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MONDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11154 April 15, 2019 Sha’baan 10, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Amir meets US Central Command chief In brief Call to declare

QATAR | Offi cial siege as crime Amir chairs SC’s fi rst meeting of 2019 His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani chaired against humanity the first meeting of the Board of Directors of the Supreme Committee O PM opens international conference on for Delivery & Legacy (SC) of 2019 at the Amiri Diwan yesterday. mechanisms to combat impunity The meeting was attended by His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh and ensure accountability Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani and the Amir’s Personal Representative His By Joseph Varghese He was addressing the opening Highness Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Staff Reporter ceremony of the two-day event on al-Thani, Vice-Chairman of the Board. “National, regional and interna- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met yesterday with the Commander of the US Central Command in HE the Prime Minister and Minister tional mechanisms to combat impu- the Middle East, General Kenneth Mckenzie, and his accompanying delegation at his Amiri Diwan off ice. The Amir congratulated of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin he National Human Rights nity and ensure accountability under General Mckenzie on assuming his post, and wished him success in his duties. For his part, the General thanked the Amir for his Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, who is Committee (NHRC) chairman international law,” at Ritz-Carlton reception and the central role played by Qatar through the Al Udeid Air Base, as well as its joint eff orts with the United States in also a board member, and the other Thas proposed to include terror- Doha. the fight against terrorism. The meeting also dealt with the strategic relations between the two friendly countries, especially in members of the board attended the ism and blockades as crimes against “The scale of violations at the be- defence and military fields, and ways to develop them, in addition to the latest developments in the region. meeting. During the meeting, the humanity, at an international confer- ginning of this century has no paral- latest developments in Qatar 2022 ence opened by HE the Prime Minister lel in the human history. Occupation, football World Cup projects were and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah terrorism, blockades, and the target- reviewed, including infrastructure, bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani yester- ing of civilians are the best proof of the Botswana president to meet Amir today stadiums and accommodation, day. breakdown of values and principles, besides the security plans and “We propose to include terrorism and which requires us to adopt an approach Botswana President Dr Mokgweetsi Qatar’s ambassador to Botswana, to promote friendly relations and co- preparations for the tournament. blockades as crimes against humanity that takes into account that leaving the Masisi arrived in Doha yesterday on an Abdullah Hussein al-Jabe, and operation with all countries in the world. in the Rome Statute of the International perpetrators of these violations with- off icial visit to Qatar. He was received at Botswana’s ambassador (non-resident) He is scheduled to meet His Highness QATAR | Offi cial Criminal Court of the year 1998, by out being accountable, threatens inter- the Hamad International Airport by HE to Qatar, Manyepedza Lesetedi. the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad amending the article 121 of its statute,” national peace and security,” stated Dr the Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr Masisi has been invited to visit Qatar al-Thani today at the Amiri Diwan to Amir condoles with said HE Dr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri. al-Marri. To Page 4 Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari, (non-resident) as part of the Gulf country’s keenness discuss bilateral relations. To Page 24 Pakistan president, PM His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani sent yesterday cables of condolences to Pakistan President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan on the victims of the bombing that targeted a market in the city of Quetta in southwestern Pakistan, wishing the injured a speedy recovery. HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa bin Khalifa al-Thani sent a similar al-Thani and other dignitaries at the opening ceremony of the NHRC international cable to Prime Minister Khan. conference yesterday. Military off ers more sops to Sudan opposition O Defence minister, of living was one of the main reasons for ately” hand power over to a civilian gov- Khartoum’s US envoy the months of protest that led to the end ernment that should then bring ousted removed of former President Omar al-Bashir’s 30 leader Omar al-Bashir to justice. years in power. Thousands remained encamped out- Agencies Al-Bashir’s political party, the Na- side Khartoum’s army headquarters to Khartoum tional Congress Party, will not be al- keep up pressure on a military council lowed to participate in the transitional that took power after ousting Bashir on talks, the spokesman said. Thursday. he interim military council lead- Meanwhile, the military council The organisation which spearheaded ing Sudan says it will work with said it has sacked Khartoum’s envoy to the protests against Bashir, the Suda- Topposition parties and activist Washington, Mohamed Atta, a former nese Professionals Association, called groups to restructure the country’s gov- chief of the feared National Intelligence on the council “to immediately transfer ernment towards civilian rule. and Security Service. power to a civilian government”. The military council and opposition The military council has decided to The SPA also demanded the next parties are locked in talks in the capital sack Sudan’s charge d’aff aires to Wash- “transitional government and the armed Khartoum, while protestors continue a ington, Mohamed Atta, the council’s forces bring Bashir and all the chiefs of sit-in outside the military headquarters. spokesman, told reporters. the National Intelligence and Security Council spokesman Shams El-Din Sudan’s military council has also re- Service (NISS)... to justice”. Kabbashi promised that the national moved defence minister Awad Ibn Auf “The Sudanese Professionals Asso- intelligence and security services would from his role and appointed a new intel- ciation calls on its supporters to con- be restructured. In order to increase ligence chief. tinue with the sit-in until the revolution accountability, anti- corruption meas- Lieutenant General Abu Bakr Mustafa achieves its demands,” it added. ures would also be strictly enforced will replace Salah Abdallah Mohamed The military council later held a and public order laws would be re- Saleh, known as Salah Gosh, as chief of press conference at which its spokes- formed, matching some of the demands Sudan’s National Intelligence and Secu- man did not respond to the protesters’ of protesters. rity Service (NISS), Kabbashi said. latest demands. Instead it announced “We urge all people to cooperate to- All army and police offi cers who par- the appointment of a new intelligence gether to overcome the crises facing the ticipated in street protests which led to chief. country,” he said. the ousting of former President Omar Earlier the military council met with Kabbashi also said that bread, wheat, al-Bashir last week would be released, political parties and urged them to agree oil and gas would be supplied to the he added. on an “independent fi gure” to be prime people following pledges from the in- The protesters yesterday demanded minister, an AFP correspondent present ternational community. The rising cost the country’s military rulers “immedi- at the meeting said. Page 9 Gulf Times 2 Monday, April 15, 2019 QATAR PM meets accountability conference delegates Accountability major pillar for global justice

By Joseph Varghese redress for victims wherever countering impunity are pre- Staff Reporter they may be. The National Hu- conditions to sustainable peace,” man Rights Committee of Qatar she noted. will spare no eff ort to continue According to Mosquera, the ccountability is one of the to introduce further initiatives to phenomenon of impunity has a major pillars for interna- support the human rights proc- global aspect and the lack of jus- Ational justice, it was high- ess not only in Qatar, but also at tice and diffi culties in its admin- lighted at the opening ceremony the regional and international istration lead to violence, fragile of the ‘International Conference levels,” NHRC chairman Dr Ali societies, lack of trust in institu- on National, Regional and Inter- bin Smaikh al-Marri told the tions, human rights violations, national Mechanisms to Combat opening ceremony. and resentment, and disturb the Impunity and Ensure Account- Pier Antonio Panzeri, chair of social order. ability under International Law’ the European Parliament Sub- “The protection of human yesterday. committee on Human Rights; rights is an obligation that re- HE the Prime Minister and In- Michelle Bachelet, United Na- quires eff orts by diff erent social HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani met at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel yesterday the terior Minister Sheikh Abdullah tions High Commissioner for stakeholders and institutions. Chairman of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights, Pier Antonio Panzeri, Chairperson of the Global Alliance of bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani Human Rights (video Address); This implies ensuring adequate National Human Rights Institutions, Carlos Negret Mosquera, Minister of Justice of Jordan, Dr Bassam al-Talhouni, and the Head of the opened the two-day event at Carlos Negret Mosquera, presi- access to justice to fi ght corrup- International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Ritz-Carlton, Doha in the pres- dent of the Global Alliance of tion and fully guarantee a welfare Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in Syria, Catherine Marchi-Uhel, on the occasion of the International Conference on ence of dignitaries including National Human Rights Insti- state,” he noted. National, Regional and International Mechanisms to Combat Impunity and Ensure Accountability under International Law, currently in ministers and heads of diplo- tutions and Catherine Marchi- Marchi-Uhel noted that vic- session in Doha.The meetings reviewed relations between Qatar and these organisations in the fields of promotion of human rights, the matic missions. Uhel, head of the International tims of injustice and other fight against impunity, the development of the values of legal accountability, as well as issues of mutual interest, especially those on the The conference organised Impartial and Independent crimes wanted to heard. “They agenda of the conference. by the National Human Rights Mechanism to assist in the in- want the accused to be held ac- Committee (NHRC) is in part- vestigation and prosecution of countable. Without account- nership with the European Par- persons responsible for serious ability, there could be increased liament, the United Nations crimes in Syria also spoke at the use of impunity to get away from High Commissioner for Human opening ceremony. justice,” she added. Rights and the Global Alliance of “Accountability encourages The opening session was fol- National Human Rights Institu- the branches of reformed and lowed by a panel discussion on Geneva Institute supports Qatar’s ‘Lack of tions. strengthened institutions to ‘Accountability for gross hu- The event brings together grow and become strong so that man rights violations and seri- more than 250 representatives of such serious human rights viola- ous violations of international proposal to set up observatory justice government agencies, govern- tions never happen again. After humanitarian law’. There was mental and non-governmental all, it is in those societies where another panel discussion in the organisations, specialists in in- such institutions are weakest, afternoon on ‘Protection and QNA neva Institute for Human Rights the initiative of Qatar with re- leads to ternational commissions of in- generally exist the largest defi - promotion of human rights Doha supports the proposal made by gard to national, regional, and quiry, specialised international cits of accountability,” said Pan- through action to combat impu- HE the Chairman of the Na- international mechanisms that agencies and regional human zeri. nity.’ tional Human Rights Commit- fi ght against impunity under in- violence’ rights mechanisms, chairper- In a video address, Bachelet This is the world’s largest in- he Executive Director of tee (NHRC) Dr Ali bin Smaikh ternational law, and its support sons of the European Parliament noted that victims have a right to ternational conference on the the Geneva Institute for al-Marri to establish an interna- for UN’s eff orts in that regard. committees and national human truth, justice and reparation. prevention of impunity in the THuman Rights, Dr Nizar tional observatory on prevention, He highlighted that Qatar’s QNA rights institutions among oth- “This is important not only Middle East, and an important Abdulqader, said yesterday that accountability and impunity. human rights record made the Doha ers. to the victims themselves but forum for deliberating on the the importance of national, re- He expressed his hope that the country eligible to earn a seat at “The conference is the fi rst for societies as a whole to attain assessment and development of gional and international mecha- proposal could also represent an the UN Human Rights Council. of its kind in the region to re- sustainable peace and reconcili- national, regional and interna- nisms to combat impunity and opportunity for many countries He also praised the role of the he Chair of the Global fl ect the fi rm commitment of the ation. Various experiences have tional mechanisms to combat ensure accountability under the in the Arab world to amend their NHRC for its role in promoting hu- Alliance of the Nation- wise leadership of Qatar and its demonstrated that without jus- impunity and ensure account- law stems from the fact that the national legislation in line with man rights locally and internation- Tal Rights Institutions determination to establish a hu- tice, peace remains an illusion. ability under the international issue has become one of the most the Rome Statute. ally, which propelled the commit- (GANHRI), Dr Carlos Negret man rights system that ensures Asserting accountability and law. relevant for the human rights He noted that there were tee’s president to the highest ranks Mosquera, said that the lack of fi eld around the world. many violations of human rights in terms of the Global Alliance of the justice and diffi culties in its ad- Speaking to Qatar News Agen- around the world, and expressed National Rights Institutions (GAN- ministration lead to violence, cy (QNA) on the sidelines of the regret that those cases are often HRI) and the committee getting an fragile societies, lack of trust conference, he said that the Ge- met with impunity. He praised ‘A’ ranking from the alliance. in institutions, human rights violations, and resentment, and disturb the social order. Delivering a speech at the conference titled “National, re- Human rights violations going gional and international mecha- nisms to combat impunity and ensure accountability under the law”, in Doha yesterday, he said unpunished worldwide daily that the protection of human rights is an obligation that re- quires eff orts by diff erent social QNA tional attitudes on human rights lations, it is essential that it uses stakeholders and institutions. Doha until the present moment. this moment as an occasion to He added that this implies He expressed his belief that take stock of and promote the ensuring adequate access to jus- the acknowledgement and rec- positive contributions that ac- tice to fi ght corruption and fully he Chair of the European ognition in the aftermath of countability can deliver on a so- guarantee a welfare state. Parliament Subcommit- gross violations of human rights, cietal level. He likened account- He defi ned Impunity as the im- Ttee on Human Rights, wherever they may occur, repre- ability to a soil in which peace can possibility, de jure or de facto, of Antonio Panzeri, said yesterday sent intrinsic human values that take root. He mentioned South bringing the perpetrators of vio- that the establishment of the may help victims of violations to Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation lations to account — whether in Dr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri at the opening session of the conference along with other off icials. principle of accountability as at least begin to turn the page. Commission as an example of criminal, civil, administrative or a central pillar of the architec- He maintained that even with how a polarised society can move disciplinary proceedings due to ture of international justice will the progress made recently, the towards reconciliation when the absence of an investigation. be the most important factor in world continues to see a huge compromise is understood as a He noted that the commit- winning the fi ght against im- number of human rights viola- virtue rather than as a weakness. ment to fi ght impunity is an un- punity for serious violations of tions on a daily basis that go un- He noted that there exists to- derlying obligation of national human rights and humanitarian punished. day numerous national, regional human rights institutions to law. He stressed the importance and international mechanisms to guarantee access to justice and Speaking at the opening ses- of the value of justice and ac- combat impunity and ensure ac- due process and ensure proper sion of the conference titled countability mechanisms, but countability for serious human investigation and the participa- “National, regional and inter- maintained that remaining vigi- rights violations across the globe. tion of victims in the process, national mechanisms to combat lant at cynical manipulations of He added that the impact of the to implement their right to the impunity and ensure account- such processes by states seeking ad hoc international tribunals and truth and ensure non-repetition ability under the law,” he noted to clamp down on fundamental the International Criminal Court guarantees. that there was no point in human rights was equally important. in pursuing accountability for Mosquera stressed that na- history when the principle of ac- He noted that if the interna- serious human rights violations tional human rights institutions countability for serious human tional community is to continue has demonstrated how domes- must act as a communication rights violations fulfi lled such a to tackle impunity for serious tic courts can be galvanised and platform between society and fundamental role in shaping na- international human rights vio- strengthened during the process. institutions. Diplomats and other dignitaries at the conference yesterday. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam

Global community must prioritise ending impunity: UN rights chief

QNA She added, “Societies that as a whole to attain sustainable encourage further refl ection on simple: by promoting justice and Doha undergo confl icts or face au- peace and reconciliation,” she the synergies between account- remedies for past violations us- thoritarian regimes must have added. ability and prevention. ing preventive action through their grievances addressed. We, She said, “While the road to- The synergies which are mir- mapping and reporting on hu- nited Nations High in our offi ce, receive fi rst-hand wards justice may be fraught rored in the Sustainable Devel- man rights violations may eff ec- Commissioner for Hu- accounts of men, women and with challenges, it remains in- opments Goals, including Goal tively contribute to non-recur- Uman Rights Michelle children who have been subject- dispensable for societies to truly 16 on peaceful, just and inclusive rence, she explained. Bachelet has said the vast and ed to the most horrifi c crimes: heal. Various experiences have societies. Finally, the need to She said that she believes in diverse experiences discussed at massacres, torture, sexual vio- demonstrated that without jus- look at the root causes of con- the important role of national the “International Conference lence, displacement, starvation, tice, peace remains an illusion. fl icts, which are often grounded human rights institutions in the on National, Regional and Inter- denial of access to basic medical Asserting accountability and in systemic inequalities and dis- Arab world and welcomed her national Mechanisms to Com- care and to education. We can do countering impunity are pre- crimination as well as social ex- offi ce’s co-operation with the bat Impunity and Ensure Ac- more to bring the perpetrators conditions to sustainable peace.” clusion. Arab Network for National Hu- countability under International of these crimes to justice and to She explained that there are She added that accountabil- man Rights Institutions. Law”, held in Doha, speak to one protect the victims.” three essential aspects in tack- ity is a key strategy in the High She also thanked the National undeniable fact, that achieving “Victims have a right to truth, ling the issue of accountability, Commissioner offi ce with par- Human Rights Committee in accountability and ending im- justice and reparation. This is which are the need to consist- ticular emphasis on strength- Qatar for hosting and organising punity must be a priority for the important not only to the vic- United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle ently consider accountability ening justice mechanisms. Un- the event, wishing them utmost international community. tims themselves but for societies Bachelet addressing the conference. in a comprehensive manner, to derpinning of this approach is success in the conference.

Gulf Times 4 Monday, April 15, 2019 QATAR

Supreme Judiciary Council chief meets Jordanian and Turkish ministers

HE the Chairman of the Supreme Judiciary Council (SJC) and President of the Court of Cassation, Dr Hassan Lahdan Saqr al-Mohannadi held separate meetings yesterday with the Minister of Justice of Jordan, Dr Bassam Samir Talhouni, and the Deputy Minister of Justice of Turkey, Selahaddin Mentes, on the sidelines of the International Conference on “National, regional and international mechanisms to combat impunity and ensure accountability under the law,” currently being held in Doha. Aspects of co-operation and co-ordination in the legal and judicial fields between Qatar and the two countries and ways to strengthen and develop them were discussed.

Attorney-general holds talks Qatar-initiated move aims to with Jordan’s justice minister bring accountability in Syria

By Joseph Varghese national Law’ organised by atrocities, there would be a Staff Reporter National Human Rights Com- possibility of preserving the mittee. evidence and analysing it and Marchi-Uhel noted that on supporting prosecution by mechanism initiated by several occasions there were at- building cases, by sharing in- Qatar and some other tempts to have a resolution at the formation and evidence with Acountries for a fact-fi nd- UN Security Council to refer the those prosecutors who are ing mission in Syria, has resulted situation of Syria to the Interna- working on those cases,” ex- in equipping the international tional Criminal Court (ICC). plained Marchi-Uhel. community better to achieve ac- “This was blocked politi- The offi cial said that Qatar countability, a senior offi cial has cally as some states vetoed the was part of this initiative which said. proposal in the UN Security resulted in the adoption of the Catherine Marchi-Uhel, head Council. It was at this time, proposal by the UN General As- of the International Impartial Qatar, Liechtenstein and a sembly, establishing a mecha- and Independent Mechanism to small group of countries start- nism for Syria. assist in the investigation and ed to think out of the box,” said “This initiative has led to HE the Attorney-General Dr Ali bin Fetais al-Marri met the Minister of Justice of Jordan Bassam prosecution of persons respon- Catherine Marchi-Uhel Marchi-Uhel. another one for establishing a Talhouni, in Doha yesterday. They discussed topics of common interest and ways to promote sible for serious crimes in Syria, “They thought that they mechanism for the situation co-operation in the legal field. was speaking to Gulf Times yes- National, Regional and In- could do something without of Rohingyas in Myanmar” she terday. ternational Mechanisms to referring the matter to the noted. She is attending the ‘In- Combat Impunity and Ensure ICC. They figured that apart “I was appointed in August ternational Conference on Accountability under Inter- from a public report on the 2017 and the mechanism became operational from May 2018. We are not reporting publicly on the Failure to stop war crimes in Syria criticised substantive aspects. We have already collected over a million of records, an equivalent of four QNA in Syria, some of which have framework to ensure account- terabytes of data – information Doha reached the level of war crimes, ability for those violations. and pieces of evidence” she de- and the continued failure to hold He pointed out that to hold scribed. accountable those responsible accountable the perpetrators of “We are working extensively he fi rst session of the In- for such violations, represent a these acts and violations, it is to document those records and ternational Conference model for the failure of the inter- required to enter the Syrian ter- we receive request for assistance Ton national, regional and national community as a whole. ritory to document these viola- from prosecutors and we are international mechanisms to He called for the international tions, so that all offi cials who are helping them. We have the man- combat impunity and ensure community to act and co-oper- indicted are held accountable. date to look at the most serious accountability under the law, ate to ensure that those respon- He pointed out at the same time crimes committed from all sides which began here yesterday, sible are held accountable. that the United Nations Human during the confl ict,” highlighted focused on human rights viola- He criticised the failure of the Rights Council established the the offi cial. tions and related crimes in Syria. international community to stop Independent International Com- “It is getting tighter now for Chair of the Independent these violations. He called for mission of Inquiry on the Syr- many of the people who are ac- International Commission of measures that respect human ian Arab Republic on August 22 of cused. You have now interna- Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Re- rights and victims, stressing that 2011. It had a mandate to investi- tional arrest warrants issued public, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, diff erent countries and inter- gate all alleged violations of inter- against some of them,” added said in his speech at the fi rst ses- national courts must act within national human rights law since A section of the audience at the conference. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam the offi cial. sion that the ongoing violations a disciplined and responsible March 2011 in Syria.

NHRC chief proposes terrorism, blockades as crimes against humanity

From Page 1 bating impunity and to call tem. He maintained that the on the European Parliament promotion of human rights The NHRC chairman also to make further decisions has become the cornerstone recommended the estab- in the area of accountability of the progress of countries lishment of an international and combating impunity, as and the key pillar to reach a centre for prevention, ac- one of the important pillars high international standing countability and impunity. of the partnership relations on the global level. “The aim is to conduct between the European Un- The official highlighted studies, off er advice, sup- ion and the countries of the that the conference is the port intergovernmental world,” he continued. first of its kind in the re- and non-governmental or- The offi cial noted that gion that reflects the firm ganisations and support- primacy of political and eco- commitment of the wise ing countries in developing nomic interests has become leadership of Qatar and its legislation and mechanisms. a stumbling block to the rule determination to estab- We propose that the United of law, the preservation of lish a human rights system Nations High Commissioner rights and freedom. that ensures redress for for Human Rights, and the “In this context, the in- victims. European Parliament be ternational community has He felt that the world can- permanent and key mem- a responsibility to uphold not endure more tragedies bers in this mechanism,” he the principles of justice in and atrocities. “The realisa- noted. the context of the humani- tion of justice and the pun- Dr al-Marri has also pro- tarian and moral impera- ishment of perpetrators of posed the Offi ce of the High tive and joint responsibility these crimes have become a Commissioner for Human in addressing the crimes collective responsibility of Rights to establish a work- that violate human rights. the international commu- ing group to submit an as- This can only be realised nity, including all countries, sessment study on national, through fostering national, international and regional regional and international regional and international organisations and civil soci- mechanisms to combat im- criminal justice mecha- ety institutions, through co- punity to the competent en- nisms,” explained Dr al- operation and co-ordination tities of the United Nations Marri. on the collection and docu- system for developing legis- The NHRC chief noted mentation of evidence, and lation and mechanisms. that impunity inevitably conducting investigations as “We also propose the leads to further abuses and well as undertaking meas- United Nations Human tragedies, and makes victims ures essential to respect the Rights Council to establish a lose confi dence in the inter- principle of no impunity,” he special rapporteur on com- national human rights sys- added. Gulf Times Monday, April 15, 2019 5 QATAR Qatar takes part in PM meets UK secretary of foreign trade Miami seatrade expo Qatari delegation com- nessing all logistical and technical Mwani, Qatar Airways, and the tion that aims to transform it into prising fi ve government capabilities and ensuring better various destination management a unique integrated tourism hub HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani met Aand private sector parties service to our visitors in collabo- companies to move to the next in the region. Dredging works to yesterday with UK Secretary of State for International Trade and president of Board of Trade Dr Liam led by the Ministry of Transport ration with all stakeholders.” level in the development of the deepen its channel have been re- Fox, and the accompanying delegation, on the occasion of their visit to Qatar. During the meeting, and Communication, Qatar Na- He added, “The important de- cruise industry, which will see cently completed and this bolsters they reviewed the relations between the two countries and ways of developing and strengthening tional Tourism Council (QNTC), velopments come at a time we Qatar emerging as a turnaround its capacity to accommodate the them, especially in the field of trade and investment, in addition to issues of mutual concern. and Qatar Ports, participated in are improving infrastructure and port for cruise ships during the worlds largest cruise ships.” HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin the Seatrade Cruise Global Expo building the necessary facilities 2019/2020 winter season. Al-Mutawa also hailed the roles Mohamed al-Attiyah also met with Dr Liam Fox and his accompanying delegation. During the and Conference, which con- at Doha Port, which will become Maritime Transport Services played by Mwani Qatar, Qatar Na- meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and means of enhancing them. cluded in Miami, US recently. Qatar’s gateway to marine tour- Quality Director at the Ministry tional Tourism Council and other Considered one of the largest ism as part of the Ministry of of Transport and Communica- stakeholders in converting Doha and most signifi cant events in Transport and Communications tions, Mohamed al-Mutawa, Port into a cruise hub in the re- the global cruise industry calen- strategic plan aimed at sup- commented: “Seatrade Cruise gion for inbound and outbound dar, the Seatrade Cruise Global porting Qatar’s marine tourism Global is a great platform for cruises, emphasising that all con- Qatar, US discuss military ties expo provides a valuable oppor- sector and enhance economic sector leaders and key universal cerned parties pay great attention tunity to directly promote cruise diversifi cation in line with Qatar cruise operators to know Qa- to providing high quality services destinations, network with National Vision 2030” tar’s potential and its resources, to cruise ships, as well as all the partners from around the world, He noted that Mwani Qatar’s which qualify it to be featured in necessary facilitations to ensure and conclude agreements and participation in Seatrade Cruise their cruise itineraries. fl exible passage and departure. deals with global cruise lines. Global, along with the Ministry Doha Port plays a key role in The cruise industry is one of This year the participants of Transport and Communica- boosting Qatar’s ranking as an six tourism segments which the from over 130 countries included tions and QNTC has provided an attractive tourist destination National Tourism Sector Strat- more than 11,000 cruise industry ample opportunity to get a closer in the region through receiv- egy focuses on. leaders and 700 exhibitors. look at the latest experiences and ing cruise ships from around the It is also one of the fastest Qatar’s delegation to the best practices in the cruise in- world and providing a full range growing tourism segments, with conference also visited Cruise dustry and to hold fruitful meet- of resources. Qatar seeing a 39% increase in Terminal A in Miami Port, con- ings with a number of operators This helps in the growth of the number of cruise passengers sidered globally to be a model of cruise ships and ports around such a key sector, thus achiev- in 2017/2018. Growth is expected cruise port. the world. ing the economic diversity that to double this season. The delegation examined the Rashed al-Qurese, chief mar- is one of Qatar National Vision Ahead of the 2018/2019 sea- facilities and services provided keting offi cer, QNTC, com- 2030s top goals.” son, QNTC signed a number of to passengers and cruise ships, mented, “We are working with He added, “Doha Port’s grow- co-operation agreements, in- taking note of the standards to our partners at the Ministry of ing role is a refl ection of a com- cluding with Germany’s Aida HE the Chief of Staff of the Qatar Armed Forces, Lieutenant General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen al-Ghanem, be applied as Qatar develops its Transport and Communication, prehensive development opera- Cruises and Italy’s Costa Cruises. met with the Commander of the US Central Command in the Middle East, General Kenneth McKenzie, and own temporary cruise terminals the accompanying delegation yesterday. They discussed military relations between Qatar and the US and in Doha Port. ways of further enhancing them. Senior off icers of the Qatar Armed Forces attended the meeting. These temporary terminals will serve cruise passengers over the next few seasons until the full-time and permanent ter- MoCI report on special licences issued in March minal is complete in time for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The Ministry of Commerce and granted for festivals. 339 licences were granted for Capt Abdulla al-Khanji, CEO, Industry (MoCI) has released its The report also indicated that special off ers – including new Mwani Qatar, said, “We are very monthly report detailing special a total of 443 licences were prices, ‘buy one get one free’, pleased with the signifi cant suc- licences issued in March. issued in March, including for and ‘buy one get the second cesses that have been achieved The report revealed that promotional off ers, special off ers, one at half price’, the report in securing Qatar’s place on the 69 licences were issued for Swipe and Win and prize draws. added. global cruise map in the region discounted prices, including Overall, 75 promotional off er Three licences for Swipe and and we look forward to further 68 for discounts and one licences were granted for Win were also awarded in success in the coming seasons licence for final liquidation, companies selling goods in March, while 26 licences for with our commitment to har- The Qatari delegation at the Seatrade Cruise Global Expo and Conference, in Miami. while no licences were malls and retail shops, while prize draws were issued. Over 26mn gallons of rainwater removed

ain emergency teams at the Ministry of RMunicipality and Environment (MME) have concluded the necessary works to drain out rainwa- ter that had accumulated in various municipalities across the country. Safar Mubarak al-Shafi , director of the General Cleanliness Department at the ministry and head of the rain emergency committee, said more than 26mn gallons of rainwater was drained out until yesterday morning. Rainwater removal in progress after Saturday’s rain. The water was drained out through non-stop operations traffi c circulation on all by Umm Bab at 16.1mm, The wind speed may go up carried out by the teams. This roads aff ected by the week- Ras Laff an at 15.7mm, Abu to 22 knots at fi rst, with the was done in 5,366 batches us- end rains, al-Shafi observed. Hamour at 15mm, Ghu- sea level rising to 7ft. Fine ing 251 tankers and 31 water The country experienced wairiyah at 13.7mm, Doha conditions will prevail later. pumps, and the work involved thunderstorms and rainfall International Airport area at The minimum tempera- some 527 personnel, who were of varied intensity yesterday, 13.1mm, Al Khor at 12.5mm, ture today is expected to be keen to respond to all 263 re- including in Doha. The skies Jumayliyah at 12.4mm and 19C in Abu Samra and 20C ports received by the opera- have cleared since then. Sheehaniya at 10.7mm. in Doha, Wakrah and other tions room, the MME said in a Figures released by the In its forecast for tomor- places. The maximum, on press statement. weather offi ce on social me- row, the Qatar Met depart- the other hand, will range The rainwater removal dia yesterday showed that ment has said strong winds from 28C in Dukhan to 35C work was implemented Batna received the highest and high seas are expected in Wakrah and Mesaieed, promptly to ensure the safe- rainfall since early on Sat- in some off shore areas in with Doha expected to see a ty of road users and smooth urday at 20mm, followed the early hours of the day. high of 34C. QFFD lays foundation stone for cancer centre in Burkina Faso he Qatar Fund for Development sector in Burkina Faso and be a major (QFFD) has laid the foundation cause of life for many cancer patients. Tstone during an offi cial cer- This project is of great importance to emony for a cancer treatment centre us and local offi cials and will be active project under the patronage of Burkina in providing treatment, and improving Faso President Roch Marc Christian the level of health services in general Kabore. and cancer patients in particular” The ceremony was also attended The project aims to increase the by the Burkina Faso prime minister, ability to secure access to treatment, a high-level delegation from QFFD, and improve the quality of services headed by Deputy Director General of and reduce the number of treatments the Department of Shared Services, Off icials at the foundation laying ceremony. abroad, which will in turn help re- Mansour Abdullah al-Dhaimi, and a duce the fi nancial burden on the gov- number of ministers and offi cials from and development assistance provided ernment’s health sector budget. This the Burkinabe side. to Burkina Faso in the healthcare sec- project is estimated to benefi t 1,700 Burkina Faso Health Minister Leo- tor, commending the positive impact people annually. nie Claudine expressed her thanks and that will be yielded from this project. In addition to training of medical gratitude to the government and peo- Meanwhile, al-Dhaimi said, “We at and technical staff , the centre also in- ple of Qatar under the leadership of His the QFFD are proud to build this new cludes a radiotherapy section, chemi- Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin of a kind medical centre in West Af- cal treatment rooms, laboratories and Hamad al-Thani, for the humanitarian rica that will strengthen the healthcare administrative offi ces. Gulf Times 6 Monday, April 15, 2019 QATAR

