the House paid tributes to state’s iconic seer Shivakumara Swami, who passed away at Tumakuru on January 21, and Mangaluru-born former Defence Minister George Fernandes, who died in New Delhi on January 29.

The BJP’s contention is that the coalition government had no moral right to continue as it has “lost” the majority in the

lower House. The Congress state unit in a tweet in Kannada termed the disruption by the BJP as a “disrespect” to the Gov-ernor and the House.

Defying the chief whip issued by Ganesh Prakash Hukkeri on Tuesday to the ruling Congress lawmakers for attending the session, party spokesman Rizawan Arshad told reporters 9 members, including the four arebels’ were absent at the joint session.

Besides the rebels — Ramesh Jharkiholi, Mahesh Kumatalli, Umesh Jadhav and B. Nagendra, other five are Bas-anagouda Daddal (Raichur Rural), B C Patil (Hirekerur), Paratapgouda Patil (Maski), B. Ramalinga Reddy and his daughter Sowmay Reddy from Bengaluru assembly segments.

Congress legislator from Kampli J N Ganesh, who is facing attempt to murder charge for attacking his party’s Vijayanagar MLA Anand Singh at a resort near Bengaluru recently, was also not seen in the House during the session.

Three BJP legislators were also conspicuously absent from the House. “Our three legislators — Karunakara Reddy, Doddan-nagouda Patil and Chinnappa Nimbannavar — had taken per-mission from party leaders for not being able to attend the session for personal reasons,” BJP state unit spokesman Vamana-charya said.

Warding off from snowfallMen use an umbrella to shield themselves from snow during heavy snowfall on the outskirts of Srinagar, yesterday.

TDB now backs entry of all women to Kerala shrineIANS NEW DELHI

The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which manages the Sabarimala temple, yesterday joined the Kerala government in supporting entry of women of all ages into the hilltop shrine, saying that any practice has to be consistent with the Constitu-tion’s dominant theme — “all persons are equally entitled”.

The TDB spelt out its changed position before the five-judge constitution bench com-prising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman, Justice A M Khanwilkar, Justice D Y Chan-drachud and Justice Indu

Malhotra as it opposed a batch of petitions seeking the review of the court’s September 28, 2018 judgment lifting the ban of entry of women of all age groups.

Senior counsel Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the board, focused on constitutional morality, which he said was not subjective but founded on Articles 14, 15, 17, 21 and 25 of the Constitution and subject to other fundamental rights.

The court yesterday reserved its order on a batch of 54 peti-tions seeking recall of its verdict which had opened the gates of the temple to Lord Ayyappa to the women in the 10-50 age group, holding that the exclusion based on “menstrual status is a

form of untouchability which is an anathema to constitutional values”.

In a 4:1 judgment with Justice Malhotra dissenting, the court had also held that “notions of ‘purity and pollution’, which stigmatize individuals, have no place in a constitutional order”.

Citing human dignity, Dwivedi said: “Practices pre-vailing in our temples should be in conformity with the constitu-tional morality.” At this, Justice Malhotra asked Dwivedi: “There’s a change in stand of Devaswom Board. You had argued oth-erwise.” “Now the Board has taken a decision to respect the judgment,” he replied.

Although the TDB yesterday

stated, for the first time, its changed position before the court, it had sought an explanation from the temple tantri (head priest) for closing the temple to undertake its purification after two women aged below 50 had entered the temple and offered prayers.

Contending that the times now are globally “inclusive”, Dwivedi scoffed at the idea of citing the biological attributes of women to exclude them from anything, including temple entry.

Earlier during the hearing, the Kerala government opposed the review petitions, saying that there was no need to review the judgment as unconstitutional practices could not be allowed to go on.

CBI seeking electronic data among ‘missing’ Saradha scam evidenceIANS NEW DELHI

In the midst of the stand off between the West Bengal gov-ernment and the Centre, the CBI is focusing on recovering data from five specific mobile phones and a laptop that are among the other “crucial evi-dence” said to have been pro-cured by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of West Bengal Police that was headed by Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar.

Sources in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) claimed that these electronic gadgets were recovered from the prime accused linked to the scam that hold the “key evi-dence” to connecting the scam to “influential persons” in West Bengal and outside.

A CBI official, close to the investigation, said the mobile phones and the laptop data were stored and procured by the SIT headed by Rajeev Kumar whom the federal agency want to question aimed at locating several

other “crucial evidence” in the Saradha scam that was ini-tially estimated at Rs600 crore and then pegged at around Rs3,500 crore.

The investigation in the case so far has revealed that these gadgets were later given back to the accused in the case with a “political background” and the data was not handed over to the CBI when it took over the case from the West Bengal Police, said the official, requesting anonymity.

He said a “blue book” pre-pared by the SIT is also a part of the significant documents linked to the chit fund scam in which the CBI is seeking to unearth police, political and administrative nexus involving the “larger conspiracy”.

Among other evidence the agency is looking for are the call detail records (CDRs) of the prime and potential persons, said the official, adding the CDRs which Kumar provided to the CBI so far were tampered with and doctored and the material evidences had been destroyed.

Woman held for shooting Gandhi effigyAFP NEW DELHI

A right-wing Indian woman who shot an effigy of inde-pendence hero Mahatma Gandhi with an air pistol to mark his assassination some seven decades ago has been arrested, police said yesterday.

Pooja Shakun Pandey was filmed shooting the effigy at an event by a far-right Hindu group on Friday — the 71st anniversary of Gandhi’s death. The video sparked anger after going viral online.

Gandhi was assassinated on January 30, 1948 by Nathuram Godse. Some present chanted Godse’s name and people took turns firing at the effigy, which had a balloon inside that burst with red liquid resembling blood. It was then set on fire.

The event took place in the Uttar Pradesh and was organised by right-wing group Hindu Mahasabha, the same organisation to which Gandhi’s killer was linked.

Pandey — a senior figure in the group and a former lec-turer — was arrested on Tuesday on charges of stoking violence and rioting, a local police officer said. She was taken before a court and a judge remanded her in custody, the officer said. Thirteen others from Hindu Mahasabha involved in the recreation of the killing, including her husband, have either been arrested or are on the run.

Telugu TV actress Jhansi commits suicideIANS HYDERABAD

Telugu television actress Naga Jhansi committed suicide at her house here yes-terday allegedly over a failed love affair. Jhansi, 21, was found hanging in her room in an apartment building in Sri Nagar colony.

Police informed that after repeated knocks, her brother Durga Prasad broke open the door with the help of her neighbours to find her hanging from the ceiling fan.

According to Jhansi’s rel-atives, she was in love with a man, Surya, who was her distant relative, and was reportedly in depression for the last few days. They suspect failure in love to be the reason for the suicide. Jhansi’s mother Annapurna said Surya wanted to marry her and on his insistence she had stopped acting. However, he later changed his mind.

Jhansi’s mobile phone has been seized and the police are examining the call data and chat records.

Her body was taken to the Gandhi Hospital for autopsy and a case is registered in Punjagutta police station.

GSAT-31 is launched successfullyIANS CHENNAI

India’s 40th communication satellite GSAT-31 was suc-cessfully put into orbit by an Ariane 5 rocket belonging to Arianespace early yesterday, said Indian space agency ISRO and Arianespace.

According to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the telecommunication sat-ellite, GSAT-31 was success-fully launched from Kourou launch base, French Guiana by Ariane-5.

The 2,535kg GSAT-31 would augment the Ku-band transponder capacity in geo stat io n ar y o r b i t . According to ISRO, GSAT-31, with a mission life of 15 years, will be used for supporting VSAT networks, television uplinks, digital satellite news gathering, DTH television services, cellular back haul connectivity and more.

The GSAT-31 will provide continuity to operational services on some of the in-orbit satellites, ISRO said. The two Ku-band beacon downlink signals are transmitted by the satellite for ground tracking purpose, it said.

According to Arianespace, it opened its 2019 mission activity by successfully orbiting a pair of telecommu-nications spacecraft - Saudi Geostationary Satellite 1/Hellas Sat 4 (HS-4/SGS-1) and GSAT-31 with Ariane 5 rocket.

13THURSDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2019 ASIA

Pakistani army told to stay out of politics, mediaAFP ISLAMABAD

Pakistan’s Supreme Court rebuked the powerful military and intelligence agencies yesterday, calling for them to uphold free speech and stay out of politics in a country ruled by the generals for nearly half its existence.

The unusually strong crit-icism was issued in a judgement released criticising the role of the intelligence agencies in anti-blasphemy protests which par-alysed the capital Islamabad for several weeks in 2017.

“If any personnel of the Armed Forces indulges in any form of politicking or tries to manipulate the media he

undermines the integrity and professionalism of the Armed Forces,” the judgement, posted on the Supreme Court website, stated.

Pakistan’s Constitution “emphatically prohibits” members of the armed forces from “engaging in any kind of political activity”, it added, ordering the government and the chiefs of the army, air force and navy to take action against anyone found violating their oaths to uphold the document.

The 2017 protests were led by a then-little known Islamist g r o u p c a l l e d t h e

Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP), and were only dispersed after violent clashes led to a mil-itary-brokered deal which forced the resignation of the federal law minister.

Viral videos showing what appeared to be soldiers handing out cash to protesters helped fuel speculation the demonstrators were backed by the military as it sought to put pressure on the then-ruling party of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

The judgement also spelled out curbs on free speech, singling out the intelligence agencies for a stern warning. “All intelligence

agencies... and the (military’s media wing) must not exceed their respective mandates. They cannot curtail the freedom of speech and expression,” the judgement said.

“Those who resort to such tactics under the mistaken belief that they serve some higher goal delude themselves,” it continued.

Local media have com-plained about pressure in the run-up to a general election in July to self-censor in favour of the eventual victor, cricketer-turned-prime-minister Imran Khan. Activists and bloggers

speaking out against the state and military have also com-plained of repression.

The Committee to Protect Journalists said the army had “quietly but effectively, set restrictions on reporting” in a report released September last year. Pakistan’s courts have cau-tioned the military establishment against meddling before — and paid a price.

An Islamabad High Court judge was ousted last year after he publicly accused the country’s top intelligence agency of manipulating judicial decisions to influence the general election.

The unusually strong criticism was issued in a judgement released criticising the role of the intelligence agencies in anti-blasphemy protests which paralysed the capital Islamabad for several weeks in 2017.

Imran’s close aide arrested in graft caseANATOLIA KARACHI

Pakistan’s anti-corruption authorities yesterday arrested a senior minister and close aide of Prime Minister Imran Khan in a corruption case which stemmed from whistle-blower Panama Papers, authorities and local media reported. Aleem Khan, who immediately stepped down from his office following the arrest, has been taken into custody in north-eastern Lahore city by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), for allegedly making assets beyond his known income source, the watchdog said in a statement.

He will be produced before an anti-corruption court today. Aleem Khan is known to be the main donor of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party.

His name surfaced in the Panama Papers, along with 450 other Pakistanis, for owning offshore companies. Analysts see Aleem Khan’s arrest as a blow to the ruling party whose election cam-paign was based on anti-corruption.

It is also likely to recede a growing chorus of criticism against the NAB for carrying out a “one-sided” campaign against opposition leaders.

Nawaz Sharif, former prime minister, is serving a jail term in a corruption case. His brother and opposition party leader Shehbaz Sharif has been in NAB custody for the last four months.

Taliban: Half of US troops to leave by April AP MOSCOW

The US has promised to withdraw half of its troops from Afghanistan by the end of April, a Taliban official said yesterday, but the US military said it has received no orders to begin packing up.

Taliban official Abdul Salam Hanafi, speaking on the sidelines of a meeting in Moscow between the Taliban and other prominent Afghan figures, said that US offi-cials promised the pullout will begin this month.

“The Americans told us that from the beginning of February to the end of April, half of the troops from Afghanistan will be withdrawn,” he said.

Spokeswoman Sgt. 1st Class Debra Richardson said in a tel-ephone interview from the Afghan capital Kabul that the US military in Afghanistan had received no such orders.

“Our mission hasn’t changed,” she said. Hanafi said the US and the Taliban will each create a technical committee that “will work on a timetable for the withdrawal of remaining

troops.” The Pentagon has reportedly prepared plans to withdraw half its 14,000 troops by the summer.

Efforts to find a negotiated end to Afghanistan’s longest war have accelerated in recent months since the appointment last September of Zalmay Kha-lilzad as Washington’s peace

envoy. He has held several meetings with the Taliban.

