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WEDNESDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 10820 May 16, 2018 Sha’baan 30, 1439 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

PM visits Doha Metro project QP to build In brief

QATAR | Religion new petchem Ramadan starts in Qatar tomorrow The Moon Sighting Committee of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Aff airs announced that today (May 16) is last complex day of the month of Sha’baan, and tomorrow (May 17) will be the first day of the holy month of Ramadan. atar Petroleum (QP) has invited a The committee, Chaired by Dr Sheikh group of leading international com- Thaqeel al-Shammari, held its meeting Qpanies, with extensive experiences in yesterday evening. It said the Ramadan HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani was briefed on the the petrochemicals industry, to submit pro- moon was not sighted yesterday. The progress of the Doha Metro Project, which he visited yesterday. He witnessed the test run of the metro auto-drive posals for partnering with QP in the devel- committee extended greetings to between New Doha and Ras Bu Fontas stations. The premier also inspected the main maintenance centre of Doha opment and operation of a new world-scale His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim Metro station in Ras Bu Fontas, the main control centre for Doha Metro Networks and its control, test and operation petrochemicals complex at the Ras Laff an bin Hamad al-Thani, His Highness systems. The prime minister was accompanied by a number of ministers and senior off icials. Page 4 Industrial City. the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah The petrochemicals complex will include bin Hamad al-Thani, as well as the an ethane cracker with a capacity of more Government, the people of Qatar and than 1.6mn tons per year (mtpy) of ethyl- all Muslims, on the advent of Ramadan. ene, making it the “largest ethane cracker” Pages 5, 8, 9 in the Middle East, and one of the largest in QP President and CEO Saad Sherida al-Kaabi the world. The petrochemicals complex will also in- the new North Field LNG expansion project ASIA | Diplomacy Qatar, Turkey discuss clude world-class derivative plants, which that will produce an additional 23mn tpy of will consolidate Qatar’s position among the LNG, as well as from existing gas projects N Korea casts doubt leading petrochemicals producers in the producing ethane. on Kim-Trump meet world markets. Recently, QP selected Japan’s Chiyoda North Korea yesterday called into The engineering design of the petro- Corporation to execute the Front End En- question a much-anticipated and Israeli aggression chemicals complex should begin shortly, gineering and Design (FEED) of the on- unprecedented summit between its leading to a planned start-up in 2025. shore facilities of the North Field expansion leader Kim Jong-un and US President z62 Palestinians killed in two days of violence QP President and CEO Saad Sherida al- project. Donald Trump. Pyongyang also Kaabi said: “This development is a fi rst step The facilities will produce an additional cancelled high-level talks due today towards the launch of a new world-scale 23mn tonnes per year (tpy) of liquefi ed natu- with Seoul over the Max Thunder zOIC meeting to be held in Istanbul on Friday petrochemicals complex at Ras Laff an, ral gas (LNG), which will raise Qatar’s pro- joint military exercises being held marking another important milestone for duction from 77mn tpy to 100mn tpy, as was between the US and the South, Seoul zCall for independent probe into Gaza massacre Qatar Petroleum.” announced by QP in July, 2017. said. “There is a limit to the amount of Al-Kaabi added: “Petrochemicals rep- The addition of 23mn tpy of LNG will not good will and chances we can give,” Agencies Meanwhile, Israel was under Israeli-Palestinian confl ict since resent a major pillar of our growth strategy just enhance QP’s position as the world’s the North’s off icial news agency KCNA Doha/Gaza City mounting international pressure the 2014 Gaza war. to achieve our vision of becoming one of the largest LNG producer and exporter, but said. The drills between the two allies’ amid calls yesterday for an inde- There were numerous calls for best national oil companies in the world. also its international image as a reliable and air forces were a rehearsal for invasion pendent probe after its forces killed an independent investigation into This project will complement our eff orts to trustworthy energy provider. and a provocation at a time when E the Prime Minister and 62 Palestinians during two days of the deaths, with Britain, Germany, implement our strategy, and will enable Qa- The expansion of Qatar’s LNG production inter-Korean relations were warming, it Minister of Interior, Sheikh violence along the Gaza border. Switzerland and Belgium among tar Petroleum to further expand its footprint from the North Field is an important land- added. Page 14 HAbdullah bin Nasser bin Protests and sporadic clashes those supporting such action. in the global petrochemicals markets.” mark in QP’s strategic growth plan and ob- Khalifa al-Thani, received a phone fl ared again on the Gaza bor- Turkish President Recep Tayy- The feedstock for the petrochemical com- jectives of becoming one of the best national call yesterday from Turkish Prime der, though they were far fewer in ip Erdogan vowed that a planned plex will be ethane produced primarily from oil and gas companies in the world. REGION | Diplomacy Minister Binali Yildirim. number than the previous day. summit this week of the world’s During the call, the two sides A second Palestinian was killed main pan-Islamic body would send Iran, Europe try to discussed the Israeli aggression by Israeli fi re yesterday, the health a “strong message” after Israeli save nuclear deal against the Palestinian people and ministry in the strip announced, a forces killed dozens of Palestinians Europe tried yesterday to find a way the arrangements for the emer- day after 60 people were killed in along the Gaza border. to save the Iran nuclear deal without gency Islamic (Organisation of the worst violence in years as the “The extraordinary meeting on the United States, saying a quick Islamic Co-operation) summit to United States opened an embassy in Friday will give a very strong mes- solution was needed for it to survive be held to discuss the repercus- Jerusalem. sage to the world from Istanbul,” the reimposition of US sanctions sions of the Israeli crimes, and the Palestinians yesterday marked Erdogan said at a press conference in ordered by President Donald Trump. shifting of the US embassy to Je- the Nakba, or “catastrophe”, com- London with British Prime Minister British, French and German foreign rusalem. memorating the more than 700,000 Theresa May, adding that all mem- ministers, along with the EU’s top They also stressed the need to Palestinians who fl ed or were ex- bers of the Organisation of Islamic diplomat, discussed the next steps with co-ordinate eff orts between the pelled in the 1948 war surrounding Co-operation (OIC) were invited. their Iranian counterpart Mohamed two countries to stop the Israeli Israel’s creation. Palestinian President Mahmoud Javad Zarif, a week after Trump attacks and to protect the Palestin- Most of the 60 Gazans killed on Abbas withdrew his top representa- abandoned the agreement. Seeking ian people. They said that moving Monday were shot by Israeli snip- tive to the United States yesterday, to uphold what the European Union of the US embassy to Jerusalem ers, Gaza’s health ministry said. a day after the US moved its Israeli had considered its biggest diplomatic would threaten the stability of the The toll included a baby who died embassy to Jerusalem. achievement in decades, the 2015 region and international peace and from tear gas inhalation along with Husam Zomlot, the head of the accord rests on allowing business with security. eight children under the age of 16, Palestine Liberation Organisa- Iran in exchange for Tehran shutting The two sides also discussed bi- the ministry said. tion’s offi ce in Washington, would down any capacity to build an atomic lateral relations and issues of com- At least 2,400 others were return to the Palestinian territories bomb. Page 11 mon concern. wounded in the bloodiest day in the today. To Page 11

‘Take extra care to stay safe during Ramadan’

he Hamad Medical Corpo- operating machinery or using poten- ration’s (HMC) Hamad In- tially harmful household items such Tjury Prevention Programme as knives and gas cookers. (HIPP) has urged Qatar residents to “A key factor contributing to the take extra precautions to stay safe increase in motor vehicle crashes, during the holy month of Ramadan. and therefore subsequent injuries, “Ramadan is a special time of the comes when people drive without year during which Muslims are re- due care when trying to reach their minded to concentrate on their faith, destination to break their fast at practice self-control, and show Iftar,” said Dr Aisha Fathi Abeid, as- compassion to others,” explained Dr sistant director, HIPP. Hassan al-Thani, head of the Ha- “We ask that people allow extra mad Trauma Center. The HIPP is the time to reach their destination so community outreach arm of the Ha- that they are not rushing to get to the mad Trauma Center. Dr Aisha Fathi Abeid Dr Hassan al-Thani place where they will break their fast. “Ramadan presents its own As always, the single most important unique challenges as people adjust to injury at home may also be increased the year safely,” said Dr al-Thani. action you can take to protect your- a new routine, and these challenges during this time,” he added. Fasting can aff ect people’s ability self in a vehicle is to wear a seatbelt have the potential to increase the “We encourage everyone to take to concentrate, especially during the at all times. If you are not in the habit risk of injury. Traditionally, we have extra precautions during Ramadan, fi rst few days of Ramadan when they of regularly wearing your seatbelt, seen a rise in the number of trauma whether they are at home, at work, are adjusting to their new routine. It we encourage you to use Ramadan admissions during Ramadan due to or travelling around Qatar, so that we is therefore important that people as the time to begin this good habit,” motor vehicle crashes, but the risk of can all enjoy this important time of pay extra attention when driving, added Dr Abeid. Pages 5, 9, 10

Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, May 16, 2018 QATAR

PM briefs Advisory Council on Permanent Residence ID draft law OFFICIAL HE the Prime Minister and Minister of HE the Speaker of Advisory Council Ahmed PM visits Doha Metro project Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud attended Khalifa al-Thani attended the meeting of the the meeting. At the conclusion of the meeting, Advisory Council’s Internal and Foreign Aff airs chaired by its Rapporteur Abdulla bin Fahad Committee yesterday. al-Marri, the Committee thanked HE the Prime Minister bids The Prime Minister briefed the Committee on Minister and Minister of Interior for attending the government’s views on the draft law on the meeting. farewell to envoy permanent residence ID card and responded The Committee completed the study of of Costa Rica to the Committee’s queries concerning the the draft law and decided to submit its draft law. recommendations to the Advisory Council. HE the Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi met the outgoing ambassador of Costa Rica to Qatar Luis Alberto Guillen Downing yesterday. The Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs thanked the ambassador of Costa Rica for his eff orts in promoting the bilateral relations. Qatar-IGAD ties reviewed

HE the Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi yesterday met the Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) ambassador Mahboub Maalim, who is currently visiting the country. HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thai visiting Doha Metro The meeting discussed means Project yesterday. During the visit he was briefed on the progress of the project and witnessed a test run between of promoting partnership New Doha and Ras Bu Fontas stations. opportunities between Qatar and IGAD. MoI meeting discusses safety measures in malls and hotels

QNA co-operation and co-ordination to as maintaining a crime scene, how to Authorities Security Department Ali Doha achieve security in these vital fa- use safety and security equipment, Khajim al-Adhbi said the meeting cilities. alarm panel, the importance of pro- was part of discussing shared topics The meeting, held at the Estab- viding the civil defence offi cials with and issues that is of importance to he fourth co-ordination lishments and Authorities Security maps and familiarsation with the all entities, including the ministry, meeting with security man- Department at the ministry, was at- evacuation process. state institutions, hotels, halls or se- Tagers in hotels, security tended by representatives from dif- The attendees also discussed a curity guard companies. companies, commercial complexes ferent departments of the ministry number on topics related to safety He highlighted that the discus- and tourist sites, held on Monday and related entities. and security at vital establishments sions refl ected everyone’s keenness at the Ministry of Interior, dis- The meeting also saw drills for and ways to contact the relevant en- to promote security and safety in cussed topics related to maintain- safety procedures at malls and ho- tities at the Ministry of Interior to hotels and malls, stressing the im- ing the security and safety of es- tels involving security personnel in solve any challenges. portance of co-operation in order to tablishments and strengthening diff erent emergency situations such Director of Establishments and achieve the shared goals. Gulf Times Wednesday, May 16, 2018 5 QATAR

MEC has been conducting unannounced inspection campaigns targeting the central market, vegetables and fruit shops, clothing and textile outlets, gold shops across Qatar. MEC intensifi es inspection of all commercial activities

ith the holy month of Ram- 6 and continues until the end of the tion against the perpetrators in order adan beginning tomorrow, holy month of Ramadan. The MEC has to protect consumer rights. Wthe Ministry of Economy ensured the display of the list of con- The MEC has invited all traders and and Commerce (MEC) has said it is sumer goods in a prominent location consumers to contribute to the success carrying out round-the-clock inspec- and monitored the compliance with of its inspection campaigns through tion campaigns targeting all commer- the discounted price list. It has also compliance with the provisions of laws cial activities across Qatar to ensure conducted surprise inspection cam- and regulations, and to report any vio- the compliance of suppliers with their paigns targeting the central market as lations or irregularities through the call obligations under Law No 8 of 2008 on the subsidised sheep prices initiative centre: 16001, e-mail: [email protected]. consumer protection. went into eff ect on the occasion of qa, Twitter: MEC_QATAR, Instagram: The ministry traditionally intensi- Ramadan 1439 AH and will continue MEC_QATAR, and the ministry’s ap- fi es its inspection campaigns before, throughout the holy month. plication on iPhone and Android de- throughout and after the holy month of The campaign is aimed at ensur- vices: MEC_QATAR Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr to monitor and ing the availability of live sheep and The MEC has unveiled a series of regulate markets, crack down on price compliance with prices, weights and initiatives to mark the holy month of manipulation and uncover violations in requirements. Ramadan under the theme ‘#Aqal_ a bid to protect consumer rights. Through its campaigns, the MEC Min_Al_Wajeb’, Arabic for ‘#The_ Over the past two weeks, the MEC confi rms the completion of all prepa- Least_We_Can_Do’, in line with its has intensifi ed its unannounced in- rations across shopping malls and duties towards society. spection campaigns targeting the markets where food and consumer These initiatives are designed to central market, vegetables and fruit goods are available in large quantities. cover all aspects of the ministry’s shops, clothing and textile outlets The ministry stressed that it would activities in terms of organisation, and gold shops across Qatar, the min- not tolerate any violations of Consum- partnership and support and to raise istry has said in a statement. It has er Protection Law No 8 of 2008 and its awareness about various consumer also launched inspection campaigns regulations and would intensify its in- and commercial topics. targeting retail outlets and malls to spection campaigns to crack down on The ministry will also launch sev- monitor and follow up on its dis- violations. The MEC will refer those eral initiatives to regulate and bolster counted consumer goods initiative, who violate laws and ministerial de- markets and intensify its inspection which covers more than 500 products. crees to the competent authorities, campaigns throughout the holy month The initiative went into eff ect on May who will in turn take appropriate ac- of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr. Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, May 16, 2018 QATAR

Special Joint Forces graduation ceremony Qatar-Jordan military issues discussed

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Jordan Armed The Special Joint Forces has celebrated the graduation of the first batch of off icers’ founding course. The graduation ceremony was attended by Major General Hamad Forces Lt Gen Mahmoud Freihat has met with Commander of Abdullah al-Fetais al-Marri, Commander of the Joint Special Forces, and Brigadier General Huwaidi Sahn al-Hajri, the Kuwaiti Military Attache to Qatar. The first batch the Joint Special Forces Major General Hamad bin Abdullah consisted of 18 off icers from the Joint Special Forces, 15 off icers from the Amiri forces and 3 off icers from Kuwait. The Directorate of Moral Guidance of the Ministry of al-Fetais al-Marri on the sidelines of the 12th Special Defence said that the course is considered the first of its kind. The course lasted 12 weeks and trained off icers on airborne and naval operations. Captain Hamad Kaman Operation Forces Exhibition (SOFEX 2018) held in Jordan. al-Hajri, the commander of the course, said that the off icers were trained to work under the circumstances of war, internal security operations, guerrilla warfare, roadblocks During the meeting, they discussed issues of common interest and maritime and ground reconnaissance patrols. and means of enhancing them, QNA reported.

3,414 violations of expat Ministry launches National entry, exit law recorded Anti-Tobacco Campaign

QNA triates and their residence and their ability to absorb some companies. A total of QNA Qatar. Around 37% of the community.” cable Diseases at MOPH, Doha and other relevant laws. instructions very quickly 3,414 violations were re- Doha population over the age of The Ministry’s campaign Dr Sheikha al-Anoud Mo- Director of the Search and implement them ide- corded. 15 say they currently smoke starts by raising awareness hammed al-Thani said, “By and Follow-up Department ally, a matter which helped He pointed out that tobacco and we continue to of Law No 10 of 2016 on the informing the public of the one-month search at the Ministry of Interior in achieving its goals. the campaign was carried he Ministry of Public see more young people take control of tobacco and its tobacco control law and the campaign carried Brigadier Abdullah Jaber In a speech during the out professionally. Many Health has launched a up the habit. The National derivatives. impact of violating it, we Aout by the Ministry al-Labda said the inspec- closing ceremony of the violators of Law No 21 of Tnational campaign to Health Strategy 2018-2022 The law prohibits smok- better equip the population of the Interior in co-op- tion campaign has achieved campaign yesterday, al- 2015 regulating the entry curb the impacts of smoking sets a target of reducing the ing in closed public spaces, to understand the rules and eration with a number of great success and unprec- Labda said that the cam- and exit of expatriates and other tobacco use on its prevalence of smoking, and including a ban on smoking the importance of working ministries found 3,414 vio- edented achievement due paign resulted in detecting and their residence and residents. to achieve this, it is impor- in cars with minors. together toward a tobacco- lations of the law regulating to the effi ciency of those many violators and regis- other relevant laws were The three-phased, multi- tant that we redouble our These off ences can lead to free Qatar.” the entry and exit of expa- involved in the campaign tering violations against caught. year campaign aims to en- eff orts to combat tobacco a fi ne of up to QR3,000. Dr al-Thani also stressed courage residents to follow use. This includes enforce- Shops that allow indoor the importance of work- the tobacco control law, un- ment of our law on tobacco tobacco use or allow the sale ing together with partners derstand the risks associat- control which is not only of tobacco products to mi- at Hamad Medical Corpo- ed with tobacco use, to dis- designed to reduce tobacco nors can face steep fi nes and ration and Primary Health courage youth from starting consumption in Qatar but up to three months’ closure. Care Corporation to provide the habit and to direct peo- also to protect non-smokers The law also prohibits a unifi ed voice on the tobac- ple to useful resources to — such as children — who advertising or promotions co-control issue. help them quit. are exposed to harmful for tobacco products and She explained the cam- HE the Minister of Public second-hand smoke. This bans the use of electronic paign will also emphasise Health Dr Hanan Mohamed campaign highlights our cigarettes, sweika and other the harmful impacts of to- al-Kuwari said, “Smok- commitment to achieving chewing tobacco products. bacco use and highlight the ing is a signifi cant public that goal, and reducing the Manager, Health Promo- national resources available health issue in the State of impact tobacco has on our tion and Non-Communi- to support people to quit.

Qatar Charity opens 3 new collection points

he Qatar Charity (QC) donors in their residential rial and in-kind donations. enhance the abilities of its has opened three new areas to make their dona- Al-Busairi also pointed collectors to deal with do- Tcollection points at tions. out that the cash and in- nors and the masses. Al-Ahli Hospital, Mall of With the opening of these kind collection points of The collectors expressed Qatar and Mirqab Mall to new collection branches, different types, scattered happiness at participating facilitate easy access to do- the number of QC branches all over the country, are in these workshops, which nors as well as it organised has risen to 25, including 16 the mainstay of the QC increased their ability to a number of courses and for men and nine for wom- to bring in the resources work eff ectively and deal workshops to enhance the en, across diff erent parts of and revenues necessary to well with donors. abilities of its collectors to the country. implement its humanitar- Al-Busairi thanked all deal with benefactors and Director of the Collection ian projects, programmes employees of the collection the masses. Department at QC, Amer and activities across the department for their con- With the opening of these al-Busairi, said the opening globe. tinuous eff orts throughout three collection points, the of new collection points and Also, donations can be the year. number has risen up to 95 new local branches will help made easily through the Qa- Most of the executive collection points located in serve the community easily tar Charity website (https:// managements of Qatar malls, hospitals and other by simplifying the donation www.qcharity.org) and its Charity participated in the places. The charity also has procedures for citizens and app (qch.qa/q/app). delivery of the courses and 1,477 donation boxes, 162 residents, quickly complet- Al-Busairi noted that on workshops. The Zakat Sec- collectors, and 64 electronic ing their transactions and Fridays, QC’s collection tion held several courses on donation machines across receiving donations using points will remain open af- Zakat accounting for em- the country. the best means. ter Friday prayer until 10pm ployees of the Collection Earlier, the Qatar Charity Al-Busari added that the to receive donations from Department, aiming to raise had opened six new branch- new collection points will donors and respond to their the awareness among them es in Muaither, Al Khor, Al contribute to the expan- queries. regarding the importance of Wakrah and Abu Hamour sion of the QC’s capacity to On the advent of the holy Zakat in the development of to work more closely with easily collect donations and month of Ramadan, QC communities, and develop the Qatari community and receive alms, noting that the has organised a number of staff competency in the cal- facilitate an easy access to new branches receive mate- courses and workshops to culation of Zakat.

A newly started collection point of Qatar Charity. Gulf Times Wednesday, May 16, 2018 7 QATAR

Somali leader meets transport minister Qatar-Somalia defence ties reviewed Defence Ministry signs training pact with UK institute

QNA London

he Ministry of Defence has signed a training co-oper- Tation agreement with the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (RUSI) in London. The agreement was signed for the Qatari side by Major General Fahd bin Mubarak al-Khayarin, Commander of Ahmed Bin Mo- hamed Military College, and for the RUSI by Dr Jonathan Eyal, Associate Director, Strategic Re- search Partnerships. Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, currently on an off icial visit to Qatar, met HE the The agreement aims to pro- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah at vide educational lectures to train President of Somalia, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo met with HE the Minister of Transport and Com- the Somali president’s residence in Doha on Monday. During the meeting, they exchanged views on offi cers of the Qatar armed forces munications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti, at his residence in Doha yesterday. The Somali president the latest regional and international developments and discussed a number of topics of common to build analytical capabilities, as is currently on an off icial visit to Qatar. They reviewed bilateral relations in the fields of transport interest. They also reviewed bilateral relations between Qatar and Somalia and means of developing well as learn basic tools for op- and communications and means of further enhancing them, in addition to a number of matters of them. The meeting also discussed the areas in which the Qatar Armed Forces can co-operate with erational and strategic military common interest. the Somali army. planning.

QCB signs MoU Somali minister praises Amir’s vision for Qatar’s development on cybersecurity with UK body QNA tation between the leaderships velopment, modernisation and With regard to Somalia’s vi- faces, including terrorism rep- In response to a question on Doha of both countries. growth. sion of the Gulf crisis, the minis- resented by “Al Qaeda and the the role of Somalia as a member The minister highlighted the The minister said the Amir is ter said Somalia is neutral, sup- ISIS.” of the Arab League, he said that QNA willingness of the two countries’ a friend of the Somali leader- ports the Kuwaiti mediation and On his views on the so-called the member-states should in- Doha omalia’s Minister of Plan- leadership to improve relations ship and people, thanking him hopes for its success, calling for Republic of Somaliland and its tensify their eff orts to overcome ning, Investment and between Doha and Mogadishu in for his interest in Somalia and resolving the situation peace- decisions and agreements, the the problems they face. SEconomic Development all fi elds. his support and assistance to fully through dialogue and dip- minister said that “Somaliland” In response to a question on atar Central Bank (QCB) Gamal Mohamed Hassan said The minister said the talks its people. lomatic methods. is part of the motherland, and the internal aff airs in Somalia, has signed a memorandum the talks between His Highness were comprehensive and cov- The Somali people are aware The minister said the GCC that Mogadishu does not recog- the minister said that things are Qof understanding on co- the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- ered all bilateral, regional and of this and thank the Amir and states are brothers and they nise any agreements and steps improving and will be better. operation in cybersecurity with mad al-Thani and Somali Presi- international issues of common the Qatari people for their sup- should sit at the negotiating ta- without the consent of the So- He said that President Farma- the Defence and Security Organi- dent Mohamed Abdullahi Far- interest. port, assistance and for standing ble to resolve this crisis and any mali federal government, in that jo met the Somali community in sation (DSO) of the UK Depart- majo were constructive. This confi rms a sincere desire by them, the minister said. other diff erences. regard, the Somali parliament Qatar and heard from the mem- ment for International Trade. The talks were held in a broth- and the political will to move He stressed that Qatar’s sup- He called for the establishing rejects any agreements signed bers their praise of and gratitude The MoU was signed by HE the erly atmosphere which proves forward for the benefi t and in- port to Somalia is clear and con- peace through negotiation and with any party. to Qatar, the leadership of Qatar Governor of QCB Sheikh Abdul- the trust and depth of the rela- terests of both countries and tinuous in all fi elds adding that dialogue. Regarding the Somali govern- and the people for their assist- lah bin Saoud al-Thani and the tions between Qatar and Soma- peoples, he added. the future is promising for rela- The Somali Minister of Plan- ment’s stance on the subject of ance, support and brotherly re- UK ambassador to Qatar Ajay lia, he said. In addition, the minister tions between the two countries. ning, Investment and Eco- the relocating the US embassy in lations. Sharma. Speaking to Qatar News Agen- praised the vision of His High- The minister said Somalia is nomic Development Gamal Jerusalem, the minister said that The minister stressed that the The MoU, which was signed at cy (QNA), the minister said the ness the Amir, stating that under satisfi ed with Qatar’s support Mohamed Hassan stressed the his country’s stance is the simi- issue of sovereignty and territo- the headquarters of Qatar Cen- Somali president’s visit to Qatar his leadership Qatar is moving and with the Amir’s interest in need to spare the region from lar to that of the Arab League and rial integrity and non-interfer- tral Bank yesterday, aims at en- is a reaffi rmation of the continu- in the right direction, stead- the country, its development and any conflicts, and focus in- the Organisation of Islamic Co- ence in the aff airs of others is a hancing the co-operation in the ous communication and consul- ily and confi dently towards de- the prosperity of its people. stead on the challenges the area operation. priority of Somali politics. fi eld of cybersecurity. Gulf Times 8 Wednesday, May 16, 2018 QATAR HMC felicitates over 8,800 nurses and midwives on International Nurses Day

amad Medical Corp (HMC) has recognised Hmore than 8,800 nurses and midwives who work across the healthcare provider’s hospitals, clinics, and homecare service on International Nurses Day. Dr Nicola Ryley, chief nurs- ing offi cer at HMC, said the HMC nursing staff are among the most trusted members of the patient care team at an event held in recog- nition of International Nurses Day celebrated annually on May 12. Dr Ryley said nurses support their patients through some of the most signifi cant moments in their lives, including birth, death, diag- nosis, treatment, and recovery. She added that nurses and mid- wives are highly trained clinicians, with over 70% of HMC’s nurses and midwives being university graduates. Many of the nursing and mid- wifery leaders working across HMC also hold advanced qualifi - cations, such as a Master of Sci- ence in Nursing. “Without skilled and dedicated nurses, the delivery of safe, eff ec- Nurses and midwives working across HMC attended events held in recognition of International Nurses Day. tive, and compassionate care at HMC would not be a reality. Nurs- ing the contributions made by importance of developing and ence to take on leading roles in the The partnership saw the estab- es are the most visible and trusted nurses caring for patients across supporting Qatar’s future health- organisation. lishment of Nursing Now Qatar, members of our patient care team HMC’s network of hospitals. I am care leaders. In support of the ongoing ef- a campaign that aims to improve and International Nurses Day is a immensely proud of every one of Nearly half of all the senior forts to both raise the standards healthcare globally by raising great opportunity for our multi- the nurses and midwives who have nursing and midwifery leader- of nursing and midwifery care the profi le and status of nurses disciplinary care teams to come come together to commemorate ship positions at HMC are cur- at HMC and the public profi le of worldwide and supporting nurses together and celebrate the good this important day, which recog- rently held by Qatari nationals and nursing, the healthcare provider to lead, learn, and build a global work that we do,” said Dr Ryley. nises both the history and the fu- HMC’s leadership team is com- recently announced a partnership movement. “It has been truly wonderful to ture of our profession,” she added. mitted to helping more nationals with the World Innovation Sum- The Qatar chapter is the fi rst in see so many of our staff celebrat- Dr Ryley also spoke about the develop the right skills and experi- mit for Health. the region.