Italian vice minister to speak at GU-Q Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) and Education Above All will jointly host tomorrow at Training programme on radiological 12.45pm at GU-Q a conversation with Emanuela Claudia Del Re, Italian vice minister for foreign aff airs and international co- operation, titled “Development Co- operation: The Italian approach”. emergency response gets underway The event, organised in co- operation with the Italian he training programme on ra- managers and law enforcement agen- ar accidents with the aim of developing embassy, will see Claudia Del Re diation emergency response cies to obtain eff ective operational and improving the national integrated addressing current and future Tkicked off yesterday at the experience, in order to enable them to radiation management system. challenges of international General Directorate of Civil Defence adequately prepare for an acceptable Brig Hamad Othman al-Duhaimi, development co-operation, organised by the Permanent Com- response to radiological emergencies. director, General Directorate of Civil highlighting the Italian vision and mittee for Emergency (PCE), Minis- He added that the programme af- Defence, who is also the PCE secre- presenting Italy’s best practices try of Municipality and Environment fi rms Qatar’s keenness to abide by in- tary said preparing and responding to in this field, as well as the recent (MME) and US Department of Energy, ternational conventions and treaties radiological emergencies requires the reform of the Italian system of with the participation of authorities that support international peace and preparation of fi rst responders such as international co-operation. concerned in the state. security and preserve the human and security and civil defence personnel, She will also talk about the The fi ve-day programme includes the environment at a national, region- medical staff and others to face such new challenges determined by lectures, presentations, fi eld training al and international level and ensures cases. First responders conduct initial conflicts and migration, Italy’s on radiation response methods and the the prevention of smuggling radioac- responses to ensure the safety of the priorities in the framework of Off icials at the launch of programme. use of radiation detectors to display and tive materials to illegal entities. general public and minimise the con- sustainable development goals clarify response requirements such as He said that the training programme sequences of accidents, he said. of the UN 2030 Agenda, with a the provision of qualifi ed human re- is a continuation of the constructive Deputy Chief of Mission at the US special focus on education. sources and technological potential. bilateral co-operation between Qatar embassy Phillip Nelson highlighted Qa- Italian scholar, sociologist, Claudia Ahmed Mohammed al-Sada, assist- and the US through the offi ce for nu- tar’s interest in issues related to national Del Re is an expert in conflict ant undersecretary for environmental clear accident policy and co-operation, security and nuclear threats. The US and studies, migrations, refugee issues, aff airs at the MME, said the programme part of the National Nuclear Security Qatar have a common interest in pro- minorities, and religious phenomena. was designed for diff erent emergency Administration (NNSA) at the US De- moting radiological safety in Qatar and She has carried out extensive teams such as those responsible for partment of Energy in the fi eld of radi- the region, while Qatar is preparing to researches in conflict areas and radiation, early responders, planners, ological emergencies and severe nucle- host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. (QNA) areas in transition since 1990.

A visitors tries some of the interactive features of Al Thuraya Planetarium. PICTURE: Joey Aguilar Planetarium at Katara draws people of all ages

By Joey Aguilar our galaxy,” said Chris- Staff Reporter tine T Rodriguez, who was visiting Qatar for a week. The facility opened in De- atara – the Cultural cember 2018 and was named Village’s Al Thuraya after Thuraya (Seven Sisters) KPlanetarium, de- – a cluster of seven bright scribed as the fi rst astro- stars known as ‘The Pleiades nomical dome in Qatar, has M45. It has become one of the been attracting people of all main attractions at Katara. ages to discover the outer According to Katara, space through a variety of the Planetarium’s operat- documentaries and movies ing system (Digistar) has in Arabic and English. unique features such as In a statement, Katara ‘Domecasting.’ It enables noted that children get the other theatres and domes chance “to explore our so- in the world, which has the lar system through diff erent same system, to broadcast set of eyes in ‘The perfect live presentations between little planet’ movie, which each other. introduces a family from Such capability allows another star seeking the other galleries to meet and perfect holiday spot.” watch live performances Equipped with the state- and experiment simultane- of-the art projectors fea- ously, including live pres- turing 2D and 3D tutorial entations in the dome. shows, Al Thuraya Plane- The facility, Katara add- tarium also screens other ed, provides information fi lms as The Universe and about Earth Science, con- The Astronaut, providing taining over 200 unique the audience with basic as- data sets in fi ve categories: tronomy information in an astronomy, atmosphere, ge- interesting way. ology and the oceans. This “I was really impressed includes more than 25 ter- with Al Thuraya’s interac- restrial weather data, solar tive features, which makes data sets and a number of it more interesting to dis- awareness presentations by cover and learn more about professional trainers.

Qatari, French firms sign several pacts

Several agreements agreement: investment between Qatari and French – QDB is investing in Iris companies have been signed Capital’s latest-generation during the off icial visit fund to get access to French to Qatar of French Prime and international companies Minister Edouard Philippe, wishing to settle and enhancing economic develop business in Qatar; relations between the two representation – Iris Capital countries and taking part has opened a representative in sharing know-how in key off ice in Qatar to sustain the sectors, the French embassy development of the Qatari in Doha has said. innovation ecosystem; and In a statement, the best practices – Iris Capital embassy said that these will be sharing with QDB agreements aim to meet the its know-how and best development and growth of investment practices in the the Qatari economy in line field of venture capital. with its National Vision 2030. On the occasion of the The embassy noted that a mutual commitment to partnership between Qatar developing industrial and Investment Authority and high value-added activities BPIFrance on the common in Qatar, Qatar Railways fund, Future French Development Company and Champions, was extended for RKH Qitarat companies (49% another year, until March 2020. subsidiary of the French Such collaboration companies Keolis and RATP, contributed through operating public transport its investments to the systems), established the development of seven ORION LLC joint venture. French companies since The company aims to March 2014. integrate the capital of French finance company French companies linked to Iris Capital and Qatar the field of transportation, Development Bank (QDB) whose plans for industrial also partnered to implement settlement are located in a three-part collaborative Qatar. Gulf Times Monday, April 15, 2019 7 QATAR Qatar Charity’s ‘Annual Forum for Field Offices’ concludes atar Charity’s (QC) annual forum for its field offices, which was organized under Qthe theme “The Challenges of Gover- nance and Risk Management in humanitarian Aid”, concluded in Doha with the attendance of 108 participants representing its offices world- wide. In his statement at the end of the forum, Faisal Rashid AlFehaida, assistant to the CEO in the Operations and International Partner- ships Sector at Qatar Charity, emphasized the importance of the forum for the international operations and partnerships sector. Qatar Char- ity has 26 offices and 4 representatives in 30 countries and works in nearly 70 countries, in cooperation with many local and international organizations. He also said the main goal of this forum was to apply the new policies and procedures for governance and risk management, noting that the forum has greatly contributed to in- troducing the governance sector, which is new for the field staff. This sector is concerned with

Some 108 participants representing Qatar Charity’s field offices worldwide participated in the forum.

sistent with the laws of the countries they serve ly contribute to the creation of a distinguished in, noting that they would pass on these ideas cadre capable of working well in the field. to local partners to ensure the improvement of For his part, Mohamed Abu Haloub, direc- the work quality and reach a higher number of tor of Qatar Charity’s office in the Gaza Strip, beneficiaries. said that the forum included many training courses that enriched the information and ex- periences of the participants, emphasizing that they benefited from its workshops that dealt The forum was with many new topics related to disaster man- agement and governance. organized under Mr. Ezzeddin Dhaifallah, director of Qatar Charity’s office in Ghana, said that the forum theme “The dealt with many important topics, pointing out Challenges of that Qatar Charity is exerting efforts to train its employees, as it fully realizes that that human Governance and cadre is the most significant element for the suc- cess. Risk Management Mohammed Amin Omar, director of Qatar Charity’s office in Bangladesh, considered the in humanitarian forum a valuable opportunity to directly learn and apply new policies, regulations and proce- Aid” dures in order to achieve the goal of providing services to people. The forum aims at creating harmony be- tween headquarters and its overseas offices, They underscored the importance of the enhancing the capabilities of its staff serving topics of the workshops, describing them as the in the field, developing the work environment, topics of the hour in charitable and humanitar- and strengthening the role of field offices in -net ternational methodology, and the development ian work, as they focused mainly on the gover- working and coordinating at the local, govern- the commitment of the offices to Qatar Charity’s of the process to implement projects in different nance of charity work. mental, UN and international levels. policies and making sure that they do not vio- areas. Qatar Charity They also noted that the workshops contrib- It also aims at presenting the modern work late them, especially the transparency and re- He pointed out that all field offices of Qatar uted greatly to building the capacities of the field systems, which was prepared by its headquar- porting aspects. Charity were directed to activate partnerships works in nearly workers and training them to understand the ters and discussing ways of applying them by He also added that the forum included 94 with international organizations, which would new policies and procedures of Qatar Charity the field offices, reviewing the annual plans of specialized training workshops, presented by enable them to become effective partners and 70 countries, in properly and apply them effectively. the field offices and consulting on the general experts on different topics, such as due dili- strategic implementers for these international “I believe that the forum is very important. framework of the future strategic plan of Qatar gence, risk measurement and management in organizations at a large scale. cooperation with It unifies the visions and approaches of those Charity. the field, especially in conflict-stricken areas Many participants underlined the impor- working at Qatar Charity’s field offices, which The participants were provided training on requiring rapid intervention and exchange of tance of this forum, as it allowed the employees many local and will be utilized in the implementation of the the use of the sponsorship system. The work- field experiences, and discussions on several of Qatar Charity to share experiences and ex- humanitarian and relief projects, policies and shops reviewed the mechanisms of internation- new projects and programmes in the fields of change knowledge, because it brought togeth- international future directions of Qatar Charity in light of the al coordination and cooperation at the national education, health, water, sanitation, economic er many experts in different fields from Qatar challenges faced by humanitarian action in gen- and sectoral levels, in addition to disaster man- empowerment and social welfare. Charity’s offices across the globe. organizations. eral and Qatar Charity in particular”, said Mr. agement and mutual requirements between re- The forum also discussed the importance of The participants said that the workshops Nasr Qaid from the Turkey office. lief management and field offices and the role of work in the coming period, according to the in- they attended would make their work more con- He also added that the workshops of the fo- field offices in enhancing Qatar Charity’s iden- rum were very important and would significant- tity and improving its marketing performance. Gulf Times 8 Monday, April 15, 2019 QATAR

Health minister meets UK dignitary Qatar Airways partners with Qadco to support food security in Qatar

atar Airways has partnered with Qatarat Agricultural HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari met yesterday with UK QDevelopment Company Secretary of State for International Trade Dr Liam Fox who is also president of the Board (Qadco) to supply Qatar Aircraft Ca- of Trade and his accompanying delegation. During the meeting, they discussed relations tering Company (QACC) with fresh between the two countries, especially in the field of health and ways to boost them. The produce to be served onboard Qatar meeting was attended by UK Commercial Commissioner for the Middle East, Afghanistan Airways fl ights from Doha and at and Pakistan Simon Benny and UK ambassador to Qatar Ajay Sharma. Doha Hamad International Airport (HIA) lounges. The two-year agreement between the airline and Qadco, one of the largest vegetable and fruit produc- ers in Qatar, demonstrates Qatar MME distributes fodder to farmers Airways’ commitment to contribut- ing towards the country’s self-suffi - ciency goals in support of the Qatar National 2030 vision, according to a statement yesterday. QACC will purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, including cucum- ber, cabbage, zucchini, lettuce, car- rots, tomatoes, onions and herbs, for meals served onboard all cabin classes on Qatar Airways’ fl ights de- parting from Doha and at Al Mourjan Business and Al Safwa First Class Lounges. “As the national carrier of Qatar, we are proud to support Qatar’s na- tional food security initiatives and The Ministry of Municipality and Environment’s (MME) Livestock Department has collaborate with Qadco to supply us distributed 340 tonnes of concentrated animal fodder to 67 livestock owners participating with locally grown fresh produce, A view of a farm owned by Qadco, one of the largest vegetable and fruit producers in Qatar. in the national initiative to encourage local sheep and goat production and subsidise picked straight from Qatar farms and the prices of mutton. Abdullah Saad Bu Shayaa, head of animal production at the MME brought to QACC kitchens,” QACC “We are cultivating diff erent vari- Qadco’s vision is to promote self- rating organisation Skytrax. It was Livestock Department, pointed out that the distribution of concentrated fodder is done senior vice president Michael Win- eties of vegetables and fruits to cater suffi ciency in unproductive and also named ‘Best Business Class according to the number of animals each farmer has committed to supply Widam Food ner said. to the diverse preferences of Qatar’s stagnant farms by incorporating new Seat’, ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’, Company. Each registered head of livestock deserves 105kg of fodder each month “This agreement marks another market and Qatar Airways’ passen- agricultural technologies. and ‘World’s Best First Class Airline throughout the duration of the initiative. milestone in Qatar Airways’ contin- gers. We aim to expand our variety of Adopting the concepts of sustain- Lounge’. ued commitment to supporting lo- produce off erings in the near future,” able agriculture and ‘clean farming’, The airline has launched an array cal food security initiatives. We look al-Kuwari added. Qadco farms focus on maintaining of new destinations recently, includ- forward to continuing work with lo- Qadco is the agricultural arm of ecological balance with minimal in- ing Gothenburg, Sweden; Mombasa, cal farm producers to strengthen ef- Specialised International Services, a terference, rotating crops to allow Kenya and Da Nang, Vietnam. Qatar forts toward,” he added. Qatar-based private investment and the land to recover and source local Airways will add a number of new Ooredoo confi rms enablement Qadco general manager Tha- business development company. It compost to nourish the soil. destinations to its extensive route wab al-Kuwari said: “Our crops are manages two farms that span more A multiple-award-winning air- network in 2019, including includ- picked straight from the farm, sort- than 600 hectares: Al Wabra in the line, Qatar Airways was named ing Lisbon, Portugal; Malta; Rabat, of VoLTE for Samsung S9, S9+ ed, packed and delivered to our cli- Al Sheehaniya area, dedicated to ful- ‘World’s Best Business Class’ by the Morocco; Langkawi, Malaysia; Dav- ents, thereby maintaining the fresh- ly-computerised greenhouses, and 2018 World Airline Awards, man- ao, Philippines; Izmir, Turkey; and ness of the crops.” Umm Qarn in northern Qatar. aged by international air transport Mogadishu, Somalia. oredoo confi rmed it had enabled Voice over Long-Term Evolution (VoLTE) Ofor Samsung S9 and S9+ devices last month, making it the fi rst telecommunications provider in Qatar to off er VoLTE on the Sam- we can improve our service to our custom- sung devices. ers, in line with our drive to achieve complete Barwa Bank announces draw winners The enablement means customers with customer satisfaction. “We know accessing the Samsung S9 and S9+ devices will now be the latest technology is a huge priority for our able to enjoy faster call set-up times – almost customers, so we’re committed to bringing the twice as fast as a non-VoLTE call set-up, as best to our customers fi rst and we’re proud to of Thara’a savings account prize well as clearer, more natural-sounding audio be the fi rst in Qatar to be able to off er access to when both parties are using HD voice-enabled VoLTE capability on yet another smartphone phones connected to the Ooredoo 4G LTE net- device.” Customers with Samsung S9 and S9+ arwa Bank has announced merce and Industry. Thara’a off ers the cash prize of QR10,000. Quar- fund transfers across their accounts work, and longer battery life. devices will need to update their software in the names of the most recent account holders the chance to win terly, there are two winners per draw and through all Barwa Bank chan- VoLTE capability also means customers can order to benefi t from the VoLTE capability. The Bround of draw winners for monthly cash rewards that sum up for the cash prize of QR25,000 each, nels. Barwa Bank off ers an extensive still enjoy 4G download speeds, while making a Ooredoo team is working closely with Sam- Thara’a, its Shariah-compliant sav- to more than QR2mn, and a grand two winners per draw for the cash variety of personal banking prod- voice call. Manar Khalifa al-Muraikhi, director, sung in order to extend VoLTE capability to the ings account, in a ceremony held at prize of QR1mn, a fi rst for Islamic prize of QR50,000 each, and yearly ucts and investments, as well as PR and Corporate Communications at Oore- S10 model and more Samsung devices in the the bank’s headquarters. banks in Qatar. there is one winner of the grand seven strategically-located branch- doo, said: “We’re constantly looking for ways near future. The winners, Ahmed Fouad Men- Based on several criteria, Thara’a prize of QR1mn, rewarding 365 win- es and a broad network of ATMs lo- isy and Mohamed Abdunnaser al- account holders are eligible for a ners in total with cash prizes up to cated across Qatar. Gamudi, each won a cash prize of number of periodic draws for cash QR3.29mn. Customers can access their ac- QR50,000. Also, a cash prize worth prizes. Totalling QR3.29mn, Thara’a Coupled with cash prizes and a counts from the convenience of QR25,000 was awarded to Hussain cash rewards are distributed on reward scheme, Thara’a is a prod- their offi ce or home through the Sultan al-Jaber and Mohamed Ya- monthly, quarterly, and annual ba- uct full of value-added benefi ts state-of-the-art online banking, cine Ben Lamnouar. The draw was sis to customers holding a minimum and services. Thara’a off ers account or via the 24/7 contact centre. Cus- conducted under the supervision of balance of QR10,000. On a monthly holders access to Barwa Bank’s in- tomers may learn about the many a representative of the Qualitative basis, there are 42 winners per draw novative banking channels with benefi ts of Thara’a savings account License and Market Control De- for the cash prize of QR5,000 each, benefi ts, including unlimited with- by visiting www.barwabank.com or partment at the Ministry of Com- as well as two winners per draw for drawals and deposits, as well as free by calling 800 8555. National Museum of Qatar announces new talks series

he National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) has Presented by Dr Ferhan Sakal, from QM’s Ar- launched a range of public programmes chaeology Department, this talk titled ‘The Tbased on the theme of Qatar and the Sea. Foundations of Doha’, will discuss the Joint Old Consisting of interactive talks, workshops for Doha Rescue Excavation initiative, organised in young people and families, special events and collaboration with UCL Qatar. The talk will shed community activities, NMoQ’s extensive pro- light on the history of the people in Doha and gramme shines a spotlight on the richness of Qa- their relationship with the sea, and take place on tar’s natural setting. April 18 from 5.30pm to 7pm at the NMoQ Audi- The series of events, organised as part of torium. NMoQ’s eff orts to become a key cultural pil- This workshop for International Earth Day will lar within the community, brings together local be held under the theme ‘Save our Seas’, during experts and members of the museum teams and which participants will discover diff erent ways other educational organisations to explore new to creatively recycle plastic to help keep the seas themes every month. clean. It is on April 22 from 5pm to 7pm at the The fi rst series, titled ‘Al Qursan/The Corsair’ NMoQ Learning Studio. by author Abdulaziz al-Mahmoud, is on April 17 NMoQ will also organise a unique seminar in from 4pm to 6pm at NMoQ’s Mohamed Jassim the country addressing the fi eld of Visitor Stud- al-Khulaifi Library. ies. In attendance will be by international experts The book is an action-packed story of high- including Professor John H Falk, Executive Di- seas piracy and political intrigue, of unexpected rector of the Institute for Learning Innovation, kinship and historical events in the Arabian Pe- NMoQ to hold a series of interactive talks, Oregon State University. ninsula. Discussion of the book will be led by au- workshops, and community activities. The seminar will comprise talks, group work thor Essa Abdullah. The fi rst creative workshop, and feedback sessions delivered by Dr Karen titled ‘A Colour Chart of the Sea’, will follow in 5pm to 7pm at the NMoQ Learning Studio. Exell, senior museum development specialist at the footsteps of traditional artists and allow par- The second creative workshop, on ‘Marbling NMoQ, to discuss visitors’ needs, their expecta- ticipants to create their own colours by mixing Workshop Interactive Painting’, will take place on tions from museums and understand their moti- diff erent pigments from natural sources. April 24 from 5pm to 7pm in the NMoQ Learning vations. Places are limited and available on a fi rst Participants will be encouraged to use their Studio. The aim is to teach participants to ob- come, fi rst served basis. Given that the events are own visual experiences and memories of the serve the natural world around them, particularly expected to be enormously popular, interested sea as a starting point to create a beautiful col- the waves and wind, to create expressive artwork visitors are encouraged to arrive early at the ven- our chart. The workshop is on April 17 from through paper marbling techniques. ues. Gulf Times Monday, April 15, 2019 9 REGION/ARAB WORLD Sudan protesters seek More than swift move to civilian rule 120 killed as Reuters rivals battle Khartoum

udan’s main protest group demanded the immediate for Tripoli Shandover of power to a ci- vilian transitional government yesterday, saying it would keep AFP The unity government said up the street demonstrations Tripoli its forces had shot down an which ousted former President LNA fi ghter jet yesterday “that Omar al-Bashir last week to was preparing to conduct air achieve its aims. ighting near Tripoli raids” south of Tripoli. Sudanese Professionals’ Asso- has killed 121 people An LNA source said the ciation (SPA) called for the estab- Fsince strongman Kha- plane had come down in an lishment of a transitional council lifa Haftar launched an off en- area under its control and that which would be protected by the sive earlier this month to take the pilot, who had ejected, was armed forces, adding it would the Libyan capital, the World “safe and sound”. That came exert “all forms of peaceful pres- Health Organisation said yes- as the strongman met in Cairo sure to achieve the objectives of terday. with key backer Egyptian Pres- the revolution”. The head of the In clashes between Haftar’s ident Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, who military council that replaced Ba- forces and those of the UN- pledged support for “eff orts to shir, who was ousted on Thursday backed Government of Na- fi ght terrorism and extrem- after three decades in power, has tional Accord (GNA), both ist militias to achieve security said a civilian government will be sides have proclaimed “ad- and stability...throughout the formed after talks with the oppo- vances” but neither appears country”, Sisi’s offi ce said. sition in Sudan. to have made substantial Haftar also has the support A sit-in in the Sudanese capi- progress on the ground in re- of some Gulf states and Russia. tal, which began on April 6, was cent days. With more than With gunfi re echoing the culmination of a protest 560 people wounded since the through city blocks and tanks movement that began nearly fi ghting started on April 4, the rumbling through towns and four months ago, triggered by a WHO said it was sending more districts south of Tripoli, worsening economic crisis. medical supplies and staff to many panicked residents have Lieutenant General Abdel Tripoli. fl ed their homes. Fattah al-Burhan Abdelrah- On its Twitter feed, the More than 13,500 people man called a meeting yesterday Sudanese Christians from the Nuba Mountains gather at the protest site near the military headquarters in the capital Khartoum, yesterday. agency denounced “repeated have been displaced and over which was largely attended by attacks on health care work- 900 are now living in shelters, unknown politicians and parlia- didate for prime minister, while Service generals, including its ers” and vehicles during the OCHA said. Both sides have mentarians who are known to be another member of the council former head Salah Gosh, and for Military council removes defence minister fi ghting. The UN’s humani- launched daily air raids and loyal to Bashir’s party, a Reuters said they would give the oppo- the removal of the prosecutor tarian co-ordination offi ce, accuse each other of target- witness said. sition one week to submit their general. It also called for the ar- Sudan’s military council has and Security Service (NISS), OCHA, said Saturday that ing civilians. One air strike the It did not include SPA and the suggestions. rest of Bashir, whom the army has removed defence minister Shams El Din Kabbashi Shinto three medical personnel had GNA blamed on Haftar’s forces other main opposition parties, Several thousand protesters said it has already detained. Awad Ibn Auf from his role said. Shinto also announced the been killed and that shrapnel hit a school in Ain Zara, south which together make up a group continued a sit-in outside the Up to four thousand people and appointed a new intel- sacking of Sudan’s ambassadors had put fi ve ambulances out of of Tripoli, which has been the known as the Forces for Freedom Defence Ministry and for the were still camped out yesterday, ligence chief, a spokesman said to Washington and Geneva and action. scene of violent clashes for and Change. fi rst time state television showed a Reuters witness said, slightly yesterday. Lieutenant General said all army and police off icers The mounting violence has days. Yesterday, the UN mis- “We were not invited to this footage of people marching and fewer than on previous days, with Abu Bakr Mustafa will replace who participated in street pro- sparked global alarm over the sion in Libya warned that meeting...we will submit our chanting in the streets, while some people returning to work for Salah Abdallah Mohamed Saleh, tests which led to the ousting of oil-rich country, in turmoil international humanitarian suggestions for the govern- a TV presenter congratulated the fi rst time in days. known as Salah Gosh, as chief former President Omar al-Bashir since Nato-backed forces law “prohibits the bombing ment to the military council,” a their “revolution”. SPA, which After deadly clashes at the sit- of Sudan’s National Intelligence last week would be released. overthrew former dictator of schools, hospitals, ambu- spokesman for SPA told Reuters. had demanded that civilians in last week, the atmosphere was Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. lances and civilian areas”. The Lieutenant General Yasser be included on the transitional relaxed, with soldiers drinking tea A bewildering array of mili- mission warned that it would Atta, a member of the military military council and for Bashir’s and chatting with protesters. the revolution from hijacking,” achieved, why would we go home? tias have sought to take control document all breaches in or- council, said they had hoped the close associates to leave, called “We are at our sit-in until we Mouawiya Mubarak, a 21-year- Our sit-in is the most powerful since his ouster. Haftar’s of- der to inform the UN Security opposition would come together for the arrest of prominent Na- hear the response from the army old student, said. “Our demands weapon in our hands,” the SPA fensive began shortly before a Council and the International to choose an independent can- tional Intelligence and Security to the...demands. We will defend are clear and have not yet been said in a tweet. conference set for this month Criminal Court. to discuss Libya’s future — an The LNA meanwhile ac- event the UN cancelled as his cused the Tripoli-based forces forces closed in on the capital. of an air raid “targeting civil- LNA JET SHOT DOWN ians” in the Gasr Ben Ghachir Yemen faces fuel shortage Haftar, who leads the self- region south of Tripoli. Zarif urges countries styled Libyan National Army GNA spokesman Mohamed (LNA), has pushed from his Gnounou said his forces had power base in the country’s carried out 21 air strikes tar- to take position on east towards the Libyan capi- geting LNA positions and sup- tal in the west, the seat of the ply lines between Friday and UN-backed unity government Saturday. step against Guards led by Fayez al-Sarraj.

