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‘Moushtarayat’ 2018 conference &

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Volume 23 | Number 7506 | 2 RiyalsTuesday 24 April 2018 | 8 Sha’baan I 1439 www.thepeninsula.qa

Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday sent a written message to Emir of the fraternal State of Kuwait, H H Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, pertaining to relations between the two fraternal countries and peoples, as well as the latest developments in the regional and international arenas. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani handed over the message during a meeting with the Emir of Kuwait.

Emir sends message to Kuwait Emir

Qatar slams UAE’s accusation of threatening air safety and securityQNA

DOHA: Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) condemned the statement by the UAE Civil Aviation Authority, accusing the State of Qatar of threat-ening air safety and security. The QCAA reiterated that Qatar is committed to the highest quality standards in maintaining civil aviation safety and security.

In a statement, the QCAA said the United Arab Emirates has unfortunately been manipulating the facts to inflame and mislead the international community.

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UDC signs deals worth QR334m for Gewan Island development

DOHA: United Development Company (UDC), one of the largest Qatari shareholding companies and master developer of The Pearl-Qatar, yesterday signed three contracts worth QR334m for the development of Gewan Island which was launched on Sunday by Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani at Cityscape Qatar 2018.

The event brought together Turki bin Mohammed Al Khater, UDC Chairman, and Ibrahim Jassim Al Othman, the company’s President and CEO, along with a number of officials, department chiefs, businessmen and repre-sentatives of the public and

private sectors.Commenting on the signing

of contracts, Ibrahim Al Othman said: “We are very confident that Gewan Island and its real estate offerings will attract both local and international investors. Our investment in these construction contracts reflects our com-mitment towards shareholders to working with leading real estate development companies as part of our efforts to implement development projects that enhance Qatar’s position on the global investment map”.

SNC-Lavalin’s Faithful+Gould business was chosen to provide project management services for UDC’s Gewan Island devel-opment. Ibrahim Al Othman and Faithful+Gould’s Regional Man-aging Director Campbell Gray signed the contract that tasked the company with implementing

the delivery strategy and program for Gewan Island and working with all stakeholders to plan for earliest possible completion, together with procurement and management of other consultants and contractors.

Faithful+Gould is currently overseeing the development of the design for the project, along with providing technical peer review and value engineering options.

“At Gewan Island, we will use a unique mix of digital plat-forms and tools that support our service delivery model through innovation and automation to enhance the efficiency of project management for our customers and save both time and money. Our cooperation with

SNC-Lavalin, a global provider of professional and project man-agement services, enriches our global experience in this field, which distinguishes us from com-petitors,” said Gray.

Dar Al Handasah was appointed to carry out the design consultancy services pertaining to master planning, infra-structure, architecture and engi-neering consultancy services of Gewan Island development.

Ibrahim Al Othman and Hussein Hamieh, Dar Al Handasah’s Director of Operations, Qatar, signed the contract at UDC’s pavilion at Cityscape Qatar 2018 in the presence of Imad Al Rimawi, Dar Al Handasah’s Qatar Resident Manager.

Dar Al Handasah’s scope of services will cover master planning and infrastructure, as well as buildings architectural and

engineering design services. Infra-structure services include designing roads and bridges and marine works in addition to water supply, fire-fighting, wastewater, storm-water drainage and irri-gation networks, power networks, telecommunication and low current networks, a gas network, and a solid waste vacuum network. The scope of services will also cover the environmental impact study, the traffic impact study as well as the preparation of tender documents.

“We are very proud to be appointed by UDC on their leading project, Gewan Island, one of the major real estate ven-tures in the Gulf region, which features recreational facilities, residential units and villas among other facilities,” Hamieh said.

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SACHIN KUMAR THE PENINSULA

Times Higher Education hails QU scientific research outputsTHE PENINSULA

DOHA: Qatar University (QU) produces the highest research volume in Qatar in the Else-vier’s Scopus bibliometric database, according to a recent article published by the Times Higher Education (THE) under the title “Can Qatar’s univer-sities survive the Gulf blockade”

The university has been ranked first in the international outlook indicator in the overall Times Higher Education World University Rankings list (THE-WUR) since 2015 and third among universities in the Arab world in THE Arab World Rankings 2018.

The international outlook indicator considers the

proportion of an institution’s international staff, international students, and research papers co-published with at least one author from another country.

THE used the international outlook indicator of the WUR to create the list. Qatar’s overall research output per capita has been increasing at a faster rate.

The field-weighted citation impact of Qatar’s research, a measure of quality that allows for fluctuations in citation rates by year and by subject, has also been higher.

On international collabo-ration, QU currently holds 32.9 percent of the overall per-centage (70 percent) of institu-tions in Qatar.

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New navigation line to link Hamad Port to Umm QasrTHE PENINSULA

DOHA: Qatar yesterday announced to open new shipping route with Iraq between Hamad Port and Umm Qasr Port in Iraq with the first ship set to arrive in the Iraqi port on May 1.

The announcement was made during the meeting between Minister of Transport and Communications, H E Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti, and Minister of Transport of the fraternal Republic of Iraq, Kadhim Finjan Al Hammami yesterday.

The meeting reviewed prospects of cooperation in the fields of maritime transport, ports and aviation, and means of boosting them.

Qatar Airways to expand fleet

with 11 new planes this year

DOHA: Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker announced yesterday that the airline will add 11 new planes to its fleet this year as it prepares to launch 16 new destinations in 2018 and 2019.

He said that the national carrier, which is preparing to announce its financial results in June, remains strong despite the siege imposed on Qatar. It con-tinues to expand and invest in new markets, adds new aircraft, and employs more workers.

Addressing a press con-ference on the sidelines of the 31st edition of IATA Ground Handling Services Conference yesterday, Al Baker announced that the ground handling sub-sidiary of Qatar Airways, Qatar Aviation Services (QAS) will begin international expansion in 2018.

Minister of Transport and Communications, H E Jassim bin

Saif Al Sulaiti, said hosting of IATA Ground Handling Con-ference, which is being organised for the first time in the Middle East, is a demonstration of confidence in Qatar Airways and Qatar.

The high-profile conference, being hosted at Sheraton Doha Resort & Convention Hotel, is witnessing participation of more than 700 international delegates and guests from more than a dozen countries.

Addressing media-persons, Al Baker said expanding QAS’ operations internationally will

enhance Qatar Airways’ rapid growth pans, as well as provide other airlines and airports access to QAS’ capabilities and the profit and performance improvements that it deliver to its customers.

“The decision to launch QAS internationally is a logical business decision. Our Ground Services division has contracts with ground handlers across our extensive global network of more than 150 global destina-tions measuring their key per-formance indicators, and QAS is without doubt a global leader

in this area,”said Al Baker.

Qatar Airways Company achieved 99.5 percent of the ground handling accuracy in 2017, providing services to international air-lines, private fleets as well as air cargo and other services, he added.

Al Baker pointed out that the company, which employs about 7,500 people from 54 countries, delivered 47 million pieces of goods to become one of the least delayed in delivery of luggage in this sector with a rate of 0.6 per thousand passengers.

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SIDI MOHAMED THE PENINSULA

Akbar Al Baker (second left), Group Chief Executive of Qatar Airways, handing over a memento to H E Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti, Minister of Transport and Communications, during the IATA conference at Sheraton Doha yesterday.PIC:ABDUL BASIT / THE PENINSULA

National carrier to launch 16 destinations in 2018 and 2019. 700 international delegates take part in 31st edition of IATA Ground Handling Services Conferences at Sheraton Doha. Qatar Aviation Services to begin international expansion this year.

02 TUESDAY 24 APRIL 2018HOME

Emir greets President-elect of ParaguayQNA

DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani sent a cable of congratula-tions to Mario Abdo Benitez, on his election as President of the Republic of Paraguay. Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister and Interior Minister, H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, also sent similar cables of congratula-tions to Mario Abdo Benitez.

‘Saqr 20’ exercise kicks off with participation of Turkish Air ForceUnder the patronage and in the presence of Chief of Staff of the Qatar Armed Forces Major General H E Ghanim bin Shaheen Al Ghanim and a number of senior officers of the Qatari Armed Forces, the Qatari Emiri Air Force started the activities of the ‘Saqr 20’ exercise with the participation of the Turkish Air Force. The exercise, which runs until April 29, is one of the most important annual exercises conducted by the Qatari Emiri Air Force with the participation of the Turkish Air Force. The Qatari Emiri Air Force participated in this exercise with Mirage and Alphajet aircraft as well as Agusta and commando helicopters. The Turkish Air Force participated with F-16 aircraft and air crew from most specialities, in order to exchange experiences between both sides.

QA is main Global Partner of Italian Football Club AS RomaTHE PENINSULA

DOHA: Qatar Airways announced that it has signed a multi-year partnership agreement with Italian football club AS Roma, further strengthening the award-winning airline’s commitment to Italy.

The agreement, the largest ever signed by the club, will see Qatar Airways become AS Roma’s Main Global Partner, with the air-line’s logo to adorn the team’s shirts through the 2020-21 season.

The partnership will also enable Qatar Airways to engage with millions of the club’s fans worldwide, and help Roma reach millions of potential new fans across the globe. Qatar Airways will be only the seventh shirt sponsor in the club’s 90-year history.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Akbar Al Baker, said: “We are very pleased to announce this new partnership, which will see Qatar Airways become the official shirt sponsor of AS Roma through the 2020-21 season. AS Roma is one of the most successful and well-known football clubs in the world, and our shared passion to strive for excellence and innovation make

this a natural partnership. As an airline, we understand the power of sport in bringing people together, and our new part-nership with AS Roma further under-scores this belief. We look forward to working together and celebrating with AS Roma fans all over the globe”.

AS Roma President, Jim Pal-lotta, said: “We are delighted to announce this historic part-nership between AS Roma and Qatar Airways, two great brands with global ambitions. Today’s announcement is the result of dis-cussions behind the scenes for more than eight months with

Qatar Airways, led by our com-mercial team in London with much assistance from the entire Roma team, and comes at a sig-nificant time in the club’s history, on and off the pitch”.

“With a new stadium due to begin construction late this year and the team in the Champions League semi-final for the first time for 34 years, it’s an exciting time to be a Roma fan. We shall be proud to wear the Qatar Airways name on our shirts and we look forward to working together to achieve sporting and commercial success for many years to come,” he said.

The team members pose for a picture.

Qatar at forefront of taking care of disabled personsRAYNALD C RIVERA THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Qatar is at the forefront of taking care of persons with disabilities (PWDs) with a number of strategies and initia-tives as part of ongoing efforts to protect their rights, unleash their potentials and fully integrate them in society.

This was underlined by Min-ister of Transport and Commu-nications, H E Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti, in a speech delivered on his behalf by Reem Al Mansoori, Assistant Undersecretary of Digital Society Development Sector at the Ministry at yester-day’s opening of second Gulf Region Education Assistive Tech-nology (GREAT) conference organised by Qatar Assistive Technology Center (Mada). The Minister said Qatar was one of the pioneers in protecting rights of PWDs as one of the first coun-tries to ratify the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disa-bilities in 2008.

“Since then Qatar has taken a number of actions and measures to reinforce and protect the rights of persons with disabilities, to have them fully integrated within the society and to have them part and parcel of the development process,” he said.

These efforts come as an indication of the state honouring of its international obligations and in implementation of the directives of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the embodiment of Qatar National Vision 2030, which stip-ulates equality and justice to all segments society, he added.

He stressed the Ministry’s commitment to create an inte-grated digital community in the country where all individuals

have equal access to technology by providing as many opportu-nities as possible to enhance the readiness of the digital com-munity to participate in building a knowledge-based economy. He cited the launch of the Digital Inclusion Strategy and the estab-lishment of Mada, which pro-vides strong support for PWDs to have access to education and independent living, as among the Qatar’s efforts in the this field.

Mada CEO Maha Al Mansouri expressed the same view saying, “Qatar has always looked after the rights of people with disabil-ities by providing all the services that will guarantee them a decent life. Qatar also believes in the importance of assistive tech-nology enabling people with dis-abilities and building their abil-ities to achieve Qatar Vision 2030 and to cope with the fast devel-oping technology.”

She said it is estimated that the total number of PWDs has reached 1 billion which is almost 15 percent of the total population of the world, thus inclusiveness and looking after them has become a necessity. The opening ceremony also included inspira-tional speeches by Prof Joselia Neves, university lecturer and researcher in the field of disa-bility and Lobna Smida, interna-tional disability rights and tech-nology expert and advocate.

Fifty-five experts in the field of in the field of Assistive Tech-nology (AT) and accessibility will share their expertise in 64 work-shops and sessions today and tomorrow. The three-day event also features interactive zones highlighting AT solutions. It will conclude with a gala dinner which will witness the gradu-ation of more than 60 AT super users and awarding of best e-accessibility sites and the best all-inclusive entity in Qatar.

Reem Al Mansoori, Assistant Undersecretary of Digital Society Development Sector at the Ministry of Transport and Communications, at the event, yesterday. PIC: SALIM MATRAMKOT/THE PENINSULA

Qatar Airways to expand fleet with 11 planes

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1More than two million

tonnes of cargo were delivered last year at an annual increase rate of 25 percent through Hamad International Airport (HIA), which served 36 million passengers and handled more than 222,000 flights in 2017.

“It is significant that our plans for international expansion were announced at the IGHC, since we have a long-term relationship with IATA. The QAS management team holds key positions on the IATA technical working groups, proposing and implementing developments that improve standards across the aviation industry,” he said. “By being the best in a high-tech, high-traffic, and high-growth environment, we provide innovative solu-tions for our customers that they don’t have access to through other ground handling agents,” Al Baker said.

The Qatar Airways Group chief executive noted that the company, which proved suc-cessful at the level of HIA, may look to expand in other inter-national airports, one of which could be Malpensa Airport in Milan, Italy, but did not specify whether a final decision has been taken in this regard so far.

He said Qatar Airways plans a host of new destination launches this year, including London Gatwick and Cardiff, United Kingdom; Lisbon, Por-tugal; Tallinn, Estonia; Valletta, Malta; Langkawi, Malaysia; Da Nang, Vietnam; Bodrum and Antalya, Turkey; Mykonos, Greece and Málaga, Spain.

Times Higher Education hails QU scientific research outputs

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

This means that papers emerging from QU that are co-authored with international researchers make up one-third of all internationally-collaborated papers from Qatar as a whole. “As Qatar first national higher education institution, QU has a vibrant culture of collaborative research and an ambitious research roadmap targeting local, regional and international issues. International collaboration stands at the core of QU’s research strategy. We encourage our researchers towards a culture of knowledge-sharing in seeking solutions to local and regional challenges,” QU President Dr. Hassan Al Derham said.

“The recent Gulf crisis did not affect QU’s research quality and quantity. Our ever-increasing research efforts have resulted in over 4,658 co-authored publications with 1,835 collaborating institutions. The university continues in its efforts to strengthen links with the society, and to maximize impact not only on students, but also on the wider community by advancing development programs, and bringing to bear its faculty and students’ expertise and experiences to various entities in Qatar and beyond,” Dr Al Derham added.

QU VP for Research and Graduate Studies Prof Mariam Al Maadeed said: “In its new strategy for 2018-2022, QU seeks to excel in inno-vative and focused research that addresses the society’s needs and provides effective solutions to local challenges.”

QU Scholarships and Partnerships Office Director, Cesar Wazen said: “The below data reinforce these facts as they prove that the resources devoted to research (income and PhD students) are increasing while QU is holding the quantity of research output steady, thus the quality goes up, leading to our biggest gain being in citation impact. Even in the current difficult times inflicted by the ongoing Gulf crisis, preceded by the drop in oil prices, resources were not affected.”

Qatar slams UAE’s accusation of threatening air safety & security

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1The latest statement is

proof of this, it said, adding the reality is that the Qatari military aircraft was flying towards the north-east of Qatar on a mission known to the navi-gation services provider in the Kingdom of Bahrain following the entry of a UAE military air-craft to Qatari waters without the prior permission of the State of Qatar and in the itinerary close to the route of the UAE civil aircraft referred to in the statement of the UAE Civil Avi-ation Authority.

The statement said that this is not the first time that the UAE deliberately send military air-craft to pass through the air-space in conjunction with the passage of UAE civil aircraft without permission from the relevant authorities in the State of Qatar, despite repeated calls to the provider of navigation services in Bahrain to coor-dinate in this regard, which is an irresponsible act by the UAE and Bahrain.