Aston Martin model recalled Ashghal completes Doha Corniche development he Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC), in collabora- Ttion with Horizon Automobiles, he Public Works Authority Al-Jufairi, CMC member from dealer of Aston Martin vehicles in Qa- (Ashghal) has announced constituency No 8, noted: “What tar, has announced the recall of Aston Tthe completion of the distinguishes this Corniche is that Martin Vanquish models of 2013-2014, Doha Corniche Development it will serve all visitors to Doha city, DB9 models of 2006-2015 and DBS Project implemented along a dis- especially after the completion of models of 2008-2010 over wrong cable tance of 9km from the Dafna area this development project.” installation under the seats. to the Ras Abu Abboud bridge. Noora al-Mansouri from the In a statement, the ministry has The opening was held yes- Building Design Department at said the recall campaign comes within terday in the presence of Cen- Ashghal said the design for the the framework of its ongoing eff orts tral Municipal Council (CMC) development project was select- to protect consumers and ensure that members Jassem Abdulla al- ed and approved from among car dealers follow up on vehicle defects Malki and Shaikha al-Jufairi, Off icials at the opening of the renovated area of the Doha Corniche multiple designs presented by and repairs. Doha Municipality Technical Development Project. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam a team of new engineers, and The MEC will co-ordinate with the Aff airs Department director Doha Corniche renovation dealer to follow up on maintenance and Abdulla Ibrahim al-Sada and a project was completed within a repair works and communicate with number of Ashghal staff mem- period of seven months. customers to ensure that the necessary bers and project engineers. Al-Mansouri added that 24 repairs are carried out. The authority started imple- public toilets were completely The MEC has urged all customers to menting the project in October refurbished along the Doha report any violations to its Consum- 2017 within an integrated plan Corniche, along with the instal- er Protection and Anti-Commercial to develop Corniche areas in lation of 10 facilities between Fraud Department through the call Doha, Al Khor, Shamal city and Hotel Park (near Sheraton Doha) centre: 16001, email: [email protected]. Al Wakrah beach, as part of its and Al Shuyoukh Port opposite qa, Twitter: @MEC_Qatar, Instagram: corporate social responsibility, Souq Waqif, and these facili- MEC_Qatar, and the ministry’s mobile Ashghal said in a statement. ties have been connected with app for Android and iOS: MEC_Qatar The Doha Corniche Develop- surface water networks and ment Project included extended electricity lines in co-operation expansion and maintenance works with other service providers. High-level Omani such as fl ooring, parking slots and In future, facilities such as re- toilets. All pedestrian walkways freshment stalls and cafeterias team visits CRA between the parking lots and the are expected to be provided there. main walkway of Doha Corniche The 2006 Asian Games Oryx high-level delegation from have also been renovated using a mascot will also be renovated. Oman’s Telecommunications new interlock with a variety of de- Ashghal considers the Doha ARegulatory Authority (TRA) re- signs, shapes and colours. Corniche development as one cently visited the headquarters of the “This is in addition to replac- of the most important projects Communications Regulatory Authority ing the fl oor of the public yard considering the importance of (CRA). The delegation was headed by on the Corniche with new in- the areas as a tourist attraction. Yousuf bin Abdullah al-Balushi, TRA terlocks having seven squares of The Doha Corniche serves as vice-president for Spectrum Aff airs. diff erent sizes,” Ashghal said. an open space for people with a During a two-day meeting, both The project also included the distinctive waterfront park that regulatory bodies discussed future co- renovation of all parking slots on stretches around the Doha bay operation and exchanged ideas and ex- the Doha Corniche by replacing ghal’s eff orts to implement the Al-Malki, who represents over an area of approximately periences. the old interlocks with a more development and maintenance CMC constituency No 1, said 120,000sq m. The CRA also presented latest regu- solid asphalt layer, enabling ease of Doha Corniche, which is one Ashghal has opened Corniche The traditional wooden latory frameworks related to the sector, of maintenance in the future. of the premier tourist destina- areas in Wakrah, Shamal, Khor dhows in the clear waters refl ect specifi cally around radio spectrum. Al-Sada complimented Ash- tions in Qatar. and Doha as gifts to residents. the charming history of the city.

QMIC, Sagemcom partner to deliver Internet of Things solutions

atar Mobility Innova- QMIC and Sagemcom will work fi cient multi-usage IoT devices. tions Centre (QMIC) has hand-in-hand through utilising Dr Abu-Dayya said: “Establish- Qsigned a memorandum their expertise in the fi eld of IoT. ing partnerships with key global of understanding with Interna- Labeeb IoT supported by entities like Sagemcom is a criti- tional French-based technology Sagemcom’s leading technology cal step towards achieving our goal provider Sagemcom in an eff ort will establish an unprecedented at global scale. As the fi rst pure- to “provide the best services and advancement towards reaching play IoT technology enterprise in solutions in the fi eld of Internet of and establishing global platforms the Mena region, we look forward Things (IoT). and solutions. to combining our knowledge and The MoU sets forth an elabora- Both entities will play their part leading digital platforms with tive framework of co-operation in enhancing and assisting the de- Sagemcom’s innovative products between the two entities to deliver velopment of the IoT environment to deliver end-to-end IoT solu- comprehensive IoT solutions on by supporting and engaging with tions that can address pressing a global scale, take advantage of IoT-focussed bodies, innovation challenges and problems in diff er- QMIC’s comprehensive Labeeb IoT hubs and entrepreneurs’ com- Eric Rieul Dr Adnan Abu-Dayya ent market domains.” platform across multiple domains, munities as well as others who are “This promising collaboration and utilise Sagemcom extensive interested in this rapidly growing will be the utilisation of QMIC’s and well-recognised international reinforces Sagemcom’s vision and Low Power Wide Area Network fi eld. comprehensive Labeeb IoT plat- leader in the industrial Smart City, strategy of the LPWAN IoT for ad- (LPWAN) IoT portfolio of Lo- Through a combination of ef- form and other IoT vertical solu- and Smart Nation market, thanks dressing Mena region, enabling RaWAN solutions, branded under forts that will leverage the techni- tions across various domains and to its combination of Smart Me- fast, fl exible and cost effi cient SICONIA, such as multi-sensors cal strength and business outreach sector like transportation, asset tering, Smart Infrastructure solu- deployments on many diff erent devices, Gateways, network server, of both parties, the technologies management, tracking, smart cit- tions, and its full end-to-end IoT industrial market verticals. Tight- and Geolocation solver. and solutions produced as a result ies, and others. LPWAN products portfolio, rang- ening partnership with such well The MoU was signed by Dr Ad- of this partnership will be deliv- This comes hand-in-hand with ing from infrastructure solutions, recognised institution as QMIC is nan Abu-Dayya, executive direc- ered globally with a focus on the the benefi ts and additional value such as Carrier-Grade Gateways part of our strategy for strength- tor of QMIC, and Eric Rieul, CEO Mena and Eastern European re- provided by Sagemcom’s wide enabled for Geolocation, LoRa ening our footprint in Middle of Sagemcom Energy & Telecom gions. array of Carrier Class IoT solu- Network Server, Geolocation Solv- East, by listening and adapting to SAS. A key aspect of this agreement tions. Sagemcom is an innovative er, in addition to small and cost ef- the local needs.” said Rieul. Gulf Times Wednesday, May 16, 2018 9 QATAR Doha Festival City lines up Ooredoo unveils new family events for Ramadan commercial oha Festival City, cel- event from 9pm to 11pm, South ebrating its second Ram- Food Court, free of charge. oredoo yesterday Dadan with the communi- Story telling: June 1 and 2, launched a special ty this year, has announced that registration at 8.30pm, event ORamadan campaign it has planned over six special from 9pm to 11pm, for children with a new commercial in-mall family events, happen- aged 4 to 12 years, Centre Court, that celebrates the tradi- ing throughout the holy month. ground fl oor, free of charge. tions of the holy month These include Garangao, live Henna painting: For the and the spirit of together- Gulf and North Africa, to cooking stations, craft work- last couple of days of Ramadan, ness that people now en- explore behavioural patterns shops and traditional games. and in celebration of Eid al-Fitr, joy as part of their daily during the holy month. The The destination is also taking there will be professional henna digital lifestyles. results of this fi rst-of-its- the initiative to distribute 2,000 artists designing beautiful henna The commercial shows kind survey will be used Iftar boxes to taxi drivers on May art on guests. Being the national how people can enjoy the to map online activity and 23 with the aim of helping those bird and symbol of culture in Internet in a way that is content preferences during who are fasting break their fast the Middle East, guests will also personal and unique to each Ramadan, which will enable as they are still working during have the chance to have their one of them. It also high- Ooredoo to further refi ne its the Maghrib prayer, Doha Festi- photo taken with a Falcon at lights how technology can portfolio of digital options val City said in a statement. Doha Festival City. enrich people’s digital lives, created especially for the Additionally, a beautiful From June 7 to 9, regis- allowing them to live new holy month. display of the 99 names of Al- tration at 8.30pm, event from precious moments and pro- “Technology can help us lah will be showcased on a wall 9pm to midnight, for visitors viding new opportunities to develop and expand our re- within the mall starting on the over 3 years old, Ramadan Majlis bring families and friends lationships and refl ect on fi rst day of Ramadan. An inter- around the mall, free of charge closer together during this the important things in our active photo booth will also be Traditional games: through- special time of year. daily lives. This campaign is created with traditional dresses out the month of Ramadan, at Ooredoo Group CEO all about showing how, with for shoppers to come and click Ramadan mall trading hours, Sheikh Saud bin Nasser Ooredoo’s support, people pictures during the full month taking place around the mall. al-Thani said, “We are in- can adapt and evolve their of Ramadan. Interactive photo booth with vesting heavily in building digital lifestyles to connect May Marzooq, senior mar- traditional dresses: June 7 to 14, the best possible networks with families, friends and keting manager, Doha Festival at Ramadan mall trading hours, across our markets, which with the spiritual side of Ra- City Mall, said, “With the holy Ramadan Majlis located opposite enables our customers madan,” he added. month of Ramadan upon us, Monoprix, free of charge. around the world to access Ooredoo’s new Ramadan Doha Festival City is excited to The foreground of Doha Festival City is being decorated for Ramadan. Permanent wall – 99 Names and enjoy the best of the In- commercial was designed to celebrate with the community of Allah display: all month of Ra- ternet, share their best #Ra- demonstrate how people in by bringing a range of diff erent tertainment and surprises each – ground fl oor taxi pick-up and Garangao celebration - May madan, at Ramadan mall trading madanMoments, and use diff erent countries enjoy the family activities, workshops and weekend to help its visitors cel- drop-off . 25, registration at 8.30pm, event hours, the wall opposite Pottery online technology for good Internet and illustrate the events as part of the joyous oc- ebrate Ramadan”, the statement The joy of craft making: May from 9pm to 11pm, for children Barn store. during the holy month.” common themes that unite casion. Shoppers will be able to adds. These are as follows: 24 to 26, registration timing - aged 4 to 12 years, registration at The Ramadan trading hours As part of its campaign, diff erent communities. The visit the mall, socialise together CSR activation: distribution 8.30pm, event timing - 9pm to Customer Service desk, free of are as follows: fi rst two weeks - Ooredoo has also launched new commercial can be and enjoy entertaining events in of 2,000 Iftar boxes for taxi driv- midnight, for children aged 4 to charge. 10am to 3pm and 7.30pm to mid- an online multinational watched on all Ooredoo so- celebration together.” ers, May 23, starting from Iftar 12 years, Centre Court, ground Live cooking stations: May night daily; second two weeks - survey, covering fi ve of the cial media channels from the The mall has promised “en- timing, West Court 1 Entrance fl oor, free of charge. 29 to 31, registration at 8.30pm, 10am to 1am daily. company’s markets in the fi rst day of Ramadan.

Ramadan timing for Medical Commission QF to host a slew of activities The Ministry of Public Health yesterday announced that the Medical atar Foundation (QF) has an- the wider community to Education madan, providing 1,000 meals to Commission will be open for the public, nounced that it is set to host City, where each day they can ex- members of the wider community. during Ramadan, from 9am to 6pm. Qa range of activities for the pect new and exciting activities as In the spirit of good faith, members Birth registration off ices will wider community during the holy they celebrate this special period. of the public are encouraged to vol- receive applications for newborns month of Ramadan at various loca- “Ramadan is a time for refl ec- unteer their time to pack and dis- registration and birth certificates tions throughout Education City. tion, giving, and connecting with tribute the meals. Those interested in two periods - the first period Families and children of all ages the community. We invite families in volunteering should e-mail their extends from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm at and nationalities are invited to take from across Qatar to join in the fes- name, contact details, and a suit- Al Khor Hospital, Al Wakra Hospital, part, and can look forward to a vari- tivities, volunteer their time for the able day and time they are able to Cuban Hospital in Dukhan, Doha ety of cultural, religious, and health greater good, and learn more about volunteer to communitydevelop- Clinic Hospital, Al Ahli Hospital, Al and well-being activities themed the teachings of Islam.” [email protected] Emadi Hospital and Sidra Medical, around Islam and the Holy Qur’an. As part of the annual event, Throughout the month, QF will while the second is between 2pm Machaille Hassan al-Naimi, Qur’anic Botanic Garden will host also host a range of sporting events, to 5pm at Al Ahli Hospital, Sidra president of Community Develop- the AlUtrujah Holy Qur’an contest including adult swimming classes, Medical and Doha Clinic Hospital. ment at QF, said: “At Qatar Foun- for school students below the age of artistic gymnastics, mixed martial Working hours at Justice dation, we’re delighted to host a 12. The contest, held in collabora- arts for children, a women’s volley- Ministry: The Ministry of Justice diverse range of events and activi- tion with Education City Mosque, ball tournament, and a men’s bad- said that the working hours of ties for Ramadan. The month-long aims to encourage primary school minton competition. the off ices in the Public Service programme has been specially de- students to study the Holy Qur’an. QF will celebrate Garangao, a Complexes will be from 9am to 5pm. signed to be enjoyed by all, and will The contest also highlights the popular children’s festival tradi- The main off ice and public enable us to foster greater social en- Qur’anic verses and stories that tionally held across the Arabian reception centre at the Doha gagement as part of our year-round feature botanical terms. Gulf region mid-way through Ra- Convention and Exhibition Centre community development eff orts. Education City Mosque will hold madan, on June 1 at the Al Shaqab will open from 9am to 2pm. “We look forward to welcoming an Iftar programme throughout Ra- Indoor Arena.

Kahramaa facilities Avoid fried foods during ready for Ramadan fasting, says PHCC

QNA of electricity supply without in- he Primary Health Care Cor- can help the body stay hydrated for Doha terruption during peak times. This poration (PHCC) has urged longer. Caff einated products have is especially in some important Tthose observing the fast dur- diuretic benefi ts and can cause the installations in the state, such as ing Ramadan to pay close attention body to lose fl uids, salts and other atar General Electric- mosques in order to meet any ex- to the type and quantity of food con- important minerals to our body need ity and Water Corpora- pected increase of loads due to the sumed during the holy month. during Ramadan. Qtion (Kahramaa) is ready increasing demand for electricity. “A bad diet in Ramadan can result Having a sugary dessert after an for the holy month of Ramadan as It also stressed the readiness in indigestion, upset stomach, heart- Iftar can be a delicious way to end the its transmission and distribution of all technical teams round-the- burn, bloating, belching, nausea, low fast but be mindful of the amount, as networks of electricity and water, clock to intervene quickly to ad- energy levels and unwanted weight while these provide an energy boost, water pumping stations and fi lling dress faults in a record time to re- gain. Overeating when breaking fast they are high in calories and poor tanks stand ready to ensure conti- duce service interruption quickly can also cause breathing diffi culties,” in nutritional value and the energy nuity of service, meet customers’ and professionally. Kahramaa’s PHCC has said in a statement. boost is short-lived. demand and achieve Kahramaa water network services have com- PHCC has recommended that cer- Moudi Hajri, head of dietetics mission in securing services in pleted all regular maintenance of tain types of foods be avoided during service at PHCC, said: “The holy a sustainable and high-quality water pumping stations and tanks, Ramadan. month of Ramadan should not be manner. as well as water transmission and These include fried foods, such as an excuse to indulge in food. It is In a statement, Kahramaa said distribution networks, as well as as pakora and samosa, which can be key for all of us to observe our eating that its electricity network de- maintaining the country’s strate- easy to cook but they also contain a habits during this month and ensure partment completed all the regu- gic stock at its highest level before high percentage of the daily sodium that healthy eating and responsible lar maintenance work of its main the beginning of the summer. and carbohydrates required by the lifestyle is a part of the ritual. Every- and secondary transmission sta- The corporation pointed out human body. Eating them on a daily thing should be enjoyed in modera- tions and secondary feeding sta- that it will receive customers at its basis may amplify the impact of fa- tion, ensure that you and your fam- tions and control centers, through service centres during Ramadan tigue caused by fasting in Ramadan. ily break your fast with a nutritious, several maintenance workshops to from 9.30am to 1.30pm, Sunday to In addition, reducing the intake of healthy meal and avoid consuming secure and enhance the continuity Thursday. coff ee and other caff einated products large quantities of food quickly.”

QIB announces working hours at branches atar Islamic Bank (QIB) has Al Sadd, Al Wakrah and Al Khor ate from Saturday until Thursday, “easily accessible and convenient announced that 16 of its branches and the C-Ring Road from 10.30am to 2.30pm and from banking experience throughout the Qbranches will have extend- Service Centre will open during 9pm to 11.30pm, and on Friday from holy month of Ramadan”, the state- ed working hours during the holy the evening shift from Sunday until 9pm to 11.30pm. These include ment notes. In addition, the bank’s month of Ramadan. Wednesday, from 9pm to 11.30pm, QIB branches at Dar Al Salam Mall, services are available 24/7 through Regular QIB branches will open and on Saturday from 9am to Doha Festival City, Al Gharafa (Q- QIB’s Internet and QIB Mobile App, from Sunday until Thursday, from 12noon. Mall), City Center, Mall of Qatar, the QIB Call Centre (44448444), 9am to 2pm, the bank has said in a The Hamad International Airport The Gate Mall, Tawar Mall and The Interactive Teller Machines (Live statement. branch will remain open non-stop, Pearl-Qatar (Medina Centrale). Teller) and more than 170 ATMs In addition, the Al Fanar, Salwa round the clock to serve customers. The extended working hours will and Cash Deposit machines spread Road, Al Rayyan, Airport Road, QIB mall branches will oper- provide QIB customers with an across the country. Gulf Times 10 Wednesday, May 16, 2018 QATAR

Malabar UK Alumni award for Qatari Gold & he British Council has an- tion, Maryam won fi rst place in take bold steps to achieve their alumnus of a UK university, and Diamonds nounced the names of 21 the professional category with dreams, said Maryam, alumna of how their UK educational expe- Tregional winners of the her start-up Q-Talent, a tal- the School of Oriental and Afri- rience has changed their life and Study UK Alumni Awards. ent agency that promotes local can Studies and the University of made an impact on them. to hold CSR All are alumni of UK univer- talent in the creative industry. Essex. Now in its fourth year, the sities, representing 17 countries The idea came to her while she British ambassador to Qa- Alumni Awards 2018 received and 18 UK higher education in- was doing her Masters in Devel- tar Ajay Sharma said, “I would more than 1,700 applications initiatives stitutions. They have been rec- opment Studies, combining her like to congratulate Maryam on from international UK alumni ognised for their outstanding interest in human development winning this Alumni award, and in a record 123 countries, repre- achievements as business pro- and the creative industries to am delighted that the Profes- senting more than 140 UK higher alabar Gold & Dia- fessionals, entrepreneurs and make a business. Maryam is also sional Achievement award for education institutions across the monds has announced community leaders, in seven re- the founder of two youth ini- the whole Mena region went to UK. Following several rounds of Mthat, as in previous gions covering the globe. tiatives that support young Qa- someone from Qatar. This is a judging panels, regional award years, it will carry out CSR ac- The Professional Achieve- taris, and the author of several great example of the partnership winners were selected for the tivities in the GCC and Far East ment Award in Middle East and children’s books. between our two countries in the three award categories: Profes- region this Ramadan. North Africa (Mena) was award- Studying in the UK was not fi eld of education, and of the im- sional Achievement, Entrepre- The leading jeweller has ed to Maryam al-Subaiey from only useful in terms of having portance we attach to the educa- neurial and Social Impact. planned month-long CSR ac- Qatar. great academic qualifi cations, tion of tomorrow’s leaders.” The British Council in Qatar tivities in association with like- Following her masters course but it also showed me a diff erent The 21 award winners were has an established network for minded organisations such as in the UK, Maryam was the way of life and empowered me to announced on Study UK so- Qatar-UK Alumni with the aim KMCC, Youth Forum, Commu- only woman on the manage- be true to myself. My personal cial media channels and were of building long-lasting con- nity Development Authority, etc ment team for new channel QTV, journey of self-empowerment celebrated for 21 days, each nections and development op- to benefi t the needy. as well as the youngest. In the has also inspired many young day featuring a new story of an portunities between the two More than 70,000 special Iftar 2014 Enterprise Qatar competi- girls in Qatar who are afraid to outstanding and inspirational countries. Maryam al-Subaiey meals/kits will be distributed during this period, the company has said in a statement. “Since its inception in 1993, Malabar Group has been actively involved in CSR activities with the aim of creating a diff erence Vodafone to inspire in the community in and around their area of operations. The im- portance of CSR activities for Malabar Group has grown over the decades and the group sets movement to say aside 5% of its net profi t for the benefi t of the needy in the re- spective markets it operates in,” the statement explained. The group undertakes social ‘shukran’ in Ramadan welfare activities all year long, focusing on fi ve priority ar- eas - the medical sector, educa- odafone Qatar has said themselves constantly con- they will receive their 25MB tion, environment, housing and it will use the power sumed with their daily lives gift right away. Customers women’s empowerment. Vof media to inspire a that they end up missing the can gift the free data to one movement to say ‘shukran’, little things. We want to use single recipient or multiple Karwa off icial receiving the ‘Excellent Service Station Award’. meaning ‘thank you’ in Ara- this holy month to encourage recipients. Recharges below bic, to spread positivity everyone to start taking the QR20 will receive 25MB of throughout the holy month time to refl ect and show their data to gift. of Ramadan and encourage appreciation for these little All Postpaid customers will Working the country to show their ap- blessings in life. receive 100MB of data every preciation for everything and “This is why ‘shukran’ is day to gift friends or family. Mowasalat wins two everyone in their lives, most at the heart of our campaign Simply access the Shukran tab hours importantly the little things this Ramadan as we believe in the My Vodafone App and that we tend to miss. it’s a small gesture that can go enter the recipient’s number The company launched a long way. We hope people and they will receive their at MEC a campaign to help do that, will carry on the message and 100MB gift right away. They awards in China which will run across all its spread the positivity.” can also send the free data by he Ministry of Economy channels, advertising, off ers, To say “shukran” to their dialling *786* number of the and Commerce (MEC) has owasalat (Karwa) has on to accomplish the goals and a skilled workforce and engi- and corporate social respon- loyal customers and to spread recipient #. Tannounced working hours bagged two awards objectives of the Ministry of neers who have taken training sibility activities throughout the spirit of unity and ap- In addition, Vodafone Qa- at its offi ces during the holy Mat the sixth Overseas Transport and Communications from original equipment manu- the holy month. preciation, Vodafone Qatar is tar is off ering its custom- month of Ramadan. Business Conference hosted by and Qatar National Vision 2030.” facturer (OEM) contractors such Vodafone Qatar supports giving all their customers the ers a special ‘Call to Prayer The main building in Lusail Chinese bus manufacturer Higer Mowasalat received the as Higer, the major supplier for local talent and worked opportunity to gift up to 100 and Supplication’ (Azan & City will remain open from 9am Bus Company in Suzhou city. awards for the important role it the bus fl eet. with a fully-Qatari pro- MB of free data every day and Duaa) ring-back tone for to 2pm during this period, the A delegation from Mowasalat played in its strategic collabo- The strategic collaboration duction house to create with every recharge. just QR7 per month. To avail MEC has said in a notice on so- attended the conference, where ration with Chinese Higer Bus between the two companies its TV commercial, which With every recharge of this off er, simply send SMS cial media. the company received two hon- Company for more than 12 years. culminated in the agreement to was directed by Mohamed QR20 and above, prepaid cus- “SHUKRAN” to 195. The ministry’s offi ces in the ours - ‘Outstanding Contri- It included the rise of Higer and establish Karwa Motors plant al-Ibrahim, a well-known tomers automatically receive The company will also have Government Services Com- bution Award’ and ‘Excellent the capability of Mowasalat (a subsidiary of Mowasalat - Qatari director. 100MB (25MB x 4) of data to a lot of engaging activities plexes will function from 9am Service Station Award’. (Karwa) to provide effi cient Karwa and Oman Investment Mohamed al-Yami, Exter- gift to up to four friends and and competitions on its social to 1pm in the morning shift and Khalid Kafoud, Mowasalat, and excellent after-sales serv- Fund) in a joint venture to es- nal Aff airs director at Voda- family. Simply dial *786* media channels throughout from 1pm to 5pm in the evening government relations manager ices, which satisfi ed its custom- tablish a bus assembly plant in fone Qatar, said: “People fi nd number of the recipient # and the month of Ramadan. shift. at Karwa, received the awards. ers at all levels, according to a Duqm, Oman. Kafoud highlighted the statement. Karwa Motors is due to start growth of operations and fl eet In addition, Mowasalat has production by the end of 2019, strength of Mowasalat over the established bus maintenance which will cater to the needs of years “as the company moves and services facilities, and hired the two countries and the region. Doha Bank launches new communication platform oha Bank has released gle platform in both in English Retail Banking offi cer at Doha personalised information and its newest communica- and Arabic, off ering “enhanced Bank, said: “We are pleased to solutions. Dtion platform, which customer experience and con- launch our new fully-integrat- “The new platform will not combines WhatsApp, Facebook venience”, the bank has said in a ed communication platform as only enable us to get closer to Messenger and the HelloDoha statement. part of our eff orts to improve our customers but also will help e-mail service to “deliver bet- The integrated platform also customer experience and sat- us to reinforce our position as ter and faster solutions to the enables agents and supervisors isfaction. Since the launch of their trusted banking partner. bank’s customers”. to track and monitor customer our WhatsApp chat service It makes us proud that we are With the introduction of the inquiries individually to im- in October 2017, we have seen the fi rst banking institution in new platform, Doha Bank’s prove the operational effi ciency more than 250% increase in Qatar to launch this convenient digital customer agents will of Doha Bank’s customer cen- customer interaction and this service and we are confi dent be able to address queries tre unit, thereby achieving in- has inspired us to seek innova- that this tool will resonate with and complaints received from creased customer satisfaction. tive ways to assist our loyal cus- our customers, particularly The ‘Outstanding Contribution Award’ being presented to Mowasalat. multiple channels via a sin- Braik al-Marri, acting chief tomers by delivering faster and tech-savvy millennials.” LG introduces SK9Y 5.1.2Ch sound bar Traffi c diversion on F-Ring

G has launched in Qatar music apps like Pandora and the SK9Y 500W sound Google Play Music, enabling Road to permanent route Lbar, the follow-up model wireless audio from a compat- to last year’s “very success- ible phone or tablet, iPhone, he Public Works Authority ful” SJ9 sound bar, it has been iPad, Mac or Windows laptop (Ashghal) has announced that announced. or Chromebook. “Simply open Ta traffi c change on F-Ring Road The new LG SK9Y sound bar a Cast-enabled app and touch will take place to enable construction is available at LG Brand shops, the Cast button to get started. of an interchange linking F-Ring Road Jumbo Electronics showrooms, One can now play music, skip with G-Ring Road. Spark Lifestyle Electronics and tracks, and adjust the volume The detour, held in co-ordination leading hypermarkets. on the sound bar with their with the General Directorate of Traffi c, With the new SK9Y 5.1.2Ch voice through Google Assist- starts tomorrow. sound bar, “one can now ex- ant built in on another device – Traffi c will be realigned to the per- perience cinematic sounds like the LG ThinQ speaker,” the manent lanes of F-Ring Road for users at home with Dolby Atmos statement explains. travelling from Hamad International where the action can move 4K resolution is the new vid- Airport towards Mesaimeer. The new anywhere in three-dimen- The new LG SK9Y sound bar. eo quality standard for TVs, and route comprises four lanes, replacing sional space, including above to off er the full 4K home theatre the three-lane carriageway for a short the listener for the ultimate in like spaceships fl ying above. more accurate, more enjoyable experience from streaming, disc distance of approximately 1,850m (as surround audio”, a statement One can now adjust this over- music listening. This certifi ed and beyond, sound bars need to illustrated on the attached map). notes. head volume specifi cally to suit Hi-Resolution Audio sound bar be able to input and output the In a statement, Ashghal has said The SK9Y lets users cus- personal preference using the can play back lossless stereo 4K signal, with no loss of image the speed limit is 80km/h instead of tomise dimensional surround handy remote control. audio at up to 24-bit/192kHz quality. The SK9Y lets the input 100km/h. sound however one may like Digital music for audiophiles quality. video pass through it without The authority has requested all road it. Dolby Atmos audio includes has gotten better with higher The SK9Y has Google any loss of image quality to de- users to abide by the new speed limit overhead audio channels for sampling rates and bit depth, Chromecast built-in that liver impeccable 4K resolution and follow the signage installed for even more thrilling eff ects, both of which can contribute to works seamlessly with popular video quality. their safety. Gulf Times Wednesday, May 16, 2018 11 REGION/ARAB WORLD Troops kill Palestinians near Turkey orders Israel envoy out, border as Gaza buries dead Erdogan slams