Reuters and the United Nations Security London Council to protest against “this illegal US measure”. Tehran re- taliated against Washington’s Iraqi forces kill top ran will ask the international move by designating the regional community to take a posi- United States Central Command Ition on the US designation (Centcom) as a terrorist organi- militant, four fi ghters of its Revolutionary Guards as a sation. terrorist organisation, Foreign Relations between Tehran Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif and Washington took a turn for Reuters geting militant hideouts, for was cited as saying yesterday. the worse last May when Trump Baquba three days. Iran condemned US President pulled out of a 2015 nuclear deal The elite Counter Terror- Donald Trump’s step last week between Iran and six world pow- ism Service and the military’s as illegal. ers, reached before he took of- ecurity forces killed an operations command for Diy- The Islamic Revolutionary fi ce, and reimposed sanctions. Islamic State command- ala province did not name the Guards Corps (IRGC) is a pow- The United States has already Ser and four fi ghters in commander but they said in a erful elite force which controls blacklisted dozens of entities the Hamrin Mountains area of statement he was in charge of much of the Iranian state and and people for affi liations with northeast Iraq yesterday, the Islamic State forces in Hamrin. economy. the IRGC, but had not previously military said. He and four “followers” were “Today...we will send mes- targeted the organisation as a Iraqi and US-led coalition killed in the area northeast of sages to foreign ministers of all whole. Revolutionary Guards Cars queue to a petrol station amid a fuel shortage in Sanaa, Yemen, yesterday. warplanes have been carrying Baquba, the provincial capital, countries to tell them it is nec- commanders have repeatedly out air strikes in the area, tar- yesterday, it said. essary for them to express their said that US bases in the Middle stances, and to warn them that East and US aircraft carriers in this unprecedented and danger- the Gulf are within range of Ira- UNREST ous US measure has had and will nian missiles. 11 die in Aleppo militant strike have consequences,” Zarif was Tehran has also threatened to quoted as saying by state news disrupt oil shipments through Rockets fired by militants yesterday killed at least agency IRNA. the Strait of Hormuz in the 11 people in the Syrian city of Aleppo held by Zarif said he had also sent Gulf if the United States tries to President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, state news letters to United Nations Secre- strangle Iran’s economy by halt- agency SANA reported. tary-General Antonio Guterres ing its oil exports. Aleppo sits in the north of the country next to Idlib, a province dominated by Syria’s former Al Qaeda aff iliate, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Since the regime regained control of Aleppo at the end Palestinian governor of Jerusalem arrested of 2016, the city has been targeted intermittently by militants and rebel fighters. SANA said the Israeli police arrested the Palestinian governor of Jerusalem yes- rockets fired by “terrorist groups” killed 11 “martyrs” terday after he allegedly violated an order previously given to him and wounded 11 civilians in neighbourhoods of by authorities, police and his lawyer said. Aleppo, using terminology reserved for both The governor, Adnan Gheith, has been arrested several times in militants and rebels. The news agency originally recent months in connection with an investigation related to a reported that six civilians were among the dead, land sale. His lawyer Mohamed Mahmud said he had been given but its latest update did not give a breakdown. a six-month order not to visit the occupied West Bank or contact certain people there, and police accused him of violating the order. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld confirmed Gheith had DIPLOMACY been arrested and was being questioned, but could not provide UN envoy holds talks further details. Official Palestinian news agency WAFA said he was released later and given a 1,000-shekel fine ($280). The UN envoy for Syria held “substantial” talks Police had previously investigated Gheith over suspicions he yesterday in Damascus with Foreign Minister was involved in the Palestinian Authority’s arrest in October of Walid Muallem on efforts to find a political set- American-Palestinian Issam Akel, who was accused of involvement tlement to the country’s eight-year-long war. in selling an east Jerusalem building to Jewish buyers. “We have had very detailed substantial discus- Such sales are considered treasonous among Palestinians sions,” Norwegian diplomat Geir Pedersen told concerned with Israeli settlers buying property in annexed east reporters after the meeting. Jerusalem. “We are now addressing all the issues so all the Palestinian officials have condemned his arrests and claimed it issues are at the table,” he said, without specify- was intended to pressure the Palestinian leadership over Akel’s ing. The envoy said he was set to hold more case. Akel was sentenced to life by a Palestinian court, but he was talks with Syrian officials later in the day. reportedly later allowed to leave to the United States. “Let’s see how we are able to proceed later this afternoon,” he added. Gulf Times 10 Monday, April 15, 2019 AFRICA

INITIATIVE CRACKDOWN ACCIDENT INFORMATION Ivanka in Africa to promote Two held with 167 rhino 12 killed in fuel tanker Abducted Italian, Canadian US jobs plan for women horns in S Africa haul explosion in Nigeria are alive, says Burkina govt

Ivanka Trump began a four-day tour of Africa South African police said yesterday they had Twelve people were killed and 16 badly injured An Italian man and his Canadian companion yesterday to promote a $50mn United States found 167 rhino horns believed to be destined when a fuel tanker exploded in northern abducted last December in Burkina Faso are alive initiative aimed at encouraging women’s for Asia and nabbed two suspects in a sting Nigerian city of Gombe, police said yesterday. but may have been moved to another country, employment in developing countries. operation in the North West province. The two The driver lost control of the fuel tanker as a Burkinabe government spokesman said. An “Fundamentally we believe that investing in were arrested on Saturday following a tipoff he tried to avoid colliding with another truck Italian missionary abducted last September in women is a smart development policy and it is that there was a car transporting rhino horns. It at a bridge on the outskirts of the city on Niger meanwhile may since have been briefly held a smart business,” White House adviser Trump is one of the biggest hauls of rhino horns in the Saturday. The tanker fell on its side, “spilled its in Burkina Faso, the spokesman added. Burkina said after drinking coff ee and inhaling incense at country, according to an elite police unit that contents and exploded, causing an inferno that Faso’s government spokesman Remis Fulgance a traditional Ethiopian ceremony in Addis Ababa. investigates specialised types of crime known engulfed other road users,” Gombe state police Dandjinou updated Italy’s state television channel The Women’s Global Development and Prosperity as the Hawks. “We arrested them on Saturday in spokeswoman Mary Mallum said. “Twelve people Rai on the hostages in an interview broadcast on (W-GDP) initiative aims to economically empower the Hartbeespoort dam area. They were driving burned to death while 16 others were seriously Friday evening. The information they had on Luca 50mn women by 2025. President Donald Trump, in a vehicle and they were intercepted,” Hawks injured and evacuated to hospital for treatment,” Tacchetto, 30, and 34-year-old Canadian Edith Blais Ivanka’s father, has directed USAID to allocate an spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said. she said, accusing the driver - who was among suggested that they were no longer in Burkina Faso, initial $50mn to the fund. Ivanka Trump is due to “It was an intelligence-driven operation that those killed - of reckless driving and speeding. he said. But he added: “We are certain that their life is White House Adviser Ivanka Trump attends a take part in a World Bank policy summit and then led to the arrest of the two. They were found in Accidents are common on Nigeria’s poorly not in danger. We can say that these people are still meeting with women from the coff ee industry visit Ivory Coast to promote female entrepreneurs possession of those 167 rhino horns,” he said, maintained roads, many caused by reckless alive.” Quebecois Blais and Tacchetto, from Venice, during her visit to Addis Ababa yesterday. in the country’s cocoa industry. adding “it is one of biggest (hauls)”. driving, speeding and disregard for traff ic rules. disappeared mid-December.

Payment only for elderly white farmers: Five years after Mnangagwa

AFP Boko Haram Harare

he Zimbabwe government will give priority to eld- Terly white farmers when it starts compensating those who kidnap, 112 girls lost their properties during the controversial land reforms, the president said in an interview published yesterday. The fi nance and agriculture ministries last week said they had are still missing budgeted 53mn Zimbabwean dol- lars ($18mn) in payments to white AFP long-term policy of blocking Five years ago the “Bring commercial farmers whose prop- Chibok, Nigeria the group’s supplies. back our girls” slogan – fuelled erties were seized nearly 20 years She might even have been by social media – became a ago under Robert Mugabe. converted to the group’s radical powerful rallying cry. The government pledged to tar- isha Musa Maina digs beliefs. Now, the girls’ plight takes get those in “fi nancial distress”. through an old bag look- In a propaganda video broad- its place alongside the many In an interview with the state- Aing for memories of her cast by Boko Haram in January other tragedies in this country owned Sunday Mail newspaper, daughter Hauwa, one of the 2018, 14 women claiming to be of 190mn plagued by crime and Emmerson Mnangagwa said the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped Chibok girls, three of whom conflict. estimated value of the improve- five years ago by Boko Haram held babies, warned their fami- Boko Haram has also grown ments on the farms would be militants in northeastern Ni- lies they would not be coming in strength over the past year, 3bn Zimbabwe dollars ($1bn) and geria. home. after being weakened during that the government was not un- All she has left are old papers the first years of Buhari’s presi- der pressure to pay all farmers. damaged by dust and humidity, “We aren’t losing hope dency – he was re-elected for a “We are looking at old white a school diploma and a small but we are appealing to second term in February. farmers as we make payment,” photograph. government to invest The Islamic State West Af- Mnangagwa told the paper ahead The kidnap had caused the more effort to bring back rica Province (ISWAP), the IS- of Zimbabwe’s 39th independ- family such suffering and sad- our girls and reunite us” linked faction of Boko Haram, ence anniversary on Thursday. ness it feels as if they were all has increased its deadly at- “We don’t pay compensation abducted, Hauwa’s mother told Thanking the leader of the tacks on military bases, killing to those who are fi t. Our consti- AFP. group Abubakar Shekau, who several hundred Nigerian army tution bids us to pay for improve- On April 14, 2014, gun- “married us off” they added: soldiers. ments on land. We do not pay for men stormed the Chibok girls’ “We are the Chibok girls that Last year on the fourth an- land because no one brought land boarding school, kidnapping you cry for...(but), we will not niversary of the Chibok kid- to Zimbabwe. 276 pupils aged 12-17, 57 of return to you.” napping, the UN Children’s “When we feel we do not have whom managed to escape by News is scarce in this small, agency said more than 1,000 resources, no one compels us to jumping from the trucks. remote town where the literacy other children had also been do anything,” he said, adding Their plight moved the rate is very low. kidnapped by militants since that the government was also in world and became a key elec- Hauwa’s father Musa Maina 2013. talks with the British govern- tion issue for President Mu- has no idea what has happened In 2016, Human Rights ment to help “to contribute to hammadu Buhari who was to his daughter, although he in- Watch put the number of young this compensation”. elected a year later on the sists he has not lost hope. boys – some as young as five – More than 4,000 of the coun- promise of defeating Boko “We heard that some par- in the hands of the group at up try’s 4,500 white farmers were Haram and returning the girls ents were reunited with their to 10,000. stripped of their land under safe and sound. daughters but ours (is) still yet Some of these children are former president Mugabe’s highly After negotiations with Boko to come back home,” he said. believed to have been released controversial land seizures. Haram, 107 of the girls either “We aren’t losing hope but and sent to deradicalisation Mugabe justifi ed the land grabs escaped, were released in ex- we are appealing to govern- centres as the Nigerian army as a way to correct colonial-era change for prisoners or were ment to invest more effort to made inroads into Boko Haram land ownership disparities that recovered by the army. bring back our girls and reunite territory. had favoured whites and to stimu- Hauwa is one of the 112 girls us,” he added. Whatever their fate, and that late economic growth for black of whom there has been no Elsewhere in the country, the of the Chibok girls, a decade of Zimbabweans. news. passage of time seems to have conflict has taken a heavy toll. Critics blame the evictions for Her family wonders if their lowered expectations of find- The Boko Haram insurgency a collapse in agricultural produc- daughter is still alive or if she ing the girls. has claimed 27,000 lives in Ni- tion that forced Africa’s one-time was killed in a Nigerian army At a big traffic junction in the geria where nearly 2mn peo- bread basket to become depend- bombing, a claim made by the centre of the economic capital ple still cannot return to their ent on imported food to feed its militant group. Lagos, drivers no longer pay at- homes and also spilled over population. Names of missing Chibok school girls kidnapped by Boko Haram insurgency five years ago are She might have died of hun- tention to their pictures hung into neighbouring countries displayed during the fifth year anniversary of their abduction, in Abuja, Nigeria yesterday. ger or disease, given the army’s along the railings. Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

A month after Graffiti festival Idai, disease and displacement E Guinea opposition fi gure still a concern A month after Cyclone Idai held in Chad on ‘coup’ charge devastated parts of Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe, aid is still needed to prevent further disaster AFP Contacted by AFP, Kebz- Nguema, 76, has repeatedly ac- due to disease and displacement, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea abo dismissed the minister’s cused people within Equatorial the UN children’s fund warned allegations as “gratuitous Guinea and elsewhere of seek- yesterday. Mozambique, the accusations” put up by the ing to overthrow him. southeast African country worst leading Equatorial government to damage the op- A trial of 150 other alleged hit by the cyclone, recorded about Guinea opposition fi g- position, but confi rmed the ar- coup plotters was suspended 7,500 cases of malaria and roughly Aure arrested in Chad rest of Esono Ondo. in early April, a defence lawyer 4,600 cases of cholera, according last week was preparing a coup On Saturday, Equatorial said. to Unicef. Earlier this month, against the Malabo govern- Guinea’s main opposition par- Obiang Nguema is now Af- the Mozambican government ment, a senior minister said. ty, the Citizens for Innovation rica’s longest-serving leader launched a mass immunisation Andres Esono Ondo, leader (CI) also denounced Esono On- having himself seized power in campaign against cholera. Several of the the Convergence for So- do’s arrest. a 1979 putsch. people have died from cholera cial Democracy (CPDS), was The government wanted to His critics accuse him of since the cyclone. Unicef said arrested on Thursday, said “end democratic political re- brutal repression, election 130,000 children remain displaced, Equatorial Guinea’s external sistance by the true opposi- fraud and corruption. most of them in Mozambique and security minister Juan Antonio tion”, it said in a statement. In a landmark 2017 judg- Malawi. More than 200,000 homes Bibang Nchuchuma. A diplomat in Equatorial ment, a French court con- were destroyed in Mozambique The sole objective of his Guinea, who asked to remain victed his son, the country’s alone. Flood waters have begun to trip was to acquire weapons anonymous, also told AFP the vice president Teodorin recede across the three countries and ammunition and to re- government wanted to “silence Obiang, of stealing public and some families have started cruit “terrorists” to carry out dissenting voices and keep the money to buy luxury goods returning home, but thousands a coup in Equatorial Guinea, opposition on the back foot”, in France. more remain in evacuation backed with foreign money, adding that this kind of opera- He was handed a three-year camps, the agency said. Nearly he added. tion was common. suspended sentence in the trial, 1,000 people were killed across Esono Ondo was arrested In 2015, Esono Ondo was which he did not attend. the three countries, according to in the Guera region, 500km falsely accused of hiring some- Equatorial Guinea is one of the United Nations Off ice for the from the Chadian capital “in one infected by the Ebola virus Africa’s top oil producers but Co-ordination of Humanitarian the company of Saleh Kebz- to transmit the deadly disease the bulk of the population of Aff airs (OCHA). Cyclone Idai made abo, leader of Chad’s main to Equatorial Guinea, where the some 1.2mn lives in poverty. Kenyan artist Bankslave completes a graff iti called “Dakar Vision” painted by French artists landfall late on March 14 and in the opposition party,” he said in football African Nations Cup The country has witnessed Lezzart and Laec on a wall of the maison de la culture (house of culture) Douta Seck in Dakar, early hours of March 15, causing an official note read on state fi nal took place. several coups since independ- capital of Senegal, during the ‘festigraff ’, an urban culture festival. heavy flooding and damaging media. President Teodoro Obiang ence from Spain in 1968. infrastructure. Gulf Times Monday, April 15, 2019 11 AMERICAS

CAUSE UNKNOWN CAMPAIGN TRAIL DIPLOMACY POLITICS Facebook races to restore Kamala Harris releases Canada cuts off aid to Trump ‘not’ inciting violence social media services 15 years of tax returns Nicaragua over rights against Muslim lawmaker

Facebook Inc said yesterday it restored Democratic US Senator Kamala Harris yesterday The Canadian government said yesterday it White House press secretary Sarah Sanders services after some users could not access its released 15 years of tax returns through 2018, suspended financial aid to Nicaragua last year in yesterday defended Donald Trump against social networking site, photo-sharing network off ering the most complete look to date at a response to human rights violations — a decision accusations that he was inciting violence against Instagram and messaging app WhatsApp. presidential candidate’s finances. Harris held not publicly disclosed until now. A foreign ministry a Muslim congresswoman after the president However, Facebook did not specify the public off ice during the years 2004 through spokeswoman, Britanny Fletcher, confirmed the tweeted a video of her spliced with footage of the cause or scope of the outages. “Earlier today, 2018. With her husband, Douglas Emhoff , an cut-off after the CBC reported the aid was halted 9/11 attacks. Ilhan Omar, a Democratic lawmaker some people may have experienced trouble attorney, she had a combined adjusted gross at the end of August, 2018. The suspension was from Minnesota, has been at the centre of an connecting to the family of apps. The issue income in 2018 of about $1.89mn, and paid kept quiet to give President Daniel Ortega room to escalating row following a speech she made about has since been resolved; we’re sorry for any total taxes of about $697,000, according to the reverse course without seeming to be yielding to Islamophobia. Sanders defended Trump yesterday, inconvenience,” a Facebook spokesman told returns. Harris and Emhoff , who have filed joint outside pressure. “Our government is concerned telling ABC news: “The president is wishing no ill Reuters. Yesterday, outage monitoring website tax returns since marrying in 2014, have paid by the deteriorating human rights situation and will and certainly not violence towards anyone. The Downdetector.com indicated that there were more than $2.2mn in federal taxes over the past economic downturn in Nicaragua. We made the president is absolutely and should be calling out more than 12,000 incidents of people reporting five years at an average eff ective tax rate of decision to suspend direct financial assistance to the the congresswoman for her not only one-time but issues with Facebook at its peak. 32.6%, according to her campaign. Nicaraguan government last summer,” she said. history of anti-Semitic comments.” Ilhan Omar ... eye of a political storm WH mulls plan to send migrants to sanctuary cities

A handout photograph of the Stratolaunch plane taking off from a California desert runway on Saturday. By Jim Mannion, AFP ble,” White House press secretary California, which is well known by Congress for other purposes Washington Sarah Sanders said of the propos- (for) its poor management & high “to ship immigrants all over the al in an interview on This Week. taxes!” he posted. country.” Trump “heard the idea, he Trump has staked his presi- “Nor is it right for the presi- he White House said yes- likes it, so — well, we’re looking dency on his insistence that the dent to use immigrants or peo- terday it is looking at ways to see if there are options that United States is being overrun by ple claiming political asylum as World’s largest plane Tto transfer undocumented make it possible and doing a full migrants and asylum seekers. pawns in a fi ght against political migrants to US sanctuary cit- and thorough and extensive re- But opponents, mostly in the opponents,” he said on CNN’s ies as Democrats accused Presi- view,” she said. Democratic Party, say his push State of the Union. dent Donald Trump of creating The president revived the idea for building more walls on the Critics warn migrant transfers “manufactured chaos” at the on Twitter and in comments to Mexican border and his almost would further burden already makes its fi rst fl ight US-Mexico border. reporters on Friday, after the daily denunciations of migrants stretched immigration authori- White House Press Secretary White House had said earlier in as dangerous criminals incites ties, while making it more diffi - Sarah Sanders announced an the week it was off the table. racial hatred. cult to track those that have been By Dan Whitcomb, Reuters at an altitude of over 10km and has been billed by “extensive review” of the poten- Department of Homeland Se- “This is again his manufac- unloaded in sympathetic juris- Los Angeles the company as making satellite deployment as tial plan on ABC’s This Week after curity offi cials were reported to tured chaos that he’s created over dictions. “easy as booking an airline fl ight.” Trump confi rmed press reports have pushed back against the the last two years on the border,” Sanders acknowledged that it Saturday’s fl ight, which saw the plane reach that his administration had pro- transfers of detained migrants as Bennie Thompson, chairman of was not “ideal” solution but ar- he world’s largest aircraft took off over the a maximum speed of 300kph and altitudes of posed the controversial move. illegal, impractical and counter- the House Homeland Security gued that Democrats had “stated Mojave Desert in California on Saturday, the 5,000m, was meant to test its performance and So-called sanctuary cities productive. Committee, told ABC. time and time again they support Tfi rst fl ight for the carbon-composite plane handling qualities, according to Stratolaunch. such as San Francisco, Los An- But in a tweet late on Saturday, Jerry Nadler, chairman of the open borders, they support sanc- built by Stratolaunch Systems Corp, started by late Allen, who co-founded Microsoft with Bill geles and New York are among Trump insisted the US has “the House Judiciary Committee, tuary cities.” Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, as the company Gates in 1975, announced in 2011 that he had hundreds of mainly Democrat- absolute right to have appre- called Trump’s push for transfers “So, let’s spread out some of enters the lucrative private space market. formed the privately funded Stratolaunch. run jurisdictions across the US hended illegal immigrants trans- of migrants to sanctuary cities that burden and let’s put it in The white airplane called Roc, which has a The company seeks to cash in on higher de- that limit co-operation in com- ferred to Sanctuary Cities.” “another misuse of presidential some of those other locations if wingspan the length of an American football fi eld mand in coming years for vessels that can put plying with requests from immi- “We hereby demand that they power.” that’s what they want to see hap- and is powered by six engines on a twin fuselage, satellites in orbit, competing in the United States gration offi cials. be taken care of at the highest He said the president had no pen and are refusing to actually took to the air shortly before 7am Pacifi c time and with other space entrepreneurs and industry “This is an option on the ta- level, especially by the State of right to use funds appropriated help fi x the problem.” stayed aloft for more than two hours before land- stalwarts such as Elon Musk’s SpaceX and United ing safely back at the Mojave Air and Space Port as Launch Alliance — a partnership between Boeing a crowd of hundreds of people cheered. and Lockheed Martin. “What a fantastic fi rst fl ight,” Stratolaunch Stratolaunch has said that it intends to launch Chief Executive Offi cer Jean Floyd said in a state- its fi rst rockets from the Roc in 2020 at the earliest. ment posted to the company’s website. Allen died in October 2018 while suff ering from “Today’s fl ight furthers our mission to provide non-Hodgkins’ lymphoma, just months after the Tornadoes kill two children as a fl exible alternative to ground launched systems, plane’s development was unveiled. Floyd said. “We are incredibly proud of the Stra- “We all know Paul would have been proud to tolaunch team, today’s fl ight crew, our partners at witness today’s historic achievement,” said Jody Northrup Grumman’s Scaled Composites and the Allen, Chair of Vulcan Inc and Trustee of the Paul Mojave Air and Space Port.” G Allen Trust. “The aircraft is a remarkable engi- huge storm sweeps US South The plane is designed to drop rockets and other neering achievement and we congratulate every- space vehicles weighing many thousand of kilos one involved.” Reuters gist Bob Oravec of the National Texas to Alabama on Saturday Alabama’s Barbour and Russell New York Weather Service’s Weather Pre- and yesterday, Oravec said. counties, Oravec said. diction Center. Two children, siblings aged “It’s still a pretty impactful “So much of the Eastern Unit- three and eight, were killed day today. This morning there Man trampled by ‘world’s most dangerous bird’ eadly tornadoes twisted ed States faces the risk of severe when a tree fell on the car in is a lot of heavy rain moving through the US South, weather today, and that includes which they were sitting in Pol- through Alabama, into Georgia man in the US state of local Gainesville Sun newspaper. a dagger-like claw on the in- Dkilling at least two chil- major cities,” Oravec said. lok, Texas, said a spokeswoman and eastern Tennessee. There Florida was killed by He was taken to hospital ner toe that is up to 10cm long. dren as a massive storm yester- Nearly 2,000 US fl ights were for the Angelina County Sher- are a few tornado warnings and Aa cassowary — a large where he later died, according The cassowary can slice open day pressed east, threatening to cancelled or delayed with most of iff ’s Department. heavy thunderstorm warnings,” fl ightless bird native to Austral- to the paper. any predator or potential threat drench communities from New the trouble at airports in Dallas, ABC News reported two more Oravec said. ia and New Guinea that is con- The cassowary is closely re- with a single swift kick,” the zoo York to Atlanta and snarl the start Charlotte and Chicago, accord- deaths after a tornado ripped Soaking rains could snarl today sidered to be the world’s most lated to Australia’s emu and is says on its website. of the workweek. ing to FlightAware.com. through Hamilton, Mississippi. morning’s commute on the East dangerous bird, local media re- the second-heaviest bird in the The Southern Cassowary can More than 100mn people Snow was falling yesterday A spokeswoman for the Mon- Coast before the storm moves off ported on Saturday. world after the ostrich. be up to 1.7m tall. from the middle of the United in Chicago, with 5cm to 10cm roe County Sheriff ’s Offi ce said to sea. The cassowary’s owner on According to the San Diego State wildlife authorities States to the East Coast were reported in central Illinois, authorities were in Hamilton and “The biggest impact rush Friday fell over on his farm near Zoo, the cassowary is “right- said the man was breeding cas- at risk of extreme weather, fac- as a result of the storm’s cold could not be reached for confi r- hour-wise probably will be Bos- the large-clawed bird before fully considered the most dan- sowaries, which are popular ing warnings of heavy thun- front. mation. ton, around 7-to-8 o’clock in the it attacked him, fi re authori- gerous bird in the world.” with collectors of exotic birds, derstorms and another round A total of 17 tornadoes were Tornado warnings remained in morning and around New York ties in Alachua County told the “Each three-toed foot has the paper reported. of tornadoes, said meteorolo- reported across the south from eff ect yesterday for southeastern City before sunrise,” Oravec said.

When traditions fade, Native Americans dance to remember

By Thomas Urbain, AFP The goal at fi rst was to “bring in dance, which celebrates the like a bunch of people jumping dances to be kept alive so that’s New York those diff erent styles of dancing arrival of spring. around,” says the octogenar- what we’re doing,” he told AFP. to New York so people here have The step is often supple, even ian who still leads a troupe of 20 Mofsie would like them to be an opportunity to see these — airy, like a series of bounces al- dancers. catalogued and documented in or 56 years, Louis Mofsie has without having to travel all over ternating to the rhythm pounded “These dances all have an video, for generations to come. danced with his troupe, mak- the Southwest.” out by percussion instruments origin, stories that are part of it. He collaborates with the Amer- Fing Native American heritage These were purely social danc- and songs. That’s important to us, too.” ican Indian Community House, shine and ensuring that age-old es, since ritual or sacred dances It’s not a couple’s dance, even The old dances intermin- an inter-tribal organization based steps live on, even if their tribes of traditionally are not to be danced though women and men prac- gle steps that evoke the history in New York, which has a large origin may have forgotten them. or even seen by anyone outside a tice; the sequencing recalls a bit of Native American people and collection of documents. Born in Brooklyn 82 years ago, tribe. of swing, or even traditional rock, their struggles with the white But so far nobody has sought the director of the Thunderbird Though he carefully avoided which has the same fl uidity. men altering their way of life for- to inventory the dances fully, American Indian Dancers — which that pitfall, Louis Mofsie had Louis also fondly remembers ever. including in images — not the he founded in 1963 — is a native “troubles” early on. his meeting with the famous One of them refers to the fed- AICH or the National Museum New Yorker who only saw Indian “Real troubles, because he American choreographer Martha eral government’s forced assimi- of the American Indians, part of reservations on trips out West. wanted to share the Indian cul- Graham and his Mexican coun- lation policy from the 1870s to the Smithsonian Institution in The son of a Hopi from Arizona ture with a large audience and terpart Jose Limon. the 1960s, which sent thousands Washington. and a Winnebago from Nebraska, some people in his community “Many of their dances were of Native American children to A specialist in Native Ameri- he was still passionate about Na- were opposed to it,” says Crys- infl uenced by native American boarding schools outside reser- can heritage at Washington State tive American culture, quickly tal Field, Artistic Director of dances,” he says. vations. University, Lotus Norton-Wisla, looking beyond his tribal ties. Theater for the New City, where In the series of shows each year Mofsie is delighted to see more who helps community organi- “We went to diff erent reser- the Thunderbird performs every by the Thunderbird at the Theat- people who are deeply interested zations in their archival work, vations, and we danced with the year. er for the New City, an institu- in Native American culture, as says he has never heard of such a people and we learned the songs “Every culture that’s op- tion in Manhattan’s East Village, evidenced by the series of shows project. and we learned the dances,” re- pressed draws into itself and then Mofsie takes care to contextual- that was packed. Mofsie thinks about the troop, calls Mofsie, who also learned you are the enemy. They’re pro- ise the dances, which if they are But he is more concerned to- which is getting older, even from the large Mohawk commu- tecting themselves that way.” not sacred, make sense. day about the preservation of though some young people have nity that lived in Brooklyn. Sometimes inter-tribal, often “The important thing for us, this cultural heritage, which he joined him. “With the infl uences “We put these all together, presented at pow wows, large too, is to explain what all these knows is fragile. that young people have today and then we all came back here community gatherings, Mofsie’s dances are, what they mean, be- “Some of these dances, I think, with television, ipods, and eve- to New York. And it kind of grew chosen dances focus on nature, cause what people have seen on they’re no longer” danced. rything else, it’s very hard to keep Thunderbird American Indian Dancers perform at the Theater For from that,” he explained. mainly wildlife, such as the Rob- television and movies just looks “I think it’s important for those this going,” he said. the New City in New York. Gulf Times 12 Monday, April 15, 2019 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Celebrating Songkran Six more detained over China blast that killed 78

AFP It said that “criminal co- anisole, a highly flammable Beijing ercive measures” have been compound. taken against them — a vague It has a history of violating term which indicates deten- environmental regulations, olice have detained six tion, arrest or being put under according to online records more suspects linked to temporary house arrest until from Yancheng city’s envi- Pa chemical plant blast police complete investiga- ronment and ecology bureau. in eastern China last month tions, according to an expla- In 2015 and 2017, the firm was which killed 78 and left hun- nation on the Chinese parlia- fined for breaking rules on dreds injured, local authori- ment’s website. solid and water waste man- ties said. Three others had also ear- agement. The explosion in Jiangsu lier been detained in connec- Deadly industrial accidents province’s Yancheng city last tion with the blast. are common in China, where month was one of the worst The statement added that safety regulations are often industrial accidents in the measures will also be taken poorly enforced. country in recent years and against Jiangsu Tianjiayi In November, a gas leak at a led to the closure of the plant. Chemical, as well as its con- plant in the northern Chinese Six employees from the trolling shareholder, the city of Zhangjiakou — which Jiangsu Tianjiayi Chemical Jiangsu Nijiaxiang Group. will host the 2022 Winter Ol- company, whose plant was The March 21 explosion ympics — killed 24 people and involved in the blast, have razed an industrial park and injured 21 others. “major responsibilities” in blew out the windows of sur- In 2015, China saw one of relation to the incident, the rounding homes. its worst industrial accidents Yancheng government said The company, with 195 em- when giant chemical blasts Saturday in a brief statement ployees, was established in in the northern port city of Revellers use water guns to spray at one another as they celebrate the New Year, locally known as Songkran, in Bangkok. on its official Twitter-like 2007 and mainly produces raw Tianjin killed at least 165 peo- Weibo account. chemical materials including ple. Indonesians to vote in world’s biggest single-day election

Reuters Jakarata

ens of millions of Indo- Soldiers gather as they attend a ceremony ahead of the upcoming Indonesia’s general election in Jakarta. nesians will vote in presi- Tdential and parliamentary ers, to the cheers of the crowd not understand managing mac- in what is being described as the elections this week after cam- after an hours-long concert by rolevel economics. world’s biggest single-day elec- paigns focused on the economy. local bands, he struck an opti- Widodo, a moderate Muslim tion. Overseas voting is already President Joko Widodo, a mistic tone for the future of the from central Java, has had to bur- underway, with thousands lining former furniture salesman who world’s third-largest democracy. nish his Islamic credentials after up outside Indonesian missions launched his political career as a That was a stark contrast to his smear campaigns and hoax sto- in Singapore and Australia. small-city mayor, is standing for opponent, who has repeatedly ries accused him of being anti- On Wednesday, polling sta- re-election in a contest with ex- warned Indonesia is on the verge Islam, a communist or too close tions will open at 7am in eastern general Prabowo Subianto, whom of collapse. to China, all politically damaging Indonesia and close at 1pm on the he narrowly defeated in 2014. Prabowo, as he is usually in Indonesia. western side of the country. Most opinion polls give Wido- known, held a similarly big rally Prabowo, who has close links Voters will manually punch do a double-digit lead but the the previous weekend where to some hardline Islamist groups, fi ve separate paper ballots for opposition has disputed survey supporters, many dressed in Is- and his running mate, busi- president and vice president, and fi ndings. It has also said it has lamic robes, held a mass prayer ness tycoon Sandiaga Uno, have legislative candidates. uncovered data irregularities af- before a fi ery speech about how pledged to boost the economy by Unoffi cial “quick counts”, fecting millions on the electoral Indonesia was being pillaged by slashing taxes as much as 8 per- based on vote samples from rolls and has vowed to take legal foreigners and the elite. centage points, and focus on key polling stations, will be released action or use “people power” if Widodo has touted a record infrastructure projects. hours after polling ends and the its complaints are not resolved. infrastructure drive and deregu- Nearly 500,000 police and winning presidential candidate Some analysts say an unex- lation as major successes during military will fan out across the is expected to be apparent by late pected win for the challenger A member of Indonesia’s Public Order Service (Satpol PP) takes down election campaign banners in his tenure, calling it a fi rst step to vast archipelago to safeguard the Wednesday. would probably cause a brief Pekanbaru yesterday following the end of the campaigning period ahead of the April 17 polls. tackle inequality and poverty in vote. In Jakarta, the capital, of- The General Election Com- slump in Indonesian markets, Southeast Asia’s biggest econo- fi cers will guard polling station mission is expected to announce while a very close race could el- the currency,” Kevin O’Rourke, be taken for granted, a senior Widodo ended his six-month my. to deter voter intimidation or an offi cial result in May. evate the risk of a disputed vote. a political analyst and author of government offi cial said. campaign with a mass rally at In a televised weekend debate, clashes, national police spokes- Candidates have 72 hours af- “In a scenario in which Wido- Reformasi Weekly, said in the “Absolutely everybody is fl y- Jakarta’s main stadium at the Widodo and his running mate, man Dedi Prasetyo said. ter the offi cial result to complain do wins by an unexpectedly Indonesia-focused newsletter ing blind because we don’t know weekend, where festive crowds Islamic cleric Ma’ruf Amin, More than 192mn will also vote to the Constitutional Court. A narrow margin, large and pro- last week. how far the opinion polls can be overfl owed into a surrounding said their opponents, neither of in national and regional legisla- nine-judge panel has 14 days to longed protests in Jakarta would While most polls have put the respected,” said the offi cial, who park and streets. whom has served in public offi ce tive elections, being contested by reach a decision, which cannot elevate tensions and pressure president ahead, they could not spoke on condition of anonymity. Running out on stage in sneak- for more than a few months, did more than 245,000 candidates, be appealed.

