BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 11 Qatar’s Ogunode comes second INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 3 – 13, 32 COMMENT 30, 31 Qatar Chamber, ICSS at Shanghai REGION 14 BUSINESS 1 – 6, 17 – 20 17,495.00 9,941.42 46.21 ARAB WORLD 14 – 16 CLASSIFIED 7 – 16 sign deal to support -173.00 +53.03 -0.49 INTERNATIONAL 17 – 29 SPORTS 1 – 12 Diamond league -0.98% +0.54% -1.05% sport and commerce Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

SUNDAY Vol. XXXVII No. 10089 May 15, 2016 Sha’baan 8, 1437 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Qatar and Libyan FMs hold talks Parents In brief

QATAR | Labour Inspection give Qatar campaign The Labour Inspection Department at the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Aff airs has launched a major inspection campaign at worksites schools in the country, according to local Arabic daily Al Sharq. The campaign is aimed at ensuring that companies are complying with the labour law and its various regulations, according to the daily. The department conducts top marks more than 450 inspection tours in a month. Strict penalties are The School Evaluation Off ice at the at International schools and 15.4 at Ar- imposed on erring firms for Ministry of Education and Higher abic private schools). violations pertaining to issues such Education says in its 11th annual School libraries have 12.4 books as salaries and wages, overtime HE the Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani yesterday met with Libya’s Foreign Aff airs report that 84% of parents in Qatar per student with an average of 63% of payment, retaining passports Minister Mohamed Taher Siala and his accompanying delegation, currently visiting Qatar. They discussed bilateral relations are pleased with the quality of students saying they were delighted of workers and health & safety as well as a number of issues of mutual interest. The situation in Libya, ahead of the convening of the Vienna meeting on education their children receive in to take part in the diverse activities regulations. Other issues include Libya tomorrow, was also reviewed. local schools provided by the schools (64% at local hiring workers without proper Independent schools, 62% at Interna- licences and documentation. vast majority of parents in Qa- tional schools, and 55% at Arabic pri- tar are satisfi ed with the quality vate schools). Aof education imparted to their The average number of students for PALESTINE | Occupation children in the country’s schools, an each teacher came to 11.1 (8.3 at local Concern over offi cial report said yesterday. Independent schools, 15.9 at Interna- HMC to open region’s fi rst In its 11th annual report, which gives tional schools, and 17.9 at Arabic pri- excessive force key information about education dur- vate schools). Twenty-five Palestinian children ing 2014/2015, the School Evaluation Around 74% of parents gave favour- were killed in the last three months Offi ce at the Ministry of Education able comments about the quality of communicable disease centre and Higher Education said that 84% communication they had with schools of 2015 during a wave of anti-Israeli attacks and the number detained of parents in the country were pleased regarding their children’s education. was the highest in seven years, the he Hamad Medical Corporation mation of bone or bone marrow, usu- Ministry of Public Health, Primary with the quality of education their Regarding the nationality of stu- UN children’s agency said. “Serious (HMC) will open the region’s ally due to infection). Health Care Corporation, Qatar’s children got in local schools. dents, the report said Qataris repre- concerns arose regarding excessive Tfi rst hospital for diagnosis, “The CDC is the fi rst facility of Academic Health System partners The same percentage of parents also sented 52% of the total strength, while use of force, particularly in relation treatment and management of infec- its kind in the region and will set the and private healthcare organisations said they were happy with the way the 34% were other Arab students and 14% to incidents where Palestinian tious diseases in Doha soon. standard for diagnosis, treatment and to provide guidance, disease track- schools dealt with their children. non-Arabs. Around 2% of the students children were shot dead by Israeli The 65-bed purpose-built Com- management of infectious diseases ing and support to ensure Qatar can Almost 92% of school managers and had some type of disability or learning security forces after carrying out municable Disease Centre (CDC), lo- and research into these conditions,” respond quickly and eff ectively to 71% of the teachers were found to be diffi culty. or being suspected of carrying out cated within the Hamad Bin Khalifa said Dr al-Khal. health threats emanating from infec- happy about students’ discipline . The average spending of families on stabbing attacks,” Unicef said in a Medical City campus, will also house “The centre will not only play a vi- tious diseases. Omar Abdulaziz al-Neama, direc- the education of a student during last report. Page 16 a travel medicine clinic where travel- tal role in improving the health and In addition to the comprehensive tor of the School Evaluation Offi ce, year amounted to QR12,690 (QR8,517 lers can have their pre-travel vaccina- wellbeing of patients suff ering from inpatient services for infectious dis- pointed out that the new edition of the for local Independent schools, tions and medical advice. infectious diseases in Qatar but will ease patients who need hospitalisa- report presented a quantitative and QR21,633 for International schools and VENEZUELA | Politics The CDC is part of HMC’s expan- also provide leadership in education tion, the facility houses outpatient qualitative view of the reality of edu- QR17,485 for Arabic private schools). Maduro declares sion plans to provide faster access to and preventative measures.” clinics, including pre-marital coun- cation in Qatar as it includes “accurate Around 81% of the schools in the high quality, specialised care. It also Dr Muna al-Maslamani, senior selling and education for those with details on the education process and all country provided facilities for students state of emergency forms part of a government-wide consultant of infectious diseases said: blood-borne pathogens. its sectors”. with disability (100% at local Inde- Venezuelan President Nicolas programme which will see seven new “The centre would also play a role It will operate a specialised travel According to the report, 72% of pendent schools, 49% at International Maduro yesterday declared a major hospitals open in Qatar over the in the identifi cation, treatment and medicine outpatient clinic where teachers were content with their salary schools, and 42% at Arabic private 60-day state of emergency due to next 18 months, creating more than management of other highly infec- people can go for their vaccinations levels though opinions diff ered from schools). what he called plots from within 1,100 new hospital beds between now tious illnesses such as Middle East and health advice before travelling. schools to schools. Some 78% of schools included par- the Opec country and the US to and the end of December 2017. Respiratory Syndrome (Mers-CoV), It will have a pharmacy, radiology While 80% of teachers at local Inde- ents in their various offi cial commit- topple his leftist government. Dr Abdullatif al-Khal, deputy chief H1N1, Sars and Ebola in times of epi- facilities and the National Tuberculo- pendent schools said they were happy tees, meetings and councils (91% at Maduro did not provide details of medical offi cer and head of infectious demics and pandemics which makes it sis Reference Laboratory which diag- with their salaries, the satisfaction rate local Independent schools, 51% at In- the measure. A previous state of diseases, said the new CDC would unique in the region.” noses, tracks and monitors the illness. was 35% at International schools and ternational schools, and 100% at Ara- emergency, implemented in states focus on the management of infec- “Another focus of the CDC will The CDC will be the fi rst hospital 29% at Arabic private schools. bic private schools). near the Colombian border last tious diseases including tuberculosis, be initiating preventative measures in the new Hamad Bin Khalifa Medi- Teachers spent an average of 35.5 The aspiration levels of students in year, suspended constitutional human immunodefi ciency virus/ac- in identifying outbreaks, manag- cal City campus to open, with further hours training to develop their profes- the country were found to be high with guarantees in those areas, except quired immune defi ciency syndrome, ing them and strengthening Qatar’s three facilities – the Women’s Well- sional performance during the period 74% of them, hoping to pursue a post- for guarantees relating to human hepatitis and leprosy. response to health threats they may ness and Research Centre, the Am- covered by the report. graduate degree and 13% a university rights. Page 26 It will provide care to patients with pose to the country,” Dr al-Maslamani bulatory Care Centre and the Qatar Teacher’s years of experience degree. However, the rest said they infections that need prolonged treat- added. Rehabilitation Institute – scheduled amounted to an average of 11.8 years would be content with their school ment such as osteomyelitis (infl am- The CDC will work alongside the to follow in the coming months. (11.7 at local Independent schools, 11.9 education. SPORT | Football Qatar to play three European friendlies Qatar will play three European friendlies this year, the first Cameron ‘struggling to make Britons believe his EU message’ against Albania, ahead of crucial 2018 World Cup qualifiers, coach Reuters doing a better job, an opinion poll found. membership and voters evenly split on rules, strike its own trade deals and spend Jose Daniel Carreno announced London Only 21% of respondents in the sur- how they intend to cast their ballots, the its EU budget contributions at home. yesterday. The match against vey carried out by polling fi rm ComRes rival camps have stepped up campaign- The ComRes poll, conducted for the Albania will take place in Austria agreed that Cameron was more likely to ing. Sunday Mirror newspaper and the Inde- on May 29. Qatar’s European rime Minister David Cameron is tell the truth about the EU than Johnson Cameron has warned of the risk of a pendent website, found 33% of respond- opponents for the two other struggling to convince voters he is while 45% said Johnson was more believ- hit to Britain’s economy from a decision ents believed they would be better off Prime Minister Cameron delivering friendlies are yet to be fixed but are Ptelling the truth about why Britain able than Cameron. to leave the world’s biggest trade bloc. if Britain stayed in the EU, only slightly a speech at a Stronger In campaign likely to take place in mid-August. should stay in the European Union (EU) With less than six weeks to go until Johnson says Britain would fl ourish out- more than the 29% who thought they event in his Witney constituency in and his main “Out” rival Boris Johnson is the June 23 referendum on Britain’s EU side the EU if allowed to make its own would be better off if Britain left. Page 21 central England yesterday. Workers seek consular services from accessible locations

By Ramesh Mathew as part of the FIFA 2022 World Cup Khor and Ras Laffan. Of these, the While most embassies are lo- sible locations - particularly close to easier for them but also take the load Staff Reporter preparations. Industrial Area alone is reported to cated in the West Bay-Dafna area, the Industrial Area - to provide only off the main diplomatic missions and An overwhelming section of the have around 250,000 residents, say the diplomatic missions of some of consular services. further streamline services. country’s workers comes from coun- sources. the countries that have large worker At present, applications for some Some employers, too, have stressed here is a growing demand tries like India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Two major “labour cities” that populations in Qatar are housed else- consular services are received at the the demand for such facilities. “It among workers that embas- Philippines, Bangladesh, Pakistan, have come up over the last two years where. These include the embassies Indian Cultural Centre off the E-Ring will prove beneficial to everyone,” Tsies of major labour-supplying Egypt and Sudan, according to a on the outskirts of the Industrial Area of India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Road in Mesaimeer, while the Nepa- said an operator of a manpower firm. countries provide consular services study conducted by a local university and other housing units in the same Lanka. lese embassy has shifted from Abu Of late, there has been a growing from premises within Doha and its as part of a report on the welfare of area have attracted thousands of These embassies get a large Hamour to Ain Khalid, a place that is demand from Indian expatriates for immediate neighbourhood that are Qatar’s workforce. construction workers. number of visitors every day, a ma- relatively close to the Industrial Area. a new facility - that will be easily easily accessible, especially from the The report said that of the coun- These developments have prompt- jority of whom seek consular serv- However, in view of the volume of accessible from the Industrial Area Industrial Area. try’s population of more than 2.5mn, ed workers of different nationali- ices. While many of these missions work handled by some of the south - where different consular services The demand comes as the country a little over 1.75mn are workers and ties, particularly those living in the are conveniently located, workers Asian countries’ embassies, work- will be handled. The demand comes witnesses the arrival of large groups a significant percentage of them live densely populated Industrial Area, feel the embassies concerned may ers living in the Industrial Area say in the wake of reports that the Indian of workers for major infrastructure in places such as the Industrial Area, to call for the availability of consular consider their request to open satel- the opening of satellite facilities in embassy will shift to West Bay from projects and those being developed Al Wakrah, Wukair, Umm Salal, Al services at convenient locations. lite branches in other easily acces- the vicinity will not only make things its current location in Al Hilal.

Gulf Times Sunday, May 15, 2016 3 QATAR

HE Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kuwari with other dignitaries at the meeting of the alumni of St Joseph’s University in Doha. Lebanese varsity welcomes al-Kuwari’s nomination for Unesco chief’s position

QNA Doha

ebanese Saint-Joseph University’s President, LDr Rev Salim Dakkash, has welcomed the nomina- tion of HE Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kuwari, ad- viser at the Emiri Diwan and Qatar’s candidate to the post of director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientifi c and Cultural Or- ganisation (Unesco), ex- pressing his pride at the fact that Dr al-Kuwari is a gradu- ate of the university. This came at the second an- nual meeting of the alumni of St Joseph’s University in Qatar in the presence of Dr al-Kuwari and a number of ambassadors, including French ambassador to Qatar Eric Chevallier, and Lebanese ambassador Hassan Qassim Najem. Dr al-Kuwari thanked the university president for his support, emphasising that quality of education is one of the most important pil- lars of his programme in the UN organisation. HE Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kuwari with Dr Rev Salim Dakkash. Gulf Times 4 Sunday, May 15, 2016 QATAR

QNL signs pact with Qatar Museums Legal studies centre, QICDRC sign MoU he Ministry of Jus- signed a memorandum to understanding covers atar National Library and librarians, co-opera- QNL’s agreement with the largest collections of tice’s Legal and Ju- deepen aspects of co-op- development of training (QNL), a member of tive reference services and Qatar Museums will make books on Islamic art in the Tdicial Studies Centre eration between the two curricula, exchange of le- QQatar Foundation shared catalogues, inter- lasting contributions to the region, with over 15,000 and Qatar International sides, especially in the legal gal expertise and holding for Education, Science and library lending, and docu- holistic development of the books at the MIA Library Court and Dispute Resolu- and judicial fi elds. of legal and judicial semi- Community Development, ment delivery. wider community. It aims alone, we are delighted to tion Centre (QICDRC) have The memorandum of nars. and Qatar Museums recent- Dr Claudia Lux, QNL’S to achieve this by spread- open these resources up to a ly signed a Memorandum of project director, said: ing knowledge, nurturing wider audience.” Understanding (MoU) for “Our collaboration with imagination, cultivating Qatar Museums hosts a the exchange of knowledge Qatar Museums will serve creativity, and preserving number of libraries, includ- and expertise to enhance to further facilitate an en- the nation’s heritage for the ing the MIA Library and collective research, educa- riched learning experience future. Mathaf, with additional fa- tion and community devel- by making our extensive Susan Parker Leavy, head cilities currently being de- opment in Qatar. resources widely accessi- of the Museum of Islamic veloped. The MoU outlines co- ble for everyone in Qatar. Art (MIA) Library, said: “It The MIA Library spe- operation between the two Our collective eff orts will is with great pleasure that cialises in the history and institutions in various ar- ultimately contribute to we partner with Qatar Na- preservation of Islamic eas, including digitisation of improving learning out- tional Library to enrich the art, housing books, mono- historical documents, en- comes and preserving Qa- lives of our local commu- graphs, periodicals and art hancing e-learning resourc- tar’s rich heritage, while nity and support Qatar’s auction catalogues detailing es, development of training empowering the wider progress as an artistic and the rich history of Islamic programmes for researchers community.” cultural hub.Having one of art in Qatar and the region. Dr Claudia Lux

PHCC marks International Nurses Day

The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) celebrated International Nurses Day, with the aim of introducing the nursing services and activities provided to patients in the health centres of Corporation. International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world on 12 May of each year, to mark the contributions nurses make to society. This year’s celebration aimed to highlight the role of nurses in the community, and recognise the distinguished and genuine work of the nursing staff of the PHCC. PHCC managing director Dr Mariam Ali Abdulmalik said the International Nurses Day was a real opportunity to estimate the nursing staff ’s eff orts and contribution in providing superior healthcare. She stressed in a press statement the need for everyone to continue the hard work, to become ambassadors of the profession.

Gulf Times 6 Sunday, May 15, 2016 QATAR

Strong winds expected today

Strong winds are expected across the up to 30 knots at times in these areas, de- country today along with low visibility due to creasing to less than 10 knots by the evening. dusty conditions, the Qatar Met department Off shore areas, meanwhile, will see slightly has said. Off shore areas, too, are likely to see dusty conditions. The wind speed there may strong winds and high seas today, according reach 25 knots before falling by night, with to the weather off ice. Visibility may drop to the sea level rising to 7ft. 2km or less in some places during the day. A maximum temperature of 39C is expected The forecast for inshore areas says it will be in Doha, Messaied and Wakrah today, fol- hot during the day and blowing dust is also lowed by 38C in Al Khor, 36C in Abu Samra, expected at times. The wind speed may go 35C in Dukhan and 34C in Ruwais.