Reuters Gaza-Israel Border ‘apartheid state’ alestinians buried the dead yesterday from the bloodi- AFP Ankara has reacted with Pest day in Gaza in years, Istanbul fury to the killings, which after Israeli forces killed 60 Pal- came on the same day as the estinians near the Gaza-Israel US formally moved its embas- border during demonstrations urkey yesterday ordered sy in Israel to Jerusalem from against the opening of the US em- the Israeli ambassador Tel Aviv. bassy in Jerusalem. Tto leave and President Erdogan, currently on a visit Israeli forces shot dead at least Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Is- to Britain, had on Monday two more Palestinians yesterday, rael was an “apartheid state” stepped up his rhetoric, ac- although protests were quieter as the killing of dozens of Pal- cusing Israel of “state terror” than the previous day. estinians threatened a 2016 and “genocide” over the kill- It appeared that many protest- reconciliation deal. ings. ers had gone to mourning tents Ambassador Eitan Naeh Erdogan further sharpened rather than back to the scene of was summoned to the Turk- his language, saying “Netan- Monday’s bloodshed. ish foreign ministry and told yahu is the PM of an apart- Mourners marched through the to “return to his country for a heid state that has occupied strip, waving Palestinian fl ags and period of time”, said a foreign a defenceless people’s lands calling for revenge. ministry offi cial, who asked for 60+ yrs in violation of UN “With souls and blood we re- not to be named. resolutions.” deem you martyrs,” they shouted. In a growing crisis over “He has the blood of Pales- Hundreds marched in the fu- Monday’s killing of 60 Pales- tinians on his hands and can’t neral of eight-month-old Leila tinians by Israeli forces on the cover up crimes by attacking al-Ghandour, whose body was Gaza border, Israel responded Turkey,” Erdogan added. wrapped in a Palestinian fl ag. by ordering the Turkish con- At talks with British Pre- “Let her stay with me, it is too sul in Jerusalem to leave for an mier Theresa May, Erdogan early for her to go,” her mother Palestinian demonstrators run from teargas fired by Israeli troops during a protest marking the 70th anniversary of Nakba, at the border in the unspecifi ed period of time, its said the United States had cried, pressing the baby’s body to southern Gaza Strip, yesterday. foreign ministry said. “paved the way...and laid the her chest. Naeh had been in his post foundations” for the killings The family said she died of in- They are unable to see everyone, The Palestinians summoned called Monday’s events a massa- More than 2mn people are only since December 2016 with its embassy move. haling tear gas. with all the injuries,” said Ibrahim, home their representative in cre, and the Israeli tactic of using crammed into the narrow Gaza after a reconciliation deal The Turkish strongman has At Gaza’s hospitals, families 23. “The number was unbelievable Washington, citing the embassy live fi re against the protesters has Strip. Citing security concerns, earlier that year ended a never shied away from the crowded the halls and spilled and they did not have time.” decision. drawn worldwide concern and Israel and Egypt maintain a de dispute over the May 2010 strongest criticism. out of rooms as patients awaited On the Israeli side of the bor- Netanyahu blamed Hamas for condemnation. facto blockade on the enclave. deadly storming of a Turkish He famously walked out of treatment. der, Israeli sharpshooters took up provoking the violence. The United Nations Security In the decade since Hamas ship by Israeli commandos a January 2009 debate in Da- Bassem Ibrahim, who said positions to stop any attempted For the past six weeks, Palestin- Council was due to meet to dis- seized control, it has fought three that saw ties downgraded vos with then Israeli president he was shot in the leg by Israeli breach of the fence should dem- ians have been holding Gaza bor- cuss the situation. Israel has said it wars against Israel. for over half a decade. That Shimon Peres, complaining he troops, said at one stage he had onstrations break out again. der demonstrations for the return is acting in self-defence to defend The economy has collapsed deal was strongly backed by was not given enough time to feared losing the limb because of Tanks were also deployed. of Palestinian refugees to areas its borders. under the blockade, with near- the United States, which was respond and repeatedly saying the delays. But if the violence tapered off , that are now part of Israel. Its main ally the United States ly half of Gazans now unem- keen to see Israel make up “one minute”. “There are not many doctors. it still had a forceful impact inter- Israel rejects any right of return, has backed that stance, with both ployed, the highest jobless rate with one of its very few key Turkey yesterday began nationally, with countries criticis- fearing it would deprive it of its saying that Hamas which rules on earth. Muslim partners. observing three days na- ing both the Israeli use of deadly Jewish majority. Palestinian med- Gaza instigated the violence, an The Israeli military said at least Turkey had already called tional mourning declared DICID criticises force and the US decision to open ical offi cials say 107 Gazans have allegation it denies. 24 of those killed on Monday were back its ambassador to Tel by Erdogan for the Palestin- aggression its new embassy at a ceremony now been killed since the start May 15 is traditionally the day “terrorists with documented ter- Aviv — as well as the envoy to ian dead, with flags flying at attended by President Donald of the protests and nearly 11,000 Palestinians mark the “Nakba”, ror background” and most of Washington — for consulta- half mast and cultural events The Doha International Center Trump’s daughter Ivanka and people wounded, about 3,500 of or Catastrophe, when hundreds them were active operatives of tions over the bloodshed. cancelled. for Interfaith Dialogue (DICID) son-in-law Jared Kushner. them hit by live fi re. of thousands fl ed or were driven Hamas. condemned the Israeli ag- Turkey expelled Israel’s am- Israeli offi cials dispute those from their homes in violence cul- A senior Israeli commander said gression against Palestinian bassador, and Israel expelled the numbers. minating in war between the new- that of the 60 Gazans killed on Arab League calls on ICC to investigate demonstrators in the Gaza Strip Turkish consul-general in Jeru- No Israeli casualties have been ly created Jewish state and its Arab Monday, 14 were carrying out at- in the Great Return March, and salem. reported. Palestinian leaders have neighbours in 1948. tacks and 14 others were fi ghters. The Arab League’s Perma- tor, Fatou Bensouda, said the siege on the West Bank on nent Committee on Human yesterday she would “take Monday and in various parts of Rights yesterday called on any action warranted” to the West Bank, QNA reported. the International Criminal prosecute crimes. “My staff is In a statement, the centre Court prosecutor to urgently vigilantly following develop- condemned moving the investigate “the crimes of the ments on the ground and American embassy to Jerusalem, Call for independent probe into Gaza massacre Israeli occupation” against recording any alleged crime which enshrines the American Palestinians. “Israel is an that could fall within” the recognition of the Holy City as oppressive and murderous tribunal’s jurisdiction, she said the capital of Israel, in flagrant From Page 1 He called for “greater re- Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel held Israel responsible for the use entity and its politicians and in a statement to AFP, adding: violation of international law. UN Secretary-General Anto- straint” in the use of live fi re. of “state terror” and “geno- of lethal force, which led to the off icers must be taken to the “The violence must stop.” DICID warned that this would nio Guterres and the European French President Emmanuel cide”. high death toll. International Criminal Court,” Arab League chief Ahmed undermine future opportunities Union have previously called Macron condemned the “vio- The United Nations Secu- Palestinian Permanent ob- Amjad Shamout, the commit- Abul Gheit condemned the for any peaceful settlement. The for an independent probe, with lence of the Israeli armed forces rity Council held an emergency server to the UN, Riyad Mansour tee’s chairman, said in a state- “massacres” of Palestinians, centre warned that Israel’s blind 115 Palestinians killed by Israeli against the protesters”. meeting yesterday to discuss vi- called for a transparent and in- ment. Shamout was referring which he said resemble “war circle of violence, with American forces since protests and clashes Ireland and Belgium sum- olence along the border between dependent investigation into the to the killing of dozens of crimes”. support and the disregard for began on the Gaza border on moned the Israeli envoys in Israel and the Gaza Strip. deadly violence in the Gaza strip Palestinians by Israeli forces The Arab League will hold Palestinian rights guaranteed March 30. their capitals, while South Af- Nikolay Mladenov, UN Special and said Palestinians will en- during clashes and protests emergency talks today to by all international laws, as well “The United Kingdom supports rica recalled its ambassador to Co-ordinator addressed the coun- dorse the results of the investiga- on Monday over the deeply discuss what it has called as human values, will inevitably an independent investigation into Israel. cil members and said the killing tion in advance. controversial opening of a US Washington’s “illegal” reloca- lead to an uncertain future, full of what has happened,” Alistair Burt, Turkey told Israel’s ambas- acts in Gaza don’t serve the peace Kuwait called for the session embassy in Jerusalem. tion of its embassy to the blood and destruction. British minister for Middle East sador to temporarily leave the process. He strongly condemned after the killings of the large The ICC chief prosecu- disputed city. aff airs, told parliament. country, while President Recep the events in the Gaza Strip and number of Palestinians.

DIALOGUE Russia to host Syria peace Kuwait pushes for Iraq rivals talks in July Iran and Europe Russia, Turkey and Iran will hold the UNSC resolution jostle for next round of their Syrian peace talks in July in the Russian city of Sochi, not in the Kazakh capital Reuters power Israel was required under power Astana like their previous meetings, the Geneva Convention to pro- try to save N-deal United Nations the three countries said yesterday. vide protection for Palestinian The Syrian rebels said they would civilians “but they failed to do Reuters AFP boycott the talks due to Russia’s uwait said it would pro- that so this is why we want the Brussels Baghdad role as host. Since they began last pose a draft UN Secu- council to do something about year, the trilateral meetings have Krity Council resolution that.” taken place in Kazakhstan, which is on “protection of Palestinian The United States is likely to urope sought yesterday opulist cleric Moqtada not involved in the Syrian war — un- civilians” following violence veto any Security Council ac- to fi nd a way to save the Sadr yesterday eyed a gov- like Russia which backs President in Gaza and the United States tion, diplomats said. EIran nuclear deal with- Perning coalition after deal- Bashar Assad and has helped him yesterday praised what it The United States blocked out the United States but was ing a blow to both Iranian and US turn the tide of war by deploying its called Israel’s restraint against on Monday a Kuwait-drafted short on details about how infl uence with a shock election own troops. The July meeting an- Hamas. council statement that would the accord could survive the triumph that upended Iraqi poli- nouncement came from the latest The council met after the have expressed “outrage and reimposition of US sanctions tics. round of Astana talks. The reason bloodiest day for Palestinians sorrow at the killing of Palestin- ordered by President Donald With the last ballots still being for the change in location for the since a 2014 Gaza war. ian civilians” and called for an Trump. counted, however, Tehran and its next talks was unclear. As many as 60 Palestin- independent and transparent British, French and Ger- local allies already appeared to be ians were killed on Monday in investigation, diplomats said. man foreign ministers met the making a rival push to block the ASSISTANCE gunfi re and tear gas from Is- Al-Otaibi said the draft EU’s top diplomat in Brussels fi ery preacher’s route to power. raeli troops on the Gaza-Israel resolution would aim “to pro- ahead of all four discussing Britain’s Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, German Foreign Near complete results showed UN appeals for border, the Palestinian Health vide international protection the next steps with their Ira- Minister Heiko Maas, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Sadr set to scoop the most seats Ministry said as the United for civilians,” though he added nian counterpart Mohamed Drian and EU High Representative for Foreign Aff airs Federica in parliament after his Marching Sudan aid States opened its new embassy “we’re not talking about peace- Javad Zarif, a week after Mogherini take part in meeting with Iran’s Foreign Minister Towards Reform alliance with The UN has appealed for a major in contested Jerusalem. keeping yet.” Trump abandoned an agree- Mohamed Javad Zarif in Brussels, yesterday. Iraq’s communists tapped popu- increase in funding to aid Sudan Palestinian UN envoy Riy- UN Middle East envoy Nick- ment he branded a “horrible, lar anger over corruption and with hundreds of thousands of ad Mansour told the Security olay Mladenov briefed the Se- one-sided deal that should with Iran. “We have to be the day, said there could be no foreign meddling. Rivals called people set to join millions in need Council that the Israeli “oc- curity Council yesterday on the have never, ever been made”. realistic about the electrifi ed guarantees made to Iran but to congratulate him on the vic- of relief amid worsening economic cupation is the main source latest Gaza violence. Seeking to uphold what the rail, the live wire of American stressed there were measures tory, his offi ce said, after Iraqis and humanitarian crises. Mark Low- of violence in our region.” He He said there is “no justifi - European Union had consid- extraterritoriality and how the bloc could take. Germa- went to the poll Saturday for the cock, the head of UN humanitarian pleaded with the council to “act cation for the killing” and that ered its biggest diplomatic (it) can serve as a deterrent ny’s Heiko Maas echoed that country’s fi rst election since the aff airs, called on donors late Mon- immediately to stop the mas- “Israel has a responsibility to achievement in decades, the to business,” Johnson told re- view. defeat of the Islamic State group. day to provide $1.4bn (1.18bn euros) sacre committed against our calibrate it’s use of force.” 2015 accord rests on allow- porters. But none of the four, when Sadr, is looking to be the king- to assist more than 7mn people in people.” In October 2015, then UN ing business with Iran in ex- Highlighting just how diffi - pressed by reporters, gave any maker and to cobble together a the East African country. Millions Kuwait’s UN ambassador chief Ban Ki-moon released a change for Tehran shutting cult it will be, the US Treasury details of their plans. technocrat government from a of people in Sudan have been Mansour al-Otaibi told report- summary of past international down any capacity to build an announced yesterday more Johnson spoke of the search dozen parties. displaced by conflict and have lived ers before the meeting that he protection regimes for disputed atomic bomb. sanctions, including on Iran’s for a “package of measures.” But with his alliance falling in camps for years. The call amends would likely circulate the draft territories as requested by the Britain’s Foreign Minis- central bank governor, just Zarif said European powers short of a majority, it will take a UN appeal made in February over resolution to the 15-member Palestinians, who had been ter Boris Johnson was blunt minutes before the Brussels must give Iran guarantees that lengthy wrangling to forge a co- fears Sudan’s deepening economic council today. calling at the time for an inter- about the chances of avoid- meeting was due to begin. it will get the economic ben- alition. Tallies put the Conquest crisis means more than one-and-a- It was unclear when it could national protection force to be ing US sanctions that also EU foreign policy chief Fe- efi ts of the deal, warning there Alliance of pro-Iranian former half million more people will soon be put to a vote. deployed at Jerusalem’s holy seek to prohibit foreign com- derica Mogherini, who held a was not much time for them paramilitary fi ghters who helped depend on aid to survive. He said that as an occupying sites. panies from doing business meeting with Zarif earlier in to deliver those assurances. battle IS in second place. Gulf Times 12 Wednesday, May 16, 2018 AFRICA

SUPPORT AMBUSH JUSTICE SUSPENDED S Africans, Tutu express 2 UN peacekeepers go Court reinstates Cape Town Tourists barred from Virunga solidarity with Palestinians missing in DR Congo mayor sacked by own party park after kidnapping

South Africans yesterday demonstrated in Two United Nations peacekeepers in Democratic A South African court yesterday reinstated Rangers said yesterday they had stopped solidarity with Palestinians, a day after 60 Republic of Congo (DRC) are listed as missing Patricia De Lille as mayor of Cape Town after she tourists entering Democratic Republic of Congo’s were killed protesting the US embassy’s after their convoy came under attack in the was sacked by her own party in a bitter dispute Virunga National Park during investigations move to Jerusalem, with anti-apartheid icon country’s restless southeast, the UN mission shaking the Democratic Alliance. The leadership into the kidnapping of two Britons there last Archbishop Desmond Tutu declaring himself said yesterday. “A peacekeeping convoy was of South Africa’s second city has become a week. Gunmen ambushed Robert Jesty, Bethan “brokenhearted.” The response in South Africa attacked by mai-mai on Friday in Tanganyika power struggle within the DA, the country’s main Davies and their driver in Congo’s volatile eastern to the killings has been visceral, with the country (Province),” Florence Marchal, MONUSCO’s opposition party, ahead of national elections borderlands on Friday and released them three withdrawing its ambassador to Israel on Monday spokeswoman, told AFP, referring to one of the next year. In court, De Lille challenged the party’s days later. Park ranger Rachel Makissa Baraka, 25, and the ruling African National Congress (ANC) many so-called self-defence groups operating decision to strip her of the mayoral job and her was killed trying to defend them. “The suspension condemning Israel as an “apartheid regime.” “I in southeastern DRC. “Two troops in the Benin party membership a week ago over alleged of tourism is being undertaken as an additional am deeply distressed and brokenhearted by the contingent have since been listed as missing. mismanagement and corruption. Judge Patrick precautionary measure whilst an investigation is Protesters call for the severing of diplomatic massacre perpetrated by the State of Israel in The whole mission is mobilised to find them.” Gamble ruled in her favour, saying “the first undertaken surrounding the recent events,” the ties with Israel during a march in Cape Town Gaza yesterday,” Tutu, a stalwart of South Africa’s Eleven other troops who were in the two-vehicle respondent will remain mayor” and continue in park said in a statement. It said the suspension yesterday. fight against racial inequality, said in a statement. convoy are safe, Marchal said. the job she has held since 2011. would remain in place until June 4.

Evicted 5 militia die in Boko Haram suicide attack

AFP “We lost fi ve comrades in a suicide attack,” Kano Liman said, “at around 1.25pm a man was stopped for a search by the CJTF on duty at the check- point.” t least fi ve members of a militia force fi ght- As the man was being searched he detonated Evictees of Otodo Gbame, a Lagos shanty town, and members of other communities hold banners yesterday on a flotilla of boats in protest ing Boko Haram militants were killed yes- the explosives injuring fi ve others who were in against their forced eviction. Members of various waterfront communities and the Nigerian Slum/Informal Settlement Federation have Aterday when a suicide bomber detonated hospital to receive treatment, Liman said. protested on the day marking one year anniversary of the forced eviction of the Otodo Gbame community from their waterfront location. his explosives in northeast Nigeria, an emergency The attack comes two weeks after 86 peo- offi cial and force member told AFP. ple were killed in twin suicide blasts targeting a A man carried out the bombing at a checkpoint mosque and a nearby market in Mubi, a town in manned by the militia, known as the Civilian Joint neighbouring Adamawa state. Task Force, on the outskirts of Konduga, 35km Nigeria, which is holding presidential polls southeast from the Borno state capital of Maid- next year, has been fi ghting the Islamic extrem- uguri. ists since 2009. “Five members of the Civilian Joint Task Force Security forces have reclaimed swathes of Burundi to hold referendum were killed in a suicide bomb blast in Mandarari territory from Boko Haram since Muhammadu outskirts of Konduga town...at a checkpoint,” Buhari came into power in 2015, yet the extrem- said Abdukadir Ibrahim, spokesman for the Na- osts continue to stage deadly attacks which have tional Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) spilled into neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cam- in Borno state. eroon. to extend Nkurunziza rule “Five people were also injured in the incident Boko Haram has allied itself with the Islamic which occurred when the suicide bomber deto- State, raising fears about the group’s infl uence in nated the concealed IED (improvised explosive an impoverished region already home to a cluster AFP The changes will be adopted if again from scratch after the 2020 Earlier this month Burun- device) as he was being searched at the check- of Islamist militant groups. Nairobi more than 50% of cast ballots are elections. di’s press regulator suspended point,” said Ibrahim. The militants regularly use suicide bombers, in favour. Other reforms weaken con- broadcasts by the BBC and Voice Ibrahim Liman, a civilian militia leader in Kon- many of them women and girls, to target military The vote is taking place in stitutional constraints over of America (VOA) and warned duga, confi rmed the attack at the checkpoint. checkpoints, mosques and markets. urundians will tomorrow tightly-controlled conditions, the feared national intelligence other radio stations, including vote in a referendum on and a presidential decree ruled agency and allow the revision of Radio France International (RFI), Bsweeping constitutional earlier this month that anyone ethnic quotas seen as crucial to against spreading “tendentious reforms that would shore up the advising voters to boycott the peace after the war. and misleading” information. power of President Pierre Nku- vote risks up to three years in jail. The new constitution also gets Amending constitutions to runziza and enable him to rule The tiny central African na- rid of one of two vice-presidents stay in power while holding the 160,000 anglophone Cameroonians until 2034. tion, with an equally small econ- and shifts powers from the gov- regular elections that foreign do- With opponents cowed, beat- omy, has struggled to recover ernment to the president. nors demand is a popular tactic en, killed or living in exile, there from a brutal and destructive Burundi’s exiled opposition, among African leaders. fl ed violence since 2016, says UN seems little doubt the amend- civil war from 1993-2006 that gathered in an alliance called Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni ments will pass, enabling the left more than 300,000 people CNARED, has called for a boy- changed the law in 2005 before 54-year-old — in power since dead. cott of the referendum, which it running successfully for a third AFP Witness accounts given to AFP in Nigeria de- 2005 — to remain in charge for A peace deal, signed in the describes as the “death knell” to term. Libreville scribe Cameroonians traversing the border on another 16 years. Tanzanian city of Arusha in the 2000 agreement that helped The 73-year-old has since re- foot in mountainous and densely forested areas, The campaign period, like the 2000, paved the way to ending end the bloody civil war. moved age limits and is expected making crossings diffi cult to track. preceding three years of unrest the fi ghting and included a pro- Burundian exiles in Paris yes- to run for a sixth term in 2021. ome 160,000 people have fl ed their homes Violence in the Northwest Region and South- triggered by Nkurunziza’s con- vision that no leader could serve terday demanded the interna- Cameroon’s Paul Biya followed in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions west Regions occurs almost daily, pitching armed troversial but ultimately suc- more than two fi ve-year terms. tional community take stronger Museveni’s lead in 2008 and re- Sbecause of violence between anglophone separatists against Cameroonian government cessful run for a third term, has Nkurunziza circumvented that action against Bujumbura. mains in power today, as does separatists and government forces, the United forces. been marked by intimidation and clause by running for a third term “Impose sanctions, an em- Djibouti’s Ismael Omar Guelleh Nations said yesterday. The insurgency began in 2016, when activists abuse, say human rights groups. in 2015 that critics said was un- bargo,” rights campaigner Pierre who removed term limits in 2010. “The majority of the displaced have fl ed into in the anglophone minority, comprising about a Opposition parties were allowed constitutional. Claver Mbonimpa, who fl ed to In Rwanda, Paul Kagame in the bush with little to survive on,” the UN’s Of- fi fth of the country’s population of 22mn, stepped to rally for the fi rst time since the A crackdown on opponents Belgium after escaping a murder 2015 changed the constitution fi ce for the Coordination of Humanitarian Aff airs up a campaign for greater autonomy. start of the political crisis in 2015, of his bid prompted a crisis that attempt, told a press conference. and is now set to rule until 2034 (OCHA) said in a report. President Paul Biya rejected their demands, drawing massive crowds during has seen 1,200 people killed and “Do something — don’t just issue while Congo-Brazzaville’s Denis “Others are hosted by local communities who prompting radicals to make a full-blown but their “no” campaigns. 400,000 fl ee their homes. statements.” Sassou Nguesso also pushed are also grappling with adverse living conditions,” symbolic declaration of independence last Octo- But critics say this was merely The violence and abuses are “There have to be sanctions through the removal of term lim- it added. ber 1. to provide a veneer of inclusivity. being investigated by the Inter- to force Pierre Nkurunziza to its the same year. The fi gure marks the UN’s fi rst detailed esti- On Friday, a man was abducted by gunmen in “People seen as opposed national Criminal Court (ICC) negotiate,” said Elyse Ngabire, a Zambia’s Edgar Lungu is try- mate of the number of people displaced since the Widikum in the northwest, sources said. to the referendum have been while a sustained campaign former journalist who took ref- ing the third term gambit, while crisis began to escalate in late 2016. Clashes also took place earlier in May in Bafut killed, kidnapped, beaten up, il- against the press has forced most uge in France in 2015 after receiv- in the Democratic Republic of Previously the UN, encountering diffi culties and Yo-Ke. legally arrested and held by state independent journalists to leave ing threats. “I am worried for the Congo, Joseph Kabila has simply in accessing remote parts of the northwest and The separatists — whose death toll is un- agents,” the International Fed- the country. future. The situation is heading refused to hold elections since southwest regions, had said “tens of thousands” known — are accused of kidnappings officials eration for Human Rights (FIDH) Nkurunziza — a fervent Chris- towards worse violence.” the end of his constitutional had left their homes. and other French-speaking Cameroonians, said yesterday. tian who believes he has a God- The government has accused terms 18 months ago. In addition to the 160,000 internally displaced, while the army is accused of abuses and burn- Some 4.8mn people, or a little given right to rule and was re- dissidents, and neighbouring Elsewhere in Africa, leaders the OCHA said 20,000 had sought refuge in ing houses. under half the population, have cently declared “visionary” by his countries, of planning to under- have had less success avoiding neighbouring Nigeria. According to the International Crisis Group signed up to vote, according to CNDD-FDD party — now wants mine the referendum and has term limits, with moves blocked In contrast, Nigeria’s State Emergency Man- (ICG) think tank, “at least 120” civilians and “at the Independent National Elec- to rewrite the constitution and ex- deployed military units to areas or votes lost in Benin, Burkina agement Agency (SEMA), has put the number least 43” security forces have been killed since the toral Commission (CENI), which tend term lengths to seven years. bordering Rwanda to the north Faso, Nigeria and Senegal in the sheltering in Cross River state alone at 34,000. end of 2016. is running the referendum. This would allow him to start and Congo to the west. last dozen years. Ghana fi ghts malarial chemical resistance with new spray

By Stacey Knott, AFP In Ghana, which is home to crease, Owusu and his colleagues Programme director Samuel id McGuire said he hoped the disease, which can lead to severe Obuasi, Ghana some 28mn people, there were at the non-profi t organisation Asiedu says mosquitoes are “in- scheme “will convince donors illness and death if not treated 4.8mn cases and 599 deaths last AGALMal are working fl at out. telligent insects”, so the new and national governments to in- within 24 hours. year, a marked drop from the The organisation grew out of a chemical — SumiShield 50WG crease their investment in this “If I go to the whole house ismark Owusu moves food 2,200 who died in 2011. social initiative by global mining — should be more eff ective when life-saving intervention”. and someone does not want it and bowls from a bedroom But with global concern that fi rm AngloGold Ashanti and has rotated with others. Keziah Malm, who manages I have to sit the person and let Band covers clothes and fur- the fi ght against malaria has a laboratory in the grounds of an In 2006, after the fi rst two the national malaria control them know the importance of the niture with a large sheet before reached a plateau, African gov- old mining site in Obuasi. years of the indoor spraying, the programme at the Ghana Health spraying because malaria kills,” mixing a mosquito-killing chemi- A worker shows some of the ernments and development There, tiny mosquito pupae hospital in Obuasi saw a 75% de- Service, says the new WHO-ap- said Owusu. cal with water in his spray pack. He mosquitoes they breed at the agencies are looking at new ways dart around in water in a white crease in malaria cases. proved spray is considered safe “It’s very important we all un- then puts on head-to-toe safety Entomologist Research Centre to step up the fi ght. plastic container in a lab. That led to the programme and has been tested internation- derstand that malaria is a killer. gear, straps the pack to his back in Obuasi, Ashanti Region, That includes preventative Soon they will transform into being expanded with additional ally and locally. We have to eradicate it and kick it and methodically sprays the walls, Ghana. measures such as distribution mosquitoes and be studied by support from global health initi- It will be used in Obuasi and out of Obuasi and the nation as a windows and corners of the room. of insecticide-treated mosquito scientists. ative Unitaid and the Global Fund Ghana’s far north — all of the whole.” Owusu’s visit to Domeabra, a Malaria, which is spread to nets and developing a vaccine Technologist Paul Osei-Bonsu partnership. Upper West region and three dis- During the course of his work, small community in the Obuasi people through the bites of in- against the disease but also in- said chemical resistance was a Currently, the indoor spraying tricts in the Upper East — which he’s found everyone has a story area of the Ashanti region in cen- fected female mosquitoes, is one door spraying. major issue for the spraying pro- programme targets the homes of are high-risk zones for malaria. about the disease. tral Ghana, is his latest stop in the of the world’s deadliest diseases. Ghana is the fi rst on the conti- gramme. 1.2mn people. Local communities still need to “I sprayed a full house and the country’s fi ght against malaria. According to the World Health nent to introduce the large-scale If a population of mosquitoes “We are anticipating other be convinced about the benefi ts owner was telling me her son The death of two of his friends Organization, there were 216mn use of a new “third generation is sprayed and just one survives chemicals to come on board by of having their homes sprayed. died some years go from malaria. from the disease spurs him on. cases of malaria in 91 countries insecticide” against mosquitoes, and reproduces, the resistance the end of the year so we can be But Asiedu says only a handful He would be 18 years today. She “Why wouldn’t I help if others across the world in 2016 and which have developed a resist- will be passed on, he explained. rotating the use of chemicals to of people refuse. was crying bitterly,” he added. are dying? I am here today help- 445,000 deaths. Most of those ance to other chemicals. “If you use the same spray over prevent resistance development,” Sprayers themselves also speak Children under fi ve and preg- ing to eradicate this deadly ma- cases and deaths — about 90% — As Ghana’s rainy season ap- time you will have 90% of the said Asiedu. to households about the work nant women are considered most laria,” he told AFP. were in sub-Saharan Africa. proaches, when malaria cases in- population not dying,” he added. Unitaid project director Dav- and the risks to health from the vulnerable to malaria. Gulf Times Wednesday, May 16, 2018 13 AMERICAS

SHOW OF SUPPORT PUT DOWN APPEAL ANNIVERSARY DIPLOMACY Colorado rangers kill bear Arnie urges Trump to ‘join Mexico pays tribute to ‘Lima Group’ leaders urge suspected of mauling child us’ on climate action murdered journalist Venezuela to suspend vote