The QCAA considered that the succession of fabricated complaints issued by the UAE Civil Aviation Authority accom-panied by media momentum are unsuccessful attempts to

divert attention away from numerous military aircraft vio-lations of Qatar airspace since the beginning of the crisis in June 2017, and to interfere with the complaints file of Qatar in ICAO organization, which will be decided in the next two months.

It pointed out that the con-tinued lack of professionalism, non-response and bias by the air navigation service provider in the Kingdom of Bahrain - at a time when neutrality is sup-posed to be honored since it is responsible for managing the navigation in this region - is a cause for concern and condem-nation, especially as it is related to the application of interna-tional standards aimed at the security and safety of civilians.

The QCAA stressed that the UAE and the Kingdom of Bahrain should deal with the aviation sector professionally, seriously and responsibly away from politicization.

The Qatar Civil Aviation Authority appealed to the con-cerned authorities in both countries to refrain from political and media disputes and to put professionalism a b o v e a l l o t h e r considerations.

UDC signs deals worth QR334m for Gewan Island development

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1Middle East Dredging Company (MEDCO) was awarded

dredging, reclamation and marine works. Ibrahim Al Othman signed a contract tasking MEDCO with the execution of the marine works including marine dredging and reclamation, the construction of sand beaches, shore protection rock revetments, breakwaters, and quay walls for Gewan Island. Construction works shall com-mence later in May 2018 for a year and half period.

Alberto Mino, General Manager of MEDCO signed the contract in the presence of Dr. Bart De Groof, Ambassador of Belgium to Qatar. “We are very pleased to witness the signing of this important agreement with UDC, which involves marine works at Gewan Island as an expansion to The Pearl-Qatar Project; and we value this constructive partnership and fruitful cooperation between our Belgian Shareholder of MEDCO, with UDC which is considered one of the leading local and regional real estate developers and a contributor to the growth of the local economy,” said the Ambassador.

Campbell Gray (left), Regional Managing Director of Faithful Gould, and Ibrahim Jassim Al Othman, President and CEO of UDC, at the signing event, yesterday. PIC: BAHER AMIN / THE PENINSULA

03TUESDAY 24 APRIL 2018 HOME

QIC launches unique health insurance at affordable priceSANAULLAH ATAULLAH THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Qatar Insurance Company (QIC) announced yesterday the launch of a unique health insurance product -- QIC Anaya, a first-of-its kind product in the Middle East at an affordable price for all citizens and expa-triates. The product covers dental and cosmetic insurance and many more new services which are normally not being covered by insurance companies.

The product will be available for customers from April 30 at all branches of the company, its website and major hospitals.

Anaya is a product which covers health service charges with medical service providers from private hospitals, health centres, clinics, dental centres and phar-macies. Issuing this product has come as execution for future strategy of the company aiming at enhancing communication with customers and providing distinctive services to them.

“Through this product, cus-tomers will be shared for a part of expenses for some services such as medical diagnosis, all dental medical and cosmetic services, pregnancy and delivery, optical services, consultations on nutrition, physical therapy, dental implantation, Hollywood smile, testing laboratories, periodical medical investigation, surgeries, cosmetic treatments, dermal laser treatments, cosmetic dermal treatments, fat treatment, cutting and connecting stomach, lipo-suction and other services uncovered with other insurance companies,” said Salem Khalaf Al Mannai, Deputy Group President and CEO of QIC MENA.

Al Mannai continued: “QIC

Anaya product will cover all sectors of the society from cit-izens, retirees, residents and without any restrictions on ages to make product more inclusive in insurance sector, and to be con-sidered an integrated project which can fulfil all needs of all sectors in the society.”

In the next stage, freedom of choice will be provided to the cus-tomer in identifying the product and its appropriate price. Al Mannai said: “Anaya for All People is the first level of QIC project, Anaya. The next level will include overall treatment and treatment abroad.”

The premium of QIC Anaya product is QR499 per person for a year. Al Mannai said: “Price of the product has been determined in order to be within reach of all society sectors.” Speaking about service providers network, Al Mannai said: “One of the most important advantages of QIC Anaya is the participation of the major hospitals within service providers network, notably Al Ahli Hospital, Al Emadi Hospital, Doha Clinic Hospital and Turkish

Hospital, and the capacity of the network is more than 100 health centres, clinics and pharmacies and still increasing.”

Al Mannai said: “Launching QIC Anaya exclusively grants all Qataris and residents of the State of Qatar access to distinct health services from the private medical sector, covering up to 70% of medical expenses and ensures the provisions of comprehensive medical consultations for certain medical specialities and without waiting for prior approvals required to obtain the required medical services and cover all treatments not covered by medical insurance policies”.

Al Mannai said: “QIC pos-sesses about 80 percent of com-panies medical insurance sector through its affiliates and fully-owned company QLM Life & Medical Insurance Company. In addition, QIC aims to possess a market volume similar to indi-viduals medical insurance. This project is considered a translation of the group experiences acquired from the international markets in which it operates.”

The Deputy Group President and CEO of QIC MENA, Salem Khalaf Al Mannai, addressing a press conference, yesterday. PIC: SALIM MATRAMKOT/THE PENINSULA

Final topics for WISH 2018 announcedFAZEENA SALEEM THE PENINSULA

DOHA: The World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), an initiative of Qatar Foundation (QF), yesterday revealed the final research topics that will form the core subjects of discussion at WISH 2018 Summit to be held in November.

The final two research topics were announced during a WISH global research forum attended by H E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice-Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation, Omran Al Kuwari, Executive Director, CEO Office, QF and several delegates.

In addition to announcing the two new research topics, WISH also launched ‘Doha Healthcare Week,’ a new pro-gramme which will take place for the first time prior to the 2018 Summit.

‘Data science and artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare’ and ‘The role of the private sector in healthcare’ will be the two new research subjects to have reports and discussed at WISH 2018, said Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham, Exec-utive Chair of WISH, addressing a press conference held fol-lowing the research forum, held at the Sidra Medicine.

With the two new topics a total of nine pressing healthcare challenges including eye health, viral hepatitis, nursing and universal health coverage, design in health, healthcare in conflict settings, anxiety and depression and Islamic ethics and palliative care, will be discussed and addressed at WISH 2018.

All research topics and their reports will be discussed by more than 2,000 global healthcare policy-makers, prac-titioners and innovators at WISH 2018, which will be held on

November 13 and 14 in Doha. “A key reason why our

summits attract so many of the world’s healthcare policy-makers is that we’ve consistently been able to call upon excep-tional experts to work with us to shape our detailed, evidence-based reports. For WISH 2018, our forum chairs and forum members, each of whom is rec-ognised as a leader in their chosen field, are exploring nine

diverse topics that deserve scrutiny and I’ve no doubt that their findings will deliver many fresh insights that will help shape health policy around the world for years to come,” said Lord Darzi.

Sultana Afdhal, CEO of WISH, Khalid Al Emadi, CEO of Al Ahli Hospital, who is contrib-uting his expert Qatari per-spective to the research being undertaken on the role of the

private sector in healthcare, Sir David Nicholson, who is leading the team investigating healthcare in the private sector and Professor Aziz Sheikh, who is leading the team investigating data science and artificial intel-ligence in healthcare were also present during the press conference.

While, the Doha Healthcare Week is set to feature a number of community based health related initiatives.

“The inaugural WISH Doha Healthcare Week will feature a full program of activities that will include a film festival, thought-provoking talks, inter-active workshops, sports activ-ities, health check opportunities, and, above all, lots of opportu-nities to explore healthcare in an innovative and enjoyable way,” said Afdhal.

H E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani (third right), Vice-Chairperson and CEO of QF, attending the WISH global research forum with (from left) Khalid Al Emadi, CEO of Al Ahli Hospital; Omran Al Kuwari, Executive Director, CEO Office, QF; Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham, Executive Chair of WISH; Peter Morris, CEO, Sidra Medicine, and Sultana Afdhal, CEO of WISH, yesterday.

Qatar produces over 10,000 MW electricity and 456 MG of waterQNA

DOHA: Electricity production in Qatar reached 10,170 megawatts last year, up 19 percent from 2013, said President of Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation, Kahramaa, Eng. Essa bin Hilal Al Kuwari, adding that production is expected to rise to 12,883 MW in 2024.

Presenting Kahramaa’s achievements at a meeting in the Advisory Council, Al Kuwari said that the water production reached 456 million gallons (MG), about 40 percent higher than five years ago. He expected that water production will rise to 586 MG by 2024.

In his presentation, he added that the increase indicates invest-ments in this vital sector and the interest of the state to achieve the well-being of Qataris and resi-dents. This significant increase reflects the magnitude of govern-ment’s investment in the elec-tricity and water sector.

He said the number of sub-scribers connected to the elec-tricity and water network in Qatar reached 710,000 last year, up 33% from 2013, adding that the rate of electricity con-sumption rose by 6 percent, compared to 7 percent in water during the past five years.

Regarding Kahramaa’s total assets, he said that it amounted to QR114bn by the end of last year, an increase of 28% as com-pared to 2013, pointing to the growth of Kahramaa’s revenues by 24% from 7.5 billion in 2013 to 9.3 billion last year.

On Kahramaa’s plans towards electronic services, Kah-ramaa President stressed that all services provided to the public has become fully electronic, while keeping its service centres

to facilitate the service for those who find it difficult to deal with smart devices.

In the same context, he announced that the Corporation completed the first phase of the installation of smart meters in homes after it installed 17,000 electricity meters and 17,000 water meters, and it entered the second phase from 2018 to 2024. By 2024 or before meters will become smart and can be read and controlled remotely.

Kahramaa President said that the Corporation was able to save QR7.9bn between 2016 and 2018 after adopting a plan to re-engineer the projects it carried out, without impact on the quality of these projects and their objectives.

According to the statistics presented by Al Kuwari, the number of electricity main trans-mission stations in the country reached 309 stations in 2017, up from 239 stations in 2013, and is expected to reach 430 stations in 2024. The number of distri-bution stations (supplying houses directly), reached 16,210 stations compared to 12.514 five years ago, and are expected to reach 20,461 distribution stations.

Advisory Council Speaker, H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud, invited Kahramaa President Eng. Essa bin Hilal Al Kuwari, and Ashghal President Eng. Saad bin Ahmed Al Mohannadi, to brief the council on the progress of infrastructure projects in the country.

The Speaker praised the important role played of Kah-ramaa and Ashghal in carrying out major development projects in the country and serving cit-izens under the wise leadership of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The World Innovation Summit for Health revealed the final research topics that will form the core subjects of discussion at WISH 2018 Summit, which will be held on November 13 and 14 in Doha. All research topics and their reports will be discussed by more than 2,000 global healthcare policy-makers, practitioners and innovators.

04 TUESDAY 24 APRIL 2018HOME

Qatar, African nations discuss Gulf crisis

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: The Secretary-General of the Foreign Ministry, H E Dr Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi, met yesterday with Ambas-sadors of friendly African coun-tries accredited to the State.

The meeting discussed the developments of the Gulf crisis, enhancing the prospects for cooperation and issues of common concern.

Dr Al Hammadi also met yes-terday with the State Minister for Investment and Public-Private Partnership of the Republic of Guinea, Ibrahima Kassory Fofana.

The meeting reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries and means of boosting and developing them as

well as enhancing prospects of cooperation. It also discussed issues of mutual interest.

Meanwhile, a round of political consultations was held yesterday between the State of Qatar and Hungary.

Dr Al Hammadi headed the Qatari side in the round of the consultations, while the Hun-garian side was led by the Deputy State Secretary for Opening to the South of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Szilveszter Bus.

The consultations discussed ways to strengthen and develop bilateral cooperation ties in all areas of common concern, and exchanged views on develop-ments in the Gulf and Middle East regions.

The Secretary-General of the Foreign Ministry, H E Dr Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi, with Ambassadors of friendly African countries accredited to the State.

Workshop on 2020 Census plans heldTHE PENINSULA

DOHA: The Ministry of Devel-opment Planning and Statistics organised a technical workshop on the working mechanism with partners in the 2020 Census, with the participation of specialists, statisticians and system analysts in some of the government entities producing data, as part of the preparatory stages for the implementation of the general population, housing and estab-lishment census for 2020.

The workshop aims at intro-ducing the basic requirements of this census through the necessary statistical methods, and meth-odologies, and the participant’s view on the main activities of the census, which will contribute to the development and enhancement of practical knowledge related to the imple-mentation phase. Participants can gain a clear understanding of how project management and planning is conducted, including preconditions that must be met for conducting a census based on administrative records and key

factors to be worked on to ensure complementarity between source agencies providing the required data and to ensure the data quality through the con-struction and evaluation process.

Sultan Al Kuwari, assistant undersecretary for statistics at the Ministry, said the census will ensure rapid data collection and dissemination of results and provide them to users simulta-neously, and will ensure com-prehensive, sustainable and higher quality, comparing to pre-vious censuses, calling on source agencies of statistical data to provide information and work on developing their databases and linking them automatically with the Ministry in order to proceed of the census.

Al Kuwari added the new methodology proposed in the implementation of the Census 2020 will meet three basic needs; meeting the national require-ments for development and the regional requirements of GCC countries, and fulfilling the inter-national needs of the UN and other international bodies.

Legal and Judicial Studies Center, Police Training Institute sign cooperation memorandumQNA

DOHA: The Ministry of Justice’s Legal and Judicial Studies Center and Police Training Institute signed a memorandum of cooperation.

The memorandum of cooperation comes within the framework of the national vision for the training of human cadres, and the joint keenness to share the latest experiences and training programmes.

The memorandum was signed by Director of Legal and Judicial Studies Center, Fatima Abdulaziz Bilal, and Assistant Director of the Police Training Institute, Major Ali bin Saud Al Hanzab.

Under the memorandum of cooperation, the centre and the institute exchanged experiences for training in both parties. They also exchange scien-tific means and tools that contribute to the devel-opment of the knowledge and skills of legal persons, officers and police personnel and their support groups.

Each of the parties shall benefit from the training and institutional and specialised qualification pro-grams accredited to them, which have a common benefit in achieving the desired goal, as well as exchanging experiences in the implementation of joint research projects, holding seminars and scien-tific conferences and workshops in areas of mutual interest.

Legal and Judicial Studies Center undertakes the tasks of preparing and qualifying judges, prosecutors, and jurists. Police Training Institute carries out the tasks of preparing and qualifying officers and police personnel for investigation and prosecution.

Ecuador plans to set up distribution hub at Hamad PortSANAULLAH ATAULLAH THE PENINSULA

DOHA: With an ambitious plan to set up a hub at Hamad Port to distribute food products in Qatar and across the region, a trade delegation comprising of over 20 businessmen from the private sector of Ecuador will start Qatar’s visit today.

The delegation includes representatives of Ecuadorian producers of chocolate, coffee, banana, flowers, processed food, sea food, aquaculture, textile, handcrafts and many more, said Ivonne A Baki, Ambassador of the Republic of Ecuador to Qatar.

The Ambassador was speaking at a press conference held at her residence to brief about the visit. “Hamad Port could be hub for our products like banana, sea food and other various organic products to supply to Qatar and other places of the region,” said A Baki.

She said as per the schedule, the businessmen will visit Hamad Port, Free Trade Zone and Manatiqe tomorrow, where they were given

presentation about how to set up a business hub for food products imported from Ecuador.

“Ecuador is exporting various high quality food products, our first source of income is oil export, followed by banana, shrimps and roses secured third and fourth places, respectively in terms of

providing income to the country ,” sa id the Ambassador.

She said that Ecuador is rich with fertile land and favourable environment producing organic products and roses. “The visit of trade delegation is part of state ambition to increase the trade volume between two countries from about $10m to

manifolds by supplying food and non food products,” said A. Baki.

“Qatar is under blockade working to ensure food security which is good opportunity for us to increase the relation in this sector,” said the Ambassador. She said to boost the trade relation between the two coun-tries, businessmen of Ecuador will meet Qatari businessmen during their visit to Qatar.

A reception under “The International Trade Network: Ecuador-Qatar-2018” will be held on Thursday, where local importers will meet directly with the representatives of Ecuadorian producers. She hinted that Ecuador is great experience in agriculture sector and using advanced innovative technology in this sector which could be helpful in transferring to Qatar and establishing joint ventures to boost the local agri-cultural products in the country.

The Ambassador said that she had met the Minister of Municipality and Environment recently who showed interest in boosting bilateral relations in agriculture and environment sectors.

Ivonne A Baki, Ambassador of Ecuador to Qatar, during a press conference on the visit of a trade delegation from Ecuador. PIC: BAHER AMIN / THE PENINSULA

The meeting reviewed the developments of the Gulf crisis, enhancing the prospects for cooperation and issues of common concern.