Off icials of Retaj Hotels Hospitality & Vichy Company and Hala Group at the signing ceremony. Retaj signs management deal for new Doha resort

atari business group Retaj metabolism and anti-ageing treat- The contract signing was hosted Hala Group, whose first project Hotels & Hospitality has ments. by Dr Kamel Senhadji, CEO of Retaj was Aqua Park Qatar - which Qsigned a management agree- The resort is to be equipped with Hotels & Hospitality, and attended is open to public for the last six ment for an upcoming fi ve-star a meeting area, a business centre, by the corporate team, general man- years, said it would continue to luxury resort, Vichy Célestins Spa jewellery shops, a hairdresser, a fi t- agers and management team of Retaj add projects in the hospitality and Hotel by Retaj, near Aqua Park Qatar ness centre, outdoor and indoor Group. tourism sector. on Salwa Road. swimming pools, a lazy river, tennis At the signing, Senhadji expressed The latest resort project in Doha The contract was signed by Nesf courts, a landscape area and a water happiness at his group’s co-opera- is expected to be ready by the middle bin Mohamed al-Boenein, member boutique. tion with Vichy and Hala, stressing of next year, according to offi cials. of the board of directors at Retaj Vichy Célestins Spa Hotel by Retaj that the step was an embodiment The Retaj Hotels & Hospitality Group; Abdulla Hassan al-Ghanim, is “bringing an entirely new hospi- of Retaj Hotels’ vision to expand at portfolio includes nine hotels: Retaj CEO of Hala Group Enterprises; and tality and medical spa concept to the the local, regional and international Al Rayyan, Retaj Royale Doha, Retaj Jerome Phelipeau, chairman of Vi- country and the whole region,” the levels. Residence Al Corniche, Retaj Inn chy Company France. hotel’s promoters said at the signing. Hala Group general manager Ijaz Marina Residence and Retaj Inn (all The high-end property will fea- Vichy Company holds a con- Malik said among the major attrac- in Doha), Retaj Royale Istanbul and ture 78 standard guestrooms and cession over two thermal facilities tions of the upcoming resort are a Retaj Thermal Hotel & Spa Yalova suites and 90 villas, ranging from and an estate that includes nine huge lobby, a 3,500sqm spa area, a (Turkey), Retaj Moroni Sports & one to three bedrooms. The resort springs, including the famous Vichy 4,000sqm artifi cial lake, a waterfall, a Leisure Resort, and Retaj Al Rayyan will also include three restaurants, Célestins in France. The company 600m-long river with six swimming Makkah in Saudi Arabia, in addi- two cafes, a 3,500sqm medical spa owns the 5-star Vichy Spa Hotel Les pools in addition to an Olympic-size tion to two new hotels to open soon specialised in weight-loss pro- Célestins, a 4-star hotel, 3-star ho- outdoor pool, indoor hydrotherapy - Retaj Al Nasr in Doha and Retaj Al grammes, prevention of diabetes, tel and two 2-star hotels. pool and a beautiful landscape. Salam in Djibouti. Gulf Times Sunday, May 15, 2016 7 QATAR AC distributors, retailers brace for new regulations

By Joseph Varghese Staff Reporter

ajor distributors and retailers of air- Mconditioners (ACs) have chalked out strategies to implement Qatar Gen- eral Electricity and Water Corporation’s (Kahramaa) decision to introduce the Energy Star rating system to ensure the power effi ciency of ACs. Kahramaa, in associa- tion with the Ministry of Municipality and Environ- ment, will implement the Energy Star is an international standard for energy-eff icient consumer products. Energy Star system from July as part of its National representatives of the com- reduce the prices and sell minimised the procure- Programme for Conserva- pany had a one-to-one them quickly.” ment of ACs for sale at their tion and Energy Effi ciency meeting with the govern- Meanwhile, hypermar- outlets across the country. (Tarsheed). ment offi cials. “Our compa- kets are also gearing up to “We are not promot- Distributors of lead- ny representatives met with sell only those ACs that ing products that consume ing AC brands said they the offi cials and discussed have Energy Star rating high units of energy. We had been informed about the matter. This has been from July, in line with the are also educating our cus- the new system and done with all leading brands new system. tomers on the upcoming would comply with the of ACs in the country. From An executive of Safari changes and the benefits decision. this July, ACs with Energy Hypermarket said distribu- of converting to five-star Stating that they have Star rating will be imported tors would have to make split ACs. Besides, we are received the necessary in- only,” he added. sure that they supplied ACs offering promotion and formation from the de- A representative of an- that complied with the new attractive prices for split partments concerned, an other AC manufacturer government regulations. ACs. At times, we even of- executive of a well-known said they have started sell- “We have not got any writ- fer 25% off or gift vouchers AC brand said: “This is a ing the current stock of ten communication so far on split ACs,” he said. practice in many of the GCC ACs “without looking for but have been told about Energy Star is an in- countries and we will fully any profit”. the new law. We will follow ternational standard for comply with the new regu- “We will fully comply the government order and energy-effi cient consumer lations. We will try to sell with the new regulations. strictly implement it at our products. Devices carry- the existing stock, well be- We have only very limited outlets.” ing the Energy Star serv- fore the new decision comes stock at present, which we A spokesman for Quality ice mark generally use 20- into eff ect this July.” will try to sell within this Group, another leading re- 30% less energy than the The executive also said period. We may have to tailer of ACs, said they have conventional products.

Gulf Times 10 Sunday, May 15, 2016 QATAR Medical congress to Four teams take part in Samsung Cup ntertec Group, the sole authorised distributor Iof Samsung mobiles and tablets in the coun- try, recently organised the discuss key issues Samsung Galaxy Cup 2016 Qatar national tourna- pportunities for manufactur- Dr Mohammed Hamad al-Nuaimi, ment. ing medical equipment in Qatar general manager of Al Maha Medical The Samsung football Owill be among the discussions said:” We expect that our participation tournament is held across and presentations at Qatar Interna- this year will be a very special one, as the GCC countries, and tional Medical Congress (QIMC) 2016, the exhibition and conference will have the Qatar national tourna- to be held under the patronage of HE strategic importance for Qatar, consid- ment was hosted at Al Sadd Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa ering the prominent speakers and ex- Sports Club with the par- al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister perts who will discuss unprecedented ticipation of four teams - of Interior from May 18-20. topics, and we expect deals and agree- Starlink, Sharaf DG, Jumbo QIMC 2016 is expected to off er un- ments at strengthening the medical in- Electronics and Emax. precedented opportunities for health dustry in Qatar. “ Team Starlink emerged sector professionals to delve deep into QIMC 2016 has attracted prominent the champions of the Qa- the latest technological and scientifi c Dr Mohamed Hamad al-Nuaimi international medical thought leaders, tar national tournament, discoveries in the diagnosis of cancers led by Professor Johannes Schweizer, followed by Team Sharaf Winners of the Samsung Galaxy Cup Qatar national tournament. and epidemic diseases and the latest swab of saliva instead of blood. As for who owns 14 patents and is considered DG as the fi rst runners- scientifi c and medical technologies the control and regulation of all labo- one of the most prominent contempo- up. Team Jumbo and Team Fernandes, CEO; Nilabh Starlink, Sharaf DG, Jumbo “RHQ” fi nal will qualify for that will be available to the Qatari mar- ratory testing procedures, especially in rary researchers at Stanford University Emax were the second and Singh, division manager - Electronics and Emax team the world fi nals, which take ket. the light of diseases such as epidemio- in California. In addition, researchers third runners-ups, respec- trading; Midhun Joseph, members and management place in Rio de Janeiro, Bra- The conference will also provide logical and viral diseases that develop from Qatar Computing Research In- tively. group marketing manager; representatives. zil, in August and compete an opportunity to learn about inter- and spread quickly such as the Ebola stitute (QCRI) of Hamad Bin Khalifa Ghazwan Tarabishi, head and Deepak Jayaram, prod- The Qatar champions with teams from all over the national medical breakthroughs that and Zika, the event will found a fi rst- University will engage in a knowledge of retail operations at Sam- uct manager, accessories, will represent Qatar at the globe. The world winning prominent laboratories are using to of-its-kind laboratory in the Middle sharing session with experts in the sung Gulf Electronics, and attended the awards cer- “RHQ” fi nals in Dubai. The team will be announced and identify Aids and hepatitis by using a East. health sector. Intertec offi cials Aleixo J emony in Doha along with winning team from each awarded there.

Better bus links sought to new locations of embassies

By Ramesh Mathew is a growing demand to Staff Reporter improve public transport access to the areas where the missions of these south any expatriates Asian countries are lo- have sought bet- cated. Mter bus connec- Low-income workers tivity to the new locations living in the Industrial Area of their embassies. and other places often fi nd Over the last few years, it diffi cult to reach their the embassies of at least embassies due to “inad- two south Asian coun- equate” public transport tries have moved to places facilities. where public transport fa- “The Indian embassy cilities are negligible while sees large crowds almost the old locations were every day. With reports more accessible. of the embassy shifting For instance, the Nepa- to West Bay, we hope bus lese embassy first shifted connectivity will improve from Al Hilal to Abu to that area,” said an Indian Hamour before mov- expatriate. ing again recently to Ain Some Nepalese and Sri Khalid. The Sri Lankan Lankan expatriates, too, mission, too, has relo- aired similar views. cated from Al Hilal to Calling for more serv- Rawda. ices from Doha Bus Station Nationals of these coun- (DBS) to places where these tries who depend on public embassies are located, transport say reaching the some workers said buses earlier locations was a lot could also be introduced easier as Al Hilal is better from Asian Town (Indus- connected by bus. trial Area) to DBS that With the Indian embassy would pass through the also expected to shift from areas where these missions Al Hilal to West Bay, there are based at present. Flying debris pose big risk to vehicles

number of mo- have become more fre- torists have said quent now. A travelling through Speaking to Gulf Times, many of Doha roads is pos- some of them said buses ing a risk to their vehicles are generally hit by fl y- as fl ying debris is damag- ing debris while passing ing the windshields. through areas where con- They attribute the “an- struction works are going noying phenomenon” to on and also along roads construction work in sev- that are full of craters - eral areas and the poor like the ones common in condition of roads in plac- the Industrial Area. The es such as the Industrial situation gets particularly Area. bad in windy conditions, The motorists point out they add. that fl ying debris is the The transport manager result of vehicles passing of a construction fi rm, over them at high speeds which has several buses in or during very windy con- its fl eet, said even a minor ditions. The damage can crack in the windshield range from a tiny scratch could require a replace- to chipped glass or a big ment and cost at least crack, requiring urgent at- QR1,000. Better-quality tention in many cases. glasses would cost a lot In some cases, the dam- more, he said. age goes unnoticed as the The high prices often fl ying debris involves tiny force operators to go for tiny pieces. cheaper options, sources While cars are common said, noting that this was victims of this phenom- not the ideal practice. enon, bigger vehicles such The transport manager as buses are also known to of another fi rm said steps suff er at times. should be taken to off er Operators of buses, in- wider insurance coverage cluding those carrying for damaged windshields construction workers, and also provide them at claim that such incidents “aff ordable” prices. Gulf Times Sunday, May 15, 2016 11 QATAR

Ooredoo is lead ‘Win 1,000 free trolleys with sponsor for World LuLu’ promotion launched Stadium Congress oredoo will be the tournaments, in order to de- uLu Hypermarket outlets they are entitled to get the low- lead sponsor for the liver an amazing stadium ex- have launched an inno- est priced one at a half price. Osixth edition of Qa- perience for fans and all other Lvative campaign namely LuLu Group is also set to make tar’s World Stadium Congress, stakeholders. ‘Win 1,000 free trolleys with history with an “amazing pro- set to take place in Doha from Part of the company’s vi- LuLu’ promotion for the fi rst motion” of 10 Mercedes Benz tromorrow to May 19 at the sion is to utilise the Ooredoo time in Qatar, in line with Lulu E-200 cars, (2016 model). Cus- Westin Doha Hotel & Spa. Supernet to take sports into anniversary celebrations. tomers are entitled to get a cou- The World Stadium Con- the future of immersive me- Customers will have the op- pon on every purchase of items gress, which is organised in dia, meaning it will no longer portunity to win the fully trolley worth QR50 to win 10 Mercedes partnership with the Supreme matter what seat people have of items shopped by them at the Benz cars. The promotion start- Committee for Delivery & Leg- in the stadium. Thanks to the supermarket totally free while ed on May 11 and will continue acy, aims to discuss the impor- company’s solutions, it aims to making payment at the POS ma- until August 6 and culminate tance of the design and delivery provide a service that enables chine. with fi ve mega draws starting of world-class sporting infra- users to watch live replays from “It is an amazing promotion from August 7 to 11 at LuLu D- structure around the world. multiple angles, check the lat- entirely controlled by the com- Ring Road, Al Gharrafa, Al-Khor, At this year’s event, Oore- est stats and use their mobile puter system, which was started LuLu Centre and Barwa City doo will demonstrate the device to have a more exciting on May 12 and will continue for branches, respectively. progress being made on de- and interactive experience. 10 days ie, until May 21 at all Customers stand to benefi t veloping “smart stadium” The World Stadium Con- LuLu Hypermarket outlets,” more by adding another savings solutions for venues that will gress will have a host of discus- LuLu said. if they do their purchase on Lu- host major sporting events, sions, panels, presentations, Simultaneously, LuLu Hyper- lu-Doha Bank credit card. and help make Qatar a leading networking and educational market has launched ‘Buy one The LuLu Hypermarket Group sporting destination. opportunities for participants. get one at half price’ promotion management also stated that Ooredoo will hold a This year’s event is set to be on garments, footwear, churid- they are going to open the De- 20-minute innovator session the biggest ever, with world- har, sarees and ladies bags. Cus- partment Store of LuLu Hyper- at the Congress, which will leading architects, solution tomers will have a “unique ex- market, Barwa City on May 18 cover the company’s guidance providers and stadium op- perience” in that when they buy with “big surprises and exclu- Wioleta Barbara Widelska, a Poland national receiving her “priced trolley” from the LuLu Customer on how to architect eff ective eration consultants attending any two of the aforesaid items, sive promotions”. Service manager at Lulu Hypermarket, D-Ring Road yesterday. partnership models for mega from around the world.

High demand for hoverboards Diversion near Mall of Qatar on Dukhan Expressway diversion will be in place turn back to the Dukhan Road (as starting from tomorrow shown in the attached map). despite ban by malls, airlines A (Monday) on the west- The closure is being made to bound lanes of Dukhan Road, complete construction works leading from Doha to Dukhan as part of the Dukhan Highway By Joey Aguilar for a distance of 2.5km near the Central project, which includes Staff Reporter Mall of Qatar (as shown in the a new highway with the mainline attached map). road starting west side of exist- It will continue until August ing Wajba interchange and con- he demand for smart 7, according to an Ashghal state- cluding one kilometre east of the balance scooters, or ment. town of Al Sheehanihya. Thoverboards, in Qa- During the period, traffi c on The project comprises of 15km tar has remained high de- the closed section of the Dukhan of a dual carriageway with four spite them being banned Road will be diverted to Al Rufaa lanes in each direction, hard by a number of malls in the Street, where drivers can use Al shoulders, and grade separated country. Rufaa roundabout and take a U- interchanges. Many airlines, too, have banned passengers from carrying such products on aircraft over safety con- cerns. However, such restric- tions have not deterred people from buying these portable battery-powered vehicles in big numbers, as is evident from the large stocks available in hyper- markets around Doha. He said they had initially A sales supervisor at a expected sales to drop sub- prominent shop in Doha stantially after several malls told Gulf Times that they banned the use of hover- just replenished their stocks boards on their premises and dozens of hoverboards late last year. Also, people had to be displayed during did not have the option of the weekend. buying them as gifts for After prices came down family members in their by almost 50% for some native countries as airlines brands, he said a number of imposed a ban on their car- customers (mostly parents) riage. started coming in to enquire However, the demand about smart balance scoot- for smart balance wheels ers for their children. did not show any signs of Earlier, a standard smart dropping despite these balance scooter would cost restrictions as children over QR1,000, but the price started using them in open has dropped signifi cantly spaces such as parks, it was since then, depending on found. Dozens of smart balance scooters on display at a shop. the brand and specifi ca- A salesperson at a lead- tions. Some brands of hov- ing hypermarket in Doha “Competition is really two of the preferred des- erboards are now available confi rmed that they had to high due to the increasing tinations where children for just QR500-600, say order for additional items number of stores selling can use their smart balance sources. from their supplier to have these items,” a salesperson wheels, it is learnt. “We ran out of stocks at enough stocks. at a Doha store said, adding Some children could also one stage because of the “Our sales have been in- that they expected prices to be seen using smart bal- high demand,” the super- creasing every month; you reduce further. “We have to ance wheels on internal viser added. “This is one of will see families coming and launch some promotions to streets though some peo- the reasons why most shops looking for hoverboards that entice more customers to ple expressed concern over are displaying dozens of suit their budget,” he said. buy from us.” this practice, urging kids to items to tell people that they “It seems every youngster in The Aspire Park and Mu- be careful in order to avoid now have more stocks.” Qatar wants to own one.” seum of Islamic Art Park are road accidents. Contracting firm acquitted A Doha Court of Appeal has acquitted a local contracting company of charges of encroachment on public property, local Arabic daily Al Sharq has reported. Earlier, the Court of First Instance had fined the company QR2,000 for carrying out construction works without obtaining a licence from the government department concerned. The firm was accused of using State-owned land for its own benefits without proper authorisation. The court had convicted the company based on the reports of the Public Prosecution and North Security Department, according to the daily. However, the company appealed the ruling and submitted documents stating that the violations pertained to another firm and it had nothing to do with the site mentioned in the case. Gulf Times 12 Sunday, May 15, 2016 QATAR Aamal expo showcases latest medical

equipment Sheikh Faisal opening the exhibition by cutting the ribbon. amal Medical, a branch latest medical devices used in of Aamal Company operating rooms, intensive care AQSC, showcased the lat- units, sterilisation and infec- est medical equipment from tion control in addition to IT leading international medical healthcare solutions, the exhibi- technology services and solu- tion showcased a range of new tions companies at an exhibition technologies available for the yesterday. fi rst time in Qatar. These include The third Aamal Medical Ex- the TRU-D Smart UVC (TM); a hibition 2016, held under the mobile UV disinfection system, patronage of HE Sheikh Faisal Nano Therapeutics CTS medi- bin Qassim al-Thani, chair- cal devices; that off ers simple, man, Aamal Company QSC, safe and eff ective solutions to was attended by leading repre- manage pain, swelling and dis- sentatives of the Qatar medical comfort associated with sports sector. injuries, post-surgical and non- Sheikh Faisal inaugurated the surgical therapeutic return-to- exhibition in the presence of Dr function, in addition to HiCare Wasmiya Dalham al-Kuwari, – Lady, Transcutaneous Electri- executive director, Nursing In- cal Nerve Stimulation; a method formatics Department, Hamad of pain relief in which a special Medical Corporation, and Sher- device transmits low-voltage if Shehata, general manager, electrical impulses. Aamal Medical. Participants included Verna Sheikh Faisal said, “The sig- Care, Atmos, MDT & PEKE, nifi cant development of the SECA, Masimo, GE Health- medical sector over the past care, Karl Storz & Storz Medi- decade refl ects the govern- Sheikh Faisal being briefed about a medical equipment. PICTURES: Shameer Rasheed cal, Drager, Telelift, IBM, TPP, ment’s strenuous eff orts to im- PhysioControl, ALVO, Car Fu- prove healthcare in the coun- needs of the medical sector. We be part of the private sector’s ac- tion seeks to introduce custom- the equipment and how to ben- are able to provide the best and sion-BD, TRU-D & SPOC, HIE, try. Aamal Medical Company are proud of our contribution to tive partnership in achieving the ers to the latest developments in efi t from it. By keeping up to date very latest equipment to the local ETASCO & Covidien from coun- is one of the leading companies the growth and development of developmental goals of Qatar.” medical equipment, to provide with the latest global advance- market.” tries such as GCC, UK, Germany in Qatar that is able to meet the healthcare in Qatar and proud to Shehata said, “The exhibi- practical guidance on how to use ments in medical technology, we With demonstrations of the and the USA among others. Project Qatar 2016 concludes