Wildlife rangers in Colorado on Monday shot and Former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger A Mexican journalist was murdered yesterday, The Lima Group of largely Latin American nations killed a black bear suspected of attacking and trying yesterday urged US President Donald Trump to join the fourth of 2018, as the country mourned on Monday urged the Venezuelan government to to drag off a five-year-old girl from her yard. The action to support renewable energy, at a summit on acclaimed reporter and writer Javier Valdez on the suspend the presidential election scheduled for attack occurred Sunday morning when the girl went climate change in the Austrian capital Vienna. “To first anniversary of his killing. Juan Carlos Huerta May 20, calling the process “illegitimate and lacking outside to check on a noise she thought her dog those of you who resist because you can’t imagine was shot dead as he left his home in a suburb of in credibility.” In a joint statement, Argentina, Brazil, had made and her mother heard screaming. “When success without fossil fuels, we ask you to join us, Villahermosa, the capital of the southern state of Canada, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, she went outside to investigate, she witnessed every one, also you President Trump — join us,” said Tabasco, the state government said. The 45-year-old Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St Lucia, Spain a large black bear dragging her...daughter,” the Schwarzenegger, prompting applause from the radio and television journalist had a wife and two and the United States condemned Venezuela’s Colorado Parks and Wildlife agency said. The bear audience gathered for the Austrian World Summit. children. The latest killing fuelled further outrage government and vowed to consider steps if the dropped the child after her mother yelled at it, The summit is organised by Schwarzenegger’s as protesters took to the streets demanding justice vote went ahead. The countries, not all of which Members of the Palestinian community and off icials said. The attack took place in East Orchard R20 climate NGO and has brought together over the murder of Valdez and more than 100 other belong formally to the group established last year sympathisers take part in a protest against Mesa, a small community about 400km west of business and political leaders, including UN journalists killed since 2000. Valdez was gunned in Lima to address the crisis in Venezuela, said they Israel at the Angel de la Independencia Denver. The child, whose name was not released, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, as well as down in broad daylight near his newspaper’s off ices had analysed possible scenarios and identified a square, in Mexico City on Monday. was in fair condition on Monday at a local hospital. climate change experts and activists. on May 15, 2017 in Culiacan, capital of Sinaloa. series of “actions” they could take. New York nanny sentenced to life for murdering kids in her care

Reuters Court in Manhattan featured testimony by New York the children’s mother, Marina Krim. She recalled the shock of returning to the family’s Upper West Side apartment to fi nd New York nanny convicted of fatally her children slain and their nanny stand- stabbing two young children in her ing over them stabbing her own neck with Acare was sentenced on Monday to a kitchen knife. life in prison without the possibility of pa- Krim had come home with the chil- role for a crime that has been described as dren’s 3-year-old sister, Nessie, after Or- every parent’s nightmare. tega failed to show up with the children at In a case that drew national headlines, Lulu’s dance lesson. “I just wanted to wake Yoselyn Ortega, 56, was found guilty by a up from this nightmare that I knew wasn’t jury in April of murdering both Lucia Krim, a nightmare. It was real,” Krim told jurors. 6, nicknamed Lulu, and her 2-year-old “It’s like a total horror movie.” brother, Leo, and leaving their bloody bod- The motive, prosecutors said, was Orte- ies in a bathtub in their luxury Manhattan ga’s overwhelming fi nancial problems after apartment in October 2012. bringing her 17-year-old son from the Do- Judge Gregory Carro on Monday called minican Republic and her resentment to- the case “pure evil” before issuing the sen- ward Marina Krim, married to then-CNBC Lava erupts from a fissure on the outskirts of Pahoa during ongoing eruptions of the Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii late on Monday. tence, the stiff est available. executive Kevin Krim, for being the mother Before hearing the sentence, Ortega ad- “she could never be.” dressed the court and apologised. In 2012, in the aftermath of the killings, She spoke in Spanish through a transla- the Krims founded the Lulu & Leo Fund, tor. which supports creativity in schools. “I’m very sorry for everything that Their family now includes two more happened...I ask for a great deal of forgive- children: Felix, born in October 2013, and ness,” she said in a shaky voice. Linus, born in January 2016. She said she was asking forgiveness from Marina and Kevin Krim left the court- Fresh lava threatens God and the children’s parents, adding she room before the sentence was read. had not been feeling well on the day of the Ortega’s lawyers had failed to convince murders. the jury she was not guilty by reason of in- The two-month trial at state Supreme sanity. Hawaii exit routes

Reuters the coastal road — Highway 137 — is the last fi ssure we’re going to see,” to limit further exposure. Severe Lawsuit challenges location Pahoa, Hawaii the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said Hawaiian Volcano Observatory conditions may exist such as chok- said. Deputy Scientist-In-Charge Steve ing and inability to breathe,” the de- Mass evacuations would be trig- Brantley. partment said in the alert. of Obama presidential centre ava fl owing from giant rips in gered if either highway is hit by lava, A similar seismic event in 1955 While residents deal with nox- the earth on the fl ank of Ha- said Hawaii National Guard spokes- lasted 88 days, he said. ious gas and lava on the ground, the Lwaii’s erupting Kilauea vol- man Jeff Hickman. Unnerved by near-constant small USGeological Survey is concerned AFP Park — created for the 1893 World’s Fair — cano threatened highways yester- “There’s a lot of worst-case sce- earthquakes and emissions of toxic that pent-up steam could cause a Chicago to the foundation preparing to build The day, raising the possibility offi cials narios and roads getting blocked is sulphur dioxide gas, Rob Guzman violent explosive eruption at the Obama Presidential Center. may order thousands more people one of them,” said Hickman, stand- and his husband Bob Kirk left their volcano crater, launching a 6,100m Because The Center is not planning to to evacuate before escape routes are ing on Highway 137, in the poten- home in Kalapana Seaview Estates plume that could spread debris over federal lawsuit is seeking to block house original documents from the Obama cut off . tial path of the lava fl ow, some 3km while they still could. 19km. the construction of the Obama pres- presidency, instead opting for digital access to Lava from a huge new fi ssure tore away. “We just need the local govern- Scientists had expected such ex- Aidential centre on Chicago parkland, those documents which will be housed else- through farmland towards a coastal Dozens of homes have been de- ment to calm down the panic that plosions by the middle of this month posing a challenge for the future library and where, the lawsuit alleges the planned struc- dirt road that is one of the last exit stroyed since eruptions began 10 some of these 2,000 people are feel- as Kilauea’s lava lake fell below the museum dedicated to the nation’s fi rst Af- ture serves no signifi cant public purpose. routes for some 2,000 residents in days ago and offi cials have ordered ing, that today, we’re going to be water table. rican-American president. “Although that original purpose of an of- the southeast area of Hawaii’s Big the evacuations of nearly 2,000 trapped with no way out,” said Guz- The possibility exists, however, The lawsuit by a local park preserva- fi cial Presidential Library no longer exists,” Island. residents in the lower Puna district man, who left behind a banana farm that water may not be entering the tion group objects to the transfer of a his- the lawsuit complaint says. More lava-belching cracks are of the Big Island, home to around and rental properties to go stay with crater, as feared, and gas and steam toric public park for use by Barack Obama’s “Defendants continue to forge ahead expected to open among homes and 187,000 people. friends. may be safely venting, scientists foundation to build a complex in the Mid- to advance a totally diff erent private non- countryside some 40km east of Ki- The American Red Cross said 500 The Hawaii Fire Department is- said. western city — one of a network of presi- governmental project on public parkland.” lauea’s smoking summit, possibly people sought refuge in its shelters sued a “condition red” alert on “So far those explosions have not dential libraries throughout the country. The Obama Center, like several of the blocking one of the last exit routes, on Sunday night because of worsen- Monday because fi ssures in the occurred and I think the key here is Chicago has a system of public parks other institutions, plans to include replicas Highway 132. ing volcanic activity. southeast area of the Lanipuna Gar- that the vent system is an open one, that are protected by law from private use of the Oval Offi ce and other elements from Fountains of magma spouted Two more fi ssures opened in the dens area were issuing high levels of therefore pressure is not being built and development. The local group Protect the Obama White House, as well as featur- “lava bombs” more than 100 feet past 24 hours, bringing the total to sulphur dioxide. or developed down at the top of the Our Parks fi led the federal lawsuit Monday, ing Obama’s history-making path to the (30m) into the air as the molten rock 19. “Condition RED means immedi- lava column,” Brantley told a con- seeking to prevent the transfer of Jackson presidency. travelled east-southeast towards “It’s optimistic to think that this ate danger to health so take action ference call.

Pennsylvania primaries could herald shift of power in US House

By James Oliphant, Reuters some districts more competitive. The three top contenders rep- presidential election, he noted. Washington In addition, six incumbent resent the diverse viewpoints in Democrats are also hoping to House Republicans are not run- the modern Democratic Party: pick up a seat held by fi rst-term ning for re-election, further Greg Edwards, a pastor backed Republican Brian Fitzpatrick in oters yesterday headed to scrambling the races and requir- by progressive US Senator Bernie another district outside of Phila- the polls in crucial party ing voters to become familiar with Sanders and the Congressional delphia. Vprimaries in Pennsyl- a raft of fi rst-time candidates. Black Caucus; Susan Wild, en- Attorney Scott Wallace faces vania, a state that has become Some 81 candidates are run- dorsed by the abortion rights Navy veteran Rachel Reddick in central to Democrats’ hopes of ning for 18 congressional seats, group Emily’s List; and John the Democratic primary there. retaking control of the US House including 10 Democrats in a sin- Morganelli, who opposes abor- Madonna said he expected of Representatives. gle race. tion rights and has been support- Pennsylvania to see the same The state off ers Democrats the Democrats feel confi dent they ive of Trump’s hardline immigra- surge in Democratic turnout that opportunity to pick up as many can ultimately win three districts tion policies. marked recent special elections. as fi ve seats from Republicans in in suburban Philadelphia regard- Earlier this month, Sanders, Typically, about 20% of Dem- congressional elections in No- less of which candidates win who sought the 2016 Democratic ocrats vote in midterm elections. vember, analysts said. their primaries because of the presidential nomination, visited This time, it could be closer to Democrats need a net total of liberal tilt of those areas. Allentown to campaign with Ed- 30%, he said. 23 to assume the House majority, A more interesting contest wards, drawing a crowd of more Nebraska was also holding a which would likely derail Repub- comes in the northeastern dis- than 1,000. primary yesterday that could af- lican President Donald Trump’s trict being vacated by retiring Terry Madonna, an expert on fect the balance of power in the policy agenda. Representative Charlie Dent, one state politics at Franklin & Mar- House. Pennsylvania’s politics were of the few remaining moderate shall College in Lancaster, Penn- Two Democratic candidates, thrown into turmoil earlier this Republicans in the House. sylvania, said Democrats risked moderate former US Representa- year when the state Supreme The largest city in the district, losing the Allentown race if a tive Brad Ashford and progres- Court found that the current Allentown, sustained huge job candidate viewed as too liberal sive Kara Eastman, are battling to congressional districts had been losses with the 1995 closing of wins yesterday’s primary. take on Republican Representa- unconstitutionally tailored to fa- the Bethlehem Steel plant, once In 2016, Democrat Hillary Clin- tive Don Bacon in an Omaha- Lou Barletta (R-PA) casts his vote in the 2018 Pennsylvania Primary Election for US Senator at the vour Republicans. been a pillar of the region’s econ- ton edged Trump in the district area district Democrats believe Hazleton Southside Fire Station polling station yesterday. The redrawn map has made omy. by a single percentage point in the they can win. Gulf Times 14 Wednesday, May 16, 2018 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

Indonesian children who joined suicide attacks kept isolated by parents

Reuters family of fi ve riding two mo- receiving intensive care in hos- tend a prayer circle with these ried out by a cell of the Islamic Arifi anto, an Indonesia expert at ture,” Kalla told a conference in Surabaya torbikes blew themselves up at pital, police said. “She’s con- adults, said Arifi n, adding that State-inspired group Jemaah Nanyang Technological Univer- Jakarta. In all, around 30 people a police checkpoint in the city, scious. She will be accompanied the families behind the two sets Ansharut Daulah (JAD), an um- sity in Singapore. have been killed since Sunday in wounding 10 people and killing by relatives and social workers of suicide attacks had attended. brella organisation on a US State Surabaya Mayor Tri Risma- attacks, including 13 suspected he parents of Indonesian four of the family and two oth- when questioned by police,” said Police said that the fathers Department terrorist list that harini was quoted as saying by perpetrators, police said. children and young adults ers. Arifi n. of the families involved in the is reckoned to have drawn hun- news portal Tempo.co that one Sidney Jones, of the Jakarta- Twho took part in deadly An eight-year-old daughter Police in Sidoarjo, near Sura- church bombing and the apart- dreds of Indonesian sympathis- of the sons had also refused to based Institute for Policy Analy- suicide bombings in Surabaya survived. “These children have baya, recovered pipe bombs at ment in Sidoarjo where bombs ers of Islamic State. attend fl ag raising ceremonies or sis of Confl ict, said in a com- had isolated them within a been indoctrinated by their par- an apartment where a blast on were found were also friends. The family involved in those go to classes on Indonesia’s state mentary for the Lowy Institute tightly knit circle of militants, ents. It seems they did not inter- Sunday killed three members After some major successes attacks lived in a middle class ideology Pancasila, which en- that the attacks showed how police said yesterday. A family act much with others,” East Java of a family alleged to have been tackling militancy since 2001, housing complex in the city and shrines religious diversity under urgent it was for authorities to of six killed at least 13 people, Police Chief Machfud Arifi n told making bombs. there has been a resurgence in police said the father was the an offi cially secular system. learn more about family net- including themselves, by bomb- reporters. Three children survived and recent years, including in Janu- head of a local JAD cell. “I think Indonesian Vice President Ju- works. ing three churches in Surabaya The eight-year-old daugh- in interviews with police de- ary 2016 when four suicide the family setting and the isola- suf Kalla urged the public to pro- “If three families can be in- on Sunday in the worst militant ter who survived did not have scribed how they had interacted bombers and gunmen attacked tion from the outside world ... vide information that could help volved in two days’ worth of ter- attack since the bombing of res- explosives strapped to her, but only with parents and adults of a shopping area in the capital, were perfect settings for him to stop attacks. “Please be the gov- rorist attacks in Surabaya, surely taurants in Bali in 2005. was thrown three metres (10ft) similar ideology. Every Sunday Jakarta. Police suspect the at- indoctrinate the rest of his fam- ernment’s eyes and ears so these there are more ready to act,” he On Monday, another militant into the air by the blast and was evening they were made to at- tacks on the churches were car- ily,” said Alexander Raymond things won’t happen in the fu- said.

N Koreans visit Beijing to learn about reforms

A North Korean delegation has build “socialist economic visited Beijing to learn about construction” could herald China’s experience in economic more Chinese-style economic reform and opening up, the reforms, which transformed Koreas to hold talks foreign ministry said yesterday, the communist-led country the latest diplomatic outreach into the world’s second largest by the isolated regime. economy. The Cold War-era allies have Kim used the phrase when he stepped up contacts in recent declared that his regime had weeks as North Korean leader completed the development of Kim Jong-un prepares for its nuclear arsenal and no more on denuclearisation a historic summit with US atomic or missile tests were President Donald Trump in needed. Reuters Singapore on June 12. The delegation visited Beijing Seoul China said Pak Thae Song, a week after Kim met Xi in vice-chairman of the Central China’s northeastern port city Committee of the ruling of Dalian — his second trip to orth Korea and South Workers’ Party of Korea, China in less than two months. Korea will hold high- visited Beijing on Monday at Pyongyang and Beijing are Nlevel talks today to dis- the invitation of the Chinese seeking to mend frayed ties cuss steps needed to uphold the Communist Party. as a diplomatic thaw in the pledge to denuclearise the Ko- “This visit is a concrete region intensifies. Relations rean peninsula, South Korea said. example of the important fell to a new low in the past The meeting will focus on consensus between year as Beijing, angered by plans to implement a declaration (Communist Party) General Pyongyang’s nuclear and that emerged from an April 27 Secretary Xi Jinping and missile tests, supported a inter-Korea summit, including Chairman Kim Jong-un,” series of United Nations promises to formally end the Ko- foreign ministry spokesman sanctions against its ally. rean War and pursue “complete Lu Kang told a regular press But Beijing is keen to avoid denuclearisation”, the South’s briefing, confirming media being sidelined in the wake unifi cation ministry, which han- reports about the trip. of Kim’s historic summit last dles ties with the North, said yes- The delegation came to “learn month with South Korean terday. about the achievements of President Moon Jae-in and North Korea has said it will China’s domestic economic ahead of his Trump summit. dismantle its nuclear bomb test development and reform Experts say Kim needs to site some time between May 23 and opening-up process, maintain good relations with and May 25 in order to uphold and promote an exchange of his country’s main patron as its pledge to cease tests, its state experience between the two the Trump meeting looms. media reported on Saturday, a parties on governance issues,” Kim, who picked Beijing to month ahead of a planned North Lu said. make his maiden off icial trip Korea-US summit in Singapore. Analysts have said Kim’s abroad in March, has also US President Donald Trump promise last month to invited Xi to visit North Korea. and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will meet on June 12, a scenario that until recently tive the plan is — and whether talks we will negotiate and im- looked impossible given the in- it will be safe. Yesterday, North plement measures to carry out sults and threats the two leaders Korea invited one news agency the Panmunjom Declaration and exchanged over the past year as A pedestrian walks past a mural titled ‘Coming To America’ depicting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un holding a donut and milkshake by and one television broadcaster build sustainable development tension rose over the North’s re- graff iti artsists @welinoo, @balstroem and @sorenarildsen in Los Angeles, California created as part of the Ktown Wallz Project in the city’s from South Korea to observe the for inter-Korean relations and lentless work on its missile and Koreatown neighbourhood. shutdown, the South’s Ministry permanent peace on the Korean nuclear programmes. of Unifi cation said. peninsula,” the ministry said. But North Korean leader Kim sley said when asked whether sanctions on North Korea if it meeting, after which Kim agreed big,” the security adviser, Moon South Koreans cannot visit South Korea’s Unifi cation Jong-un called in a New Year’s the North Koreans he met had agreed to completely dismantle to the release of three American Chung-in, said at a conference in North Korea without an invita- Minister Cho Myoung-gyon will speech for a reduction in military mentioned anything about the its nuclear weapons programme, prisoners. Tokyo. Meanwhile, disarmament tion from the North and approval lead a team of fi ve at the talks. tension, beginning a rapid easing summit. Beasley, who visited the a move that would create eco- A South Korean presidential experts have raised questions from their government. North Korea’s 29-member del- of tension. North from May 8 to May 11, said nomic prosperity that “will rival” adviser warned that an incre- about the safety and verifi cation Today’s meeting will take egation will be led by Ri Son- North Koreans appeared op- WFP offi cials had been granted that of South Korea. mental North Korean approach of North Korea’s shutdown of its place at the Peace House in Pan- gwon, chairman of its “Commit- timistic about the summit, the “unprecedented access” to some Last month, Pompeo became to denuclearisation at the June 12 nuclear test site. munjom, on the heavily fortifi ed tee for the Peaceful Reunifi cation chief of the UN World Food Pro- areas and had held “open, candid the fi rst known US offi cial to meet summit would not be acceptable North Korea has invited in- border between the two Koreas, of the country”. gramme (WFP), David Beasley, and frank discussions” with offi - North Korean leader Kim, where to Trump or the South Korean ternational media to witness the where the two sides signed their Also in the delegation will be told reporters in Seoul after a cials there. he helped lay the groundwork for public. destruction of the site, but not joint-declaration last month, Kim Yun-hyok, vice minister of trip to the North. “I think they’re US Secretary of State Mike the meeting with Trump. “When Kim Jong-un sees technical inspectors, leaving dis- the unifi cation ministry said in a railways, and Won Kil-U, vice hopeful. I think everyone on the Pompeo said on Sunday the He returned again to North President Trump in Singa- armament experts and nuclear statement. minister of physical culture and ground there was hopeful,” Bea- United States would agree to lift Korea this month for a second pore, he should give something scientists wondering how eff ec- “Through these high-level sports.

Moonsighting in Malaysia Australia probes claim Female journalists Google harvests data, in Japan join battle consumers pay against harassment

Reuters are exploring how much con- AFP istry admitted its top bureau- Sydney sumers know about the use of Tokyo crat harassed a female reporter location data and are working in an incident believed to be closely with the Privacy Com- the tip of iceberg. The reporter, oogle is under investi- missioner.” emale journalists in Ja- with Japan’s TV Asahi, blew the gation in Australia fol- Oracle, according to The pan said yesterday they whistle and Hayashi said the Glowing claims that it Australian newspaper, said Fwere teaming up to fi ght group had been encouraged by collects data from millions of Alphabet receives detailed in- sexual harassment in the me- her refusal to suff er in silence. Android smartphones users, formation about people’s In- dia, believed to be widespread “We are resolved that now is who unwittingly pay their tel- ternet searches and user loca- in a country where the #Me- the time to eradicate sexual ecom service providers for gi- tions if they have a phone that Too movement has been slow to harassment and any other hu- gabytes consumed during the carries Android — the mobile take off . man rights infringement,” Ha- harvesting, regulators said yes- operating system developed by A total of 86 women jour- yashi said. terday. Responding to the latest Google. nalists have come together to Japan now faces a “water- privacy concerns surrounding Transferring that informa- form the Women in Media Net- shed” moment on ending har- Google, a spokesman for the tion to Google means using up work Japan (WiMN) to expose assment, she said, noting many US based search engine opera- gigabytes of data that consum- harassment and abuse, said of the group’s members were tor said the company has users’ ers have paid for under data Yoshiko Hayashi, a freelancer staying anonymous to avoid permission to collect data. packages purchased from local who formerly worked at the criticism and embarrassment The Australian investiga- telecom service providers, ac- Malaysia’s federal Mufti Zulkifli Mohamad al-Bakri uses a Theodolite to perform ‘rukyah’, the mass-circulation Asahi Shim- as their abusers were still in the tions stem from allegations cording to the Oracle report. sighting of the new moon for the holy fasting month of Ramadan, on the observation deck of bun. workplace in some cases. made by Oracle Corp in a re- Reuters was unable to im- the KL Tower in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. “Unfortunately, discrimi- “Male bosses protect men port provided as part of an mediately verify the content of nation against women and who sexually harass their sub- Australian review into the im- the Oracle report. Data privacy sexual harassment still exist ordinates -- this is rampant in pact that Google, owned by Al- advocates said many consum- among the people and entities Japanese society,” a journalist phabet Inc, and Facebook have ers are unlikely to understand Random ID checks at Australia airports amid terror fears we cover,” she said, reading a in her 30s said. on the advertising market. what they agreed to when sign- statement from the group on its “In 20 years as a reporter, Both the Australian Compe- ing up to use a smartphone. establishment. I have been subject to various tition and Consumer Commis- Industry analysts estimate Australian police will be able to with a foiled eff ort last year but it’s hard to think of anyone “Many women in journal- sexual harassments but I never sion (ACCC) and the country’s there are more than 10mn An- conduct random identity checks in Sydney to target an Etihad that wouldn’t have some ID and ism felt it diffi cult to raise their told any of them to any one,” Privacy Commissioner said droid users in Australia. “Some at airports under sweeping new flight with a crude bomb. Prime wouldn’t be able to say a bit about voice out of embarrassment added another. they were reviewing the report’s mobile plans may only include a security laws, the government Minister Malcolm Turnbull said themselves,” he told Melbourne and fears that it would destroy “I couldn’t tell my family fi ndings. “The ACCC met with few gigabytes of data so if Goog- said yesterday, amid heightened the new powers — which mean radio station 3AW. He said recent the relationship with their con- either as they had opposed my Oracle and is considering in- le is harvesting a gigabyte of terror fears following an alleged off icers at airports would no suicide bombings in Indonesia’s tacts,” she added. “We were the being a reporter ... How many formation it has provided about data, it is a very real cost to con- plot to bring down a plane. There longer need a reason to ask second city Surabaya were a people whose voices were un- more years or how many more Google services,” said Geesche sumers,” said David Vaile, chair- has been growing concern over for ID — were necessary in reminder that authorities “need to heard.” decades do we continue to bear Jacobsen, a spokeswoman for man of the industry group, the attacks by radicals inspired by “dangerous times”. “There is no be ever vigilant” in Australia and The issue hit the headlines this curse? Let’s end it now,” the competition regulator. “We Australian Privacy Foundation. Islamic State and other groups, law that requires you (to carry ID) elsewhere. recently after the fi nance min- said a third. Gulf Times Wednesday, May 16, 2018 15 BRITAIN

OBITUARY INITIATIVE SCANDAL CLEARED HEALTH Ex-Aston Villa defender London eyes more car-free Facebook criticised over Whirlpool fridge model Scientists finds way to Samuel killed in car crash days to cut pollution data privacy answers declared safe after probe combat common cold

Former Aston Villa and Bolton defender Jlloyd London Mayor Sadiq Khan has asked off icials to Facebook has failed to fully answer 39 questions A model of Whirlpool fridge freezer has been UK scientists believe they may have found Samuel died in a car crash yesterday at the age look into introducing more days when cars are from lawmakers examining data privacy and fake declared safe after technical investigations a way to combat the common cold. Rather of 37, Cheshire Police confirmed. Samuel, who not allowed on certain roads or in specific areas news, a parliamentary committee said yesterday, ordered by the authorities because last year’s than attacking the virus itself, which comes in also won two international caps for Trinidad and as the city considers new ways to cut pollution. adding that it would ask the social media giant deadly Grenfell Tower fire was initially thought to hundreds of versions, the treatment targets Tobago, was involved in a collision with a truck in Khan has already introduced an additional once again for the missing details. The committee have started in one of the appliances. Seventy- the human host. It blocks a key protein in High Legh, north-west England, after reportedly charge on the most gas-guzzling vehicles had put additional questions to Facebook after it one people died in the blaze which engulfed the body’s cells that cold viruses normally dropping off his children at school. “At around entering central London and has brought said that the firm’s chief technology off icer Mike Grenfell Tower, a 24-storey social housing block, hijack to self-replicate and spread. This should 7.55am (0655GMT) police were called following forward the introduction of an ultra-low Schroepfer had not addressed all its concerns last June. Police had said the blaze had started in stop any cold virus in its tracks if given early reports of a collision involving a van and a Range emission zone. “The mayor already supports a during a parliamentary hearing last month. a Hotpoint FF175BP fridge freezer, prompting the enough, lab studies suggest. Safety trials Rover,” said a statement from Cheshire Police. number of car-restricted days for annual events Facebook UK’s head of public policy, Rebecca government to order tests of the model, of which in people could start within two years. The “Sadly the driver of the car, Jlloyd Samuel, 37, in London, and he has asked City Hall off icials Stimson, gave 39 answers to the extra questions some 64,000 units were manufactured between Imperial College London researchers are from Lymm, died at the scene.” Samuel was born to consider additional opportunities for car-free in a letter published by the committee. However, 2006 and 2009. The business ministry and working on making a form of the drug that in the city of San Fernando in the south-west of activities as part of his Healthy Streets vision,” its head said that they lacked the detail they were Whirlpool both said the tests had established the can be inhaled, to reduce the chance of side- Trinidad but moved to England as a youngster. his off ice said. looking for. model was safe and no recall was necessary. effects.