Talks have mostly focused on a US troop withdrawal and guarantees from the Taliban that Afghanistan would not again be used as a safe haven for ter-rorists to attack other countries, according to both Khalilzad and Taliban officials. In his State of

the Union address on Tuesday, President Donald Trump said the US has been holding constructive talks with a number of Afghan groups, including the Taliban.

“As we make progress in these negotiations, we will be able to reduce our troop presence and focus on counter-terrorism,” he said.

This file picture shows soldiers load onto a Chinook helicopter to head out on a mission in Afghanistan.

Pakistan to hunt tax evading citizens in Russia, Turkey INTERNEWS ISLAMABAD

Pakistan has decided to approach Turkey and Russia to get information about assets that Pakistanis have presumably stashed there after known offshore tax havens came on the authorities’ radar in the wake of the Panama Papers leaks.

The decision to approach the

tax authorities of these two countries was taken by Prime Minister Imran Khan during a meeting that he chaired last week, senior officials of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) said.

On January 30, the PM took a number of decisions to curb corruption in the FBR, dis-courage under-invoicing of imports from China and trace

with the help of intelligence agencies people who had been named in the Panama leaks.

Imran Khan also gave two-week time to FBR Chairman Jehanzeb Khan to take steps that must signal that the organisation is serious to curb corruption.

One of the important deci-sions was to immediately establish contacts with Russian and Turkish tax authorities to get

information about Pakistanis who have assets in these two foreign jurisdictions.

The Panama leaks that changed the political landscape of Pakistan had revealed the hidden offshore assets of over 300 Pakistanis in April 2016. Due to delay in taking action against these people, the money was moved from known tax havens to other foreign jurisdictions.

Pakistan already has an agreement on tax matters with Turkey. But it does not have such an arrangement with Russia, although the federal cabinet in 1998 had allowed negotiating a taxation treaty.

The officials said it is a time consuming exercise to get such information, although Panama is bound to share it under the OECD arrangement.

Bangladesh protests to Myanmar over new influx of refugeesAFP DHAKA

Bangladesh has protested to Myanmar over a new influx of refugees fleeing troubled Rakhine state after clashes between security forces and an insurgent group, an official said yesterday.

Bangladesh’s foreign min-istry summoned Myanmar’s ambassador late on Tuesday to protest over the arrivals from Rakhine, already notorious fol-lowing a military clampdown on Muslim Rohingya in August 2017 which sent more than 700,000 people across the border.

The new arrivals are from Rakhine Buddhist and other tribal groups, a senior foreign ministry official said on con-dition of anonymity, without giving a figure.

“The number is increasing.

Some people are already waiting on the border and they may also enter. We have asked them (Myanmar) to take effective and urgent steps so that violence is stopped,” the official said.

A Bangladesh border guard official said the refugees had crossed in a remote hill area of Bandarban district in the southeast of the country.

Bangladesh is already strug-gling to cope with the 740,000 Rohingya Muslims who arrived after August 2017 adding to 300,000 who had fled earlier violence in Rakhine.

Now Rakhine’s ethnic majority, who are Buddhist, are in conflict with the army they helped to drive out the Rohingya just 18 months ago.

On January 4 the Arakan Army (AA), a militant group calling for greater autonomy for Rakhine, killed 13 people in raids

on police border posts. The army says 13 militants have been killed in reprisal attacks while the United Nations says at least 5,200 people have been dis-placed by the violence.

An accurate death toll has been impossible to ascertain

because the zone is under a near-blanket lockdown.

The fighting has added a new, complex dimension to the troubles in Rakhine that since 2012 have seen religious and communal riots, the mass exodus of Rohingya and killings

across all ethnic lines. The Bang-ladesh protest came after Hol-lywood superstar Angelina Jolie said on Tuesday that Myanmar must “show genuine com-mitment” to end violence that has driven the Rohingya into Bangladesh.

Myanmar approves panel to discuss constitutionREUTERS YANGON

Myanmar’s parl iament yesterday voted to set up a committee to discuss amending the country’s constitution, despite objections by military-aligned lawmakers against a move that is likely to challenge the army’s power.

Aung San Suu Kyi’s ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) submitted an “emergency proposal” last week aimed at amending parts of the military-drafted 2008 constitution that t h e p a r t y d e e m s undemocratic.

It was the Nobel laureate’s biggest challenge to the mili-tary’s power in nearly three years, and sparked a protest in the legislature from green-glad army appointees, who stood in silence for several minutes to show their opposition. The move comes as both civilian and military leaders face growing international pressure over an army crackdown on Rohingya Muslims in 2017 that

sent about 730,000 people fleeing to neighbouring Bang-ladesh. In a vote among members of both houses of par-liament, 414 out of 611 voting lawmakers were in favour of setting up the committee. Suu Kyi’s party commands a large majority in the combined Union Parliament.

“Representatives from political parties and military lawmakers will be involved proportionally,” speaker T Khun Myat told the house, announcing that deputy speaker Tun Tun Hein, an NLD lawmaker, would chair the new committee.

The constitution guarantees the army a quarter of seats in parliament, as well as control of key ministries. Change to the charter needs a vote of more than 75 percent of members, giving the military an effective veto. Debating the proposal in parliament, NLD lawmakers said there was public support for amending the charter and that the new committee would allow all parties to have a say.

US actress, filmmaker and humanitarian Angelina Jolie (left), a special envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), meets Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her visit in Dhaka yesterday.

14 THURSDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2019ASIA

Philippine Muslim region holds second plebisciteANATOLIA ANKARA

The second round of a plebiscite that granted the Moro Muslims in southern Philippines the long-awaited comprehensive autonomy took place yesterday for its expansion.

The plebiscite, which was the second phase of the Bang-samoro Organic Law (BOL), was held in six towns — Tagoloan, Balo-i, Pantar, Munai, Nunungan and Tangcal — in northwestern Lanao del Norte and in 67 resi-dential areas in North Cotabato.

Voters were asked whether they want to join the newly-formed Bangsamoro Auton-omous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Results of the latest phase of the BOL will ensure a larger area for the BARMM, after which an interim administration will be formed to take the region to elec-

tions once it is completed.Bangsamoro is a collective

term for Filipino Muslims living on an archipelago on the southern portion of the Philip-pines. The term is used to describe both the Moro Muslims and their homeland.

The Philippines’ landmark BOL was officially ratified on January 25 following the results of the first round of voting on January 21 which granted com-prehensive autonomy to Moro Muslims.

More than 1.54 million people — corresponding to over 85 percent of the electorate — voted in favour of the BOL, while some 190,000 voted against, according to official results.

The first voting included the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao Del Sur, and the island provinces of Basilan, Tawi-tawi and Sulu as well as the cities of Cotabato and Isabela.

Voting in the second round ended at 3:00pm local time.

The Philippines Election Commission (COMELEC) said that the official results will be announced within four days.

Before voting, COMELEC announced that about 640,000 voters including Muslims, Lumad, Christian and local people were eligible to vote in the second stage of the historic plebiscite.

Under the BOL, courts of Islamic law will be established

in the region, and the Philippines’ central government will transfer its administrative authorities in Mindanao to the Bangsamoro government.

The waters in the Bang-samoro region will be simulta-neously managed by the national

government as well as the Bang-samoro government.

The autonomous gov-ernment will be responsible for the management of energy resources.

The Muslims will be free in their internal affairs, while they

will be bound to the Philippines in foreign policy, save some flexibility.

In addition, former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Milf fighters will be eligible to join official armed forces.

Moro Muslims arrive to cast their votes at a polling station during the second phase of historic plebiscite on Bangsamoro Organic Law in Cotabato, southern Philippines, yesterday.

Hopes high for concrete results from Kim-Trump summitAP HANOI

Governments across Asia yesterday expressed hope that a second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un in Vietnam will produce concrete results that will lead to the complete denaturalisation of the Korean Peninsula.

Trump announced in his State of the Union address that the summit will take place on February 27 to 28.

A spokesman for South Korean President Moon Jae-in said South Korea hopes the

United States and North Korea will produce “more concrete and practical” agreements during the meeting. The leaders’ first summit in Singapore last June ended with a vague promise by Kim to work toward denatural-isation, without a concrete plan for how it would be implemented.

Presidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said in Seoul that Vietnam will be a “very good” place for the United States and North Korea to “write new history” in their relations.

Japan, too, said it hopes the summit will be “meaningful” and lead to the complete

denaturalisation of the Korean Peninsula.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga also raised the issue of Japanese citizens who were abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and ‘80s, saying it remains “our most important issue” related to North Korea.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said enforcing inter-national sanctions against North Korea is important in conveying that “the world is equally com-mitted” to its denuclearisation.

“It’s not an overnight process. It is a very significant process,” she told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from

the Solomon Islands, where she was visiting. “It will require extensive negotiations with the regime.”

Vietnam welcomed the summit, with its foreign ministry tweeting that it “strongly supports dialogues to maintain peace, security, stability on #KoreanPe-ninsula.” It said Vietnam “stands ready to actively contribute to & cooperate” to ensure the sum-mit’s success.

On the streets of Hanoi, res-idents held out hope that the two countries will make progress.

“The meeting is a progress made by both countries for the ultimate goal of peace. All

nations, despite being enemies in the past, can always reconnect to bring peace and happiness to their people,” said Le Hong Ha, a teacher.

Tran Ngoc Duyen, a retired doctor, said Trump “is a very determined man. If he decides to sit down for a talk with the North Korean leader, it would be a good thing. Not only Vietnam but the whole world looks forward to the meeting and hopes for a good outcome.”

He said the summit will also bring a positive image of Vietnam as “a country of peace and Vietnamese people welcome it.”

Indonesia jails UK woman for slapping immigration officerREUTERS DENPASAR

An Indonesian court yesterday jailed a British woman for six months for slapping an immi-gration officer in the face on the island of Bali after an argument over a fine for staying in the country after her visa expired.

Auj-e Taqaddas, 42, was found guilty in a court in Bali’s capital, Denpasar, of violence against an officer at Bali’s airport carrying out his legal duty, Judge Esthar Oktavi said.

“The sentence is six months in prison,” Oktavi said by text message.

The sentence was lighter than the one-year jail term sought by the prosecutor over the incident on July 28 last year.

“This is an unfair decision ... I was forcibly brought to the court, no lawyers provided,” Taqaddas said, accusing the prosecutors of torturing her three times and trapping her in the country.

The judge said Taqaddas had filed an appeal.

Award-winning Manila journalist faces libel chargesAFP MANILA

Philippine prosecutors said yesterday they will file a libel charge carrying up to 12 years in prison against award-winning journalist Maria Ressa, who leads a news website that has clashed with President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.

The case — under a contro-versial cybercrime law penal-ising online libel — adds to legal pressure on Ressa and her site Rappler, which has already been hit with tax evasion charges that could shutter the outlet and put her behind bars.

Ressa, who was named a Time Magazine “Person of the Year” in 2018 for her journal-istic work, slammed the fresh case as a new front of “har-assment” intended to silence her website.

Rappler has drawn the administration’s ire since pub-lishing reports critical of

Duterte’s signature anti-drug crackdown that has killed thou-sands of alleged users and pushers since 2016.

However, the new case against Ressa and former Rappler reporter Reynaldo Santos, Jr. stems from a 2012 report written about a business-man’s alleged ties to a then-judge on the nation’s top court.

While investigators initially dismissed the businessman’s 2017 complaint about the article, the case was subse-quently forwarded to prose-cutors for their consideration.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the case would be filed in court “very soon”.

Duterte has lashed out at other critical media outfits, including the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper and broad-caster ABS-CBN. He had threatened to go after their owners over alleged unpaid taxes or block the network’s franchise renewal application.

COMELEC announced that about 640,000 voters including Muslims, Lumad, Christian and local people were eligible to vote in the second stage of the historic plebiscite.

Life size statueVisitors looking at Japan’s toymaker Bandai’s life-size Unicorn Gundam statue which is illuminated at Odaiba district in Tokyo, Japan, yesterday.

Forest wildfire in New Zealand destroys homes, forces evacuation

REUTERS WELLINGTON

A bush fire on New Zealand’s South Island spread through thousands of hectares, destroying property and forcing the evacuation of about 100 homes, officials said yesterday.

The fire that started at Pegion Valley in Nelson on Tuesday doubled overnight to spread over 1,870 hectares within a perimeter of 20km, the Nelson Tasman Emergency Management Office said in a statement.

More than 100 homes have been evacuated or self-evac-uated, the statement said, and people were being sheltered at civil defence centres. Author-ities declared a civil defence emergency in the Nelson-Tas-man region.