roject Qatar 2016, the “third Annual LightingTech Qa- 13th International Con- tar,” “second Annual Future BIM Pstruction Technology and Implementation Qatar,” third Building Materials Exhibition, Annual Future Interiors Qatar,” has concluded its latest instal- “third Annual Future Landscape ment after four days of well- and Public Realm Qatar,” and attended exhibits, tours, and “third Annual Future Drainage Top three teams received special gift hampers from Qatar Airways. business meetings. and Stormwater Networks Qa- During the event, organised tar.” QA hosts bowling tourney for travel trade partners by IFP Qatar, Project Qatar 2016 In addition, IFP Qatar or- witnessed major highlights, in- ganised two annual concurrent Qatar Airways recently was organised to “engage highlight of the evening was cluding a business to business events: “Heavy Max 2016,” the hosted a bowling tournament and strengthen relationships” the recognition of the top (B2B) matchmaking platform 13th International Exhibition for for its partners within the with local trade partners - saw three highest performing where hundreds of pre-ar- Heavy Machinery, and “Qatar travel industry in Qatar. The an attendance of more than male and female participants, ranged B2B meetings between Stone Tech 2016,” the fi fth Inter- networking event, organised 250 guests. The tournament each of whom received leading companies and visitors national Stone and Stone Tech- by the airline, took place at participants were divided special gifts. In addition, the were held to explore the newest nology Show. Qatar Bowling Centre. In a into teams with each travel top three teams received inventions, exchange knowl- Uday Shankar, marketing statement, the Doha-based agency competing against special gift hampers from edge, and benefi t from new manager, Specialised Filters & carrier said the event - which industry colleagues. The Qatar Airways. business deals. Trading, said: “It is so wonderful Another highlight of the when it comes to the organising, show was the “Project Qatar and this is the fourth time we are Workshop Series,” organised by participating. It was good.” IFP Qatar, in collaboration with Ayache said: “As Qatar is Qatar Chamber, to reinforce the committed to achieving the Qa- 3,000 health card-holders to be educational and commercial Project Qatar 2016 has attracted thousands of exhibitors and visitors. tar National Vision 2030 and aspects of the construction in- hosting the FIFA World Cup dustry. ergy effi ciency, green interiors, role as the leading construction 2022, the construction market moved to Al Thumama centre Project Qatar Workshop Se- new developments in building exhibition in the gulf region by in the country will remain one of ries focused on the advance- material industry, along with an providing exhibitors and visi- the most appealing markets due ments of the technologies in HSE awareness session. tors with the latest insights and to the wide range of business op- round 3,000 health tre, has been quoted by local health files to the new centre. this sector, addressed topics IFP Qatar general manager trends of the industry.” portunities available. card-holders regis- Arabic daily Arrayah saying Besides, SMS have been such as sustainable smart cit- George Ayache said: “Project Qa- IFP Qatar also organised a “Project Qatar’s success this Atered temporarily with that registration at the Al sent to the card-holders of the ies, modular scheme, project tar 2016 attracted a huge number number of free tours to major year reveals the event’s commit- the Airport Health Centre will Thumama Health Centre is Airport centre to follow such analytics training, quality as- of professionals and decision- mega construction sites in Qatar, ment to providing the best re- be transferred to new Al Thu- still going on and those who procedures. surance and control, product makers from around the world, including the New Port Project, sults to its participants, empha- mama Health Centre, slated want to transfer from the The Airport Health Cen- testing, the role and importance eager to network and explore the Lusail City, and The Mall of Qa- sising IFP Qatar’s devotion to to open by the end of this Airport Health Centre can ei- tre has currently 109,000 of solar energy in today’s con- most state-of-art technologies tar, as well as a business intel- remaining one of the most lead- month. ther register electronically or registered card-holders and struction sector, GSAS aware- in the construction industry. The ligence series consisting of a ing event organisers in the Mid- Dr Mariam al-Jabir, di- submit a request to the Air- receives around 450 cases ness, construction waste, en- event has proven once again its number of events such as the dle East region and worldwide.” rector, Airport Health Cen- port centre to transfer their every day. Gulf Times Sunday, May 15, 2016 13 QATAR Qatar-Korea agreements creating ideal ecosystem of collaboration: offi cial

atar Science & Technol- ment with unique facilities and is put to use,” he said. “Money ogy Park (QSTP), the quality services.” and time are required for the Qprimary accelerator and Al-Kuwari emphasised the commercialisation of tech- incubator for technological de- value of the Qatar-Korea col- nologies, and these are not al- velopment in the county, hosted laboration. “Through discus- ways available. Korea has a top another successful TECHtalk sions between QF R&D rep- ranking in investment and re- expert discussion, under the resentatives and their Korean search, but still lags behind in theme ‘Industrial Technology counterparts last year, numer- the commercialisation aspect, QRCS and Oxy Qatar off icials marking the partnership. and Commercialisation.’ ous agreements were set, spe- making it important to initiate The event saw QSTP and Ko- cifi cally between KIAT and programmes that support tech rea Institute for Advancement QSTP,” he revealed. “These transfer.” of Technology (KIAT) with agreements outline, and work At the TECHtalk event, sen- whom QSTP has a knowledge- towards, establishing policies ior QSTP offi cials gave a pres- sharing agreement, present on industrial manufacturing entation on the technology best practices from diff erent and creating an ideal ecosystem park’s highly successful sup- perspectives that highlight the of collaboration.” port programmes which, since technological experiences of James (Jung-Wook) Kim, their launch, have empowered QRCS empowering 28 Qatar and the Republic of Ko- KIAT global strategy planning young innovators and made rea. team leader, described KIAT’s valuable contributions across Hamad al-Kuwari, managing role as a quasi-government numerous sectors in Qatar. director, QSTP, said, “Technol- institute off ering various sup- The QSTP Accelerator, a ogy parks are central to activat- port mechanisms. In the area three-month pioneering busi- ing the catalytic process which of technology commercialisa- ness incubation, training and fosters business development,” tion, KIAT’s commercialisation mentorship programme, is now families with funding he said. “New R&D fi rms create support division identifi es vi- reviewing applications for its entrepreneurships and new job able technological assets, and fourth cohort. The initiative opportunities for highly quali- manages a global technologi- aims to support budding en- fi ed people. They also improve cal information service net- trepreneurs in Qatar and help the country’s physical and work for the commercialisation them transform their ideas into technological infrastructure, of technology and eff ective viable commercial ventures, attract foreign investment and investment in R&D. addressing key needs in local from Oxy Qatar create a stimulating environ- “R&D is meaningless until it and international markets. atar Red Crescent Soci- and helping them fulfi l the to help improve the living stand- work very eff ectively with its ety (QRCS) has said it is requirements of life. ards of disadvantaged people, outreach programmes.” Qimplementing its socio- These subsidies amounted to empower them to preserve their Under a four-year agreement economic empowerment pro- QR732,000 in total, with each well-being and health, stretch signed in 2014, Oxy is sponsor- gramme for poor families in the family receiving QR2,000 per out social welfare wings, pro- ing one aspect of QRCS’s socio- country with a total funding of month, based on a case study mote solidarity among society economic programme, which QR2,928,000 from Occiden- on the conditions, expenses, re- members, ensure stability for serves about 1,500 families every tal Petroleum of Qatar Ltd (Oxy sources and needs of families. as many vulnerable families as year, with an annual budget Qatar) over four years. Home visits are made to the possible and help those families exceeding QR7mn. This is in pursuit of corpo- targeted families to estimate the faced with force majeure. Apart from the fi nancial and rate social responsibility and monthly payments, depending Stephen Kelly, president and in-kind subsidies, QRCS pro- humanitarian partnership poli- on their size and fi nances. general manager, Oxy Qatar, vides fi nancial support for poor cies to serve needy members Special attention is given to said: “We are proud of our con- students, coverage of treatment of the society, according to a families with heavy debts, di- tinuing partnership with QRCS costs for poor patients, wom- statement. vorced women, widows and and support its socio-economic en’s professional and economic In the current year, QRCS orphans. programmes. Our goal is to build empowerment and other social has off ered monthly fi nancial Saleh bin Ali al-Mohannadi, positive and enduring partner- programmes that work towards and food subsidies for 28 low- secretary-general, QRCS, said ships with organisations that the holistic development goals income families with a view to the purpose of the partnership can make a real diff erence. We of Qatar National Vision 2030. QSTP and KIAT off icials at the event. meeting some of their needs between QRCS and Oxy Qatar is believe that QRCS is doing this

A QC off icial receiving a letter of appreciation at the honouring ceremony. Niger honours QC for work in Corie

atar Charity (QC) took place in Corie, 70km addition to many directors region, making it the best has been honoured from the capital Niamey. and village chiefs of the re- organisation to contrib- Qfor its eff orts to de- QC county chief Amiro gion. ute to the growth and re- velop the Corie region in Hamed, Niamey Mayor The Municipality habilitation of Corie. QC Niger from 2008-2015. Hamadu Salivo, Mayor Council announced that was able to help the in- The honouring event, Deputy Hima Amadu and QC spent approximately habitants of the region to which was attended by a secretary general Hassan QR3.46mn ($950,000) for set up income-generating number of senior fi gures, Eissa attended the event, in the development of the projects. Gulf Times 14 Sunday, May 15, 2016 REGION/ARAB WORLD US ready to loosen arms ban on Libya

AFP tual fi efdoms, and two rival gov- yan fi ghters, instead waiting for Washington ernments have been formed. the government to request help. Western nations and many “All the talk about what we Libyans have watched in hor- might do, or could do, it re- he US government is ror as the militant IS group has sponds to the needs of the Lib- ready to loosen a ban on emerged from the chaos to con- yan government. When we talk Tarms exports to Libya, in trol a swathe of central Libya about training or we talk about a bid to help the country’s fl edg- around Gaddafi ’s hometown of equipment, we are having a con- ling unity government fi ght the Sirte. versation about ‘what are your Islamic State group, offi cials and With its port and airport, needs?’” said the US offi cial. diplomats have said. there are fears the militants US actions in Libya have been An Iranian man takes a photo of an anti-Israel cartoon displayed at the second international exhibition of drawing and cartoons on the Under White House-backed could use the Mediterranean city limited to strikes against a sus- Holocaust in Tehran yesterday. Some 150 drawings from 50 countries often with anti-Israeli themes were displayed at the opening of plans, the UN would carve out as a staging post for attacks on pected Islamic State training the exhibition. exemptions to an embargo intro- Europe. camp and a suspect believed to duced by the Security Council in They have already hit nearby be involved in deadly attacks in 2011, during Muammar Gadd- oil installations, choking much- neighbouring Tunisia. afi ’s failed attempt to suppress a needed oil revenues. The US has also covertly sent popular uprising. The Pentagon earlier this year a small group of special forces to Anti-Israel cartoon contest opens in Tehran “If the Libyan government estimated that as many as 6,000 Libya to gather intelligence and prepares a detailed and coher- Islamic State fi ghters were in the liaise with some militias, ac- ent list of things that it wants country, with a standing call for cording to The Washington Post. AFP organised by a non-govern- rebuttal to the publication of Asked why Iran has allowed to use to fight ISIL and re- foreigners to join them. Loosening the arms embargo Tehran mental organisation without cartoons depicting the Prophet the exhibition to go ahead, Zarif sponds to all the requirements US President Barack Obama’s will be discussed when US Sec- any support from the authori- Muhammad (peace be upon said: “Why does the US have of the exemption, I think that administration and its European retary of State John Kerry meets ties. him) by French satirical weekly the Ku Klux Klan? Council members are going to allies have been eager to help the with his counterparts from re- contest of anti-Israeli Several cartoons on display Charlie Hebdo, which was at- “Is the government of the look very seriously at that re- government establish itself and gional powers in Vienna tomor- cartoons opened yester- poke fun at Netanyahu, with tacked by Islamists last year. US responsible for the fact quest,” a senior administration take on the militants. row. Aday in the Iranian capi- one depicting the Israeli prime The best cartoon will be that there are racially hate- official said. When asked earlier this year But it is not yet clear what tal, with many entries derid- minister as a member of the Is- awarded $12,000, said Tabata- ful organisations in the US? “There is a very healthy desire about his greatest mistake in of- weapons Libya might request ing Prime Minister Benjamin lamic State militant group and baie. An earlier edition of the Don’t consider Iran a mono- inside of Libya to rid themselves fi ce, Obama cited Libya: “Prob- and diplomats warn the gov- Netanyahu and his govern- holding a sabre in his hand. exhibition was held in 2006. lith. The Iranian government of ISIL, and I think that is some- ably failing to plan for the day ernment may struggle to come ment’s Middle East policies. Another shows a map of the In April Zarif insisted that does not support, nor does it thing we should be supporting after what I think was the right to that meeting with a concrete The exhibition, totalling 150 Middle East with a coffi n bear- the cartoon festival was not organise, any cartoon festival and responding to,” the offi cial thing to do in intervening in request amid factional fi ghting. entries from 50 countries, was ing the word “Holocaust” fl at- endorsed by the Iranian gov- of the nature that you’re talk- said, using an acronym for the Libya.” The UN-backed Government launched on the eve of the Pal- tening Palestinians in place of ernment, in an interview pub- ing about.” Islamic State group. But the West has had to avoid of National Accord is still very estinian commemoration of what should be the country of lished by The New Yorker mag- Israel marked Holocaust Re- Gaddafi ’s regime was deposed the risk of appearing to interfere much a work in progress, strug- “nakba”, which means catas- Israel. azine. membrance Day earlier this with the help of Nato airpower and, in so doing, undermining gling to extend its writ across trophe in Arabic, marking the “We are not seeking to con- He said the contest was be- month as well as the 68th anni- in 2011 and he was ultimately the fragile government. Tripoli and the country. 1948 creation of Israel. fi rm or deny the Holocaust,” ing organised by a non-govern- versary of its foundation. killed in October of that year, but Offi cials in Washington, Many militias refuse to come The Iranian government has said organiser Massoud Shojaie ment organisation “that is not Last year Tabatabaie also the country has been in turmoil Rome and elsewhere have re- under government control, in- distanced itself from the con- Tabatabaie, himself a cartoon- controlled by the Iranian gov- organised an international ex- since. cently toned down talk of send- cluding those under the com- test, which Foreign Minister ist. ernment. Nor is it endorsed by hibition of anti-Islamic State Dozens of militia groups have ing a contingent of troops to the mand of powerful renegade gen- Mohamed Javad Zarif said was He said the exhibition was a the Iranian government.” group cartoons. carved up the country into vir- country to train and assist Lib- eral Khalifa Haftar.

ONE SMOKER. TWO PATIENTS.

TOBACCO KILLS

Issued in Public Interest by GULF TIMES Gulf Times Sunday, May 15, 2016 15 ARAB WORLD Iraq political row comes to militants’ advantage: PM

DPA in a crisis over forming a govern- pendent website Alsumaria News. called on the country’s political formed along political and sec- yesterday killed at least six secu- al-Dulaimi said that security forc- Baghdad ment of independents. On Wednesday, Islamic State blocs to “resort to dialogue” to tarian lines since the US-led rity personnel in a town near the es killed nine of the attackers, who Last month, followers of Shia claimed responsibility for a wave help solve Iraq’s problems. 2003 invasion which deposed militant group’s stronghold in had earlier sneaked into Amiriyat Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr of bombings in the capital which Under pressure from street Saddam Hussain. Critics say the western Iraq, a police offi cial said. Fallujah, around 50km west of raq’s deepening political cri- stormed parliament after it failed killed more than 90 people, mark- protesters and religious clerics, system contributes to corruption At least 14 security troops and Baghdad. sis has come to the advantage to vote for a cabinet list proposed ing Iraq’s deadliest day so far this al-Abadi is trying to form a new and incompetence of state insti- allied tribal fi ghters were injured The town houses government Iof Islamic State, Prime Min- by al-Abadi. year. government of independent tech- tutions. in the attack, which targeted a res- institutions relocated from Ram- ister Haider al-Abadi warned “Political diff erences and con- On Friday, the militant group nocrats. Government forces are engaged idential, and government complex adi, the capital city of Anbar once yesterday, after the extremist mi- fl icts as well as obstructing the claimed an attack on a cafe in the Major political blocs in parlia- in a US-backed fi ght against Is- in the town of Amiriyat Fallujah, controlled by Islamic State. litia claimed responsibility for a work of parliament have helped in mostly Shia town of Balad, north ment have repeatedly blocked the lamic State, which still controls south of Fallujah, the Islamic State In December 2015, Iraq regained bloody week of bomb attacks in the escalation of terrorist opera- of Baghdad, killing over a dozen move, angering pro-reform pro- key areas in Iraq’s Sunni heartland stronghold in the mostly Sunni Ramadi from the Al Qaeda splinter and around Baghdad. tions,” al-Abadi said at a ceremo- people. testers. in the west and north. western province of Anbar. group after it had held the city for Iraq has for months been locked ny in Baghdad, according to inde- Al-Abadi, a Shia politician, Iraqi governments have been Islamic State suicide bombers Anbar police spokesman Yasser seven months. Another peace push, but has US put too much faith in Russia?