Holyrood Prince joins Grenfell project work refuses Royal wedding consent for May’s plans in turmoil Brexit bill

Guardian News and Media as Meghan’s Edinburgh

he Scottish parliament has voted against Theresa TMay’s Brexit legislation by a large margin, putting the UK on father ‘pulls out’ the brink of a major constitutional dispute. AFP couple on his computer — sold for courtiers into something of a spin Holyrood rejected the UK gov- Windsor $100,000 according to the Daily by airing its dirty laundry in pub- ernment’s EU withdrawal bill by Mirror. lic. 93 votes to 30 yesterday after La- TMZ said he had suff ered a Kensington Palace had been at bour, the Liberal Democrats and rince Harry and Meghan heart attack last week due to stress pains to project a sense of seren- Scottish Greens backed Nicola Markle’s wedding this and that he was continuing to suf- ity around preparations for the big Sturgeon’s decision to oppose Pweekend was in turmoil fer from chest pains. day, regularly announcing minor proposals on post-Brexit power yesterday following reports her Thomas said he had not heard planning details — from the type sharing set out in clause 11 of the father may not attend after a pa- from his daughter since the reve- of carriage the couple will ride to bill. The vote is not legally binding parazzi scandal, rocking the royal lations broke, and that her mother who will bake their wedding cake. but it will force the prime minis- family’s meticulous planning for — his ex-wife Doria Ragland — But they have been clouded by ter to make a high-risk decision the landmark occasion. would be a good choice to walk Thomas’s relatives, who have not to impose those power-sharing Kensington Palace pleaded in a her down the aisle in his place, ac- been invited to Saturday’s nup- plans on Scotland or make further statement for “understanding and cording to the website. tials following unwelcome stories concessions to the Scottish gov- respect” during a “diffi cult situa- Meanwhile, Meghan’s half- of bust-ups, heavy drinking — ernment to avoid a crisis. tion” as US media reported Tho- sister Samantha Grant, who has and even an arrest. Imposing powers on Scotland mas Markle had suff ered a heart criticised the bride-to-be’s re- Thomas Markle Junior, Meg- would be unprecedented and fuel attack brought on by the fallout lationship with her father’s side han’s half-brother, accused the Sturgeon’s demands for a second from allegedly staging paparazzi of the family, reportedly tweeted couple of shunning them in an independence referendum, po- photos of himself. that she proposed he pose in the April open letter. tentially providing the Scottish According to celebrity news “positive photos” to combat his The US actress grew up in the National party with a further jus- website TMZ, he had decided “bad” portrayal in the press. Los Angeles suburb of Woodland tifi cation for staging one. against travelling from his home Speaking to the Good Morning Hills and remains close with her The two governments have in Mexico to accompany his Britain TV show yesterday, she parents, who divorced three dec- been at loggerheads for months daughter down the aisle at Wind- said the episode had taken a toll on ades ago. over how to manage 24 EU pow- sor Castle due to his health — and his health. She had been due to be walked ers that will return to the UK af- to spare her further embarrass- “I don’t know as of today what up the aisle by her 73-year-old ter Brexit, including over state aid ment. his plans are, but there’s a very real father, an Emmy-winning Holly- for industry, genetically modifi ed Kensington Palace did not con- concern,” she said. wood lighting director of Dutch- crops policy, fi shing quotas and fi rm whether Thomas had pulled Meghan’s gaff e-prone Ameri- Irish descent who retired to Mex- farm subsidies, after ministers in out of Saturday’s wedding at St can family has been sending royal ico. London made a series of conces- George’s Chapel in the castle’s sions brokered by the Scottish grounds, but issued the statement Harry, Meghan and Megan to crew BA fl ight Conservatives. hinting all was not well. Both governments agree those “This is a deeply personal mo- A British Airways flight will a fitting homage but admitted policies should operate unifor- ment for Meghan in the days be- celebrate the royal wedding on it would have its drawbacks. mally across the UK, shared be- fore her wedding,” it said. Saturday by flying to Canada “I’ve flown with another tween the four governments in “She and Prince Harry ask with crew who are all named Megan once or twice before, London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and again for understanding and re- Harry or Meghan. British but never seven so we might Belfast. The UK says it will consult spect to be extended to her father Airways said the flight from have to all call each other by the Scottish government on all in this diffi cult situation.” Heathrow to Toronto, the city our surnames during this very changes to those policies, and try The palace could not be reached where Markle used to live and special flight,” she said. BA also to seek agreement. for further comment. where the pair made their first said any passengers named Sturgeon, the fi rst minister and Thomas told TMZ he had public appearance together, will Harry, Meghan or Megan flying SNP leader, has decided that con- agreed to pose for a paparazzi be staff ed by two Harrys, seven on Saturday will be allowed to sultation is not enough, and insists photo shoot in a bid to rehabilitate Megans and one Meghan, and use its first-class lounge and all that her government or Holyrood his image, rather than for money, flown by senior first off icer Harry customers on the day will be should be given the legal power to but that he now regretted the Blake. BA customer service given lemon and elderflower block any changes they disagree Prince William, talks to presenter Nick Knowles as he joins the crew of DIY SOS on a project move. manager Megan Horsley will Victoria sponges, the same with. UK ministers have rejected to build a new community centre in support of those aff ected by the Grenfell Tower disaster The images — in which he was lead the onboard crew and said flavour as the royal couple’s this stance as an unacceptable in west London yesterday. being measured for a suit and ad- the specially-staff ed flight was wedding cake. veto. miring a photo of the future royal Bid to block release of May meets athletes Employment records strong growth

fi les on govt-Gaddafi ties Reuters While this was the biggest in- London crease since the three months to August 2015, it represented only a Guardian News and Media had made a request for “informa- against MI6 and the Foreign Of- 0.4% increase in pay in infl ation- London tion which is of great public value fi ce, and against Jack Straw and ritish employers hired adjusted terms. and signifi cance”, and that as a Sir Mark Allen, who were foreign many more workers than Including bonuses, total pay consequence the clause in the act secretary and head of counter- Bexpected in early 2018 but growth cooled to 2.6% from 2.8% overnment lawyers are at- that deals with vexatious requests terrorism at MI6 at the time of the wage growth has yet to acceler- in the three months to February, as tempting to prevent docu- – those that are manifestly unjus- couple’s kidnap. ate sharply, according to fi gures expected. Gments that detail the rela- tifi ed – could not be invoked. The couple’s lawyers also with- that leave the Bank of England still Last week the BoE left inter- tionship between the government Ashton initially requested drew their attempt to seek a ju- waiting for signs the economy is est rates on hold, despite saying and Muammar Gaddafi from being copies of Downing Street fi les dicial review of the Crown Pros- ready for a rise in interest rates. in February that borrowing costs made public under the Freedom that covered the period from the ecution Service’s decision not to Employment rose by 197,000 were likely to go up more quickly of Information Act, just days after Lockerbie bombing of December charge Allen with criminal off enc- during the fi rst three months of than it had previously thought. apologising for the UK’s role in the 1988 to the revolution of 2011 that es after a four-year Scotland Yard this year, the biggest jump since It said it wanted to be sure the kidnap and torture of one of the resulted in Gaddafi being deposed investigation. late 2015 and far exceeding the economy was bouncing back after Libyan dictator’s opponents. and murdered. He subsequently The couple had been taken off a 130,000 consensus expectation of barely growing in the fi rst quarter. They are appealing against an narrowed his request to fi les from fl ight in Bangkok and detained by a Reuters poll of economists. Economists said the strength of information tribunal ruling that the years 1990 to 2002, but has the CIA after a tipoff from MI6. Sterling and government bonds hiring in yesterday’s fi gures sug- the documents should be handed said he may request more. They were put on a fl ight to Tripo- were little moved by the fi gures, gested Britain’s economy did not to Nigel Ashton, professor of in- Last week Theresa May told li, where Belhaj was imprisoned for which showed a familiar picture have such a bad start to 2018 as ternational history at the London Abdel Hakim Belhaj, the leader of six years and frequently tortured. of solid growth in jobs, unemploy- portrayed by the preliminary of- School of Economics. a militia that had been opposed Boudchar was taped head to foot to ment at its lowest level in decades, fi cial data. At a hearing in London today, to Gaddafi , and his wife, Fatima a stretcher for the 17-hour fl ight. but only a modest pick-up in pay “On balance, the combination lawyers for the Cabinet Offi ce will Boudchar, that she was “pro- She was four-and-a-half months for most British workers, who have of robust employment growth, argue that Ashton’s request should foundly sorry” about the role MI6 pregnant at the time. been hit by higher infl ation since falling unemployment and strong- be dismissed as being “vexatious” played in their kidnap, rendition Four weeks later, a second lead- the 2016 Brexit vote. er underlying earnings growth, as because of the amount of time it and torture in 2004. ing opponent of Gaddafi was kid- Annual growth in earnings, ex- well as a clear relapse in produc- would take to redact the papers be- The government paid Boudchar napped in Hong Kong after an cluding bonuses, edged up to 2.9% tivity in the fi rst quarter, looks fore release, on such grounds as na- £500,000. Throughout his six- MI6 tipoff and fl own to Tripoli in the three months to March after supportive to a Bank of England tional security and the safeguard- year legal battle, Behaj insisted he with his wife and four children. He Prime Minister Theresa May meets members of Great a 2.8% rise in February, the Offi ce interest rate hike in August,” said ing of international relations. wanted only an apology, and he re- settled his claim against the Brit- Britain’s Invictus Games team on Horse Guards Parade in for National Statistics (ONS) said Howard Archer, chief economic At a hearing last year, the infor- ceived no payment. In return, the ish government in 2012, receiving central London yesterday. yesterday, as expected in the Reu- adviser to the EY ITEM Club con- mation tribunal ruled that Ashton couple dropped their civil claim £2.2mn. ters poll. sultancy. Gulf Times 16 Wednesday, May 16, 2018 EUROPE

Soros-run NGO quits Catalan leader seeks end Hungary

AFP Budapest to direct rule by Madrid he foundation run by US-Hungarian billionaire AFP the “legitimate” leader. Catalan president from 1931 to gised for his past comments, TGeorge Soros said yester- Berlin A series of tweets and articles 1933, planned in 1926 against the which he said were taken out of day that it was closing opera- over past years have overshad- military dictatorship of Miguel context. tions in Hungary and relocating owed his appointment, with Primo de Rivera. Responding to the controver- to Germany in response to the panish Prime Minister independent anti-racism group “He defends xenophobia,” sy from Berlin, he quoted Macia, “repressive” policies of Prime Mariano Rajoy and Catalo- SOS Racisme Catalunya slam- Ines Arrimadas, the leader in whom he said off ered to the rest Minister Viktor Orban’s govern- Snia’s new separatist leader ming them yesterday. Catalonia of the centre-right, of Spanish people the fraternity ment. Quim Torra said yesterday that “We reject the discourse that anti-independence Ciudadanos of the people of Catalonia when “Faced with an increasingly they are willing to meet, as the Mr Torra has used repeatedly,” party, said on Monday. he proclaimed a Catalan republic repressive political and legal en- regional president prepares to the group said. Foreign Minister Alfonso Das- in 1931. vironment in Hungary, the Open form a government and keep “A dangerous, irresponsible tis added yesterday that he is It is “with the same aim that Society Foundations (OSF) are fi ghting to break from Spain. and unacceptable discourse, concerned over a “discriminato- I am taking the presidency of moving their Budapest-based Torra made a request to meet based in prejudices,” a statement ry form of nationalism” in Cata- Catalonia, fraternity to all the international operations and Rajoy earlier in the day from said, adding it would remain lonia, according to a statement peoples of Spain”, he said in Eng- staff to the German capital, Ber- Berlin, where he was visiting de- vigilant to denounce any poten- by a forum in which he took part lish. lin,” the network said. posed Catalan leader Carles Pu- Torra and Puigdemont at the press conference in Berlin. tial “racist stances”. in the southern city of Sevilla. Torra also said that all regional Orban, re-elected last month igdemont as controversy grows In a series of articles pub- The allegations could harm ministers sacked by Madrid after for a third term in offi ce, has long over his appointment, with crit- Bulgarian counterpart that he ditions,” Torra said, as Madrid lished online, Torra said it was the separatist movement in the failed secession bid – many accused the 87-year-old Soros ics accusing him of “xenopho- would meet him, although he prepares to otherwise lift di- not “natural” to speak Spanish Catalonia, which has always of whom are now jailed or ex- and non-governmental organi- bia” for past comments deemed cautioned that Torra would have rect rule it imposed on Catalo- in Catalonia. strived to diff erentiate itself iled and face rebellion charges – sations he funds of orchestrat- off ensive to the Spanish. to respect the law and added nia after Puigdemont and other He also described Spain as “a from radical, xenophobic na- will be allowed to return to their ing immigration and plotting to “My fi rst aim of this new there would never be an inde- separatist leaders declared inde- country that exports misery” tionalisms that have arisen else- posts in his government if they undermine the cultural and reli- Catalan government is to off er pendent Catalan republic. pendence on October 27. and branded those who do not where in Europe. want to. gious identity of Europe. dialogue to the Spanish govern- Torra, who was handpicked Torra, a 55-year-old editor defend the Catalan language and It is estimated that more than But this could throw a spanner The OSF said the decision fol- ment,” he told reporters. by Puigdemont as his successor, who has long campaigned for culture “scavengers, vipers and 60% of the region’s 7.5mn in- in the works. lows the latest steps by Orban to Prime Minister “Rajoy please also asked the central govern- independence, was appointed hyenas”. habitants originate from other “If this option was put on the “impose further restrictions” on you fi x a time and place”, he said, ment to hand back control over Catalan president on Monday A since-deleted tweet he parts of Spain. table, we would have to look into NGOs. standing next to Puigdemont, Catalonia’s fi nances after Ma- after scraping through a regional posted in 2012 said: “The Span- While the pro-independ- it and determine if it is in line Earlier this year, citing na- who is battling extradition to drid said it would maintain its parliamentary vote. ish are coming to monitor us, out ence movement has grown in with the law and justifi es lift- tional security concerns, the Spain on charges of rebellion and oversight on spending in the re- He described himself as a of here once and for all!” strength over the years, the re- ing” direct rule, Spain’s central government announced a so- misuse of public funds. gion to prevent it from funding a “caretaker president” while he Torra has also said a new gion remains deeply divided on government representative in called “Stop Soros” package of Rajoy responded from So- fresh secession bid. awaits the return of Puigde- armed uprising was necessary, the issue. Catalonia, Enric Millo, warned draft laws aimed at “shedding fi a where he held talks with his “We won’t accept these con- mont, whom he considers to be just like the one Francesc Macia, Torra has repeatedly apolo- on Catalan television. light” and clamping down on NGOs receiving funding from abroad. Russia’s Navalny The proposals include a spe- cial tax on such NGOs, secret jailed over protest service surveillance of their Spike Lee rages at Cannes staff , and a ban on travel to Hun- Russian opposition leader gary’s border zones for Hungar- Alexei Navalny was sentenced ians deemed to be involved in to 30 days in jail by a Moscow “illegal immigration”. court yesterday for his role in against Trump’s America Foreign NGO staff under simi- organising nation-wide protests lar suspicion could be barred against President Vladimir Putin from the country altogether. on May 5. DPA The OSF decision is “regret- Some 1,600 anti-Kremlin activists, Cannes table”, said the EU’s fi rst vice- including Navalny, were detained president Frans Timmermans. during protests held ahead of “Whenever a civil society or- Putin’s inauguration for a fourth S director Spike Lee has ganisation that helps build vi- term as president. marked his return to the brant & tolerant democracies Navalny had called for UCannes Film Festival is threatened & feels it can no demonstrations in more than 90 with a profanity-laden attack Spike Lee: We have to wake up. We can’t be silent. longer do its work, democracy towns and cities under the slogan on racism in Donald Trump’s suff ers,” he tweeted. “Putin is not our tsar” to protest America. Left: Russian TV presenter and Rights groups in Hungary and what he says is Putin’s autocratic Lee’s fi lm BlacKkKlansman model Victoria Bonya poses on abroad have said the proposals rule. tells the true story of African- the red carpet on her arrival was an eff ort to silence critics. Putin, 65, won re-election American undercover detective yesterday for the screening “The reason why the OSF has overwhelmingly in March, Ron Stallworth, who managed of the film Solo: A Star Wars reached this decision is very tell- extending his grip over Russia to infi ltrate the Ku Klux Klan Story at the 71st edition of the ing of how fast our operational for six more years – a tenure of (KKK) and become a member of Cannes Film Festival. context is deteriorating,” Marta 24 years that would make him “the organisation”, as the char- Pardavi, co-head of the Hungar- Moscow’s longest-serving leader acters playing its supporters in ian Helsinki Committee, a refu- since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin. the fi lm call it. of Cannes declaring that he was gee rights NGO that has come Navalny has been barred from Lee’s two-hour fi lm links the “robbed” after his cult movie under regular attack by the gov- running in Russia’s presidential White House to the activities of Do the Right Thing missed out ernment, told AFP yesterday. election for what he says was a white supremacists. on the festival’s top prize, the Amnesty International, an- false pretext. Yesterday the 61-year-old Palme d’Or for best picture. other NGO in the government’s director said Trump had failed Also during yesterday’s press crosshairs, said it was not clos- to show moral leadership in his conference, Lee, who has spent ing its Hungary operations “for Bishops call for response to last August’s “Unite his fi lmmaking career de- Canadian model Winnie Harlow now”. the Right” rally in Charlottes- nouncing racism in the US, said poses as she arrives on Orban, who won by a landslide respect of Islam ville in the US state of Virginia. he felt particularly unnerved Monday evening for the in the April 8 election, said on “That (expletive) had the knowing that Trump had the screening of the film Monday that the “Stop Soros” Germany’s Catholic Bishops’ chance to say we are about love nuclear codes. BlacKkKlansman at the 71st package would be among the Conference has called for mutual and not hate,” the fi ery Lee “I go to bed thinking about edition of the Cannes Film fi rst bills tabled to the new par- respect between religious groups told a Cannes press conference it,” he said. Festival. liament in the coming weeks. in Germany ahead of the start of marking the fi lm’s premiere. BlacKkKlansman was greeted The package is “one of the Ramadan. “That (expletive) did not de- with a lengthy standing ovation “on the right side of history”. most important questions of the “There should be nowhere at nounce the Klan and ... the Na- at the fi lm’s Cannes premiere. The story of the fi lm, set in election, Hungarians voted for all where human dignity is not zis.” It stars American footballer the 1970s during a time of up- it”, Orban said on Monday during respected. In this regard, it is Trump failed to say “in turned actor John David Wash- heaval in the US stemming from a visit to Warsaw. irrelevant whether someone America, we’re better than ington, the son of Hollywood the Vietnam War and student “It has become impossible to belongs to the same religious that”, according to Lee, who re- star Denzel Washington. US director Ron Howard with Chewbacca during a photocall for protests, has a connection to protect the security of our op- community,” conference fused to mention the president Lee has made a series of con- the film Solo: A Star Wars Story at the 71st edition of the Cannes the present day, Lee said. erations and our staff in Hungary chairman Cardinal Reinhard by name. troversial remarks in the past, Film Festival. He said that the fi lm’s mes- from arbitrary government in- Marx wrote in a letter of greeting BlacKkKlansman draws to an including about the US Nation- sage should be a wake-up call terference,” said OSF president to Germany’s large Muslim end with KKK members chant- al Rifl e Assocation, but asked dedicated to Heather Heyer, a permission to use fi lm footage for the rest of the world, warn- Patrick Gaspard in yesterday’s community. ing “America First” before yesterday’s press conference to civil rights activist, who died showing what he said was her ing that the activities of the statement. While not all religions were the showing original fi lm footage of excuse his coarse language be- when a car ploughed into a daughter’s murder. radical right were not confi ned The organisation will move same, God accorded the same Klan leader David Duke praising cause there was group of people protesting Au- Lee said BlacKkKlansman, to the US. out “over the summer” with the dignity to all people, Marx said. Trump’s plans for the US. “(Expletive) going down that gust’s white supremacist rally which is to open in US cinemas “This (expletive) is all over Berlin offi ce becoming “fully op- “As the faithful, we should work The movie’s screening comes made you want to curse”. in Charlottesville. on the fi rst anniversary of the the world,” Lee said. “We have erational from end-August,” an for humanity to see itself as a 30 years after Lee stormed out BlacKkKlansman is also Heyer’s mother gave Lee Charlottesville protests, was to wake up. We can’t be silent.” OSF source told AFP. family of God’s creation and that we show mutual respect and honour.”

Minimum height Raid on Kyiv offi ces of Russian state media for cops justified AFP woman for the Security Serv- He said that Vyshynsky later ment bodies are somehow con- Local German off icials are entitled Kyiv ice of Ukraine (SBU), said that collaborated with separatist nected with the professional to stipulate a minimum height for Russian-controlled media were groups in eastern Ukraine. work of these media organi- male and female police off icers, being “used as tools in a hybrid “For his work Vyshynsky was sations, that would be outra- a state-level administrative court kraine’s security service war against Ukraine”. awarded the medal ‘For the re- geous and scandalous,” Kremlin sitting in the western German city raided the Kyiv offi ces of Earlier RIA Novosti journalist turn of Crimea’” by the decree spokesman Dmitry Peskov told of Dusseldorf ruled yesterday. URussia’s state-run RIA Kyrylo Vyshynsky, a Ukrainian of Putin,” said Kononenko. journalists. The decision came after a Novosti news agency yesterday, national who received a Russian Vyshynsky, who has been “Any action against Russian Duisburg woman measuring 1.6m detaining one journalist who passport in 2015 according to the heading up RIA Novosti’s web- media is unacceptable,” he said, Putin gets behind the wheel of a Kamaz truck during the ceremony challenged the minimum height was accused of treason. presidential decree published on site for readers in Ukraine, re- adding that the Ukrainian gov- to open the bridge, which was constructed to connect the Russian stipulation of 1.63m for both male The searches took place with the offi cial Kremlin website, was ceived ample funding to carry ernment has repeatedly “put mainland with the Crimean Peninsula, near the Taman Peninsula in and female police candidates relations between Moscow and detained near his house in Kyiv. out his work, said the SBU dep- pressure on freedom of speech” Krasnodar Region, Russia. in the state of North Rhine- Kyiv already extremely strained “Currently, the preliminary uty chief. in the country. Westphalia. over Russia’s 2014 seizure of qualifi cation of the criminal “Today we can say that he re- He warned that Moscow could “This is not the fi rst time to the opening of the bridge. The stipulation was “appropriate Crimea and accusations that it off ence (...) is treason,” a rep- ceived €53,000 a month for such take measures in response, say- when the Kiev regime tram- “Kyiv decided to take revenge and very understandable”, Judge fueled a rebel confl ict in east- resentative of the prosecutor’s activities,” said Kononenko. ing the Kremlin “will vigorously ples on fundamental rights and on us for the Crimean bridge,” Andreas Mueller said. ern Ukraine that has cost some offi ce, Igor Ponochovny, told “The money was subsequently defend the interests of Russian freedoms by persecuting jour- she said on her Twitter feed. The complainant said she was 10,000 lives. journalists during a joint brief- distributed to the groups and media to the fullest extent”. nalists,” Dmitry Kiselev was Up to 15 journalists work for sporty and had passed the The raids and arrest came on ing with the SBU offi cial. people involved. That was the The director of the public quoted as saying by RIA Novosti. RIA Novosti in Ukraine. relevant aptitude tests in two the day that Russian President SBU deputy chief Viktor reason for the searches.” media conglomerate Rossiya Margarita Simonyan, the edi- Some of them are responsible other states. Vladimir Putin opened a bridge Kononenko accused Vyshynsky Russia immediately con- Segodnya, the parent company tor-in-chief of the RT television for transmitting information The court found that North Rhine- providing the fi rst direct road of travelling to Crimea in 2014 to demned the searches and deten- of RIA Novosti, called for the re- channel that is also part of the to its headquarters in Moscow Westphalia had explained that a connection from southern Rus- carry out “subversive” report- tion of Vyshynsky. lease of Vyshynsky and said the same media group and shares while others, led by Vyshynsky, minimum height was appropriate sia to the Crimean peninsula. ing to justify the peninsula’s an- “If it is the case that the ac- “persecution” of Russian media offi ce space with RIA Novosti in are in charge of the ria.com.ua for an off icer’s own protection. Olena Gitlyanska, a spokes- nexation. tions of Ukrainian law enforce- in Ukraine must end. Kyiv, linked the raids and arrest website for Ukrainian readers. Gulf Times Wednesday, May 16, 2018 17 INDIA Parties jostle for Karnataka IANS This time, the Congress, set to Congress adopted Bengaluru win 78 seats, sprung a surprise and quickly announced its sup- unethical means, port to the Janata Dal-Secular maintains Shah ll eyes were on Karnataka which fi nished third with 37 seats governor Vajubhai Vala in a bid to keep the BJP away from BJP president Amit Shah yes- Ayesterday after hotly-con- forming a government. terday accused the Congress of tested elections threw up a hung Congress general secretary contesting the Karnataka polls Assembly, forcing the BJP and a Ghulam Nabi Azad told the me- by adopting the “most unethical hurriedly stitched alliance of the dia in the company of outgoing means” after independence and Congress and the JD-S to stake chief minister Siddaramaiah that said that the people of the state claim to form a government. the JD-S and the Congress “will rejected it despite all its eff orts. The BJP, which appeared con- meet the governor and stake Addressing a gathering at the fi dent of returning to power in its claim (to form a government)”. party headquarters here on only southern bastion, emerged Led by former prime minis- Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, as the single largest party but ter H D Deve Gowda, the JD-S Shah also hit out at the Con- failed to cross the half-way mark quickly accepted the off er and gress for “seeing” its victory in in the 224-member Assembly wrote to the governor staking Karnataka just because the BJP where two constituencies didn’t claim to power. fell short of only seven seats vote on Saturday. Both JD-S leader and former from the required magic figure. The election commission data chief minister H D Kumaraswamy “The Congress contested the showed that the BJP could end and Siddaramaiah of Congress Karnataka polls by adopting up with 104 seats – eight short then met the governor and staked ‘most unethical means’ since of simple majority. The Congress the claim to form a government. independence. They took the appeared to have learnt from its “I have accepted the support support of the PFI (Popular mistakes in Manipur and Goa extended by the Congress to Front of India) and the SDPI (So- where it, despite emerging as the form the government,” Kumar- cial Democratic Party of India) single largest party in both states, aswamy said. for the vote bank politics which reacted late and gave the BJP That happened after BJP lead- are threat to the security of the enough time to cobble together er and its chief ministerial can- country,” he said. an alliance with smaller parties to didate B S Yeddyurappa met and Shah also hit out at the Congress form governments there. urged the governor to let him for playing the Lingayat card just prove his majority support in the before the polls, saying the strat- Karnataka Assembly. He was ac- egy of dividing castes started BJP performance companied by Union Minister JD(S) leader H D Kumarswamy, outgoing Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and Congress state president G Parameshwara arrive to by Rahul Gandhi after becoming extraordinary: Modi Ananth Kumar. address the media after meeting Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala at the Raj Bhavan, in Bengaluru yesterday. Congress president was also The ball now lies in the Gov- played out in Karnataka. Dubbing the BJP performance ernor’s court. According to usual Besides these, the Congress in Karnataka as “extraordinary”, practice, the governor calls the also tried to misguide people Prime Minister Narendra Modi leader of the single largest party about the Scheduled Caste/ yesterday said the state’s peo- or pre-poll alliance to form the Scheduled Tribe Atrocities Act ple gave a befitting reply to the government. Rahul thanks Congress voters and tried to create fake voter Congress. In the case of a hung Assembly, identity cards, he claimed. Addressing party workers at the the leader is asked to prove the IANS Rahul had declared before not gauge the trend in their own confi dence which has taken (us “I have never seen the kind of BJP headquarters here, Modi majority on the fl oor of the House New Delhi the elections that Congress will constituencies,” said Shivaku- down) to this level.” misuse of money and muscle took a dig at the Congress, say- within a stipulated time. In Kar- win the assembly polls “hands mar. Of the 30 outgoing Congress power as was the case in Karna- ing that a perception was cre- nataka, the Congress and JD-S down”. Siddaramaiah decided to con- ministers, 16 ministers lost the taka,” he said. ated by the party which ruled did not have a pre-poll alliance. ongress president Ra- The party’s tally saw a dip of test from the Badami and Cha- battle of ballot. Shah said despite all these the country for so many years However, it is for the governor to hul Gandhi yesterday 44 seats compared to the 2013 mundeshwari seats as he felt he According to the results de- eff orts the people of Karnataka that the “BJP is a party only of take a call on who to invite fi rst. Cthanked people in Karna- elections when it had won 122 knew the constituencies well clared by the election com- rejected the Congress and the Hindi-speaking states”. The dramatic turn of events taka who had voted for the party seats. even as he was “advised inter- mission (EC), though Siddara- BJP reached 104 seats from 40. “Are Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, that saw BJP’s jubilations swing- in the assembly polls and said Meanwhile, blaming Siddara- nally against doing so”, he said. maiah lost in Chamundeshwari He said the Karnataka elections Assam, and northeast states ing up and down throughout the the party will fi ght for them. maiah for his “over-confi dence”, “The decision was tak- in Mysuru by a huge margin of have a message for those who Hindi-speaking states? No, the day spoiled its hopes to form its In a tweet, he also thanked Karnataka energy minister en by him (Siddaramai- 36,042 votes to H D Deve Gowda, believe in democracy. “You BJP represents whole of India. own government in Karntaka – party workers for their dedica- D K Shivakumar said the ah) because he knew he won from Badami in Bagalkot (Congress) can adopt any un- The people of Karnataka gave its gateway to the south. tion and hard work. chief minister was ad- the constituencies by a slender margin of 1,696 ethical means but when people a befitting reply to those who According to party sources, “A big thank you to all those vised against contesting well. We became votes against BJP’s B Sriramulu. decide to defeat you, they tried to create such a percep- three senior ministers – Dha- who voted for the Congress in from two seats but he over-confident... The other 16 Cabinet min- defeat you,” he said. tion and spread misinformation mendra Pradhan, Prakash Java- these elections. We appreciate still went ahead. internally we had isters who bit the dust include Taking a jibe at the Congress for about us,” said Modi. dekar and J P Nadda – have been your support and will fi ght for He said the Congress advised him that H M Revanna, T B Jayachan- seeing its victory in Karnataka The prime minister said a per- rushed to Karnataka to strategise you. Thank you also to our work- did not do even 10% of he should rep- dra, K Ramanath Rai, H C Ma- as the BJP could not reach the ception was also created that with the local leadership. ers and leaders for their dedica- what the Bharatiya Janata resent only one hadevappa, H Anjaneya, S R magic figure, Shah said he was language was a barrier for him Mocking at the “desperation tion and untiring hard work in Party (BJP) did during constituency,” the Patil, S S Mallikarjun, A Manju, not able to understand by which in Karnataka. of a defeated Congress” to sup- support of the party,” Rahul said. the campaigning. Congress leader as- Kagodu Thimmappa, Pramod analysis were they “smiling”. “There was no barrier between port the JD-S to form a coalition The assembly poll threw up “Rahul did his best serted. Madhwaraj, Rudrappa Lamani, “They (Congress) were reduced the people of Karnataka and me. government to keep the BJP out of a hung verdict with Congress to come here and cam- Asked if it was Shivaraj Tagadagi, Basavaraj Ra- to 77 from 122. Their chief Language was never a barrier power, BJP spokesman Shantaram winning 78 seats, 26 less than paign in the state in the Siddaramaiah’s yareddi and Santosh Lad. minister lost badly in Chamun- for me. I will always cherish the said his party was open to an alli- the BJP, though it polled a larger past three months. But it “over-confidence”, Two women ministers deshwari and managed to win aff ection I received from them”. ance with the JD-S or seek its sup- number of votes. The Janata Dal- is not a good sign for the Shivakumar said: Umashree and Mohan Kumari Badami. port to form the new government. Secular won 37 seats. local leaders, who could “Sure...It is his also lost the election. NCP, Thackeray cousins voice doubts over EVMs