Man in Chinese village accused of murder spreeAP BEIJING

Police in China’s northwest said a man who suspected his wife of committing adultery has been accused of killing eight people with a knife in a rage.

Police in Baiyin, a city in Gansu province, said the man in suburban Huining County is also accused of injuring seven other people.

A police statement said-the 49-year-old, identified only by the surname Guo, suspected his wife of com-mitting adultery.

Thailand blames Australia for arrest of footballerREUTERS BANGKOK

Thailand defended yesterday its arrest of a Bahraini footballer with refugee status in Australia, saying officials only detained him because Australian author-ities sent an Interpol “red notice” after he boarded a plane to Bangkok.

Hakeem Al Araibi’s case has drawn international criticism as a Thai court considers an extra-dition request from Bahrain for him to serve a 10-year sentence related to the Arab Spring upris-ing of 2011. He denies the charges.

Araibi was arrested at a Bang-kok airport in November when he arrived from Australia with his wife for their honeymoon.

The 25-year-old said he faces torture in Bahrain and wants to return to Australia, where he has lived since 2014 and plays for a Melbourne football club.

Thailand’s foreign ministry yesterday described the case as “involving two countries com-peting for Mr. Hakeem’s custody”.

It said Thailand became involved “by chance” after a police bureau that handles Inter-pol matters in Australia notified Thai authorities that Araibi had

boarded a flight to Bangkok and was the subject of a “red notice” initiated by Bahrain.

“It took several days after the arrival of Mr. Hakeem before the Australian authorities informed us that the red notice had been cancelled,” the statement said.

“By that time, legal proceed-ings in Thailand regarding Mr. Hakeem had already started and could not be reversed,” it said.

Araibi could stay in jail until August, as the court hearing his case will take two to three months to deliver its ruling after the next hearing, set for late April, a spokesman for the attorney

general’s office said. “So between now and then,

Hakeem will have to be in cus-tody for at least until August,” Trumph Jalichandra told a news conference, adding that he could only be released sooner if Bah-rain withdrew its request.

Australia’s Home Affairs office confirmed in December that federal police had advised Thai authorities a person with a red notice was on the way to Thailand but did not say if the bureau was aware Araibi had ref-ugee status. Bahrain’s embassy in Bangkok said Araibi was a fugi-tive who should be returned.

15THURSDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2019 EUROPE

Macedonia signs Nato accession accord AFP BRUSSELS

Macedonia moved a step closer to Nato membership yesterday, signing accession papers after resolving a long-running name row with Greece.

Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said it was a “historic day” which will lead to Mace-donia becoming the 30th alliance member, once the deal has been ratified by all the other capitals.

Nato and the EU welcomed the move as bringing more sta-bility to the Balkans, but the alli-ance’s expansion into the region has been opposed by Moscow, which regards it as part of its own “sphere of influence”.

After signing the accord with representatives of current Nato members at alliance head-quarters in Brussels, Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov said membership would make his country safer.

“What’s important for us is we’ll never walk alone again and we stand beside these 29 allies able and ready to assume the obligations arising from our full membership,” Dimitrov said.

Stoltenberg said the move would bring “more stability to the Western Balkans”, adding

that he looked forward “to seeing thirty Allied flags fly outside Nato headquarters”.

“I want to congratulate both Skopje and Athens for showing commitment and courage in reaching an agreement on the name issue. We can now look to the future,” Stoltenberg said.

The agreement last month with Greece to change the name of the former Yugoslav republic to the Republic of North Mace-donia ended one of the world’s longest diplomatic disputes and paved the way for Skopje to join Nato and the European Union.

Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said it was a “great, historic day for all our citizens”.

“Today the largest security alliance in the world, Nato, has

welcomed us,” he wrote on Facebook and Twitter. “We have provided lasting stability for our country.”

The EU’s enlargement com-missioner Johannes Hahn also tweeted congratulations, saying the move was “a contribution to peace and stability” in the Western Balkans.

But Macedonia’s moves to join Nato, following Montene-gro’s admission in 2017, have ruffled feathers in the Kremlin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin last month accused the West of “destabilising” the Balkans by pushing Macedonia and Montenegro to join Nato.

Washington has accused

Moscow of meddling in the region, including in last year’s referendum in Macedonia on changing its name.

Macedonia will now take part in Nato ministerial meetings as an invitee, Stoltenberg said, starting with a gathering of defence ministers in Brussels next week.

Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov (left) with Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg (right) during the signing ceremony of the accession protocol between Macedonia and Nato at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels, yesterday,

Huawei offers to build cyber security centre in PolandREUTERS WARSAW

China’s Huawei has offered to build a cyber security centre in Poland where last month author-ities arrested a Chinese employee of the telecommuni-cations firm along with a former Polish security official on spying charges.

“We are ready to establish a cyber security centre in Poland if authorities accept this as a

trusted solution,” Tonny Bao, head of Huawei in Poland, said yesterday.

Huawei has set up infor-mation security labs in Germany and Britain aimed at building confidence that its equipment does not contain “back doors” for Chinese intelligence services.

Poland’s government is set to exclude Huawei equipment from its future 5G network over concerns first raised in the United States that Huawei

technology could be equipped with such back doors, sources said.

Huawei’s regional public affairs director, Austin Zhang, said there is no reason for the Polish government to exclude the Chinese firm from its future 5G network development.

“If it does happen ... we will try all our means to protect our business and reputation in Poland,” Zhang said.

The United States wants to

steer people away from Huawei towards Western products because of its concerns over the security of the Chinese com-pany’s technology, the US envoy to the European Union said last week.

Huawei denies allegations that its technology could be used for spying and the Chinese executive from Huawei arrested last month in Poland on suspicion of spying has also said he is not guilty.

Still, the company faces

increasing international scrutiny over the matter.

Last week the company was excluded from a tender to build a Czech tax portal after the coun-try’s cyber watchdog warned of possible security threats posed by the telecoms supplier.

Separately the US Justice Department has charged Huawei with conspiring to violate US sanctions on Iran and with stealing robotic technology from T-Mobile US Inc.

Mass seabird death baffles Dutch scientistsAFP THE HAGUE

Dutch scientists said yesterday that they are baffled after 20,000 dead or dying guillemots washed up on North Sea beaches in a phenomenon not seen for decades.

The fish-eating seabirds have been washing up between the northern Wadden Islands and southwestern Zeeland — all showing symptoms of severe starvation, a marine biologist said.

“What’s killing them though is the million-dollar question,” Mardik Leopold, a maritime researcher for Wageningen Uni-versity, said. “And we still don’t know what the answer is. It’s an alarming situation.”

“The last time we saw high mortality rates like this was in the 1980s and 1990s.”

A number of questions are puzzling scientists, he said.

The bird deaths are confined only to Dutch shores — nothing has been reported in Belgium or Germany.

High winds and stormy winter seas also could affect the birds’ feeding patterns on herring and sprat as they become too fatigued to eat, Leopold said.

“But again, why are the deaths only localised to the Netherlands? Surely we’re not the only place experiencing winter weather?” said Leopold.

Dutch media have raised the question of whether the deaths may be linked to a recent

container spill, littering the Dutch and German coast lines with debris, including plastic toys, polystyrene, shoes and at least one bag with a dangerous powder identified by authorities as “organic peroxide.”

But Leopold said an initial autopsy on a small number of birds showed “no plastic” in their stomachs.

Similarly, if the birds were affected by a chemical, other animals would also have shown symptoms, the marine biologist said. “The birds were not covered in oil either.”

Scientists are now planning a mass autopsy of hundreds of dead birds next week, hoping to shed more light on the mystery.

However, the species is not threatened with extinction.

Romania detains fake Italian plastic surgeonAP BUCHAREST

Romania police yesterday detained an Italian citizen who allegedly posed as a plastic surgeon in clinics around Bucharest.

Border police detained Matteo Politi on a train on the Romanian-Hungarian border early yesterday after an alert went out. A statement said he was being investigated for fraud and would be brought to Bucharest later.

Politi, 38, who used the alias Matthew Mode and claimed he was British, had been operating in several private clinics.

The College of Medics said

on Tuesday that it hadn’t issued Politi with a licence to practice.

Romanian health author-ities, who must also issue a sep-arate permit to doctors, said he was given one in March 2018 after submitting a fake diploma claiming he’d qualified as a doctor in Kosovo. Health Min-ister Sorina Pintea said she sus-pected corruption.

Plastic surgeon Adina Alberts who reported him to authorities said he worked at her clinic and initially fooled her: “He was brilliant at talking,” she said. But she had doubts after seeing the way he held a syringe. She said one patient suffered “complica-tions” after breast implant surgery.

Nato and the EU welcomed the move as bringing more stability to the Balkans, but the alliance’s expansion into the region has been opposed by Moscow, which regards it as part of its own “sphere of influence”.

Heavy snowfall leaves one dead in RussiaAFP SAINT PETERSBURG

Lawmakers in Russia’s second city Saint Petersburg have called for a state of emergency after heavier than usual snowfall caused treacherous conditions and a man died when he was hit by a block of falling ice.

Public anger at icy pave-ments and mountains of snow has grown in recent weeks, with some locals even resorting to picketing municipal offices.

The group of local law-makers has petitioned the city’s governor to declare a state of emergency, accusing authorities of failing to deal with the problem and even asking the military to intervene.

Authorities have defended themselves saying they are doing everything they can to

alleviate the problem.“It’s a complicated situation.

Snow is falling daily. We see there is tension among the res-idents but we are working, we are doing everything possible,” city official Sergei Sharlayev said.

The local weather service branch said the city had expe-rienced more than double the usual amount of snowfall for the time of year.

On Tuesday, a 23-year-old man was killed in the city centre when he was hit by a large piece of ice that fell from the roof of a building. Investigators have launched a criminal probe.

A video posted on the Facebook page Saint Petersburg Live claimed to show the incident. Two people were walking on the sidewalk and fell to the ground when a large block

of ice hit them. The page claimed a student

from Uzbekistan died while the second person to be hit was taken to hospital.

“The city has turned into a giant snowdrift,” said local res-ident Yelena Antonova. Like thousands of others living in the city, she takes a shovel with her every day to dig out her car.

“I take almost two hours to get to work instead of the usual 40 minutes, it’s chaos on the roads,” she said.

Some residents are too scared to even go outside.

Snow and falling icicles that can inflict deadly injuries have plagued Saint Petersburg for years.

Officials now said they have tasked over 7,500 people and 7,000 vehicles with clearing the snow.

A man gets into a car parked next to a giant pile of snow in Saint Petersburg, yesterday.

Exiled Ukraine leader warns of vote rigging AFP MOSCOW

Former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych (pictured) who fled to Russia in 2014 slammed his pro-Western successor Petro Poroshenko yesterday, accusing him of planning to rig next month’s presidential election.

“It is impossible for Poro-shenko to win without rigging the election,” he told a press conference in Moscow, saying that the Ukrainian authorities would “use all possible resources” to that end.

And he warned that Poro-shenko winning a second term in office would have “unpredictable conse-quences” for Ukraine.

Last month, a Kiev court found Yanukovych guilty of high treason and sentenced him in absentia to 13 years in prison for asking Russia’s Vladimir Putin to send troops to Ukraine during 2014 crisis.

Spain ordered to remove Franco symbolsAFP MADRID

Spain’s justice ministry said yesterday it had ordered more than 600 municipalities across the country to remove symbols honouring the dicta-torship of dictator Francisco Franco which are still on display in public spaces.

A so-called “Historical Memory” law approved in 2007 requires the removal of all remaining Franco symbols such as street names bearing the name of Franco generals and statues from public spaces.

But according national statistics institute INE there are still 1,171 streets and squares across Spain named after Franco-era government figures, the justice ministry said in a statement.

The managing director of the justice ministry’s His-torical Memory department has written to all 656 munic-ipalities which still have Franco-era symbols to demand the “immediate withdrawal of shields, emblems, panels and other objects” which commemorate the dictatorship, it added.

16 THURSDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2019EUROPE

France slams Italy’s meeting with rallyistsAFP PARIS

The French foreign ministry yesterday denounced as “unac-ceptable” a meeting between Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio and France’s “yellow vest” anti-government protesters.

“This new provocation is unacceptable between neigh-bouring countries and partners at the heart of the European Union,” a ministry spokesman said in a statement a day after Di Maio met the protesters on French soil.