AFP “Regardless of what the Rus- Washington sians might want, they are ef- fectively supporting a victory operation on behalf of Syria and irst a ceasefire in Syria, the Iranians,” said Jim Jeffrey, a then aid and then - who former top diplomat and senior Fknows - perhaps a politi- adviser to president George W cal transition? Don’t bet on it, Bush. analysts warn, saying Wash- “And all we have against this ington has put too much faith is to meet with the Russians in Moscow. and plead with them to adhere Efforts to end Syria’s brutal to all of these agreements,” he five-year civil war may hang by said, arguing that Moscow has a thread, but Washington’s top already backtracked. diplomat will once again throw “The Russians agreed to a himself into the fray. clear political transition - they A woman walks past damaged buildings in the rebel-controlled area of Maaret al-Numan town in Idlib province, Syria. Secretary of State John Kerry have not delivered on that.” set off on Friday for Saudi Ara- And it is not just former sen- bia to consult with his Arab ally ior officials from Republican before talks on Syria in Vienna administrations who feel Ker- on Tuesday. ry’s Russian outreach will not Once again, senior officials be enough to dislodge Assad. from the 17-nation Interna- “Keep in mind we’re not ask- tional Syria Support Group ing the regime to come to the (ISSG) will meet to reaffirm table,” said Philip Gordon, a IS attacks Syria hospital, their support for peace. former member of President But will they have any more Barack Obama’s National Secu- success than they have had so rity Council. far? Or will Bashar al-Assad “We’re asking them not to and his rebel foes fight on as exist. We’re asking them to get Syria drowns in blood? rid of their leader,” he told re- “Obviously, not all the porters this week at the Council kills 20, takes hostages trend lines in Syria are going on Foreign Relations. in the right direction,” Kerry’s Kerry’s response to this ob- AFP/DPA said. The militant group controls airbase located in the south of the days after turning back a UN aid plies, including vaccinations; nu- spokesman John Kirby admit- vious flaw in the ISSG strategy Beirut about 60% of Deir Ezzor, includ- city have been crushed by elite re- convoy to the area, activists and a trition items for children; hygiene ted. is to hope that Russia will grow ing the centre and the north of the gime troops. monitoring group said. items and school kits. “There’s plenty of work to tired of propping up its friend city. In the northern city of Aleppo, Regime forces assaulted south- The town’s residents are suf- be done in the ISSG,” he added. in Damascus. he Islamic State militant It has imposed a siege on the Observatory said, seven civil- ern parts of the town after midday, fering from severe shortages and “And the secretary is still mind- Gordon, Jeffrey and many group yesterday overran government-held districts in ians including two children were accompanied by heavy artillery malnutrition, according to local ful of the challenges ahead.” others - including serving dip- Ta government-controlled the south and east where about killed over the previous 48 hours shelling, a local activist who asked activists. In videos posted by ac- But many of the US adminis- lomats from US allies speaking hospital in eastern Syria, killing 200,000 civilians have been in rebel shelling of government- to be known only as Fadi said. tivists inside the town on Face- tration’s critics think the plan is privately - find this naive. 20 members of pro-regime forces trapped since March 2014. held western sectors. The Britain-based Syrian Ob- book, residents said they urgently doomed by a fundamental fl aw - “I think many have consist- and taking medical staff hostage, a The militants, who also control A ceasefi re in the divided city servatory for Human rights also needed food and essential medi- it relies on Russia’s good graces. ently underestimated Russia’s monitor said. nearly all the surrounding prov- expired on Wednesday at mid- reported heavy fi ghting between cines. Kerry and his Kremlin coun- determination to prevent this re- The Syrian Observatory for ince, have repeatedly attacked the night. Islamist rebels and regime forces Daraya’s plight has angered the terpart Foreign Minister Sergei gime from falling,” Gordon said. Human Rights said the militants government enclave and seized Meanwhile, Syrian govern- in the southern Daraya, which Syrian opposition, which cited the Lavrov, the odd couple of great In Jeddah before the full ISSG attacked Al-Assad hospital in Deir several neighbourhoods since the ment forces yesterday launched neighbours the capital’s key al- lack of aid deliveries to besieged power diplomacy, are co-chairs meeting, Kerry will seek to re- Ezzor as they press an advance to start of this year. a ground assault on the besieged Mezzeh airbase. areas as one of its reasons for sus- of the ISSG. assure the Saudis - and through try to control the oil-rich city and But their eff orts to capture the town of Daraya outside Damascus, “Daraya is strategic for its lo- pending its participation in peace Moscow has undertaken to them the Syrian opposition its vital airbase. cation near al-Mazzeh military talks in Geneva. pressure its ally Assad to re- - that Assad’s days are num- The attack sparked clashes with Car blast kills two in Qamishli, northeast Syria airbase and is also key to the “Daraya has been the site of spect the shaky truce that bered. regime forces providing security army’s bid to work on driving relentless fi ghting for more than Washington hopes will smooth But it is not clear what will for the hospital in which six mili- Two people were killed when Asayish, Abdallah Saadoun, said opposition fi ghters from areas three and a half years, and we the path to political talks. happen if he holds on beyond tants were also killed, the monitor a car exploded in the town of the vehicle exploded in a car close to the capital Damascus,” know the situation there is des- And the US, with regional the supposed August 1 cut-off said. Qamishli in northeastern Syria wash. One of the dead was a Observatory director Rami Abdel perate,” Yacoub El Hillo, UN ally Saudi Arabia, is working to that the ISSG has agreed must “IS attacked Al-Assad hospi- yesterday, around 10 days car wash worker and one was a Rahman said. resident and humanitarian co- reassure an opposition coali- be the start of a process of tran- tal at the city’s western entrance, after local security services Kurdish YPG militia fighter who On Thursday government forc- ordinator in Syria, said after the tion that a ceasefire will lead to sition. killing at least 20 soldiers and al- warned about a possible was nearby, Saadoun said. es refused to allow a UN and Red convoy was turned back. a political transition. Obama, still proud of his lied fi ghters,” said Observatory attack, a Syrian Kurdish The YPG controls swathes of Cross aid convoy enter Daraya, Russia and the US last week But what if, reassured by the record as the president who head Rami Abdel Rahman. official said. northeastern Syria including despite the government previ- pledged to press the parties to the military and diplomatic sup- extricated the US from Iraq, The militants “seized the hos- The media off icer for Kurdish most of Hasaka province where ously granting clearance. confl ict to ensure the delivery of port of Russia and Iran, Assad shows no sign of wanting pital and captured the medical internal security force, the Qamishli is. The convoy was supposed to aid to beleaguered areas, includ- and his regime have no inten- deeper military involvement in staff , holding them hostage”, he provide essential medical sup- ing Daraya. tion of standing aside? Syria. Hezbollah: extremists War safety awareness killed military chief

AFP arch-foe Israel of responsibility. warehouse near the airport when Beirut Yesterday, it said a probe had it was rocked by a blast on Thurs- concluded that Islamist radicals day night. known as “takfi ris”, who consider No aircraft was heard before the ebanese Shia militant group Shias to be heretics, had killed explosion, the source said. Hezbollah yesterday blamed Badreddine. The head of the Britain-based LSunni extremists for kill- “An investigation has shown Syrian Observatory for Human ing its top military commander in that the blast that targeted one Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman, said Syria and vowed to keep fi ghting of our positions near the Damas- no artillery fi re had been heard in to defend President Bashar al- cus international airport that led the area either in the past three Assad’s regime. to the martyrdom of the brother days. Hezbollah has deployed thou- commander Mustafa Badreddine In the northern city of Alep- sands of fi ghters in Syria where was caused by artillery bombard- po, where a ceasefi re expired on Mustafa Badreddine had led its ment carried out by takfi ri groups Wednesday at midnight, the Ob- intervention in support of Assad’s present in that region,” a Hezbol- servatory reported seven civilians forces, which are also backed by lah statement said. killed in 48 hours of rebel shell- Russia and Iran. It did not name any specifi c ing of government-held western Badreddine, who was on a US group, and there has been no sectors. Syria’s confl ict has killed terror sanctions blacklist and claim of responsibility. more than 270,000 people and wanted by Israel, was killed in a Hezbollah has been battling displaced millions since it started blast on Thursday night near Da- opponents of Assad’s regime in- with the repression of anti-gov- mascus international airport. cluding Sunni extremists from IS ernment protests in 2011. Hezbollah announced his death and Al Nusra Front, Al Qaeda’s In a statement yesterday, Hez- on Friday but without immediate- Syria affi liate. bollah vowed no let-up in its Children attend a war safety awareness class conducted by civil defence members, in the rebel-controlled area of Maaret al-Numan ly apportioning blame, breaking A Syrian security source has war against those it describes as town in Idlib province, Syria yesterday. with its usual pattern of accusing said that Badreddine was in a “criminal gangs” in Syria. Gulf Times 16 Sunday, May 15, 2016 ARAB WORLD Egypt court jails 51 for protests over Saudi island deal

AFP Parents and friends of the de- present in the court, while the pose President Abdel Fattah al- merely administered them while sent. After president Mohamed posed Mursi’s rule and welcomed Cairo fendants burst into tears and rest had been released on bail. Sisi. on lease since the 1950s. Mursi’s overthrow, a police crack- a fi rm leader at the helm to revive cried out in shock after learning Police had quickly dispersed In the leadup to the protests, Critics accuse Sisi of “selling” down killed hundreds of Islamist the economy. of the verdict outside the Cairo protests against the islands deal police already made dozens of the islands in return for Saudi in- protesters, while hundreds of po- But he faces growing discontent n Egyptian court yester- courthouse. on April 25 and arrested dozens arrests to discourage a repeat of vestments. licemen and soldiers have died in a with his rule, with the islands con- day sentenced 51 people Defence lawyers Hossam al- of people. Prosecutors charged a large rally on April 15 at which Sisi, a former army chief who militant insurgency. troversy seen as another example. Ato two years in prison for Khadrawy and Ahmed Abdel- them with participation in illegal demonstrators chanted for the was elected president after over- The crackdown has extended to The government announced the protests against the handover of Latif confi rmed the verdict, rallies. “fall of the regime”. throwing his Islamist predecessor secular and liberal dissidents over deal a day after it was signed dur- two Red Sea islands to Saudi Ara- which they said can be ap- The deal to hand over the is- The government says the is- in 2013, has been accused by ac- the past two years. ing a visit by Custodian of the Two bia, judicial offi cials and lawyers pealed. lands in the Straits of Tiran had lands had always belonged to tivists of installing a heavy-hand- Sisi had initially been feted by Holy Mosques King Salman of said. Thirty-three defendants were galvanised dissidents who op- Saudi Arabia and that Egypt had ed regime that tolerates no dis- millions of Egyptians who op- Saudi Arabia. 25 Palestinian kids killed in three months

AFP in the West Bank and east Jerusa- Compared with the high toll for Jerusalem lem, while three Israeli children the October-December period, were hurt in the West Bank and Unicef recorded four Palestinian west Jerusalem. children killed and 165 injured be- wenty-fi ve Palestinian tween July and September. children were killed in the “Serious concerns arose Unicef also voiced alarm over Tlast three months of 2015 regarding excessive use of the number of Palestinian chil- during a wave of anti-Israeli at- force” dren aged between 12 and 17 held tacks and the number detained by the Israeli army, noting the tally was the highest in seven years, the Unicef cited the example on stood at 422 at the end of Decem- UN children’s agency said. October 25 in Hebron in the West ber according to the Israeli prison “Serious concerns arose re- Bank of a 17-year-old girl who service, the highest recorded since garding excessive use of force, was “taken by IDF (Israel De- March 2009. particularly in relation to inci- fence Forces) soldiers for a search, Israeli law allows Palestinian dents where Palestinian children shot with at least fi ve bullets and children from the age of 12 to be were shot dead by Israeli security killed”. put on trial. forces after carrying out or being “Israeli authorities said that she Since the October outbreak of suspected of carrying out stab- had attempted to stab a police- a wave of unrest, 204 Palestinians bing attacks,” Unicef said in a re- man, however an eyewitness stat- and 28 Israelis have been killed. port. ed that she was not presenting any Most of the Palestinians killed It said more than 1,300 Pales- threat at the time she was shot, were carrying out knife, gun or tinian children were injured dur- and was shouting that she did not car-ramming attacks, Israeli au- Palestinian girls stand on a railing at the al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City. ing the spike in attacks, almost all have a knife,” it said. thorities say. Israel arrests activist over West Bank protest

AFP prison in the West Bank yesterday and Ramallah told his lawyer he had been accused of “interfering with the work of the army in a closed military zone,” he added. srael has arrested a prominent Pales- In February, an Israeli court handed tinian activist and sent him to a mili- Abu Rahma a four-month suspended Itary prison for “interfering” with the sentence on similar charges. He was also work of the army in the occupied West arrested and jailed for 15 months in 2009 Bank, his family said yesterday. for co-ordinating the Bilin protests. Abdullah Abu Rahma has had several Over the years foreign and Israeli run-ins with the army and has spent demonstrators have joined Palestinians time in jail in the past for organising staging weekly protests in Bilin. weekly demonstrations against Israel’s Rateb Abu Rahma said that Israeli separation barrier in the village of Bilin. activists were arrested alongside his The activist, who has organised the brother on Friday. Contacted by AFP, protests for the past 11 years, was ar- the Israeli army declined to comment. rested again on Friday, said his brother Israel began building what it calls its Rateb Abu Rahma. “security fence” in 2002 after a wave of Prominent Palestinian activist and He was moved to the Ofer military Palestinian attacks. head of the Bil’in popular committee, Abdullah Abu Rahma arrested and Settlers attack mother and child in Hebron jailed for “interfering” with the work of the army in the occupied West A group of Israeli settlers attacked a his wife as settlers sprayed his daughter Bank. woman and child during an incursion with pepper spray and caused her to into a home in the area of Tel Rumeida faint. The Palestinians see it as a land grab in the southern occupied West Bank Jawad Abu Aisheh, a co-ordinator for aimed at stealing part of their future district of Hebron. the Hebron-based group Youth Against state, referring to it as the “apartheid Co-ordinator for Human Rights Settlements, said the assault occurred wall”. Defenders Emad Abu Shamsiya told after a weekly settler march took place In a non-binding decision, the Inter- Palestinian news agency (Ma’an) that in the city, usually held on Fridays or national Court of Justice ruled in 2004 the settlers attacked the house of Riyad Saturdays, where Israeli settlers chant that construction of the barrier was il- Abu Hazza late Friday night and beat anti-Arab slogans. legal and, like the UN General Assembly, demanded it be dismantled.

Israeli forces target farmers Trade resumes at main in Gaza Strip

Tunisia-Libya crossing Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian farmers yesterday morning northeast of Khan Yunis AFP smuggling of fuel, which is much cheap- in the southern Gaza Strip. Zarzis er across the border. Witnesses told Palestinian news The closure sparked demonstrations agency (Ma’an) that the Israeli on the Tunisian side and a strike on forces stationed in military order traffi c between Tunisia and Wednesday in the impoverished town watchtowers around Kisofim, Libya resumed yesterday after the of Ben Guerdane, where the economy is near the border area between Btwo countries reached a deal to heavily dependent upon trade with Lib- the besieged enclave and Israel, lift a trade blockade at the main frontier ya, both legal and contraband. opened fire on Palestinians crossing following angry street protests. On Monday, police used tear gas to tending farmland in the area. No The breakthrough came after an disperse a protest by hundreds of dem- injuries were reported. agreement was reached late Friday onstrators. An Israeli army spokesperson on customs duties for goods passing Ben Guerdane, one of the North Af- told Ma’an they were looking into through Ras Jedir, local governor Tahar rican nation’s poorest towns, was also reports. Issued in Public Interest by Matmati said. hit by militant violence in March from Israeli military forces routinely The accord provides for the establish- across the border that killed seven civil- open-fire on Palestinian farmers ment of a single customs duty for goods, ians and 13 security personnel as well as in the Gaza Strip near the “buff er Matmati said, adding that a joint moni- 55 extremists. zone,” which lies on the border toring committee was to oversee the deal. Yesterday, Libya’s LANA news agency between the besieged enclave Libyan border offi cials halted all cited an offi cial in the Libyan town of and Israel, despite a ceasefire freight traffi c through the crossing at Zwara as saying passenger traffi c had agreement that ended the 2014 the end of April in an attempt to stop the been fully restored. war. Gulf Times Sunday, May 15, 2016 17 AFRICA

Kinshasa denies getting guns from N Korean regime

AFP Kinshasa

he Congolese government yesterday denounced as an “outright lie” claims in a UN confi dential report Tits soldiers and police have been equipped with pis- tols from North Korea in violation of international sanc- tions. “It’s an outright lie. There hasn’t been any co-operation with North Korea since the death (in 2001) of (Laurent) Ka- bila,” referring to the father and predecessor of the Demo- cratic Republic of Congo’s current President Joseph Kabila, government spokesman Lambert Mende told AFP. A UN panel of experts had found that “pistols with char- acteristics similar to those produced in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea were issued to certain mem- bers of the FARDC (armed forces), as well as to Congolese national police that were deployed to MINUSCA,” the UN mission in the Central African Republic, according to the report seen by AFP Friday. Congolese soldiers and police said the arms were deliv- ered in 2014 as part of a training programme of the presi- dential guard and special police units carried out by some 30 North Korean instructors. The same type of pistol is sold on the black market in Kinshasa, said the report. North Korea is banned from selling weapons under UN sanctions. Washington has in the past noted that the DRC has cut back its relations with pariah countries like North Korea. In late 2001, the US embassy in Kinshasa said that “since Joseph Kabila took power after his father’s assassination, the government of the DRC has behaved in a much more responsible manner,” in relations with North Korea, Libya and Cuba, according to a US diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks. But this latest accusation against the Kinshasa govern- ment comes as it is facing mounting international criticism for suppressing political opposition and seeking to delay the next presidential poll. Britain warned on Friday it may seek EU sanctions over “acts of repression” in the DRC as police clashed with sup- porters of a key opposition fi gure accused of hiring foreign mercenaries. The warning came after the mineral-rich African coun- try’s Constitutional Court this week ruled that Kabila can stay in offi ce beyond 2016 without being re-elected, if a vote is not held by the time his mandate expires in December.