The Ambassador said that Georgia was among those 80 countries whose citizens could avail visa-on-arrival in Qatar. “In the same manner, Qatari citizens and residents as well can get on arrival visa in Georgia. Qatari nationals get one year stay visa while the residents are granted three-month stay visa on arrival in Georgia.”

05TUESDAY 24 APRIL 2018 HOME

BPS unveils new logo to mark 15th yearTHE PENINSULA

DOHA: Birla Public School launched a new logo to mark its 15th year on April 22, in the presence of Chief Guest Yosuf Ahmad, Professor of Art Qatar University, writer, art advisor, artist and an educationalist, and Chairman Lukose Chacko, Vice Chairman Gope Shahani and Directors Dr Mohan Thomas, C V Rappai and Thangam Thomas.

The complete program was telecast live in all classrooms of its three campuses and to the world through the school’s website.

After the anthems and prayer, the ghee lamp was lighted to mark the auspicious beginning of the celebrations planned for the complete aca-demic year, 2018-19. A P Sharma, Principal, welcomed the gath-ering followed by the simulta-neous unveiling of three images of the logo, one, behind the cur-tains on the stage, conceived and

created by art teacher Sreejith. The second image, a three

dimensional one on the right side of the stage, was brought alive by the Head of the Art Department Regint and the third, a digital imprint on screen, created by teacher, Davies.

This was followed by a Flag Handover ceremony signifying the sharing of responsibilities and pride in past and future achievements. This year Birla

Public School received a unique opportunity, 35 art students exhibited their talents. An iconic figure of Kathakali, 6 feet by 4 feet encompassing 54 different canvases, displaying features of ancient Indian culture was brought to life in 48 hours of concentrated work. Apart from these student artists, behind this spectacular creation, many silent but diligent great souls had persevered.

Vodafone brings high speed fibre connectivity to The Pearl-QatarTHE PENINSULA

DOHA: Vodafone Qatar announced yesterday it is rolling out fibre connectivity at The Pearl-Qatar. More than 27,000 of the island’s current residents and 700 businesses will benefit from Vodafone Qatar’s high-speed fibre network with a further 7,000 residents and busi-nesses expected to gain access in the coming months.

Vodafone Qatar yesterday signed an agreement with United Development Company (UDC) that will see The Pearl-Qatar

benefit from a fibre network capable of handling speeds of up to 1 Gigabit per second (1Gbps). This new fibre roll-out will enable the provision of so called ‘triple play’ services that combine voice, high speed internet and multimedia over IP, and which provides access to high definition TV, premium content, video on demand and home enter-tainment to thousands of buildings and homes on the island.

The agreement was signed by Vodafone Qatar’s CEO, Sheikh Hamad Abdulla Jassim Al Thani

and UDC’s President & CEO, Ibrahim Jassim Al Othman during Cityscape-Qatar 2018 Exhibition.

Sheikh Hamad Abdullah Jassim Al Thani, said: “We’re proud that Vodafone Qatar’s fibre network will help create a gigabit community on The Pearl-Qatar, transforming its residents’ daily lives and enabling its busi-nesses to innovate. Providing fibre in The Pearl-Qatar is an important milestone in achieving our strategic goal for digital services and driving the coun-try’s digital transformation in

support of Qatar National Vision 2030.”

Ibrahim Jassim Al Othman, UDC President & CEO, stated: “Our vision for The Pearl-Qatar is to provide a suite of smart services and state of the art technologies that enrich the lives of residents across the Island. As such, we are pleased to collaborate with Vodafone Qatar and introduce their fibre network here as it will facilitate easy access to superfast and reliable connectivity, enter-tainment, multimedia and much more.”

IRFAN BUKHARI THE PENINSULA

TBILISI: Ambassador of Qatar to Georgia, H E Mubarak bin Nasser Al Khalifa has said that an agreement between Qatar and Georgia to enhance and protect investments will be soon signed.

“Soon a joint agreement between two countries aimed at enhancing and protecting bilateral investments will be finalized for which discussions are underway,” he said while talking to a group of Doha-based journalists including The Peninsula which visited Georgia on a tour organized by Georgian National Tourism Administration and Embassy of Georgia in Qatar. Giorgi Chogovadze, Head of Georgian National Tourism Adminis-tration was also present in the meeting.

The Ambassador said that Qatar and Georgia had good cooperation and had already signed a number of agree-ments. He said that the volume of current Qatari investments in Georgia was not very big “but they are on a steady growth”.

He said that there was scope of investment in Georgia’s agri-culture sector. The ambassador said that Qatar was importing fruits and vegetables from Georgia and Qatar was bene-fiting from those imports in post siege scenario. “There exist

direct import line between Qatar and Georgia,” he added.

From April 1 to 4, 2014, a delegation from Qatar Chamber visited Georgia to participate in Qatar-Georgia Business Forum. On June 13, 2014, a rep-resentative from Qatar Investment Authority attended the International Investment Conference between Georgia and European Union which was held in Tbilisi.

A delegation comprising Georgian businessmen led by President of the Georgian Chamber of Commerce and

Industry, Nino Chikovani visited Doha in October 2016 in which investment opportu-nities in key sectors of Georgia like tourism, real estate, energy, construction and agri-culture were highlighted, the group of media persons was informed.

So far, 12 agreements and MoUs have been signed between Qatar and Georgia since 2009. Trade cooperation between two countries is also growing with the passage of time. Trade exchange between Qatar and Georgia increased 81 percent, $1.05m from January to August

2017, compared to the same period in 2016. A total of $850,000 trade exchange was recorded in 2016.

The Ambassador further said that Georgia was among those 80 countries whose cit-izens could avail visa-on-arrival in Qatar. “In the same manner, Qatari citizens and residents as well get on arrival visa in Georgia. Qatari nationals get one year stay visa while the residents are granted three-month stay visa on arrival in Georgia.”

Number of flights between Doha and Tbilisi are 14 per week currently (seven directly and similar number of indirect flights). Seven direct flights are expected to be added from June 1 this year totaling 21 flights weekly.

The Ambassador said that Georgia had many facilities and incentives for foreign investors and Georgia was also classified as a safe country. To a question, he said that Geor-gia’s position on ongoing blockade of Qatar was sup-porting the resolution of crisis through dialogue. The ambas-sador also praised interfaith harmony in Georgia.

Qatar-Georgia investment protection pact on cards

Experts highlight investment opportunities at CityscapeDOHA: Experts and influencers yesterday highlighted some of the major investment opportunities in the local and international property sector on the second day of Cityscape Qatar 2018 exhi-bition being held at Doha Exhibition Center.

Eliff Sukkar from Qatar Financial Markets Authority & Qatar Representative Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey (ISPAT) kicked off the highly anticipated Cityscape Qatar Talks, highlighting the sustainable partnerships between Qatar and Turkey and how the property market is set to foster stronger relationships between the two countries.

Ambassador from the Republic of Georgia, Nikolai Revazishvili, discussed investment opportunities in Georgia. In collaboration with the firm Cushman and Wakefield Georgia, the presentation delved into the many strategic partnerships Qatar has formed.

Faariss Khalil, Exhibition Manager for Cityscape Qatar said the success and interest from government and industry stakeholders observed so far at Cityscape was encouraging for the country’s real estate sector. Cit-yscape Talks, a free-to-attend platform, offers a wide range of presen-tations, covering a range of themes and provide visitors the oppor-tunity to network and make informed investment decisions.

Vodafone Qatar CEO, Sheikh Hamad Abdulla Jassim Al Thani (left) and UDC President & CEO, Ibrahim Jassim Al Othman exchanging the signed documents.

Ambassador of Qatar to Georgia, H E Mubarak bin Nasser Al Khalifa.

The guests and officials during the unveiling of the new logo of Birla Public School.

QRCS, Unicef sign deal to rehabilitate water facilities in IraqDOHA: Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has signed new agreements with the United Nations Interna-tional Children’s Fund (Unicef) and the Iraqi Red Crescent Society (IRCS) for the rehabilitation of water and sanitation facilities in the province of Nineveh in Iraq on the sidelines of participation in the 10th regional conference of the Red Crescent and Red Cross Societies in the Middle East and North Africa.

The agreements were signed by QRCS Secretary General Ali Hassan Al Hammadi and the deputy representative of Unicef in Iraq, Hamida Ramadani, said a statement.

06 TUESDAY 24 APRIL 2018HOME

CNA-Q hosts materials and corrosion engineering expertsTHE PENINSULA

DOHA: College of the North Atlantic-Qatar (CNA-Q) recently hosted a high-level meeting of local materials and corrosion engineering experts at the Meeting for the Forum for Material Technology in Qatar.

In attendance were 31 repre-sentatives from the energy and industry sectors, and academic institutions in Qatar. The Forum’s mandate is to establish a meeting platform for sharing best prac-tices through peer-to-peer pres-entations, and encouraging joint industry research projects.

The Forum aims to build a stronger material technology and corrosion sector through safety,

integrity, environmental pro-tection and standardization. The big take-away from the meeting was support and momentum towards developing national standards for materials selection

in Qatar based on field study.Hanan Farhat, Engineering

Technology faculty and lead cor-rosion researcher at CNA-Q, is Chairman of the Forum and one of its founders. Farhat identified

a need for the group in 2015 as previously there was no network for building capacity in the material technology and cor-rosion field.

“As Qatar’s oil and gas industry

expands, so too does the need for material and corrosion engineering to support it. Safe operation and pre-vention of leaks and failures of assets is important to prevent pro-duction loss, and protect the envi-ronment and personnel safety. Sharing knowledge and experience of case studies, and corrosion pre-vention are crucial to maintain asset integrity, and prevent failures” said Hanan Farhat.

“Establishing this net-work is

extremely important to the industry, as the Gulf region has its own unique challenges given that the climate and environment here is completely different than other places in the world.”

Since the opening in 2002, CNA-Q has grown to offer over 35 diploma and certificate pro-grams in Engineering Technology, Industrial Trades, Information Technology, Health Sci-ences and Business Studies.

Jumbo Electronics launches ‘Mega Promotion’ with save up to 50%THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Jumbo Electronics bi-annual customer promo, ‘Mega Promotion’ has gone off to a flying start. Customers shopping at any of the Jumbo Electronics stores can now save up to 50% on world class brands. In addition to this savings they also get an assured gift for their purchase.

Some of the assured gifts include a LG 43” TV, a LG K10 smartphone, Jabra Bluetooth headset, an Electric Kettle and a Thrumm smartwatch. To get the assured free gift customers have to simply shop for a minimum of QR1,000 and based on the price bracket their purchase falls within they will get the desig-nated gift.

Customers can also benefit from special offers and save upto

50% across all product categories. Some of the leading brands that can be purchased from a Jumbo store include LG, Morphy Richards, Apple, JBL, Harman Kardon, Brother, Oscar, OnePlus, Indesit, Forbes, Nikkai and a wide range of accessories.

In addition to this, customers can also shop using leading bank credit cards at 0% interest and pay over 6 or 12 months as per the respective bank terms. Cus-tomers can also earn & redeem

points from 3 loyalty programs: Air Miles, Nojoom and Jumbo Digits. During this period cus-tomers buying extended warranty can get upto 12 months additional extended warranty free.

The Mega Promotion is running till May 15 across all Jumbo Electronics Stores, LG Brand Shop at Mall of Qatar, Harman House in City Centre & Doha Festival City Malls and Spark Lifestyle Electronics at Dar Al Salam Mall.

Marriott International unveils unified loyalty programTHE PENINSULA

DOHA: Marriott International yesterday announced it will introduce one set of unified benefits across Marriott Rewards, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) for its members in August 2018.

This will create an incredibly rich hospitality loyalty program in which members will earn more points faster than under the prior programs -- on average 20% more points for every dollar spent. For the first time, members will have access to book stays and earn or redeem points among 29 participating global brands comprising 6,500 hotels in 127 countries and territories.

Additionally, the Moments experiential platform is expanding, with more than 110,000 experiences in 1,000 destinations from must-see attraction tickets and tours for purchase with cash by

all guests, to once-in-a-lifetime events only available to members using points, including the new bespoke Moments Live event series.

“We listened to the travel aspirations of our members and set our sights on unlocking the full potential of our loyalty programs,” said David Flueck, Senior Vice President of Global Loyalty, Marriott International. “We are excited to

announce that this August, our members can enjoy one set of benefits across our extraordinary port-folio of hotels from iconic full and select service, to extended stay, to unique boutiques and luxury brands.”

Beginning in August, members will be able to combine their separate Marriott Rewards, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards and SPG accounts into a single account spanning the entire loyalty portfolio. The Marriott Rewards, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) names will continue to live on under the new set of unified benefits until a new program name is intro-duced in 2019.

Also beginning in August, travelers will have the ability to book stays across the entire portfolio for the first time on Mar-riott.com, SPG.com and the Marriott and SPG apps, or by contacting customer engagement centers.

“There are no more important customers than our loyalty members,” said Karin Timpone, Global Marketing Officer, Marriott International.

Shanghai Club offers exciting new menuTHE PENINSULA

DOHA: Doha’s dining scene is going through a boom and Shanghai Club is playing a major role in revitalising the city.

Recently awarded as The Best Chinese 2018 and Dim Sum Brunch as the favourite brunch at Fact Dining Awards 2018, the restaurant is launching a new exciting menu this week.

Residents, visitors and foodies alike will delight in the refreshing flavours and tanta-lising Chinese dishes. Long-standing favourites are still on the menu, including the famous Pecking Duck, the Fortune Chicken and the signature Duck Handbags. These popular dishes have been joined by new options including Chicken Cha Siu Bao, Shanghai’s Hand Pulled Noodles new flavours and Matuan, a dessert that symbolises the

family together around the table enjoying a meal. It’s delicious sesame balls with red beans filling and full of love.

Launched in October 2016, Shangri-La Hotel Doha’s sig-nature Chinese restaurant is its crowning glory, located on levels 43 and 44. Asian elements and a playful sensibility define the res-taurant’s design, from the massive bas-relief dragon on the wall to the colour-changing chandelier, a representation of the Great Wall

of China, all comple-mented by the spectacular views of the city. Selected by Conde Nast Traveller Magazine as one of the best 10 restaurants in Qatar, Shanghai Club also won Best Chinese Restaurant in Qatar 2017 by Luxury Travel Guide Award and The Best Newcomer at the 7th annual Time Out Doha

Restaurants Awards 2017.Alex Willats, General Manager

of Shangri-La Hotel Doha said: “We are extremely proud of what we have been able to accomplish at Shanghai Club since its opening one and a half years ago.” Shanghai Club’s restaurant is open throughout the week for dinner 6:30 -11:30pm and offers its Dim Sum brunch on Fridays 12:30-4pm. For bookings and enquiries call 4429 5000, email doha.dining@shangri-la.com or visit www.shangri-la.com/doha .

31 representatives from the energy and industry sectors, and academic institutions attended a high-level meeting of local materials and corrosion engineering experts at the Meeting for the Forum for Material Technology in Qatar.

The delegates at the Forum hosted by College of the North Atlantic-Qatar (CNA-Q).

Shanghai Club team

07TUESDAY 24 APRIL 2018 HOME

Qatar Foundation hosts World Autism Awareness Day eventsTHE PENINSULA

DOHA: Qatar Foundation (QF) hosted a World Autism Awareness Day event at Al Shaqab in Education City recently, under the umbrella of Renad Academy - part of QF’s Pre-University Education (PUE) and QF’s Community Development.

The family-orientated event included a number of information booths hosted by various QF entities and rel-evant community centers, with on-site representatives to speak with visitors and answer questions.

Buthaina A Al Nuaimi, Pres-ident of Pre-University Education, QF, said: “We’re pleased to see so many members of the community come together to celebrate and

learn about Autism Spectrum Dis-order (ASD) and show their acceptance and unity. With the many programs, initiatives, and events PUE hosts with Renad

Academy in celebration and support of ASD, the main aim is always to inspire acceptance, trust, and educational excellence. This event reflects our role and

responsibility to our society and QF’s ongoing commitment to helping, supporting, and equipping all students to reach their full potential.”

The day kicked off with an Autism Awareness Walkathon around Education City’s Oxygen Park, followed by a variety of awareness, sports, and recrea-tional activities held in the Indoor Arena at Al Shaqab. Some of these included horse-riding, storytelling sessions, an obstacle course, football games, and a ceramic painting workshop.

Machaille Al Naimi, President of Community Development, QF, said: “Our World Autism Awareness Day event represents an opportunity for us to create greater awareness and acceptance of autism within the local

community, as well as support those with the condition and their families. We are delighted to see so many people here today.