Man nabbed with exotic fish at Adelaide airport One dead in shooting outside Nepal plane hits A Vietnamese man was arrested at Australia’s Adelaide Airport after he allegedly tried to parked chopper, smuggle into the country an exotic live fish in a plastic bag Australia nightclub, three hurt around his neck. The 34-year-old man, who arrived off a flight from killing three Malaysia, produced the plastic Reuters bag containing the fish during a Sydney frisk search, Australian Border Reuters hospital in Kathmandu,” airport Force (ABF) said in a statement Kathmandu offi cial Pratap Babu Tiwari told yesterday. The incident took drive-by shooting out- Reuters. The dead included two place on Tuesday. side a nightclub in the security guards who were near According to Australian law, the AAustralian city of Mel- small plane operated by the helicopter. The pilot of the maximum penalty for wildlife bourne infl icted “horrifi c inju- a private airline in Ne- plane was among three people trade off ences is 10 years ries” that killed a security guard Apal hit a parked helicop- injured, though the lone stew- imprisonment with a fine of up and wounded three men, police ter yesterday while preparing to ardess escaped unhurt. to A$210,000 (US$150,000) for said yesterday, but there was no take off in a mountainous area Air crashes are common in individuals and a million dollars suggestion yet that the attack near Mount Everest, killing three mostly mountainous Nepal, for corporations. The fish, which was terror-related. people including a co-pilot, an home to eight of the world’s 14 was assessed for biosecurity Australia has some of the airport offi cial said. highest mountain peaks, includ- risk, was found to be a Red Asian world’s toughest gun control The Twin Otter aircraft ing Mount Everest. In February a Arowana, an endangered species laws, adopted after its worst crashed into the helicopter at helicopter carrying seven people native to Southeast Asia and also mass murder, when a gunman Tenzing Hillary Airport at Luk- including the country’s tourism considered auspicious in Chinese killed 35 people at Port Arthur Firemen wash away bloodstains after a security guard was shot la, known as the gateway to the minister crashed in bad weather and other Asian cultures. in the island state of Tasmania dead with another man fighting for his life after a drive-by shooting world’s highest mountain, 125km in eastern Nepal, killing all seven It is illegal to own an Asian in 1996. outside a popular Melbourne nightclub on Sunday. Left: A northeast of capital Kathmandu. on board. Arowana in Australia unless Yesterday’s shooting took detective speaks on the phone at the scene. The plane, operated by Sum- The Lukla airport was built legally imported, while trade place around 3.20am in the outside the nightclub,” homi- mit Air, was not carrying passen- by New Zealand mountaineer in the fish is strictly controlled lively entertainment district of cide inspector Andrew Stamper no suggestion yet that the at- and mentioned a black Por- gers as it was trying to leave what Sir Edmund Hillary — who to- under the Convention Melbourne’s southeastern sub- said. tack was terror-related, a police sche SUV that was later found is considered to be one of the gether with Sherpa Tenzing Nor- on International Trade in urb of Prahran, police said. The victims suff ered “horrifi c spokeswoman said by telephone. burnt-out in the north Mel- world’s most dangerous airports gay became the fi rst to reach the Endangered Species of Wild Three security guards and a injuries” from a weapon fi red in Bloodstained clothing and bullet bourne suburb of Wollert. No due to the shortness of its run- 8,850-metre (29,035-foot) Ever- Fauna and Flora. ABF said the fish man queueing to enter were tak- close proximity, he added. One casings littered the street out- arrests have yet been made, and way and its location surrounded est peak in 1953 — as a gift to the had to be humanely euthanised en to hospital with gunshot in- guard died in hospital, another side the entrance to the second- investigation continues. A mur- by mountains. people of the remote Solukhum- since exotic species imported juries, police said in a televised man was in critical condition storey Love Machine nightclub der-suicide last year in West- Offi cials said the cause of the bu region where it is located. illegally could become pests news conference in Melbourne. and two escaped life-threat- early on Sunday. ern Australia that killed seven incident was not immediately In 2008, another Twin Otter and introduce new diseases. The “It would appear that shots have ening injuries. One guard was Police urged witnesses who members of a family was the known. “Two people died on plane carrying 16 passengers and Vietnamese man was arrested. been discharged from a car in shot in the face, the Age news- saw any vehicle moving at speed country’s worst mass shooting the spot and the third one died three crew crashed shortly before He will appear in court on May 15. this area into a crowd standing paper said. However, there was around 3am to come forward, since the Port Arthur case. while undergoing treatment in a it was due to land at Lukla. Gulf Times Monday, April 15, 2019 13 BRITAIN

People’s Vote campaigners vow to overhaul ‘project fear’ image

Guardian News and Media Phillips and have been held in In a report looking at the im- She said an event she had host- for the 2016 Stronger In cam- leave, including Leigh in Greater campaign needs to change if it is London Leave-voting towns, including pact of events so far, a key con- ed in Sunderland had proved the paign who is now at Populus, Manchester, Luton, and Islwyn in to fi nd us.” Grimsby and Sunderland, as well cern cited by both Leave and Brexit debate need not be acri- conceded the 2016 referendum the Welsh valleys. Polling done for the People’s as Remain towns and cities such Remain voters was fear about monious. campaign had “left a bad taste Huw Merriman, a former Con- Voice report found more than eople’s Vote campaign- as Glasgow and Brighton. falsehoods being fed to voters by “We can agree on the facts and in the mouth” and had damaged servative frontbencher who has two-thirds of the public thought ers are hoping to overhaul The project is understood to be politicians, including the Remain the challenges our country faces trust in politics. become a cautious backer of a both sides in the 2016 referen- Pthe establishment image seeking to run a diff erent cam- campaign’s “project fear” and even if we disagree on the solu- “Those campaigning to stay in second referendum as a way to dum campaign had told “lies and of the Remain campaign and its paign to the widely criticised Re- the far-fetched promises made tions,” she said. the EU cannot be tin-eared to the break the impasse in parliament, scare stories, meaning that it was “project fear” narrative with a main operation before the 2016 by the Leave campaign. “I know there are divisions in towering challenges faced by so said the public would only accept impossible for people to make a mass listening project aimed at referendum. Other worries voiced on both this country and passionately many people and communities a new referendum if it also had proper choice”. informing a future referendum Sources suggested campaign- sides of the Brexit divide includ- held views on all sides of the across the UK,” he said. “There the backing of Leave voters. More than 80% said Brexit had campaign. ers wanted to “learn the les- ed a decline of patriotism, rising Brexit debate, but I believe we’ll are very good reasons why people “It’s really important that the “turned out to be much more The campaign for a fresh Brex- sons” of that campaign. They inequality, climate change and do far better talking about them voted for Brexit. A successful Re- campaigners for a new vote show complicated than we were told in it referendum has been holding also hoped to convince sceptical insecure work. than sweeping them under the main campaign will have to con- this is not just a ruse to ensure the referendum”. People’s Voice events for Leave Labour MPs that a second refer- Bridget Phillipson, the Labour carpet. A fi nal-say referendum vince them that these challenges Britain stays in the EU but a gen- The report concluded that and Remain voters and plans to endum would not necessarily be MP for Houghton and Sunder- can be diff erent from 2016: it can are best fi xed working within, not uine opportunity to disentan- a new pro-EU campaign must expand these in an attempt to divisive, and could even allow the land South, said a new referen- start a conversation that’s long outside, the EU.” gle Brexit from the Westminster address the underlying causes identify common concerns. party to take charge of a changed dum campaign would need “a overdue about the things that re- More events are set to take thicket,” Merriman said. “There of the 2016 Leave vote and of- The events were launched in narrative linked to big issues such more respectful, honest conver- ally matter to this country.” place around the country, focus- are more MPs like me on my side fer credible solutions, as well as January by the Labour MP Jess as climate change and austerity. sation about this whole issue”. Andrew Cooper, the pollster ing on areas that voted heavily to of the house but the People’s Vote avoiding overinfl ated rhetoric. Iain Duncan Smith urges May to quit next month

Guardian News and Media certain that it would be possible London to change the rules during the current period of grace which was initiated with the triggering he former Tory leader Iain of a confi dence vote on Decem- Duncan Smith has called ber 12 last year”. Ton Theresa May to resign May faced a vote of no confi - as prime minister next month, dence in December after 15% of saying the timetable for her de- Conservative MPs wrote to Brady parture should still stand despite to request the vote, and won by her failure to pass a withdrawal 200 votes to 117. agreement. The party’s former chairman “I know that the prime min- Sir Patrick McLoughlin warned ister has already said she’s go- those agitating for a swift lead- ing. She said she would go as and ership change that installing a when the agreement was ratifi ed, hard Brexiter in No 10 would Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage (right) and chairman Richard Tice gesture during the first public rally of their European Parliament election campaign in Birmingham, central England. which was looking at around not necessarily solve the party’s about May, June. I think those electoral problems. dates still stand,” he told Sky’s “Defi ning ourselves as the Sophy Ridge yesterday. Brexit party, pursuing the hard- “I think that what the PM has est form of Brexit with a parlia- to do is aim everything now to- ment that will not deliver it, is wards departure before the Euros a recipe for paralysis in govern- (elections) which would then al- ment and suicide with the elec- low her to step away having done torate,” he wrote for the Sunday Brexit cannot define what she said she would do, get- Times. ting the UK out of the European Recent polling has predicted Union one way or the other and dire results for Conservatives. then we can have another lead- The latest Opinium poll suggests ership election and pick a new the party has dropped six points leader, which is the way it has to over the past fortnight, giving be.” Labour a seven-point lead. The us, says PM’s deputy His intervention came as two support is the lowest the Tories former chairmen of the 1922 have scored since the European Reuters threatening to break apart both to remain a broad church, a na- egraph, showed the Conserva- continue, with both sides seeking Committee of backbench Tory elections in May 2014, almost London the Conservatives and their main tional party, and it’s got to be tives would lose 59 parliamentary agreement over a plan for Brexit MPs said party rules could be fi ve years ago, according to the opponents Labour, and leaving talking about things that matter seats if an election were held. that could win parliament’s ap- changed to allow a leadership pollster. the world’s fi fth-largest econo- to people in their everyday lives: “Much of this drop refl ects proval. challenge sooner than Decem- The poll shows the party los- he ruling Conservative my facing an uncertain future. housing, health service, living disappointment among Leave He warned the talks could ber. ing ground with both Leave and Party cannot let itself be Without any consensus in par- standards.” voters — around a half of whom not be allowed to drag out for Writing in the Sunday Tel- Remain voters. Support from Tdefi ned solely by Brexit, liament, refl ective of a deeply May, 62, took power in the would prefer ‘no deal’ — at the months, but showed little indi- egraph, Lord Spicer and Lord pro-EU Tory voters has fallen Prime Minister Theresa May’s divided population, all outcomes aftermath of Britain’s surprise government’s failure to deliver cation the government may drop Hamilton of Epsom said the from 23% to 17% and the party de facto deputy said yesterday, remain possible in the coming 2016 vote to leave the EU and has Brexit,” polling expert John Cur- its requirement that future EU 12-month rule on no-confi dence has also fallen by 7% with Leave as polling showed failure to leave weeks and months: leaving the seen her government paralysed tice wrote in the Sunday Tel- ties cannot involve a customs votes could be changed if MPs voters. More than a fi fth of Leave the European Union on schedule EU with a deal, a disorderly exit by divisions over Brexit and un- egraph. union. agreed to do so. “Conservative voters now say they would vote has badly damaged its support. without a deal, or another vote able to enact an ambitious reform The analysis showed Corbyn’s With parliament on an 11-day MPs are responsible for their Ukip. May’s authority has been shat- on whether to leave at all. agenda to tackle social injustice. Labour Party would win the most break until April 23, Britons are party. If they wish to change Duncan Smith said many in tered by her three-time failure to “We mustn’t defi ne ourselves An Opinium poll published in seats but still fall short of an out- wondering what happens next. these rules there is nothing the party were deeply concerned get an exit deal approved by par- as the Brexit party,” said David the Observer newspaper showed right majority in the 650-seat Steve Murrells, chief executive standing in their way,” the pair about the polling. “It was on the liament and a pledge to quit once Lidington, Cabinet offi ce minis- the Conservatives at 29%, down parliament, with Scottish na- of retailer Co-op group, told the wrote. 29th when we didn’t leave; that’s Brexit is delivered, driving spec- ter and eff ectively May’s second six points from March 28 and tionalists and the small centrist BBC the government had “kicked Graham Brady, the chair of the when this has all gone wrong. Up ulation about her successor and a in command. seven points behind Labour. Liberal Democrats party also the can down the road” on Brexit, committee of backbenchers, said until then, people were prepared possible national election. “We’ve got to deliver the out- An analysis of polls since the picking up seats. but that his fi rm would continue he believed such a change would to give Theresa May the benefi t The once-prized stability of come of the referendum...but, original intended March 29 exit Lidington told the BBC com- to plan for the worst-case sce- be possible but said he was “less of the doubt,” he said. British politics has disappeared, the Conservative Party has got day, published in the Sunday Tel- promise talks with Labour would nario of leaving without a deal. Disgraced MP faces Comedian dies on stage during performance ban on legal work Daily Mail ally funny and energetic perform- London ance|” before he collapsed. “He was a very energetic per- Daily Mail accused of “failing to uphold the Her Nissan Micra had been former and had been coming out London proper administration of justice” clocked doing 41mph in a comedian died on stage into the audience with a drink in and failing to act with integrity. 30mph zone in the village of during a gig minutes af- his hand and had been using this She is further accused of ne- Thorney, near Peterborough, in Ater joking about having chair as a prop throughout the isgraced MP Fiona Ona- glecting her legal duty to “behave July 2017. a stroke, leaving the audience gig,” said the sales manager, from sanya faces being struck in a way that maintains the trust She claimed that a Russian thinking it was part of his act. Oxfordshire. Doff by legal regulators. the public places in her and the tenant at a property rented by Ian Cognito reportedly had a “He put his drink down, sat The former solicitor was freed provision of legal services”. the Onasanya siblings was at the heart attack while performing down quite normally and gently from jail six weeks ago after be- The MP is expected to face a full wheel, but police discovered the and is said to have sat on a chair while still telling jokes and then ing found guilty of perverting the prosecution before the Solicitors alleged driver was not even in the and “laid back for fi ve minutes” he just leaned back. We all just course of justice. Disciplinary Tribunal, where she UK at the time. before anyone realised some- thought it was part of the act and She is already fi ghting a by- could be hit with a variety of sanc- Since being released from thing was wrong. carried on laughing and applaud- election petition in her Peter- tions. These range from suspen- HMP Bronzefi eld in February – Audience members unaware ing. borough constituency that could sion to permanent disbarment, after serving only 28 days of a that he was seriously ill thought “We thought he would sud- see her sacked next month. Now while the tribunal also holds the three-month sentence – Onas- the long silence was part of his denly just jump back up but then it has emerged that she also faces power to issue unlimited fi nes. anya has maintained her inno- routine and continued to laugh, his arms fell by his sides and he a ban from working in the legal The case was given the green cence. Despite being kicked out witnesses said. just lay there for about fi ve min- profession – and an unlimited light after the SDT received evi- of the Labour Party, she has re- Paramedics were called but the utes. There were shouts from fi ne. dence from the Solicitors Regu- fused to surrender her seat. 60-year-old comedian was pro- people in the audience like “give Onasanya must go before a tri- latory Authority detailing Onas- She has taken part in a number nounced dead at the scene, the him a prod” and two girls behind bunal this year to face three alle- anya’s alleged wrongdoing. of crucial Commons votes on Atic Bar in Bicester, Oxfordshire, me said they were off to the toilet gations of misconduct relating to She was not a practising solici- Brexit while wearing an electron- where the Lone Wolf Comedy because he was taking so long. her legal qualifi cation, after she tor at the time of her conviction, ic tag as part of her early-release Club was being held. “We didn’t realise he was unwell deliberately misled police about having failed to renew her annual conditions. John Ostojak, 58, who was at until the compere came out and a speeding off ence. licence in 2017 after moving into A bill to delay the date of Brexit the gig with some colleagues, said shouted his name, then pulled him Onasanya, who was a com- politics. The MP was convicted and avoid ‘no deal’ was passed by that Cognito, who was the third off his chair, and he and some oth- mercial property law specialist alongside her brother Festus, 34, only one vote this month, having and fi nal act of the evening in the ers started performing CPR right before becoming a Labour MP, is in January 2019. been supported by Onasanya. Fiona Onasanya: new blow intimate venue, had put on a “re- there on the stage.” Gulf Times 14 Monday, April 15, 2019 BRITAIN RSPCA faces fraud probe at southeast London branch

Guardian News and Media ing place. Ivan House, who re- Last July, the Tunbridge Wells hefty payout to its former chief the commission in line with our covered during an audit of the of the RSPCA’s national council, London signed as a trustee last October and Maidstone branch was criti- executive, saying trustees had guidance on reporting serious south-east London branch in June have been appointed. amid concerns about the way cised by the Charity Commis- failed to ensure the decision incidents and we opened a regu- last year when it was found almost The Charity Commission the situation was being handled, sion over “concerning gaps in was properly made, and that latory compliance case to assess £16,000 had been spent on bills website said the branch’s ac- he RSPCA is facing re- said the scale of the suspected record keeping” in relation to their failings amounted to mis- the charity’s response to this se- at Premier Inn hotels. House said counts for the fi nancial year end- newed scrutiny of its gov- fraud was believed to be between the purchase of a cattery, which management. On that occa- rious incident. subsequent investigations had ing December 31, 2017, were 160 Ternance after it emerged £330,000 and £450,000. the daughter of the then national sion it said it had experienced a “We expect the trustees to sub- raised further questions and the days overdue. Income in each of police are investigating sus- The RSPCA has been plagued chair – and chair of the local concerning level of engagement mit the fi ndings of their inter- problems at the branch had left the previous four years was be- pected fraud involving hundreds by controversy in recent years. branch – Daphne Harris was ap- with the RSPCA over its govern- nal investigation once complete, him with concerns about the na- tween £193,000 and £227,000. of thousands of pounds at its Peter Ralphs, the former chair- pointed to run and also lived in. ance in recent years, given the which we will review, as well as tional charity’s oversight. Annual spending ranged from southeast London branch. man of the Shropshire branch of It said there had been failures in charity’s size and importance. any necessary policies and proce- The two men arrested were £178,000 to £227,000. Two men have been arrested the charity, was jailed for three the charity’s governance. A spokesman for the com- dures, including around fi nancial both branch trustees. All seven The national RSPCA charity, in connection with the alleged years in January after admitting The following month, the mission, responding to the lat- controls, to ensure the charity has trustees who were in place have which has a federated structure, off ences, and a forensic audit he had abused his position to commission issued an offi cial est fraud allegations, said: “A acted appropriately.” either been removed or left and received income of £141mn in into the branch has been tak- steal £184,000 from the charity. warning to the RSPCA over a serious incident was reported to The suspected fraud was dis- three new trustees, all members 2017 and spent £129mn.

Salisbury Hammersmith Bridge closed named Couples face Britain’s best place ‘insulting’ checks to live

Reuters in crackdown on London

he cathedral city of Salis- bury, the location of a Tdeadly nerve agent poi- sham marriages soning blamed on Russia, was named as Britain’s best place to live by the Sunday Times news- Guardian News and Media 1,618 (56%) were deemed worthy Offi ce offi cials then halted the paper. London of investigation, compared with ceremony and declared the mar- The award comes a little over 1,439 (58%) in 2015. The Home riage to be sham. a year after a former Russian Offi ce refused to share data on The couple, who are still to- double agent and his daughter enuine couples are being the number of marriages found gether, were so humiliated that were found slumped on a bench, prevented from getting to be shams. they did not tell their reception triggering a sequence of events Gmarried and are subjected Nath Gbikpi, of Wesley Gryk guests that the marriage had not which ended with one person to “insulting” and “gruelling” Solicitors, said the government’s been permitted to go ahead, in- dead and the West’s relations checks as part of a government approach to migrant marriages stead continuing with the event with Russia in the diplomatic crackdown on sham marriages, a needed to be seen as part of its and pretending to celebrate. deep-freeze. Guardian investigation has found. hostile environment policy. The Home Offi ce declined to The Sunday Times praised Couples and lawyers de- “The Home Offi ce has put itself comment on individual cases. the “attractive” city in southern scribed wedding ceremonies be- in a position where it can prevent Poppy Firmin, a caseworker England, previously best-known ing interrupted so that the Home a genuine couple, whom they at Duncan Lewis Solicitors, said: for its medieval cathedral, citing Offi ce could ask personal ques- agree to be in a genuine relation- “Many people go through the its friendly atmosphere, good tions about their lives. ship, to get married,” she said. asylum process unrepresented. rail links and the high-speed In one case, a couple were One couple, Qasim, 29, from In the meantime you can’t work, broadband connections. told their relationship could not Pakistan, and Debora, 33, from you often can’t study, and then “Whatever foes this beauti- be genuine because they were Portugal, were asleep at home you may or may not be permitted ful medieval city has faced, from wearing pyjamas in bed. In oth- when they were raided by four of- to marry. Or you may be detained the Celts to the Vikings the re- ers, people have been detained fi cials in January 2016. “We were after your marriage ceremony is cent Novichok poisonings, it has for months after being wrongly questioned separately about our gatecrashed by Home Offi ce of- emerged victorious,” the news- accused of entering into a sham relationship and then Qasim was fi cials. It’s very degrading.” paper wrote. marriage. arrested, taken away and locked Elizabeth Ruddick, of Wilsons In the weeks and months af- In recent years the govern- up in detention for four months Solicitors, said: “Home Offi ce ter Sergei and Yulia Skripal were ment has made it more diffi cult before the Home Offi ce fi nally offi cials may come to your home found, police uncovered a trail of for migrants to wed in the UK, accepted that our relationship early in the morning and check up evidence that they said lead back in an eff ort to stop people using was genuine,” Debora said. on the number of toothbrushes … to two agents from Russia’s GRU marriage to UK or EU citizens as “I was in a state of shock and The Home Offi ce has the right to military intelligence who visited a means to remain in the country. trauma all the time I was in de- interfere every step of the way, the city to smear ‘Novichok’ poi- Since changes to the law in tention,” said Qasim. “It was very and some registrars have become son on a door handle. 2015, registrars have been re- insulting that the Home Offi ce infected with the culture of the Russia has denied any in- quired to report to the Home Of- came inside our home to check hostile environment.” volvement in the attack, and the fi ce whenever most categories of that everything was joined.” A Home Offi ce spokesperson two men said they were innocent migrants give notice of marriage. Another couple who sought said the government was fo- tourists visiting the city’s cathe- The Home Offi ce was given pow- permission to marry were told cused on ensuring that family dral. ers to delay nuptials for up to 70 their relationship would not be migration was based on a genu- “It’s famous not only in Eu- days to allow for investigations. investigated, only to have their ine relationship. “Registrars are rope, but in the whole world. It’s Information obtained by the wedding ceremony interrupted given comprehensive evidence- famous for its 123 metre-spire,” Guardian through a freedom of by offi cials, according to a state- based guidance on circum- one of the men told Russia’s information request shows reg- ment submitted to their lawyers stances that may raise suspi- state-funded RT television sta- istrars sent 2,868 section 24 re- and provided to the Guardian. cions about a marriage, such as tion. ports – which alert the authori- The statement said the couple certain behaviours and the level Nevertheless, Prime Minister ties to a potential sham marriage were taken into separate rooms of information one party knows Theresa May blamed Putin for The Hammersmith Bridge, which opened in 1887, has been closed to traffic after the – in 2018, a 40% rise from 2,038 in and asked personal questions. about another,” the spokesper- the attack and European coun- structure was found to have critical faults. Cyclists and pedestrians can still use the 2014. Lawyers said registrars had The woman was so distressed son said. “It would then be for tries and the US expelled 100 Grade II*-listed bridge but it will be closed to motorists indefinitely, Hammersmith and become “infected with the culture that partway through the in- Home Offi ce immigration offi - Russian diplomats over the in- Fulham council said. of the hostile environment”. terview she refused to answer cials to decide whether or not to cident. Of those reports last year, any more questions. The Home investigate further.” Thousands more ATMs to Man detained under charge 95p to take out cash mental health act DPA No one was injured in the Daily Mail biggest high street banks made which is owned by the banks and London incident, which police said London a combined £30bn of profi t in ATM operators. Link last year was not being treated as ter- 2018. agreed to reduce the interchange rorist in nature. Notemachine is now plan- fee by 10% – from an average man who drove at po- The Ukrainian foreign min- he fi rm behind a fi fth of ning to charge customers an es- 25p per withdrawal to 22.5p – lice offi cers and hit the istry said Ambassador Nata- the country’s free cash timated 95p fee at about half of following lobbying by lenders, AUkrainian ambassa- lia Galibarenko’s vehicle was Tmachines is to start its machines. The rest, which are chiefl y Lloyds and Royal Bank dor’s car in London, stopping “deliberately rammed as it charging customers nearly £1 a operated under contracts for big of Scotland. At the time, cam- only after police opened fi re, sat parked in front of the em- time to take their money out. businesses such as supermar- paigners warned it would make has been detained under Brit- bassy.” Notemachine will charge for kets, are likely to be spared. many devices unprofi table, trig- ain’s mental health act, many of its 10,500 devices fol- Notemachine chief executive gering a wave of closures which police said yesterday. “I asked him to turn down lowing changes to how the ATMs Peter McNamara said: “It’s just would create “cash machine “The 40-year-old man will the music and he said that are funded. not sustainable and it’s causing a deserts” where it was impossible be taken to hospital for treat- he was playing Ukrainian The new fee will deal a brutal collapse in the number of ATMs to withdraw money. ment,” London’s Metropoli- music for the Ukrainian blow to the elderly, families and in the country. At least 3,200 free ATMs have tan Police said, after arresting embassy and was a little small businesses – with the axe “A lot of areas – particularly shut since January 2018, accord- him on Saturday on suspicion bit belligerent” likely to fall hardest in rural and rural areas, and urban areas out- ing to Link, leaving 51,300 still of attempted murder of police suburban areas. side the city centre – face a really open. offi cers and criminal damage. Alan Duncan, a junior for- It also paves the way for many severe risk of either not having Mike Cherry, of the Federa- The police did not give the eign offi ce minister, tweeted machines to be shut down com- ATMs or being forced to pay for tion of Small Businesses, said: man’s nationality or other de- that he had discussed the inci- pletely if they are still unprofi t- cash withdrawals. The people “Cash machines are still vital tails of his identity. dent with Galibarenko. able after the switch. who most need cash are people to communities right across the They said earlier that he was Local resident Darcy Merci- The free ATM network is paid who probably need to budget UK. When they shut, that usu- arrested after offi cers opened er said she believed the suspect for by high street banks such very carefully, and there are ally means less cash fl ow in lo- fi re and used a taser to subdue had been “blasting Ukrainian as Lloyds and Natwest, which many millions of them.” No date cal economies, reduced footfall him near the Ukrainian embassy music in some kind of protest give a fee to operators including has yet been set for charging No- on high streets and a drop in in London’s Holland Park area. against the embassy” from his Notemachine when a customer temachine customers. sales at surrounding small busi- The force said it responded silver Mercedes car. withdraws money using their When a customer uses their nesses. All that adds up to slower to an earlier report of “antiso- “I asked him to turn down card. But the banks have now cut card at an independent ATM, growth.” It comes after a stark cial behaviour involving a car.” the music and he said that he these fees. their bank pays the operator a warning from the Bank of Eng- After the police arrived, was playing Ukrainian mu- The change – which has re- so-called interchange fee. land’s chief cashier Sarah John the car collided with several sic for the Ukrainian embassy duced fees from 25p per transac- The fee level is determined that paper money could disap- A damaged black diplomatic car remains parked in the street parked vehicles and was driven and was a little bit belligerent,” tion to 22.5p – came as the fi ve by an organisation called Link, pear altogether. outside the Ukrainian embassy in west London yesterday. at offi cers, it said. Mercier told the BBC. Gulf Times Monday, April 15, 2019 15 EUROPE