“Mr Di Maio, who has gov-ernmental responsibilities, should ensure that he does not impair with its repeated inter-ferences our bilateral relations, in the interest of both France and Italy,” the French spokesman said.

Di Maio, head of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S), announced on Tuesday that he had met near Paris with yellow vest leader Christophe Chalencon and Ingrid Levavasseur, who is

heading a yellow vest list for European Parliament elections in May.

He invited them and other yellow vests to a follow-up meeting in Rome, claiming on Twitter that “The wind of change has crossed the Alps.”

Tensions have flared between the two countries since the Five Star Movement and far-right League party came to power in a coalition in

Italy last June.Di Maio had already drawn

Paris’s ire after he accused France of fuelling the migrant influx to Europe by continuing to “colonise” Africa.

That prompted France to summon Italy’s ambassador in protest.

And De Maio’s fellow deputy prime minister, Matteo Salvini, has lambasted President Emmanuel Macron directly by saying he is “close, with all my heart... to the French people, the millions of men and women who live in France under a ter-rible government and terrible president”.

The “yellow vest” protests against fuel taxes began in rural and small-town France in late November, before ballooning into a wider revolt against Macron’s policies and governing style.

The French president is hoping to forge an alliance of pro-European centrists ahead of the bloc’s parliamentary vote, against a wave of populist movements in several European countries.

French President Emmanuel Macron meets far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, yesterday.

Mr Di Maio, who has governmental responsibilities, should ensure that he does not impair with its repeated interferences our bilateral relations, in the interest of both France and Italy: French spokesman

Polish govt to review Sunday shopping banBLOOMBERG WARSAW

The Polish government said it’s reviewing the impact of its increasingly strict Sunday shopping ban, fueling specu-lation that it may relax the rules in this election year.

Jeronimo Martins SPGS SA, owner of Poland’s biggest food chain Biedronka, rose 4.6 percent in Lisbon after Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that the gov-ernment started analysing the effects of the law. Cash-and-carry store operator Eurocash surged as much as 1.7 percent after the comments, closing 0.4 percent weaker.

Introduced last March with backing from the pow-erful Solidarity labour union, which threw its weight behind the government in the previous election campaign four years ago, the law change generally hurt retailers and shopping centre owners while boosting some e-commerce stores.

“We have been reviewing the effects of that law on smaller and bigger shops, on family-owned ones, but first of all on the people, on their preferences and needs,” Morawiecki said. “We’re a government that listens to the people.”

Initially, the ban targeted two Sundays a month, and this year was expanded to three Sundays — a day when Poles should go to church instead of shopping, according to the government.

Macron’s popularity rating rebounds: PollAP PARIS

French President Emmanuel Macron appears to be clawing back support as he tries to quell the yellow vest protest movement with a national political debate.

Recent polls by Ifop, BVA and Harris Interactive institutes

show a gain in Macron’s approval ratings from 23 to 31 percent in December to 31 to 35 percent.

But Macron knows the rebound could be fragile, saying recently he feels like he’s “walking on ice.”

Macron’s popularity reached its lowest level after the anti-government, yellow

vest protests broke out in November.

He has since announced a package of measures worth about $11.4bn to boost workers’ and retirees’ purchasing power and launched a “grand debate” to let ordinary French people express their views on the coun-try’s economic and democratic issues.

Serbia rejects report that nation is only ‘partly free’AP BELGRADE

Serbia’s prime minister yesterday rejected an inde-pendent freedom watchdog’s report that downgraded the Balkan country from “free” to “partly free.”

In its annual global report this week, Freedom House said Serbia’s status declined because of “the deterioration in the conduct of elections, continued attempts by the government and

allied media outlets to undermine independent jour-nalists through legal harassment and smear campaigns.”

The report also said Serbia’s populist President Aleksandar Vucic has accumulated “exec-utive powers that conflict with his constitutional role.”

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, Vucic’s close ally, said “I absolutely don’t think or feel that I live in a partly free country. I think that I live in a country that is freer than a few years ago.”

“I think the report is not objective enough and deals with some perceptions I don’t agree with, which does not mean it is irrelevant,” she said.

Every Saturday for the last nine weeks, tens of thousands of people have marched in Bel-grade and Serbia’s other cities and towns to protest what they say is Vucic’s increasingly auto-cratic rule.

The protesters accuse Vucic of stifling hard-won democratic freedoms in the Balkan country

that was engulfed in a series of wars during the 1990s. He denies the accusation.

In addition to Serbia, the Washington-based group criti-cized Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Montenegro and Hungary for contributing to “the 13th consec-utive year of decline in global freedom.”

It said that the United States in 2018 saw “a decline in the rule of law” that placed US democracy “on a level with Greece, Croatia, and Mongolia,”

and well below other estab-lished democracies like Germany, France, Britain or Sweden.

In the Freedom House report, 11 European states are classified as “partly free” including Serbia, Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herze-govina, Georgia, Hungary, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro and Ukraine.

Globally, Norway is ranked the freest country while Syria is the least free.

Queen Elizabeth’s 67 years on throneMembers of the Honourable Artillery Company fire a gun salute to mark Queen Elizabeth’s 67th anniversary of her accession to the throne, at the Tower of London in London, Britain, yesterday.

Suspected Paris arsonist ‘just released from psychiatric ward’AFP PARIS

The woman suspected of setting fire to a Paris apartment building in which 10 people died had only just been released from a psychi-atric ward, sources close to the investigation said yesterday.

The woman in her 40s, who lived in the building, is under-stood to have been treated a dozen times in psychiatric facil-ities. In late January she was released from Sainte-Anne psy-chiatric hospital in Paris, sources said.

The fire on the upper floors of the building on Rue Erlanger in the upscale 16th Paris district, was the most deadly in the capital since 2005. Thirty people were also hurt in the blaze which ravaged much of the back of the building in the early hours of Tuesday.

Some 20 firemen yesterday continued to search through the building’s blackened remains, part of which has been declared unsafe to live in.

Dramatic footage of the scene, filmed by firemen and neighbours, showed flames

shooting out of windows and firemen climbing narrow ladders to rescue terrified residents, some dressed only in pyjamas, from the top of the eight-storey block.

The suspected arsonist, who was immediately detained, is currently being held in a police psychiatric facility.

She was “intoxicated when detained and attempting to set fire to a car,” police said.

The woman had already been in trouble with police, including once for causing damage by fire, but she was never convicted.

She had repeated run-ins with a neighbour, who is a fireman, and was again involved in a dispute with him just before the fire broke out, police said.

The 22-year-old neighbour told Le Parisien newspaper on Tuesday that his girlfriend had asked the woman to turn down her music late on Monday, prompting a flurry of insults that led them to call the police.

A special mass of remem-brance for the victims was held yesterday at the nearby Saint-François-de-Molitor Catholic church.

Dutch dash to secure medicines after BrexitAFP THE HAGUE

The Netherlands is scrambling to secure 50 “critical” medi-cines currently supplied by Britain if London leaves the European Union without a deal next month, a minister said.

The Dutch dash is the latest sign of increasing concern in both the EU and Britain over the chances of a so-called no-deal Brexit on March 29.

After scanning around 2,700 medicines “related to Britain”, Dutch public institutes identified 50 medicines used to treat life-threatening diseases or vulnerable patients, health minister Bruno Bruins said.

The medicines also “have no or no adequate alternatives on the Dutch market,” Bruins said in a letter to parliament.

Bruins declined to name the affected drugs, saying it could trigger hoarding.

“Naming the medicines could lead to stockpiling — also in other EU countries,” he said. “Because this also involves medicines for which few or no alternatives exist, it could lead to speculation” in products.

Measures taken to ensure continuous supplies will include possible temporary permits exempting British supplies, as well as temporary permits to import alternative medicines from other countries.

Critical medicines mentioned on the list however “does not necessarily mean there will be a shortage,” the Dutch Health Min-istry pointed out in a statement.

Last week, Dutch hospitals warned that patients lives were at risk in case of a no-deal Brexit. The Netherlands has unveiled a series of protective steps for Brexit in recent weeks, as it is one of the countries most exposed to possible customs barriers with Britain.

A view of a fire in a building in Erlanger street in the 16th arrondissement, in Paris, on Tuesday.

Opposition Democrats almost instantly rejected the overture, while Trump’s steadfast insistence on building US-Mexico border walls promised new political strife in the near future.

17THURSDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2019 AMERICAS

US President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address, alongside Vice-President Mike Pence and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, at the US Capitol in Washington, DC.

Trump urges unity in State of the Union speechAFP WASHINGTON

President Donald Trump urged Americans to come together late on Tuesday in a State of the Union speech seeking to turn the page on two years of divisive turmoil and transform him into a bipartisan national leader.

But opposition Democrats almost instantly rejected the overture, while Trump’s steadfast insistence on building US-Mexico border walls promised new political strife in the near future.

At times joking, at times impassioned, Trump told Con-gress and a huge television audience that “we must reject the politics of revenge, resistance, and retribution — and embrace the boundless potential of cooperation, compromise, and the common good.”

On foreign policy, Trump reaf-firmed his determination to get US troops out of Afghanistan and Syria as quickly as possible. And he announced he would extend his trailblazing personal diplomacy with North Korea by meeting reclusive leader Kim Jong Un on February 27-28 in Vietnam.

Trump touted what he hopes will remain his strongest card with voters — “the hottest economy anywhere in the world.” He also called for a bipartisan push to eradicate the AIDS epidemic in the United States in a decade.

But the key aim in the speech, littered with soaring rhetoric and interrupted con-tinuously by applause from the Republicans, was to announce a new, more inclusive presi-dential tone ahead of Trump’s 2020 reelection bid.

And the moment Trump swung onto his favorite topic of building a wall on the Mexican border to stop an “onslaught” of illegal immigrants, Democrats angrily shook their heads. A decision by Democrat women to wear white, in honor of the early

20th century suffragette movement, was seen as a visual rebuke of Trump.

After the speech, Senior House Democrat Steny Hoyer declared that Trump “leaned on falsehoods and fear to obscure the reality of a presidency lacking in leadership and harmful to America’s future”.

The president’s single-minded drive — and failure — to get congressional funding for that wall is at the heart of the political dysfunction his speech claimed to be trying to resolve.

Democrats say that Trump’s warnings about illegal immigrant murderers amount to political fearmongering and they refuse to authorize the money.

The resulting standoff has turned what might have been a relatively minor funding debate into an existential test of political strength in the buildup to 2020.

In December, Trump took revenge on Congress by trig-gering a crippling five-week partial shutdown of government. Democratic House speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was seated behind Trump for the State of the Union, exacted her own reprisal by forcing the speech to be delayed by a week.

Things could soon escalate, with Trump threatening to renew the shutdown or declare a national emergency so that he can bypass Congress and give himself power to take military funds for his project. “I will get it built,” he said firmly, to cheers from Republicans and silence from Democrats.

Snooze of the Union: (Joshua) Trump’s power nap goes viralAFP WASHINGTON

Between the late bedtimes and early morning tweets the leader of the free world is renowned for needing just four hours’ sleep but his young State of the Union guest Joshua Trump hardly lived up to the name — nodding off mid-speech.

The 11-year-old — who is not related to Donald Trump but has been bullied at school because of his surname — had been invited as a special guest of the first family to the prestigious annual address. The youngster was seen looking presidential in a white shirt and dark tie as for-malities commenced in Wash-ington on Tuesday evening but

he soon succumbed to the appar-ently soporific cadence of Trump’s words.

Installed two seats up from First Lady Melania Trump, the middle school student from Del-aware appears to have found his sudden fame somewhat tiring. Images of him catching 40 winks quickly went viral on Twitter, where many hailed him as an unlikely talisman of the anti-Trump “resistance” while one wag remarked: “Joshua Trump spoke for all Americans”.

“Joshua Trump is a Trump I can get behind,” quipped another while a third enthused: “Not all heroes wear capes.” Forced to endure months of bullying for sharing the same surname as the president, Joshua dropped out of

school and told his mother he had lost the will to live. He says achieving national fame was never his goal and he just wanted to fit in. “They say are you related to Donald Trump? And I say, ‘Would I be here if I’m related to him?’” the schoolboy told the news site Inside Edition in December.

The constant mockery became so bad that his parents eventually pulled him out of school in 2017 and taught him at home for a year, before re-enrolling him when he was due to start middle school.

His school instructed his teachers not to use his surname any more, and disciplined five students, who apologized to the boy.

President vows to outspend Russia without new missile pactAFP WASHINGTON

President Donald Trump vowed late on Tuesday that the United States would outspend Russia on missiles without a fresh interna-tional accord after he ditched a landmark Cold War treaty.