“We are working closely with stakeholders from across the country, and this is just one example of our year-round com-mitment to raising autism awareness.”

Renad Academy also dis-played art from its first annual Autism Awareness Art Compe-tition, which featured the work of QF school students, with a dedi-cated section displaying the work of Renad Academy students. Awards were presented to the winners of both the Autism Awareness Art Competition and the annual Autism Awareness Film Competition.

PUE’s World Autism

Awareness Day celebration forms part of a month-long cal-endar of events held throughout April. Other activities included aut ism-fr iendly movie screenings at the Education City Student Center, as well as informative sessions and parents evenings at Renad Academy, QF Headquarters, the Education City Student Center, Qatar National Library, and the Qatar Airways Headquarters.

World Autism Awareness Day was first proposed by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, to the United Nations in 2007, and was adopted without a vote by the UN General Assembly. The first World Autism Awareness Day was celebrated on April 2, 2008.

Buthaina A Al Nuaimi, President of Pre-University Education, Qatar Foundation (QF), and Machaille Al Naimi, President of Community Development, QF, visiting an art exhibition as part of World Autism Awareness Day.

Hamad bin Jassim Center to promote computer science education in schoolsTHE PENINSULA

DOHA: Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q) and the Jassim & Hamad Bin Jassim Charitable Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create the Hamad bin Jassim Center for K-12 Computer Science Education and commitment funding of QR4m.

The center will promote computer science education in schools throughout Qatar. The Hamad bin Jassim Center for K-12 Computer Science Edu-cation aims to educate students in the fundamentals of computer science, helping to develop basic computational thinking skills.

A second objective is to expose and raise awareness among students about the impor-tance of computer science to the future of a knowledge-based

society. The MoU was signed by Ishaq Hashem, Board Member of the Jassim & Hamad Bin Jassim Charitable Foundation and Michael Trick, Dean of CMU-Q.

Representatives from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs, Qatar Foundation for Education,

Science and Community Devel-opment (QF) and Business leaders attended the signing.

To reach its objectives, the Hamad bin Jassim Center will implement a curriculum based on Alice Middle East, the educa-tional, interactive software that was developed at Carnegie Mellon, and adapted to a Middle East context at CMU-Q through

funding from the Qatar National Research Fund.

These efforts will include training educators who will teach the Alice Middle East curriculum in their schools. In the 2017-18 academic year, all Ministry of Edu-cation and Higher Education gov-ernment schools that teach infor-mation communication tech-nology included Alice Middle East in the 11th-grade coursework.

“Computer science education is a key component of increasing Qatar’s human development, in line with the Qatar National Vision

2030 and 2nd National Devel-opment Strategy 2018-2022. We are pleased that CMU-Q and the Jassim & Hamad Bin Jassim Char-itable Foundation are partnering to promote this important area of study in Qatar’s schools,” said Fawziya Al Khater Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Affairs of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

The MoU also provides for support for Mindcraft, a CMU-Q workshop for high school stu-dents that introduces them to computer science disciplines

such as robotics, cryptography and computational thinking.

“Programs such as Mindcraft and Alice Middle East spark an interest in computer science at a young age, which in turn encourages students to pursue it and other important STEM disciplines as they continue their education. As Qatar becomes more economically diverse and self-sufficient, programs like these are incredibly important to prepare future generations,” said Saeed Mathkar AlHajri, the CEO Jassim & Hamad Bin Jassim Chari-table Foundation.

The officials after signing the MoU.

Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q) and the Jassim & Hamad Bin Jassim Charitable Foundation signed a MoU to create the Hamad bin Jassim Center for K-12 Computer Science Education.

H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani

09 am - 10 pm

REGENCY HALL

24 - 28, April 2018

D Ring Rd, Doha, Tel: +974 6613 3438 / 7478 5188, Qatar

2018/2170

Today is the 324th day since the unjust siege was imposed on Qatar. The country and the leadership deserve all the praise for the excellent management of the crisis.

This recent wave of mass civil disobedience is only the latest in a long record of peaceful protests over the course of a decade or so.

08 TUESDAY 24 APRIL 2018VIEWS

CHAIRMANSHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFDR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFIeditorinchief@pen.com.qa

ACTING MANAGING EDITORMOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMEDm.salim@pen.com.qa

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

EDITORIAL

Warning to siege countries

The violations committed against the State of Qatar and its people by the blockading quartet of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt were once

again brought to the attention of the world community by the United Nations (UN).

The UN said on its website on Saturday that six Special Rapporteurs of its Human Rights Council had sent official letters to the four blockading countries monitoring all vio-lations committed by each country, based on reports received by the UN from some relevant international organisations.

The Special Rapporteurs told the siege countries to take all measures to stop the humanitarian violations they caused and to ensure prevention of their recurrence and to take all necessary steps to respect the rights of people affected by the crisis.

Since June 5, 2017, the State of Qatar has been relent-lessly bringing to the notice of the countries across the world the hardships and violation of basic human rights imposed not only on the people of Qatar, but also on the people in the blockading countries too by the quartet.

The most severe and insu-perable effect of the blockade is the prejudice caused to the most fundamental human rights of Qatari citizens and the cit-izens of the siege countries. Hundreds of families have been struggling with the unjust restrictions imposed on their movements, residence, family r e u n i o n , e d u c a t i o n , employment, freedom of expression, health and right to property.

The Special Rapporteurs rightly reminded the blockading countries of their international obligations and the need to respect various international laws and charters they have signed. They have a moral responsibility to respect the agreements they have signed and by reneging on these com-mitments they are trying to

deceive the whole world and especially their own citizens.The fact that the rapporteurs have warned the block-

ading countries that any person responsible for the viola-tions monitored would be held accountable as a result of the blockade is enough proof that Qatar’s efforts to bring the hardships of the victims of the siege to the international com-munity is bearing fruit.

Today is the 324th day since the unjust siege was imposed on Qatar. The country and the leadership deserve all the praise for the excellent management of the crisis. The day-to-day life of the people has never been affected, thanks to the wise and timely intervention of the authorities to mit-igate the ill effects of the blockade and Qatar has made steady progress in every sector.

Now the onus of lifting the siege and thus alleviating the pain of the divided families, the students whose studies are disrupted, those who lost their jobs, the irreparable loss suf-fered by the businesses and scores of other hardships, rests entirely on the international community. It is the duty of the international community to hold the blockading countries accountable for the violations of the fundamental rights of the people.

A very potent protest movement is emerging in Armenia

In Armenia, a small nation of three million located just south of Russia, spring has ushered in mass protests. Thousands of

people, young and elderly, women and men, have taken to the streets to rally against the ruling regime, newly gussied-up in a revamped parlia-mentary system.The movement has been challenging outgoing President Serzh Sargsyan, who took over as prime minister. In his second, and final term as president, Sargsyan led the effort to replace the semi-presidential system with a parliamentary one in order to avoid the term limits set by the constitution.

The move enhanced the powers of the prime minister and relegated the presidency to a ceremonial role. The president and his Republican Party argued that this change was necessary in order to democratise Armenia’s political system, insisting that Sargsyan did not intend to assume the office of prime minister.

Amid widespread popular protests and civil disobedience, Sargsyan’s majority in the new parliament appointed him to the prime ministerial post, effectively granting him a third term as the country’s leader.

With authoritari-anism on the rise worldwide, such consti-tutional engi-neering has been a favoured instrument by authori-tarian leaders who wish to consolidate their power. Sargsyan was successful in usurping

power, but with his actions, he also managed to push thousands to the streets of the country.

In Armenia, so confident was the ruling party, that its parliamentary majority granted Sargsyan perpetual ownership of the hitherto publicly owned presidential residence in early April; after public outrage, he announced he was giving up the property.

The protests have been led by opposition MP Nikol Pashinyan, who has deftly built and maintain a well-networked self-organising movement across the country. Removing Sargsyan as prime minister has been the main demand of the protests, but

their importance goes beyond that: It is about preserving democratic institu-tions and resisting budding authoritarianism.

This recent wave of mass civil dis-obedience is only the latest in a long record of peaceful protests over the course of a decade or so. Indeed, tiny Armenia has become a laboratory of peaceful resistance and civil society in an increasingly authoritarian part of the world.

This spring’s movement, however, is different. It is larger in scale and is geographically broad. It is organisa-tionally sophisticated, grassroots-driven, with an extraordinary degree of self-governance.

Both the movement’s leaders and participants have demonstrated a high level of discipline, and have been quite successful in applying non-violent protest strategies. Over the years, these protest efforts have extended both within the country and outside - reaching the dispersed Armenian diaspora across the globe.

The security implications of this movement are immediate. There is convincing academic and empirical evidence that non-violence as an instrument of political action is superior to violence in achieving a movement’s articulated goals. In the case of Armenia, such non-violence on a large scale is particularly potent and consequential, occurring in a post-Soviet region plagued by inter-state conflict and violence.

The organic emergence and con-solidation of non-violent civil move-ments challenges and weakens the political future of warfare as an instrument of foreign policy. It does so by deepening the norms of non-vio-lence and by creating capacities for constructive conflict resolution. Such movements inspire and empower the broader civil society, and endow broader coalitions a voice in oth-erwise closed decisions of war and peace.

It is true that external security con-cerns often fuel internal democratic declines in nations large and small, democratic and authoritarian. In the specific case of Armenia, large-scale civil disobedience and grassroots democracy movements have the potential to add to the strength of the state by offering the government much-needed leverage in dealing with hegemonic regional powers in their neighbourhoods.

Indeed, Armenia, located in the fractured region of the South Cau-casus, has been pulled since its inde-pendence in different geopolitical directions; like in many other post-Communist states, the choice is often between Russia and the West. The emergence of indigenous civil soci-eties and grassroots non-violent movements, under the right circum-stances, can establish an important new political pillar in the landscape against which these choices are made.

There is one catch: It is far from clear whether governments will choose to embrace the geopolitical leverage offered to them by their civil societies. In fractured regions such as the South Caucasus, ruling elites have historically sought such leverage from myriad external actors, primarily from outside the region.

Governments in fractured regions, struggling with low levels of internal legitimacy, have been willing partners for external regional powers. Smaller states pushing back against larger players remain the exception and not the rule. Non-violent civil action is, contrary to what these governments believe, a political asset for strong statecraft in fractured regions. Sup-pressing it in Armenia will hurt the very institutional foundation of this very young state.

The author is Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Stonehill College.

QUOTE OF THE DAYIt is now up to the UK to

come up with its vision for the future, which

should confirm the UK’s red lines or adapt them.

Once we have more clarity from the UK we will prepare a political

declaration on the future relationship.

Michel Barnier EU chief negotiator

Governments should make education a lifelong endeavour

The world’s rich countries face a looming challenge in education: Too

many of their citizens lack the skills and credentials needed for the jobs of the future. To keep people pro-ductively engaged in work in the coming decades, and to ensure that economies maintain robust growth, governments, educators and employers will need to make lasting investments in a new class of students: adults.

The trouble for now is largely demographic. Although a growing share of people between the ages of 18 and 24 is going to college, the total population of young adults is shrinking in the US and Europe. So total college enrollment is largely in decline. Meanwhile, the population of older workers

keeps growing. In the US, by the middle of the next decade, nearly one-quarter of the workforce will be over 55. And many adults lack the post-high-school education and training that employers increasingly demand.

A majority of new jobs created in the US since 2010 have required workers to have medium to advanced digital skills. Over the next decade, the percentage of jobs worldwide requiring a college degree or higher will continue to increase, according to a McKinsey Global Institute analysis.

So efforts are needed to bring adult workers into the classroom — or, in many cases, back to the classroom. Some 17 percent of Americans over 25 — 36 million adults — have some college education but no credential to show for it. Today, if all US “near-compl-eters” finished at least an

associate’s degree, incomes would rise by $112 billion, according to the American Council on Education.

One hurdle is financial aid. Government subsidies are overwhelmingly geared toward traditional college-aged students. In the US, Pell Grants, which provide $36.8 billion in aid to low-income students, mostly can’t be used for the kind of short-term certificate granting programs, including coding boot camps, that older students want.

Government educational grants and loans should be expanded to cover such pro-grams, as a bipartisan bill in the US Congress would do for Pell Grants. In Singapore, the government’s SkillsFuture initiative provides every citizen over 25 a $500 credit to enroll in a career-training program, with additional subsidies for those over 40. Private companies should

give their existing employees incentives to go back to school while they remain on the job, through tuition assistance and opportunities for promotion, as AT&T, Wal-Mart, Amazon and McDon-ald’s have all started to do.

Most critically, older adults need to be steered toward the kinds of edu-cation that employers want them to have. Training pro-grams and apprenticeships that connect local businesses with students and technical colleges should be expanded.

As the pace of techno-logical change accelerates, so will the need to educate, and re-educate, workers. The long-term goal should be to revolutionize educa-tional systems — to make them places that adults revisit, as needed, throughout their working lives.

BLOOMBERG

ANNA OHANYAN AL JAZEERA

Macron is expected to confront Trump on his plans to disengage from the Syrian war, his denial of the threat of climate change, his moves to slap tariffs on key European exports.

09TUESDAY 24 APRIL 2018 OPINION

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Nigerians demand air quality data over pollution fears

Is Trump and Macron’s meeting a showdown over the West?

PHIL HAZLEWOOD AFP

ISHAAN THAROOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Bolatito Joseph has strong sus-picions about what is causing her breathing problems and a mucus build up: a building

site near her home and noxious fumes from a rubbish dump close to her church.

“I inhale a lot of dust as a result of the construction work going in my area,” said Joseph, a cleaner from the Akute area of Nigeria’s biggest city, Lagos.

“I live in Ojota near a rubbish dump and the stench is... injurious to public health,” she told.

Joseph is not alone in having health problems in Nigeria’s cities, where questions are increasingly being asked about whether the air is fit to breathe.

In Lagos, in the southwest, the southern oil hub of Port Harcourt and Onitsha in the southeast, Nigerians might be choking to an early death.

Diesel generators that com-pensate for an inadequate electricity grid belch acrid smoke, combining with emissions from old vehicles and traffic gridlock. Unregulated industry and burning waste further turns the air foul.

In 2012, the World Health Organ-isation called air pollution “the world’s largest single environmental health risk” and blamed it for about seven million premature deaths globally.

Attention has largely focused on efforts to fight pollution in cities such

as Beijing and New Delhi, where poor air quality can cause traffic restric-tions and school closures.

But in Nigeria, the public is largely in the dark, with data lacking and only a handful of scientific studies exploring the phenomenon.

In 2012, the WHO said there were 46,750 deaths in Nigeria from air pollution, which has been linked to increased risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as cancer.

In megacity Lagos, which is home to some 20 million people, thick plumes of white smoke have been drifting from burning waste at the Olusosun dump site in Ojota for weeks now.

Doctors say it has caused a surge in breathing problems.

Onitsha, in Anambra state, has been ranked the worst city in the world for PM10s — microscopic par-ticles of dirt, soot, smoke and liquid droplets in the air that can harm human health.

In Port Harcourt — once dubbed “The Garden City” because of its palm trees and green open spaces — black soot has fallen from the sky for more than a year.

Rafael Navarro, a Venezuelan working for a global oil major, bought an air quality monitor to confirm his suspicions about what he was breathing.

He refused to accept local excuses that the poor air was caused by the Harmattan, the seasonal wind that whips up sand and dust from the Sahara desert and dumps them on the Gulf of Guinea.

“The surprise was that Port Har-court has many times been in the top five most polluted cities in the world on the AirVisual network,” he said.

“That was quite shocking, as I was not aware that our numbers could have been that bad.”

Readings since he installed the

device in May last year showed huge spikes overnight and in the early morning of PM2.5s, finer particulate matter in the air that are more harmful to health.

Illegal oil refineries in the nearby creeks have been blamed: most operate at night to avoid detection from military patrols.

Ademola Oduguwa, an elec-tronics and electrical engineering graduate who works in Lagos, said data was key to raising awareness and getting something done.

Despite the billions of dollars earned over decades from oil, most Nigerians still live in poverty, making foreign air quality monitors prohibi-tively expensive.

Oduguwa decided to build a low-cost version for $120 — less than half the retail cost of Navarro’s device. He installed four at locations across Lagos.

“More often than not, we have seen very high pollution levels being registered in all locations... above the benchmarks of the World Health Organisation,” he said.

He now wants to develop his idea to provide concerned city residents with regular air quality readings.

Campaigners wearing face masks last week marched in Port Harcourt, calling on the Rivers state gov-ernment to provide daily data on air pollution and start a clean-up campaign.

“We are not just going to lie low, fold our arms and allow government to release things that kill us,” said #StopTheSoot group leader Tunde Bello.