Immigrant Finland’s Social Democrats drowns off Greek isle

AFP on top in partial vote result Athens Partial results give left-wing the of the party’s news conferences. “We ne woman drowned as lead in Finland; Complex coalition have already done our part,” he said. 92 migrants reached the talks expected, nationalists hold The Finns’ stance on environmental OAegean island of Samos, ground ; Sense of insecurity sways policies, which includes an opposition coastguard offi cial said yester- many voters to a proposed tax on meat consumption, day, as Greek offi cials struggled appeals to rural voters in particular who to deal with the rising number of By Anne Kauranen and Tarmo Virki, fear soaring fuel costs and resent any arrivals. Reuters eff orts to change what they see as the The woman who drowned was Helsinki traditional Finnish way of life. part of a group of 51 migrants, With the European Parliament elec- said the coastguard. tion less than two months away, the Those travelling with her told inland’s leftist Social Democrats Finnish ballot is also being watched in coastguard offi cials she had fall- yesterday won a parliamentary Brussels. en overboard before they could Felection by a slight margin with A strong result for the Finns Party land their vessel on the island’s 18.9% of votes, partial results showed, could bolster a nationalist bloc threat- rocky shoreline, near the port of amid mounting concern among voters ening to shake up EU policy-making. Karlovassi. over the future of the country’s expen- The success of the Social Democrats In a separate incident, a Greek sive welfare system. would mark a departure for Finland and patrol vessel rescued 41 people The centre-right National Coalition the region, where leftist parties have on a vessel that got into diffi culty of outgoing Finance Minister Petteri struggled in recent years, yielding some off the island. Orpo came in second, with 16.7% of the of their hold on the working class vote Samos is one of the fi ve Greek advance votes, after 47% of ballots were as nationalist parties have emerged. islands that sit off the Turkish counted. The Centre Party of Prime Min- In Sweden, Prime Minister Stefan coast in the Aegean Sea — to- ister Juha Sipila scored third, with 15.5%. Lofven last autumn clung to power af- gether with Lesbos, Chios, Leros If fi nal results confi rm the outcome, ter his Social Democrats suff ered their and Kos — where migrants and Social Democrat leader Antti Rinne worst parliamentary election result in refugees arrive daily from Tur- could become Finland’s fi rst leftist more than a century, enlisting the sup- key. prime minister in two decades. port of two liberal parties with a pledge The number of arrivals has But the process of putting together a to enact some right-wing policies. picked up signifi cantly since the coalition could be drawn out because a In Denmark, which holds an election beginning of the year, and the fragmented parliament. in June, the Social Democrats are gain- reception camp on Samos which “For the fi rst time in a long time, So- ing ground, in part after espousing the is has a capacity for 650 is cur- cial Democrats are the largest party,” Finns Party chairman Jussi Halla-aho and his wife Hilla Halla-aho arrive at the Finnish Parliament Annex in Helsinki yesterday. populists’ anti-immigrant rhetoric. rently holding 3,700 people, ac- Rinne, a 56-year-old former union Underscoring the growing confi - cording to offi cial fi gures. leader, told reporters. nationalist Finns Party, which scored pillar of the Nordic social model, which nation has gone too far in addressing is- dence among far-right politicians in Migration Policy Minister With the top contenders running 15.4%, could further complicate coali- the leftists want to preserve through tax sues such as climate change at its own Europe, anti-immigration parties have Dimitris Vitsas recently an- close, the fi nal results could still show tion talks, with most party leaders rul- hikes and the centre-right wants to see expense, as well as a revamp of its im- announced plans to join forces follow- nounced the creation of a new another group winning and getting the ing out any co-operation with them. streamlined because of rising costs. migration stance. ing the May 26 EU election, in a move camp on Samos to try to ease the fi rst shot at forming a government. At the stake in the election is the fu- The eurosceptic Finns call for limits “Finland isn’t capable of saving the that could give them major say in how overpopulation problem there. A relatively strong showing by the ture shape of Finland’s welfare system, a on environmental policies, arguing the world,” Jussi Halla-aho, 47, said at one the continent is run. Migrants at the Moria camp on the nearby island of Lesbos meanwhile regularly protest the poor conditions there. Yesterday, 500 people were transferred to Piraeus, the large Vultures begin to circle Berlusconi’s Forza Italia as support ebbs away port near Athens, the Greek news agency ANA reported. The authorities periodically Reuters the more it enters the public conscience Italia’s best known faces, Giovanni Toti, transfer people considered vul- Rome and it would be hard to understand why the governor of the northern region of nerable from Samos to camps the League would run with the cen- Liguria, with an eye to creating a new- on mainland Greece to keep the tre-right,” said Riccardo Molinari, the look party after the European elections, migrant numbers down on the ormer prime minister Silvio Ber- League’s parliamentary party leader in political sources said. island. lusconi could suff er mass defec- the lower house. Brothers of Italy is on around 5% in Ftions from his Forza Italia group That League might nonetheless be the polls but hopes to boost this number if it performs badly in next month’s EU interested in signing up disenchanted by siphoning away disaff ected Berlus- elections, putting the very future of the Forza Italia politicians, especially in the coni stalwarts and thereby broaden its group at risk, party politicians said. south where it is looking to extend its voter base. Any fragmentation of Forza Italia reach. A newly-minted group would be al- Man held would reinforce the position of Deputy The nationalist Brothers of Italy, an- lied to the League in future elections, Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, who other longtime Berlusconi ally, also ap- but would not join the coalition because heads the rightist League, as undisput- pears eager to cannibalise its partner. 5-Star did not want to broaden the rul- in Belgian ed leader of Italy’s conservative bloc, Italian politicians have a long tradi- ing alliance, sources said. and potentially strengthen the govern- tion of switching parties — in the last Another source in Forza Italia, who ment in parliament. legislature almost 350 of the 945 par- declined to be named, said she expect- terror case It would also almost certainly trig- liamentarians changed sides for various ed Berlusconi would fi nally take a step ger Berlusconi’s retreat from frontline reasons. back if next month’s vote went badly, politics and open the way for a new They also have a habit of abandoning with model-turned-politician Mara AFP leadership to try to rebuild the once sinking ships. Carfagna a leading contender to take Brussels dominant moderate, centre-right, now Molinari laughed when asked if the the reins. under siege from eurosceptic national- League might be tempted to try to lure Berlusconi created Forza Italia 25 ist groups. away Forza Italia lawmakers, particu- years ago and despite repeated legal olice investigating a ter- Berlusconi’s political obituary has larly in the Senate where the coalition woes and health alarms, he has never rorism case have arrested been written repeatedly in the past, majority is in single digits. shown any sign of wanting to relinquish Pa man south of the Belgian only for the 82-year-old media tycoon “I think they might be tempted to join control or retire from politics. capital of Brussels, media re- to defy the naysayers and reclaim a cen- us. It is clear that there are lots of elect- Although he is standing in next ported yesterday. tral role in Italian public life. ed politicians from lots of parties that month’s European election, there are The 22-year-old man was ar- But with his party’s polling num- want to join the League,” he said. nonetheless signs that the end of an era rested on Saturday at his home bers in a prolonged decline and with his A Forza Italia senator, who declined to is nearing. in the French-speaking town of once-junior partner, the League, now Berlusconi ... full steam ahead be named, agreed: “Lawmakers have to Last month Il Giornale newspaper, Wavre, Belgian broadcaster RTL Italy’s most popular party, Forza Italia deal with their survival instinct.” which is controlled by the Berlusconi and Derniere Heure newspaper veterans are growing anxious. have put the party at anywhere between vini abandoned his allies and formed a Brothers of Italy leader Giorgia Melo- family, announced it was closing its reported on their websites. “For our future it’s very important 8.7% and 12.1%, down from 14% it took coalition with the anti-establishment ni is already poaching Forza Italia mem- newsroom in Rome — the epicentre of They said he was detained for that we get at least 10% at the European in the 2018 national election and com- 5-Star Movement — Berlusconi’s bete bers and will put forward four ex-Ber- Italian politics — and refocusing on the questioning as part of an inves- election,” said a senior Forza Italia law- pared to a 30.5% to 35.7% banding for noire. lusconi men as candidates for her own business capital Milan. tigation into unspecifi ed terror maker and former minister who asked the League. The two groups still stand united in party in the May 26 EU vote. Berlusconi told reporters this month activities. not to be named. “If Forza Italy is unable to redefi ne local elections, but the League has sug- “Berlusconi’s political project has that he was looking into the matter and Derniere Heure reported the “Below that psychological threshold its leadership and its agenda, it runs big gested it might not tie the knot again at come to an end,” said Stefano Maullu, had no other comment to make. man was preparing to carry out people will jump ship and try to join up risks,” Roberto Weber, head of the Ixe a national level, worried that being as- a member of the European parliament, “When Berlusconi was strong some- an imminent attack but RTL with the League. It’s Newton’s rule of polling institute, told Reuters. sociated with the elderly, out-of-mode who had been a member of Forza Italia thing like this would never have hap- could not confi rm this. gravity, larger forces pull in little ones,” Although the League and Forza Ita- Berlusconi would dent its newfound for 24 years before switching to Brothers pened,” said a journalist with the paper, The Belgian prosecutor’s of- he told Reuters. lia ran together in last year’s ballot, popularity. of Italy last November. who declined to be named because of fi ce was not immediately avail- Opinion polls since the start of April their relationship has soured since Sal- “The longer we govern with 5-Star, Meloni is working with one of Forza ongoing union negotiations. able for comment.

Sanchez hardens his position on Catalonia ahead of April 28 vote

Reuters strength and proportion against In February, Sanchez called an Madrid any challenge,” Sanchez said in early election after Catalan sepa- an interview published yesterday ratists withheld support for his in Hoy newspaper. budget, eff ectively dooming it to panish Prime Minister In such an event, Sanchez sug- defeat. Pedro Sanchez, who faces gested he could apply direct rule Spanish unionist parties, in- Sa national election in two to Catalonia, repeating the de- cluding the relatively new far- weeks’ time, has said he will act cision of former prime minister right part Vox, have campaigned with “strength and proportion” Mariano Rajoy who took over the on fervent opposition to Cata- against any attempt by Catalan regional government during the lan independence and criticised separatists to repeat their 2017 secession crisis in 2017. Sanchez’s attempts to re-estab- independence bid. “It’s an article of the constitu- lish dialogue with separatists. Catalonia’s failed attempt to tion. And we are a government Sanchez’s Socialists are pre- secede from Spain and Madrid’s that is going to apply the con- dicted to win the elections but approach to the region has be- stitution and make sure it is fol- potentially needing the support come the defi ning issue ahead lowed throughout the country,” of other parties, perhaps includ- of the April 28 election, in which Sanchez said when asked if he ing Catalan separatists, to gov- polls show a coalition of right- would use the Article 155 law. ern, polls show. wing, unionist parties could While the confl ict has eased In a softening of positions, pro- seize a majority in parliament. since the height of the secession independence parties suggested “If we see the laws of the crisis, Catalonia’s demand for an this weekend that they may sup- constitution or the Statute of independence referendum that port a Sanchez government to Autonomy in Catalonia broken Madrid has again ruled out has avoid the possibility of a right- once more, the state of law led vexed further attempts at a reso- wing, unionist coalition forming a by this government will act with lution. government in its place. Spanish centre-right Ciudadanos (Citizens) party leader Albert Rivera walks at a campaign rally yesterday in the Basque city of Renteria. Gulf Times 16 Monday, April 15, 2019 EUROPE

New French Poroshenko puts on one-man measures to allay ‘yellow show as rival skips debate vest’ anger AFP By Olga Shylenko, AFP the national anthem and took pictures. Paris Kyiv Armed with a loud hailer, Poroshenko roused his backers with chants. Some women cried and many em- rench President Emmanuel kraine’s leader yesterday held braced each other. Many said they did Macron will go on television a one-man debate next to an not want Zelensky to become the next Ftoday to announce a series of Uempty lectern, roused thou- head of state. policy changes based on the feed- sands of supporters at a stadium and “I’ve come here to defend the inter- back received over two months of even sang, as a comedian tipped to be- ests of our country,” said a serviceman public consultations triggered by come the next president skipped the who identifi ed himself by his nom de the “yellow vest” revolt. event before a high-stakes run-off vote. guerre, Batya UNSO. Macron will give a televised A week before the second round of “If the rival — this buff oon, clown, speech at 1800 GMT setting out voting, President Petro Poroshenko jester, harlequin — wins, then we will all the “fi rst concrete measures” failed to lure his rival Volodymyr Zel- have to hang ourselves,” he told AFP. to be taken in response to the ensky for a policy debate and chose to Some pointed to Zelensky’s inexpe- “concerns raised” at over 10,000 walk it alone at Kyiv’s Olympic Stadium rience and ties to oligarch Igor Kolo- debates held around the country as several thousand supporters fl ooded moysky, who owns the channel that as well as the nearly 2mn contri- a nearby square. broadcasts the entertainer’s shows. butions made online, the presi- Inside, two podiums were set up at “After the fi rst round of voting the dency told AFP. the stadium’s make-shift press centre situation risks becoming catastrophic,” Two days later he will give a and a moderator set down rules in front said Oleksandr Misyura, 59. press conference to discuss his of journalists. “Who is Kolomoysky? He is Ukraine’s policy adjustments, the presi- Outside the sports arena that seats biggest kleptocrat. We need to save the dency added — a rare move by 70,000 people the Ukrainian leader’s country.” a leader who has avoided press supporters chanted “Poroshenko.” Police said that up to 5,000 people conferences since his election in Poroshenko, a 53-year-old tycoon turned up at the stadium. 2017, apart from when receiving who came to power after a popular up- The presidential campaign has de- foreign leaders. rising in 2014, has been eager to spar scended into farce at times, with both One of Macron’s aides told with the 41-year-old political novice men undergoing drugs tests at Zelen- AFP that the country could look and accused his rival of avoiding hard- sky’s insistence. forward to “a new act” in the hitting questions. Over the past few days the vote rivals centrist’s presidency, character- He said he would respect the “choice have traded insults and sparred bitterly ised by “profound changes.” of the Ukrainian people” if Zelensky Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko looks at his watch during a ‘debate’ yesterday at Olympic Stadium in Kyiv. in a phone exchange broadcast on tel- Yesterday evening, Macron were elected president on April 21 but evision. met Prime Minister Edouard added he was worried for the country’s recover lost ground in a bruising cam- Kremlin-backed rebels, poverty and climbed onto the stage outside the sta- The stakes are high for the country of Philippe and cabinet ministers future. paign as polls show Zelensky easily corruption to defeat Poroshenko in the dium where he attempted — along with 45mn people seen as a buff er between to fi ne-tune his announcements, “I do not like that a presidential defeating the incumbent for the leader- fi rst round of voting on March 31. musicians — to perform a rendition of a the European Union and Russia. the adviser said. campaign in Ukraine looks like a silent ship of a country locked in a war with Zelensky has said he is ready to spar humorous folk song about a man who is Ukraine is mired in a smouldering Macron launched his ‘Grand movie,” Poroshenko said, standing next Moscow-backed separatists. with the president next Friday, two days stood up by a woman. war with Moscow-backed separatists in National Debate’ on January 15 to Zelensky’s empty podium. Zelensky, whose political experience before the vote. “I’ve come, you are not here, you’ve the industrial east. to try end the biggest crisis of his “I must say: Ukraine’s fate is in dan- is limited to playing a president on TV, Support for the comedian among deceived me, you’ve let me down,” a The confl ict that broke out after a presidency. ger,” he said during his hour-long ap- has shunned traditional rallies, instead voters has doubled to 61% since the fi rst smiling Poroshenko and the musicians popular uprising ousted a Kremlin- In mid-November, demon- pearance at which he also took ques- performing satirical shows. round of voting, with Poroshenko on sang as the crowd clapped. backed president and Russia annexed strators furious over rising fuel tions from reporters. He however capitalised on frustra- 24%, according to the Rating pollster. The president then led his supporters Crimea in 2014 has cost some 13,000 taxes and inequality began oc- Poroshenko has been scrambling to tion over mainstream politics, war with After the “debate”, Poroshenko into the stadium where they performed lives. cupying roundabouts in rural France, kickstarting a movement that quickly snowballed into a WWII bomb detonated in river in central Frankfurt full-scale anti-Macron revolt. Every Saturday over the past omb disposal experts security reasons, a police ered after the detonation, fi ve months, tens of thousands of Farmers nervous as CAP reforms loom yesterday exploded a spokesman said. the bomb in the water was demonstrators have taken to the BWorld War II bomb in Parts of the old town totally destroyed by the streets of Paris and other cities to the Main river in the centre around Frankfurt Cathedral explosion,” the Darmstadt protest policies they see as skewed By Isabel Malsang, AFP as security, border reinforcements “The Belgians have gotten an ex- of Frankfurt, causing a wa- were aff ected, as well as the Regional Council said. towards the rich and big business. Arville, France and new technology, raising the emption, so they’ll produce more ter fountain 30m high. opposite bank of the Main. Smaller explosive de- The protests have regularly spectre of an even bigger cut. beets than us, and cheaper,” he said. Parts of the city centre Before the detonation, vices were detonated un- ended in rioting and destruc- Even French President Emmanuel Many farmers are also hoping the were evacuated yesterday the divers moved the ex- der the water before the tion of property, with some of ike every spring, Guillaume Macron has signalled he is ready CAP can start playing a bigger role morning as experts at- plosive device into the fair- main explosion to drive fi sh the worst violence seeing the Arc Lefort sits at his computer la- to consider a reform of the CAP — in Europe’s transition to a cleaner tempted to deal with the way of the Main, to a depth away. Nevertheless, after de Triomphe war memorial in Lbelling all his farm’s fi elds on a breaking from a tradition that has environment and improved food 250kg US Air Force bomb. of about 6m. the bomb was detonated, a Paris sacked on December 1 and map, an annual ritual of registering seen France as the biggest defender quality and safety. It was initially unclear The original plan had few dead fi sh fl oated to the several businesses on the famed for subsidies from Europe’s Com- of the budget because of the coun- Critics say the programme has whether it would be deto- been for only the detona- surface of the Main, the Champs-Elysees avenue looted mon Agricultural Policy. try’s powerful farming lobbies. encouraged intensive farming and nated or defused. tor of the bomb to be blown police said. on two separate occasions. “Wheat is here, that’s cilantro, The core of the CAP’s support to the use of massive amounts of pes- The device was found on off , the spokesman said, A total of about 350 po- By launching a major voter and next to it the fi eld is fallow,” Le- some 7mn farms across Europe is ticides since its creation in 1962, Tuesday during an exercise but the experts knew there lice, fi refi ghters, German listening exercise former invest- fort says. the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), leading to a loss of biodiversity. dive by the fi re service. was a possibility the whole Red Cross staff and other ment banker Macron sought to “Without the CAP money, we direct transfers which the EU says Remi Seingier, a 33-year-old About 600 people were thing would explode. forces were involved in the take the heat out of the protests. wouldn’t manage. It wouldn’t be amount to an average of 266 euros farmer not far from Lefort’s opera- asked to leave their homes And that was what hap- evacuation and detonation, “He won’t get a second possible.” per eligible hectare per year. tion, is converting 38 hectares of his from 8am yesterday for pened: “As a diver discov- according to the police. chance,” Senate leader Gerard Like other French farmers, he will The basic payments open the land to organic crops. Larcher, a member of the oppo- be watching the outcome of the EU door to other aid, including pay- Since beginning to take over the sition Republicans, warned in an Parliament elections next month, ments to young farmers or for envi- farm from his father four years ago, interview with Le Figaro news- which will lead to a new slate of Eu- ronmentally friendly practices. he has also started re-planting trees paper over the weekend. In par- ropean Commission offi cials. Lefort said he hopes the base level and hedges in his fi elds to help re- Flight of fancy! ticipation terms, the debate was One of the Commission’s fi rst will remain “solid”. plenish soil nutrients after years of largely seen as a success. tasks will be to help draft a new “It’s my fi rst line of insurance... pesticide use. Between January 15 and March 2021-2027 budget along with mem- But the BPS has been falling.” He also relies on CAP funding, 15, nearly 500,000 people took ber states which will aff ect the CAP The threat of escalating trade though he has yet to receive the part in 10,134 meetings in com- money that is a cornerstone of EU tensions worldwide adds to the risks funds he applied for to help fi nance munity halls across the coun- spending and a lifeline for millions for farms, whose products are often his shift to organics. try, with hundreds of thousands of farmers across the bloc. the fi rst targets for countries look- “I’m not exploiting nature. I’m more fi lling out questionnaires or It represents the biggest line in ing to impose tariff s. focused on quality and transforma- off ering up unprompted sugges- the EU’s budget, representing 37 % Whether its meat, milk, cereals tion, with short supply chains and tions on a government website. of the total in 2017, and is either de- or even hemp, grown with conven- local distribution, even if it means But as they returned to the fended as a vital way of protecting tional methods or organic practices, lower yields,” Seingier said. streets of Paris and other cit- rural livelihoods, or a over-generous “in agriculture, no farm in the world He said he would like more vis- ies on Saturday for their 22nd and misdirected stream of money. can survive without government ibility on the CAP’s practices to bet- straight week of protests, many The Heinrich Boell foundation, help,” Lefort said. ter understand “the true priorities” yellow vests dismissed whatever for example, calculates that just But Lefort, who began farming of Europe’s agricultural policies. he had to off er. 20% of Europe’s agricultural busi- his 250 hectares some 75km south That’s also being sought by the “Great National Debate, great nesses — mainly huge industrialised of Paris nine years ago, also wor- French coalition ‘For a Diff erent blah blah,” and “Macron, we ex- farms — received 80% of the CAP ries the CAP won’t impose enough CAP’, made up of left-leaning farm- pect nothing from your announce- funds each year. “common” rules, in particular on ers’ groups as well as environmental ments” read some of the banners Already Brussels has proposed environmental norms. and animal welfare NGOs. waved by protestors in Paris. trimming the CAP by 5% from the “This year we won’t be able to The coalition wants to ensure Interior ministry fi gures put previous six-year period, to 365bn use neonicotinoids on beets,” he more of the funds go to smaller A skier in a festive costume attempts to cross a pool of water at the foot of a ski the number of demonstrators euros ($413bn) — to cover Britain’s said, after France moved last year independent farms, which could slope while competing yesterday in the annual Gornoluzhnik amateur event to mark at 31,000 on Saturday, a far cry looming exit from the bloc. to ban fi ve pesticides containing the limit the emptying out of European the end of the ski season at the Bobrovy Log ski resort in the suburbs of the Siberian from the 282,000 that took part And new priorities for European compounds, which are suspected of countrysides while also helping to city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia. in the fi rst edition, but up from leaders have emerged in areas such decimating bee populations. fi ght climate change. 22,300 a week before. Mussolini descendant sees no fascism risk in Italy

By Alvise Armellini, DPA opposition party Brothers of Italy histories,” he said. Berlusconi, sparked controversy Millennium Fascists’, and the Speaking more broadly about cians who know how to stand up Rome (BDI). The question of whether Italy last month by saying that Benito neo-fascist Forza Nuova. the threat from immigration, for their country, like Hungar- In a written interview with has suffi ciently confronted its Mussolini “did some positive Earlier this month, Casa Pound Mussolini stressed that “in Italy, ian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, DPA, the candidate said he was Fascist past is hotly debated in a things.” and Forza Nuova took part in vio- like in Germany,” migrants are “but also” German Chancellor ascism is dead and bur- “proud” of his surname, even if country where Fascist symbols He later apologised. lent protests in Torre Maura, a over-represented in crime and Angela Merkel. ied and talk about its pos- it was “often a burden” for him, and memorabilia are still a com- Many Italians like to recall that run-down district of Rome. prison population data. “These Mussolini is a candidate in It- Fsible return is just leftist and denied his campaign strategy mon sight, and whose politics a lot of infrastructure was built Among a fl urry of Roman sa- are statistics which cannot be aly’s southern regions, where his propaganda, says a man who is was courting fascist nostalgia — have taken a sharp turn towards under fascism. lutes and xenophobic chants, disputed.” party is traditionally strongest. campaigning for next month’s a fringe, but visible sentiment in right-wing populism. But the regime also murdered they managed to block the trans- The BDI candidate — who not To win a seat in the May 26 European Parliament elections Italy. Italy’s man of the hour is fi re- political opponents, passed anti- fer of 70 Roma minority people in only has a cumbersome surname, election, he not only needs to win with the slogan #ScriviMussolini “For me to be elected, voters brand Interior Minister Matteo Semitic racial laws, committed a local reception centre. but also bears the name of ancient enough personal votes, but the (#WriteMussolini). have to write my surname (on the Salvini, who leads the national- war crimes in Ethiopia, and led To take such incidents as a sign Rome’s fi rst emperor — has a past BDI must also clear a 4% national Caio Giulio Cesare Mus- ballot). This is what the election ist, anti-immigration League the country to catastrophic de- of new fascism “is a propaganda as a navy offi cer and Middle East threshold. In the latest surveys, solini, 51, is the great-grand- law requires ... (#WriteMusso- party, and who has a habit of bor- feat in World War II. exaggeration from the left, which representative for Finmeccanica, the BDI has just under 5%. son of fascist dictator Benito, lini) seems to me a very normal rowing slogans from Mussolini, Benito Mussolini apologists has no other arguments,” Musso- an Italian defence company now If elected, Mussolini would be who ruled Italy from 1922 to slogan,” he said, also rejecting without quoting him explicitly. tend to overlook this record. lini noted. known as Leonardo. the second member of his family 1943 and entered World War II parallels between Mussolini and Meanwhile, a mainstream There are many of them among In some areas, he added, “there He described himself as a to sit in the EU assembly, after his alongside Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Hitler. conservative like European Par- two small, but vocal, far-right is a lot of fear” of the Roma and “patriot,” but no fan of leaving cousin Alessandra. Germany. “Two diff erent people, two liament President Antonio Taja- parties: Casa Pound, whose “it is a sentiment that should be the euro — a past rallying cry of Another Mussolini, Rachele, is He is standing for the far-right diff erent countries, two diff erent ni, an ally of ex-premier Silvio members call themselves ‘Third understood, not demonized.” BDI — and an admirer of politi- a city councillor in Rome. Gulf Times Monday, April 15, 2019 17 INDIA Once formidable Left Front in choppy waters again?