French President Francois Hollande inspects an honour guard in Abuja yesterday. Nigerians to strike over petrol prices

AFP Boko Haram remains Abuja igerian unions yesterday called for a national strike from next week to protest a 67% increase in the Npump price of petrol in Africa’s largest crude pro- ducer. “If by midnight on Tuesday next week the govern- ment fails to reverse the price of petrol to 86.50 naira per litre, we will have no other option than to order workers to begin an indefi nite strike from Wednesday,” Nigeria Labour a threat: Hollande Congress (NLC) general secretary Peter Ozo-Eson told AFP. He said the decision was taken after a meeting of both the AFP Hollande was speaking after Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Ni- caliphate, was “now... not hold- achieved through better regional NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) - the two um- Abuja talks with his Nigerian counter- ger. ing” any local government dis- coordination. brella organisations for Nigerian workers. part Muhammadu Buhari at the Over the last 15 months, indi- tricts in the northeast. Paris had also provided training “We have directed our affi liates and civil society allies to presidential villa in the Nigerian vidual armies have largely been But he said the “main problem and equipment, he added, as part mobilise their members for the impending showdown with oko Haram remains a threat capital before regional leaders met acting independently to curb the now is rehabilitation” of destroyed of the international support to government over this anti-people policy,” he said. despite “impressive” mili- to discuss the confl ict. violence in the face of mounting infrastructure such as schools, Abuja that includes British mili- Nigeria raised the price of petrol to 145 naira ($0.73) per li- Btary gains against it, French Nearly seven years of violence cross-border attacks, particularly health clinics, roads and bridg- tary trainers and US surveillance tre last Wednesday after months of fuel shortages caused by a President Francois Hollande said have left at least 20,000 dead suicide bombings against civil- es, as well as handling the dis- drones. foreign exchange shortage which left Africa’s biggest econo- yesterday, as regional and Western and left more than 2.6mn home- ians. placed, more than 60% of whom Hollande and Buhari signed a my running on fumes. Despite being Africa’s No. 1 crude pro- leaders gathered for talks on the less, devastating infrastructure The UN Security Council has are women and children, many of “letter of intent” to pave the way ducer, Nigeria has to import petroleum products because of Islamist threat. in Nigeria’s remote northeast also raised concerns about Boko them orphans. for a defence agreement. a lack of capacity at its four functioning domestic refi neries. “The results (of the counter-in- and creating a humanitarian Haram’s links to the Islamic State “This is a pathetic situation and The two leaders also signed The government keeps prices at the pump low and pays surgency) are impressive” and the crisis. group, after reports of Nigerian is a major problem we are going to several accords strengthening the diff erence to fuel importers, who frequently hold the rebels had been “diminished and Discussions at the security fi ghters in lawless Libya. face in this country.” existing cooperation, includ- country ransom by refusing to distribute fuel over tardy forced to retreat”, he told a news summit are expected to focus on Buhari said progress had been Hollande, who sees France as a ing through France’s main de- subsidy payments. The oil sector accounts for 70% of gov- conference in Abuja. the formal deployment of a new made, as Boko Haram, which natural liaison between its former velopment agency, of upwards of ernment revenue but has been hit by the global fall in crude But added: “This terrorist group regional force comprising troops captured swathes of territory in colonies and English-speaking $120mn for Nigeria’s under-ca- prices since mid-2014, weakening the naira currency and nevertheless remains a threat.” from Nigeria and its neighbours 2014 and declared a self-styled Nigeria, said results had been pacity electricity sector. forcing up the cost of living. ‘Ghost ship’ under guard in Liberia surfer paradise

By Zoom Dosso, AFP more than three days and could said Merchant, who is seeking to Robertsport, Liberia not see anyone coming out of it. play down fears among the local That created security concerns, community of an elaborate ter- people even got panicked”, said rorist plot by west African jihad- hen an empty oil tank- the superintendent of Grand ist group Boko Haram. er drifted onto a Libe- Cape Mount County, Tenneh “There is no security threat. Wrian beach, it disturbed Kpadebah. Because (there is) news going to golden shores usually troubled “Some youths went in and town saying that Boko Haram only by baby crabs, and raised they discovered that no crew entered Cape Mount; but of rumours of everything from an members were there and no one course, it’s not true.” Islamist invasion to a ghost crew. was in the vessel. Emmanuel Belema, 34, isn’t to Robertsport is more usually “I called security offi cials be persuaded. “No one can con- known as a surfers’ paradise, at- because this is a security mat- vince me that no one was on the tracting beach bums from afar to ter, and they have deployed men ship. If people were there then its epic breaks and chilled night- around the vessel,” she added. where have they gone? I believe life. The ship still sits metres from that we have to realise that this is But when visited by AFP jour- the shore, painted red with Chi- how Boko Haram get into areas,” nalists this week, the vessel was nese characters imprinted on its he said. under police guard after episodes side, with burnt sections visible Palm trees rustled, and waves of attempted looting. on the walls of its control room lapped the shore as he spoke, but Authorities in Liberia are in- and mast. the idea of gunfi re and attackers vestigating the Panama-fl agged Sergeant Himie Merchant, seemed very off . tanker, named Tamaya 1, which who is part of the team guarding On Friday, a security source drifted onto the shore on May the vessel, said his police support confi rmed to AFP that the ves- 3, but for now its backstory is a unit were called in after reports sel’s lifeboat had been located mystery. of disturbances on the beach. 200km down the coast, spread- All that is known is that the Offi cers arrested some looters, ing the mystery even further ship had last signalled its posi- while others escaped, Merchant afi eld. tion at 10am on April 22, hours said. However it is not known “The lifeboat of Tamaya 1 was after leaving the port of Dakar, what - if anything - was actually seen fl oating on the ocean yes- Senegal. taken from the ship. terday in Buchanan (a port city). “Citizens of Cape Mount no- Still the rumour mill in the No one was on board,” the source ticed the presence of the ship for area was running at full capacity, said. The empty oil tanker that has drifted onto the beach in Robertsport, Liberia. Gulf Times 18 Sunday, May 15, 2016 AMERICAS

Auction fi rms Climate sceptic to advise refused to sell gun Trump on energy policy used to Reuters ownership of US energy assets, kill teen Washington as well as what he characterised as burdensome taxes and over- regulation. Reuters onald Trump has picked Trump will have an opportu- New York a prominent climate nity to fl oat some of the ideas at Dchange sceptic to help an energy summit in Bismarck, him craft his energy policy and North Dakota on May 26, Cram- wo of America’s leading pushed back against renewed er said. auctioneers of guns said calls that he release his income The senator was also among Tthey refused on ethical tax returns – saying that his tax a group of Trump advisers who grounds to handle the sale of the rate is “none of your business”. recently met with lawmakers 9mm pistol that George Zim- The presumptive Republican from Western energy states, who merman used to kill unarmed presidential nominee is seeking hope Trump will open more fed- black teenager Trayvon Martin. to build out his policy proposals eral land for drilling, a lawmaker The fi rearm is so toxic that as he pivots from campaigning who took part in the meeting another auctioneer, the man for his party’s nomination to a said. Cramer: one of the US’s most ardent oil and gas drilling advocates who sold the revolver used to kill likely general election match- A spokeswoman for Trump’s and climate change sceptics. John F Kennedy’s assassin, said up with Democratic rival Hillary campaign did not comment. he would want no part of it had Clinton. Environmental groups, and Trump also took heat on Fri- However, the Trump cam- he been approached by Zimmer- Among those he has asked for Clinton’s campaign, quickly day for not releasing his tax re- paign earlier this year released man. help is US Republican Repre- attacked Trump for tapping turns, something that American a letter from his attorneys say- Zimmerman, a one-time sentative Kevin Cramer of North Cramer. presidential candidates have ing that his personal tax returns neighbourhood watch volun- Dakota, one of the country’s “Kevin Cramer has con- done for decades. have been under “continuous teer, is trying to sell the Kel-Tec most ardent oil and gas drilling sistently backed reckless and Clinton and her rival, Senator examination” from the IRS. PF-9 that he used to shoot the advocates and climate change dangerous schemes to put the Trump: has said the IRS was auditing his returns. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, have Presidential candidates have a black Florida teenager in 2012, a sceptics. profi ts of fossil fuel executives both released their returns. long history in the modern era of case that convulsed the country North Dakota has been at the before the health of the public, est piece of evidence that letting He has also claimed global Trump has said the Internal releasing their tax returns. and ignited debates on race rela- forefront of the US shale oil and so he and Trump are a match him get near the White House warming is a concept “created Revenue Service (IRS) was au- “In 1976, Gerald Ford did not tions, gun control and American gas boom. made in polluter heaven,” Sierra would put our children’s health by and for the Chinese” to hurt diting his returns and he wanted release his returns, but he did justice. Trump’s team asked Cramer, Club legislative director Melinda and futures at risk,” said cam- US business. to wait until the review was over release some information about A jury acquitted Zimmerman, who has endorsed Trump, to Pierce said in an e-mailed state- paign spokesman Jesse Fergu- Clinton, meanwhile, has ad- before making them public. his taxes,” said Joseph Thorn- who was protected by Florida’s write a white paper, or detailed ment. son. vocated shifting the country “It should be, and I hope it’s dike, director of the Tax History “stand your ground” self-de- report, on his energy policy The Clinton campaign also Trump has been light on the to 50% clean energy by 2030, before the election,” Trump told Project at Tax Analysts, a non- fence laws. ideas, according to Cramer and criticised the move. details of his energy policy, promised heavy regulation of ABC’s Good Morning America. profi t, nonpartisan group that Two auctioneers, Wes Cowan sources familiar with the matter. “Donald Trump’s choice of though he recently told support- fracking, and said her prospec- The IRS declined to comment provides tax news and analysis. of Cowan’s Auctions in Cincin- Cramer said in an interview outspoken climate (change) de- ers in West Virginia that the coal tive administration would put on whether Trump or any other “That was the last time that nati and James Julia of James D that his white paper would em- nier Kevin Cramer to advise him industry would thrive if he were coal companies “out of busi- presidential candidates were be- a major party nominee hasn’t Julia Auctioneers in Fairfi eld, phasise the dangers of foreign on energy policy is just the lat- president. ness”. ing audited. done it.” Maine, both said on Friday that Zimmerman called their estab- lishments recently hoping to consign the gun with them. Both turned him down. Cowan said he never returned the call. Trudeau promises Julia said he instructed his employees not to accept the gun. “The man is despicable and I would have nothing to do with his gun,” Julia said. major assistance for Cowan said: “Morally and ethically, no, I wouldn’t do it.” Zimmerman could not be reached for comment, but told Orlando TV station WOFL this fi re-ravaged region week that the gun was his to sell and he would not be “cowed” by critics. Reuters nearly half, or 1.07mn barrels ing 90% of all eligible costs. The gun may be valuable Bonnyville, Alberta per day (bpd), of Alberta’s oil Trudeau said the government to history buff s, gun enthusi- sands capacity. would try to ensure the money asts or opponents of the Black The blaze could cost insur- was paid out more quickly than Lives Matter civil rights move- anadian Prime Minister ers as much as C$6bn ($4.7bn), usual but gave no details. ment that Martin’s death helped Justin Trudeau praised making it by far the most ex- After the aerial tour, he was spawn. Cfi refi ghters on Friday for pensive Canadian natural disas- briefed on progress fi ghting the Others who apparently re- defending the energy hub of Fort ter, according to ratings agency fi re, which has moved east of Trudeau and Fort McMurray Fire Chief Darby Allen look over a burnt out car on Friday while visiting tain vitriol for Zimmerman have McMurray and promised the DBRS. Fort McMurray into less inhab- neighbourhoods devastated by the wildfire that forced the evacuation of the city in Fort McMurray. placed false bids on the gun in federal government would pour “To the people of Fort Mc- ited areas, and praised emergen- an online auction on the United money in to its recovery. Murray: Know that even though cy offi cials for their “valour and fi refi ghting eff orts. Premier Rachel Notley told the ready reeling from collapsing oil Gun Group’s website, bidding it Trudeau toured the town in things may look diffi cult and courage” in preserving much of Many of the evacuees are liv- news conference. prices. up to $65mn on Friday with bid- a military helicopter and saw uncertain and at times perhaps the town. ing in temporary accommoda- On Friday the fi re was 12km But even so, portfolio manag- der names such as “Racist Mc- a patchwork of neighbour- almost hopeless, know that you “The work you did to save tion across the province, while (7.5 miles) from ConocoPhillips’ ers see value in Alberta’s gov- ShootFace”. hoods destroyed by an inferno are not alone. Canadians are so much of this community, to authorities work to restore pow- Surmont oil sands site, which ernment bonds, anticipating the Sean Rich, owner of Tortuga that forced the evacuation of all standing with you,” said Tru- save so much of this city and its er, gas, water and communica- is 63km (39 miles) southeast of province will rebound. Trading and well known as an 88,000 inhabitants. deau. downtown core ... was unbeliev- tions. Fort McMurray, and it had not Four major oil fi rms operating antique fi rearms consultant on Some homes still stood, while “There will be signifi cant able,” he said. Local offi cials say it will be 10 advanced since Thursday morn- in the area around Fort McMur- the History Channel TV show others had burned to their foun- federal monies invested in that Trudeau has faced criticism days before they can even pro- ing, spokesman Rob Evans said. ray have declared force majeure, Pawn Stars, said the nega- dations. community as we rebuild,” he in Alberta, a province that does duce a plan for resettlement, He said operations would be a contract clause to remove li- tive publicity for an auctioneer The inferno closed the exten- told a news conference in the not usually vote for his party, for much less allow people to return on hold until Alberta allowed ability for unavoidable catastro- would outweigh any profi t. sive oil sands operations near provincial capital Edmonton. waiting more than a week to sur- to a place where small fi res are people to stay overnight at Sur- phes. “That’s one of the reasons I the town and the eff ort to restart Ottawa runs a fund to assist vey the damage. still erupting. mont’s camp. The fi re spans 241,000 hec- choose not to deal with Nazi ma- them is progressing slowly. provinces in recovering from He initially stressed he did not Rebuilding Fort McMurray The inferno is a blow to Al- tares (596,000 acres), growing terial. You have to draw the line The wildfi re knocked out disasters and could end up pay- want his visit to interfere with “is the work of years”, Alberta berta’s economy, which was al- much more slowly than before. somewhere,” Rich said.