Ako Amadi, an environmentalist, said current pollution levels should be publicly available “like temper-ature” but political will was lacking.

Anyone who raises concerns about the environmental impact of projects or pollution is considered “an enemy of progress”, he said.

A couple of years ago, Pres-ident Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron were shaking up the

presidential races in both countries as maverick outsiders. This week, the pair will meet in Washington for an official state visit, one that now rep-resents a fascinating clash between two seemingly opposing poles of Western politics.

On the face of it, the two leaders could hardly be more different. Trump, 71, rode to power on a platform of right-wing populism that Macron — more than three decades his junior — emphatically rejects. The French president has become the standard-bearer of liberal centrism in the West, opposing protectionism, championing the fight against climate change and preaching the promise of a more integrated European Union. While Trump celebrates “antiglo-balist” movements across the pond, Macron decries the “inward-looking nationalist selfishness” reshaping politics in various European countries.

“Nationalism will lead Europe into the abyss. We see authoritari-anism rising all around us,” Macron told a session of the European Par-liament in Strasbourg, France, last week. “The response should not be authoritarian democracy but the authority of democracy.”

French Embassy US tweeted

“Washington DC is adorned with French colors! Franco-American friendship can be seen in the streets of the capital, waiting for the arrival of President @EmmanuelMacronto-morrow #statevisit”

But while Macron frets about the myopia of the populists, he does not fully reject their agenda. Under his watch, authorities have embarked on a harsh crackdown on asylum seekers, and Macron himself has expressed sympathy for public anxi-eties over migration. Macron’s sup-porters see his “radical centrism” as a more effective platform to address some of the same concerns that animate Trump and his voters.

“When they meet at the White House, Macron and Trump will be looking at the same issues from dif-ferent, but not opposite, perspectives. As much as his American coun-terpart, the French president under-stands the populist mood sweeping both countries,” wrote Paul Zajac and Benjamin Haddad, two French think-tankers based in Washington. “But Macron believes he should approach it with a different set of answers, while retaining an open and cooper-ative world order.”

Meanwhile, Macron’s critics - especially on the left — see him not as populist in establishment clothing but as a leader for the rich, bent on tight-ening his stranglehold on the French political scene. “Abroad, Macron is often viewed as a French Obama, a fresh face who uses his youthful energy to captivate audiences and urge action on climate change and other progressive policies,” wrote my colleague James McAuley.

“At home, he is widely seen as a sort of liberal strongman who has sought to curtail checks on his power — and may have some of the same governing tendencies as President Trump.”

Intriguingly, Macron and Trump have built up a conspicuously close relationship over the past year. Trump has no personal rapport with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and is kept at arm’s length by British Prime Minister Theresa May, whose public reviles Trump and opposes him even visiting their nation.

But Macron has gone out of his way to cultivate Trump. The American president was his guest of honor at Bastille Day celebrations in Paris last year — an event Trump

enjoyed so much that he launched plans for a military parade through Washington. During this week’s visit, Macron will appeal once more to Trump’s martial predilections, pre-senting him with an oak sapling that grew at the site of a World War I battle where US Marines repelled a German offensive almost exactly a century ago.

Macron is also doing some pointed political outreach. Ahead of his arrival, he gave right-wing Fox News an exclusive interview in a bid to appeal to both the Republican establishment and Trump’s base. “We are very much attached to the same values . . . especially liberty and peace,” Macron said when describing his “very special relationship” with Trump.

Emmanuel Macron tweeted “I don’t want to belong to a generation of sleepwalkers which has forgotten its own past and which refuses to face up to the problems of its own present. #FutureOfEurope”

But for all the outward chum-miness and subtle similarities, insiders stress that there is a pro-found political gulf between the two. “Macron is not the friend of Trump,” said a French official, speaking to my colleagues on condition of ano-nymity. “We don’t believe all this stuff about bromance, that they’re buddies.”

Macron is expected to confront Trump on his plans to disengage from the Syrian war, his denial of the threat of climate change, his moves to slap tariffs on key European exports and his desire to scrap the nuclear deal with Iran. “You cannot make a trade war with your allies,” Macron told Fox News. “It’s too com-plicated. If you make war against everybody, you make trade war against China, trade war against Europe, war in Syria, war against Iran — come on — it doesn’t work. You need allies.”

The Iran deal may be the most sensitive matter on the table. As my colleague Karen DeYoung reported, Macron’s visit follows months of negotiations between French, German and British officials and American interlocutors in the State Department. The talks are aimed at coming up with a solution that allays some of Trump’s concerns about the nuclear agreement without funda-mentally altering it or giving the

Despite the billions of dollars earned over decades from oil, most Nigerians still live in poverty, making foreign air quality monitors prohibitively expensive.

other signatories - Russia, China and Iran — the chance to cry foul.

Trump must decide what to do about the deal by May 12 — when he may decide to restore sanctions on Iran, an act which could effec-tively kill the deal and lead Iran to kick out inspectors and restart its uranium enrichment.

That’s a scenario Macron doggedly opposes; he and his European partners have repeatedly stressed that there are few better options to curb Tehran’s nuclear program than the one that already exists. “I don’t have any plan B,” Macron told Fox News. “Let’s present this framework because it’s better than the sort of North Korean-type situation.”

“Neither Macron nor the White House expect a final decision by Trump during the French presi-dent’s visit, officials from both countries said,” wrote DeYoung. “For their part, the Europeans worry that the mercurial US pres-ident, who railed against the deal during his presidential campaign and ever since, will ultimately decide to trash it even if his State Department recommends otherwise.”

Such a decision by Trump could lead to the greatest strain yet on Washington’s relations with its European allies. And it would present Macron — a suave foil to the often guileless Trump — with a golden opportunity to test his lead-ership on the world stage.

The author writes about foreign affairs for The Washington Post. He previously was a senior editor and correspondent at Time magazine, based first in Hong Kong and later in New York.

The US national flag, and French flag are seen on the Executive office building in Washington, DC.

Strike against IS continues

10 TUESDAY 24 APRIL 2018MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA

A Syrian government tank drives down a street in Al Hajar Al Aswad yesterday, during a regime offensive targeting the Islamic State group in the southern districts of Damascus.

Madagascans return to protest after clashesAFP

ANTANANARIVO: Thousands of Madagascan opposition supporters returned to the streets yesterday to protest against the president and a deadly crackdown by security forces on demonstrations.

Two people were killed and at least 16 people wounded at protests in the capital Antanan-arivo on Saturday that President Hery Rajaonarimampianina denounced as an attempted coup.

Large crowds gathered on Monday to honour the victims, parading quietly pass two coffins that were placed in May 13 square, the symbolic heart of the capital Antananarivo.

As on Sunday, security forces had banned access to the square in the city centre during the morning before withdrawing to allow the protesters to gather peacefully.

“To avoid violent clashes, which could cause great damage

between Madagascans, we chose to leave the place we had previ-ously protected,” Defence Min-ister General Beni Xavier Rasolo-fonirina told reporters.

But he warned the protesters that the police would “never

accept any state institution established outside the election process, because that is what is c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e constitution.”

The demonstrators have been protesting against new

electoral laws that the oppo-sition claim could bar some can-didates from standing in upcoming presidential elections. The large Indian Ocean island, which has been beset by decades of political instability, is due to hold polls in late November or December.

Authorities had declared the Saturday protest as illegal, but about 1,000 opposition activists defied the order and security forces used tear gas to break up the gathering.

Elected in 2013, Rajaonar-imampianina has not yet announced whether he will stand for re-election.

But two former heads of state have already mooted runs: Marc Ravalomanana, who was president from 2002 to 2009, and Andry Rajoelina, who removed Ravalomanana during a coup.

Both were barred from running in 2013 and their parties have been involved in the protests.

Relatives of Abdullah Mohammad Shamali, who was martyred overnight of bullet wounds, mourn during his funeral ceremony in Rafah, Gaza, yesterday.

Nigeria’s wanted senator arrested at airportLAGOS: A Nigerian senator wanted in a murder case was arrested yesterday in the capital city Abuja while boarding a flight to Morocco.

Senator Dino Melaiye was declared wanted on March 28 over alleged involvement in a murder case and spon-sorship of kidnapping in his north-central Kogi state. Police say the politician has repeatedly declined to explain his role in the case, in which six suspects have allegedly named him.

“I have just been arrested at the international wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe airport on my way to Morocco for an official engagement,” the senator announced on Twitter. On March 19, police filed criminal charges against Melaiye and three other persons following claims he was sponsoring and arming thugs to commit crimes with promise of giving them political cover.

New Palestinian deaths bring toll to 40AFP

GAZA CITY: Two Palestinians wounded in clashes with Israel were pronounced dead yesterday, a Gaza official said, bringing the toll from Israeli fire since March 30 to 40.

A spokesman for the Hamas-controlled territory’s health ministry named the latest fatalities as Tahrir Wahba, 18, and Abdullah Shamali, 20.

Wahba was shot in the head in a clash east of Khan Yunis on April 6, and Shamali died of “bullet wounds to his belly” sus-tained on Friday, said spokesman Ashraf Al Qudra.

Most of the 40 Palestinians killed by Israel since the start of “March of Return” protests on March 30 were shot by snipers on the border, while a few others were killed by Israeli

artillery or air strikes. Tens of thousands of Pales-

tinians in the coastal enclave, wedged between Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean, have gathered at the border on con-secutive Fridays to call for Pal-estinian refugees to be allowed to return to their former homes now inside Israel.

Some protesters have launched stones or burning tyres at Israeli soldiers.

Israeli forces have responded with live ammu-nition, wounding hundreds in addition to those killed.

The Israeli army says its troops only open fire in self-defence or to stop protesters attempting to breach the barrier separating the ter-ritory from Israel. More than 440 demonstrators suffered bullet wounds or gas

inhalation on Friday, rescuers said. Israel has drawn harsh criticism from rights groups along with calls for investi-gations by the United Nations or the European Union.

Israel has for more than a decade imposed a crippling blockade on Gaza, fighting three wars with Islamist movement Hamas since 2008.

Also on Monday, Hamas’s military wing said one of its men died in an explosion.

It said in a statement that Mohammed al-Maqadma, 55, was killed by an “explosive pro-jectile” fired by an unnamed group which it described as hostile to Hamas.

It did not elaborate further. The Gaza health ministry

said a child was wounded in the same blast, in the northern part of the strip.

AFPRAMALLAH: Doctors have amputated the leg of a Palestinian boy whose image went viral after he was shot by Israeli troops in clashes on the Gaza border with Israel. A picture of 12-year-old Abdel Rahman Nawfal screaming in pain after being shot was widely shared on Palestinian and Arabic social media last week after he was shot near the border fence.

The shooting occurred on Tuesday during clashes along the frontier east of Al Bureij in central Gaza. He was later taken from Gaza to the West Bank for treatment but doctors were unable to save the leg. Attempting to smile as he lay on his hospital bed in Ramallah, Nawfal said he had been stoning Israeli soldiers close to the border when he was shot. “My friends went to throw stones at the army near Al Bureij camp. I went with them and started to throw stones,” he said. “Soon after I felt the injury.” He said he dreamed of becoming a doctor and would

still like to realise that dream. To leave Gaza for treatment in the West Bank, Palestinians have to get permits from Israel which critics say are difficult to obtain. On Friday, Gaza teenager Mohammed Ayoub was killed by Israeli gunfire during border protests. The 15-year-old’s death, and the wounding of other youths brought a scathing response from a senior United Nations official.

Demonstrators from the opposition attend a march in protest after the unrest in which two people were killed, in Antananarivo, Madagascar, yesterday.

20 dead as Saudi-led strikes hit Yemen wedding party AP/REUTERS

NEW YORK/ADEN: Air strikes by a Saudi-led military coalition killed at least 20 people attending a wedding in a village in northwestern Yemen late on Sunday, residents and medical sources said.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly con-demned yesterday air strikes on a wedding party in Yemen that killed at least 20 civilians, his spokesman said.

“The Secretary-General reminds all parties of their obli-gations under international humanitarian law concerning the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure during armed conflicts. He calls for a prompt, effective and trans-parent investigation,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

Harrowing images emerged on social media of the deadly bombing, the third to hit Yemeni civilians since the weekend.

Khaled Al Nadhri, the top health official in the northern province of Hajja, said that most of the dead were women and children who were gathered in one of the tents set up for the wedding party in the Bani Qayis district. He says the bride was also among the dead.

A Saudi-led coalition has been battling Iran-allied Shiite rebels known as Houthis since 2015 in a stalemated war that has killed more than 10,000 people.

Later yesterday,the rebels said the official considered the head of state for the territories

under their control was killed in a coalition airstrike. The rebels’ Supreme Political Council said Saleh Al Samad was killed in the coastal Hodeida province on Thursday.

“We consider the so-called forces of aggression, especially America and Saudi Arabia, responsible for killing of Samad and all the conse-quences of this crime,” Abdul-Malek Al Houthi, the leader of the rebels, said.

He said Samad was killed on a road with six companions after meeting with local officials. Mahdi Al Mashat, a former fighter who until now directed Al Houthi’s office, was elected as a successor.

After the wedding strike, which took place late on Sunday, the groom and 45 of the wounded were brought to the Al Jomhouri hospital, said the facility’s manager, Mohammed Al Sawmali. Health authorities called on people to donate blood.

Ali Nasser Al Azib, deputy head of the hospital, said 30 children were among the wounded, some in critical con-dition with shrapnel wounds and severed limbs.

Footage that emerged from

the scene of the airstrike shows scattered body parts and a young boy in a green shirt hugging a man’s lifeless body, screaming and crying.

Health ministry spokesman Abdel-Hakim Al Kahlan said ambulances were initially unable to reach the site of the bombing for fear of subsequent airstrikes as the jets continued to fly overhead.

It was the third deadly air-strike in Yemen since the weekend. An airstrike on Sunday night hit a house else-where in Hajja, killing an entire family of five, according to al-Nadhri.

On Saturday, at least 20 civilians were killed when coa-lition fighter jets bombed a bus carrying commuters in western Yemen, near the city of Taiz, which has been locked in fighting for three years.

The Saudi-led coalition has declined to comment on the strikes.

According to the inde-pendent monitor Yemen Data Project, a third of the 16,847 air-strikes since the war started have hit non-military targets.

Over the past three years, more than 10,000 civilians have been killed and tens of thou-sands wounded, while over 3 million people have been dis-placed because of the fighting.

UN officials and rights groups have accused the coa-lition of committing war crimes and of being respon-sible for most of the killings. Airstrikes have hit weddings, busy markets, hospitals, and schools.

Palestinian boy’s leg amputated after Israeli shooting

Abdel Rahman Nawfal, 12, sits in a hospital bed in the West Bank city of Ramallah yesterday, after his leg was amputated following an injury sustained during clashes with Israeli forces near the Gaza-Israel border.

Zimbabwe’s nurses return to workHARARE: Thousands of Zimbabwean nurses returned to work yesterday after ending a strike, their union said, adding that fresh negotiations were expected in their stand-off with the government. Some 15,000 nurses fighting for better work conditions walked out of public hospitals a week ago.

They were rapidly sacked in a hardline response from the government as it tries to prevent the spread of indus-trial action in the public sector. “Nurses have gone back to work today although their grievances still stand,” Enoch Dongo, spokesman for the Zimbabwe Nurses Asso-ciation, told AFP.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned yesterday air strikes on a wedding party in Yemen that killed at least 20 civilians, his spokesman said.

UNSC set for vote on preparing Western Sahara talksAFP

UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council is expected to adopt a draft resolution this week that would press Morocco and the Algerian-backed Polisario Front to prepare for negotiations on ending the Western Sahara conflict, according to the text obtained by AFP on Monday.

The United States pre-sented the proposed measure to the council ahead of tomorrow’s vote on renewing for one year the mandate of the small UN mission moni-toring a ceasefire in Western Sahara.

The renewal of the MINURSO mission would be coupled with a firm appeal from the council to the parties to set their sights on a return to the negotiating table to seek a settlement to the decades-old conflict.

11TUESDAY 24 APRIL 2018 ASIA

IANS

NEW DELHI: Dealing a blow to the opposition, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu yesterday rejected an impeachment motion against Chief Justice (CJ) Dipak Misra on the ground that there was lack of “credible and verifiable” infor-mation on charges of “misbe-haviour” which, he said, under-mined judiciary’s independence.

The Chairman’s decision on the petition filed by 64 MPs belonging to seven parties led by the Congress on Friday was met with strong criticism from former Law Minister and eminent lawyer Kapil Sibal, who termed it as illegal and unconstitutional done in a “tearing hurry”. He said the order will be challenged in the Supreme Court.