IANS the state’s 42 seats, saw its vote share. Now, the LF constituents’ In Raiganj, the CPM has renom- “In Jadavpur they are putting up the BJP were coming back. “The lowing the BJP to enter and grow in Kolkata share come down to 24% two years organisational strength would de- inated its sitting MP Mohamed a strong fi ght. In Murshidabad, the situation is changing. They are West Bengal. later in the assembly polls (where termine whether their base still Salim, while noted lawyer and other seat they won in 2014, they now coming back. And nowadays, “Unfortunately, the Trinamool it contested 193 of the 294 seats, gets eroded,” political analyst Bi- former city mayor Bikash Ranjan have a strong base. But apart from the movement is mostly from the has given entry to BJP in the state, he Communist Party of In- leaving the rest to ally Congress). mal Shankar Nanda told IANS. Bhattacharya is fi ghting from Ja- that, I don’t see them fi nishing on Trinamool to the BJP.” and due to its policies the BJP has dia (Marxist)-led Left Front This is in contrast to the 41% votes “If the trend of the last few years davpur. In Balurghat, LF constitu- the victory podium anywhere,” CPM state secretariat member grown. The BJP’s divisive politics T(LF), which ruled West Ben- it had garnered in 2011 competing continues, they may lose a part of ent Revolutionary Socialist Party said Bandopadhyay. Sujon Chakraborty too sounded is very disturbing,” he said. gal for 34 years at a stretch before in all the 294 seats. their support base to the BJP. The (RSP) has fi elded Ronen Burman. However, the LF leaders seemed positive. Despite their alliance coming a suff ering a crushing defeat in 2011, The combine suff ered further Left’s major problem is their brand “Excepting these three seats, I upbeat. “People want to get rid of the Tri- cropper in the 2016 assembly polls, is now a divided house, with ana- erosion in a number of by-elec- of politics is no longer acceptable don’t think they stand a chance. “If elections are free and namool, which had come to power the LF tried to forge seat adjustment lysts foreseeing the coalition faring tions over the last three years, to a large section of common peo- I even have doubts whether they fair, we’ll do very well. People promising a change. But people with the Congress this time around, poorly in the Lok Sabha polls after when it ceded much of the main ple.” can repeat their performance of are very unhappy with the rul- now want a change in the state from but its constituent, the All India the failure of seat adjustment talks opposition space to the Bharatiya According to Nanda, the LF was winning two seats fi ve years back,” ing Trinamool Congress,” CPM the way this party has criminalised, Forward Bloc, rejected all requests with the Congress. Janata Party. in a position to give a good fi ght in said Nanda. leader Shaymal Chakrabory told communalised and corrupted the to even sit for talks with the Con- The LF, which secured around “Since then there has been no three seats – Raiganj and Balurghat Another political analyst, Udayan IANS. politics and culture in the state,” gress, and even refused to part with 29.5% of the votes in the 2014 Lok new dynamics which indicate an in North Bengal, and Jadavpur in Bandopadhyay gave the eight-party He also claimed that those LF Chakraborty said. the Purulia constituency which the Sabha election, winning two of increase in the coalition’s vote Kolkata’s vicinity. LF one or two seats “at the most”. workers who had crossed over to He blamed the Trinamool for al- Grand Old Party had asked for. Opposition to approach SC over EVM row

IANS issue, the poll panel was trying to New Delhi avoid it. TDP’s Rajya Sabha member and party’s legal cell in charge K Ravin- pposition leaders yester- dra Kumar sent a letter to the EC day said they will approach after it issued a notice on Satur- Othe Supreme Court over day to the ruling party questioning what they said were malfunction- how Naidu allowed a person ac- ing and tampering of Electronic cused of stealing EVM to be part Voting Machines (EVMs). of the delegation that knocked on Speaking to reporters, leaders its doors. from 21 political parties said the Maintaining that “such ante- Election Commission had “failed” cedents do not inspire confi dence”, the country and its people as it did the EC invited the TDP to send an- not take these issues seriously. other expert “who does not have Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister similar antecedents” to interact and Telugu Desam Party chief N with the poll panel. Chandrababu Naidu said the Voter The notice to the legal cell of the Verifi ed Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) TDP came after a delegation led was indispensable to bring confi - by Naidu met the EC on Saturday dence among the people. to discuss poll-related issues, in- “The confi dence of voters can cluding those related to function- only be achieved by the introduction ing of EVMs. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party president M K Stalin speaks during an election rally in Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu yesterday. of paper trail. VVPAT ensures the As the opposition parties raised accuracy of voting system,” he said. doubts over the reliability of the Nearly 25 lakh votes were de- EVMs, the BJP described it as their leted in Telangana, which was later confession of defeat. admitted by the EC. “They admit- “The so-called all-party meet is ted and said ‘sorry’,” Naidu said. nothing but a confession of defeat. Congress leader Abhishek They do not have any governance Manu Singhvi said a demand agenda or leadership to inspire the will be made in the court for 50% people. The only thing they have in Wealthy donors playing matching of EVMs with VVPATs. common is negativity and an at- “Names of lakhs of voters have tempt to somehow pull India back been deleted online without phys- from the development it has wit- ical verifi cation. Parties have given nessed in the past fi ve years,” BJP long lists to the EC. It has become spokesperson G V L Narasimha even more necessary to count at Rao said. least 50% of paper trail of VVPAT. He called the opposition’s Grand key role in LS election We will demand the same in the Alliance a non-alliance “because Supreme Court. most constituents are fi ghting sepa- AFP mous businessmen, leading to a petition, voter expectations of parity now. Congress simply “The lack of transparency al- “The Commission is not paying rately and are trying to fi nd excuses Mumbai lack of transparency and worry- handouts in the form of cash and doesn’t have the money to fi ght lows confl icts of interest and heed to our demand for transpar- for their impending massive defeat ing confl icts of interest. other inducements, and tech- elections. That should worry quid pro quos to fl ourish”, said ency. Hence, we have no other op- in the Lok Sabha polls”. “There’s a trend towards plu- nological change, which means people,” said the ORF’s Sahoo. Vaishnav, who suspects that me- tion but to approach the Supreme “They have not only failed as ndia’s tycoons are playing a tocracy,” Niranjan Sahoo, of the greater outlays for media and Modi’s government says it has dium-sized businesses requiring Court.” an opposition, but also failed to pivotal role in the country’s s Observer Research Foundation digital outreach,” he added. cracked down black money in permits from the government are In a dig at the ruling Bharatiya mount a challenge to the BJP in the Imost expensive election ever, (ORF) think-tank, told AFP. Analysts say traditional fund- politics by lowering the amount more of an issue than India’s big Janata Party, Delhi Chief Minister elections,” said Rao. from funding campaigns and “Unbridled corporate infl u- ing streams, such as party mem- that can be donated in cash from oligarchs. and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) tacit endorsements to being hot- ence can have a serious impact berships, are declining so parties Rs20,000 to Rs2,000. Tycoons do not explicitly en- Kejriwal said: “Only one party is leader K T Rama Rao too said the button issues themselves. on policies,” he added. increasingly rely on wealthy do- Critics, however, say it is now dorse candidates for fear of back- against the counting of VVPAT slips Andhra Pradesh chief minister was Prime Minister Narendra Mo- The New Delhi-based Cen- nors to fund campaigns. easier for wealthy entities to do- ing the wrong horse but Modi, because the EVM malfunctioning is raising doubts about the EVMs out di’s re-election bid has received tre for Media Studies estimates Data compiled by the Asso- nate to political parties; corporate 68, is seen to be close to several clearly helping them.” of fear of losing the elections. huge fi nancial backing from cor- that around $5bn was spent dur- ciation for Democratic Reforms funding formed 92% of the total big tycoons. Congress leader Kapil Sibal, Rao wondered how Naidu, who porate India, raising fears about ing the 2014 election that swept (ADR), an election watchdog, donations declared by the BJP in In 2014 he travelled between leaders from the Samajwadi Party had won the 2014 elections with the integrity of the world’s larg- Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party to showed that in fi nancial year 2017-18, according to ADR. rallies in a corporate jet and heli- and Left parties were also present EVMs, could now be saying that est democratic process, experts power - up from $2bn in 2009. 2017-18 corporates and individu- Detractors point to the govern- copter owned by billionaire in- at the event. these can be tampered with. say. The group thinks the 2019 als contributed 12 times more to ment removing a cap on corpo- dustrialist Gautam Adani, while Meanwhile, the TDP has de- KTR, who is the son of TRS Meanwhile, Congress Party contest could top $7bn, making the BJP than to six other national rate donations two years ago and magnate Ratan Tata praised Modi fended sending technical adviser president and Telangana Chief president Rahul Gandhi is try- it one of the priciest elections parties, including Congress, introducing a scheme whereby for carrying out air strikes in Pa- Hari Prasad Vemuru to the Elec- Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, ing to exploit a fi ghter jet deal globally. combined. donors can give anonymously kistan. tion Commission along with said Naidu should stop playing involving industrialist Anil Am- “Elections are getting more The BJP received 93% of all do- through “electoral bonds” pur- India’s richest man Mukesh Naidu to discuss the issue related “cheap” politics. He said fear had bani while fugitive tycoons Vijay expensive for many structural nations above Rs20,000 ($290) chased from a bank. Ambani - whose personal net to the EVMs, saying he was invited gripped the TDP chief when the Mallya and Nirav Modi loom over reasons,” Milan Vaishnav, a sen- that year, according to ADR’S On Friday the Supreme Court worth has soared from $18.6bn by the poll body in the past too de- Election Commission ordered the the vote from London. ior fellow at the Carnegie En- analysis. ordered parties to reveal the when Modi came to power to spite alleged involvement in a case transfer of offi cials. Contesting polls is getting dowment for International Peace The BJP banked Rs4.37bn identity of donors after activ- $53bn today, according to Forbes of EVM theft. The TRS leader said Naidu’s costlier in India and analysts say think-tank, told AFP. ($63.3 mn); Congress got just ists challenged the bond system, - has repeatedly called him In its reply to the EC, the TDP al- panic clearly showed that he was parties are becoming more reli- “(There is a) growing popula- Rs267mn. which the government has de- “our beloved prime minister” in leged that instead of focusing on the on his way out. ant on donations from anony- tion, increasing political com- “There is a huge funding dis- fended. speeches. Regional parties’ role crucial Modi wave stronger this time, says PM in case of hung parliament IANS ing out to vote in the fi rst phase Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir of Lok Sabha elections in the IANS led National Democratic Alliance players in around 180 out of the state on April 11. New Delhi and the Congress-led United 543 Lok Sabha seats and the crit- In an apparent reference to Progressive Alliance. icality of their role will be deter- Modi wave lashing the the opposition, he said: They The Trinamool Congress led mined by the numbers they get. country is now stronger ask why Modi is speaking about ith some poll surveys by West Bengal Chief Minister A hung parliament would Athan what it was in 2014 protecting the nation. Speak- predicting that the Mamata Banerjee and the Telugu throw up several possibilities. when he stormed to power, ing about the nation is impor- WBharatiya Janata Par- Desam Party headed by Chan- Jagan Mohan Reddy had said Prime Minister Narendra Modi tant...” ty-led alliance may fall short of drababu Naidu could also fi nd a earlier this month that he is hop- declared yesterday. He accused the Congress of numbers in the Lok Sabha elec- role in the government-forma- ing for a hung parliament so that “I have gone around the coun- doing politics over the 100th tions, the role of regional politi- tion. he gets a better deal for the state. try... I now see a more powerful anniversary of Jallianwala Bagh cal parties can become crucial in Banerjee and Naidu have been Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) wave than in 2014. All the sur- massacre on April 13. deciding who forms the govern- making eff orts to cobble up an leader Kamal Haasan had also veys are suggesting that the BJP “While the vice president, ment if the predictions prove anti-BJP coalition and had even said that the Lok Sabha election is winning three times more seats who is not a part of politics, went correct. hobnobbed with the Congress. will result in a hung parliament than the Congress in the Lok for a programme organised in Particular focus will be on par- However, Banerjee, while and there is a possibility of the Sabha,” the prime minister said Amritsar to pay tributes to the ties such as YSR Congress led by strongly attacking the BJP, has Third Front forming the govern- at an election rally here. martyrs... the chief minister (of Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, Telan- also been targeting the Congress, ment. “The chances of survival for Punjab) was missing. He boy- gana Rashtra Samithi led by K which has reciprocated in equal A pre-poll survey conducted the Congress are very diffi cult,” cotted the programme because Chandrasekhar Rao, Biju Janata manner. by Lokniti of the Centre for the Braille verification team members Manishaben Parikh (right) and Arya he said. he was busy in Congress ‘bhakti.’ Dal of Odisha Chief Minister The BSP and SP, while being Study of Developing Societies Arunkumar Amratlal put stamps of verification on printed Braille ballot Referring to the opposition, He went there with the Congress Naveen Patnaik and the Bahu- highly critical of the BJP, also had said that despite an increase papers at the Blind People’s Association (BPA) in Ahmedabad. Special Modi said some people were so president but not with the vice janSamaj Partt-Samajwadi Party snubbed the Congress by keeping in vote share, the BJP is likely to embossed Braille ballot papers for visually impaired voters, printed at intent on hating him that they president. That is the diff erence combine, which have displayed it out of their pre-poll coalition. lose seats due to a “more united the BPA under the Election Commission’s guidelines, will be sent to consider nationalism an abuse. between the love for a family and equidistance with both the BJP- These regional parties are opposition” in key states. several election booths across Gujarat. He hailed the people for com- love for the nation.” Gulf Times 18 Monday, April 15, 2019 INDIA

More than 11mn face eviction, displacement as India booms

By Rina Chandran/Reuters Forest Rights Act have been made up a fourth each, it said. not follow due process, includ- Confl ict Watch.An offi cial at the evicting at least 202,000 people, ment programmes that claim to New Delhi rejected, said advocacy group “Evictions have become so ing giving advance notice, and Delhi Development Authority, according to HLRN. There is no focus on housing for marginal- Housing and Land Rights Net- common, they are normalised, few people were resettled or re- which undertook evictions in offi cial data on evictions. ised and low-income popula- work (HLRN). and we don’t see the outpouring ceived adequate compensation, the nation’s capital, said there A government plan, Housing tions,” Chaudhry said. t least 11mn people in In- Last year alone, authorities of sympathy and help that we see Chaudhry said. is “huge pressure” from build- for All, is meant to create 20mn Evictions have become a poll dia risk being uprooted demolished at least 114 houses when there is a big natural disas- The rapid growth of Indian ers and other entities to free up new urban housing units and issue for the general election Afrom their homes and land every day, evicting about 23 ter,” said Shivani Chaudhry, ex- cities, combined with unclear land. 30mn rural homes by 2022. that kicked off on Thursday. as authorities build highways people every hour, according to ecutive director of HLRN. land ownership, is increas- “So despite a zero-eviction But implementation has been The main opposition Con- and airports and cordon off for- HLRN’s report published in New “But there is nothing normal ingly triggering legal disputes and in-situ housing policy of slow, and campaigners say it will gress Party, in its manifesto, has ests, activists said, undermining Delhi last week. about evicting the poorest, most and forceful evictions of poorer Delhi’s slum board, evictions not fi x the issue of homelessness promised the urban poor the a government push to provide Slum clearance and city “beau- vulnerable people to beautify communities, rights groups say. continue to take place,” said and informal settlements. right to housing and “protection housing for all citizens by 2022. tifi cation” drives accounted for cities or build an airport,” she There are more than 680 Somnath Bharti. “It is ironic that forced evic- from arbitrary eviction”. The estimate includes about nearly half the evictions, while told the Thomson Reuters Foun- disputes over land in India, af- Authorities demolished more tions and demolitions have con- It also committed to end the 1.9mn indigenous families infrastructure and development dation by phone. fecting nearly 8mn people, ac- than 41,700 homes last year tinued despite the Housing for eviction of the nearly 2mn indig- whose land claims under the projects, and forest protection In most cases, authorities did cording to research fi rm Land across the country, forcefully All scheme, and other govern- enous families living in forests.

Punjab CM slams Modi over remarks Pilots threaten on Jallianwala

IANS to go on strike Chandigarh

unjab Chief Minister Am- arinder Singh yesterday Pslammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remarks on Singh’s absence at the main as Jet cancels function to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Jalli- anwala Bagh massacre by British forces. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu presided over the function on Saturday afternoon at the Jal- more fl ights lianwala Bagh National Memo- rial in Amritsar to commemorate Agencies in January to just seven planes. Delhi have increased by 19% and the event. Punjab Governor V P Mumbai The government held a crisis fares for fl ights from Mumbai are Singh Badnore was present at meeting on Friday, which was up by 36%. Passengers who are the function but the chief min- the deadline for prospective bid- planning their summer leisure ister, who paid homage to the eleaguered Jet Airways ders to express an interest in ac- travel will also be impacted.” martyrs at the venue on Satur- was staring at a fresh crisis quiring a 75% stake in the belea- According to Sharat Dhall of day along with Congress presi- Byesterday as hundreds of guered airline. Yatra.com, “with the peak travel dent Rahul Gandhi, stayed away. pilots and other top staff threat- Etihad Airways, which already season having kicked off , we Criticising Modi for his re- ened to go on strike over unpaid has 24%, submitted an expres- expect airlines to induct more marks made at a rally in Kathua salaries. sion of interest to buy up to 75%, aircraft to tap into the increased in Jammu and Kashmir, Singh The airline, which has debts of according to media reports. demand on the key business and yesterday said that “dirty poli- more than $1bn, also cancelled Naresh Goyal, who founded leisure routes.” tics was being played over the more international fl ights to Eu- the airline but quit as chairman “This will also result in a ra- sombre occasion of the Jallian- rope and North America for the last month, has also lodged a tionalisation of airfares and we wala Bagh centenary”. upcoming week. bid, as have some private equity expect them to increase only Countering Modi’s attack on More than 1,100 pilots, engi- groups, newspapers said. marginally compared to the him over the Jallianwala Bagh neers and ground managers will State Bank of India, which same season last year.” event organised by the central decide today whether to go on heads a lenders’ consortium now In addition, Dhall said: “We government, Singh said the cen- strike to demand salaries which in charge of the airline, has given see other carriers adding ca- tral government had deliberately have not been paid since Janu- Jet until today to submit an op- pacity on a daily basis to fi ll the chosen to hold a parallel event ary, an offi cial from the National erations plan before it considers demand-supply gap and that is instead of supporting the ini- Aviator’s Guild union said. a $145mn cash injection. keeping fares under control. tiatives and programmes of the On Saturday several hundred The crisis has led to a sharp “It is only the last-minute state government. staff staged a protest at Delhi in- rise in airfares. fares that are seeing a jump. So it “I had personally approached ternational airport demanding “The grounding of aircraft due is unlikely to impact the summer the prime minister several times to be paid. to liquidity issues with Jet Air- vacation travel season as most over the last two years to seek A Jet spokesperson declined ways and regulatory directive for leisure travellers book well in ad- support for ensuring that the to comment on the proposed the grounding of B737 Max air- vance and will not be impacted.” centenary of the historic event strike. craft have resulted in a 15% im- The trend of high airfares that is observed in a befi tting manner Jet has “suspended” all fl ights pact on the industry capacity,” was triggered due to Jet’s cancel- but the central government had to South and Southeast Asian said Kinjal Shah, vice president lation of fl ights was amplifi ed by failed to respond suitably,” the nations as well as services from of ICRA. oil marketing companies, as they chief minister said. Chennai to Paris and Toronto, it “This has defi nitely resulted increased the price of aviation “Instead, the Modi govern- said in a statement. in passenger inconvenience. turbine fuel (ATF). ment decided to hold its own Flights to and from London Furthermore, it has resulted in Since March 14, passengers event, quite evidently to score and Amsterdam would be “can- a signifi cant increase in fares. had to shell out high fares as sev- brownie political points in the celled” until at least tomorrow, With the industry capacity re- eral more fl ights were cancelled backdrop of the Lok Sabha elec- according to the statement. maining constrained, the fares due to grounding of Boeing 737- tions. This was truly shocking Jet has also stopped taking are expected to remain high in MAX aircraft. considering the fact that the reservations for many interna- the near term.” Culmination of these factors prime minister was the chairman tional fl ights, in some cases up to “With Jet now cancelling in- is expected to decelerate the of the Jallianwala Bagh Trust,” he June 10. ternational fl ights, the rising growth of air passenger traffi c in said in a statement. It called this a “pro-active fare situation is set to get worse the country. “Unlike the BJP, the Congress measure” after recent cancella- if capacity is not increased be- In a recent note, ratings agen- leadership does not believe in tions. fore peak summer travel season,” cy Fitch said that the Indian dictating terms to its state gov- Hundreds of fl ights have been said Aloke Bajpai, CEO and co- aviation market has seen a sharp ernments,” Singh said, counter- cancelled in recent weeks after founder of ixigo. increase in airfares in the last ing Modi’s remark that he did the company failed to pay leas- “A comparative analysis of few months due to tight supply, not attend the central govern- ing fees and creditors ordered its April 2019 fares and what the which has been worsened by the ment event under pressure from Jet Airways employees sign on a register as they gather for a protest march at the Chattrapati Shivaji planes grounded. scenario was last year shows that suspension of the 737 MAX air- his party high command. International airport in Mumbai on Friday. Jet’s fl eet has been cut from 120 fares for fl ights originating from craft.

Canada move on Khalistanis Pitroda is accused of a threat to India: Amarinder links with Le Monde

IANS owner has links to Sam Pitroda and IANS The chief minister said that added, condemning outright the New Delhi @lemondefr main French media Chandigarh he himself had given proof to the selective changes made by the competitor @Le_Figaro is owned by Canadian prime minister when Canadian government in its re- Groupe Dassault Did @lemondefr he visited India in February last port on threats. ocial media is trending share these facts in its vicious report unjab Chief Minister year of Canada’s soil being used Only references with respect on possible links between that seems more suited for Congress Amarinder Singh yester- to spread the separatist Kha- to Khalistan and related terms SFrance’s Le Monde newspa- mouthpiece @NH_India.” Pday accused the Canadian listani ideology against a friend- have been targeted by the Tru- per and Sam Pitroda, the high- In another post, he says: “Few are government of Prime Minister ly country. deau administration, he said, profi le technocrat close to the aware that Xavier Niel’s fi rms gained Justin Trudeau of “succumb- “Trudeau had been informed adding that it appeared to be a Gandhi family. from investments made by Sam ing to domestic political pres- of Khalistani activists being in- clear case of the Canadian gov- It has been suggested that Pitroda. To what extent Sam Pitroda sure to remove all references to volved in fi nancing terror activi- ernment giving in to political Pitroda, who many describe as the made those investments?” He then Khalistani extremism in its 2018 ties in India from Canada,” the compulsions. father of India’s telecom revolu- asks: “Can Sam Pitroda deny any report on terrorist threats”, and chief minister said. “It is obvious that Trudeau tion, has close business links with commercial links with Xavier Niel?” said the move was a threat to In- The chief minister “pointed to had played safe in view of the French billionaire Xavier Niel, one Ravi Kant goes on to claim on dian and global security. the well-known fact that Tru- upcoming elections in Canada, of the co-owners of Le Monde. Twitter: “Such deep are the links Singh expressed shock at the deau’s party was inundated by giving in to pressure within his Niel’s main business is telecom. between French Newspaper Le ruling Canadian Liberal Party’s such activists and separatists,” country. He has quite blatantly Forbes.com, which puts his wealth Monde and SamPitroda (advisor of “knee-jerk decision that was and dubbed the erasure of the ignored the adverse impact this at $4.4bn, says he owns 55% of Il- @RahulGandhi) that he was called clearly aimed at protecting its various references to Khalistan could have not only on Canada’s aid, the parent company of Free as ‘father of India’s telecommuni- political interests in an elec- and Khalistani organisations relations with India but also on Mobile, which is owned by him. cations network equipment’.” tion year”, saying it could have from the latest threat report as geopolitical stability,” he added. A series of social media posts, IANS contacted Pitroda on serious consequences for India- an unpardonable act in the eyes Singh warned the Canadian which started on Saturday and WhatsApp against the backdrop of Canada relations in the long run. of the peace-loving global com- government against encouraging then picked up momentum, sug- Kant’s tweets, and asked whether “Trudeau is playing with fi re munity.” a spokesman said. hardliners through such actions, gested that Pitroda actually in- he had any links with Niel. Pitro- with his decision to assuage “Such an act amounted to en- which he said were detrimen- vested in Niel’s company. da’s response was: “Do not know infl amed domestic passions dorsement of the terror activi- tal to the interest of both India Ravi Kant, who uses the Twitter who he is and have no business through this ill-considered ties and de facto promotion of and Canada as well as the global handle @LegalKant, claimed in a with him. I do not know where you move,” Singh said. extremism,” the chief minister community. Pitroda: controversy post: “So basically Le Monde’s co- got this from.” Gulf Times Monday, April 15, 2019 19 LATIN AMERICA Ecuador tribe fi ghts to stop oil drilling in Amazon

Thomson Reuters Foundation did not properly consult them in province in the eastern Amazon. began operations in the Amazon any projects and their impact. who is based in Ecuador. tre of pollution and an end to Bogota 2012 over plans to auction their Ecuador’s energy and environ- in the 1960s. Laws to regulate the consulta- “The fact that the Waoroni their way of life. land to oil companies. ment ministries — the respondents Ecuador is pushing to open up tion process have yet to be intro- have a chance in court to be Hundreds of Waorani and “We live on these lands and we in the case — and hydrocarbon sec- more rainforest and develop its duced — although the court case able to plead their case is in it- other indigenous peoples arrived unter-gatherers in the want to continue to live there in retary were not immediately avail- oil and gas reserves in the hope could push the government to do self a very important step,” he in Ecuador’s eastern city of Puyo Amazon sought in court harmony. We will defend them. able to comment. of improving its sluggish econ- this, said Brian Parker, a lawyer said, adding that a court victory to witness the court hearing, Hto stop Ecuador’s govern- Our fi ght is that our rights are re- When President Lenin omy and cutting its high fi scal with campaign group Amazon would provide an “invaluable which is expected to include sev- ment auctioning their land to oil spected,” said Nemonte Nenqui- Moreno met Waorani leaders last defi cit and foreign debt. Frontlines, which is supporting precedent” for other indigenous eral days of oral testimony from companies, as tension mounts mo, a leader of the 2,000-strong year to hear their concerns, he The constitution gives the the Waorani. Amazonian tribes. Waoroni leaders, with a decision over the future of the rainforest. Waorani. said it was important to have a government the right to develop “The lawsuit is to ensure that The government announced in three to six months. In a lawsuit seen by the Thom- “Our fi ght is not just a fi ght dialogue and reach a consensus. energy projects and extract min- the processes enshrined in the last year that it had divided Ecuadorians voted in a referen- son Reuters Foundation — which about oil. This is a fi ght about Tensions have simmered be- erals on any land, regardless of constitution are carried through swathes of forest up into blocs dum last year giving broad back- could set a precedent for other diff erent ways of living. One that tween indigenous communities who owns it, but requires that to guarantee the Waorani rights for auction, one of which — ing to limits on oil production and tribes opposed to drilling — the protects life and one that destroys and oil companies in Ecuador communities are consulted fi rst to prior consultation and their block 22 — covers the Waorani’s mining in environmentally-sensi- Waorani said the government life,” said Nenquimo, from Pastaza since Texaco — now Chevron — and are properly informed about rights to territory,” said Parker, ancestral lands, raising the spec- tive areas, among other issues.

Maduro orders Row with US militia expansion energy trader Reuters Caracas/Maracaibo

enezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has or- Vdered an expansion of worsens fuel civilian militia by nearly 1mn members as opposition leader Juan Guaido toured western Zulia state, which has been hard hit by electricity blackouts. Guaido, the leader of the op- position-controlled National crisis in Haiti Assembly who in January in- voked Venezuela’s constitution Reuters of Haiti’s gasoline and diesel ernment could not pay the US to assume an interim presiden- Port-au-Prince needs last year. company for the fuel. cy, has called on the military to On February 27, Novum an- The offi cial said other com- abandon Maduro amid a hy- chored a vessel carrying 150,000 panies were still supplying Haiti perinfl ationary economic col- dispute between Haiti barrels of gasoline off Port-au- with fuel. He did not provide de- lapse made worse by several na- and a US energy trad- Prince until the payment dispute tails. tionwide blackouts in the past Aing fi rm is leading to long could be resolved. The scarcity of fuel and growing month. blackouts and fuel shortages The cargo was equivalent to economic problems has put basic Guaido has been recognised in the Caribbean nation, feed- roughly half of Haiti’s monthly necessities increasingly out of as Venezuela’s rightful leader by ing anger at President Jovenel consumption of gasoline, ac- reach for many Haitians, despite the US and most western coun- Moise’s government following cording to industry experts. a $229mn loan programme from tries, who agree with his argu- the collapse of a supply deal with After more than a month the International Monetary Fund ment that Maduro’s 2018 re- Venezuela last year. waiting, Novum on April 4 said (IMF) reached last month. election was illegitimate. The capital Port-au-Prince’s the situation was “untenable” “I’m barely surviving,” said The civilian militia, created in fragile power grid was dealt a and sent the vessel to Jamaica to 40-year-old Amos, one of scores 2008 by the late former presi- blow when Novum Energy Trad- take on provisions. of hawkers selling black market dent and Maduro mentor Hugo ing Corporation suspended Youri Chevry, mayor of Port- gasoline on a busy street in the Chavez, reports directly to the shipments in February, leaving au-Prince, a sprawling city of capital. presidency and is intended to residents without electricity for more than 2.6mn people, said On a bad day, he earns little complement the armed forces. days and many gas stations with electricity and gasoline short- more than 50 cents. “It’s going to Maduro, who calls Guaido a no fuel at the pumps. ages had grown worse over the be diffi cult to see change in this US puppet, said he aimed to raise Novum says the government past month as Haiti waited for country.” the number of militia members owes it $40mn in overdue pay- the shipment. Protesters have for months to 3mn by year-end from what he ments for fuel. “It’s a very bad situation...It has agitated to remove Moise, a said was more than 2mn currently. Haitian offi cials did not reply a lot of repercussions,” he said. former businessman who took Maduro has encouraged them to requests for comment. Chris Scott, Novum’s chief offi ce in February 2017. to become involved in agricul- The western hemisphere’s fi nancial offi cer, said the vessel They blame him for infl ation tural production. poorest nation, Haiti long relied would not dock until the govern- running at around 17%, the de- Shortages of food and medi- on fuel shipments from nearby ment could pay. preciation of the gourde cur- cine have prompted more than Opec member Venezuela, which He said Novum had taken rency, and for not investigating 3mn Venezuelans to emigrate in off ered cheap fi nancing to sev- such measures “fairly regularly” alleged misuse of Petrocaribe recent years. eral Caribbean nations to buy its since mid-2018 as Haiti started funds by public offi cials. “With your rifl es on your gasoline, diesel and other prod- to fall behind on payments after Between February 7 and Feb- shoulders, be ready to defend the ucts through a programme called the Petrocaribe programme col- ruary 27, the protests claimed at fatherland and dig the furrow to Petrocaribe. lapsed. least 26 lives and injured more plant the seeds to produce food for But the scheme fell apart last “They need to pay in order for than 77 people, according to the the community, for the people,” year due to economic turmoil in us to be able to discharge,” Scott Inter-American Commission on Maduro, a socialist, told thou- Venezuela, forcing Haiti — a na- said. Human Rights, though the situ- sands of militia members gathered tion of 11mn people — to return A government offi cial, who ation has calmed since then. in the capital Caracas, wearing to international markets. asked not to be identifi ed, said Moise has refused to step khaki camoufl aged uniforms. Novum, which has supplied fuel distribution companies in aside, saying in February he So far, the military top brass Haiti with fuel for more than Haiti had not paid the govern- would not hand power to the has remained loyal to Maduro four years, stepped up its ship- ment for gasoline and diesel it leaders of violent protests. despite Guaido’s off er of am- Militia members take part in a ceremony to mark the 17th anniversary of the return to power of ments as the Petrocaribe deal purchased on their behalf from He pledged his government nesty to military members who Venezuela’s late president Hugo Chavez after a coup attempt and National Militia Day in Caracas, unravelled. Novum. would take steps to address peo- switch sides. Venezuela. Novum said it supplied 80% That in turn meant the gov- ple’s grievances.