Trump’s warning during his annual State of the Union address cemented fears of an emerging arms race, with Russia hours earlier pledging to design new missiles over the next two years.

The United States last week started the process of exiting the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, saying that Russia has been violating the pact through a new missile system and ignored repeated complaints.

“Under my administration, we will never apologize for advancing America’s interests,” Trump told US lawmakers assembled in the House chamber. “Perhaps we can negotiate a different agreement, adding China and others. Or perhaps we can’t — in which case, we will outspend and out-innovate all others by far,” Trump said.

While pointing the finger at Russia, US officials have voiced concern that the 1987 treaty does not constrain China, whose rapidly growing military relies on medium-range missiles as a core part of its defense strategy.

The INF treaty banned all mis-siles with a range of 500 to 5,500km, a legacy of the end of the Cold War as last Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and US pres-ident Ronald Reagan sought to ease European fears of an arms race that would destroy their cities.

Russian President Vladimir Putin — who has sought a warm relationship with Trump but is widely reviled by the US estab-lishment — responded on Sat-urday by saying Moscow would also leave the INF treaty.

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido poses for a photo after a meeting with representatives of FEDEAGRO, the Confederation of Associations of Agricultural Producers of Venezuela, in Caracas, yesterday.

Guaido rallies EU support as Venezuelan army blocks aid shipmentAFP CARACAS

Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido stepped up efforts yesterday to win recognition from EU holdout states and insisted the Armed Forces allow desperately needed humani-tarian aid to enter the country.

“Today we talked with rep-resentatives of the EU to consol-idate their support for the dem-ocratic transition,” Guaido said, adding that he would send a del-egation to holdout state Italy to present his “action plan to relaunch democracy”.

The National Assembly leader has been recognized by more than 40 countries since declaring himself interim pres-ident on January 23 in defiance of President Nicolas Maduro.

However, several countries

including Italy and Greece have so far blocked an EU bid for tougher action against Maduro’s socialist regime.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, meanwhile, demanded Venezuela’s military allow aid into the country. “The Maduro regime must LET THE AID REACH THE STARVING PEOPLE,” Pompeo tweeted. In Geneva, the International Com-mittee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it was doubling its resources to cope with the crisis, where food and medicine shortages have pushed 2.3 million people to flee since 2015.

“Our focus is really to, on the one side increase our response to Venezuelans, and on the other hand to keep away from the political controversy and political divisions which are character-istic to the crisis in Venezuela,”

ICRC chief Peter Maurer said.Maduro, who is supported by

Russia, China, Turkey, Cuba and Iran, has refused all humani-tarian aid shipments to Vene-zuela, which he says would open the way to allow a US military invasion. Key to the delivery of humanitarian aid is Venezuela’s armed forces, which remain loyal to the socialist leader.

Late on Tuesday, the army blocked a road on the Colombian border near where US humani-tarian aid is being stockpiled.

Troop used a tanker truck and huge shipping container to block access to the Tienditas bridge, which links Cucuta, Colombia to Urena, Venezuela.

Maduro dismissed the need for aid yesterdayas a “political show.” “Imperialism does not help anyone in the world,” he told Russia Today.

Testimony of Cohen postponedAFP WASHINGTON

Closed-door congressional testimony planned this week by President Donald Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen will be postponed until Feb-ruary 28, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said yesterday.

Cohen was expected to provide details of his work for Trump — including crimes that Cohen has been con-victed for — to the committee on Friday. But Schiff said in a statement that the testimony has been put off “in the interest of the investigation”.

It was not clear which investigation his comment referred to. Special Counsel Robert Mueller is examining Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, and whether the Trump cam-paign colluded with Moscow, a probe that increasingly menaces the White House.

The House Intelligence Committee is conducting its own examination of Trump’s links to Russia. Cohen, the president’s former right-hand man and “fixer” at the Trump Organization, the Trump umbrella company, pleaded guilty in December to mul-tiple charges related to work he performed for the pres-ident, and pledged to coop-erate with investigators.

He was sentenced on charges of fraud, tax evasion, illegal campaign contributions, and lying to Congress in previous testimony. Cohen told prose-cutors that Trump directed him to arrange illegal hush payments to two alleged former lovers ahead of the 2016 election.

Virginia Democrats in crisis over new blackface scandalAFP WASHINGTON

A political crisis deepened in Virginia yesterday after the attorney general of the eastern US state admitted he wore blackface to a 1980 college party to impersonate a rapper.

Attorney-General Mark Herring is second in line for the governorship of the state, where the Democratic governor and lieutenant governor are already embroiled in scandal.

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam has been facing calls for his resignation since a 1984 yearbook surfaced last week that features a racist photo on a page dedicated to him.

Lieutenant Governor Justin

Fairfax has been accused by a woman of misconduct — an alle-gation he denies saying it had been a “100 percent consensual encounter”. Like Northam and Fairfax, Herring is a Democrat. The next in line for the gover-norship is the Republican Speaker of the state House of Delegates.

Herring, 57, who has served as attorney general since 2014, apologized for what he described as “callous and inex-cusable lack of awareness”. “I am deeply, deeply sorry for the pain that I cause with this rev-elation,” he said.

“In 1980, when I was a 19-year-old undergraduate in college, some friends suggested we attend a party dressed like rappers we listened to at the

time, like Kurtis Blow, and perform a song.

“But because of our igno-rance and glib attitudes — and because we did not have an appreciation for the experiences and perspective of others — we dressed up and put on wigs and brown makeup,” he said. “It was really a minimization of both people of color, and a minimi-zation of a horrific history I knew well even then,” he said.

“This conduct is in no way reflective of the man I have become in the nearly 40 years since,” Herring said.

“In the days ahead, honest conversations and discussions will make it clear whether I can or should continue to serve as attorney general.”

Residents near Brazil dam disaster exposed to illness, expert warnsAFP RIO DE JANEIRO

Inhabitants in Brazil’s southeast where a dam collapsed at a mine nearly two weeks ago, releasing mineral-laced waste in a deadly torrent, are at heightened risk from a range of illnesses, according to an epidemiologist.

Diego Xavier, one of several authors of a report on the dis-aster carried out by researchers at Brazil’s Oswaldo Cruz Foun-dation (Fiocruz), said that res-idents faced increased risk of dengue, yellow fever, infectious diseases and psychological problems. The January 25 col-lapse of the tailings dam at the mine owned by Brazilian cor-porate giant Vale near the town

of Brumadinho killed at least 150 people and left 182 missing, according to the latest toll. Emer-gency crews are still working to locate and recover bodies.

The muddy waste has infil-trated more than 200km of the Paraopeba river. Xavier said the problem now is “the pollution of the water with heavy metals — people in contact with this water might present cases of diarrhea, diphtheria or vomiting.”

Months later, infectious dis-eases and parasites could emerge. If trash collection is interrupted, rats could turn up, and if water supplies are shut down because of the river pol-lution, mosquitos could swarm to water stored at homes, increasing the risk of dengue and yellow fever.

18 THURSDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2019CLASSIFIEDS

BEVERLY HILLS TOWER (WEST BAY): Fully furnished 1 ����������� ������������� ����������������������������������� ������� ����� �� ��������� ��!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� (��������*������+������������*����,���� ������������������������������� ��������-�� *�+� ���� ��������-�� ��������� *����� �����������������������..������*������+������.������������������!�"�#$�("�/'�"()�02����������*��������������+���������������������������������3!��%!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)�567829�:::2�;887 ��::<:�;2=>� �:::2�=?;<� �??;;�0>72� �::<7�;0;8����"%�'4)������+�������@����������������� REGENCY RESIDENCE (WEST BAY):��3���+�.���������0����������)�0�%����-����������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������� �����!�"�#$��%"&'#'"()� (�������� *����� �+��� ��������-�� *�+� ������������-�����������*��������������������������A�������������+�� ��!�"�#$� ("�/'�"()� 02� ������ (������+�� �����������������������3!��%!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)� 567829�:::2�;887� �:::0�?=2;� �::<7�:7:?� �::<7�;2?0� �::<7�;0;8����"%�'4)������+�������@����������������� REGENCY RESIDENCE (WEST BAY): Fully furnished 1 �������� ��� ��������� ������ �������� ������� �� ������� ��� ���������� � � ����������� � ��� ��!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� (��������*������+�����������-��*�+�������������-�����������*��������������������������A�������� �����+����!�"�#$�("�/'�"()�02�(������+�������������������������3!��%!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)�567829�:::2�;887� ::<7�<070� �??;;�=>07� �::<:�;2=>����"%�'4)������+�������@����������������� REGENCY RESIDENCE (WEST BAY): Fully furnished 0����������)�0�%����-�������������������������������������� �������� ������� �� ������� ��� �� � �������� � � ������������ ��� ��!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� (�������� *����� �+��� ��������-��*�+�������������-�����������*��������������������������A������ �� �����+�� ��!�"�#$� ("�/'�"()� 02� ������ (������+�������������������������3!��%!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)�567829�:::2�;887� �:::0�?=2;� �::<7�:7:?� �::<7�;2?0����"%�'4)������+�������@����������������� BEVERLY HILLS TOWER (WEST BAY): Fully furnished >������������ ������������� ���>����������������� �����������-�� ����� � � ������� ��������� ������� �� ������� ����� �������� �� ��!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� (�������� *����� �+����������� �*� ��� ,��� ����� ��������� ������� ������ ����������������-�� *�+� ���� ��������-�� ��������� *����� ���� ����������� ������ ��..��� ���*�� ����+� ������ .��� ���� �� ���������!�"�#$� ("�/'�"()� 02� (������+�� ����������� 4������������������������������3!��%!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)�567829�:::2;887 �::<7�;2?0� �??;;�2?>?� :::=�08>2����"%�'4)������+�������@����������������� REGENCY PEARL 3 (THE PEARL):� (���� .��������� ������������� ��*��B� ����� ������� ��� ����� ���� ������ ��� /����C���+�(��������*������+���������������������D��*�+����3!�� %!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&� �4"�("� ��44)� 567829� 8;02� ??20 �::<8� <=7>� � � ::<7� <070� � ??;;� =>07� � >>07� 2>0=� ��� "%�'4)������@�����������������REGENCY PEARL 3 (THE PEARL):� (���� .��������� ������������� ��*��B� ����� ������� ��� ����� ���� ������ ��� /����C���+�(��������*������+���������������������D��*�+����3!�� %!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&� �4"�("� ��44)� 567829� 8;02� ??20 �::<8� <=7>� � � ::<7� <070� � ??;;� =>07� � >>07� 2>0=� ��� "%�'4)������@�����������������REGENCY PEARL 3 (THE PEARL):� (���� .���������������������*������� ������������ ������ ���/����C���+�(�������� *����� �+��� ����� ��� ����� �� ���D�� *�+� �����4"�("���44)�567829�8;02�??20 �::<8�<=7>�� �::<7�<070� �??;;�=>07� �>>07�2>0=����"%�'4)������@����������������������+�������@�����������������REGENCY PEARL 3 (THE PEARL):� (���� .���������������������*������� ������������ ������ ���/����C���+�(�������� *����� �+��� ����� ��� ����� �� ���D�� *�+� �����4"�("���44)�567829�8;02�??20 �::<8�<=7>�� �::<7�<070� �??;;�=>07� �>>07�2>0=����"%�'4)������@����������������������+�������@�����������������REGENCY PEARL 1 (THE PEARL):�3���+�.���������(�������+*��� ��������� ������� �� ������� ���� �������� � � �������������-��� ��!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� (�������� *����� �+��� ��..����������������D��*�+�������!�"�#$�("�/'�"()�02�������E��*������� �������+� �� ����������� 3!�� %!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)�5678298;02�??20 �::<8�<=7>�� �::<7�<070� �??;;�=>07����"%�'4)����*���=�������@�����������������REGENCY PEARL 2 (THE PEARL):�3���+�.���������(�������+*��� ��������� ������� �� ������� ���� �������� � � �������������-��� ��!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� (�������� *����� �+��� ��..����������������D��*�+�������!�"�#$�("�/'�"()�02�������E��*������� �������+� �� ����������� 3!�� %!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)�567829�8;02�??20� �::<7<070� �??;;�=>07� �::<:�;2=>����"%�'4)����*����������@�����������������REGENCY PEARL 1 (THE PEARL):�3���+�.���������(�������+*��� ��������� ������� �� ������� ���� �������� � � �������������-��� ��!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� (�������� *����� �+��� ��..����������������D��*�+�������!�"�#$�("�/'�"()�02�������E��*������� �������+� �� ����������� 3!�� %!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)� 567829�::<8�<=7>� � �::<7�<070� �??;;�=>07����"%�'4)����*����������@�����������������REGENCY PEARL 2 (THE PEARL):�3���+�.���������(�������+*��� ��������� ������� �� ������� ���� �������� � � �������������-��� ��!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� (�������� *����� �+��� ��..����������������D��*�+�������!�"�#$�("�/'�"()�02�������E��*������� �������+� �� ����������� 3!�� %!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)�567829�8;02�??20 �::<7<070� �??;;�=>07� �::<:�;2=>����"%�'4)����*����������@�����������������

REGENCY PEARL 2 (THE PEARL): Fully furnished 1 C���������������������������������������������� ��������������-��� ��!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� (�������� *����� �+��� ��..����������������D��*�+�������!�"�#$�("�/'�"()�02�������E��*������� �������+� �� ����������� 3!�� %!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)�567829�8;02�??20� �::<7�<070� �??;;�=>07� �::<:�;2=>����"%�'4)����*���=�������@�����������������

REGENCY PEARL 1 (THE PEARL): Fully furnished 1 �������� ��� ��������� ������ �������� ������� �� ������� ������������� ��������������-�����!�"�#$��%"&'#'"()�(��������*������+�����..��������������D��*�+�������!�"�#$�("�/'�"()�02� ������ E��*� ������ �������+� �� ����������� 3!�� %!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&� �4"�("� ��44)� 567829� 8;02� ??20 � ::<8� <=7>G�::<7� <070� � :::2� =?;<� � ::<:� ;2=>� ��� "%�'4)� � ���*���=�������@�����������������

REGENCY PEARL 1 (THE PEARL): Fully furnished 1 �������� ��� ��������� ������ �������� ������� �� ������� ������������� ��������������-�����!�"�#$��%"&'#'"()�(��������*������+�����..��������������D��*�+�������!�"�#$�("�/'�"()�02� ������ E��*� ������ �������+� �� ����������� 3!�� %!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&� �4"�("� ��44)� 567829� 8;02� ??20 � ::<8� <=7> �::<7� <070� � :::2� =?;<� � :::0� ?=2;� ��� "%�'4)� � ���*���=�������@�����������������

REGENCY PEARL 2 (THE PEARL): Fully furnished 1 C���������������������������������������������� ��������������-��� ��!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� (�������� *����� �+��� ��..����������������D��*�+�������!�"�#$�("�/'�"()�02�������E��*������� �������+� �� ����������� 3!�� %!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)�567829�8;02�??20� �::<7�<070� �??;;�=>07� �::<:�;2=>����"%�'4)����*���=�������@�����������������

REGENCY PEARL 1 (THE PEARL): Fully furnished =� �������� 6� �.H���� ��������� ������ �������� � ������� �� ����������� �������� � � ����������� ��-��� ��!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()�(��������*������+�����..��������������D��*�+�������!�"�#$�("�/'�"()� 02� ������ �������+�� ���������� �� ���������� �� 3!��%!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)� 567829�::<8�<=7>� �::<7�<070� � ??;;� 0>72� � ??;;� 0>:?� ��� "%�'4)� ���*���=�������@����������������� REGENCY PEARL 2 (THE PEARL): Fully furnished 0� ���������� ��������� ������ �������� � ������� �� ������� ������������� ��������������-�����!�"�#$��%"&'#'"()�(��������*������+�����..��������������D��*�+�������!�"�#$�("�/'�"()�02� ������ �������+�� ���������� �� ���������� �� 3!�� %!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&� �4"�("� ��44)� 567829� 8;02� ??20� � ::<7�<070� � ??;;� 0>72� � ??;;� 0>:?� ��� "%�'4)� ���*����������@����������������� UMM BAB TOWER (WESTBAY):� 3���+� .��������� 0����������0�%����-��������������������������������������������� ��������� ������� �� ������� ���� ��!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()�'���������������*�����.���+��I��**����+��������+����������D��*�+������� �� �������� *������� 3!�� %!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)�567829�>>072>0=� �:::0�?=2;� �::<7�:7:?� �::<7�;2?0����"%�'4)������+�������@����������������� VIVA BAHRIYA TOWER 4 (THE PEARL-QATAR): (���� 3��������� !���� #��� ��� #����� C������� �*������������� !��� %����� 3���� �� 3���� ,��� ������ (*����� ����� �������������� ��������� ��!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� (��������������J+���K��-����+�������L������C������������3!��%!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)�6782�::<=�<80<����"%�'4)���@����������������� UMM BAB TOWER (WESTBAY):� 3���+� .��������� >��������� 6� ���-� ����� � � M�����)� >� %����-�� �������� �������������������������������������������� ����������������������!�"�#$��%"&'#'"()� '���������������*����� .���+��I��**����+��� �����+����������D��*�+�����������������*�������3!��%!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&� �4"�("� ��44)� 567829� >>072>0= � ??;;�2?>?� � :::=� 08>2� ::<7� <070� ��� "%�'4)� �����+�������@�����������������

VILLA DESTE 2 (AL WAAB):�(����.���������>�������������)�%����-����������� �������������������������������������� �������� ������� �� ������� ���� ��!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()�(��������*������+���������������!�"�#$�("�/'�"()�02����������������� �� �������+�� 3!�� %!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&� �4"�("���44)�567829�>>:0=8=>� �:::=�08>2� ::<7�<070� �??;;�=>07����"%�'4)�����������@����������������� VILLA DESTE 2 (AL WAAB):�(����.���������>�������������)�%����-����������� �������������������������������������� �������� ������� �� ������� ���� ��!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()�(��������*������+���������������!�"�#$�("�/'�"()�02����������������� �� �������+�� 3!�� %!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&� �4"�("���44)�567829�>>:0=8=>� �:::=�08>2� ::<7�<070� �??;;�=>07� �::<7�;0;8����"%�'4)�����������@����������������� BEVERLY HILLS GARDEN 10 (Al WAAB):� (����.��������� 2� �������� ����)� >� ��������� ������ �������� �����+������� ������� �� ������� ���� �������� � � �*���� ��-��� ��!�"�#$��%"&'#'"()� (�������� *����� C�������� ��������-�� *�+� ����J+�������� ��!�"�#$� ("�/'�"()� 02� ������ �������+� �������������3!��%!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)�567829�>>:0�=8=>� �??;;�0>:?� �::<:�;2=>� �:::2�=?;<� �::<7�;0;8���"%�'4)�����������@����������������� AIN KHALID GATE:� 3���+� .��������� 2� �������� ���������� 0� %����-�� �������� ����� ������� ��������� ��������������� ������ �������� ���-�� ������ �����+� ������ 0� ������������������������ ��������� � �������������-������+�������� *������ ��������� *����� ��!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� (��������������� �������� A������� ������� J+��� ������� A������� ���������������������������������������������������I����������

���I������*��������������+����*��������+����������������������������!�"�#$�("�/'�"()�02��������������+��������������3!�� %!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)� 567829� ::?=�870?� �::<:�:08=� � � ??;;�0>:?� � � ::<7�;2?0� ���� "%�'4)� ��������������@����������������� AIN KHALID GATE:� 3���+� .��������� 0� �������� ����� �����0� ��������� �������� 5�*��� ��� ������9� � � ����������� ��-�����!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� (�������� ������� �������� A��������������J+����������A����������������������������������������������������������I�������������I������*��������������+����*��������+����������������������������!�"�#$�("�/'�"()�02� ������ �������+� �� ����������� 3!�� %!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)�567829�::?=870?� �::<:�:08=�� �::<7�:7:?�� �::<7�;2?0� ����"%�'4)���������������@����������������� BEVERLY HILLS GARDEN 2 (AL WAAB):� (����.���������2��������������)�0�%����-��C����������������������������.���+�������������������������������������*��������������������������+�����-�� ������������������� ���������� ������� ������ ��������� ������ ��� *��� ��� ���+������!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� (�������� *����� �+��� �������� ����������������������������������������������-��*�+�������!�"�#$�("�/'�"()� 02� ������ �������+� �� ����������� 3!�� %!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)�567829�>>:0�=8=>� �??;;�0>:?� �::<:�;2=>� �:::2�=?;<� �??;;2?>?����"%�'4)�����������@����������������� BEVERLY HILLS GARDEN 1 (AL WAAB):� (����.���������2��������������)�0�%����-��C�����������������������������.���+�������������������������������������*��������������������������+�����-�� ������������������� ���������� ������� ������ ��������� ������ ��� *��� ��� ���+������!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� (�������� *����� �+��� �������� ����������������������������������������������-��*�+�������!�"�#$�("�/'�"()� 02� ������ �������+� �� ����������� 3!�� %!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)�567829�>>:0�=8=>� �??;;�0>:?� �::<:�;2=>� �:::2�=?;<� �??;;2?>?����"%�'4)�����������@����������������� BEVERLY HILLS GARDEN 13 (AL WAAB):� (����.���������2��������������)�0�%����-��C�����������������������������.���+���������������������������������������-������� ����� ��������� ������� ��� ������� ������ .���+� �I��**����������������!�"�#$��%"&'#'"()�(��������*�����.���+��I��**����+����������.���������������������.���������������������!�"�#$�("�/'�"()�02��������������+��������������3!�� %!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)� 567829� >>:?�8=:?� �>>2>�>=?<� �::<:�;2=>� �:::2�=?;<� �??;;2?>?� �::<7�;0;8����"%�'4)�����������@������������������ Q BEL AIR COMPOUND (LAQTAH):�(����.���������:�C������� ����)� 0� %����-�� �������� ����� ������� ��������������� ��������� ������� �������� �� ������ �������� ��!�"�#$��%"&'#'"()� (�������� *����� �+��� ������� ������� �������� �������*��*���� ����� � 3!�� %!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&� �4"�("� ��44)�567829�>>07�2>0=� �??;;�0>:?� �:::0�?=2;� �::<7�:7:?� �::<7�;0;8����"%�'4)�����������@�����������������

Q BEL AIR COMPOUND (LAQTAH):�(����.���������:�C������� ����)� 0� %����-�� �������� ����� ������� ��������������� ��������� ������� �������� �� ������ �������� ��!�"�#$��%"&'#'"()� (�������� *����� �+��� ������� ������� �������� �������*��*���� ����� � 3!�� %!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&� �4"�("� ��44)�567829� >>07� 2>0=� � ??;;� 0>:?� � :::0� ?=2;� � ::<7� :7:?� � ���"%�'4)�����������@�����������������

AIN KHALID COMPOUND (AIN KHALID): Fully .��������� 0� �������� �)� 0� �������� ������� �� ������� ����� ��������� ��!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� (�������� *����� �+������������� ��*�������� �� ���-�� *�+� ���� 3!�� %!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)� 567829�>>;7�?2<< �:::0�?=2;� �::<7�:7:?����"%�'4)����������@�����������������

AIN KHALID COMPOUND (AIN KHALID): Fully .��������� 0� �������� �)� 0� �������� ������� �� ������� ����� ��������� ��!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� (�������� *����� �+������������� ��*�������� �� ���-�� *�+� ���� 3!�� %!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)�567829�>>;7�?2<<� �:::0�?=2;� �::<7�:7:?����"%�'4)����������@�����������������

REGENCY RESIDENCE AL SADD 1 (AL SADD): Fully .��������� =� �������� �)� %����-�� �������� ����� ���������������� ������ �������� ������� �� ������� ��� �� �������� � ������������� �����!�"�#$��%"&'#'"()�(��������������J+���(��� ������ A��������(���� ��������!�"�#$�("�/'�"()�02������� �������+� �� ����������� 3!�� %!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("� ��44)� 567829� >>=;� 0?2?� � � ??;;� =>07� � >>77� 20??� �??;;2?>?����"%�'4)������������@����������������� REGENCY RESIDENCE AL SADD 3 (AL SADD): 3���+�.���������>N���������)�%����-��������������������������� �������� ������� �� ������� ��� �� �������� � � ������������ ��� ��!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� 3���+� "I��**��� J+���� ��!�"�#$�("�/'�"()� 02� ������ �������+� �� ����������� 3!�� %!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)�567829�>>=;�0?2?� �::<:�;2=>� �:::2�=?;<� �??;;�0>72� �??;;2?>?����"%�'4)������������@����������������� REGENCY RESIDENCE ALSADD 3 (AL SADD): Fully .��������� >� �������� �)� %����-�� �������� ����� ��������������������������������������������� ��������������������� ��������� � ������������ ��� ��!�"�#$�("�/'�"()� 02�E������������+��������������������������3!��%!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)�567829�>>=;�0?2?� ??;;�0>:?� �:::0�?=2;� �::<7�:7:?� �??;;2?>?����"%�'4)������������@������������������

REGENCY RESIDENCE AL SADD 10 (AL SADD): Fully .��������� >� �������� �)� %����-�� �������� ����� ���������������� ������ ��������� ������ �������� ������� ��� ���������� �������� ����� ������������ ��� 3!�� %!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("� ��44)� 567829� >>=;� 0?2?� ??;;� 0>:?� � :::0� ?=2;� �::<7� :7:?� ��� "%�'4)� �����������@������������������������������@����������������� REGENCY RESIDENCE AL SADD 12 (AL SADD): Fully .��������� =� �������� �)�� ��������� ������� �� ������� ��� ���������� � � (*���� � ��� ��!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� 3���+� �I��**����+��� ��!�"�#$� ("�/'�"()� 02� ������ �������+� �� �����������3!��%!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)�567829�>>=;�0?2?�� �??;;�=>07� �::<:�;2=>� �??;;2?>?����"%�'4)������������@����������������� REGENCY RESIDENCE AL SADD 12 (AL SADD): Fully .��������� =� �������� �)� � ��������� ������� �� ������� ��� ����������� (*����� �����!�"�#$��%"&'#'"()�3���+��I��**����+�����!�"�#$�("�/'�"()�02��������������+���������������4"�("���44)�567829�>>=;�0?2?� �??;;�=>07� �::<:�;2=>� �??;;2?>?����"%�'4)������������@����������������� REGENCY RESIDENCE AL SADD 13 (AL SADD): 3���+�.���������=����������)�������������������������������� �������� � � ����������� � ��� ��!�"�#$� ("�/'�"()� 02� �������������+� �� ����������� 3!�� %!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&� �4"�("���44)�567829�>>=;�0?2?� �??;;�0>72� �::<7;0;8� �:::0�?=2; �??;;2?>?����"%�'4)������������@����������������� REGENCY RESIDENCE MUSHEIREB 1 (MUSHEIREB): 3���+�.���������=������������������������������������������ �������� � � ����������� � ��� ��!�"�#$� �%"&'#'"()� '������(��������������J+���(�����������������A�������C����������!�"�#$� ("�/'�"()� 02� ������ �������+� �� ����������� 3!��%!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)� 567829�::8;�=802� �::7>�?8:<� �>>77�20??� �::<7�:7:?����"%�'4)�����������������@����������������� REGENCY RESIDENCE AIRPORT 1 (DOHA AREA): 3���+�.���������=������������������������������������������������� ��*������-�����!�"�#$��%"&'#'"()�(��������*������J+��� ��!�"�#$� ("�/'�"()� 02� ����� �������+� �� �����������3!��%!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)� 567829� >>:?�8=:?� �>;>7�:0<8� �??;;�2?>?� �:::=�08>2����"%�'4)�����������@����������������� REGENCY RESIDENCE AIRPORT 1 (DOHA AREA): (����.���������0������������������������������������������������� ��*������-�����!�"�#$��%"&'#'"()�(��������*������J+��� ��!�"�#$� ("�/'�"()� 02� ����� �������+� �� �����������3!��%!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)� 567829� >>:?�8=:?� �>;>7�:0<8� �::<7�<070� �??;;�=>07����"%�'4)�����������@����������������� REGENCY RESIDENCE AIRPORT 2 (DOHA AREA): (���� .��������� 0� �������� ��� ��������� ������� �� ��������������������� ��*����� �����!�"�#$��%"&'#'"()�(��������*����� ��!�"�#$� ("�/'�"()� 02� ����� �������+� �� �����������3!��%!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)� 567829� >>:?�8=:?� �>;>7�:0<8� �::<:�;2=>� �>>2>�>=?<����"%�'4)�����������@����������������� BIN DIRHAM 1 (MANSOURA):� O�.��������� 0����������)������������������������������������������������!�"�#$� ("�/'�"()� 02� ������ �������+� �� ����������� 3!��%!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&� �4"�("� ��44)� 567829� � >;>7� :0<8� �>>:?�8=:?� �??;;�0>72� �??;;�0>:?����"%�'4)�������������@����������������� BIN DIRHAM 5 (MANSOURA):� O�.��������� 0����������)������������������������������������������������!�"�#$� ("�/'�"()� 02� ������ �������+� �� ����������� 3!��%!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)� 567829�>;>7�:0<8� �>>:?�8=:?� � :::0� ?=2;� � ::<7� :7:?� ��� "%�'4)� ������������@����������������� 18 FLATS (AL WAKRA):� =<� O�.��������� ���� �*������������ ��.��� ������� ��� �������� *������� 0� .���� ������������ 02� ������ ���������� 5�M��� ���������� ��� ��9� 3!��%!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&���44)� 567829�>;>7�:0<8� �>>:?�8=:?� �>>2>�>=?<����"%�'4)�������������@������������������DOHA GARDENS (AL WAAB):�3���+�.���������>����������)�%�����C�������������������������������������������������������!�"�#$�("�/'�"()�02��������������+��������������3!��%!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)� 567829� >>=;�0?2?� �??;;�0>:?� �::<:�;2=>� �:::2�=?;<����"%�'4)������������@�����������������

BRAND NEW RESIDENTIAL BUILDING (WAKRA): O�.��������� =:� O����� �.� 0� �������� ��)� ��������� �������������������������������3!��%!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&���44)�567829�>;>7�:0<8�����"%�'4)�������������@�����������������

AL ASMAKH TOWER (WESTBAY):� C���� &��� !.H���#����� � � ����������� � �)� ���� �� .����� ������� *��� ������ *���+�� 3!�� %!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&� �4"�("� ��44)� 567829�>>;>88><����"%�'4)����+����@������������������REGENCY BUSINESS CENTER 3 (GRAND HAMAD STREET): ���������� !.H��� (*��� � � ����������� � ������������*���+�� ������������������� �������+��������#/���(*��������H����.��+��+������3!��%!�"�'&3!�%�#'!&��4"�("���44)� 567829� >;>7� :0<8� � >>:?� 8=:?� � :::2� =?;<� ��� "%�'4)�����������@����������������� OFFICE COMMERCIAL BUILDING:� ���������� !.H���(*���� �C��������J������6�0�3�������==2��������(������3!��%!�"� '&3!�%�#'!&���44)� 567829�::<7�;0;8� �222<�:===� �2;2=�;80:����"%�'4)���������@��������������������

AL ASMAKH LISTINGSCALL CENTER: 4448 5111 / 4041 0757

We also offer our RICS regulated International valuation serviceVALUATIONS & RESEARCH advisory@alasmakhrealestate.com

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

TOWERS

COMPOUND APARTMENT

ONE COMPANY DEAL

COMPOUND

OFFICE & SHOWROOM

BUILDING APARTMENT

19THURSDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2019 HOME

THE PENINSULA DOHA

The Next Generation School has organised a session for parents teachers association (PTA) committee members. Parents from all five campuses of TNG were invited.

The director Riyaz Bakali headed the meeting and pre-sented his views on mission and vision of the school and how the entire team of TNG is involved in making it realistic and achievable.

“One of the most important components of success is hard work of teachers, interest of students and the parent body.

Our vision is to create an internationally recognised educational institution where we can produce

leaders,” said Bakali.He said that mission of TNG

is to impart essential knowledge and practice of Islam. “Support our students’ emotional, physical, creative needs to achieve academic success.

This is a direction where all our teachers, students and parents are required to work collaboratively,” he added. The purpose of arranging this PTA forum was to involve parents in school activities a n d fo s ter e f fect ive communication.

This forum bridges a gap

between parents and the man-agement. From each campus representatives are selected on voting basis.

The representatives can raise their concerns, issues, suggestions and work together for the betterment of students and TNG on whole.

The school received a very positive feedback from this PTA session and it is looking forward to active participation of parents from each campus. The Next Generation School is open to suggestions that would be beneficial for the students, staff and parents.

The Director of The Next Generation School, Riyaz Bakali, addressing the PTA session.

Mövenpick Hotel West Bay Doha completes 2018 with recognition award and community services

THE PENINSULA DOHA

Mövenpick Hotel West Bay Doha ended year 2018 with a high note, from hotel awards to corporate and social outreach programmes and employee event, taking the momentum into 2019 with greater gratitude and positive attitude ahead.

Notably, for the third con-secutive year, the hotel is hon-oured and privileged to have received the ‘Luxury City Hotel’ from World Luxury Hotel Awards 2018.

The recognition affirms the hotel’s continuous com-mitment to strive for excep-tional service delivery.

Subsequently, in support of AccorHotels’ diversity and inclusion plans, comprising the International Days of Persons with Disabilities, Accessibility Consultant, Jennifer Stirling from Definitely Able and Accessible Qatar was invited

to share educational infor-mation about disability awareness and promote social acceptance for disabled indi-viduals among employees.

Definitely Able and Acces-sible Qatar are two corporate social responsibility initiatives of Sasol in Qatar that aim to highlight positive contribution and create opportunities for people living with disabilities,

in addition to promoting acces-sibility within Qatar.

Moreover, the hotel partook in AccorHotels Soli-darity Week initiative, part-nering with The Qatari Center of Social Cultural for the Deaf during the yearly Darb Al Sai event for volunteer works and b r e a k f a s t f o o d b o x contributions.

“As part of Mövenpick Hotel West Bay Doha’s com-munity outreach plans, it is with immense joy and pride to be involved in worthwhile causes and to be able to con-tribute to social change”, said Ghada Sadek, General Manager.

To end the year, the hotel annual staff party was organised to recognise the employees of Mövenpick Hotel West Bay Doha.

“The event is a celebration and appreciation of the accom-plishments and outstanding efforts shown by al l employees”, said Ghada.

2018 World Luxury Hotel Awards Certificate

TNG School introducesmission and vision to parents

Marzooq Shamlan Al Shamlan Holding hosts annual media gatheringTHE PENINSULA DOHA

Marzooq Shamlan Al Shamlan Holding invited members of the media to an exclusive gathering held at the holding’s head office.

The aim of this initiative was to introduce the holding generally and emphasise its business ben-efits and their operations specif-ically. The event was also an opportunity to further foster and solidify the group’s relationship with major media outlets in Qatar.

Group CEO, Joe Lahoud, first welcomed the invitees and gave a brief introduction about the holding, which has been formed a year ago, in an attempt to bring

all operating companies under one umbrella.

Some of these companies have been historically operating in Qatar since 1958, under a cre-ative vision built through years of continuous hard work towards innovation and service-excel-lence. Currently, the holding is home to over 150 renowned international brands the likes of Bosch, Karcher, Goodyear, Snap-on, Timex, Citizen to name a few, catering to retail, auto-motive, commercial, ware-housing, cleaning services and construction equipment sectors.

Lahoud’s welcome note was shortly followed by introductory speeches by each of the business

units’ heads: Q-Tire and Interna-tional Tire Center (ITC), Interna-tional Construction Solutions (ICS), Qatar Trading Company, Karcher Center Doha, Tools R Us and Marzooq Shamlan & Sons (Crono and Watch Corner).

The gathering’s highlight was the presence of the Group’s Chairman, Tariq Al Shamlan, whose key message was: “We wanted to start the year with you reaffirming our partnership and valuing your contribution to our businesses and brands.” The event was concluded by a lunch, with an open discussion atmosphere between the media and the organisation’s executive committee.

A group photo of officials and guests at Marzooq Shamlan Al Shamlan Holding’s annual media gathering.

Harvard Professor delivers lecture on ‘Ancient Greek Athletics’ at QUTHE PENINSULA DOHA

The Sport Science Program and the Department of English Liter-ature and Linguistics (DELL) at the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Qatar University (QU), with the support of Qatar Museums Authority’s (QMA) Qatar Olympic & Sports Museum (QOSM) hosted recently a lecture on “Ancient Greek Athletics.”

The lecture is presented by Gregory Nagy, Director of Harvard University’s Center for Hellenic Studies, and a renowned authority in the field of Homeric and related Greek studies.

Ioannis Papaioannou, Curator of Olympic & Sports History at Qatar Museums com-menced the seminar by giving an overview of the QOSM project, which will soon open its doors and demonstrate to the world that sport and Qatar are intrinsically linked.