However, BJP President Amit Shah attacked the Congress saying the opposition move was part of a larger trend to demonise and weaken every institution which seeks to maintain its indi-vidual identity and not kowtow

to the dynasty. The Chairman’s ruling came before proceedings opened in the Supreme Court on Monday apparently to enable the Chief Justice to continue his work uninterrupted.

“We cannot allow any of our pillars of governance to be weakened by any thought, word or action,” Naidu said in a 10-page order, holding that admission of the notice was

“neither desirable nor proper”.“I am also aware that it is

imperative that we should have extraordinary, important and substantial grounds for the removal of a judge,” said Naidu, who held legal consultations on Sunday.

The motion alleged five charges of “misbehaviour” against the CJI including con-spiracy to pay illegal gratification

in a case relating to an educa-tional trust and the alleged vio-lation of code of conduct for judges by presiding over every bench that heard the case and passed orders.

The Chairman held that since the notice was signed by 64 members, it met the requirement of Section 3(1)(b) of the Judges Inquiry Act for moving a motion.

At the stage of admission,

Naidu said he had to apply a test that if every statement stated in the petition was believed to be true, would it still amount to a case of “proved misbehaviour”.

The Supreme Court said it was also salutary that before admitting the motion to remove a judge there shall exist factual foundation.

The Chairman referred to expressions “proved misbe-haviour” and “incapacity” used in Article 124 (4) of the Consti-tution and said proved misbe-haviour was an expression clearly distinguishable from mis-conduct as was apparent from the language of Article 124.

“The intent, gravity and onus are of a much higher degree. The prefix ‘proved’ places an obli-gation of actually proving the misbehaviour before the parlia-mentary procedure for removal of a judge can come into play,” he said. Naidu said the MPs who presented the petition were unsure of their own case. Page one of the petition used phrases such as “the facts and

circumstances relating to Prasad Education Trust case saw prima facie evidence suggesting that the CJI ‘may have been’ involved in a conspiracy of paying illegal gratification...”

The motion also said that the CJI was “likely to fall” within the scope of investigation and that he “appears to have” anti-dated an administrative order. “I am mentioning this fact because the phrases used by MPs themselves indicate a mere suspicion, a con-jecture of an assumption. The same does not constitute prove ‘beyond reasonable doubt’, which is required to make out a case of ‘proved misbehaviour’ under Article 124 (4). Conversa-tions between third parties with dubious credentials, which have been extensively relied upon, cannot themselves constitute any material evidence material against the holder of the office of the CJI,” the order said.

Attacking the rejection of the impeachment motion as “illegal, wrong and unconstitutional”, Sibal said.

Naidu rejects impeachment motion against CJI

Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj (left) shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping before a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, yesterday.

IANS

BEIJING: India’s External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj yesterday called on Chinese Pres-ident Xi Jinping and had a crucial one-on-one meeting with Vice-President, Wang Qishan.

Sushma Swaraj, who is in Beijing to attend the foreign min-isterial meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Summit, also met China’s envoy to India, Luo Zhaohui.

Though Sushma Swaraj met Xi with the Foreign Ministers of the SCO member countries, her one-on-one meet with Wang, arguably China’s second most powerful man, is of high signifi-cance ahead of an informal meeting between Indian Prime

Minister Narendra Modi and Xi. Wang and Sushma Swaraj dis-cussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties.

Indian Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also arrived here yesterday to take part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organi-sation (SCO) ministerial meeting, according to the Indian External Affairs ministry.

Sitharaman is here at the same time as Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is also here to attend the SCO meeting. The Indian Defence Minister will also meet her Chinese counterpart on the side-lines of the meeting, the ministry said in a tweet.

The SCO is a Eurasian inter-governmental organisation, the

creation of which was announced in 2001 in Shanghai by Kaza-khstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It was preceded by the Shanghai Five mechanism.

India, along with Pakistan, were granted full member status at the SCO summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, in June last year.

India-China ties were severely hit by the 73-day mil-itary stand-off in Doklam last year. Both sides are now trying to restore normalcy to their ties by stepping up bilateral exchanges. The visit of Sith-araman and Suhma Swaraj comes ahead of an informal meeting between Indian Prime Minister and Chinese President in China on April 27-28.

Sushma meets Chinese President

IANS

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) yesterday announced the date for the biennial elections in Maharashtra and a by-poll in Andhra Pradesh.

The two elections will be held on May 21 between 8am and 4pm. The Maharashtra election was necessitated as the term of six Legislative Council members will end on May 31 and June 21.

Anil Dattatrey Tatkare’s term from the Raigarh-cum-Ratnagiri-cum-Sindhudurg seat will end on May 31, while the terms of Jadhav Jay-wantrao Pundlikrao from Nashik, Bhangdiya Mitesh Gotulal from Wardha-cum-Chandrapur-cum-Gadh-chiroli, Abdullah Khan A. Latif Khan Durrani from Prabhani-cum-Hingoli, Pravin Ram-chandraji Pote from Amravati and Deshmukh Dileeprao Dagdojirao from Osmanabad-cum-Latur-cum-Beed will expire on June 21.

The scrutiny of nomina-tions will be on May 4.

32 Chinese die as bus falls off bridge in N KoreaREUTERS

BEIJING: Thirty-two Chinese tourists and four North Koreans died when a bus crashed off a bridge in North Korea, China’s Foreign Ministry said yesterday, with two Chinese nationals in critical condition.

Chinese tourists make up about 80 percent of all foreign visitors to North Korea, says a South Korean think-tank, the

Korea Maritime Institute, which estimates that tourism generates revenue of about $44m each year for the isolated country.

Chinese diplomats visited the scene of Sunday’s crash in North Hwanghae province, the foreign ministry said.

State television’s main Chinese-language news channel showed images of a crashed blue bus with its wheels in the air, in footage taken in pouring rain in

the dark. It also showed at least one person being treated in hospital.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Lu Kang, said he could not give additional details of the accident as an investi-gation was under way.

Chinese President Xi Jinping had asked the Foreign Ministry and Chinese embassy to take “all necessary means” to handle the accident, the ministry said in a

later statement. China’s Health Ministry said it was sending a team of medical experts, along with equipment and drugs, to North Korea, to help treat sur-vivors. The North Hwanghae province that borders South Korea is home to Kaesong, an ancient Korean capital thronged by tourists.

North Korea is a popular, if offbeat, tourist destination for Chinese. China said more than

237,000 Chinese visited in 2012, but stopped publishing the figures in 2013.

China is North Korea’s most important economic and diplo-matic backer, despite Beijing’s anger at Pyongyang’s repeated nuclear and missile tests and support for strong United Nations sanctions against North Korea. North and South Korea are in the final stages of prepa-rations for a summit.

Election date for Maharashtra & AP announced

‘Nepal quake fund misdirected’ AFP

NEPAL: Billions of dollars poured into Nepal after a powerful earthquake devastated the country three years ago is being misdirected towards building unnecessary new homes where old ones could have been salvaged, experts warn.

Survivors of the 7.8-mag-nitude quake that killed nearly 9,000 people in April 2015 are being pushed to construct new buildings they do not need, casting doubt on the efficacy of the government’s $9bn recon-struction effort.

“It is proposing the wrong solution for a lot of people,” said Noll Tufani, Nepal Country Director for Build Change, a charity specialising in disaster-proofing. Building quake-proof homes was a condition of the $4.1bn pledged to Nepal by international donors under the tagline “build back better”.

The government identified 708,000 families whose homes had been damaged and set up a

$3,000 cash subsidy pro-gramme to encourage them to construct homes that would withstand future seismic shocks.

Three years later, just 15 percent have been rebuilt under the $2.1bn scheme.

The sluggish reconstruction effort has been hit by political infighting, bureaucracy and confusion among quake victims over how to obtain the subsidy.

Many felled their damaged homes to build smaller ones -- often at huge cost -- instead of quake-proofing their mud and brick dwellings by retrofitting them with reinforced beams.

Build Change estimates that some 250,000 homes could be salvaged in this way, while another 150,000 rebuilt since the disaster would also need to be retrofitted.

A worker walking out of an earthquake-damaged house in Kavre district, some 45 km east of Kathmandu.

China arrests associates of runaway tycoon

AFP

BEIJING: Chinese police yesterday announced the arrest of twin brothers alleged to have forged government documents on behalf of a billionaire fugitive who has made explosive corruption accusations against his coun-try’s politicians.

Guo Wengui, a real estate tycoon who fled to the United States, spent last year waging a one-man guerrilla war against China’s elite by posting a series of graft alle-gations on social media.

In December Guo said he was working for regime change in Beijing. China has declared him a fugitive and had Interpol issue a “red notice” or a non-binding arrest warrant for him, reportedly related to bribery charges. Guo has applied for political asylum in the US.

Police in Chongqing held a conference to make public the latest allegations against him. In an unusual move in criminal matters, China’s State Council press office invited foreign reporters to attend ahead of time.

Australia confident of beating climate deal targets: MinisterREUTERS

AUSTRALIA: Australia is confident of not only meeting, but beating, its carbon emis-sions targets agreed to under the Paris climate agreement, the country’s Environment Minister said yesterday.

Australia has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emis-sions to 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.

But a United Nations Envi-ronment Programme report late last year included Australia in a list of 10 nations and regions that need to take further action to meet their Paris goals.

“Yes, we have work to do,” Environment and Energy Min-ister Josh Frydenberg said.

“I’m confident of not just meeting it, but of beating it,” he said. Based on its current energy mix and growth projec-tions, Australia’s emissions in 2030 are estimated to be about 57 percent higher than its target of 290 million tonnes under the Paris climate accord,

government research showed last year. That could change if the government is able to push through its National Energy Guarantee, a power plan that would also include emissions cuts. Political disagreements have held back climate policy in Australia for many years, but broad support emerged last week for the national power plan. “We’ve come a long way,” he said. “Where we have been very effective is in seeking emissions reduction in different aspects of the economy.” Frydenberg cited contracts issued under the country’s Emission Reduction Fund, which sees big emitters paid to cut carbon levels. He also men-tioned work already under way in the transport sector to reduce vehicle emissions and a national energy productivity plan to boost efficiency by 40 percent by 2030. “When it comes to the electricity sector, in the last two quarters, emis-sions have come down as renewables have gone up,” he said.

The motion alleged five charges of “misbehaviour” against the CJI including conspiracy to pay illegal gratification in a case relating to an educational trust and the alleged violation of code of conduct for judges by presiding over every bench that heard the case and passed orders. Rajya Sabha Chairman, M Venkaiah Naidu, addresses newsmen

during a press conference in New Delhi, yesterday.

12 TUESDAY 24 APRIL 2018ASIA

Pakistan Foreign Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif (left), shakes hands with Chinese President, Xi Jinping, before a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, yesterday.

China reassures Pakistan on tiesREUTERS

BEIJING: China yesterday reas-sured Pakistan that relations between the two countries were as firm as ever and would “never rust”, ahead of a meeting this week between President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that could unnerve Islamabad.

China and Pakistan like to call each other “all weather friends” and their traditional close ties have long been viewed

with suspicion by other countries.

But Modi has tried to reset relations with Beijing after a years of disagreements over everything from their border to exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, and will hold an informal summit with Xi on Friday and Saturday in China.

China will continue to firmly support Pakistan, its top dip-lomat, State Councillor Wang Yi, told Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif at a meeting in

Beijing. “We are ready to work together with our Pakistani brothers to undertake the his-torical mission of national reju-venation and achieve the great dream of national prosperity and development,” Wang said.

“In this way, our iron friendship with Pakistan will never rust and be tempered into steel,” Wang added.

There was no mention of the Xi-Modi meeting in comments made in front of reporters during the interaction.

14 dead in Afghanistan Taliban attacks: ReportAP

AFGHANISTAN: Taliban attacks in western Afghanistan killed 14 soldiers and policemen, reports said yesterday, as Kabul resi-dents prepared to bury their loved ones slain in a horrific bombing by the Islamic State group that targeted a voter registration centre the day before, killing 57.

The first of yesterday’s near-simultaneous attacks in western Badghis province hit army units in the district of Ab Kamari, killing nine soldiers, said Ghulam Sarwar Haidari, the deputy provincial police chief.

Moments later, another large group of insurgents struck police in Qadis district, killing five policemen.

Sharafuddin Majidi , spokesman for the provincial governor, confirmed the cas-ualty tolls. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed the Badghis attacks in a statement to the media.

The explosion shook the city around 10am, shattering windows miles from the site of the attack, leaving the pavement covered with bodies and blood stains and destroying nearby

vehicles. Afghan security forces have struggled to prevent a recent surge in attacks both by the local Islamic State affiliate as well as the more firmly estab-lished Taliban. The attacks increased after the United States and Nato concluded their combat mission in Afghanistan at the end of 2014.

Both groups regularly carry out attacks, with the Taliban usually targeting the gov-ernment and security forces and IS targeting the country’s Shiah minority.

In violence elsewhere in

Afghanistan, four policemen were killed and three were wounded yesterday in a Taliban attack in western Farah province, in Bala Buluk district, according to Mohammad Naser Mehri, spokesman for the pro-vincial governor.

Three Taliban fighters were killed and two others were wounded in the gunbattle there that lasted two hours, Mehri said.

In eastern Nangarhar prov-ince’s Chaparhar district, mili-tants killed three university stu-dents on Sunday, said Attaullah Khogyani, the governor’s spokesman. The three were brothers, he added.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the killing, but Khogyani blamed the Islamic State group, which has been active in Chaparhar and repeatedly claimed attacks in the district.

The latest violence comes as US and the Afghan troops have been conducting counter-ter-rorism operations and airstrikes across Afghanistan, including in Nangarhar, to root out IS and prevent the group from expanding its footprint in the country.

INTERNEWS

KARACHI: Veteran television actor Sajid Hasan announced during a news conference yesterday that he has joined the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) along with his wife and brother.

The news conference, which was held at the PPP Sindh’s media cell in Clifton, was also addressed by party leaders Nisar Ahmed Khuhro and Saeed Ghani among others.

Hasan said, PPP Chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, is truly a young political leader, much

like the youthful leaders required in the country during the present times. “If there is any young leader present in the country, it is Bilawal.”

The actor said Bilawal is tal-ented enough to make Pakistan progress, adding that he was impressed by the charismatic and dynamic personalities of the PPP’s late leaders Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto.

The renowned TV person-ality said he will try to serve the people of Karachi in the best of manners, adding that the city’s people need to rise above ethnic

considerations in order to ensure the country’s progress and development.

He said the PPP has always served best the cause to safe-guard the rights of people belonging to different religions, adding that he has also observed PPP leader and former Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari very closely. Hasan said he is joining the PPP as an ordinary party worker. PPP Sindh President, Khuhro, said different parts of the province are unduly being subjected to power load-shedding by the federal

government without any valid cause. He said Punjab Chief Min-ister, Shahbaz Sharif, should have changed his own name before coming to Karachi in line with his claim that he would change his name if his party failed to overcome the power load-shedding issue within six months.

The PPP leader said the power crisis in the province has created a water supply issue as well, and together both the problems have created crippling effects on the industries.

He said his party’s

government in Sindh has been trying its best to utilise the indig-enous natural resources in the province such as wind power and Thar coal to generate elec-tricity on a massive scale.

Khuhro said that all this is being done despite the fact that the federal government is solely responsible to end the menace of power load-shedding in the country.

He said the provincial gov-ernment has also been extending the maximum benefits and sub-sidies to farmers across the province.

‘Blast will not derail Afghan vote’ REUTERS

KABUL: Afghan officials pledged yesterday that Sunday’s deadly suicide bombing of a voter centre in Kabul will not derail preparations for this year’s parliamentary elections but the attack has underlined the risks to an operation already clouded by doubt.

“The incident which hap-pened yesterday has caused problems,” said Soma Ziarmal, an elections officer helping supervise a centre in the capital. “But we’re urging people to come in and take part in the process to have a better future and build our country,” she said.

After repeated delays, the

elections for parliament and dis-trict councils are due in October, putting officials under heavy pressure to complete the regis-tration of 14 million voters and issue around 10 million new identity cards by the autumn to ensure credible participation levels.

So far, just over 291,000 people have been registered since the process began just over a week ago, according to Wasima Badghisi, a member of the Independent Election Com-mission. She said security was a concern but it was still too early to say what impact Sun-day’s attack may have on registration.

“The beginning was

unexpectedly slow but we’re satisfied and we hope the number of people will increase,” she said, adding that the com-mission had requested that gov-ernment offices allow staff time off to register.