Pfizer takes steps to block its drugs ‘Hyperloop’ sled speeds through desert on magnets from being used in lethal injections Pfizer has taken steps to ensure that none of its products are used in Reuters ed Hyperloop One, called the test of the cost of the state’s high- lethal injections, the largest US drugmaker said on Friday. North Las Vegas a major milestone. speed rail project. “We are enforcing a distribution restriction for specific products “Technology development Sceptics say real-world chal- that have been part of, or considered by some states for, their lethal testing can be a tricky beast,” he lenges ranging from construc- injection protocols,” the New York-based drugmaker said on its website. car-sized sled powered said to a crowd of 300. “You nev- tion permits to making the new “Pfizer strongly objects to the use of its products as lethal injections for by electromagnets rock- er know on a given day if things technology work mean the costs capital punishment.” Aeted to more than 100mph are going to work exactly like you are likely to be far greater. The move shuts off the last remaining open market source of drugs (160kph) through the Nevada want.” “The hyperloop might be used in executions, following similar actions by more than 20 US and desert on Wednesday in what the The sled began on a train track promising, but it’s still unproven European drugmakers, according to a report in the New York Times on Los Angeles company develop- and then was rocketed to 105mph and just an idea. High-speed Friday. ing the technology said was the by electromagnets as electricity rail is a proven technology that’s The list of products includes the powerful anaesthetic propofol, the fi rst successful test of a futurist was shot into copper coils. been in use around the world for drug that caused the death of pop superstar Michael Jackson. transit system called hyperloop. After a short ride, the sled ran decades,” said Lisa Marie Alley, a The other Pfizer products the drugmaker said it will block from use in Hyperloop One is among sev- into a sand trap, sending out sili- spokeswoman with the Califor- executions are pancuronium bromide, potassium chloride, idazolam, eral companies competing to con sprays. nia High Speed Rail Authority. hydromorphone, rocuronium bromide and vecuronium bromide. bring to life a technical vision by If all goes according to plan, A hyperloop, she said, will Pfizer’s distribution restriction limits the sale of the seven products to a Elon Musk, the founder of rocket sleds will levitate and carry pods run into the same challenges of select group of wholesalers, distributors, and direct purchasers under maker SpaceX and electric car in a test later this year. any other large infrastructure the condition that they will not resell these products to correctional company Tesla Motors, who Gigantic tubes already are project, including funding, right institutions for use in lethal injections, the company said. suggested sending pods holding scattered around the Las Vegas of way, environmental permits, passengers and cargo inside gi- area test site. approvals and clearances. ant vacuum tubes between Los Company chief executive Rob “None of it is easy,” she said. ‘McDonald’s Diet’ brand ambassador Angeles and San Francisco. Lloyd on Wednesday forecast a Alon Levy, a mathematician dropped from school presentations It’s a matter of debate how hyperloop would transport cargo who writes about mass transit soon – or whether – passengers by 2019 and passengers by 2021. for the blog Pedestrian Obser- The former Iowa science teacher and McDonald’s Corp “brand and cargo will ride the system at “We’re practicing large, fast vations, said the cost estimates ambassador”, who preached the virtues of walking and near-daily velocities approaching 750mph construction that includes ro- from hyperloop backers do not french fries in presentations to youth, is no longer visiting US schools, (1,200kph), but Hyperloop One botic welding. Techniques that fully take into account diffi cul- the fast-food chain said on Friday. already has raised $80mn from allow us to create a perfect pro- ties such as engineering turns at The programme presented by John Cisna, author of the book My backers including clean tech- duction level,” he said. “What jet speed or even digging tunnels. McDonald’s Diet: How I lost 37 pounds in 90 days and became a viral nology venture capitalist Kho- people think takes years should “I do think Hyperloop can media sensation, was sharply criticised by teachers, parents and sla Ventures; high-speed railway take quarters.” be built. But making it work re- public health advocates who accused McDonald’s of trying to hook SNCF, the French National Rail Musk created a stir by saying quires much more money than youngsters on unhealthy food. A recovery vehicle and a test sled sit on rails after the first test of Company; and GE Ventures. California could build a hyper- the builders think, and much Cisna’s programme included a documentary and discussion guide the propulsion system at the Hyperloop One Test and Safety site Brogan BamBrogan, a former loop from San Francisco to Los more than conventional high- edited by McDonald’s, which hired him in 2015 and provides him with a on Wednesday in North Las Vegas. SpaceX engineer who co-found- Angeles for around $6bn, a 10th speed rail,” he said. stipend for time and travel related to his speaking engagements. Gulf Times Sunday, May 15, 2016 19 ASEAN Birth of rare Sumatran US to renew most rhino hailed as major boost Myanmar sanctions Reuters AFP tinctive for their woolly hair Washington Jakarta and twin horns, often exist in small herds of two to fi ve within their jungle habitats in he US plans to renew he rare birth of a Su- Indonesia. the bulk of its sanctions matran rhino in Indo- Ellis said conservationists Tagainst Myanmar when Tnesia has been hailed a planned to consolidate these they expire next week, but will victory for the critically en- smaller groups into a larger make some changes aimed at dangered species, which has population, so the rhinos can boosting investment and trade, been almost wiped out in the fi nd suitable mates and ensure according to several senior US wild by poaching and habitat the longevity of the species. offi cials and congressional aides. destruction. It will be at least six or sev- An announcement on ex- Conservationists wept in en years before the newborn tending much of the Interna- joy as the healthy female calf is ready to mate. For now the tional Emergency Economic was born on western Sumatra calf — which has not yet been Powers Act, or IEEPA, could island on Thursday, just the named — will remain in the come as soon as Tuesday ahead fi fth rhino of its kind born in a sanctuary where she’s under of a visit to the Southeast Asian breeding facility. 24-hour observation. nation by Secretary of State The newborn was walking “She seems to be healthy,” John Kerry on May 22, officials within hours and has since Ellis said. said. grown stronger, feeding and “They come out and they’re The US Treasury Depart- bonding with its mother, a so skinny, but she’s started to ment has significantly eased conservationist at the rhino fi ll out a little bit today.” sanctions against Myanmar by sanctuary in Sumatra said. It was the second time the issuing general licenses that Sumatran rhinos are ex- newborn’s mother, Ratu, had give companies and investors tremely rare, with just 100 be- given birth at the facility. exemptions to sanctions tar- lieved to exist worldwide. Her previous birth four geting more than 100 individu- Susie Ellis, the head of the years ago marked the fi rst time als and businesses, including International Rhino Foun- a Sumatran rhino had been some of Myanmar’s biggest dation, said their scarcity in born in an Asian breeding fa- business players. the wild made this birth “ex- cility for more than 140 years. US officials began lift- tremely signifi cant”. Despite being the small- ing trade and financial sanc- “Every birth counts,” she est of the fi ve remaining rhino tions against the country af- said from Sumatra. species, Sumatran rhinos have ter military leaders launched “One birth doesn’t save the very long pregnancies that last reforms that led to a civilian species, but it’s one more Su- about 16 months. government being formed in matran rhino.” Experts who witnessed the 2011, beginning its transfor- Sumatran rhinos are target- rare birth, including some mation from a half-century as ed by poachers as their horns who travelled from the US and an international pariah. and other body parts fetch Australia, cheered, prayed and In December, Treasury high prices on the black mar- wept as the newborn took its temporarily relaxed trade re- ket for use in traditional Chi- fi rst steps, Ellis said. strictions on the country also nese medicine. “I burst into tears, because known as Burma by allowing Their rainforest habitat on it was just such a special mo- all shipments to go through Sumatra island is also being ment and such a joyous occa- its ports and airports for six destroyed due to the rapid ex- sion,” she added. months. pansion of palm oil and pulp It’s hoped Ratu, a 14-year- This time, Washington will and paper plantations. old rhino that wandered out likely offer more general li- Last year, they were de- of the rainforest a decade ago, censes to specific compa- clared extinct in Malaysia. could give birth to more young nies, and take some people off The remaining rhinos, dis- in the future, Ellis added. Treasury’s list of “Specially Designated Individuals” tar- geted for sanctions, congres- sional aides and US officials said. Kerry’s visit to Myanmar Ailing king treated is his first since the party of Aung San Suu Kyi, the coun- try’s Nobel laureate, swept to with antibiotics power following a landslide election win in November. A constitution drafted by the AFP mation in his right lung and country’s former military rul- Myanmar State Counsellor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi, accompanied by former peace advisers Hla Maung Shwe (left) and Tin Maung Bangkok knees earlier this week. His ers bars her from becoming Thann (second left), inspects the compound of the Myanmar Peace Centre (MPC) in Yangon yesterday. temperature and blood pres- president. sure have since returned to President Barack Obama’s expire on May 20. about rights, and asking the to demonstrate our support for mies. Peter Kucik, a former sen- hailand’s hospital- normal but doctors are “still opening to Myanmar followed Washington has deep con- administration to work with the new democratically elected ior sanctions adviser at the US bound monarch Bhu- administering antibiotics to by its peaceful transition to cerns about human rights Congress to ensure those con- government of Burma ...and that Treasury, said despite an easing Tmibol Adulyadej is be- mitigate the infl ammation in an elected government is seen conditions in predominantly cerns were addressed. we’re taking the necessary steps of some banking sanctions by ing treated with antibiotics for his knees, as well as medicine as one of his foreign policy Buddhist Myanmar, especially “Like you, we want to ensure to ensure that they succeed, the US since 2012, transactions infl ammation in his knees, the to dissolve phlegm,” the state- achievements. He has visited violence against ethnic and that the US is Burma’s strongest that they can carry on economic with Myanmar were still diffi - palace said in a statement yes- ment said. there twice. But the admin- religious minorities including supporter on its road to democ- developments and reforms,” a cult. terday. The king is also receiving istration also wants to main- Rohingya Muslims. racy,” the senators said in the let- senior administration offi cial “I suspect the changes that get The king is the object of an physical therapy, according to tain leverage on the country to Members of the US Con- ter, seen by Reuters. told Reuters. “At the same time announced all drive at the same intense personality cult and the palace, which tightly con- guard against backsliding on gress, from both parties, are US offi cials, speaking on con- we want to do that in a smart, end goal: which is to promote his frail health is a subject of trols information about the reforms and to press for im- watching closely and could dition of anonymity, said Aung measured way that gives us a and make easier the trade and signifi cant public concern. royal family. provement on human rights. move to clamp down on My- San Suu Kyi supported the ex- range of options and fl exibility to business relationships between He has spent most of the Bhumibol is the world’s By renewing the legal anmar themselves if they think tension of US sanctions with respond appropriately going for- the two countries and encourage past two years hospitalised for longest-reigning monarch and framework for sanctions even Obama is moving too quickly. some changes. Discussions with ward,” the offi cial added. continued reform while minding a series of ailments, with very most Thais have never known as it eases some measures, Last month, Senators Cory her have focused on how to The US is eager to expand re- concerns,” said Kucik. few public appearances and life under another king. Obama will offer the private Gardner and Ben Cardin, the properly target trade restrictions lations with Myanmar to help “The details will really in- speeches. Anxiety over what will hap- sector more breathing room Republican and Democratic so they do not hurt Myanmar’s counteract China’s rise in Asia dicate where the principal ar- The Royal Household Bu- pen after his reign comes to an while maintaining pressure on leaders of the Foreign Relations overall economy, but keep pres- and take advantage of the open- eas of remaining concern are but reau said in a statement last end is considered an aggravat- its military, which still holds Asia subcommittee, wrote to sure on military-owned institu- ing of one of the world’s last broadly speaking they are going night that he had a fever, low ing factor in the country’s past significant political power. Kerry and Treasury Secretary tions, they said. “frontier markets,” growing but to be aligned with what we’ve blood pressure, and infl am- decade of tumultuous politics. The sanctions had been due to Jack Lew expressing concern “We are looking to take steps less developed emerging econo- seen so far,” he said. Villagers seek answers to missing land rights activist

Thomson Reuters Foundation Pornpen Khongkachonkiet, di- been hurt by an animal — pos- four decades in the Khok Yao Bangkok rector of the Cross Cultural sibly an elephant, bull, bear or community, an area inside Phu Foundation, a Bangkok-based buff alo — as has happened with Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary that is rights group that provides legal hunters in the area. home to about 30 other families, illagers from northeast assistance to marginalised popu- Local police captain Wuttichai Pornpen said. Thailand travelled to lations. Yermsungnern said an arrest Three days before he went VBangkok on Tuesday to “Now it’s abduction or dis- warrant for Den and his friends missing, Den had gone hunting demand that police and human appearance that we are think- was issued last week, charging with two friends near his home, rights groups investigate the ing about,” Pornpen told the them with hunting in a protected and brought back a deer they disappearance of a prominent Thomson Reuters Foundation by wildlife sanctuary. sold for 8,000 baht ($230), said land rights activist who went phone while taking the villagers Wuttichai said there was “no Wichanon, the Phu Khieo offi - missing last month. to meetings around the capital. information” to suggest the au- cial. Villagers and campaigners The villagers, including Den’s thorities were involved in any Den’s wife Supap Kamlae, 62, fear for the safety of 65-year-old wife, brought to Bangkok bones way in Den’s disappearance. said early April 16 her husband Den Kamlae who was fi ghting for they found in the forest on May Thailand has a history of land went foraging for bamboo shoots his community to be awarded 6 and wood stained with blood, rights activists disappearing or with his two dogs, both of whom legal title to land they occupy in which they hope to present to being killed. returned home later that day but Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary. the Justice Ministry. Last month, a land rights cam- her husband did not. Authorities in Chaiyaphum “They have found something paigner was shot and wounded Wichanon said authori- province where the sanctuary is that is in need of verifi cation - by an unidentifi ed gunman in ties have scoured the area and Supap Kamlae talks about the disappearance of her husband Den Kamlae in Bangkok. located deny any knowledge of they have bones. Is it animal bones Klong Sai Pattana, a community “found no trace of him”. his whereabouts. or human bones?” she said. fi ghting eviction in southern Su- Front Line Defenders, a Dub- from the land they have occupied “It remains unclear who is killings of land rights defend- “We believe that if something Wichanon Saengmala, the as- rat Thani province where four lin-based rights group, lists for 45 years, and Den has been responsible for Den’s abduc- ers in Thailand,” Erin Kilbride, happened, if (he were hurt by) sistant chief of the Phu Khieo other villagers have been killed Den’s status as “disappeared” leading the network of villagers tion, but the government must Front Line Defenders spokes- animals, or if he was sick, then Wildlife Sanctuary, said the au- in recent years. on its website. It says his com- trying to re-establish their rights be held accountable for its apa- woman, said by e-mail from we would have found him,” said thorities believe Den may have Den has lived for more than munity is facing forced eviction over this land. thy towards disappearances and Dublin. Gulf Times 20 Sunday, May 15, 2016 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA

Sea deity Australia charges 5 wanting to join IS Reuters and authorities say they have thwarted Sydney a number of potential attacks, while there have been several “lone wolf” as- saults, including a cafe siege in Sydney ustralian police have charged that left two hostages and the gunman fi ve men held last week on sus- dead. Apicion of planning to travel in Approximately 100 people have left a small motor boat to Indonesia and Australia for Syria to fi ght alongside or- the Philippines en route to join Islamic ganizations such as Islamic State, Aus- State in Syria. tralia’s Immigration Minister said last The men, aged between 21 and 31, month. were charged with preparing to enter a Police said earlier this week that it foreign country “for the purpose of en- was unclear where the men had planned gaging in hostile activities,” an off ence to put the boat in the water. Indonesia that carries a maximum penalty of life and Australia share a maritime border, imprisonment. but it spans several hundred kilometres The fi ve were arrested on Tuesday of open sea at its narrowest point. after towing the 7m motor boat almost The Australian Broadcasting Cor- 3,000km from Melbourne to Cairns in poration said Melbourne-born radi- northern Queensland state, police said. cal preacher Musa Cerantonio, a vocal They have been in custody since, and supporter of Islamic State who was de- Members of a lion dance team perform during a street parade to celebrate the birthday of sea deity Tam Kung in Hong Kong. Also known as Lord Tam the are not scheduled to face court until to- ported from the Philippines to Australia Sea God, he is said to have come from China’s Guangdong Province and has the ‘power’ to contain the winds and storms, making him popular amongst morrow. in 2014, was among those charged. fishermen, and together with Tin Hau, the Goddess of the Sea, is a patron deity of seafarers. “There’s no current or impending Cerantonio, who converted to Islam threat of a terrorist act to the Australian from Catholicism at 17, was believed community arising from this investiga- to be planning to join the militant tion,” a police statement said. group when he was deported for hav- Australia, a staunch US ally, has ing “invalid travel documentation”. He been on heightened alert for attacks was placed under surveillance but not by home-grown radicals since 2014 arrested upon his return. Strict security gets stricter at Beijing gives environment rare North Korean congress ministry more powers Reuters tector scanned bodies, looking for been part of the show, said Jang Jin- cording to residents of the city. Pyongyang concealed wireless devices. Another sung, a North Korean defector who Nuclear-armed North Korea’s rul- stood at the top of a staircase, his right previously worked in the propaganda ing ethos is based in large part on Reuters try to reverse the damage done by dec- arm bent around a Kalashnikov as- unit of the Workers’ Party and wrote protecting the country from attack Beijing ades of untrammelled growth. orth Korea may be the world’s sault rifl e bulking under his jacket. a 2014 memoir, “Dear Leader: My Es- by enemies led by the US, which state A new environmental protection law in most closely controlled soci- Mobile phones, satellite and GPS cape from North Korea.” propaganda frequently characterises force from the beginning of last year gave Nety, but security during a week devices were forbidden, and anything The title refers the name by which as imminent. hina’s environment ministry has authorities more powers to punish fi rms when thousands of Workers’ Party deemed a potential threat was taken, Kim Jong Il is known. But the North’s security appara- been given powers to send in- and individuals that persistently break delegates were in town along with 128 including a hand sanitizer. “While justifying it as a security tus is geared to shielding the leader Cspection teams to provinces and the rules, including the ability to impose foreign journalists was even tighter By comparison, when Kim appeared measure, there may be an element of from internal threats, whether from regions across the country as part of its unlimited fi nes and imprison violators. than usual. at the opening of a military museum trying to show off the highest level of a disgruntled senior bureaucrat or an eff orts to root out local polluters, the China has also set up dozens of special North Korea’s Guard Command, three years ago, foreign journalists in authority to the outside,” Jang, who unknown element in the public that offi cial China Daily newspaper reported environmental tribunals at local courts an elite corps charged with protect- the North Korean capital were briefl y now lives in Seoul, told Reuters. might incite violence, a former body- over the weekend. as well as dedicated regional inspection ing leader Kim Jong Un, and members able to get close enough to touch the Jang said he would not be surprised guard who defected from the North The paper said the Ministry of En- forces to help implement its laws. from the feared state security appa- leader of the reclusive country. if senior offi cials were forced to go has said. vironmental Protection (MEP) would But the MEP has acknowledged that ratus put journalists through layers One even lobbed a question at Kim, through similar security procedures. Kim Jong Il, who died in 2011 of a become only the second national au- enforcement remains a major chal- of intensive checks to gain access to who did not answer. “But it’d be like, whereas they heart attack on a train while travelling thority, after the Central Commission lenge, with minister Chen Jining say- events at the rare party congress. It was not immediately clear why would check the contents of your to give fi eld guidance, according to for Discipline Inspection, China’s cor- ing in February that Beijing still needed It was the fi rst such congress to be security was stepped up last week pockets every time, they would check state media, was especially obsessed ruption watchdog, to have the power to more clout to crack down on polluting held since 1980, before Kim was born, compared with events three years ago theirs may be fi ve out of 10 times,” he with his own safety, according to the send inspection teams and hold discus- fi rms and the local governments that and an opportunity for the 33-year- to mark the 60th anniversary of the said. bodyguard, Lee Yong-guk. sions with provincial leaders. protect them. old to cement his grip on power and end of the Korean war, or last October The North Korean capital was That fear may have been exacer- Citing Liu Changgen, the head of The ministry said last week that He- project his authority to the outside at celebrations of the 70th anniversary locked down even before the con- bated by a huge 2004 explosion that the National Environmental Protec- bei, which has been on the frontline of world. of the ruling party. gress, which bestowed the title of destroyed a railway station hours af- tion Inspection Offi ce, China Daily said the war on pollution, had failed to put At the events journalists were al- Kim seems far more comfortable in party chairman on Kim, who assumed ter Kim Jong Il’s special train passed another 14 provinces would be subject enough pressure on city-level govern- lowed to attend, it took them between public than his late father and pred- power in 2011 after his father’s sudden while returning from China. to a central government-led probe fol- ments to meet standards. three and four hours from the time ecessor, Kim Jong Il, and often trav- death. Kim Jong Il, who was famous for his lowing the completion of inspections The ministry said the inspections they left their hotel to getting in. els within the country in a private jet. Members of the Young Red Guards, fear of fl ying and almost never spoke in heavy industrial Hebei in northern had revealed that a number of fi rms Even when Kim was not there, such But his tenure has also been marked a student militia, stood watch at key at large public events, would obscure China earlier this year. in Hebei, home to seven of China’s 10 as at an evening of performances by a series of purges and executions, intersections south of the city. his movements by sending trains, China has been trying to strengthen smoggiest cities, had illegally expanded where other top offi cials were in at- including of his powerful uncle Jang On parade day on Tuesday, every ships and motorcades in diff erent di- its environmental powers as part of a production capacity and engaged in tendance, protection was extensive. Song Thaek in 2013. bridge across the Taedong River that rections, Lee told Reuters in a 2006 “war on pollution” launched in 2014 to “fraudulent practices”. A guard with a portable radio de- The stricter checks may also have fl ows through the city was closed, ac- interview. African rhinos seek refuge from poachers in Australia

By Susan Njanji, AFP “We have got to get this fi rst species, says that booming de- Without Borders has been in- Johannesburg one right because it’s a big task, mand for horn and the involve- volved in moving at least 100 it’s expensive, it’s complex,” ment of international criminal rhinos from South Africa to Dearlove said. syndicates has fuelled the explo- neighbouring Botswana in recent retired South African sales When they are settled suc- sion in poaching since 2007. years. executive who migrated to cessfully in Australia, “then we Dearlove still faces a major lo- Botswana is a favoured desti- AAustralia 30 years ago is hopefully will go up in gear,” he gistical battle to bring his dream nation because its national parks hatching a daring plan to airlift added. to reality. are fi ercely protected against 80 rhinos to his adopted country South Africa is home to around South African and Australian poachers, many of whom are part in a bid to save the species from 20,000 rhinos, around 80% of authorities have imposed strin- of armed gangs based in Mozam- poachers. the worldwide population. gent requirements on moving the bique. Flying each animal on the But they are being killed for animals. In South Africa, the govern- 11,000km journey will cost about their horns, which are in high The rhinos will be placed in ment this month stepped back US$44,000, but Ray Dearlove demand in China and Vietnam quarantine for two months be- from supporting a controversial believes the expense and risk is where they are prized for their fore they board a cargo plane and campaign to legalise the interna- essential as poaching deaths have purported medicinal purposes. then go straight into quarantine tional trade in rhino horn. soared in recent years. The horn is composed mainly in a zoo in Sydney until being Some breeders say poaching The rhinos will be re-locat- of keratin, the same as human taken to the safari park. could be halted by meeting the ed to a safari park in Australia, nails, but it is sold in powdered “There is a lot of work that huge demand from Asia through which is being kept secret for form as a supposed cure for can- needs to be done because there legally “harvesting” horn from security reasons, where they will cer among other diseases, and as is some lack of clarity in the pro- anaesthetised live rhinos. become a “seed bank” to breed an aphrodisiac. posal that they have made,” said For Dearlove, Australia may future generations. Poachers slaughtered 1,338 South African Environmental sound like an unlikely and fara- “Our grand plan is to move 80 rhinos across Africa last year - Aff airs Minister Edna Molewa. way solution to save the rhino, over a four-year period. We think the highest level since the poach- “Who bears the cost? It’s quite but the climate is suitable - and that will provide the nucleus of ing crisis exploded in 2008, enormous. We still don’t have the need is overwhelming. a good breeding herd,” Dearlove De-horned rhinos roam in a field at the John Hume Rhino Ranch in Klerksdorp, South Africa. according to the International answers to such things.” “I’m sad that this is actually told AFP while visiting South Af- Union for Conservation of Na- Internal and cross-border re- the situation which is being con- rica to organise for the fi rst batch Project, which the 68-year- home before the end of the year. and the fi rst rhinos have been se- ture (IUCN). locations of animals are not new sidered - because if the poaching to be fl own out. old founded in 2013, hopes Funding - from private and cor- lected from animals kept on pri- The IUCN, which rates white in Africa. would go away, there wouldn’t be The Australian Rhino to take six rhino to their new porate sources - is nearly in place, vate reserves in South Africa. rhinos as “near threatened” as a Conservation group Rhinos a need for such a plan,” he said. Gulf Times Sunday, May 15, 2016 21