IANS However, he said that since all apprehensions. So the ECI Mumbai the mystery of the EVMs was not must consider this,” the NCP yet resolved, it was necessary to said. remove all doubts by going for Attacking the BJP, Uddhav JP ally Shiv Sena and op- ballot paper voting. added that “its horses win in the position Nationalist Con- “If the BJP is so confi dent, state elections but lose in all the Bgress Party (NCP) and the then let it take a decision once bye-elections.” Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and for all and announce ballot In this context, he asserted (MNS) yesterday raised doubts paper voting all over India. Even that the Sena candidate Shrini- regarding electronic voting ma- the opposition shall be silenced,” was C Vanga will win the up- chines (EVMs) after the Karna- Thackeray said. coming May 28 Lok Sabha bye- taka Assembly election results The NCP headed by Sharad polls in Palghar. were declared. Pawar wondered “how the BJP He said the BJP has won the A vehement opponent of could get so many votes in those state where it was not in power EVMs since long, MNS president constituencies where it was very but the opinion of the people in Raj Thackeray gave a terse reac- weak in Karnataka. the states which have experi- tion on the Karnataka verdict: “This has raised doubts on enced BJP rule may be diff erent. “This is the victory of EVMs.” the EVMs role. The Election The Sena has been a vehement “I congratulate all the win- Commission of India must take opponent of EVMs since long. ners in Karnataka, whether it is note of the people’s fears about After the Karnataka results, it Prime Minister Narendra Modi is presented a garland as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Transport Minister Nitin the Bharatiya Janata Party or the EVMs and go in for ballot paper has reiterated its proposal for a Gadkari, Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj look on during a Congress,” said Shiv Sena Presi- voting. It may be a little time- return to the traditional ballot ceremony after the Karnataka election at its party headquarters in New Delhi yesterday. dent Uddhav Thackeray. consuming, but it will help clear paper voting. Verdict makes Congress’ task harder for ’19 elections

IANS main force against the BJP. It was also signifi cant to raise Rahul had spearheaded the cy and the party having a strong gress had also put up a spirited “dilution” of the SC/ST Act. New Delhi The party’s decision to sup- morale of Congress workers as party’s campaign in Karnataka state leader in Siddaramaiah fi ght, Prime Minister Narendra The Congress decision to rec- port Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) the party is in power now only with frontal attacks on Prime whose government was seen Modi energised the BJP’s cam- ommend minority status to the in the government formation in in two other states – Punjab and Minister Narendra Modi but it to have delivered on pro-poor paign in Karnataka in the last numerically strong Lingayat he results of Karnataka Karnataka to prevent BJP from Mizoram, besides the union ter- apparently did not have the kind schemes in the last fi ve years. phases holding 21 rallies in a community and spur sub-na- assembly polls must have coming to power has implica- ritory of Puducherry. of impact the party was hoping But it was successful in gar- span of nine days. tionalism in the form a separate Tcome as a disappoint- tions for the party’s preparations The results were also seen as for – far from it. nering more votes than the BJP, The Congress will continue to state fl ag also apparently did not ment for the Congress party and for the 2019 elections. crucial to boost Congress presi- Rahul repeatedly hammered while getting 26 less number of face challenge of meeting BJP’s work in the desired way for the its ambitions for the 2019 Lok While it will be required to dent Rahul Gandhi’s image as the issues of jobs, atrocities seats at 78. Also, had it fought formidable election machine in party. Sabha polls, but it can take some share political space with JD-S an eff ective campaigner against against Dalits and women and jointly with JD(S) in a pre-poll Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Rahul has largely been un- solace from the fact that it was in Karnataka when a coalition Prime Minister Narendra Modi the multi-crore banking frauds alliance, the total tally of the two Chhattisgarh with Modi expect- able to come up with an answer able to deny the Bhartiya Janata government is formed, there will in view of their likely run-in in during his campaign. parties, at over 54% of votes, ed to help the BJP governments to Modi’s oratorial and Amit Party an outright victory in the be demands from other parties the 2019 polls. During the campaign, he also would have overshot BJP’s by a beat anti-incumbency with his Shah’s managerial skills. He will crucial southern state. for alliances in states such as The election saw the Congress expressed his willingness to be- large number. This shows a lack oratorical skills. get three more opportunities The results are likely to boost Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and put its heart and soul in the cam- come the prime minister if the of planning or political vision. The Congress also apparently this year where he can at least the present churning to forge Chhattisgarh which will go to paign, with Rahul campaigning Congress or a coalition led by the It was cold comfort for the miscalculated that the Dalit show political acumen of bring- an anti-BJP front for the next the polls later this year. in a large number of constituen- party wins next year’s Lok Sabha party that its vote share had risen community, which has a sizeable ing together the right coalitions general elections with opposi- The Karnataka elections were cies but the results showed par- elections. compared to 2013 elections when presence in Karnataka, was quite – before polls – to challenge the tion parties expected to exert crucial for the Congress to build ty’s vulnerability to BJP’s skills The Congress suff ered a sharp it had won 122 seats. The party had upset with Modi government on main weapon that the BJP has. If more pressure on the Congress momentum for the 2019 Lok at executing social coalitions, drop in its numbers in Karnataka polled 36.79% votes in 2013 and a range of issues including the he cannot, then 2019 would turn to go for state-specific allianc- Sabha polls and for three assem- micromanagement and giving despite favourable factors such as 38% in the yesterday’s results. “delay” in fi ling review peti- out to be a bigger disappoint- es even in states where it is the bly polls later this year. intensity to campaign. apparent lack of anti-incumben- Like in Gujarat where Con- tion in the Supreme Court over ment for him and his party. Gulf Times 18 Wednesday, May 16, 2018 INDIA

COMMENT PEOPLE OBITUARY LAW AND ORDER POLITICS Lalu may be released Woman found living Noted novelist CBI probe into prisoners’ CPI-M to move court on bail today: lawyer with brother’s corpse Balakumaran dead assault case ordered against poll violence

Convicted Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu An elderly woman was yesterday found living in Noted Tamil novelist and script writer V The Delhi High Court directed the Central Bureau The West Bengal CPI-M and the Party of Prasad Yadav will spend one more night in Birsa her house in North 24 Parganas district of West Balakumaran died at a private hospital in of Investigation to conduct an investigation into Democratic Socialism (PDS) yesterday said Munda Central Jail, Ranchi, and may be released Bengal with the body of her brother who had died Chennai yesterday. He was 71. The author of the alleged assault on prisoners lodged in the they will move the high court against the state on provisional bail today, his lawyer said. The two-three days ago, police said. The body was several novels and short stories, Balakumaran high risk ward of Tihar Jail. The court asked CBI to government and the state election commission for Jharkhand High Court order regarding provisional recovered from their house in Naihati town after had been ailing for some time. He is survived submit a report within four weeks and listed the failing to conduct the rural polls properly. The court bail for Lalu has not reached the Central Bureau of area residents complained to police about a stench by his wife and two children. Balakumaran matter for hearing on July 10. Delhi government earlier ordered the West Bengal government and Investigation court as yet, the former Bihar chief emanating from the dwelling. Sharbani Pal, aged penned popular novels like Mercury Pookkal, standing counsel Rahul Mehra told the court the SEC to make proper security arrangements to minister’s lawyer, Prabhat Kumar, said. “The order around 60, was residing in the house along with Thayumanavan and Kadalora Kuruvigal, that criminal proceedings should not be initiated ensure the safety of the electorate and hold the copy of provisional bail has not been off icially her brother Amarnath Pal, 64. The cause and time among others. He also wrote dialogues for against security personnel as they are working election in a free and fair manner. “The SEC has communicated to CBI court. We are hopeful that of death would be known only after a post-mortem, Tamil movies like Nayagan and Guna, both under stressful conditions in an overcrowded failed to conduct the election in a proper manner. the court will communicate to district court and a police off icial said. In a similar case reported starring Kamal Haasan, the Rajinikanth- prison. The court said prison off icials do not need We highlighted the incidents of murder and Lalu may be released today,” Kumar said. Lalu in 2015, Partha De, 44, was found living with the starrer Baasha and many others. Tamil Nadu to resort to violent methods to manage their jails vandalism on the polling day before the court. The returned to Ranchi on Monday after attending his bodies of his sister, father and pet dogs for almost a Chief Minister K Palaniswami had condoled and just because a person in uniform is inflicting court has asked us to file a petition with proper elder son Tej Pratap’s marriage on May 12. year at the family house on Robinson street. the death. the violence, the act does not get decriminalised. application. We will do that,” the CPI-M said. Supreme Court acquits Sidhu in road rage case

IANS tion for a term which may extend New Delhi to one year or with fi ne which may extend to Rs1,000 or both. The bench refused to award he Supreme Court yes- jail term to Sidhu and only im- terday acquitted former posed the fine of Rs1,000 on Tcricketer and Punjab him, while considering that Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu the “case is 30 years old, there from culpable homicide charge is no past enmity between the in a 30-year-old road rage case accused and the deceased, no for which he had been awarded a weapon was used by the ac- three-year jail term. cused and the background in A bench of justice J Chela- which it happened”. meswar and justice Sanjay Kis- “We are of the opinion, a han Kaul acquitted Sidhu of cul- punishment of imposition of pable homicide not amounting fine of Rs1,000 would meet the to murder charges but convicted ends of justice in this case,” it him for causing simple injury added. and imposed a fi ne of Rs1,000 The incident dates to De- without any jail term. cember 27, 1988, when Sidhu The court also acquitted and his cousin had beaten Gur- the other accused, his cousin nam Singh and two others in Rupinder Singh Sandhu, of all what was described as a road charges. rage case. Gurnam Singh later died. “We are of the opinion, a On April 12 this year, the Pun- punishment of imposition jab government supported the of fi ne of Rs1,000 would decision of the Punjab and Har- Rescue operations underway at the site where the under-construction flyover collapsed in Varanasi yesterday. meet the ends of justice in yana High Court convicting the this case” minister. It told the apex court that the 65-year-old victim had In its judgment, the bench died after a fi st blow from the said: “No doubt that there are cricketer-turned-politician. lapses in the investigation. We The state had said there was cannot hazard a guess whether no evidence at all to suggest such lapses occurred because that Singh died due to cardiac of the general inefficiency of arrest and not brain haemor- 16 killed in Varanasi the system or as a consequence rhage. of a concerted effort made to In 1999, the trial court in Pa- protect the accused. The law of tiala had acquitted Sidhu and this country is not that people his cousin, saying the medical are convicted of offences on the report stated that the death basis of doubts.” was due to a heart attack. Setting aside the Punjab and The high court in Decem- fl yover crash, four hurt Haryana High Court verdict ber 2006 had overturned the which had convicted Sidhu and lower court’s decision. It had IANS The director general of police tween Chauka Ghat bus stand hav Prasad Maurya left for the Prime Minister Narendra Modi awarded three-year jail term, said that Singh did not die of Varanasi (DGP) O P Singh said that ad- and Lahartara. site of the accident soon after in his tweet mourned the deaths, the apex court said: “... the cardiac arrest but due to the ditional police teams had been the mishap occurred. saying: “Extremely saddened by first accused cannot be held to injury on his temporal lobe. sent to Varanasi from neigh- “Many cars are buried Mourning the loss of lives, the loss of lives due to the collapse be responsible for causing the Sidhu was awarded three years ixteen people were killed bouring places to expedite the under the heap of rubble Yogi Adityanath said: “My con- of an under-construction fl yover death of Gurnam Singh. There- in jail for culpable homicide not and another four were rescue operation. and over two dozen dolence with the aff ected fami- in Varanasi. I pray that the injured fore, the judgment under ap- amounting to murder. Sfeared trapped as an un- According to Varanasi district persons have been injured lies. I have sent the deputy chief recover soon. Spoke to offi cials peal is required to be set aside The apex court in 2007 stayed der construction fl yover col- magistrate Rameshwar Mishra, in the incident. The death minister and minister Neelkanth and asked them to ensure all pos- and is accordingly set aside. the conviction after the counsel lapsed yesterday in Varanasi, the the rescue operations were in toll may go up” Tiwari to the spot. Formed com- sible support to those aff ected.” The material on record leads us appearing for Sidhu had con- parliamentary constituency of full swing. mittee to look into the incident, “I spoke to Uttar Pradesh to the only possible conclusion tended that the fi ndings of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A team of the National Disas- Uttar Pradesh Chief Minis- report to come in 48 hours.” Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath that we can reach that the first high court were based on opin- The incident took place in ter Response Force (NDRF) has ter Yogi Adityanath has formed “Five teams of NDRF (250 regarding the situation due to accused voluntarily caused ions and not medical evidence. front of the Varanasi Cantt Rail- also been dispatched to help the a three-member committee to soldiers) with full equipment the collapse of an under-con- hurt to Gurnam Singh punish- Sidhu’s lawyer had argued way Station. authorities in clearing the debris investigate the incident. The rushed to the spot of accident struction fl yover in Varanasi. able under Section 323 IPC.” that there were defi ciencies in “Many cars are buried under and pulling out the injured from committee has been asked to in Varanasi. Compensation of The Uttar Pradesh government Section 323 (voluntary caus- the medical evidence and the the heap of rubble and over two the debris. submit its fi ndings within 48 Rs500,000 for kin of those dead is monitoring the situation very ing hurt) of the Indian Penal prosecution witnesses had given dozen persons have been injured The fl yover was being con- hours, said a statement from the and Rs200,000 for seriously in- closely and is working on the Code stipulates a punishment of diff erent statements on oath be- in the incident. The death toll structed by the Uttar Pradesh chief minister’s offi ce. jured in the incident will be dis- ground to assist the aff ected,” imprisonment of either descrip- fore the trial court. may go up,” a police offi cial said. State Bridge Corporation be- Deputy Chief Minister Kes- tributed,” he said. he said.

Rendered homeless Sex bias ‘kills 240,000 Court relief for Chandy infant girls yearly’ in solar scam inquiry AFP out of every 1,000 girls born be- Paris tween 2000 and 2005, was as- cribed to the eff ects of gender bias. IANS terms of reference. Hence, the names Chandy and numerous This amounted to about Kochi probe that Chief Minister Pi- other Congress leaders of sexu- lmost a quarter-of-a- 239,000 deaths per year, or 2.4mn narayi Vijayan ordered based on ally exploiting her. million girls younger than over a decade. the letter should not take place, Following the public outcry Afi ve die in India every year “Around 22% of the overall mor- ormer Kerala chief minis- Chandy contended. led by the then Left opposition, due to neglect resulting from tality burden of females under fi ve ter Oommen Chandy yes- Chandy in 2014 announced that society’s preference for sons, (in India) is therefore due to gender Fterday got partial relief in the Sivarajan Commission will a gender discrimination study bias,” the International Institute for the solar scam case as the high probe the case. found yesterday. Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) a court said allegations of sexual With the change of govern- This was over and above those research institute based in Austria, exploitation against him need ment in 2016, the report was aborted simply for being female, said in a statement. not be taken into account. submitted to Chief Minister researchers wrote in The Lancet The problem was most pro- The court’s direction came Pinarayi Vijayan. Last year, on medical journal. nounced in northern India, the while hearing Chandy’s peti- October 11, Vijayan told the “Gender-based discrimination researchers found, with Uttar tion over the solar judicial in- media the judicial report had towards girls doesn’t simply pre- Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, and quiry commission report. It The former chief minister been accepted, adding that cas- vent them from being born, it may Madhya Pradesh, accounting for said fi ndings of the commis- contended Nair’s letter es would be registered against also precipitate the death of those two-thirds of the excess deaths. sion, based on the letter of ac- was never part of the Chandy and others based on who are born,” said study co-au- Hardest hit were poor, rural, cused Saritha Nair, which al- commission’s terms of Nair’s letter that claimed she thor Christophe Guilmoto of the farming regions with low educa- leges sexual exploitation need reference was sexually exploited. Paris Descartes University. tion levels, high population densi- not be considered. Later, the former chief min- “Gender equity is not only about ties, and high birth rates. However, the court failed to Saritha Nair and her live-in ister approached the high court rights to education, employment “As the regional estimates of ex- stay the ongoing probe based on partner Biju Radhakrishnan are and brought in senior Congress or political representation, it is also cess deaths of girls demonstrate, the commission report, which the main accused in the multi- leader Kapil Sibal as his counsel. about care, vaccination, and nutri- any intervention to reduce the dis- was also demanded by Chandy. crore solar energy investment Leader of the opposition, tion of girls, and ultimately survival.” crimination against girls in food The former chief minister, fraud that rocked the Chandy Ramesh Chennithala, said the Guilmoto and a team used pop- and healthcare allocation should approached the court demand- government in 2013. It was later manner in which Vijayan tried ulation data from 46 countries to therefore target in priority regions... ing the one-member justice revealed that a section of the to fi nish off political rivals calculate how many infant girls where poverty, low social develop- (retired) Sivarajan Commission chief minister’s offi ce had links based on a ‘letter’ has fallen fl at would have died in a society where ment, and patriarchal institutions be stayed as it had gone beyond with the couple. and the very basis of the com- Rohingya women stand amid the debris of their houses after there was no discrimination im- persist and investments (in) girls its brief, and Nair’s letter was The sleaze letter written by mission report also has lost its a fire broke out in their camp in New Delhi yesterday. pact, and how many died in reality. are limited,” said co-author Nandita never part of the commission’s Nair – when she was in jail – credibility. The diff erence, about 19 deaths Saikia of IIASA. Gulf Times Wednesday, May 16, 2018 19 PAKISTAN

Diplomat involved in fatal Framework for talks with accident fl ies home Afghanistan in operation

AFP Internews of eliminating terrorism and earlier three rounds negotiating stan would support the Afghan- sation of the agreed actions; The APAPPS is a Pakistani Islamabad Islamabad achieving peace, stability, pros- the contours of the framework, led and Afghan-owned peace „ Territorial and aerial viola- initiative for co-operation in the perity and development of the but an agreement remained elu- and reconciliation; tions of each other’s territory areas of counter-terrorism and people of the two countries,” a sive till Prime Minister Shahid „ The two countries would would be avoided; reduction of violence, peace and akistan has allowed a US he new Pakistan-Afghan- statement jointly issued by the Khaqan Abbasi visited Kabul last undertake eff ective actions „ There would be no pub- reconciliation, refugees’ repa- diplomat involved in a fa- istan bilateral engage- foreign ministries of Pakistan month and met Afghan Presi- against fugitives and the irrec- lic blame game and instead the triation and joint economic de- Ptal traffi c accident to leave Tment framework – the and Afghanistan said. dent Ashraf Ghani. oncilable elements posing secu- APAPPS co-operation mecha- velopment. the country, an offi cial said yes- Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Earlier, the Foreign Offi ce The two leaders had on that rity threats to either of the two nisms would be utilised to re- The plan has the backing of terday, following a weeks-long Plan for Peace and Solidarity hosted a meeting of the APAPPS. occasion agreed on the new countries; spond to mutual issues of con- both China and the US. stand-off and street protests (APAPPS) – became operational Foreign Secretary Tehmina framework and tasked their for- „ Both countries would deny tention and concerns; and “The APAPPS provides a over the incident. yesterday, with both sides hop- Janjua led the Pakistani side at eign ministers and national se- use of their respective territory „ Working groups and nec- framework to strengthen mutual The diplomat – described as ing that its implementation the meeting, whereas Afghan curity advisers with concluding by any country, network, group essary co-operation mecha- trust and deepen interaction in the defence attache in an earlier would contribute to promoting Deputy Foreign Minister Hek- the agreement. or individuals for anti-state ac- nism would be set up as per the all spheres of bilateral engage- report – departed Islamabad late peace in the region. mat Khalil Karzai headed the Af- The seven principles agreed tivities against either country; APAPPS. ments. It is also a mechanism for on Monday, a senior Pakistani “Both sides agreed that eff ec- ghan delegation. between Pakistan and Afghani- „ They would put in place a Both sides have operational- fi nding solutions to bilateral ar- government offi cial told AFP on tive and full implementation of It was the fourth meeting of stan for the new framework for joint supervision, co-ordination ised six working groups, includ- eas of concern,” the joint state- condition of anonymity. the APAPPS would contribute the APAPPS. engagement are: and confi rmation mechanism ing the ones on security and in- ment issued by Islamabad and “The US diplomat has been towards the common objectives The two sides had spent the „ Commitments that Paki- through liaison offi cers for reali- telligence co-operation. Kabul said. allowed to return to the US in light of the High Court’s deci- sion that he had diplomatic im- munity,” the offi cial said. A US State Department spokesperson also confi rmed to Amnesty criticises campaign Sharif demands AFP that “the American diplo- mat who was involved in a tragic car accident on April 7 in Islam- offi cial probe into abad has departed Pakistan”. of ‘digital attacks’ on activists A sports utility vehicle in which the diplomat was travel- treason accusations ling collided with a biker and his AFP ducted from the eastern city of chestrating the attacks, but de- passenger at an Islamabad inter- Islamabad Lahore in December. manded that Pakistani authori- section last month. Saeeda told Amnesty that af- ties order an “independent and Internews decide who the culprit is among Atiq Baig, 22, died of head in- ter she started campaigning for eff ective” probe. Islamabad those levelling the allegation juries while his cousin, who was ights activists in Pakistan Khan’s release, she was lured by “It is already extremely dan- and himself. the passenger, was injured. are facing “a targeted a hacker posing as an activist on gerous to be a human rights Sharif then told the rally that Weeks later, a second accident Rcampaign of digital at- Facebook into revealing her e- defender in Pakistan and it is trongly reacting to wide- he is a patriotic Pakistani and Sharif: If I am actually a traitor involving a US diplomat and a tacks”, Amnesty International mail address. alarming to see how attacks on spread criticism and al- respected the army’s support or anti-national character, then motorcyclist made headlines but said yesterday, the latest warn- She was then sent e-mails their work are moving online,” Slegation against him for on the Kargil issue. come and form a national resulted only in minor injuries. ing about the rising threat to disguised as messages from said Elsayed-Ali in a statement. his remarks about the 2008 He claimed that he is “ready commission to probe the Tensions are simmering be- campaigners in the country. government departments con- Rights activists and jour- Mumbai attacks, ousted prime to work for the dignity and soli- matter. tween Islamabad and Washing- Attackers have used elaborate taining malicious links aimed nalists are frequent targets of minister Nawaz Sahrif has de- darity of Pakistan till the last ton as the US pushes Pakistan schemes to steal data and install at stealing her passwords and harassment and enforced dis- manded the formation of a na- drop of his blood”. to cross the border and kill 150 to crack down on safe havens it spyware on Pakistani activists’ data. appearances across Pakistan, tional commission to probe the He said that he is not ready to people in Mumbai? Explain it to allegedly provides for militants. electronic devices, the watch- “Every time I open an e-mail including those critical of the matter and determine who “has tolerate anyone bringing harm me. Why can’t we complete the Pakistan has long denied the dog said in a report. I am now scared. It’s getting so state. actually committed treason”. to the motherland and would trial?” he read out and asked the accusation. The study – entitled Human bad that I am actually not able Criticism of the military is “Those who worked for the continue to fi ght the powers reporters to point out anything In the wake of the fatal colli- Rights Under Surveillance – is to carry out my work,” Saeeda largely seen as a red line that integrity of Pakistan and its working against the country’s objectionable in that. sion, the Pakistani media drew based on the experience of four told the organisation. few in the country dare to cross. people were being labelled as interests. Asked why he had never con- repeated comparisons with the activists out of a dozen cases Amnesty documented a se- However, a burgeoning rights ‘traitors’ while those who vio- “Will you stand with me in demned Indian intelligence fatal shooting of two men by investigated by Amnesty, the ries of similar methods used civil rights movement by the lated the Constitution were be- this?” he asked the crowd. agency’s offi cer Kulbhushan US Central Intelligence Agency report’s co-author Sherif El- to try to contaminate activists’ country’s ethnic Pashtuns and ing called ‘patriotic’,” said Shar- He said that as prime minis- Jhadav, who had been involved contractor Raymond Davis in sayed-Ali told AFP. computers and phones with recent comments from ousted if while addressing a rally at ter, he was the custodian of na- in terrorism activities in Paki- Lahore in January 2011. One campaigner, Diep malicious software, some of prime minister Nawaz Sharif College Playground in the Swari tional interests. stan, Sharif said: “Kulbhushan After months of negotiations, Saeeda, said that she suff ered which was created by “a net- have increasingly targeted the area of Buner district, hours af- Sharif claimed that he was is an Indian spy. He was spying a Pakistani court eventually sustained harassment by hack- work of individuals and compa- security establishment. ter the National Security Com- being “mistreated for making in Pakistan and has also been freed Davis following the pay- ers after calling for the release nies based in Pakistan”. Military offi cials have denied mittee (NSC) held a meeting in Pakistan a nuclear state, ending convicted.” ment of $2mn to the families of of activist Raza Khan, who fel- The watchdog said that it was any involvement in the disap- Islamabad over the controver- power load-shedding, building Sharif, whose trial is expected the dead men. low campaigners say was ab- unable to identify the entity or- pearances of rights activists. sial comments that he made in a motorways, restoring peace to to conclude next month, asked recent interview. Karachi, Khyber Pakhtunhwa why the trial of the [Mumbai The former premier, who had and the Federally Administered attack] accused could not be been disqualifi ed by the Su- Tribal Areas, bringing the Ba- concluded. preme Court decision last year loch to mainstream”. He said that the world is not Worth it in Panamagate case, said that Earlier, when speaking with ready to accept Pakistani nar- whoever found guilty of treason journalists outside the ac- rative despite the fact that more should be hanged publicly. countability court of Islamabad than 50,000 army personnel, Some elements described where he has been facing trial in police, and civilians had sac- him as a traitor when he said Al-Azizia reference, the ousted rifi ced their lives in the fi ght that Pakistan was being isolat- prime minister said that he had against terrorists. ed, he added. never said that terrorists had The former prime minister “If I am actually a traitor or been sent from Pakistan. insisted that he did not say any- anti-national character, then Taking out his mobile phone thing new that had not been al- come and form a national com- from his pocket, he then read ready on record. mission to probe the matter,” out some lines from his inter- Retired General Pervez the Pakistan Muslim League view. Musharraf, General Shuja Pa- – Nawaz (PML-N) supreme “Militant organisations are sha, General Mehmood Durra- leader said, adding that 220mn active. Call them non-state ni, and Rehman Malik had made people of the country would actors, should we allow them similar statements, he argued.