If the work cannot be com-pleted by October, Afghanistan’s harsh climate, rugged terrain and poor roads mean the process would have to be put on hold over the winter months, delaying the vote until next year when presidential elections are due. “The upcoming elections in Afghanistan will be key for democracy in the country,” said a statement from the European Union, which is providing some ¤30m to help fund the vote.

Three brothers beheaded in AfghanistanAFP

JALALABAD: Three brothers have been beheaded in restive eastern Afghanistan, officials said yesterday, blaming the gruesome execu-tions on Islamic State group fighters.

The men aged 19, 24 and 27 were taken from their home and killed by IS on Sunday night in Chaparhar district in Nangarhar province, provincial governor spokesman Ataullah Kho-gyani said.

Nangarhar borders Pakistan and is a stronghold for IS militants.

Two of the brothers recently graduated from medical school and the third was still at university, Kho-gyani said, adding the boys’ father was also killed by IS last year.

Afghan women arrive at a voter registration centre to register for the upcoming parliamentary and district council elections in Kabul, Afghanistan, yesterday.

Veteran TV actor Sajid Hasan and family join PPP

The first of yesterday’s near-simultaneous attacks in western Badghis province hit army units in the district of Ab Kamari, killing nine soldiers. Moments later, another large group of insurgents struck police in Qadis district, killing five policemen.

South Korea suspends anti-North propaganda broadcasts before summitAP

South Korea: South Korea halted anti-North Korea prop-aganda broadcasts across their tense border yesterday as offi-cials from the two Koreas met again to work out details of their leaders’ upcoming talks, expected to focus on the North’s nuclear programme.

Seoul had been blasting propaganda messages and K-pop songs from border loud-speakers since the North’s fourth nuclear test in early 2016. The North quickly matched the South’s action with its own border broadcasts and launches of balloons carrying anti-South Korea leaflets across the border.

South Korea turned off its broadcasts yesterday to ease military tensions and establish an environment for peaceful talks, Seoul’s Defence Ministry said in a statement. It said Seoul hopes the decision will lead to both sides stopping slander and propaganda activities.

Yonhap news agency, citing an unidentified government source, said that North Korea was believed to have turned off many of its propaganda broad-casts later Monday. Yonhap earlier reported that some North Korean broadcasts were sporadically heard in the South yesterday morning. South Korean defense officials said they couldn’t immediately confirm the status of the North’s

broadcasts. The move comes amid a recent thaw in animos-ities, with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un trying to reach out to Seoul and Washington after conducting his country’s sixth and most powerful nuclear test and three long-range missile test launches last year.

Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in are to meet at the Korean border village of Panmunjom on Friday in the countries’ third-ever summit talks. Kim is to hold separate talks with US Pres-ident Donald Trump in May or early June in what would be the first North Korea-US summit.

Yesterday, the two Koreas held a third round of working-level talks at Panmunjom and agreed to conduct a joint rehearsal tomorrow of the summit, Moon’s office said in a statement. It said the two sides agreed that Friday’s summit will include a welcoming cer-emony and a banquet dinner as well as a formal meeting between Moon and Kim.

The Koreas agreed last week to allow live television broadcasts for key parts of the summit. Yesterday’s statement said North Korea also agreed on live broadcasts by South Korean media of unspecified events at the northern side of Panmunjom.

The Korean summit is to take place at a South Korean building on the southern side of Panmunjom.

Suspects’ images released over Palestinian’s death AP

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian police yesterday released images of two suspects in the killing of a Palestinian engineer and said they appeared to be European or Middle Eastern, fueling suspicion that the slaying was an Israeli assassination.

Gaza’s ruling Hamas mil-itant group has accused Israel of being behind Saturday’s shooting of Fadi Al Batsh, an important member of Hamas. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement.

Malaysian National Police Chief, Mohamad Fuzi Harun, said the composite images were based on eyewitness descriptions. He said the sus-pects, clad in black jackets, were fair-skinned, well-built and had beards, and were likely European or Middle Easterner.

Fuzi said the images have been displayed at all exit points in the country but said it was unclear if the men had fled Malaysia.

Police said al-Batsh, 34, was hit with 14 bullets by the two assailants.

13TUESDAY 24 APRIL 2018 EUROPE

Armenian Premier bows out after protests

Paris attacks suspect jailed in BelgiumAP

BRUSSELS: A Belgian court yesterday found 2015 Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam and an accomplice guilty of attempted murder over shots fired at police as they sought to avoid arrest in Brussels.

The court handed both Abdeslam, Europe’s most wanted fugitive at the time, and Sofiane Ayari the maximum 20-year sentence.

It said the “terror char-acter” was clearly established in the March 2016 shooting, four months after the Paris attacks that killed 130. Abdeslam was close to being arrested in a hideout when he and Ayari fled while another man sprayed gunfire at police and was killed. Three officers were wounded.

His lawyer Sven Mary said it remains to be seen whether Abdeslam will seek to appeal his sentence. He has 30 days to decide.

French National Assembly adopts immigration billAFP

PARIS: French National Assembly has adopted a contro-versial immigration bill that speeds up the asylum process and accelerates deportations after a fierce debate that exposed divisions in President Emmanuel Macron’s party.

After 61 hours of discussion, the legislation, which was slammed by the left as too tough and the right as too soft, was approved late Sunday by 228 votes in favour to 139 against.

Fourteen members of Macron’s centrist Republic on the Move (LREM) party were among the 24 MPs who abstained, and one dissident quit the LREM par-liamentary group after joining the naysayers — a rare display of defiance in the usually on-

message movement.Jean-Michel Clement, a

former member of the Socialist Party who joined Macron’s party last year, said he had voted with his “conscience”.

Opposition was strongest on the right, with the conservative Republicans and far-right National Front (FN) leading a failed charge for much tougher controls on immigration.

FN leader Marine Le Pen, who won 36 percent of the vote in last year’s presidential election run-off, said the law would lead to a “flood of migration”. But NGOs were also up in arms.

Within minutes of the vote Amnesty International France issued a statement warning that the “dangerous” legislation, which allows for failed asylum-seekers to be detained for up to

90 days, jeopardised migrants’ rights.

The French migrant-support charity Cimade was also sharply critical of the draft law.

“So men, women and children can be locked up for three months without com-mitting an offence. No gov-ernment has ever gone so far on locking up foreigners,” it tweeted.

But opinion polls show voters supporting stricter rules, which the government presented as necessary to check the rise of populists who are on the march across Europe.

France received a record 100,000 asylum applications last year, bucking the general trend in Europe where the number of asylum seekers halved between 2016 and 2017.

MPs spent the weekend haggling over more than 1,000 proposed amendments to the bill, which aims to both improve conditions for asylum-seekers by halving the waiting time for a response to six months, and get tougher with those deemed “economic” migrants.

Leftwing opponents lashed out at measures to keep asylum seekers in detention.

Leftist critics had also com-plained about plans to cut the time within which asylum-claimers can appeal if rejected for refugee status from four weeks to two, saying they would not have enough time to defend their claim.

They also came out against a proposed “solidarity offence” targeting people who assist

border-jumpers, like Cedric Herrou, a farmer who was given a suspended sentence for helping migrants cross into France from Italy.

The government eventually agreed to exempt anyone pro-viding struggling newcomers with food, accommodation, medical, linguistic, legal or social assistance.

Among the measures that received broad support on the centre and left were plans to help refugees better integrate, with more free French lessons and the right to work after being in France for six months.

Despite the fractious debate, the bill was never really in jeopardy, thanks to French pres-ident’s large parliamentary majority. It now moves to the Senate.

EU moves to protect whistle-blowersREUTERS

BRUSSELS: Whistle-blowers exposing fraud, tax evasion, data breaches and other misdeeds will be given more protection from retaliation under new rules proposed by the European Commission yesterday.

The move by the EU executive comes in the wake of criticism from transparency campaigners about the lack of protection granted to individuals who report such breaches in EU laws.

The European Commission said its proposal was a game changer since it will require

companies setting up internal channels for whistle-blowers and also shield them from reprisals such as sackings, demotion and even litigation. There are also safeguards against malicious or abusive reports.

“There should be no pun-ishment for doing the right thing,” Commission Vice Pres-ident Francs Timmermans said.

“In addition, today’s pro-posals also protect those who act as sources for investigative journalists, helping to ensure that freedom of expression and freedom of the media are defended in Europe.”

The EU executive said the proposed rules would protect those who unmask illegal activ-ities in public procurement, financial services, money laun-dering, nuclear safety, food safety, privacy and data pro-tection among others.

The proposal requires approval from EU countries and the European Parliament before it can become law. Currently only 10 EU countries offer full protection to whistleblowers.

Transparency International said the proposal was a bold step in recognising the importance and rights of informants.

European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans and European Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality Vera Jourova (right) during a joint press conference at the EU Headquarters, in Brussels, yesterday.

AP

YEREVAN: Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sarksyan (pictured) resigned unexpectedly yesterday to quell massive anti-government protests over what critics feared was his effort to seize power for life.

Residents of the capital, Yerevan, poured out on the streets to celebrate his stunning departure. People hugged and kissed each other, and motorists honked their horns.

Protest leader “Nikol Pash-inyan was right. I was wrong,” Sarksyan, a former Armenian president, said in a surprise announcement on his website. “The movement on the streets is against my rule. I’m complying with their demands.”

The move plunges the Cau-casian Mountains country into uncertainty after 10 days of pro-tests against Sarksyan’s appointment as prime minister.

The appointment was part of a transition to a new govern-mental system that reduces the powers of the presidency and bolsters those of the premier. Critics saw that as an attempt by 63-year-old Sarksyan, who served as president from 2008 until term limits forced him out in March, to stay in power indefinitely.

It echoes similar tenure-lengthening manoeuvres by Russian President Vladimir Putin — Armenia’s closest ally. Leaders of other former Soviet republics from Belarus to Central Asia have also engineered themselves lifetime jobs.

The streets of Yerevan have turned into masses of human anger since anti-government protesters began rallying on April 13, blocking government buildings and facing off with police. Sunday’s rally attracted some 50,000 demonstrators.

Pashinyan, the protest leader, was arrested on Sunday after he met the prime minister for talks.

Sarksyan abruptly ended the meeting hen Pashinyan refused to discuss anything besides the prime minister’s resignation. The

protest leader was released from custody yesterday afternoon.

Sarksyan said that he should not have resisted the demands of the opposition.

The Armenian government quickly named former prime minister Karen Karapetian as acting premier. A Sarksyan ally, Karapetian also served as mayor of Yerevan and worked in Russia for five years as a senior exec-utive of state-controlled gas giant Gazprom.

Alexander Iskanderian, director of the Caucasus Institute in Yerevan, said that the protests drove Sarksyan into a corner:

“The protests in the past couple of days have swelled to a point that you either had to use violence or find another way out,” Iskanderian said.

Russian officials and state television have been cautious in commenting on the unrest in

Armenia. In the past, Moscow decried anti-government rallies in neighboring post-Soviet nations as example of hostile Western interference.

In what appeared to be the first official Russian reaction to the resignation of the Armenian premier, Russian Foreign Min-istry spokeswoman Maria

Zakharova lauded Sarksyan’s decision as a move to unify the nation.

“The people who have the strength to keep respect toward each other despite crucial differ-ences and stay united even in the most difficult moments of its history is a great people,” Zakharova wrote on her

Facebook account. “Armenia, Russia is always with you!”

When Sarksyan switched to the prime minister’s job, ally Armen Sarkissian, a former prime minister and ambassador to Britain, was elected president in Sargkyan’s place.

Sarkissian was seen as an unofficial Sarksyanappointee.

People taking part in a march to protest the election of former Armenian president Sarksyan as a prime minister by the National Assembly of Armenia, in Yerevan, yesterday.

Kate Middleton gives birth to third childREUTERS

LONDON: Kate, the wife of Prince William, gave birth to a boy at a hospital in London yesterday, the third child for the British royal couple and now fifth in line to the throne.

Kensington Palace said the baby was born at 1001 GMT and weighs 3.8kg.

William was present for the birth at St Mary’s Hospital in west London where their other two children, George and Char-lotte, were also born, it added.

“Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well,” the Palace said.

Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, the baby’s grandfather, and other members of the royal family and Kate’s family have been informed and “are delighted with the news”, it added.

The baby is the queen’s sixth great-grand-child and is behind his sib-lings George, 4, and Char-lotte, 2, their father William, and grandfather and heir Prince Charles in line to the throne.

A 2013 change to the law means that for the first time in British

history, a new prince will not supplant his older sister in the order of succession. Previously, younger males would take precedence over older female siblings.

William’s younger brother Harry, who marries US actress Meghan Markle next month, falls to sixth on the list.

Kensington Palace said the name of the new royal would be announced in due course. Bookmakers have made Albert, Arthur, Jack and Fred the favourite names for a boy.

The official announcement of the birth was made by placing a notice on an easel in the forecourt of the queen’s London home, Buckingham Palace.

A royal bulletin, announcing that Britain’s Catherine has given birth to a baby boy, stands on an easel on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace, in London, yesterday.

Protest leader “Nikol Pashinyan was right. I was wrong. The movement on the streets is against my rule. I’m complying with their demands: Serzh Sarksyan

UK judge orders extradition of Croatian tycoonREUTERS

LONDON: A British judge ordered the extradition of Ivica Todoric, the founder of indebted Croatian food group Agrokor, to Croatia to face charges related to an alleged $134.54m fraud.

The judge granted Todoric bail pending his extradition, after his British lawyer told the court he did not pose a flight risk as he had no money left and his assets were subject to international freezing orders. Todoric has seven days in which to lodge an appeal.

He and 14 other people are being investigated in Croatia over the crisis at Agrokor, the country’s biggest private firm.

Under bail conditions set by the judge, Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot, Todoric will have to report to a police station daily and will be under a nightly curfew.

14 TUESDAY 24 APRIL 2018AMERICAS

Trump says may tie Mexican immigration control to NaftaREUTERS

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump threatened to make Mexican immigration control a condition of a new NAFTA agreement yesterday, saying the southern US neighbour must stop illegal immigrants from getting into the United States.

“Mexico, whose laws on immigration are very tough, must stop people from going through Mexico and into the US We may make this a condition of the new NAFTA Agreement,” Trump wrote in a Twitter post. “Our Country cannot accept what is happening!”

The US president made similar threats linking NAFTA, known formally as the North American Free Trade Agreement, and immigration when a “caravan” of migrants

moved through Mexico earlier this month. “They must stop the big drug and people flows, or I will stop their cash cow, NAFTA,” Trump wrote on Twitter on April 1.

However, discussion of immigration controls has not been a part of formal negotia-tions on the new NAFTA accord and talks by all accounts —including Trump’s — are progressing.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, speaking at the Hanover trade fair in Germany yesterday, said he hoped for agreement soon on a reworked NAFTA, which includes Mexico, the United States and Canada.

Nieto said differences between the parties could be overcome to revamp the 24-year-old accord, which underpins some $1.2 trillion in annual trilateral trade.

Nashville Waffle House shooting suspect at largeREUTERS

NASHVILLE: A nearly nude gunman killed four people at a Waffle House restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee, early on Sunday and then fled after a patron saved lives by wres-tling the assault-style rifle from his hands.

The suspected shooter, identified as Travis Reinking, 29, fled on foot and was still at large as murder warrants were being issued for him, the Metropolitan Nashville Police said.

Reinking, originally from Morton, Illinois, lives near the restaurant, Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron told a news conference. The gun-man’s vehicle was registered to him and was found at the scene, Aaron said.

Police speculate that Reinking ran home, grabbed a pair of pants and fled his apartment. A shirtless, shoeless man believed to be him was spotted in the woods nearby, police said.

The gunman, who was naked but for a green jacket, first shot and killed two people in the parking lot of the restaurant in Antioch, a section of southeast Nashville, shortly before 3:30am (0830 GMT).

Calls to end gun violence and toughen restrictions on firearms sales in the United States have increased since the February 14 massacre of 17 people at a high school in Parkland, Florida, sparked a youth-led activist movement.

Nashville Mayor David Briley said tragedies like the one on Sunday should not happen.

Mexico holds first televised presidential debate for July electionsAP

MEXICO CITY: The first of Mexico’s presidential debates opened with rivals concentrating their fire on front-runner Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who defended the idea of an amnesty to fight drug violence and revived his famous campaign slogan from 2006, “For the good

of all, the poor come first.”The leftist candidate

defended his proposals to “speak with everybody” to solve Mex-ico’s crime problem.

He said he would even invite the pope to discuss how to carry out such a dialogue.