Soapbox race Guatemala’s anti-graft Venezuela ex-general fi ghts US extradition candidate slams Honduras Reuters extradition request on the Madrid grounds of having ties in Spain, Reuters and “voluntarily” left the coun- month on charges including where his family currently re- Tegucigalpa/Guatemala City try nearly three hours later and embezzlement and tax fraud. sides after travelling here be- returned to El Salvador. She has dismissed the order ugo Carvajal, a former fore him. The statement noted twice as politically motivated, along Venezuelan military Carvajal left Venezuela a Guatemalan presiden- that Aldana was travelling in a with a separate ruling last week Hintelligence chief who month ago, travelling by boat for tial hopeful known for private plane. by Guatemala’s electoral tribu- Washington believes has valu- 16 hours to reach the Dominican Ataking on high-profi le The Honduran national po- nal that revoked her candidacy able information on President Republic before fl ying to Madrid, corruption cases as attorney lice said in a separate statement citing irregularities during her Nicolas Maduro, was jailed on he told the court. general said she was detained at Aldana was never detained and tenure as attorney general. Saturday by Spain’s High Court The US must now formalise an airport in Honduras before that there are no restrictions on She has appealed against the pending a decision on an extra- its extradition request, which abruptly leaving the country her travel in the country. electoral tribunal’s ruling to the dition request to the US, a court will be ruled upon by the high shortly afterward. A senior campaign aide said constitutional court, Guate- spokesman said. court. Thelma Aldana, Guatema- security offi cials questioned mala’s top court. A former general and close The US justice department la’s former chief prosecutor, Aldana without identifying Aldana led the fi eld of presi- ally of former Venezuelan leader said it had requested Carvajal’s is among the front-runners in themselves. dential candidates with 28% in Hugo Chavez, Carvajal was ar- extradition on cocaine smug- next month’s election but faces “Thelma was taken to an of- a recent poll before the June 16 rested by Spanish police on Fri- gling charges fi led in 2011 and an arrest warrant back home fi ce where she was interrogated election, ahead of Zury Rios, day on a US warrant for drug unsealed in 2014. that she dismisses as the work several times and questioned the daughter of former dictator traffi cking charges. Carvajal was previously sanc- of her political opponents. about personal matters and Efrain Rios Montt, and former Following Carvajal’s arrest, tioned by the US government in Aldana said in a post on her security issues that put her First Lady Sandra Torres. the US hailed on Friday his pos- 2008 for “materially assisting Twitter page she was “arbitrar- at risk due to the information Running on a platform of ef- sible collaboration as a potential the narcotics traffi cking activi- ily detained” in Honduras and they were seeking,” campaign fi cient and transparent govern- boon in the fi ght against Madu- ties” of Colombia’s Farc rebel lashed out at what she dubbed strategist Jose Carlos Marro- ment, Aldana has pledged to ro, who still retains control of the group. a “pact of the corrupt” in which quin said. expand the UN-backed Inter- bulk of Venezuela’s armed forces A US administration offi cial she included Honduran Presi- Aldana, 63, served as attorney national Commission Against and state institutions. said that Carvajal has valuable dent Juan Orlando Hernandez. general from 2014 to 2018 and Impunity in Guatemala, or During the hearing, Carvajal information on Maduro and is The Honduran migration in- helped topple a former president CICIG. denied links with drug traffi ck- willing to co-operate. stitute confi rmed in a statement on corruption charges. Morales’ government an- ing and Colombia’s Farc rebel Carvajal denounced Chavez’s that Aldana landed at the main She also investigated current nounced in January it would A team competes in the Red Bull Soapbox race in Sao Paulo group and challenged his po- successor Maduro in February airport in the capital on morn- President Jimmy Morales. not renew the CICIG’s mandate yesterday. The Red Bull Soapbox race is an annual event tential extradition to the US, the and backed Juan Guaido, who in ing on a fl ight from neighbour- A Guatemalan judge issued a and expelled the anti-corrup- where amateur drivers race with their homemade soapbox spokesman said. January declared himself Ven- ing El Salvador, was processed, warrant for Aldana’s arrest last tion body’s leader. vehicles down a 420m hill through obstacles. Carvajal will fight the US ezuela’s interim leader. Gulf Times 20 Monday, April 15, 2019 PAKISTAN Former tribal areas to 4 dead as fl ood ‘system’ enters hold elections in June Balochistan Internews According to the represen- were to be held within a year af- II) and PK-102 (Bajaur-III), three constituencies is 10.39pc Islamabad tation determined by the ECP, ter the 2018 general elections. which have the population of which has exceeded minutely Internews government funds would Bajaur and Khyber will have The ECP has already carried 351,555, 341,386 and 393,743, from 10pc allowed variation. Islamabad be adequate to compensate three general seats each in the out delimitation of constituen- respectively. However, this was done to avoid communities and farmers. he fi rst-ever provincial provincial assembly, Mohmand, cies and notifi ed it. The constit- The variation among these dividing large administrative About 1,900 cities and vil- assembly elections in the Kurram, North Waziristan and uencies were delimitated using three constituencies is 12.44pc, units of the district. t least four people died lages have been aff ected by Terstwhile Federally Ad- South Waziristan will have two district-wise provisional popu- which has exceeded slightly Kurram district now has two and one injured as a fl oods and exceptionally heavy ministered Tribal Areas (Fata) seats each while one seat will lation data of Census-2017 pro- from the 10pc permitted vari- provincial assembly constituen- Afl ash fl ood ‘system’ rains since March 19. of Pakistan will take place in the go to Orakzai and the Frontier vided by the Pakistan Bureau of ation. But this was done due to cies namely PK-108 (Kurram-I) that entered Balochistan af- Now, however, that the last week of June. Regions each. Statistics and maps provided by peculiar tribal affi liations of the and PK-109 (Kurram-II) having ter wreaking havoc in Iran clouds system has entered A schedule for the polls on 16 The KP Assembly will have a KP’s revenue department. district. the population of 339,247 and swept away a car on Saturday Balochistan, the Pakistan seats of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa total of 145 seats including 115 While the rules require that In Khyber district, there are 280,306, respectively. evening in the Pishin district, Meteorological Department (KP) Assembly would be an- general seats, 26 seats reserved variation in populations of each three provincial assembly con- The variation among these authorities said. (PMD) and the Provincial Dis- nounced by the end of this month, for women and four for non- constituency should not exceed stituencies namely PK-105 two constituencies is 19.44%, According to levies offi cials, aster Management Author- said a senior offi cial of the Election Muslim communities. Of the to- by 10 per cent, it was done in (Khyber-I), PK-106 (Khyber- signifi cantly higher than the the fl ood in Khanai Baba River ity (PDMA) have forecasted Commission of Pakistan (ECP). tal 145 seats in the KP Assembly, many cases for diff erent reasons. II) and PK-107 (Khyber-III) permitted percentage of vari- hit the car of Abdul Noman storms and heavy rains and The ECP had determined and Fata will have 21 seats, including In Bajaur district, there are which have the population of ation. But this was done due to and his family, all residents said it was expected to stay for notifi ed in January the share of 16 general, four for women and three provincial assembly con- 314,569, 348,756 and 323,648, several reasons including the of Kuchlak and who were on at least a couple of days. tribal districts in the provincial one reserved for non-Muslim. stituencies namely PK-100 respectively. history of religious clashes in the their way to attend a wedding Both organisations have assembly seats. The elections for these seats (Bajaur-I), PK-101 (Bajaur- The variation among these agency. in Khanozai, and swept it away predicted heavy rainfall for the in its strong currents. next two to three days in vari- Abdul Noman, alongside his ous Balochistan districts. three grandchildren, was in the In addition, the canals and car when the fl ood swept it. rivulets in the province are ex- They were declared dead later. A pected to overfl ow and, thus, Hazaras protest woman nearby was injured but warnings have been issued. saved by the rescue personnel. The PDMA, on the other The woman who was saved hand, has issued an alert given was transferred to a local hos- the forecast of heavy rains in for third day over pital and was being tended to. the coming week. It has fur- Last week, Iranian offi cials ther written a letter to the said the disaster had so far deputy commissioners of all killed 62 people. More than districts in Balochistan, ad- Quetta attack 86,000 people have been vising the imposition of Sec- moved to emergency shelters. tion 144 on all picnic points. The fl ooding had also Moreover, the Gwadar dis- Internews At least 19 people, includ- caused hundreds of millions trict administration, in light of Islamabad ing eight members of the Haz- of dollars of damage to Iranian extreme stormy rains, has ad- ara community, were killed and agriculture as the parliament vised all fi sherfolk to stay out 48 others were wounded in a speaker questioned whether of the sea today and tomorrow. probe team comprising suicide blast on Friday whose senior Counter-Terror- responsibility was claimed by Aism Department (CTD) the Qari Husain faction of the offi cials has been set up to in- Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan as vestigate the Hazarganji blast well as the militant Islamic State as Quetta’s Hazara community group. Govt plans to launch continued protesting the suicide The Hazara community staged attack for a third consecutive a protest against the killings fol- day yesterday. lowing the attack. On Saturday, overseas youth council Deputy Inspector General despite reassurances by federal (DIG) Abdul Razzaq Cheema minister Ali Zaidi, the protesters told DawnNewsTV that a team refused to call off their sit-in un- Internews their culture and heritage. of CTD offi cials had visited til all their demands were met, Islamabad The selected members of the site of the attack in Hazar- including the arrests of those the Youth Council will get an ganji’s fruit and vegetable mar- involved in the attack, steps for insight into making of ‘Naya ket to collect evidence for its protection of the community, Protesters raise their hands as they protest against the suicide blast targeting the Hazara ethnic minority, he Pakistan Govern- Pakistan’ and gain substantial investigation. and implementation of NAP in Karachi yesterday. ment is planning to knowledge of varied aspects of The body parts of the suspect- without discrimination. Tlaunch Overseas Pa- life in the country. ed attacker have been sent to the Hazaras are targeted by sec- A report released by the Na- NCHR offi cial Fazeela Alyani nity members in Balochistan’s kistanis Youth Council un- Initially, 20 students from Punjab Forensic Science Agency tarian violence as they are easily tional Commission for Human had earlier said that all these lives largest city. der the Overseas Pakistanis the United Kingdom, Europe, for DNA testing. The DIG said identifi able due to their distinctive Rights (NCHR) last year stated were lost in Quetta. According Alyani had also explained that Foundation. and Americas will be select- that the test reports, once is- physical appearance. Nearly half a that 509 members of Hazara to the NCHR, targeted killings, the fear and intimidation forced According to offi cial sourc- ed as members of the Youth sued, would be handed over to million Hazaras have settled in Pa- community were killed and 627 suicide attacks, and bomb blasts Hazaras to migrate to foreign es, the purpose of this initia- Council for a period of one Balochistan Chief Minister Jam kistan since fl eeing Afghanistan to injured in various incidents of have infl icted harm to daily life, countries, while target kill- tive is to engage with the young year. They will visit Islama- Kamal, but did not specify when escape violence in their homeland terrorism in Quetta from January education, and business activi- ings forced Hazara students to Pakistanis settled abroad bad, Lahore and Peshawar for they would be issued. during the past four decades. 2012 to December 2017. ties of ethnic Hazara commu- abandon their studies. and familiarise them with one week. No one can fi x economy instantly: Qureshi FATF asks Police Internews ernment is heading in the right country. “Innocent people were The next meeting is in Doha and rescue Islamabad direction and it will success- killed in Quetta. We have to see we hope it will bring results,” he fully complete its constitutional if sectarianism was the reason added. term.” behind the incident or some Moreover, he said, Pakistan is Pakistan to woman, akistan’s Foreign Minister He added the government is foreign powers,” Qureshi said, going to hold important inter- Shah Mehmood Qureshi successfully heading towards adding that they will not talk actions China, Japan and Iran in Psaid yesterday that no one, the acquisition of targets at the without conducting a proper the coming days. daughter not even Finance Minister Asad foreign front. “Foreign missions investigation. “The prime minister will visit Umar, can fi x the economy in- will pave the way for bring- Responding to a question China and attend the opening track all gold stantly and that if toppling the ing foreign investment in the about the Afghan peace proc- session of Belt and Road Forum kept in government is the solution to the country.” ess, Qureshi said Pakistan wants as chief guest. He will also ad- issue than no government would The foreign minister fur- peace in the region and is facili- dress the forum,” Qureshi said, have survived. ther said the government is tating in the peace process. adding that the prime minister chains Speaking to reporters in Mul- committed to rooting out the “We are not interfering in the will hold important meetings purchases tan, Qureshi said, “The gov- menace of terrorism from the internal matters of Afghanistan. with the leadership of China. Internews Internews trusts operating across Lahore Islamabad the country as well as their bank accounts on Home-bound the district level. It has winging into action after a he Financial Ac- also asked the country clip surfaced on the social tion Task Force to ensure regulation of Smedia showing a woman T(FATF) has asked thousands of registered and her daughter kept in chains Pakistan to implement a trust organisations. in a house, police have arrested new set of constraints in Pakistan is due to sub- her husband and son for chaining the country’s crackdown mit a third report on the the two women at Kehror Pacca against terror fi nancing, measures being taken by area of Lodhran in southern part including documenting the government in com- of Punjab. and regulating all gold pliance with the recom- The clip shared on Whatsapp markets. mendations of the FATF showed a chained woman, later The fi nance ministry has and its regional affi liate, identifi ed as Maqsood Mai, ap- reportedly received a new the Asia-Pacifi c Group pealing to police to rescue her list of recommendations (APG) till April 15. and her daughter (Sabira Bibi) from the watchdog which The compliance report from the illegal confi nement. requires documentation of would be taken up by the She said they were not given all gold markets and pur- FATF review group in its food and water for many days. chase and sale of gold in the meeting scheduled to be According to police, district country. held in May. chief Malik Jameel Zafar, after The watchdog has asked FATF, a global body that knowing about the clip ordered Islamabad to collect data combats terror fi nancing the Kehror Pacca city police to of all gold markets in the and money laundering, had trace the location of the two country and to restrict the taken the decision to place women and rescue them. sale and purchase of gold Pakistan on its ‘grey list’ The police, accordingly, traced items using cash, instead during a plenary meeting in the maltreated women confi ned requiring payment to be February 2018. in a house in chains and rescued made with a debit or credit Pakistan was formally them. card. added to the ‘grey list’ of Maqsood Mai told the police The task force has also countries involved in pro- that she and her daughter were demanded that the country viding monetary assistance chained due to a family dispute ensure restriction on sup- to terrorism and related by her son and husband. ply of gold and jewellery to causes after a June 2018 Police lodged a fi rst informa- banned outfi ts and terrorist meeting of FATF in Paris. tion report against Mai’s son Indian fishermen at a railway station in Karachi yesterday to board a train bound for home, after being released by Pakistan from Malir jail. organisations. The country was also in- Sabir and her husband Mu- Pakistan released 100 Indian fishermen held for trespassing into its territorial waters. FATF has urged Paki- cluded in the list from 2012 hammed Bakhsh and arrested stan to collect data of all to 2015. them. Gulf Times Monday, April 15, 2019 21 PHILIPPINES

Miss Universe to promote fast-food giant Lorenzana steps up rhetoric against China claim

By Dempsey Reyes Manila Times

hina has been relying on an “imagined histori- Ccal claim” over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), Defence Secretary Delfi n Lorenzana said yesterday, as he also stepped up his rhetoric against Beijing. This was after Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang in- sisted last week that the Spratly group of islands (Kalayaan Is- land Group) was Chinese terri- tory “legally and historically.” “Despite the pronouncement of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, we stand on solid grounds on our claims in the Spratlys and the West Philippine Sea,” Lorenzana said in a text message. The Defence chief cited the 1981 United Nations Convention Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray with Jollibee mascot Twirlie, after Gray was introduced as the new endorser of the fast-food giant. on the Law of the Sea (Unclos), signed by China, which gave the Philippines a 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) covering the Spratlys. “There is the PCA ruling of July 2016 which invalidated the Chinese historical claims,” Lorenzana said, referring to the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that Duterte warns of ‘political sided with the Philippines. “In short, the Chinese have nothing working for them except their imagined historical claim,” Lorenzana said. Malacanang in- voked the arbitration ruling for the fi rst time in a statement on attacks’ ahead of May polls Friday, following a marked shift in tone against Beijing after a By Ralph Villanueva cover that my partner died the about a month after he died,” military report that 600 Chinese Manila Times week after… having a law offi ce Duterte said. vessels had been spotted near the was my back-up plan in the past “So, you can see the minds Philippine-occupied Pagasa Is- years in case I lose in the elec- of investigative journalists so… land in the Spratlys. n the wake of reports rais- tions. At least if I lose, I would Money talks. They are being Palace spokesman Salvador ing questions about the have a sanctuary and a source of paid big. Even my lawyering, Panelo said last week President Ialleged wealth and undis- income which is my law offi ce,” even my… motorcycle shop,” he Rodrigo Duterte would raise the closed businesses of his and his he said. added. matter next month with Chinese children during their time in of- “But that’s the only issue In a tweet last Sunday, the President Xi Jinping during the fi ce, President Rodrigo Duterte that they attacked me with PCIJ said, “Public offi ce is a ‘Belt and Road’ economic forum. warned the public of “political apart from selling motorcy- public trust. How offi cials com- Duterte had set aside the arbi- attacks” from the media ahead cles. If you are a motorcycle ply fully with the laws or don’t, tration ruling in favour of closer of the 2019 mid-term elections rider, you immediately become whether they fi le ‘truthful and economic ties with China. next month. a businessman because if your complete’ SALN are every citi- Yesterday, Panelo said the Phil- The Philippine Center for motorcycle model grows old, zen’s business.” ippines “never shelved” the 2016 Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) you will want to replace it with Statement of Assets, Liabili- arbitral ruling, after former For- earlier released a series of re- a new one. If not, you trade it ties and Net Worth (SALN), was eign Aff airs secretary Albert del ports about the wealth of Du- for a new model and just add cited by the PCIJ in its reports. Rosario on Saturday asked the terte and his children, Davao money. But those transactions In another speech on Thursday government to enforce the ruling City Mayor Sara weren’t for profit,” the presi- night, Duterte admitted he in- amid “aggressive moves by our Duterte-Carpio and former dent added. deed had money, but he would northern neighbour in such ar- Davao City vice mayor Paolo Last Saturday, Duterte said “hide” it. eas as Pagasa, in other areas and Duterte, saying they all became his family’s businesses were not “I am rich? I will hide it. Why in other issues.” Panelo, however, signifi cantly richer during their a concern of the public. will I tell you where I put the said the ruling was unenforceable. time in offi ce. He also earlier slammed the money? You are all idiots. May- “It only remains unenforceable The reports also accused the PCIJ reports as “black propa- be I will be robbed. For money, because no foreign force seems family of having undisclosed ganda” and those who wrote the I have money. Stupid,” he said. persuaded to help us enforce it, businesses. In a speech during President Rodrigo Duterte with Senate candidates of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng reports as “paid hacks.” The president, however, prom- and neither do we have the capa- the Partido Demokratiko Pili- Bayan party during a campaign rally in Malayabay, Bukidnon. “Investigative journalists are ised that he would explain the bility of enforcing it alone by force, pino-Lakas ng Bayan campaign attacking me and my children, alleged wealth “in due time.” not to mention the fact that per- rally in Bukidnon on Saturday political attacks. ACDC (attack “You protect the rich and there were no irregularities in all about lawyering. What do He also slammed the reports forming armed acts of enforce- night, the president accused and collect money, defend and hide their secrets, but attack us his businesses. they care about what happened as just the opposition’s “trash.” ment could only trigger a bloody some media men of being paid collect money). You attack to politicians who genuinely want “They said that I have a law to my law offi ce? My law ce,offi Earlier, Malacanang dared war that could cost the lives of our to attack their clients’ oppo- get paid. So, don’t believe that reform. That’s the truth. You are offi ce that was unregistered. it was formed with Attorney those criticising Duterte countrymen and destruction of nents for money. “They accept they are clean,” Duterte said in just being paid,” he added. What is it to them if I don’t have Fabiosa, the sibling of the bas- and his wealth to fi le a case properties in our land,” he said. payment from clients to write Visayan. Duterte, again, insisted that it registered? They didn’t dis- ketball player. We formed it in against him.

HEALTH Annual gathering 1,400 new measles Manicad to push law to cases reported More than 1,400 new measles cases were validated over the past two weeks, the Department of Health protect BPO industry (DoH) said, as it kept the outbreak status in some regions. Latest data from the epidemiol- By Catherine S Valente home because they have no need skills building, and research to ogy bureau showed that there Manila Times for real people accomplishing upgrade the capabilities of Fili- was a total of 1,406 measles cases tasks that can already be done pinos to innovate in the fi eld. recorded from March 31 to April 5, by AI. The logical next step is to “We need a bill that will in- 2019, Manila Times reported. f he wins a seat in the Sen- train our workers to be the peo- stitutionalise the steps to be Health Undersecretary Rolando ate, former journalist Rod- ple behind the AI,” he added. taken to further develop the Domingo previously said that there Irigo “Jiggy” Manicad Jr will BPO industry. We need a budget must be no new cases for about six push a law that would develop “If we want our BPO for research and development, consecutive weeks in Calabarzon the Business Process Outsourc- industry to remain training and skills building, (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, ing (BPO) industry by enhancing competitive, we have to and upgrading of resources in Quezon), Metro Manila, Central workers’ skills and promoting level up by providing schools and institutions,” Mani- Luzon, and Central and Western services using artifi cial intelli- more AI solutions...” cad said. Visayas before the DoH could gence (AI). “Most of all, we have to part- say that the epidemic was under Manicad made the state- Manicad cited a study by ner with global companies and control. The latest figure brings the ment as he expressed fears that PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), local players already working total number of measles cases to a number of call centre agents which states that AI would con- with AI so that the skills and 28,362 cases with 389 deaths since might fi nd themselves jobless in tribute $15.7tn annually to the capacities we’re investing in are January 1. This is higher than the the next three to fi ve years un- global economy by 2030, eclips- demand-driven,” he added. 6,053 with 53 deaths reported in the less the Philippines measures ing the combined output of Chi- Manicad said developing the same period in 2018. Metro Manila up with the AI technological ad- na and India. AI industry would boost not has the highest number with 5,749 vancements in other countries. The Philippines remains in only the BPO sector, but also cases with 104 deaths. Calabarzon “If we want our BPO industry the list of top 10 BPO prefer- other businesses, products and recorded the most number of to remain competitive, we have ence of many leading corpora- services. “We can’t aff ord to be deaths at 107 out of 5,450 cases. to level up by providing more AI tions abroad because it off ers left behind. Ilocos Region had 1,225 cases, solutions such as in facial and English-speaking agents, has There are hundreds of thou- including 12 deaths; Cagayan voice recognition, user commu- a growing population of highly sands of BPO workers all over Valley with 415 cases, including nication and data processing,” skilled workers and has a widely the country who will be aff ected two deaths;Central Luzon with he said in a statement. acceptable culture infl uence. because of new technologies,” 4,633 cases, including 64 deaths; “In the next three, fi ve years, The Hugpong ng Pagbabago he warned. “Our population Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, some call centre workers will Senate bet noted that since the growth is also not slowing down, Romblon and Palawan with 1,197 become jobless. Experts say that Philippines was already a key so we have to push for new fi elds cases, including 10 deaths; Bicol companies are expected to move global player in the BPO mar- that can continue to provide Filipinos wave palm fronds before Palm Sunday mass in a church in Paranaque City, yesterday. Region with 838 cases, including their off shore services back ket, it should invest in training, good employment.” seven deaths, among others. Gulf Times 22 Monday, April 15, 2019 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka 15 - 04 -2019 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 Qatar hailed for hosting IPU talks in face of blockade