Justice for Adam’s Son response to Justice for Eve’s Daughter claims

Internews letter has now been received, sender said they had evidence, Islamabad titled Justice for Adam’s Son, including video recordings and which references the earlier screenshots, backing this claim. letter and claims that “it takes No action has been taken letter has been written two to tango” and that women or ordered over the new letter to the heads of various in the force encouraged men for thus far, the offi cer said, but Ainstitutions and depart- favours. an inquiry ordered by the IGP ments, including police chief of The offi cer said that the letter into the earlier letter contain- Islamabad, claiming that recent claims the matter reached its ing harassment allegations has allegations of harassment in the point because of the response been concluded. police force were levelled to dis- from women in the force. The inquiry was conducted grace male police offi cers. The letter questioned the by Assistant Inspector General An anonymous letter titled availability of separate rooms of Police Asmatullah Junejo, the Justice for Eve’s Daughter was at Police Lines Headquarters in offi cer said, but “nothing con- received by the Islamabad In- which the previous letter had crete” was found regarding the spector General of Police (IGP) alleged that women were har- allegations levelled at offi cials Mahira Khan making a headline-grabbing debut on the red carpet on her arrival on Monday for the screening of the film BlacKkKlansman, Dr Sultan Azam Temuri months assed by their colleagues. by unnamed female personnel. in competition at the 71st Cannes Film Festival. Khan, the brand ambassador for cosmetics giant L’Oreal, is the first Pakistani to be invited to ago, alleging that women in the The letter also contained When contacted, IGP Temuri the global event. The milestone also marked a personal high for the film and television star, who is credited with being the only mother ever force were being harassed by the names of nine women and said there would also be an in- to have featured in lead roles in both Pakistani and Indian movies. their male colleagues. nine men allegedly in relation- quiry into the allegations in the A police offi cer said another ships with each other, and the new letter. Project launched to integrate folk music into Gilgit-Baltistan curriculum

Internews (IBT), a Swat-based organisa- was held in Aliabad of Hunza, their music in the event. nous cultures such as Shina, Bu- are seeing the fading of the cul- ness of Pakistan, he added. Islamabad tion, has launched the “Pakistan and attended by a large number Noted scholar Aziz Ali Dad rushaski, Wakhi, Balti, Khowar, tural diversity in the wake of mo- Torwali said that the project is Mountain Folk Music School In- of local people, including wom- presided over the ceremony, and Domaaki (Dawoodi), and dernity. based on the signifi cant concept tegration” project in Gilgit, Hun- en, artists, and schoolchildren. while Sherbaz Ali Khan, a re- presents a beautiful tapestry of This loss of diversity in the of integrating the folk music of project to integrate folk za and Ghizer districts. Schoolchildren played folk nowned poet of Burushaski lan- folk music, indigenous knowl- land of high peaks, pastures, gla- four communities – Shina, Wa- music into the school cur- The project is funded by US- music and sang songs in local guage, was the chief guest. edge and biodiversity. ciers and the knot of three moun- khi, Burushaski, and Khowar – Ariculum was launched in AID through its Small Grants and languages and in Urdu. IBT executive director Zubair He said that while the region is tain ranges will be a tremendous in schools in areas like Gaukoch, Gilgit-Baltistan yesterday. Ambassador Funds Programme. The music teachers employed Torwali said that Gilgit-Baltistan counted among the most diverse loss of indigenous knowledge, Gilgit, Gojal, Shapurson, and Idara Baraye Taleem-o-Taraqi The project launch ceremony with the project also presented is home to a number of indige- regions in the world, the locals identity and of the cultural rich- Shimsal. Gulf Times 20 Wednesday, May 16, 2018 PHILIPPINES Govt partially Protest over chief justice’s dismissal lifts ban on OFW deployment

By Ralph Villanueva al-Sabah. Over the weekend, Manila Times Roque said the ties between the two countries normalised after the signing of the MoA. he Philippine govern- “The relationship of Kuwait ment has partly lifted and the Philippines is now Ta deployment ban on normal. Both countries were skilled and semi-skilled over- just waiting for the signing of seas Filipino workers (OFW) to the MoA,” he added. Kuwait. “The signing indicated that In a news briefi ng, Palace both agreed to move on with spokesman Harry Roque Jr our relationship as we have said about 20,000 skilled and both learned from the experi- semi-skilled workers would ence and the experience will be deployed. “By now, (the make our friendship and ties deployment ban on the skilled with Kuwait even stronger as and semi-skilled workers) in the past,” Roque said. should have been lifted already It will also ensure that there because that is the plan (of La- will no longer be any cases of bor Secretary Silvestre Bello),” domestic abuses and deaths Roque added. since “one Joanna Demafelis is He said the ban on the de- too much.” ployment of domestic workers “We will not allow another to the Gulf state would “even- Filipino to die,” Roque said. tually” be lifted, but added Demafelis was a domestic that he did not yet know when worker in Kuwait whose re- this would happen. mains were found in a freezer The lifting came after a in that country. Memorandum of Agreement Roque called on Filipinos (MoA) was signed by Kuwait to keep their mind open since and the Philippines on Friday. not all Kuwaitis are violent al- Members of lawyer’s groups raise clenched fists as they shout slogans during a rally in front of the Supreme Court in Manila, yesterday, voicing concern on the ousting of The MoA ensures that em- though he said there are some former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. Sereno rose to become the first woman to lead the Philippines’ top court in a legal career marked by exception. But she notched ployers will provide food, “bad eggs.” a darker distinction on May 11 when she became the nation’s first chief Supreme Court justice to be sacked by her own colleagues. housing, clothing and health “Let us give (the Kuwaitis) insurance, with Kuwait au- leeway. It is not in their cul- thorities registering domestic ture or anything, because it workers. is not. Though there are some It also provides for one who have loose screws,” he month’s salary to workers for added. every year of service rendered President Rodrigo Duterte after expiration of the work declared a deployment ban on contract. workers bound for Kuwait af- The agreement was signed ter Demafelis’ death. by Foreign Aff airs Secretary About 262,000 Filipinos Alan Peter Cayetano and Ku- work in Kuwait, of whom more Parts of Philippine Rise waiti Minister of Foreign Af- than 60% are domestic work- fairs Sabah Khaled al-Hamad ers, according to the DFA.

Aquino no-show at declared protected area By Catherine S Valente miles is only the beginning of the have to off er, may we all have a Manila Times Philippine Rise,” he added. renewed sense of commitment inquiry on Dengvaxia The Palace offi cial also ex- to promote the welfare of our plained that the undersea region people, safeguard our national resident Rodrigo Duterte could only be seen by diving into interest, (and) assert our sover- By Jomar Canlas Mallari of the Vanguard of has declared portions of it. eign rights over our waters and Manila Times the Philippine Constitution, PPhilippine Rise (Benham According to the president, all other areas within our juris- Inc. (VPCI). Rise) and Eastern Kalayaan as scientifi c activities would be vi- diction,” the president said. The VACC and VPCI filed protected areas. tal in the protection and man- The president signed the dec- ormer President Benigno the complaint against them Duterte signed the proclama- agement of the Philippine Rise laration following calls from an Aquino was a no-show for violation of Section 3 of tion on board BRP Davao del Sur and its vast resources. environmental group to declare Fduring the preliminary Republic Act (RA) 3019 (An- to mark the fi rst anniversary of “I have complete faith in the a portion of the biodiversity- investigation at the Depart- ti-Graft and Corrupt Practic- his renaming the underwater capabilities of our world class rich undersea region as a marine ment of Justice (DoJ) yester- es Act); Section 65 of RA 9184 land mass to signify the coun- scientists and I recognise the protected area. day on the complaint fi led (Government Procurement try’s sovereign rights over the need to provide them with the Gloria Ramos, vice president by two anti-crime advocacy Reform Act); Article 220 resource-rich region. necessary means to fulfi l your of the Philippine chapter of in- groups over the controversial (Technical Malversation) and In his speech, Duterte an- mandate. Indeed, these devel- ternational ocean conservation Dengvaxia vaccine. Article 365 (Criminal Negli- nounced his formal declaration opments would not have been nonprofi t Oceana, said that a The hearing at the DoJ was gence) of the Revised Penal of parts of the Philippine Rise possible without the eff orts of petition was sent to the Palace presided over by a panel of Code and other laws. undersea feature as a Marine Re- our dedicated public servants, in July 2017, which sought the prosecutors led by Senior As- The DoJ panel gave a new source Reserve. scientists and legal experts who proclamation of Philippine Rise sistant State Prosecutor Ros- deadline of June 4 for the “Around 50,000 hectares of President Rodrigo Duterte’s son Paolo Duterte and aide Christopher worked together to bolster our as a protected area and of Ben- sane Balauag, with Senior As- submission of counter affi- the Philippine Rise shall become Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go jet-skied to the Benham Rise. claim over the Philippine Rise,” ham Bank, the shallowest por- sistant State Prosecutor Hazel davits. a Strict Protection Zone lim- he said. tion of the Philippine Rise, as a Decena Valdez, Assistant State Balauag said the respond- ited to scientifi c studies – at this Conmira in the waters above the fi rst anniversary of his renaming “When the United Nations no-take zone. Prosecutors Consuelo Corazon ents must be present at the time only Filipinos. I do not want Philippine Rise,” Duterte said. of the area. The president only Commission on the Limits of The group said that the Phil- Pazziuagan and Gino Paolo next hearing at 10am on (foreigners)… Only Filipinos,” “I join the Filipino people reached the Casiguran Bay. the Continental Shelf approved ippine Rise was declared as an Santiago as members. June 4 for the submission of Duterte said. in wishing you all the best as Speaking to reporters, Roque our claim to the Philippine Rise “Ecologically and Biologically The former president sent counter-affidavits, where “While more than (300,000) you embark on your mission explained that Duterte only a few years ago, we were not just Signifi cant Area” by 196 coun- his lawyer, Mildred Umali, they would be required to hectares shall be designated as to conduct mapping, surveys, planned to send off the team of granted access to the vast re- tries in the United Nations Con- to receive a copy of the com- be present to reaffirm their a Special Fisheries Management biological investigations and as- Filipino scientists that would sources. We were also entrusted vention on Biological Diversity plaint. Former budget sec- sworn statements before the Area,” he added. sessment of the coral reef and undertake marine scientifi c re- with the responsibility to protect in 2016. retary Florencio Abad and DoJ panel. The president also led the fi sheries stock in the area until search in the area. it from abuse and misuse,” he The 24 mn-hectare region— former health secretary Jan- She pointed out that DoJ launching of the country’s fi rst November,” he added. “It’s a little bit far. Its 120 nau- added. 13mn hectares of which is an ex- ette Garin also skipped the in- panel took cognisance of the scientifi c exploration of the re- Palace spokesman Harry tical miles away. That’s logistic Duterte then told the Filipino tended continental shelf that the quiry and were represented by case despite the graft aspect of source-rich underwater plateau Roque Jr had earlier said that 50 nightmare. So this is symbolic. scientists to “explore this (new Philippines was awarded sover- their counsels. the complaint, stressing that located off the coast of Aurora Filipino scientists would carry We’re sending off the scientists, frontier) fully aware of our re- eign rights in 2012—sits east of The complaint was filed the case also has a criminal as- province. out the study. but the scientists will proceed. sponsibility to (properly man- Luzon. Senator Edgardo Angara by the Philippine Anti-Cor- pect – that of violation of the “Today, we send off our team Duterte however decided not That’s it,” Roque said. age) and conserve its natural re- Jr and Muntinlupa Representa- ruption Commission (PACC) Revised Penal Code, which the of talented and competent Fili- to push through with the visit to “The Philippine Rise is beyond sources for the benefi t of present tive Ruff y Biazon have ledfi sep- Commissioner and Volun- DOJ has primary jurisdiction pino scientists who will under- the underwater land mass. the 200 nautical miles EEZ (ex- and future generations of Filipi- arate bills seeking the creation teers Against Crime and over. The Offi ce of the Om- take the Co-ordinated National The president was supposed clusive economic zone) so you nos.” of a body in charge of studying, Corruption (VACC) lawyer budsman has primary juris- Marine Scientifi c Research Ini- to sail toward the Philippine Rise have to go beyond 200 nautical “As send off our experts to ex- developing, and conserving the Manuelito Luna, and Eligio diction over graft cases. tiatives and Related Activities or to lead the celebration of the miles. So the beginning of the 20 plore and discover what our seas area. Rebuilding lives in Marawi under militants’ shadow

DPA we can get here so we have not stay in — their properties in erator and a broken suitcase she manager of Task Force Bangon in South-East Asia,” he said. Brawner said the chances of a Marawi City money to buy food and pay for the main battle zone. once used during a visit to Ma- Marawi. The government hopes While the region has long similar siege happening again in our basic needs,” he said, before The maximum length of visit nila years ago. to start repairing the heaviest- been a target of attacks by local the southern Philippines in the breaking down in tears. was three days and the window “The government must show hit areas by next month, and has extremist groups, analysts see near future was “very low.” He adji Ale Comilao choked Comilao is one of more than for visits shut on May 11. that people in Marawi are im- picked a Chinese-led consor- the Marawi siege as a watershed admitted, back tears as he and fam- 237,000 residents still displaced portant so that we are not misled tium to take the lead. moment. however, that groups could Hily members salvaged one year after hundreds of Is- “The government and we don’t become desperate,” “What we are doing will em- It showed both the extent of attempt to replicate the Marawi whatever they could from their lamic State-allied militants at- must show that people in she said. body their culture and tradi- the Islamic State threat in the siege in other countries such as wrecked home in Marawi City, tacked Marawi, triggering a fi ve- Marawi are important so It was this kind of despera- tions, and it will not be a city that region, and the militants’ readi- Malaysia and Indonesia. the site of the Philippine’s most month battle with Philippine that we are not tion that could lead residents to is alien to them,” Castro said. ness to engage in a drawn-out Fifty-eight-year-old father serious confrontation yet with troops. misled and we don’t “cling on to the promises of such Colonel Romeo Brawner, dep- urban war. Abdulbasit Solaiman said it was militants. His family home and business become desperate” groups as the IS,” she added. uty commander of the military “What is most sobering about diffi cult to imagine how Marawi The family’s antique shop on was located in what became the Acknowledging this risk, the in Marawi, commented that “in- the Marawi episode is the pros- could fully recover. the ground fl oor of the three- main battle zone, about 250 hec- A few metres across the street man in charge of Marawi’s re- frastructure rebuilding is easy, pect that it could inspire and He was able to open a small storey building used to have tares in size. from Comilao’s shop, Jama- habilitation said that the proper but rebuilding the lives of the embolden other groups, if they antique and souvenir shop out- the biggest collection of rare Here, most structures were lia Solaiman Manogangcar, a implementation of the govern- people is more diffi cult... have the requisite men and ma- side the main battle zone in heirlooms in the city. reduced to rubble, both by the 34-year-old mother of eight, ment’s 17.2bn-peso ($328mn) it could take a generation.” terial, to emulate or even outdo February, but he feared for the The only things worth saving fi ghting and military airstrikes. stared at an empty plot over- development plan would be a key Brawner said remnants of the Marawi in scale, style and sub- future. “This cannot happen now from the crumbling struc- Those left standing were rid- grown with weeds, where her deterrent to extremism. group that fought in Marawi stance in other Association again,” he said. ture were assorted pieces of dled with bullet marks, shattered home used to stand. “We need to do this right be- were still recruiting and training of South-East Asian Nations “I don’t know how I will be debris: rusty steel bars, twisted by mortars and blackened by fi re The two-storey wooden house cause it can be a source of frus- in the southern Philippines de- (Asean) cities and urban areas,” able to support my family, my iron sheets and broken wooden damage. was burned down, leaving al- tration if they think that what we spite the deaths of their leaders noted Tan See Seng, a professor children, if another siege takes planks that were being hauled Beginning in April, six months most nothing behind apart from are doing is not what they envi- last year. of international relations at the place. I would rather die fi ght- into a truck. after the fi ghting ended, resi- the charred stand of an electric sioned the rehabilitation to be,” “They have not abandoned S Rajaratnam School of Interna- ing. Even if I just bite the en- “We will sell whatever scrap dents were allowed to visit — but fan, the blasted door of a refrig- said Felix Castro, the fi eld offi ce the objective to create a caliphate tional Studies in Singapore. emies, I will fi ght.” Gulf Times Wednesday, May 16, 2018 21 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL Probe begins into deaths Lanka rupee hits record low

Reuters 0.22% so far this month after a Colombo 1.5% fall in April. It has slipped of British rugby players 2.9% for this year. Coomaraswamy on Friday Agencies an “open verdict” on the deaths he Sri Lankan rupee hit also said the Central Bank was Colombo and “further forensic tests are a record low of 158 per “studying carefully” if there being carried out”. Tdollar yesterday in thin was extra pressure on the cur- Gunasekera said the two trade after the Central Bank rency than was expected and second visiting English men from Durham City rugby chief said the currency will also the behaviour of market amateur rugby player has club in the northeast of Eng- depreciate gradually while participants. Adied in a Sri Lankan hos- land had played a friendly exporters stayed away from The Central Bank said on pital after visiting a night club against the local Ceylonese the market expecting further April 26 it would intervene to and police are now investigating Rugby and Football Club on weakness. support the rupee when nec- the circumstances, a spokesman Saturday. The rupee ended at essary and that there was no said yesterday. After the match, the team vis- 157.95/158.10 per dollar, com- reason for the rupee to be un- Thomas Howard, 25, and Tom ited a night club and returned to pared with Friday’s close of der pressure given the coun- Baty, 26, developed breathing their hotel in small groups early 157.85/158.10. The rupee will try’s record $10bn foreign diffi culties on Sunday morning Sunday, police said. depreciate gradually as dol- currency reserves. after returning from the club in “We don’t have a cause of lar outfl ows surpass infl ows, Dealers said they expect the Colombo and were rushed to the death yet and investigations are Central Bank chief Indra- rupee to gradually weaken and main state-run hospital in the ongoing,” Gunasekera said. jit Coomaraswamy said on face higher volatility this year capital. The British high commission Friday. due to debt repayments by the Howard died shortly after (embassy) said it was support- “The market was dull. There government. But Central Bank admission, police said. Baty ing the families of the two men was no unusual importer dol- senior deputy governor Nan- was transferred to the intensive and was in contact with local lar demand, but exporters are dalal Weerasinghe on Thurs- care unit of a private hospital authorities. staying away from the mar- day said debt repayments by where he died yesterday, a police Durham City, in a message ket,” a currency dealer said. the government will not have statement said. posted on its website, said “the “We did not see any inter- an impact on the currency as “An autopsy on Howard Howard and Baty families have Thomas Baty (left) and Thomas Howard complained of breathing diff iculties on Sunday. vention either from the cen- they are managed with bor- has revealed that he did not requested that their right to tral bank or state banks today. rowed money externally. die due to any external in- privacy is respected”. According to police in Sri Lan- The two players complained of from the nightclub in an ef- I think importers got panicked Foreign investors sold gov- juries or any illness,” said The team arrived in Sri Lanka ka, some British players went to breathing diffi culties to the hotel fort to establish the players’ since April 23 and over-bought ernment securities worth a net police spokesman Ruwan on May 9 and began the tour Colombo’s Cleopatra nightclub management at about 10 on Sun- movements. dollars. So exporters had been Rs4.05bn in the week ended Gunasekera. with a game against Ceylonese after the match and returned to day and were taken to Nawaloka Tributes to the pair from other waiting for the currency to bit May 9, bringing the outfl ow The spokesman added that a Rugby and Football Club (CR & their hotel in the early hours of Hospital. rugby clubs across the UK have the bottom.” so far this year to Rs9.8bn, the judicial medical offi cer had given FC) in Colombo. Sunday. Police are examining CCTV been made on social media. The currency has declined Central Bank data showed. Nepal medical students protest high fees Girl swept away in Agencies above the university’s ceil- (DSON), an association of med- the colleges under them fol- was on a state visit to Nepal. statement of Chief Minister of Kathmandu ing. The TU executive council ical doctors, has been pressing low the decision to the letter,” A team led by NSU general province-2, prohibition of entry on March 26 reduced the total the IoM to take necessary steps Dr Karki said. secretary Kundanraj Kafl e yes- of Nepali media at Muktinath, fl ood fee for the degree to Rs2.2mn for the eff ective implementa- As per the TU executive terday demonstrated in front of and border encroachment. edical students in the from Rs3.1mn. It included the tion of the fee structure set by council decision, the MD stu- Tri Chandra Campus. Similarly, NSU vice-presi- Nepal capital staged tuition, along with admission, the TU. dents have to pay 50% of the to- The NSU protested against dent Ram Prasad Adhikari said Agencies Mprotest in front of the library, practical and examina- According to DSON general tal fee in the fi rst year and 25% the remark made by the In- that the government should be Kathmandu Institute of Medicine (IoM) tion charges. secretary Dr Toshima Karki, in the second and third year dian lawmaker saying Janak- serious towards the issue as the against exorbitant fees charged However, the medical col- the medical colleges have asked respectively. pur should be brought back to intention of the remark made by medical colleges under the leges have charged an addi- students to deposit an addi- Students protest against India, insult of National fl ag of by the Indian lawmaker was to 17-year-old school girl Tribhuvan University (TU) for a tional fee up to Rs1.7mn under tional amount ranging from Indian lawmaker’s remark: Ne- Nepal and insult of Nepali army ruin the age-old relation be- is missing after she was Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. the headings of library, practi- Rs1mn to Rs1.7mn. pal Students Union (NSU) yester- by bringing Indian army during tween Nepal and India, saying Aswept away by the fl ood Scores of students from six cal and examination fees. The “We want the IoM and the day protested against the remark Indian Prime Minister Modi’s the remark was direct attack on in Manthali area of Ramechhap private medical colleges from medical colleges’ failure to education ministry to take nec- made by Kirti Azad, a lawmaker Nepal visit. Nepal’s sovereignty. district, 130km south of Kath- diff erent parts of Nepal de- comply with the fee structure essary steps to end the syndi- from India’s ruling BJP. NSU leader Deepak Bhatta- NSU said that it would con- mandu, yesterday. manded that the IoM take set by the university prompted cate of the medical colleges. The lawmaker had made the rai said that the NSU organised tinue the agitation until the In- Police said Ushma Phuyal was necessary steps against those students to resort to the protest. The onus lies with the two statement when the Indian protest after the government dian lawmaker apologises over trying to cross a rain-swollen colleges that are charging fees The Doctors Society of Nepal government entities to ensure Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned deaf ear towards the the remark. stream when she was carried away by the swift currents. She was on her way to school for her 11 grade fi nals. Police and locals searched for Ushma until late af- Traffic chaos ternoon, but to no avail. UN calls on Bangladesh A fl ash fl ood triggered by Sun- day night rain damaged dozens of homes and shops in Man- thali. Around two dozen vehicles to investigate cases of parked at the town’s bus park were also caught in the fl ood. Deputy Superintendent of Po- lice Rajendra Kumar Thapa said enforced disappearance hundreds of security personnel were mobilised on a rescue mis- sion soon after the fl ash fl oods Agencies 2013 until September 2017, 845 report blamed the Rohingya entered the town. Geneva/Dhaka cases of extrajudicial killings, issue for certain human rights In Myagdi district, a landslide about 48 cases of torture to problems at home. buried three houses in Tatopani. death and about 300 cases of “The realisation of Bangla- Twelve other houses in the area he United Nations Hu- enforced disappearance were desh’s human rights commit- were also partially damaged. man Rights Council has documented. ments faced setbacks in the Police said though there was no Tasked Bangladesh to The national report, sub- face of sudden infl ux of nearly casualty, several families were investigate all cases of arbi- mitted by Dhaka, claimed that one million forcibly displaced displaced. Local Red Cross offi ce trary killings, enforced disap- the government of Bangladesh Myanmar nationals (Rohing- said 22 households were hit by pearances and excessive use “under the leadership of prime yas) to Bangladesh,” it read. the landslide. of force, and prosecute and minister Sheikh Hasina main- Dhaka pledged to continue Landslide stalls traffi c at Sid- punish perpetrators. tains a policy of ‘zero tolerance’ to host the “forcibly displaced dhartha highway. The inter-governmental UN with regard to criminal liabili- Myanmar nationals” until Vehicular movement was ob- body also called for establish- ties of the members of the LEAs they voluntarily return to their structed for nearly 14 hours after ing the truth about the fate and (law enforcement agencies).” homeland in safety, security a landslide near Dobhan Bazaar whereabouts of victims of the “The law in general neither and dignity. A chaotic traff ic in a street in Dhaka yesterday. According to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police traff ic of Tansen-Butwal section of the disappearances. accords immunity to the mem- The Bangladesh report made department, traff ic jams have become intolerable over the last few days in some areas. Siddhartha highway in Palpa Such recommendations were bers of the LEAs from criminal at least eight future pledges in- district. made at the Universal Periodic prosecution nor makes any dis- cluding further strengthening Review (UPR) organised by the crimination (sic) their favour,” “national institutions that pro- council in Geneva on Monday. added the report. mote human rights, democracy, Referring to violence and A Bangladesh delegation led good governance and rule of law”. excessive use of force by state by Law Minister Anisul Huq, The Human Rights Com- actors during the previous gen- joined the 30th UPR. mittee and the Special Rap- eral elections, the UN Human Dwelling on the culture of porteur on freedom of religion Ruling AL candidate leading Rights Committee insisted that impunity to law enforcement, expressed concerns about free- Bangladesh should ensure the the UN reports, compiled by dom of opinion, expression and safety and security of all voters the offi ce of the UN High Com- association, as well as death during elections. missioner for Human Rights, threats, physical attacks, in- The committee, comprised regretted that Bangladesh did timidation and harassment of in Khulna city mayor election of independent experts, ex- not accept that enforced disap- journalists, bloggers and hu- pressed concern at the high pearances occurred. man rights defenders. rate of extrajudicial killings The UN recommended es- With regard to the judiciary, Agencies ing some polling stations, vote In the 49 polling centres, ment Women College polling and reports of enforced disap- tablishment of an independent the Special Rapporteur noted Dhaka fraud and violence in some ar- Awami League-backed centre around 3:30pm, halting pearances and the excessive commission to carry out trans- that its problems included a eas the counting of vote started mayoral candidate balloting for sometimes. use of force by the state actors, parent and accountable inves- lack of accountability, severe within 4:30pm. Talukder Abdul Khalek got At a press briefi ng at BNP’s and also at the lack of investi- tigations and prosecutions, re- backlogs of pending cases, lack uling Awami League- The voting was suspended a total of 20,334 votes while Naya Paltan central offi ce, BNP gations and accountability of peal the Special Powers Act and of judges, discriminatory and backed mayoral can- in three polling centres due to Bangladesh Nationalist senior joint secretary general perpetrators. reform other relevant laws. patriarchal attitudes and the Rdidate Talukder Abdul violence, capturing of polling Party (BNP) backed mayoral Ruhul Kabir Rizvi alleged that The report said from May However, the Bangladesh incorrect formulation of cases. Khalek was yesterday leading stations and forced stuffi ng. candidate Nazrul Islam ruling party men resorted to in the early counting of Khulna The polling that began at 8am Manju got 10,843 votes various irregularities in 50% of City Corporation election, UNB concluded at 4pm. polling stations. reported. The turnout of voters was said Nagar School centre in ward No. A total of fi ve mayoral candi- India provides funds for river training in Nepal In the 49 polling centres in- to be around 50%. 24 following snatching of bal- dates, 148 general councillor and India has provided the largest sum taming and training the rivers. The works is aimed at flood control cluding the two where electronic Returning offi cer Yunus Ali lot papers by miscreants around 38 reserved-seat female coun- for river training in Nepal in a bid to The river training and and water resources management, voting machines (EVM) were said voting in two polling cen- 10:30am, said presiding offi cer cillor candidates are in the fray. control floods that also aff ect India construction will carry on near which benefit several million used, Khalek got a total of 20,334 tres - Labanchora Government Khalilur Rahman. The mayoral contenders in- during the monsoon season. the Indian border in three rivers. people inhabiting in the watershed votes while Bangladesh Nation- Primary School and ward No. Voting at Fatema High School clude Awami League’s Taluk- Indian ambassador Manjeev The amount is India’s of these rivers in India and Nepal. alist Party (BNP) backed mayoral 31 ward councillor offi ce - were in ward No. 22 was suspended der Abdul Khalek, Nazrul Islam Singh Puri yesterday handed over contribution for river With the Rs180.74mn, India has candidate Nazrul Islam Manju suspended around 2:20pm due for two hours from 10:30am Manju of BNP, Jatiya Party’s a cheque of Nepali Rs180.74mn training and construction of so far given 13 instalments since got 10,843 votes. to snatching of ballot papers and following an incident of fake Shafi qur Rahman Mushfi q, Is- to Sanjay Sharma, secretary in embankments along Lalbakeya, 2008 to Nepal for the river After concluding the vote of forced stuffi ng. voting. lami Andolan Bangladesh’s the ministry of energy, irrigation Bagmati and Kamla rivers, the training and embankment works Khulna City Corporation elec- Besides, voting was sus- Two bombs were blasted in Mozammil Haque and CPB’s and water resources of Nepal, for Indian embassy said. totalling to over Rs4.68bn. tions amid allegations of captur- pended at Khulna Govt Iqbal front of the Khulna Govern- Mizanur Rahman Babu. Gulf Times 22 Wednesday, May 16, 2018 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Emerging markets need to ask: Whose money is our (real) money?