The museum will be a unique project, not only for Qatar but also for the entire region, in

terms of the collections available, content development and the overall design. In addition to the development of the stadia and facilities in preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the museum will offer a long-lasting legacy for the preservation of sport memory locally and internationally.

Furthermore, the museum aims to educate local and inter-national visitors on the civiliza-tional and humanist dimension of sport, thereby inspiring gen-erations to be part of the sporting experience.

Iohannis’s presentation was followed by Dr. Kelli Wood, Con-sulting Curator on Olympic and Sports History at QOSM. Dr. Kelli presented early sport traditions as a product of cultural encounters between different civilizations, which will be one of the overarching themes of QOSM, bridging between the past, present and the future.

Dr. Kelli’s presentation was followed by Professor Gregory Nagy who covered the main

theme of the lecture, “Athletics in Ancient Greece.” Professor Gregory emphasized a number of concepts worth examining, such as athletics, which he sug-gests to be more inclusive than sport, at least in the way it is

defined and implemented in today’s world in the strict -business oriented- sense of competition and performance. For Professor Nagy, athletics is not only about body, spirit, achievement and glory, but also

about joy and individual struggle for good.

The seminar concluded with a discussion coordinated by QU’s Dr. Eirini Theodoropoulou, Department of English Literature and Linguistics at CAS on the

significance and usefulness of some terms, prevalent in ancient Olympics and may have lost their sense in today’s world, for example, ‘olympic truce.’ Through questions by members of the audience, the discussion moved towards reflection on how to deal with different con-notations throughout history and the value of sports in different cultures.

Dr. Mahfoud Amara, Chair of the Sport Science Program at QU commented on the lecture saying, “This kind of forum offers an interesting opportunity to strengthen the multidisciplinary research and study in the domain of sport in Qatar.

Sport offers an interesting entry point to the study of classic history, cultural studies, liter-ature and linguistics.” Dr. Tariq Khwaileh, Chair of QU’s Department of English Literature and Linguistics added, “This type of event is important to further develop interdisciplinary research projects and learning opportunities for our students.”

Officials after the lecture on ‘Ancient Greek Athletics’ hosted by QU.

Halal Festival attracts big turnout of visitorsTHE PENINSULA DOHA

The Qatar Halal Festival saw great turnout within the initial four days as many schools are taking part in it with an array of activities and transactions among the breeders are going on.

Many elite breeds of sheep and goats were sold in the daily auction which attracted bidders and breeders from Qatar and some neighbouring countries. A sheep of an elite Syrian breed was sold with a sum of QR200,000 marking the biggest transaction in this year’s festival.

Besides, the organising com-mittee carried out the daily contest Al Mizayen (Sheep and Goat beauty contest) between breeders and winners were handed prizes.

Abdallah Al Onaizy, Super-visor of the auction and Mizayen contest said that this year is wit-nessing more participations with more than 200 sheep coming in every day.

Breeders expressed their sat-isfaction over the results of the festival so far.

Hamad Al Kubaisi, a local breeder and a participant in the contest said that through the Qatar Halal Festival, local breeders are getting a bigger chance to improve their pro-duction and it motivates them to come up with the best.

“Not only it encourages us to make the best and increase our

production of sheep and milk, it also encourages other young men to enter this vital sector”, he added.

From Kuwait, Hamad Al Annaz, an auctioneer and a par-ticipant at the contest said that he has been participating in the Qatar Halal festival since the start eight years ago.

Moreover, the festival is attracting hundreds of students daily as it features a variety of activities especially made for the children.

Many of these activities and contests are related to the

livestock breeding. The children are also enjoying the “Little Shepherd” contest which is aimed to raise awareness among the young generations on the life and knowledge of a shepherd and how to breed and take care of livestock.

On the other hand, tradi-tional activities and handicrafts were present at the festival which hosts a handful of tradi-tional handcrafters who also carry out workshops for the children.

There is also an art contest to choose the best painting that describes livestock in general, the winner in the first place will receive a prize worth of QR5000, second QR3000 and the third QR2000.

It is worth mentioning that the Mahaseel festival will con-tinue coinciding with the Halal festival and will also run until the end of March.

Visitors at Qatar Halal Festival.

Many elite breeds of sheep and goats were sold in the daily auction which attracted bidders and breeders from Qatar and some neighbouring countries.

20 THURSDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2019MORNING BREAK

Huge potential to expand Qatar-Australia ties: EnvoyRAYNALD C RIVERA THE PENINSULA

Ambassador of Australia to Qatar, Dr Axel Wabenhorst underscored the huge potential of expanding cooperation between Australia and Qatar in its efforts to achieving self-sufficiency and a knowledge-based economy, as he addressed the Australia Day celebration yesterday.

Minister of Municipality and Envi-ronment H E Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie; Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, H E Ibrahim bin Saleh Al Nuaimi; Chief of Protocol, H E Ambas-sador Ibrahim Yousuf Fakhroo and Dean of Diplomatic Corps and Eritrean Ambassador Ali Ibrahim Ahmed graced the event attended by diplomats and other dignitaries.

In his elaborate speech, Waben-horst also pointed out other areas of cooperation he hoped to see further bolstered including investment, tourism, sport and education, while he lauded the important contributions of Australian citizens and companies in Qatar’s development.

“Looking to the future Qatar has embarked on a comprehensive and carefully considered programme of development through its National Vision 2030. This includes greater emphasis on knowledge-based indus-tries. Due to the GCC dispute, self-suf-ficiency has become more important. Australia is already contributing to Qatar reaching these goals, through the expertise of its citizens and the work of its companies in Qatar, and through our strength in agriculture. There is scope to expand these areas of coop-eration in future,” said Wabenhorst.

Tracing the long history of coop-eration between Australia and Qatar in food security, he said Qatar had sig-nificant investments in Australian farms, while the reputation for quality of Australia’s lamb and beef had been built over many years. He added that Australian fruits and vegetables and manufactured products had been prominent in Qatari supermarkets.

“Australia is the world’s driest

continent. As a result, Australians have become experts in dryland farming. As food security becomes a higher priority for Qatar because of the GCC dispute, Australia is well-placed to support Qatar to grow more of its own food. Visits have already occurred in both direc-tions, and more are planned,” he said.

Qatar, he said, has investments in Australia including in electricity dis-tribution infrastructure and real estate.

“Both countries benefit from this relationship, and I hope to see even more Qatari investment in future,” stressed.

As the world’s 13th largest economy Australia has had 27 years of uninter-rupted economic growth, and has the highest average GDP growth forecast among major advanced economies over the next five years, making it an attractive destination for investment, he said.

With regard to travel and tourism, he pointed out that Qatar Airways has

been an important part of bilateral relationship between the two coun-tries as it connects Australia to the world.

“Today, there are daily flights from Qatar to five Australian cities, after the addition of Canberra in February last year. With this expansion, I hope more of you will discover Australia as a holiday destination. Australia is safe, stable and welcoming. You will find outstanding shopping and restaurants, and unique indigenous culture, land-scapes and wildlife,” said the Ambassador.

He noted Australia’s vast expe-rience in hosting major sporting events, including the Olympic Games in 2000 and the Commonwealth Games in 2018.

“Since the 2000 Olympics, our events management experts have con-tributed to the success of sporting events around the world. They are ready to do so for the 2022 FIFA World

Cup in Qatar,” he said.Wabenhorst said that Australia’s

universities and research institutions are among the world’s best and offer great opportunities for partnerships. He added that there is already existing collaboration between Australian edu-cational and research institutions and Qatari academics and officials, including through the Qatar National Research Fund.

“Australia is the third most popular destination for foreign students in the world, and I would love to see more Qatari students study in Australia,” said the envoy.

He said there are about 3100 Aus-tralians in Qatar contributing to its development and working in diverse sectors, including engineering, con-struction, oil and gas, finance, aviation, education, health care, sports science and journalism.

There are about 30 Australian com-panies in Qatar, the biggest of which are engaged in the engineering and construction field, participating in the construction of Hamad Port, World Cup stadiums, the Doha metro, the Qatar State Mosque, the hydrocarbon sector and shopping centres, he said.

Praising Qatar amid GCC dispute, he said: “Qatar has displayed remarkable resilience and has main-tained its welcoming attitude towards all residents, including Australians. Australia supports the mediation by the State of Kuwait with the aim of resolving the dispute,” he said.

FROM LEFT: Dr. Ibrahim bin Saleh bin Khalifa Al Nuaimi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education; Dr. Axel Wabenhorst, Australian Ambassador to Qatar; H E Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, Minister of Municipality and Environment; Ibrahim Fakhroo, Director of Protocol and Ali Ibrahim Ahmed, Dean of Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of Eritrea, during the Australia Day held at Sheraton Hotel yesterday. BELOW: Guest attending the Australia Day celebrations held at Sheraton Hotel. PIC: BAHER AMIN / THE PENINSULA

Qatar National Football Team visits Shafallah Center

The Qatar National Football Team — AFC Asian Cup Cham-pions — visited Shafallah Center for Children with Special Needs yesterday to fulfil the wish of children with special needs of meeting the players.

Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmad Al Thani, President of Qatar Football Association; Felix Sanchez Bas, Coach of Qatar National Football Team; Amal bint Abdullatif Al Mannai, CEO of Qatar Foundation for Social Work; and Laalei Abu Alfain, Acting Director of Shafallah Center for Persons with Disabil-ities and other dignitaries graced the event by their presence.

Students of Shafallah Center welcomed the team with gar-lands. The team played football with the male students at Center and had a cake-cutting cer-emony at the event. Students were filled with enthusiasm to see the champions come and cel-ebrate their victory with them.

The entire team and guests were honoured with souvenirs which were handed over to them by children.

Talking to media persons, the

President of Qatar Football Asso-ciation said: “We feel honored to be at Shafallah Center to entertain these kids. I feel over-whelmed to see our boys playing with these kids and making their wish come true. We are glad we made this happen. Witnessing the smiles on these children’s face is priceless moment for us as a team.”

Laalei Abu Alfain, Acting Director of Shafallah Center for Persons with Disabilities told The Peninsula: “We are overjoyed on Qatar National Football team’s visit to our Center. Our smiles can speak more than our words. Qatar wining Asian Cup first time is a lifetime achievement for all of us. Team has made our kids happy and excited. We highly appreciate the efforts of our team and we are proud on their victory.”

The entire team was over-whelmed to share their victo-rious moment with the special children. Children got an oppor-tunity to click pictures with the team members, captain and the AFC trophy. The team members expressed their joy by playing football with them.

Hassan Al Haydos, Captain of Qatar National Football team

told The Peninsula: “I would like to thank Shafallah Center for having us here and filling these special children with joy. It is our pleasure to celebrate our victory with them as this victory is very important and close to our hearts. We are happy to see our brothers and sisters happy on our visit.”

Hassan added :“This

achievement is historic we do not have words to express our feelings. Our team performed flawlessly and we expect to perform the same in upcoming games. Thanks to our coach Felix Sanchez for guiding and man-aging us very well throughout the tournament.”

“We heard the students wanted to welcome us at Airport

and this could not happen due to security reasons. We came to them to make their wish come true, it is an honour to be here with these children and looking at their enthusiasm for football filled our hearts with more courage and confidence to perform well in upcoming matches,” said Abdul Kareem Hassan, Qatari footballer.

Expressing his joy on victory he said: “The victory we have achieved is unbelievable. AFC Cup is dedicated to every single person living in Qatar. Including us all others are champions and we are proud of this victory. We are working more hard to perform well in next games, we promise to perform the same.”

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, President of Qatar Football Association; Captain of Qatar Football Team, Hassan Al Haydos; Coach, Felix Sanchez Bas; Chief Executive officer of Qatar Foundation Social Work and Acting Chief Executive Officer at Shafallah Center, Amal bint Abdullatif Al Mannai, and other members of the team, pose with students at Shafallah Center, yesterday. PIC: SALIM MATRAMKOT / THE PENINSULA

AMNA PERVAIZ RAO THE PENINSULA

FAJRSHOROOK

04. 56 AM

06. 14 AM

11. 48 AM

02. 59 PM

05. 24 PM

06. 54 PM

ZUHRASR

MAGHRIBISHA

PRAYER TIMINGS

HIGH TIDE 06:12 – 17:25 LOW TIDE 13:33 –23:53

Misty at some places in the early morning

becomes moderate temperature daytime

with some clouds. Cold by night.

WEATHER TODAY

Courtesy: Qatar Meteorology Department

Minimum Maximum12oC 23oC