It is a matter of great pride for Qatar that the 140th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), hosted from April 6 to 10 in Doha, was a massive success by any yardstick. As pointed out by IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron the Doha meeting was exceptional in the history of IPU assemblies with the participation of 80 parliament speakers, 40 deputy speakers and 2,200 members of parliaments representing another 46,000 around the world. All came to Qatar looking to seek a better future for the world in terms of peace, stability and the rule of law, it was observed. Envoy praises strong ties Cuevas Barron stated that it has been a wonderful event with platforms to enhance communication and promote dialogue for a better quality of life for the people, stressing that the countries that failed to take part in the event missed a great opportunity for promoting peace between Qatar and China and stability in the world. It should be noted that by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt which continue with an illegal blockade against Qatar since June 5, 2017, clearly lost QNA continued demand by China. operate in the fi eld of the Belt and Road ture projects or communications in Beijing Meanwhile, Qatar’s imports from Initiative, in addition to establishing several areas. On the Qatari companies by staying away, if the words of the IPU president are any China in 2018 reached $2bn, while its a committee from both sides to study operating in China, he pointed out that indication. annual export to China worth $9bn and infrastructure projects and what’s best there are joint companies operating in HE the Advisory Council mbassador of Qatar to China, is growing, the ambassador added. suited to Qatar and China in the imple- China. The wide Speaker Ahmed bin Abdullah Sultan bin Salmeen al-Man- In this context, he referred to the mentation of projects, while stressing He added that the most prominent souri, has praised the deep- opening of two direct maritime routes that Qatar is active in all meetings and of these companies are four companies participation bin Zaid al-Mahmoud, who rooted and strong relations from China to Qatar for the transport forums related to the initiative. have been awarded a number of projects was also the president of the A and the strategic partnership between of goods and consumables, noting that The ambassador said that the related to the 2022 FIFA World Cup as in this year’s 140th IPU Assembly, pointed Qatar and China, especially in terms Qatar imports most of the needs of the initiative is based on fi ve fundamen- well as two Qatari banks working in out at the concluding press of the shared visions on sustainable Qatari market from China through two tal principles; strengthening policies, China, Qatar National Bank and Doha assembly was development. ports, one is in Shanghai and the other improving infrastructure, promoting Bank, which operate in Shanghai’s conference that the speakers In an interview with Qatar News is in Guangzhou, via two direct routes trade, capital development and com- fi nancial district. the biggest of parliaments of diff erent Agency (QNA), the Qatari ambassa- to the Hamad Port. munication among people. As for tourism and exemption from countries and heads of dor said that the visit of His Highness On co-operation in the Belt and Road He added that Qatar is now benefi t- visas between the two sides and the response to the delegations expressed their the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Initiative, launched by Chinese Presi- ing from this initiative, especially since impact on the tourism movement in al-Thani to China at the beginning of dent Xi Jinping in 2013, the ambassador there is harmony, co-operation and the country, the ambassador pointed blockade admiration for Qatar’s ability this year was a complement to the visit said that Qatar has studied the initiative convergence in the visions between out that the number of Chinese tourists to organise an event of this by him in 2014, which was a historic in all respects and found it to be a valu- Qatar, China and various countries on travelling abroad in the past fi ve years is scale in spite of the ongoing blockade. “All of them affi rmed visit by all standards, stressing that the able initiative. Therefore, Qatar signed the Silk Road. increasing and that the number is likely their rejection and condemnation of the unjust blockade, visit established a strategic partner- an agreement with China in 2014 to He pointed out that in 2018, Chi- to increase further during the next fi ve ship between the two countries through co-operate in the implementation of nese President Xi Jinping launched years, and the Chinese people love to describing it as illegal and noting that it should not go on. a number of bilateral agreements, the initiative. an initiative to open up China to the travel and learn about cultures. They expressed their support for us since the very start of whether in the cultural, fi nancial or in- The role of Qatar in the initiative is world and welcomes foreign invest- He said that the measures taken the crisis,” he said. vestment fi elds, as well as co-operation not limited to joining and approving ment. The ambassador said that by Qatar to exempt Chinese citizens As HE al-Mahmoud pointed out, though Qatar has put in the Belt and Road Initiative. the related agreements, but rather to China organised the first and largest from entry visas have an impact on the The ambassador added that recent participating in and contributing to import exhibition in the same year, in tourism movement, which has led to a the blockade behind it, what continues to be painful is visit opened up wider horizons for the implementation of this vision and which almost all countries, including 35% increase in the number of Chinese the ongoing severing of close family relations within the co-operation and strengthening of initiative. Qatar, participated in. tourists. GCC countries. This has resulted in a lot of suffering strategic partnership, where bilateral Qatar participated as a founder in the On Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA The ambassador pointed out that for many families across the Gulf region, as some of the relations were strengthened further by Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, World Cup and the Chinese pres- number of Qatari tourists visiting China the signing of more agreements in the and has facilitated the work of Chinese ence in the preparations related to the is also increasing due to the similar blockading countries have not stopped from separating fi eld of culture and tourism, noting that banks in Qatar, the Qatari ambassador tournament, the ambassador said that measures taken by the Chinese govern- a mother, who is one of their citizens, from her children, the most prominent of the agreements said, noting that two Chinese banks given the Chinese companies’ experi- ment to exempt Qatari citizens from only because the father is a Qatari citizen and naturally signed was the one to hold a strategic are operating in Qatar - the People’s ence in the fi eld of infrastructure, Qatar entry visas. his children are Qataris. “This has also had negative dialogue between the two sides. Bank of China and the Commercial and has attracted Chinese fi rms. He added Qatar Airways operates from seven He underlined that Qatar attaches Industrial Bank of China, in addition that the biggest stadium to host the airports in China and has a strong consequences such as interruption of education, with great importance to the strategic dia- to the establishment of a currency ex- tournament, Lusail Stadium, which demand in China to travel to several some of these countries denying Qatari students access logue with all countries, especially with change centre for the (renminbi) which will feature the opening and closing destinations in Qatar, the ambassador to complete their studies.” China, as it has created more common not only serves Qatar but the Middle ceremony of the tournament, was built noted, adding that Qatar Airways is well He noted that these acts amounted to violations of basic ground and strengthened the bilateral East and part of North Africa. by a Chinese company, as well as the positioned to serve the needs of travel- relations in all fi elds. Ambassador Sultan bin Salmeen Hamad Port. lers around the world, which includes human rights and such family issues should not be hostage The ambassador highlighted the sig- al-Mansouri referred to the establish- He noted that there are more than 180 Chinese people and that it is Qatar’s to politics. HE al-Mahmoud said all such violations have nifi cance of the Qatar-China Friendship ment of a national committee chaired large and medium Chinese companies source of pride. been documented in a report of the United Nations High Association which will open the door by the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs to co- operating in Qatar, both in infrastruc- He pointed out the importance of Commissioner for Human Rights, which affi rmed that to popular diplomacy, as well as sports culture for communication between and educational agreements along with the two friendly countries, with the what is happening against Qatar in this regard is unethical, agreements concerning Qatari invest- Chinese people being open to other cul- inhumane and illegal and could amount to the waging of ments in China and Chinese investment tures and like to open up and share with an economic war. HE al-Mahmoud said Qatar appreciated in Qatar. others their culture, a friendly, peaceful the praise it received for its hosting of the assembly and its He added that the Chinese market is and welcoming people. promising and stable, noting that there On the Chinese position on the accompanying meetings despite the unjust blockade. He is a study to strengthen the presence blockade imposed on Qatar, the ambas- stressed that the praise refl ected the appreciation of the in the Chinese market for the oppor- sador said that China has a fi rm princi- IPU members of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin tunities it enjoys for development and ple of non-interference in the internal Hamad al-Thani, Qatar’s government and the people. The investment. aff airs of other countries since the On the volume of trade exchange beginning of the blockade. He added wide participation in this year’s assembly was the biggest between Qatar and China, ambassador that they believe in neutrality. response to the blockade. IPU secretary-general Martin Sultan bin Salmeen al-Mansouri said China supports the Kuwaiti me- Chungong also described the Doha meetings and assembly that the volume of trade exchange is diation led by Amir Sheikh Sabah as successful and fruitful. increasing especially in recent years, al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah to resolve indicating that it reached about $10bn the dispute. China has supported this in 2017 and nearly $11bn in 2018. mediation and insists that this crisis He added that the value of Qatari must be resolved in the Gulf through To Advertise exports to China exceeds the value of dialogue and understanding between all imports, explaining that Qatar is one of parties. [email protected] the few countries whose exports exceed The ambassador pointed out that Display the value of imports with China because Qatar will participate in the gardening China is one of the largest importers of exhibition to be held at the end of April 44466621 44418811 the Qatari gas. in China and will continue to do so for The ambassador underlined a strong four months. Classified relationship between Qatar and China He emphasised that the participation 44466609 44418811 in the fi eld of gas export, especially in of Qatar in the exhibition is due to its light of China’s approach to sustainable experience in the fi eld of horticulture Subscription development and clean energy. and agricultural solutions, where a Qatar is among the fi rst countries large pavilion will be held in a unique [email protected] to supply gas to China, covering about way that refl ects Qatar’s cultural and 40% of China’s needs, which exceeds cultural image in co-operation with 10mn metric tonnes, and this number the Ministry of Municipality and the © 2019 Gulf Times. All rights reserved is increasing due to the increasing and Ambassador of Qatar to China Dr Sultan bin Salmeen al-Mansouri. Environment. Gulf Times Monday, April 15, 2019 23 COMMENT Will David Malpass trump the World Bank?

By Kevin Watkins World Bank estimates point to a sharp trained health workers, drugs, and vital London slowdown in the pace of global poverty diagnostic equipment. Under its former reduction. On current trends, some president, Jim Yong Kim, the World Bank 600mn people will remain below the championed publicly fi nanced universal avid Malpass has taken over offi cial poverty line of $1.90 per day in health coverage, and for good reason: as World Bank president, 2030. Over 40% of those people will be there is no alternative route to providing and he carries some heavy African children. quality health services to the poor. Dpolitical baggage. He is, after Child survival data are similarly Malpass should work closely with the all, the pick of US President Donald worrying. While the death rate of WHO to drive this agenda, focusing on Trump, raising fears that he may use children under the age of fi ve has been primary care services. the position to open a new front in nearly halved since 2000, the SDG Of course, progress on the SDGs is Trump’s trade war with China, weaken target of zero preventable child deaths not just about spending more. It is also the Bank’s leadership on climate is drifting out of reach. On current about spending more equitably. In a change, and undercut multilateralism trends, more than 3mn children under new report to be launched at the IMF- more broadly. fi ve will die in 2030. World Bank Spring Meetings, Save At this week’s International The report card on education is the Children documents a glaring gap Monetary Fund-World Bank Spring similarly bleak. In our increasingly between health risks, which are heavily Meetings, Malpass needs to address knowledge-based global economy, skewed toward the poorest children, these concerns head-on. He should be there are still some 263mn young and the benefi ts of public spending, judged not by his past, or by his links to people out of school. One-quarter are often skewed in favour of better-off the Trump administration, but by his of these young people are primary- households. delivery. As leader of a 189-member school-age children – and the numbers This fl ies in the face of a central multilateral institution with a remit to are rising. An even greater number pledge governments made when tackle some of the greatest injustices of children are in school, but not they signed on to the SDGs: that of our time, from poverty to extreme receiving a quality education. For those countries furthest from the inequality and global warming, these children, the SDG commitment targets would benefi t from the fastest Malpass is stepping into one of the to “expand opportunity” has all the progress. In the language of the world’s most important jobs. hallmarks of a bounced check. agenda, “no one should be left behind.” Whatever the circumstances of Inequality lies at the heart of the The World Bank could help improve his appointment, the temptation to looming shortfall regarding the 2030 accountability for fulfi lling that pass sentence on Malpass ahead of targets. Without some hefty income commitment by working with the UN a fair trial should be avoided. His redistribution in favour of the poor, and national agencies to monitor and anti-multilateral instincts can be there is no prospect that the poverty report on the pace at which disparities overstated. As a senior US Treasury eradication goal will be achieved. in key indicators, from mortality to Department offi cial, he helped The same applies to child survival. education, are being narrowed. Both engineer a $13-bn capital increase for Children born into the poorest 20% World Bank president David Malpass the World Bank and the IMF should the World Bank last year. He has also of households account for one-third also use their public-fi nance reporting signalled an intent to keep poverty of all child deaths, largely because of public spending, and regulation SDG patient. Far from cutting taxes, creation of an International Finance to monitor whether fi scal policies are reduction at the heart of the Bank’s poor nutrition and inadequate and needed to narrow social disparities. the IMF estimates that developing Facility for Education that would use aligned with the pledge to narrow mission. unequal access to healthcare (including Malpass may not be an obvious countries will need to raise an loan guarantees to unlock $8bn in new social inequalities. The Spring Meetings provide an vaccinations). Cutting the gap in champion for pro-poor redistribution, additional 5% of GDP in tax revenues education fi nancing for lower-middle- Malpass has the unique privilege and opportunity to put words into action death rates will require the redirection but that is what is needed. to achieve the SDGs. The World Bank income countries, whose access to responsibility of overseeing one of the on the Sustainable Development Goals of health budgets toward the most There is legitimate cause for should be helping build the progressive concessional fi nance is currently world’s largest sources of development (SDGs), the international community’s deprived and marginalised children. concern on this front. In his initial and accountable tax systems needed to restricted. This would help put 70mn fi nance – an institution staff ed by 2030 targets for eradicating poverty, These are areas in which the World “election” manifesto, Malpass focused achieve this outcome. children in school. dedicated professionals committed improving health and well-being, Bank and its new president can make a overwhelmingly on cutting taxes, while At a time of shrinking aid budgets, Health fi nancing is another high- to transforming millions of lives by expanding opportunity, and diff erence. To its credit, the Bank has scrupulously avoiding any reference to the Bank should also be supporting priority area. Millions of children die achieving the SDG targets. He must not environmental sustainability. increasingly turned the spotlight on the need for increased public spending more innovative approaches to fi nance. each year as a result of treatable diseases drop the ball. – Project Syndicate Despite the extraordinary progress inequality. But it has been curiously in areas like health, education, and Former British prime minister Gordon like pneumonia, malaria, and diarrhoea, of the past two decades, the SDG reticent about advocating for the infrastructure. Brown, the United Nations Special because their parents cannot aff ord z Kevin Watkins is the CEO of Save warning signs are fl ashing. Recent redistributive policies in taxation, This is a cure guaranteed to kill the Envoy for Education, has called for the health fees, or because clinics lack the Children UK.

Three-day forecast

Cities for the people TODAY Maximum Temperature : 340c Minimum Temperature : 200c By Abhas K Jha 90% of people worldwide breathe invested in protected bike lanes and new aff ordable housing should be Singapore polluted air. In low- and middle-income public transport. London, Singapore, dismantled, with high-density TUESDAY countries, 98% of cities with more than and Stockholm have long used mixed-use areas developed close to Maximum Temperature : 330c 100,000 inhabitants do not meet WHO congestion pricing to discourage driving. public transport. To this end, following Minimum Temperature : 230c ante’s Divine Comedy air quality guidelines. London has taken this a step further – Copenhagen’s lead, more cities can use WEDNESDAY describes one level of hell As for shelter, poor land-use planning as Chengdu, Madrid, Paris, and others public-private partnerships to tap into Maximum Temperature : 340c (the City of Dis) as “Satan’s means that what should amount to have already done – by banning cars the large stock of unused land owned Minimum Temperature : 240c wretched city … full of distress a living wage in many cities falls far altogether in core areas of the city, by public agencies. Careful design D Fisherman's forecast and torment terrible.” He could well short of what is needed to pay for creating ultra-low emission zones. of buildings can make them energy have been describing many modern-day decent housing. According to the Amsterdam, Tokyo, and Copenhagen positive, so that they produce more WARNING metropolises. United Nations Human Settlements show us that designing city roads to be energy than they consume. Norway is a Inshore : Nil The world, especially Sub-Saharan Programme, nearly 1bn people live in narrower slows down traffi c, boosting pioneer in this area. Offshore : Expected strong wind Africa and Asia, is experiencing a slum conditions, and this fi gure could the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists. Finally, to fund these investments, and high sea at some massive wave of urbanisation. And yet double by 2030. Moreover, as recent From Bogotá, Colombia, to Dar es cities need stable revenue sources. Too places at first. WEATHER it is occurring largely in the absence research shows, neighborhoods are Salaam, Tanzania, cities around the often, cities fail to tap the full potential Inshore : Relatively hot daytime of urban planning, with even those often segregated by race, ethnicity, and world have implemented bus rapid of land-based fi nancing, especially with some clouds, mild municipalities that attempt to create income – a major obstacle to social transit, which essentially functions property tax. Yet satellite imagery and by night. plans often failing to enforce them mobility, including across generations. like a metro system, but is cheaper and drone mapping can now produce for tax Offshore : Fine eff ectively or account properly for the But we have a chance to change this. faster to build. Dense urban corridors authorities a “fi t for purpose” cadaster – WIND needs of the majority. The result is Over the next 20 years, the world will are emerging along the designated bus showing how land is occupied and used Inshore : Southwesterly-North- overcrowded, dirty, and disorderly cities build as much urban housing and related lanes. – in a matter of weeks. westerly 05-15 KT that undermine residents’ health and infrastructure as has been built in all Some cities have also introduced With careful planning, collaboration, Offshrore : Northwesterly-South- happiness. of human history. And many cities in the types of parking reforms long communication, and consensus, westerly 08-18/22 KT In planning our cities, we have put both rich and poor countries already advocated by UCLA’s Donald Shoup. cities can transform the lives of their Visibility : 6-10 KM the needs of cars over those of people, off er examples of sustainable, inclusive, These include abolishing minimum residents. Initiatives like the World too often emphasising accessibility livable, and beautiful urban design. parking requirements for buildings Bank’s Global Platform for Sustainable Offshore : 3-5/7 FT for private vehicles (while penalising Singapore has implemented what Jan and introducing dynamic pricing that Cities and the City Planning Labs are keeps 5-10% of parking spots vacant supporting cities’ eff orts, by facilitating pedestrians and bicyclists for Gehl calls “human-scale design.” The Around the region jaywalking) – an approach that creates bottom-up design of neighbourhoods and channels revenues back to the knowledge sharing and evidence-based Weather near-permanent gridlock and heavy empowers citizens and emphasises neighbourhood. urban planning. If we do what it takes Weather tomorrow Max/min pollution. The average driver in Los diversity, thereby preventing the Meanwhile, housing no longer now to ensure inclusive, resilient, and today Max/min P Cloudy 32/17 Angeles spends 102 hours per year in emergence of poverty ghettoes through needs to be positioned and promoted sustainable urbanisation, Dante’s City Baghdad M Sunny 32/18 P Cloudy 32/23 peak traffi c. In Jakarta, the average driver mixed-income housing, along with as an investment asset; instead, rental of Dis can remain in its imagined hell. – Kuwait CitySunny 32/22 M Sunny 31/24 starts and stops more than 33,000 times access to high-quality public transport, housing, for all income segments, Project Syndicate Manama Sunny 30/22 Sunny 29/23 per year. health, and education. but especially for those in need of Muscat Sunny 28/23 P Cloudy 23/14 Partly because of such congestion, Likewise, despite strong resistance, aff ordable shelter, can be given priority, z Abhas K Jha is Practice Manager, Tehran Sunny 24/13 cities account for 70% of global then-New York City Mayor as is the case in Germany, Austria, Urban Development and Disaster Risk carbon pollution. The World Health Michael Bloomberg and Transport and Switzerland. Moreover, zoning Management (East Asia and the Pacifi c) Organisation estimates that around Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan and regulatory barriers to building for the World Bank.

Live issues Insomnia common among cancer patients Around the world Weather Weather By Lisa Rapaport they joined the study and again twelve “Unfortunately, this is often not the recalled and reported on any symp- today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Reuters Health months later. case,” Zhou, who wasn’t involved in toms, lead author Katharina Schieber Athens T Storm 16/11 M Sunny 18/11 The most common malignancies the study, said by e-mail. of Friedrich-Alexander University Beirut S Showers 19/16 Rain 17/14 were breast cancer, tumours of the By the end of the year-long study, Erlangen-Nurnberg and colleagues Bangkok M Cloudy 36/29 P Cloudy 36/29 oughly half of patients with prostate or testicles, and colorectal 53% of women and 39% of men had write. Schieber didn’t respond to Berlin Sunny 13/02 M Sunny 13/03 cancer have symptoms of cancer. insomnia symptoms. requests for comment. Cairo Showers 22/14 Sunny 26/13 insomnia, and many may have Most patients – 83% – were being For women, the only factor that Still, the results off er fresh evidence Cape Town M Cloudy 18/13 M Cloudy 17/13 Rsleep problems that linger for treated for a fi rst-time cancer. The rest appeared to infl uence whether they that cancer-related insomnia won’t go Colombo S T Storms 31/27 S T Storms 31/27 at least a year, a small study suggests. of them had a relapses or secondary had insomnia at the end of the study is away on its own, said Sheila Garland of Dhaka P Cloudy 36/26 M Sunny 36/26 Up to 10% of adults in the developed tumours in a diff erent location than whether they had it at the start. Memorial University, St. John’s, New- Hong Kong Showers 22/21 T Storm 23/21 world suff er from chronic insomnia, the original cancer. With men, however, having depres- foundland and Labrador in Canada. Istanbul P Cloudy 12/07 Sunny 13/07 and cancer patients are particularly At the start of the study, 49% of the sion or using psychiatric medications “Insomnia may be more prevalent Jakarta T Storm 32/26 T Storm 32/26 prone to it, researchers note in Sleep patients had insomnia symptoms, and at the start of the study was associated in cancer for a few reasons,” Garland, Karachi S Showers 27/22 S T Storms 29/23 Medicine. Even though sleep disorders 13% had severe enough sleep prob- with a greater risk of insomnia by the who wasn’t involved in the study, said London P Cloudy 13/08 Cloudy 14/06 have been tied to worse outcomes for lems to meet the clinical defi nition of end. by e-mail. Manila P Cloudy 37/27 P Cloudy 37/27 cancer patients, research to date on insomnia, the study found. Among both women and men, levels “First, the psychological eff ects of Moscow P Cloudy 11/-1 M Sunny 11/02 hasn’t off ered a clear picture of what After a year, 64% of the patients of distress, depression and anxiety a cancer diagnosis and the impact of New Delhi P Cloudy 40/26 S Showers 32/21 circumstances might make sleep who started out with insomnia were increased over the year. treatments are enough on their own New York Cloudy 17/06 Sunny 19/10 problems more likely in people being still suff ering from symptoms. The study wasn’t a controlled to lead to problems sleeping,” Garland Paris M Sunny 17/08 Showers 13/07 treated for tumours. “This matters for patients because experiment designed to prove whether said. “But other behaviours may either Sao Paulo I T Storms 26/19 I T Storms 26/19 For the current study, researchers they may assume that their insomnia or how cancer might cause insomnia make sleep worse or make it more Seoul Sunny 17/03 M Cloudy 20/07 examined data on 405 cancer patients will disappear over time, as their can- or if sleep problems might impact likely that a short-term or temporary Singapore S T Storms 32/27 S T Storms 32/27 in Germany who were 59 years old on cer treatment concludes or their mood outcomes for people with cancer. sleep problem becomes a chronic and Sydney P Cloudy 22/15 P Cloudy 22/16 average and completed two assess- improves,” said Eric Zhou of the Dana- Another limitation is that study long-standing disorder known as Tokyo Clear 23/12 Clear 21/09 ments of insomnia severity: once when Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. participants may not have accurately insomnia.” Gulf Times 24 Monday, April 15, 2019 QATAR

HBKU College of Islamic Studies conference highlights student-led research

he Student Council at the tential impact of the piece. Stu- lysing the Structure of the Qur’an College of Islamic Studies dents from the fi ve concentra- respectively. The Master and PhD T(CIS) in Hamad Bin Kha- tions of Islamic Studies put forth students from the fi eld of Islamic lifa University (HBKU), under the thought-provoking concepts Finance shared their research on aegis of the CIS Research Divi- either in the form of its analyti- Assessing the Prospects of Is- sion, has concluded its annual cal approach or its relevance to lamic Insurance in Ghana and In- student research conference. present-day concerns. formation and Islamic Finance in The one-day event, which Presentations were delivered the Digital Era. was held on Saturday, provided considering The Master-Dis- The Master’s student rep- students with an opportunity ciple Relationship in Buddhism resenting the Islamic Art, Ar- to showcase the breadth of their and Islam in Comparative Re- chitecture and Urbanism pro- academic works. ligions, debating Interreligious gramme delved into a discussion Posing as a platform for the Relations in Albania in Islamic of Islamic Values in Islamic Art, exchange of ideas and innovative Civilisations and Societies, and while the same of Islam and Glo- scholarly work, the CIS Student prompting discussions Towards bal Aff airs shared his research Conference 2019 provided an an Islamic Basis for Veganism regarding the Impact of Life ideal opportunity for students in Islamic Thought and Applied Coaching on Students’ Wellbe- to formally present their work, Ethics. ing and Engagement Levels in engage with the audience and Participants of the conference. Additional student talks with- Qatar. appropriately respond to coun- in Islamic Studies from the per- Mohamad Alazemi, president ter-arguments, and network CIS, including Islamic fi nance, ference is a microcosm of the a broad spectrum of experience selection process by a commit- spective of Contemporary Fiqh of the CIS Student Council, said: with other students from outside art and architecture, global af- intellectual debate we hope our and worldview, and investigate tee of professors and researchers and Contemporary Qur’anic “We have developed an under- their own fi eld, HBKU said in a fairs, and contemporary thought students would continue to shape a wide variety of subject areas.” at the college. Final selections for Studies addressed The Appli- standing of the topics put forth statement. It brought together within Islamic studies. Dr Emad upon graduation. The conference Students submitted their best the conference were based on the cation of ‘Urf in Islamic Law and gained confi dence in our emerging scholars across inter- El-Din Shahin, dean of CIS, said: is a platform that allows students research pieces forward for con- originality of their research topic, with Regard to Hijab and Michel roles as relevant scholars and disciplinary programmes within “The annual CIS Student Con- to think critically, incorporate sideration, which underwent a the clarity of argument and po- Quibers’ Methodology in Ana- global citizens.” Qeeri hosts workshop to address food, water and energy challenges Dr Richard O’Kennedy speaking at the event. atar Environment and ies Institute at the Ministry of tentially become a role model for effi cient and economic solutions “We are delighted to host this Energy Research Institute Municipality and Environment, countries in the region. During to these challenges.” event as Qeeri’s mission is to as- Q(Qeeri), part of Hamad and Dr Abdulkarem Amhamed, his opening address, Dr Rich- Dr al-Kuwari said, “Concerns sist Qatar to tackle the grand Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), senior scientist at Qeeri, repre- ard O’Kennedy, vice-president in the FWE nexus exist across the challenges related to energy, wa- recently hosted the third World sented Qatar in the meeting. The for research at HBKU and vice- world, and it is imperative that ter, environment and sustain- Scientifi c Panel on Food-Water- Qatar National Research Fund president at Qatar Foundation we work together with our stake- ability. This Sunex project helps Energy Nexus (Sunex) and stake- supported the Qatari delegation. Research, Development and In- holders – nationally and globally. us strengthen our global partner- holders’ meeting. The project, Attendees examined case stud- novation, said: “The FWE nexus This meeting provided a platform ships and enhances collabora- helmed by Belmont Forum, ies conducted in the four cities project is crucial for us to assess to share ideas and listen to diff er- tion within the various entities in brought together experts from and considered how Doha could the impact of extreme climatic ent perspectives and to intensify Qatar such as the ministries, re- Doha, Berlin, Bristol and Vienna benefi t from the experience of events, coastal vulnerability, wa- our combined eff orts in devel- search institutes, and oil and gas to discuss best practices and the other cities to manage socio-eco- ter security and global urbanisa- oping tangible solutions that companies to reach our shared food-water-energy (FWE) nexus nomic and environmental chal- tion. Together, representatives positively impact our respective goals.” in each of the cities. Dr Mohamed lenges within the FWE nexus, from the four cities were able countries.” Qeeri’s mandate focuses on re- Saif al-Kuwari, assistant under- HBKU said in a statement. to share information, data and Sharing his thoughts on the search, development and innova- secretary and director of the En- The meeting also served to scientifi c studies in order to ac- event, Dr Marc Vermeersch, ex- tion aimed at addressing Qatar’s vironmental and Municipal Stud- establish how Qatar could po- celerate progress, and to develop ecutive director at Qeeri, noted: challenges and priorities. Dr Mohamed Saif al-Kuwari at the event.

AEB awards students for design excellence Festival of Qatari vegetables at LuLu

rab Engineering Bureau (AEB) presented the 2019 Aawards for Design Excel- lence, and Creative Achieve- ment and Potential to three graduating and three junior stu- dents from Virginia Common- wealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) at a special event. AEB’s Group CEO and chief architect Ibrahim Mohamed Jaidah, a longtime supporter and friend of VCUarts Qatar, presented the AEB Award for Design Excellence in Graphic Design to graduating stu- dent Reham Ahmed, and for Design Excellence in Inte- rior Design to graduating students Naurin Najeeb and The winners of the AEB Awards with AEB’s Group CEO and chief architect Ibrahim Mohamed Jaidah, Yasamin Shaikhi. VCUarts Qatar’s executive dean Donald N Baker and other off icials. The awards were instituted by Jaidah to encourage and as- Graphic Design for the 14th year tive Achievement in Graph- VCUarts Qatar’s students. sist graduating students as they in a row,” Jaidah said. “By sup- ic Design was presented to VCUarts Qatar’s executive start their careers as designers porting creativity, we are play- graphic design junior Star (De- dean Donald N Baker said the in Qatar and the region. Jaidah ing a small but important role in starte) Prieto, and for Creative university was hugely grate- is recognised as a pioneer of a raising the future generation of Achievement in Interior De- ful for the continued support new architectural movement leaders in the design industry in sign to interior design juniors from AEB over the past dec- The Festival of Premium Qatari Vegetables and Qatar Farms has opened at LuLu Hypermarkets that combines the far-reaching Qatar and the region. Also, I am Raneem Arafeh and Nouf S al- ade and added that the awards under the patronage of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME). The inaugural infl uences of Islamic art with pleased to see some of VCUarts Mohannadi. recognised the students’ com- ceremony at LuLu Hypermarket - Al Gharafa was attended by Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser al-Thani, modern styles to create memo- Qatar alumni secure jobs and These awards aim to help mitment to their future careers assistant undersecretary for Agriculture and Fisheries Aff airs, and Yusuf Khalid al-Khulaifi, director rable landmark structures that assume important positions the junior students recognise in what is a very competitive of the Agricultural Aff airs Department at the MME, representatives from a number of local farms are shaping Qatar. in the government and private their true potential, create and demanding environment. and LuLu off icials. The festival off ers certified premium local vegetables in boxes, and LuLu off icials “It is important to us to sup- sector in Qatar, which is a testa- leadership and encourage them Besides the awards, AEB and indicated that premium Qatari vegetables will be made available at all Lulu outlets until the end port creative talent in Qatar, ment to the quality of education to continue developing their Jaidah continue to partner of the season. The event is being held as part of the ongoing ‘Premium Qatar Farms Programme’ hence we are pleased to off er they received at VCUarts Qatar,” skills through their senior year. with VCUarts Qatar by offer- launched by the MME at major commercial outlets, according to a press statement by LuLu. AEB awards to VCUarts Qatar he added. The awards are a major high- ing internship opportunities to Pictured are MME and LuLu off icials at the launch of the festival. students in Interior Design and The AEB Award for Crea- light of the academic year for VCUarts Qatar students. Botswana president to hold talks in Doha today

From Page 1 tar and Botswana were established in of the investment climate, the econo- of about 1.9mn people, it is bordered Its economic standard is similar to munications and logistics, and adopt- 2006. An air transport agreement be- my of Botswana, the most important by South Africa to the south and south- that of Turkey and Mexico. It is ranked ing a tourism economy diff erent from It is expected that the visit of Dr Ma- tween the two countries was signed in investment projects and the incentives east, Namibia to the west and north, fi rst in Africa on the scale of transpar- neighbouring countries. The govern- sisi and his talks in Doha will open wide 2013. provided to foreign investors. and Zimbabwe to the northeast. ency and anti-corruption, and has at- ment also gets revenues from mineral horizons for co-operation between the Last week, Qatar Chamber hosted a A delegation headed by the Minis- Botswana is one of the world’s most tracted a large number of technical and resources such as uranium, gold, cop- two friendly countries in various fi elds, trade delegation from Botswana headed ter of Foreign Aff airs and International sparsely populated countries. Around commercial companies. per and oil. It is one of the largest dia- especially the economic, trade and in- by Secretary General of the Ministry of Co-operation of Botswana visited Qa- 10% of the population lives in the capi- Behind this success are bold deci- mond producing countries in Africa. vestment sectors, as Botswana is one Commerce and Industry. The head of tar and held talks with Qatari offi cials tal and largest city, Gaborone. sions taken by the government that Natural reserves are also one of the of the fastest growing economies in the delegation said her country looks on trade and economic co-operation Formerly one of the poorest coun- curbed corruption, with an economic strengths of Botswana with tourism the African continent, and it is a major forward to strengthening cooperation between the two sides and the promo- tries in the world, Botswana has since and developmental vision focused on accounting for 12% of the country’s gateway to the markets of countries as- with Qatar and attracting Qatari in- tion of co-operation between busi- transformed itself into one of the education and free healthcare, and GDP. More than 2.7mn tourists visit sociated with the Southern African De- vestments in sectors such as agricul- nessmen. world’s fastest-growing economies. Its granting reclaimed agricultural land the country a year for safaris and other velopment Community (SADC) com- ture, industry, tourism and infrastruc- Botswana is topographically fl at, economic development has contrib- to young people and rural families, activities. National parks, wildlife re- prising more than 293mn people. ture. with up to 70% of its territory being the uted to improving living standards for building a solid infrastructure using serves and nature reserves cover about Diplomatic relations between Qa- The delegation provided an overview Kalahari Desert. A landlocked country nearly two-thirds of the population. state-of-the-art technology in com- 40% of its land area.