The Federal Reserve is fi nally succeeding in tightening fi nancial conditions, more than two years after it began raising US interest rates. But its “success-at-home-pain- abroad” impact is being acutely felt across emerging markets (EMs). Rising Treasury bond yields and a resurgent US currency have shaken EMs as investors have reassessed the creditworthiness of nations that loaded up on dollar- denominated debt. The US economy, in contrast, looks set to power ahead, with economists forecasting average annual growth of around 3% in the fi nal three quarters of this year. Corralling the Central banks in developing economies from Argentina to Indonesia have now intervened to defend their currencies, depressing their foreign exchange reserves. Between March 1 and April 27, Argentina sold $8bn of reserves to arrest a run on the peso. That’s nearly 15% of info-monopolists its total FX reserves. Since April 27, the peso has slumped to a record low, the central bank hiked interest rates to 40% and President Mauricio Macri has confi rmed By Amar Bhidé business innovation, and have been But unchecked market power founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg that Argentina is seeking a fi nancing deal with the Medford, Massachusetts cautious in limiting potential abuses. creates opportunities for abuse, did not prove particularly reassuring, Despite rules prohibiting “predatory” particularly with regard to user given the lack of real information that International Monetary Fund. pricing and “anti-competitive” privacy. Unlike television networks or he provided. Members of Congress – Argentina may be an extreme case, but no emerging n a modern capitalist economy, we mergers, price wars and acquisitions newspapers, these digital behemoths many of whom have received campaign country can aff ord to be celebrate innovations that produce that increase market leaders’ power are don’t merely give advertisers an contributions from Facebook – largely complacent. According market power, but fear the risks of permitted in practice. Legally mandated audience; they tailor ads to individual limited themselves to denouncing consumers. This is not a benign Facebook’s carelessness, and Fed leaves a to the Institute of Iunchecked dominance. Nowhere breakups – such as of Standard Oil in are those risks more apparent than 1911 and AT&T in 1982 – are rare, and difference, because in order to tailor Zuckerberg earnestly promised to invest “success-at-home- International Finance, with today’s information-technology regulating prices charged by “natural ads effectively – thereby maximising more in security. more than $900bn of monopolies. monopolies” (such as electric utilities) their value to advertisers (and thus But could the data that Facebook pain-abroad” EM bonds come due The question of how to encourage is uncommon. profits for the platform) – these or Google accumulates ever really be this year. transformational, market-dominating This innovation-favouring approach companies collect a huge amount of safe? No matter how much one spends impact with rising innovations while limiting the abuse of has helped to make the US a nursery personal data from their users. on protecting large databases, it is Indonesia’s FX market power long precedes the digital of world-dominating businesses, Perhaps because most users don’t farfetched to believe that nobody inside interest rates reserves fell by $7.1bn age. In the United States, the story of and it has not changed with the know the details of which data are being or outside such a massive and complex to $124.9bn between Walmart founder Sam Walton is a case digital revolution, either. The “info- collected, they have so far shown a organisation could breach it. America’s February and April as the central bank tried to support the in point. The World War II veteran monopolists” Google and Facebook, surprisingly high tolerance for online own National Security Agency could went from small-town variety-store faced with few regulatory obstacles, surveillance. Most would be outraged not prevent Edward Snowden, a low- rupiah. But the currency still lost 5% of its value in that franchise owner to multi-billionaire have created unprecedented value for if a mega-discounter bugged shopping level contractor, from walking off with a three-month period. mogul, presiding over what would consumers – and have secured massive carts to fi nd out what should be pitched trove of state secrets on a thumb drive. Turkey’s reserves are down nearly $3bn since February. become the world’s largest private market power for themselves. to a specifi c customer at the checkout In some cases, such as health care or As higher US rates would make it harder for EMs to get employer. These companies have eviscerated counter, even if it helped keep prices banking, the public benefi ts of digitally It is a stirring tale of audacity and traditional media, though many of the low, and machines, not humans, did the stored data justify the risks. But, for access to capital for investments, including addressing enterprise, which included innovations losers were themselves oligopolists or eavesdropping. Yet most users never the most part, limiting data collection the huge infrastructure defi cit in their economies, the – such as establishing distribution monopolists. When they dominated the bother to read, say, Facebook’s terms of is a much safer bet than relying on data EMS are now struggling to contain the high volatility centre0s in sparsely populated regions airwaves, the US television networks service before clicking “agree,” and are protection. brought about by hot money fl ows. and building up global supply chains – ABC, CBS, and NBC charged advertisers indiff erent to how much surveillance is Ensuring that today’s info- The deeper problem in EMs lies with the excessive that business students worldwide now steep rates. The one or two newspapers being carried out. monopolists can legally collect only study. And the huge profi ts Walmart that dominated in each city or town In fact, extensive tracking has a very limited amount of personal fi nancialisation of the global economy that has occurred generates for its owners are dwarfed by avoided cutthroat price competition. become the new normal. The question data – say, what newspapers receive since the 1990s. The resultant policy dilemmas – rising the value it provides to its customers, This helps to explain why the struggles is no longer whether Facebook should about their subscribers – would protect inequality, greater volatility, reduced room to manage who rely on the low prices made of traditional media – many owned monetise users’ personal data, but users, without fatally diminishing the real economy – are seen continuing to preoccupy possible by the company’s ability to buy by wealthy families or conglomerates whether it should be required to pay the platforms’ appeal to advertisers. and sell on a massive scale. – have spurred even less of a backlash users for their data or even charge users Without such limitations, the risks policymakers in the decades ahead. Yet Walmart also stands accused of than did Walmart’s decimation of a fee to opt out of data collection. these platforms pose may, in users’ Now some good news. desolating downtowns, impersonalising independently owned retailers. But it is not at all clear that these eyes, begin to outweigh their benefi ts – The Fed’s infl uence on global fi nancial conditions shopping, and depriving small retailers Unimpeded growth has no doubt companies can be trusted with the a development that could have political should not be overstated, despite it being blamed fi ve of their livelihoods. In the future, helped to increase the value that Google data they collect. Despite Facebook’s implications as far-reaching as the Walmart could use its market power to and Facebook can off er. The more Google insistence that it does not sell data info-monopolists’ economic rise. – years ago for the “taper tantrum,” says chairman Jerome squeeze customers (though another, searches are conducted, the better to advertisers, the company was Project Syndicate Powell. The EMs “should not be surprised by our actions more ambitious behemoth, Amazon, the results. The more people who use recently found to have allowed nearly if the economy evolves in line with expectations,” he said. would likely get in the way). Facebook, the more reason there is to join. 90mn users’ data to be harvested by zAmar Bhidé is a professor at Tufts Optimists argue that most EMs are far less vulnerable So far, Americans have largely This attracts advertisers, whose payments the political consultancy Cambridge University’s Fletcher School of Law and than they were in 1997. Foreign currency holdings among tolerated – and even applauded – the fund investments in improved technology Analytica. And subsequent testimony Diplomacy and the author of A Call for creative destruction associated with and added features. before the US Congress by Facebook Judgment. EMs and developing economies are projected to be $144bn higher this year, according to the IMF. At the same time, infl ation remains subdued in most economies. That means overall buff ers are stronger today than vefi years ago. The volatility brought about by Fed’s gradual tightening has underscored emerging markets’ enduring reliance on foreign capital. Sure, EMS still aren’t masters of their own destiny, but it’s high time they stopped looking over their shoulders at the Big Brother. Here is the ultimate lesson: Without a signifi cant home-grown investor base, supported by futuristic policy initiatives and structural reforms, emerging markets risk a return to the old boom-bust cycles of the 20th century.

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© 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Walmart stands accused of desolating downtowns, impersonalising shopping, and depriving small retailers of their livelihoods. Gulf Times Wednesday, May 16, 2018 23 COMMENT Declaring war against mass illiteracy

By Gordon Brown operation, and leading a multinational development bank fi nancing currently London partnership to make education goes to education in African and Asian accessible to all. middle-income countries. As a result, The IFFEd has brought universal these countries are confronted with an n the surface, mass illiteracy education to the forefront of untenable choice: either stop sending seems like an evil that the World Bank’s plan to take children to school, or borrow money should be easy to eradicate. development financing from at much higher rates and risk accruing OAchieving that goal requires “billions to trillions.” In addition unsustainable debts. neither a technological breakthrough to multiplying donor funding, it Looking ahead, it is time for donor nor a scientifi c discovery. With funding is supporting countries that are countries to step up and respond to for good teachers and schools, we can committed to reforming their our requests for financial guarantees provide an education for all children. education systems, thus ensuring to the IFFEd. We are currently We need only muster the political will that every dollar goes toward in discussions with 20 possible to act. delivering concrete results. By contributors, underscoring the And yet universal education has facilitating the largest single message that if we achieve universal long eluded mankind, even when investment in education in history, education, per capita GDP in the achieving it has been a globally and by encouraging developing poorest countries will be almost 70% shared objective. Today, 750mn countries to spend more, the IFFEd higher by 2050 than if current trends adults – two-thirds of them women could, over time, provide 20mn more continued. Extreme poverty rates – are illiterate, and 260mn children classrooms for children around the will be reduced by one-third. The are not in school. world. mortality reductions, measured in Education is a basic right codifi ed The World Bank, the Inter- additional years of life, will be nearly in the 1948 Universal Declaration American Development Bank, the equivalent to what could be expected of Human Rights and the 1989 African Development Bank, the if the world eliminated both HIV and Convention on the Rights of the Child. Asian Development Bank, and the malaria. It was further enshrined in the 1990 European Bank for Reconstruction No less importantly, young people World Declaration on Education for and Development have each will be better prepared for the job All, at a summit in Jomtien, Thailand, committed to using the IFFEd to market of the future. They will be in a and then at the 2000 World Education leverage donations. And these efforts position to become the next generation Forum in Dakar, Senegal. Achieving will complement the work of The of innovators, teachers, and leaders, universal primary education was one Global Partnership for Education, and all will have the opportunity to of the United Nations’ Millennium the Education Cannot Wait fund, realise their full potential. Development Goals for 2015, and and UN agencies operating in the With innovative fi nancing solutions, universal education has since area of education – Unesco, Unicef, what was impossible has become been included in the Sustainable UNOCHA and UNHCR. eminently achievable. What seemed to Development Goals for 2030. By requiring governments to be out of our reach is now within our But, despite these commitments, In Africa educational outcomes are estimated to be 100 years behind those of a typical high-income country. increase their own investments in grasp. Let this generation be the fi rst in the international community has yet education as a condition for receiving history to ensure that all children are to deliver for the world’s children. In In many regions of the world, generation has failed even to provide a and discrimination against girls. donor funds, the IFFEd promises aff orded the education to which they addition to those who are not in school educational standards fall far short classroom for all of the children here With discrimination and exploitation to create $4 worth of additional have a fundamental right. – Project at all, 500mn children currently receive of what is needed. In Africa, for on Earth. denying millions of girls the basic education resources for every $1 Syndicate no more than a primary education, example, educational outcomes So it is time for bold, innovative right to attend school, universal donated. Our principal aim is to focus which itself is often inadequate. And today are estimated to be 100 years action. To that end, the International education is the civil-rights struggle on the lower-middle-income African, zGordon Brown, former prime minister by 2030 – the year when the world has behind those of a typical high- Commission on Financing Global of our generation. Asian, and Latin American countries and chancellor of the exchequer of the promised to provide universal primary income country. As a result, there is a Education Opportunity, which The Education Commission where the majority of out-of-school United Kingdom, is United Nations and secondary education for all – an deepening divide between the half of I chaired, has launched the is waging this war with the most children – many of them refugees – Special Envoy for Global Education and estimated 800mn people will enter the world’s children who have access International Finance Facility for innovative fi nancing solutions we now reside. These countries are host Chair of the International Commission adulthood without the qualifi cations to a decent education and the half who Education (IFFEd) as a declaration could devise. The IFFEd is mobilising to some 700mn children – the missing on Financing Global Education necessary for the modern labour force. do not. Whereas an earlier generation of war against mass illiteracy and the both public and private funds, millions in the middle. Opportunity. He chairs the Advisory Many of them will be illiterate. managed to travel to the moon, our evils of child labour, child marriage, marshalling international co- Unfortunately, less than 1% of Board of the Catalyst Foundation.

The coarsening of political language Three-day forecast TODAY not a debate at all when one person anyway,” a reference to his battle with history, it is hard to top what the late Maximum Temperature : 360c By Cal Thomas Minimum Temperature : 280c Canberra, Australia shouts at another. You can hardly brain cancer. British prime minister David Lloyd persuade someone by the power of There has been no apology issued by George said of Neville Chamberlain: THURSDAY argument that way. the White House. “A retail mind in a wholesale business,” Maximum Temperature : 340c ere in Australia, “Question Politics has always been a contact Nicolle Wallace, a 2008 McCain or comments by the English journalist Minimum Temperature : 280c Time” has long been one sport and in America’s early days presidential campaign aide, William Cobbett about Benjamin FRIDAY of my favourite exercises of fi sticuff s sometimes broke out apologised for a remark she made Franklin: “A crafty, lecherous, old Maximum Temperature : 360c Hparliamentary democracy. in Congress. With the advent of on MSNBC when she said of White hypocrite whose very statue seems to Minimum Temperature : 280c television and social media the House Press Secretary Sarah gloat on the wenches as they walk the The prime minister and government Fisherman's forecast ministers appear before other elected public has not only been exposed to Huckabee Sanders, “How do you States House yard.” members in support of their policies, increasingly off ensive language and resist the temptation to run up and Those and other insults, while WARNING while the opposition asks pointed behaviour, it has often emulated it. wring her neck?” biting, seemed more creative and less Inshore : Nil and sometimes funny questions in an Across from where I sat in the President Trump is not alone in harmful than some of the venomous Offshore : Expected strong wind and eff ort to belittle those policies. visitors’ gallery, a large group of bearing responsibility for this low rhetoric that characterises modern high sea At Westminster in London, schoolchildren watched the adults level of rhetoric. He has, however, political discourse. WEATHER “Question Time” is great political go at each other. I wondered what by his own caustic language, given In the Australian parliament, Inshore : Relatively hot daytime and entertainment. It sometimes airs in they were thinking and what kind tacit permission to his supporters to members talked over each other. The slight dust with sctd clouds the US on C-SPAN. Last week, here of example was being set. If these speak in similar ways. It is not just the same happens in Congress. Some to partly cloudy with c of light rain at places in Canberra, Australia’s capital, the children misbehaved in class and their disgusting nature of such remarks that of the worst off enders of indelicate performance I watched from the teacher admonished them, would they should off end. We are not each other’s political speech then often appear on WIND visitors’ gallery, however, was quite use what they had seen as justifi cation enemies. We are fellow Americans, cable news where they denounce each Inshore : Northerly-Northeasterly 08-15/18 KT the opposite. for their bad behaviour? who sometimes disagree, but ought other as unpatriotic, and worse. Offshrore : Northwesterly 10-20/28 KT One government minister referred American politics is also getting to do so with some level of respect for These people are poor role models to an opposition member as “corrupt” worse under Trump. Last week, a each other. for the children in the balcony in Visibility : 04-8 KM and “shifty” before he then called White House aide dismissed remarks One can have a minimum high Canberra and in the halls of Congress SEA STATE him a liar. That this labelling is often by Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) regard for a political opponent, as in the US where they are no doubt Offshore : 4-6 FT, rises to 8 FT at times preceded by the required “my right opposing the nomination of Gina some clever practitioners of better learning lessons better left unlearned. honourable friend,” or “the right Haspel as CIA director. According to a rhetoric have demonstrated in the – Tribune News Service honourable member” does little to leak from a closed-door meeting, Kelly past, but why this increasingly angry Around the region mitigate the tone of what passes for Sadler said that McCain had become and poisonous pattern of speech? zReaders may e-mail Cal Thomas at Weather modern political debate. In fact, it’s “irrelevant” because “he’s dying For creatively cutting remarks in [email protected] Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Baghdad Sunny 33/21 Sunny 36/21 Kuwait City Sunny 35/26 Sunny 35/26 Manama M Sunny 33/27 M Sunny 33/27 Muscat Sunny 36/32 Sunny 36/32 Live issues Tehran T Storms 20/12 M Sunny 22/13 Cleaning too often could be bad for you

Tribune News Service Washington, DC

or the obsessively clean, beware. Those cleaning chemicals you spray all over F to get your house spick- Around the world and-span may be hurting your Weather Weather lungs. today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Dr Clayton Cowl, a Mayo Clinic Athens P Cloudy 29/18 P Cloudy 29/19 lung specialist and toxicologist, says Beirut Sunny 27/22 Sunny 29/25 cleaning chemicals are a risk, but one Bangkok Sunny 33/27 S T Storms 33/27 that can be managed. Berlin S T Storms 22/11 S Showers 23/11 “Well, I think we all know that there Cairo M Sunny 34/20 Sunny 36/21 are a lot of diff erent chemicals that we Cape Town Sunny 25/14 Sunny 23/14 potentially are exposed to at home,” Colombo T Storms 30/26 T Storms 31/26 Cowl says. Dhaka T Storms 29/23 T Storms 28/24 According to research, people who Hong Kong P Cloudy 28/24 P Cloudy 28/24 are frequently exposed to cleaning Istanbul M Sunny 27/17 P Cloudy 26/17 chemicals over extended periods Jakarta S T Storms 33/26 S T Storms 32/26 of time have shown decreased lung Karachi Sunny 37/28 Sunny 40/27 function. London Cloudy 16/07 Sunny 17/07 Cowl says it’s something to keep in Manila S T Storms 36/27 I T Storms 36/27 mind, but most people probably aren’t Moscow M Cloudy 24/14 S T Storms 26/14 inhaling these chemicals often enough New Delhi Sunny 41/28 Sunny 42/29 to really cause harm. House cleaning products. New York Rain 18/13 Cloudy 21/16 “I think the message here is that Paris S Showers 23/09 P Cloudy 19/08 (with) everything we have in our cleaning chemicals repeatedly and just when you’re applying those So if you want to breathe easy in a Sao Paulo P Cloudy 27/18 P Cloudy 23/17 closet, we’re (not) immediately going frequently should take steps to limit products, doing it with the adequate squeaky clean home, turn on a fan or Seoul T Storms 24/21 T Storms 23/17 to disintegrate from them,” Cowl their exposure. amount of ventilation around. (Those) open a window while you clean. Don’t Singapore T Storms 31/26 T Storms 32/26 says. “I think using products that are all things that you can do ... to mix products. And select cleaners with Sydney P Cloudy 16/09 Sunny 19/08 But he says those who clean are less toxic – that may be more minimise the long-term risk,” Cowl less irritating fumes. – Mayo Clinic Tokyo Clear 27/18 Cloudy 25/18 professionally or are exposed to environmentally friendly – and also, says. News Network Gulf Times 24 Wednesday, May 16, 2018 QATAR Qatar strengthens resolve in the face of adversity: al-Baker Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive is the first airline leader outside of the EU to address a European Parliament panel

atar Airways Group Chief Ex- states. These actions, perpetrated pean Union for their support amidst ecutive Akbar al-Baker yes- without warning and justifi cation, the extraordinary illegal blockade Qterday “marked a world fi rst” imposed signifi cant human hardship against my home country, with nota- by becoming the fi rst airline leader on the families separated as a result. ble thanks to MEP Ismail Ertug, who outside of the European Union to per- Al-Baker drew a poignant and stark made today’s event in Brussels pos- sonally address the European Parlia- contrast between the sense of isola- sible.” ment’s Committee on Transport and tion felt by Qatar residents as a result The TRAN Committee is the lead- Tourism (TRAN). This honour pro- of the blockade and other dark mo- ing legislative committee of the Eu- vided al-Baker with the opportunity ments in history such as the erection ropean Parliament responsible for to update the European Parliament of the Berlin Wall during the Cold air transport, rail, road and inland and the TRAN committee, includ- War. waterways, alongside the develop- ing its current chair, Madame Karima During the impassioned speech, ment of trans-European networks in Delli MEP, about the ongoing block- al-Baker criticised ICAO (Interna- the areas of transport infrastructure. ade against Qatar by Saudi Arabia, tional Civil Aviation Organisation) Qatar Airways has a strong economic UAE, Bahrain and Egypt. for what he called a “timid and dis- footprint in the European Union and Al-Baker addressed the audience appointing” response, at the same provides direct employment to 1,100 and distinguished members of the time he called on the world to con- residents, while contracts with man- committee, “providing a fi rst-hand demn such “reckless political ma- ufacturer Airbus are valued at almost account of the challenges that have noeuvres that violate fundamental €27bn. been faced since the start of the co- norms of international aviation”. As The airline currently fl ies to 31 des- ordinated blockade, while highlight- the country approaches the end of tinations across 21 member countries ing how, against a campaign of iso- one year under the imposed block- of the European Union, connecting lation, the State of Qatar and Qatar ade, Qatar Airways has become a passengers to its network of more Airways have strengthened their re- strategic pillar to ensure food secu- than 150 global gateways. Last month, solve in the face of adversity.” rity in our country. the European Union and Qatar con- For the fi rst time, al-Baker gave Al-Baker said, “I am honoured to cluded the fourth successful round “behind the scenes details” on the have had the opportunity to address of negotiations for a Comprehensive shock blockade imposed on Qa- the European Parliament today, an Air Transport Agreement, with both tar. The year 2017 marked a turning Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar al-Baker addressing the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and occasion that demonstrates Qatar sides reaching agreement on 70% of point as the country became subject Tourism (TRAN). Airways’ growing relationship with the provisions, including those on to a ruthless campaign of isolation. the European Union. This is a friend- safety, security and air traffi c man- Explaining that he was at the IATA carried out without provocation and dents, but the State of Qatar and Qa- out of Qatar. In the middle of the holy ship that will only continue to grow, agement. (International Air Transport Asso- without a mandate from the UN Se- tar Airways responded to protect the month of Ramadan, the normal fl ow alongside mutual cooperation, to re- This follows a 2017 memorandum ciation) AGM in Cancun when the curity Council or any other interna- nation, the people, the economy and of goods and basic supplies such as store a fair and open aviation regime, of understanding, signed between event unfolded, a 22-hour return tional body. the airline’s customers.” medicine, food and water, was dan- supported by good governance and a the Qatar Civil Aviation Author- journey ensued to see Qatar Airways “The clear intention of the block- With 18 air corridors immedi- gerously interrupted. collaborative rule of law around the ity and the European Safety Agency, CEO return home to guide his airline ading states was to endanger the ately reduced to just two corridors Qatar Airways offi ces were closed world. with a view to creating a joint frame- in response to this unprecedented act economy of the State of Qatar by elaborate measures were necessary by force and without prior notice by “I would also like to personally work on regulatory and aviation of war. “The extreme violations were threatening the livelihood of resi- to assure safe operations in to and local authorities in the blockading thank the members of the Euro- safety issues.

34 fi lm projects selected by DFI for Spring 2018 Grants

n impressive range of 34 projects by fi rst and Asecond-time fi lmmakers from across the world, includ- ing four from Qatar, have been selected by the Doha Film In- stitute (DFI) for its Spring 2018 Grants cycle that aims to nurture the new generation of creative talents. Underlining the important role of women in fi lmmaking, 14 of the chosen projects are helmed by talented female di- rectors. Additionally, the DFI has announced the expansion of its Grants programme, to cover TV and web series by scriptwriters, producers and directors from the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region. The announcement was made on the sidelines of Cannes Film A still from Joana. Festival 2018 by DFI CEO Fatma al-Remaihi. She also announced Plastic Flowers (Syria, Germany, the recipients of the 2018 Spring Sweden, Qatar) by Amer Alma- Grants cycle covering feature, tar. documentary and short fi lm Feature Narrative – Post- projects by emerging talents Production: Haifa Street (Iraq, The celebrations took place at Bin Jelmood House located at MDD’s Heritage Quarter, in the presence of Msheireb Museums director from across the world. Qatar) by Mohanad Hayal; Hafiz Ali, CECA president Milene Chiovatto and representatives of cultural and educational institutions in Qatar. “The diversity of submissions Joana, Imagination Is a Form for this cycle has been excep- of Memory (Brazil, France, Qa- tional, with over 380 submis- tar) by Flavia Castro; In Long sions received, and we chose the Day’s Journey into Night (China, 34 projects for their ability to France, Taiwan, Qatar) by Gan push cinematic boundaries and Bi; In Sister (Bulgaria, France, Msheireb hosts events on engage with audiences anywhere Qatar) by Svetla Tsotsorkova; in the world.” You Have the Night (Montene- While four projects are by Qa- gro, Serbia, Slovenia, Qatar) by tari talents, there are 24 fi lms by Ivan Salatic. Arab directors from the Mena Feature Documentary – Post- International Museum Day region. Six projects are chosen Production: Facing the Dragon from outside the Mena region (Afghanistan, US, Qatar) by with fi ve countries supported Sedika Mojadidi; In Freedom sheireb Museums Friends programme graduation the fl ourishing global cultural work together to support their for the fi rst time. In addition to Fields (Libya, UK, US, Nether- (MM), the new cul- and a panel discussion, fol- scene.” curriculum and bridge the gap two fi lms from Afghanistan, this lands, Canada, Qatar) by Naziha Mtural destination at lowed by a special dinner. In his welcoming speech, he presented by language and cul- cycle includes fi lms from Brazil, Arebi; Midnight Traveler (Af- Msheireb Downtown Doha The theme of the Interna- announced that Msheireb Mu- ture. Bulgaria, China and Montene- The Last Queen. ghanistan, US, Qatar) by Has- (MDD), celebrated Interna- tional Museum Day 2018 was seums was one of fi ve entities to The event also witnessed gro. san Fazili; The Devil’s Drivers tional Museum Day 2018 under chosen to explore today’s trend get the ‘Best Practices Award’ the graduation of Msheireb Awarded fi lm Long Day’s Jour- Denmark, US, Qatar) by Feras (Palestine, Germany, Qatar) by the theme ‘Hyperconnected of a hyperconnected world. by CECA, including the muse- Museums Friends programme. ney into Night (China, France, Fayyad. Mohamed Abugeth and Daniel Museums: New Approach- Hyperconnectivity is a term ums role in promoting educa- Last year, the Msheireb Mu- Taiwan, Qatar) by Gan Bi is pre- Feature Narrative – Produc- Carsenty. es, New Publics’, which was invented in 2001 to design the tional initiatives and cultural seums Friends programme miering in Un Certain Regard at tion: 200 Meters (Palestine, Jor- Shorts: Gubgub (Qatar) by chosen by the International multiple means of communi- events, a statement noted. was launched aiming to create the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, dan, France, Germany, Qatar) Nouf al-Sulaiti; The Unlucky Council of Museums and In- cation between organisations Chiovatto conducted a pres- cultural ambassadors by train- underlining the quality of fi lms by Ameen Nayfeh; Adam (Mo- Hamster (Qatar) by Abdulaziz ternational Committee for and individuals, such as face- entation with the results of a ing teachers and leaders from supported by the DFI. rocco, France, Qatar) by Maryam Khashabi; Lemon Hart (Qatar, Education and Cultural Action to-face contact, e-mail, instant two-day workshop for stu- a wide range of education- Feature Narrative - Develop- Touzani; Girl Made of Dust (Pal- France) by Sara al-Thani; Broth- (CECA). messaging, telephone or the dents, academics, and cultural al, youth associations along ment: Arabic Translator (Iraq, estine, Lebanon, France, Ger- erhood (Tunisia, Canada, Qatar) The celebrations took place Internet. This global network leaders to commemorate this with students, by developing Italy, Germany, Qatar) by Ali many, Denmark, Qatar) by actor by Meryam Joobeur; Burn the at Bin Jelmood House located at of connections becomes each global event. During the in- leadership skills and to help Kareem Obaid; Behind Closed Hiam Abbass; Harvest (Leba- Bird (Palestine, Qatar) by Za- MDD’s Heritage Quarter, in the day more complex, diverse and teractive two-day workshop, highlight the historic cultural Doors (Qatar) by Hend Fakhroo; non, France, Belgium, US, Qatar) hed Bata; How My Grandmother presence of Hafi z Ali, Msheir- integrated. participants had the chance to houses. Longer Will Be the Night (Al- is by DFI grantee Ely Dagher; My Became a Chair (Lebanon, Ger- eb Museums director, CECA Ali said, “It is a great pleas- explore the possibility of see- Ali added, “We are pleased geria, France, Qatar) by Latifa Little One (Morocco, Belgium, many, Qatar), an animation by president Milene Chiovatto ure to celebrate International ing the transformation of ideas, to celebrate the Msheireb Mu- Said. France, Qatar) by Kadija Leclere; Nicolas Fattouh; Prisoner and and representatives of cultural Museum Day here at Msheireb and to go from a theoretical seums Friends graduation, our Feature Documentary - De- The Last Queen (Algeria, France, Jailer (Libya, Qatar) by Muhan- and educational institutions in Museums, a tradition we have aspect to the practice through programme that is designed velopment: Gevar’s Land (Syr- Qatar) by returning DFI grantee nad Lamin – a returning DFI Qatar. Activities during the fes- followed in recent years. Mark- showing examples from around to challenge the conventional ia, France, Qatar) by Qutaiba Damien Ounouri ; Tlamess (Tu- grantee; Another animation, tivities included a welcoming ing this important date reiter- the world. approach to cultural educa- Barhamji; Heights nisia, France, Qatar) by Ala Ed- Rest in Piece (Syria, Germany, speech by Msheireb Museums ates our commitment to sup- A panel discussion took place tion and enables us to create (Algeria, France, Qatar) by Faiza dine Slim. UAE, Qatar) by Antoine Antabi: and presentations by CECA porting artistic development enabling participants to discuss a knowledge ecosystem that Yakoubi; The Kingdom of Malika Feature Documentary – Pro- An experimental, 1001 Stars and UCL Qatar representatives, in Qatar, and refl ects our pas- ways in which museums and delivers cultural, societal and (Algeria, France, Qatar) by Has- duction: Children of the Famine (Lebanon, France, Qatar) by Val- the fi rst Msheireb Museums sion to positively contribute to educational institutions can educational wealth.” sen Ferhani; The Cave (Syria, (Lebanon, Qatar) by Reine Mitri; entin Noujaïm.