BRITAIN/IRELAND

Welsh Opposing camps assembly talks set intensify campaigns to resume tomorrow on referendum Guardian News Service Cardiff Though Cameron and from the European bloc. said it held over 1,000 events the impact of Brexit, Cameron Corbyn are arch rivals, both Meanwhile Jeremy Corbyn, yesterday while a wave of an- said Britain could face reces- elsh Labour and Plaid want Britain to remain in leader of the main opposition ti-EU rallies were also taking sion if it withdrew from the Cymru have had “ex- the EU and are part of a Labour party, made one of his place as campaigning cranks EU. Wtremely useful” talks campaign which has united highest-profi le appearances of up after local and regional “If we vote to leave on following an extraordinary im- most of the country’s the campaign at a rally in cen- elections last week. June 23, we will be voting for passe in which both parties put biggest political figures tral London. With less than six weeks to higher prices, we will be vot- forward their leaders as candi- Though Cameron and Cor- the vote, the “Remain” and ing for fewer jobs, we will be dates to lead the government. AFP byn are arch rivals, both want “Leave” camps are tied at 50% voting for lower growth, we Though Plaid has only 12 London Britain to remain in the EU and each, according to the What will be voting potentially for members to Labour’s 29, the are part of a campaign which UK Thinks website’s average of a recession,” Cameron said in nationalists managed to force an has united most of the coun- the last six opinion polls. a speech which he delivered unexpected tie thanks to backing ampaigning for Brit- try’s biggest political fi gures. The campaign has caused standing on a pallet in his con- from the Tories and Ukip. ain’s tight referendum Pro-leave campaigners like bitter divisions among Cam- stituency west of London. Formal talks opened to try to Con leaving the Europe- former London mayor Boris eron’s ruling Conservative The prime minister said fi nd a way forward after both an Union stepped up yesterday Johnson, argue that Brit- party, over 100 of whose 330 earlier that infrastructure sides accused the other of ar- as Prime Minister David Cam- ain could thrive outside the lawmakers want to leave the projects like rail links would be rogantly trying to get its leader eron hammered home the eco- 28-nation bloc, free to nego- EU. hit by EU withdrawal as Britain elected. nomic impact of Brexit. tiate its own trade deals and Analysts suggest the pre- would lose billions of pounds Prime Minister David Cameron delivering a speech at a “Stronger A joint statement issued on Friday evening said: “We have Cameron, fi ghting for his with businesses liberated from mier would be forced to resign it receives from the European In” campaign event in his Witney constituency in central England yesterday. had a number of meetings today political future in the June 23 red tape. if he lost the referendum. Investment Bank. and they have been extremely referendum which polls sug- Grassroots campaign events After a week of warnings But Johnson, the most high- useful. We are confi dent that we gest is neck-and-neck, said were also taking place across from institutions like the Bank profi le anti-EU fi gure and a can fi nd a way forward that will Britain could slip into reces- Britain. of England and the Interna- Conservative, argued Britain result in the successful nomina- sion if it votes to withdraw The offi cial “In” campaign tional Monetary Fund about could “fl ourish as never be- tion of a fi rst minister next week. fore” if it leaves, in a speech in We will continue to work over the Bristol, southwest England. weekend, and look to resume for- “This is not just the time to mal talks on Monday. unshackle Britannia from her “As it is important to take chains - though it certainly these talks through on a confi - is - it’s a time to speak up for dential basis, we won’t be mak- freedom across the whole con- ing any more comment at this tinent,” said Johnson. stage.” “If we vote on June 23 and Party sources said the talks take back control of our coun- were undertaken “in a spirit of try, our economy and our de- co-operation” with a view to the mocracy, then we can prosper formation of a Labour minority and thrive and fl ourish as nev- government as opposed to being er before.” formal coalition talks. Corbyn, a veteran social- If the stalemate cannot be re- ist deeply critical of the EU solved the Welsh people face the throughout his career, has prospect of another election. been urged by some in his par- Ahead of the talks, Plaid AM ty to do more for the “Remain” Simon Thomas had told the campaign. Guardian that he expected the He responded with a speech incumbent fi rst minister, Carwyn Jones, would in due course be- yesterday which distanced La- come fi rst minister. bour from Cameron but argued He said: “It’s more than likely that issues like workplace pro- he (Jones) will be the fi rst min- tections and pollution should ister but for us to be able to sup- be addressed from inside the port that we want to understand EU. in what way will he work , what “Walking away won’t solve will he do fi rst 100 days, his pri- the issue,” Corbyn told a crowd orities.” of Labour supporters. “We’re Thomas said some were obvi- promoting unity, we’re pro- ous – the steel crisis, helping to moting internationalism, we’re Leader of the opposition Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn leading a keep the UK in the EU. But he Supporters holding up placards as they attend a “Rally to Remain” event in central London yesterday. promoting social justice.” “Rally to Remain” event in central London yesterday. said Plaid wanted to hear what Labour intended to do in other areas that were key during the campaign such as health and education. The impasse has left some vot- ers confused , with some wrongly Irish leader steps up warnings on exit from EU believing Plaid hatched some sort of coalition with its sworn en- emies, the Tories and Ukip. Guardian News Service younger Irish people in the UK Without specifi cally warning “The trust that enables that will be a border again between “There are a myriad of diff erent Both parties accused the other London are less inclined to vote to re- of a return to violence, Kenny kind of close cooperation was Ireland and Northern Ireland. trading models that could be put of arrogance. main than more established Irish said he was concerned that a forged at least in part through And that could at least have the in place. Each of the alternatives Plaid said Labour was arro- settlers. British departure from the EU years of working side by side potential of rekindling a con- would impede, not improve, gant to assume Jones would be reland’s taoiseach has In a speech in Dublin, Kenny would undermine some of the in Brussels since 1973. North- fl ict that has seemingly calmed trade fl ows. They would build fi rst minister without reaching stepped up his warnings – freshly installed as leader institutions that have acted to south co-operation – a keystone down.” in extra bureaucracy, not reduce out to other parties; Labour said Iabout the consequences of a of a new coalition government support the Northern Ireland of the Good Friday agreement Kenny also used his speech red tape.” Plaid was arrogant to put for- British exit from the European – said no future arrangement peace process. – is so much easier when both to make an economic case for a He said as many as 400,000 ward a candidate for fi rst minister Union, saying it might spark a between Ireland and a UK Citing €3bn of EU funding for jurisdictions are members of the remain vote. “We can argue all jobs in Ireland and the UK were though it won only a fi fth of the return to violence in Northern outside the EU could possibly north-south economic coopera- same union.” day about what new arrange- at stake. seats. Ireland and trigger an economic work as effectively as the cur- tion, he said: “In a jurisdiction A similar warning of a return ments could be put in place after There has been speculation Thomas accepted that vot- slowdown in the Republic. Enda rent one. that still has ‘peace walls’ physi- to confl ict in Northern Ireland in a Brexit and how long that would that Ireland might benefi t from ers had been left puzzled. But Kenny said he and his ministers His remarks will be seen as a cally dividing communities, the the event of Brexit was made on take,” he said. Brexit, as some of the UK’s fi - he compared it to when Gordon would be campaigning in the UK direct rebuff to the UK’s North- importance of the EU’s support Thursday by Germany’s foreign “However, no alternative ar- nancial services industry might Brown was defeated at the gener- to try to persuade Irish-born ern Ireland secretary, Theresa for these small building blocks minister, Frank-Walter Stein- rangement will be better than transfer to Dublin, but Ireland al election in 2010 and there was residents to vote to remain. Villiers, who has claimed that of economic and social infra- meier. the one we have: a single mar- says that has not been a factor confusion until the coalition be- It is understood that there is trade relations with Ireland structure should not be taken for He said: “If the United King- ket and seamless fl ows of goods, in its decision to campaign for tween the Tories and the Liberal concern in Ireland that some would be unaff ected. granted. dom were to quit the EU, there services, capital and people. remain. Democrats was formed. Last-minute hospital operation Vintage rally cancellations at 15-year high

Guardian News Service That was 2,604 (4%) up on the – the highest total since the 5,611 underlying causes of cancelled London 71,482 such cancellations seen in 2005-06. operations, including pressures during the previous year. Clare Marx, the president of on A&E units, staff shortages “These are not just statis- the Royal College of Surgeons, and bed shortages due to pa- he number of hospital op- tics, these are people’s lives and said that statistic was “disap- tients who are fi t to go not be- erations cancelled at the delayed operations can impede pointing” and warned that de- ing able to be safely discharged Tlast minute because of a a patient’s quality of life”, said lays can aff ect patients’ health. because social care support does lack of staff or beds has risen to Katherine Murphy , chief execu- “Situations where patients not exist to allow that, Marx its highest in 15 years, new NHS tive of the Patients Association . have to wait longer for their added. fi gures show. “We receive countless calls to treatment are highly stress- An NHS England spokesman A total of 74,086 patients in our helpline from patients and ful for them and their families said: “The proportion of patients England suff ered the frustration their relatives who are fed up and, in some cases, their condi- seeing their operations cancelled of their procedure being post- with cancellations and endless tion could deteriorate. It is vital at the last minute remains under poned at the 11th hour during delays to their operations, often that access to healthcare must 1% in spite of record numbers of 2015-16 for what the NHS calls without any explanation. For be provided at a time when pa- operations being scheduled. “non-clinical reasons”. many patients the wait to receive tients can benefi t most from “Hospitals should continue to Experts warned that the data surgery can be both frustrating the result.” The fi gures do not ensure that every eff ort is made was another sign that standards and daunting,” she added. include thousands of operations to reschedule cancelled opera- are slipping as the health service The number of patients whose postponed because of the vari- tions as soon as possible, but comes under increasingly heavy operation was not rescheduled ous strikes in January, February we can clearly see the eff ects of pressure. The 74,086 is the big- within 28 days, as it should be, and March by junior doctors as delayed care and industrial ac- gest total since 2001-02 when has also hit a 10-year high. In all, those patients were alerted in tion hampering their ability to A steam engine passing vintage cars during a vintage rally at the Great Central Railway Station in 81,743 patients experienced the 5,063 patients last year did not advance. do so towards the end of the year Quorn, Britain, yesterday. same delay at the last moment. have their procedure in the time Ministers need to tackle the (2015-16).” Gulf Times 22 Sunday, May 15, 2016 EUROPE Germany to spend €93bn on refugees DPA/Reuters ny’s 16 states over how to share registered in the country last The number stood at 90,000 the states are at odds over the This file photo taken on February 21 shows firefighters trying to Berlin the costs of supporting the refu- year. in January, according to the inte- costs of the refugee crisis and extinguish a fire at a former hotel that was under reconstruction gees. Germany’s statistics agency rior ministry. how much Berlin should pay out. to become a home for asylum-seekers, in Bautzen east of Dresden, A spokesman for the fi nance reported on Friday that increased Border closures in Balkan and Germany’s states have long eastern Germany. he German government ministry declined to comment government spending on mi- Central European countries are complained they cannot cope expects to spend €93.6bn on the fi gures but pointed to grants was one of the main driv- said to be responsible for the with the migrant infl ux and re- T($105bn) on refugees by ongoing talks between the gov- ers in fi rst-quarter economic downturn. lated costs and the report in Der 2020, a report said yesterday. ernment and states, saying they growth. By 2020, the federal govern- Spiegel said states expected to Citing a draft document from would meet again on May 31. However, the mass infl ux has ment expects to have spent face costs of €21bn this year, ris- More arson cases the fi nance ministry, Der Spiegel The calculations assume that stoked populist resentment and €5.7bn on German language ing to €30bn per year by 2020. magazine reported that the sum 600,000 refugees will arrive causing a drop in Chancellor courses and another €4.6bn on It said the states expected the includes housing and integration this year, 400,000 in 2017 and Angela Merkel’s public approval measures to help migrants get federal government to bear half costs as well as eff orts to combat 300,000 each year after that. ratings. jobs, according to Der Speigel’s of the costs related to refugees at migrant centres the refugee crisis by tackling its It also anticipates that 55% of The number of new arrivals review of the document. but added that the federal fi nance root causes. registered refugees will fi nd work has steadily declined in 2016. Some €25.7bn is set to be spent ministry thinks Berlin is already The document is part of on- within fi ve years of entering Ger- Some 16,000 asylum-seekers on social welfare payments to shouldering more than that and AFP near the torched shelters. going negotiations between the many. were registered in April com- refugees. does not think the states’ calcu- Berlin The BKA head however said he federal government and Germa- Some 1mn asylum-seekers pared to 20,000 in March. The federal government and lations are justifi ed. was worried about the rising hate speech on the Internet against erman authorities report- refugees which could be a trigger ed yesterday an increase for arson. Gin the number of arson Several major German media fi res at shelters for refugees who including the online edition of SPD accuses Merkel of about-turn fl ooded Germany last year, rais- Der Spiegel magazine have closed ing concerns about anti-migrant down their forums discussing violence. topics related to the infl ux of ref- Reuters changing tack by refusing to take “This year, there have already ugees due to the fl ood of insults Berlin some migrants highlights the po- been 45 arson fi res,” said Holger posted. litical tightrope that she has had Muench, head of the federal The mass infl ux of migrants to walk over the highly-charged criminal police (BKA). last year sparked a backlash in erman Chancellor Angela issue in Europe’s largest econo- “What is particularly worri- Germany, including the rise of Merkel’s junior coalition my. some is the increasing scale of the xenophobic and anti-Islamic Gpartner accused her of Germany took in more than a the violence,” he said in an inter- Pegida movement, which bitterly doing an about-turn on her refu- million migrants last year, mostly view with the Funke newspaper opposed Chancellor Angela Mer- gee policy since she opened Ger- people fl eeing confl ict and pov- group. kel’s liberal migration policy. many’s borders to thousands of erty in the Middle East and Af- In 2015, when Germany This year Germany has seen a migrants in September. rica, but the numbers have fallen opened its doors to 1.1mn mi- sharp drop in arrivals of new ref- German Vice-Chancellor and this year. grants, mostly from war-torn ugees since it reintroduced tem- Social Democrats (SPD) leader On whether Merkel could con- Syria, 92 arson fi res at centres for porary border controls and took Sigmar Gabriel told Germany’s sider that drop a personal suc- asylum-seekers were reported, other steps to reduce numbers. Der Spiegel magazine that Mer- cess, Gabriel said that was at best compared with only six in 2014, The EU has also since agreed kel had made the right decision a “half-truth”, adding that the according to BKA statistics pub- on a controversial pact with Tur- to let in the refugees last year, numbers had declined because lished in late January. key to stop refugees crossing by responding to a humanitarian the Balkan route had been closed Muench said he did not have boat to Greece. emergency. and because Turkey was prevent- any knowledge of large-scale Under the agreement, Turkey But she had since changed her ing so many boats from setting far-right groups being behind has agreed to take back migrants tune, he added. sail. the fi res, adding that the majori- who arrived in Greece after “I won’t glorify her refu- In March the European Union ty were set by men from the areas March 20. gee policy either because in the and Turkey struck a deal that meantime she has completely aimed to give Turks visa-free changed her policy,” he was travel to Europe in return for Pig’s head found outside Merkel’s quoted as saying in the interview stemming the fl ow of migrants. constituency off ice in northeast published yesterday. The EU is insisting Turkey “Now, after Austria, Hungary meet 72 criteria, including rein- German police said yesterday that they found a pig’s head bearing an and Slovenia have closed the Bal- ing in its broad anti-terror laws, “insulting inscription” outside Chancellor Angela Merkel’s constituency kan route, she says: ‘We’re not to get visa-free travel and on Fri- off ice in the country’s northeast. taking in any refugees from Ido- day Ankara said talks on this had A police patrol discovered the animal’s head outside the off ice in the meni (a camp on the Greek bor- reached an impasse. Baltic sea town of Stralsund in the early hours of yesterday. der) because people could look Gabriel said Turkish President A spokesman for regional police refused to be drawn on the nature of for accommodation there.’ If I Recep Tayyip Erdogan wanted the insults, saying only that they were directed at Merkel, who was first may say so, that’s a 180-degree to get visa facilitation without elected to parliament in Stralsund 26 years ago. turn,” Gabriel added. meeting all the conditions but The conservative chancellor has been criticised by many Germans Merkel has faced months of added that Europe could not ac- over her welcoming stance towards the migrants that have poured into accusations of being too open to cept that. Europe over the past year. migrants, both from the anti-im- He said he did not expect the The anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) has been buoyed migrant Alternative for Germany EU-Turkey deal to solve the refu- by concerns over the integration of the more than one million asylum- (AfD), and her conservative allies gee crisis because once the route seekers that arrived in Germany in 2015, becoming the country’s third- in Bavaria, the fi rst point of entry to Europe via Greek islands is biggest party. for many migrants. closed, migrants will look for Merkel’s migrant policies have also been contested by some members The fresh criticism from her other routes such as via Bulgaria A man who tried to cross the border takes a break on his way back to a makeshift camp for refugees and of her own Christian Democratic Union (CDU) as well as its Bavarian junior coalition partner for or via Libya and Italy. migrants at the Greek-Macedonian border, near the Greek village of Idomeni. sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU).