The other candidates harshly criticized the amnesty proposal. Third-place candidate Jose

Antonio Meade said the proposal put Lopez Obrador “on the side of the criminals.”

But all of the candidates con-ceded that Mexico’s anti-crime and law enforcement policies have been a failure.

Even Meade, who is running for the governing Institutional Revolutionary Party, the PRI, and who served in several Cabinet

posts in the current adminis-tration, acknowledged the weakness of police. “Above all, we don’t investigate,” he said yesterday.

Several candidates proposed creating an FBI-style federal investigation agency to make up for the fact that drug cartels operate freely in many parts of Mexico.

Ricardo Anaya, the former head of the conservative National Action Party, again sought to play the Venezuela card, saying Lopez Obrador’s proposal to hold recall votes was similar to tactics used by Venezuela’s ruling socialists to hold on to power.

Known in the past for his extremely slow and often ram-bling speech, Lopez Obrador on

was focused and appeared better prepared.

He had little problem dis-tinguishing himself from the other four candidates, because they all often turned to attack him.

Lopez Obrador has held a lead of as much as 20 points in some opinion polls on the July 1 elections.

More Democrats back Pompeo as Secretary of StateREUTERS

WASHINGTON: Two more Democratic senators announced their support yesterday for Republican President Donald Trump’s pick as Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo (pictured), all but assuring the CIA director will be confirmed for the position as soon as this week.

Democrats Joe Manchin and Joe Donnelly declared they would back Pompeo, hours before the Senate Foreign Rela-tions Committee was expected to take an unprecedented vote against him.

Manchin of West Virginia and Donnelly of Indiana joined

Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota as the first three Senate Demo-crats in supporting the nominee. All are up for re-election this year in states that supported Trump in 2016.

“After meeting with Mike Pompeo, discussing his foreign policy perspectives, & consid-ering his distinguished time as CIA Director and his exemplary career in public service, I will vote to confirm Mike Pompeo to be our next Secretary of State,” Manchin wrote on Twitter yesterday.

The Foreign Relations panel was due to vote today on Pompeo, and he could become the first secretary of state

nominee not to win the panel’s support.

A majority of committee members — all 10 Democrats, plus Republican Rand Paul

— have voiced opposition to Pompeo.

A negative vote by the com-mittee, which oversees the State Department, could shadow at least his first months in office. But Pompeo looks likely to win confirmation from the full Senate nonetheless.

Republicans have a 51-49 Senate majority. But with Paul a firm “no” and Senator John McCain absent due to illness, Pompeo can receive at most 49 Republican votes.

The votes of the three Dem-ocrats all but assure Pompeo will get enough votes in the 100-seat chamber to be confirmed.

The Senate confirmed

Pompeo as CIA director last year with a 66-32 vote. He has since become one of Trump’s most trusted advisers.

Critics said Pompeo is too conservative to represent the country on the world stage and fears he would favour military action over diplomacy and be too likely to agree with Trump rather than step back and give his best advice to the commander in chief.

Backers point to Pompeo’s summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un as proof he believes in diplomacy, and said the US needs the top diplomat’s role to be filled as quickly as pos-sible amid burgeoning world crises.

Skateboard jump

Allies urge Trump to stick to Iran nuclear dealREUTERS

WASHINGTON: Western allies stepped up pressure on US Pres-ident Donald Trump yesterday to keep alive an international nuclear deal with Iran, with French President Emmanuel Macron due to urge him in person not to tear up the 2015 agreement.

Trump has said that unless European allies fix what he has called its “terrible flaws” by May 12, he will restore US economic sanctions on Iran, which would be a severe blow to the pact.

Macron, who arrived in Washington yesterday for a state visit, said on Sunday there was no “Plan B” for keeping a lid on Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Minutes after Macron’s plane touched down, the White House said it had no announcements on the Iran deal. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders added, “The president has been extremely clear that he thinks it’s a bad deal. That certainly has not changed.”

The agreement between Iran, the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany was born of longstanding concern among major powers that Iran was seeking to develop an atomic weapon and imposed curbs on Iran’s nuclear pro-gramme in exchange for

sanctions relief for Tehran. Critics of the pact, including Trump, have said it does not ade-quately contain Iran.

Trump sees three defects: a failure to address Iran’s ballistic missile programme; the terms under which international inspectors can visit suspect Iranian nuclear sites; and “sunset” clauses under which limits on the Iranian nuclear program start to expire after 10 years.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said both Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is due to meet Trump in Washington on Friday, would urge the US president to stay in the deal, which is formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

“We believe it is extremely important to uphold this agreement. Were it to fail or the US to drop out, we would not have anything comparable to it and we fear that the situation would significantly deteriorate with everything that goes with it,” Maas said.

He was speaking at a meeting in Toronto of foreign ministers from the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations.

Britain’s foreign minister, Boris Johnson, echoed this, telling reporters in Toronto, “There is a strong view around the (G7) table that we need to make the case for the JCPOA.”

“We accept that Iranian behaviour has been disruptive in the region, we accept the pres-ident (Trump) has some valid points that need to be addressed, but we believe they are capable of being addressed (inside the

deal),” Johnson said.Iran has said it will stick to

the accord as long as the other parties respect it, but will “shred” it if Washington pulls out. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called on European leaders yesterday to support it.

“It is either all or nothing. European leaders should encourage Trump not just to stay in the nuclear deal, but more important to begin implementing

his part of the bargain in good faith,” Zarif wrote on Twitter.

On a visit to Beijing, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he had agreed with his Chinese counterpart to block any US attempt to sabotage the deal.

Trump’s opposition to the deal has been welcomed by Israel, which has rejected the pact since it was being hammered out under former US President Barack Obama’s administration.

“Israel will not allow regimes that seek our annihilation to acquire nuclear weapons. This is why we opposed so resolutely the Iran deal, because it gives Iran a clear path to a nuclear arsenal,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a speech to foreign diplomats yes-terday in Jerusalem.

Listing objections, Netanyahu added, “This is why this deal has to be either fully fixed or fully nixed.”

At a nuclear non-proliferation conference in Geneva, there were repeated calls for parties to the deal to ensure its implementation and preservation.

UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Naka-mitsu said it “continues to be the best way to ensure the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme and to realise the promised tangible economic ben-efits for the Iranian people.”

US President Donald Trump arrives at Joint Base Andrews, in Maryland, upon his return to Washington from Palm Beach, Florida, yesterday.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said that the President has been extremely clear that he thinks it’s a bad deal (Iran nuclear deal). That certainly has not changed.

A man jumps with his skateboard in front of the Colon Theater at Buenos Aires, Argentina, yesterday.

15TUESDAY 24 APRIL 2018 MORNING BREAK

FAJRSHOROOK

03. 44 AM

05. 04 AM

11. 32 AM

03. 01 PM

06. 03 PM

07. 33 PM

ZUHRASR

MAGHRIBISHA

PRAYER TIMINGS

HIGH TIDE 12:45 - **** LOW TIDE 17:00 26 34

Slight dust to blowing dust at places and

partly cloudy with chance of light rain at

places at first.

WEATHER TODAY

Courtesy: Qatar Meteorology Department

Minimum Maximum 26oC 34oC

VCUarts Qatar to showcase unique designs by students at ‘Pendulum’ THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) has announced its 19th Annual Fashion Show ‘Pendulum’.

The unique show, featuring the collections of 25 sophomore, junior, and senior fashion stu-dents from VCUarts Qatar, as well as four senior students from the University’s Richmond campus, will take place on May 3. It will be held in partnership with Nasser Bin Khaled and Mercedes-Benz at The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa. ‘Pendulum’ will showcase the individual

vision, creativity, and styles of VCUarts Qatar’s students. The collections on show will present an eclectic mix of day to evening looks that reflect the singular aesthetic of each student and their individual concepts. More than 100 garments, ranging from evening wear to children’s wear will be shown at “Pendulum”.

“Pendulum” is all about time,” said Sandra Wilkins, the Chair of VCUarts Qatar’s Fashion Design programme. Wilkins joined VCUarts Qatar in 1998 and the university has been holding a series of events for faculty, staff, students and

alumni to celebrate its anniversary.

“The “Pendulum” theme represents our focus in estab-lishing a design department that meets the needs of this growing and diverse industry. The whole fashion foundation of design is built on reimagining, re-propor-tioning, re-fabricating and making new again,” Wilkins said.

VCUarts Qatar alumna Selina Farooqui will be the guest designer at the show. Tickets cost QR125 and can be pur-chased online from http://www.q a t a r . v c u . e d u / e v e n t s /pendulum-fashion-show

The officials of VCUarts Qatar announce the details of its 19th Annual Fashion Show ‘Pendulum’ during a press conference at the Westin Doha Hotel & Spa.

Nearly extinct Javan green magpies thrive at Prague zooAFP

PRAGUE: Prague zoo said that its small flock of critically endangered Javan green magpies was growing, thanks in part to a special new feeding technique using a puppet.

The zoo currently has six Javan green magpies, including two chicks, one of which is being fed with the help of tweezers and a puppet resembling the adult of the striking species, known for its blue-green feathers and orange-red beak. “We found one broken egg under a nesting pair so we

immediately took the other one away,” bird curator Antonin Vaidl said, adding that the chick was hatched in an incubator in March.

“Then we started using this puppet so that the chick would not be imprinted on a human and could reproduce within its species,” Vaidl said, referring to the process by which a bird learns to recognise its species. Javan green magpies are among the “rarest bird species on the planet today,” Vaidl said, adding that the total global population in captivity and the wild is around 100.

A bird keeper, Vendula Budkova, uses a puppet to feed a 43-day old Javan green magpie at Prague Zoo in Prague, Czech Republic, yesterday.

AAB-QCA chess tourney charms enthusiasts THE PENINSULA

DOHA: In an unprecedented move, Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros. Co. WLL (AAB), exclusive distributor of Toyota and Lexus in Qatar, collaborated with Qatar Chess Association (QCA) to pave the way for the first FIDE Rated Open Chess Tournament in Qatar.

Under a new format, AAB organises the FIDE rated Chess Tour-nament with QCA to sustain the interest and passion of chess enthu-siasts in Qatar by providing an avenue for them to improve their game and upgrade their world ratings. Based on the FIDE rating, the players played against each other irrespective of age.

The Tournament brought seasoned and young players to the fore. Forty-two participants ranging from age 6 and above with FIDE Rating under 2200 battled towards the Champi-onship at the Al Abdulghani Tower.

RK Murugan, AAB’s Acting CEO, together with Kei Fujita, Toyota Japan’s Group Manager-Middle East and Central Asia Division, made the symbolic First Move during the first round. The tournament was played in 5 rounds Swiss System with 60 min + 30 sec/move timing for the whole

game. Mohammed Al Medaihki, Qatar Grand Master and President of QCA; along with Hamad Al Tamimi, QCA Executive Director; G M Mohammed Al Sayed, QCA Board of Director Member; was present at the prize giving ceremony.

The winners of the 1st AAB Chess Open are: Champion, Enrique Naperi (Philippine); 1st Runner Up, Gowtham Ramamoorthy (India); 2nd Runner Up, Salhi Imed (Tunisia); 3rd Runner Up, Mohamed Sadiq Chanthana (India); 4th Runner Up, Kamal Karim Riad (Egypt).

Special prizes were given to Best Under 20, Best Under 12 and Best Female. Meanwhile, the father and son tandem who garnered the highest combined score was also given rec-ognition as Best Family.

AAB’s CSR initiative focusing strongly on the development of the youth is highlighted with the turnout of young chess enthusiasts comprising majority of the number of participants.

Under 12 make about 23%, whilst Under 20 comprise 38% of the partic-ipants and provided serious challenges to the more experienced and advanced players.

Worthy to note is that the 1st Runner Up, Gowtham Ramamoorthy, is a 9-year old boy who just relocated to Qatar with his family. With 4 wins and 1 draw, Gowtham has represented his age category well and has earned the admiration of fellow players and spectators. AAB Chess Open will be held twice a year with September as the tentative month for the next

tournament. For the last 7 years, AAB has been

holding the Toyota Kids Chess Tour-nament and AAB Rapid Blitz Tourna-ments for kids aged 6-16 years old. It has also supported QCA for two con-secutive years of the Qatar Grand-masters Open which is considered as one of the strongest chess tournaments in the world.

The winners of the first FIDE Rated Open Chess Tournament in Qatar with QCA and AAB Management Team.

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Green Engineering Conference and Exhibition kicked off yesterday as the event aims to raise green awareness and education among the Qatari community and spread the best standards adopted in this field.

The event is being held under the patronage of the Minister of Energy and Industry H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, and organised by Qatar Society of Engineers. The conference will last for two days and will be attended by more than 20 local and interna-tional organisations.

Qatar Society of Engineers Chairman, Eng. Abdulaziz Ali Al Ishaq, said the Green Engineering Conference and Exhibition is the first conference pre-pared and launched by the new board of directors of the society, whose task is to reorganise the society and its administrative structure to achieve its objec-tives and ensure its continuity and to play its active role in the service of society.

Al Ishaq pointed out that Qatar Society of Engi-neers has set objectives to reach them, including con-tributing to the civilisational, industrial, urban and agricultural renaissance of the country, and working to raise the level of the profession and promote it in cooperation with government departments and insti-tutions. Al Ishaq stressed that the appointed board of directors will activate the role of the society in the service of the community and contribute to the urban and industrial and agricultural development of the country, in addition to working to raise the level of the profession and its advancement in cooperation with various departments in the State, and will con-tribute to the scientific and research renaissance, support and service engineer in the State of Qatar.

Event raises green awareness in Qatar

Shipwreck found in Lake Erie could be nearly 200 years oldAP

TOLEDO: Shipwreck hunters are planning to excavate around a Lake Erie wreck this summer that they think could be the remains of a schooner that went down nearly two centuries ago.

Its size, design and location point toward it being a sailing ship called the Lake Serpent, which sunk in 1829, the National Museum of the Great Lakes said yesterday.

That would make it one of the oldest wrecks ever dis-covered on Lake Erie. The shal-lowest of the Great Lakes where violent storms whip up in a hurry is home to hundreds of wreckage sites. Many have been found in recent years by a small, dedicated band of hunters.

To determine whether the latest discovery to be announced is indeed the Lake Serpent, divers will first need to get a closer look at wreckage and move away the sediment covering part of the ship.

“Because it’s so small, that makes it very, very old,” said Tom Kowalczk, who spotted the

wreckage on his sonar screen in the summer of 2015. “That puts it way back to an early time frame and really limits the possibilities.” Members of the Cleveland Underwater Explorers and the museum have been digging through his-torical records and newspaper clippings to come up with the names of vessels it might be.

They’ve narrowed the list to three, with the Lake Serpent being the most likely answer, said Carrie Snowden, the museum’s archaeology director.

“That’s our working theory,” she said. The schooner was built in 1821 in Cleveland at a time when the city had less than 1,000 residents. Its job was to carry cargo — produce, flour, whiskey, limestone - to ports along the lakes. It went down eight years later with a load of stone and a small crew near Kelleys Island off the Ohio shoreline. The body of one crew member was spotted in the lake days later while the bodies of the captain and his brother washed up on the shore of Lorain County in the fall of 1829, according to a newspaper report.

First evidence of genetic adaptation to diving discoveredAFP

TAMPA: Researchers have discovered the first evidence that people can genetically adapt to deep diving, as shown by the unusually large spleens in indig-enous people of Indonesia known as the “Sea Nomads,” a study said.

The spear-fishing Bajau people regularly free-dive to depths of up to 230 feet (70 meters), with only weights and

a wooden mask. They spend up to 60 percent of their work day diving for fish, spearing octopus and gathering crustaceans — an amount of time rivaled only by sea otters — and can stay under-water up to 13 minutes at a time, said the report in the journal Cell. Intrigued by this unusual ability, American researcher Melissa Ilardo, then a post doc-toral candidate at the Centre for GeoGenetics at the University of Copenhagen, wondered if they

had genetically adapted somehow to be able to spend more time underwater than other people.

She spent several months in Jaya Bakti, Indonesia, with the help of a translator, getting to know the Bajau and another nearby group that did not dive, the Saluan. “I spent my whole first visit to Jaya Bakti intro-ducing myself, the project, and the underlying science,” she said. “I wanted to be sure that they

understood exactly what I was asking of them so they could help to direct the project to reflect their interests. They were very curious and excited about the research.” Before her second visit, she learned some Indo-nesian in order to be able to communicate directly with the Bajau. She took genetic samples and did ultrasound scans, which showed that Bajau had spleens about 50 percent larger than the Saluan.

16 TUESDAY 24 APRIL 2018HOME