Dutch journalist Editors who reported on Putin’s circle leave their jobs to live in secret Dutch-Turkish journalist Ebru Umar, arrested in Turkey last AFP The group declined to com- Meduza, an independent Rus- change editorial policies alto- month after criticising President Moscow ment on whether the editors de- sian news portal based in Latvia, gether, others have shut down or Recep Tayyip Erdogan but later parted under pressure from the said that the Kremlin is seeking moved abroad. allowed to leave, said this week Kremlin. to destroy the media outlet in its The crackdown intensifi ed af- that she is moving to a secret hree top editors at a top Company spokesman Yegor current form out of revenge. ter Putin returned to the Kremlin address in the Netherlands for Russian media group Timofeyev said Osetinskaya “Friday the 13th of May is a for a third term in 2012 following her own safety. Twhich has reported on the would begin her studies at Stan- truly nasty day for all of us, both huge protests against his rule. “I’m going to live at a secret business interests of President ford in September, declining journalists and readers. This is “When they announced that address,” she told popular Vladimir Putin’s family quit on further comment. a day when a miracle was de- Osetinskaya would be leaving for daily tabloid De Telegraaf in an Friday, in the latest blow to the Writing on Facebook, Ose- stroyed right before our eyes,” it several months and the searches interview, after meeting public country’s beleaguered media in- tinskaya thanked her supporters said in an editorial. began everything was already prosecutors in Amsterdam as dustry. but said she would not make any Following the search of clear,” Nikolai Petrov, who lec- well as the National Anti-Terror The RBC group’s daily news- comment. Prokhorov’s offi ces in April, the tures at the Higher School of and Safety Co-ordinator (NCTV). paper recently published a She added that she was Kremlin denied involvement Economics in Moscow, told AFP. Umar was briefly arrested at her number of high-profi le inves- “shocked” to see such an out- and Putin’s spokesman Dmitry He and other experts said holiday home in the western tigations including about the pouring of support. Peskov said yesterday that the the authorities were seeking to resort town of Kusadasi in Turkey business interests of people “That means it was not in presidential administration had neuter a critical media ahead of two-and-a-half weeks ago after close to Putin, among them his vain,” she added. nothing to do with Osetinskaya’s parliamentary elections in Sep- tweeting a comment critical of reported son-in-law. Osetinskaya is seen in this January 22 file picture, attending the Before taking the helm at RBC departure. tember that will take place amid Erdogan. The resignations came after annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. in late 2013, Osetinskaya was The group did not immedi- a prolonged economic crisis due She was questioned for 16 hours the group controlled by billion- editor-in-chief of the Russian ately say who would replace her. in part to the plunge in oil pric- and then released, and was not aire Mikhail Prokhorov said in In April, Prokhorov’s offi ces im Solyus, editor-in-chief of its Forbes and was also in charge Several other RBC journalists es and Western sanctions over allowed to leave the country. April that editor-in-chief Eliza- were also searched in what was daily newspaper. of the website of Vedomosti.ru, said on Facebook they would Ukraine. But after an intense behind-the- veta Osetinskaya, 39, was set to believed to be a signal to the “Recently we have talked a lot Russia’s top liberal daily. soon quit too. Last November Dow Jones and scenes diplomatic flurry Umar leave to take a sabbatical to study Kremlin-friendly tycoon to rein about how to develop RBC fur- Media observers say that Critics accuse Putin of steadi- Pearson announced plans to sell was allowed to leave Turkey late at Stanford. in his media managers. ther and in these conversations during her tenure Osetinskaya ly suppressing independent me- their stakes in liberal business on Tuesday and flew back to the Her temporary leave was then The three editors leaving are we have been unable to reach a whipped the RBC group previ- dia and opposition parties since daily Vedomosti, opening the Netherlands. widely linked to Kremlin pres- Osetinskaya, editor-in-chief of common opinion on important ously known for its highly dubi- coming to power in 2000. way for local businessman Dam- “The bottom line is that people sure on Prokhorov over the me- the RBC media group; Roman issues,” RBC general director ous practices into shape, build- Many previously independent ian Kudryavtsev and making the will continue to recognise me dia group’s independent stance Badanin, editor-in-chief of the Nikolai Molibog said. “That is ing it into one of Russia’s most media outlets have been forced newspaper more vulnerable to (in the Netherlands), continue to and investigative reporting. group’s news agency; and Max- why we decided to part ways.” widely-read media outlets. to tone down their criticism or Kremlin pressure. threaten and continue to insult me,” Umar told the paper. The well-known feminist added that she would not return to Turkey “which is not safe”, neither will she live in her Amsterdam- Ukraine’s interior minister slams journalists accredited with rebels West home – which had been burgled while she was in Turkey. Umar who could still face charges AFP after their details were leaked by The list includes journal- authorities to work in the terri- any contact with the self-ap- vealed the only Ukrainian offi cial in Turkey and will have to await Kiev hackers. ists from Agence France-Presse tory the rebels have controlled pointed occupying authorities to support the journalists has the outcome of a judicial inquiry, Journalist groups have (AFP) and other global media since the start of the confl ict in – impossible and immoral”, Ava- been deputy minister of infor- called the charges against her slammed a group of pro-Kiev organisations and contains the April 2014. kov wrote on his Facebook page. mation policy Tetiana Popova, “ridiculous”. kraine’s interior minister hackers for this week revealing e-mail addresses and phone But Interior Minister Arsen “This is your choice to co-op- who said that she does not un- In the meantime Umar, who has lambasted report- details of thousands of report- numbers. Avakov lashed out at those who erate with occupying authorities derstand why it was necessary. is a columnist for the Metro Uers who were accredited ers who got accredited with the Journalists who entered the had worked with permission ... don’t hide it,” he added, ad- “This has led to massive newspaper, agreed to tell by pro-Russian rebels to cover insurgents to work in territory war zone needed to receive spe- from the rebels. dressing journalists. threats to journalists and me,” authorities of any public fi ghting in the country’s east, they control. cial permits from the separatist “I fi nd it impossible to have Since the information was re- she wrote on her Facebook page. appearances. Gulf Times Sunday, May 15, 2016 23 EUROPE

Fake terror attack Residents head home as staged

AFP Cannes Spain tyre dump burns

fake terror attack pan- AFP sult of the reduced risk for resi- months and even years, as tyres icked guests at the French Madrid dents in the area” as fi refi ghters often continue to burn inside ARiviera hideaway of sev- brought the blaze under control. even if they are extinguished eral Hollywood stars at the The cloud had also reduced from the outside. Cannes fi lm festival, police said panish authorities allowed in intensity and was rising up They also reignite easily. yesterday. residents near a giant tyre higher in the sky, avoiding resi- But Francisco Martinez Ar- The publicity stunt, by a Sdump blaze to return home dential areas, authorities added. royo, environmental minister for French Internet company aimed yesterday, saying that toxic The blaze broke out before the Castilla-La Mancha govern- at the super rich, saw a speed- fumes billowing from the rub- dawn on Friday in the dump that ment, told Spanish radio that the boat full of men in helmets and ber heap posed less of a risk al- stretches over 10 hectares (25 fi re would likely be extinguished military style uniforms attempt though the fi re has yet to be ex- acres) – the equivalent of about in “two or three days”. to storm the dock of the fi ve-star tinguished. 10 rugby fi elds – and straddles In a bid to alleviate health Hotel du Cap just around the bay The news came as it emerged the Castilla-La Mancha and concerns, Madrid’s emergency from Cannes. that the European Commission Madrid regions. services tweeted that air quality Guests said the men were had contacted Madrid over the The massive stack of tyres measuring stations in the area dressed as an “ISIS-like” militia illegal dump, the fi rst step in a started to form in the 1990s continued to give normal read- group, referring to the Islamic procedure which it can launch when a company began using ings. State (IS) group which killed 130 when it suspects a member state the site as a temporary depot for However, environmen- people in a night of attacks on of infringing EU law. old tyres due to be recycled, and tal group Ecologists in Action Paris six months ago. Some 10,000 people living it grew from then on. warned that the stations were Their infl atable speedboat in the town of Sesena near the It was declared illegal and not set up to measure all the also fl ew a black fl ag similar to Spanish capital evacuated their environmental groups had long pollutants being released from the one used by IS. homes on Friday after the dump warned that it posed a health the mass burning of tyres – an Chillingly, the stunt happened went up in fl ames in a suspected hazard, but authorities only atypical event. on Friday, the fi rst Friday the arson attack. recently started acting on the These include polycyclic aro- 13th since the bloodshed in Paris A massive black cloud of problem, inviting bids to empty matic hydrocarbons (PAHs), last November. fumes billowed into the air, the dump and destroy the tyres compounds considered danger- American publicist JR Savet, prompting widespread health at the end of last year. Two masked Sesena residents wait for other relatives to evacuate a residential area aff ected by toxic ous and in some cases cancer- who was dining on the terrace concerns as the government Yesterday the European Com- fumes produced by tyres burning in an uncontrolled dump near the town of Sesena. causing. with Vanity Fair editor Gray- of Castilla-La Mancha where mission, the European Union’s In a statement, the group don Carter when the boat ap- the dump is located warned the powerful executive, said it had thorities on landfi lls, including is the fi rst step towards an in- tyres cannot be dumped in land- called on “authorities involved proached, said guests were smoke was “toxic”. got involved too. the one in Sesena,” Commission fringement process, which if of- fi lls. to immediately measure the pol- shocked. But the regional government “There were contacts and spokesman Christian Wigand fi cially launched can lead to EU Tyre dump blazes are noto- lutants that the fi re ... is emitting “Someone screamed and peo- said yesterday that it had lifted requests of information by the told AFP. court proceedings. riously diffi cult to extinguish in huge quantities, to protect ple jumped out of their chairs its evacuation order “as a re- Commission to the Spanish au- A request for information Under an EU directive, used and have been known to last for people’s health”. and started moving quickly to the swimming pool area. It was pretty scary,” he told the Holly- wood Reporter. Cannes has been on high ter- ror alert for the 12-day fi lm fes- Minimum income tival, with a warship moored in the bay and snipers posted on hotel roofs. Oraxy, the Paris-based Inter- campaigners set net company that organised the stunt, has not yet replied to AFP requests for comment. It describes itself on its web- ‘Guinness’ record site as “the world’s fi rst private global marketplace reserved ... for Ultra High Net Worth Indi- AFP 2,500 Swiss francs a month, viduals”. Geneva including those who do not A police spokesman told AFP qualify for unemployment in- that the men involved in the surance and those who do not stunt had earlier tried to breach ampaigners for a mini- want to apply for it. a sea exclusion zone around mum income in Swit- Experts say implementation Cannes but had been repulsed by Czerland set a Guinness would almost certainly require the authorities. Record for the world’s larg- a tax hike and some fear it will He said that the men then est poster yesterday, as they encourage people to stop work- tried to land at the hotel. sought support for the contro- ing. Paramilitary gendarmes versial proposal ahead of a ref- “What we are seeking in this seized the boat, but the men erendum next month. referendum is that everyone in were not formally arrested. The record-breaking 8,115sq Switzerland has enough money “These men know that they m (87,350sq feet) poster con- to exist,” said Marilola Wili, a have really overstepped the mark sisted of a series of massive spokeswoman for Basic Income and today they feel ashamed,” he black plastic sheets, with the Switzerland. added. words “What would you do if The group believes people A justice offi cial told AFP that your income was taken care of” should be free to turn down those behind the stunt were in gold lettering. work they do not want and to “likely to pay very dearly” and It was set up in a large dia- pursue their interests with the would be prosecuted for break- mond-shaped open space in security of having their basic ing maritime rules and for in- central Geneva called La Plaine fi nancial needs met. fl icting “psychological trauma”. de Plainpalais. Asked about the merits of a The authorities were also in- The group behind the in- Guinness Record stunt, Wili vestigating who owns the boat This photo taken yesterday in Geneva’s La Plaine de Plainpalais shows a giant poster setting the Guinness World Record for the largest poster stallation, Basic Income Swit- said that campaigners felt the and rented it out, he said. ever printed. zerland, wants all adults in the notion of a minimum income wealthy alpine federation to was “the biggest question on receive an income of at least Earth”. 2,500 Swiss francs ($2,500, “We decided we don’t only €2,265) per month. want to say this, but we actu- The minimum income pro- ally want it to be the biggest Spielberg’s BFG stomps into Cannes fi lm festival posal will be put to popular question on Earth,” and so vote on June 5, one of a series produced the world’s largest of measures up for approval poster that physically posed AFP wrap their heads around one of The book remains true to during the country’s three- the question, Wili told AFP. Cannes the unlikeliest friendships in cin- Dahl’s work – with a few tweaks monthly referenda. Guinness World Records ema history, resulting in the sort along the way – which has the gi- In October, campaign- verifi ed that the poster was the of instant family classic ‘human ant taking Sophie along with him ers submitted more than the biggest ever. teven Spielberg said that beans’ once relied upon Disney to as he catches dreams and releases 100,000 signatures needed to Images of it were expected to he still believes in magic deliver”. them among sleeping humans. call a referendum. be shown at New York’s Times Sas he premiered his whiz- However, others struggled to Tired of the other bully giants, A minimum income is diff er- Square later. zpopping, swizzfi ggling BFG (Big wake their inner child, with The who eat children while BFG has ent from a minimum wage, and The previous record of Friendly Giant) in Cannes yester- Wrap website saying it “misses to eat disgusting snockcumbers, supporters say it would provide 7,165sq m was set in the Ira- day, to a mixed reception from the magic”. Sophie and the giant ask the a safety net that severs the link qi city of Karbala by Fareed critics. The Hollywood Reporter mean- queen to help deal with them. between income and work. Lafta, a peace campaigner who Both adult “human beans” and while said BFG was a “conspicu- It was the scenes at Bucking- The measure seeks to legally gained prominence through “chiddlers” – children in the of- ously less captivating, magical ham palace that drew the most ensure that no adult in Swit- his involvement with extreme ten befuddled giant’s vocabulary and transporting experience” laughs: The awkward giant is zerland has to live on less than sports. – were eagerly awaiting Spiel- than Spielberg’s much-loved served a delicious breakfast, but berg’s fi lm adaptation of Roald 1982 fi lm E.T.. has the queen, her guards and Dahl’s beloved story, in the direc- Spielberg, who used to read the corgis all “whizzpopping” (fart- tor’s fi rst movie for Disney. BFG to his seven children, said ing) when he off ers them a drink 3 dead, many hurt in brawl between Spielberg described the fan- that with this movie, he was re- of his gas-inducing frobscottle. ethnic groups at Moscow cemetery tastical tale of a giant who visiting his past love for “stories “We will see what the queen snatches a frightened young from the imagination”. thinks when the time comes Three people were killed and two dozen were wounded yesterday in Sophie from an orphanage and “When I do history movies the won’t we,” said Spielberg, whose a mass brawl at Moscow’s largest cemetery that witnesses said was takes her to live with him in Giant imagination has to be put aside. I superyacht “The Seven Seas” is sparked by rivalry between ethnic groups battling for control of the Country as “probably the closest felt liberated, I felt like I could do parked off the French Riviera for burial service business. I have ever come to telling a love anything on this and it brought the 12-day festival. About 200 people, some armed with guns and other weapons, took story”. back feelings I had as a younger Dahl dedicated his book – part in the clashes at the vast Khovanskoye cemetery in southwest Sophie quickly realises that the fi lmmaker.” which became an instant best- Moscow and more than 90 people were detained after riot police giant – the runt of the litter he The movie was a long time seller when it was published in broke up the brawl, police and witnesses said. comes from – is a gentle vegetar- coming, and has been tinged 1982 – to his daughter, Olivia, Moscow’s city health department said three people were killed and ian who tries to save her from the with sadness, with the death of who had died of measles en- 23 were hospitalised, four of whom were seriously injured. “canny-ball” giants with names Melissa Mathison, who adapted cephalitis two decades earlier. Pictures posted on social media showed young men wielding like Bloodbottler and Flesh- the book, and who also wrote the Dahl, a fi ghter pilot and spy iron rods, spade shafts and baseball bats as they rushed into the lumpeater. script for E.T. last year, aged 65. who also scripted James Bond fighting. “All of us have to believe in And producers also initially movies, wrote some of the most Reuters witnesses saw a young man’s body lying on the pavement magic. The worse the world gets Spielberg signs autographs at the end of a news conference for the wanted to cast Robin Williams as loved children’s literature of the near an overturned car as a forensic expert bent over it. the more magic we have to be- film The BFG. the giant before his death in 2014. last century. About 10 mainly young men lay handcuff ed on the ground while lieve in – that magic will give us “It was a tremendous chal- Several of his books, including police armed with Kalashnikov rifles looked on. hope and ... hope is everything formance of Mark Rylance – who adaptation. lenge to have the technology Charlie and the Chocolate Fac- The RIA news agency quoted a cemetery off icial as saying people for me,” Spielberg told reporters starred in Spielberg’s last fi lm And Variety said the “splen- catch up with our ability to tell tory, James and the Giant Peach from Russia’s North Caucasus regions of Chechnya and Dagestan after a press screening of the fi lm. Bridge of Spies – as the gentle gi- did ... adaptation makes it pos- the story in the way we did,” said and Matilda, have already been had attacked migrants from ex-Soviet Uzbekistan and Tajikistan The Guardian hailed the per- ant, in the “beautifully wrought” sible for audiences of all ages to producer Kathleen Kennedy. turned into major fi lms. working there, attempting to take over their jobs. Gulf Times 24 Sunday, May 15, 2016 INDIA

FINANCE TRAGEDY POLITICS PROTEST Merge SBI’s associate Fire kills five company BJP slams Congress Two injured, 200 held banks into one: union off icials in Ghaziabad over Hindu terror slur in Jharkhand shutdown

The All India Bank Employees’ Association At least five people were killed and six injured The Bharatiya Janata Party yesterday hit Two people were injured as protesters hurled (AIBEA) hopes the government would accept after a major fire broke out in an off ice of back at the Congress for targeting the petrol bombs on a truck during a protest its demand to merge five associate banks of IndiaMART, an online marketplace company, National Investigation Agency and the BJP called yesterday by the Jharkhand Mukti State Bank of India (SBI) into one entity, a top in Raj Nagar area of Ghaziabad yesterday. government after Malegaon blast accused Morcha (JMM) against the domicile policy of union official said yesterday. AIEBA general According to police, the fire broke out at Sadhvi Pragnya Singh Thakur and five the Raghubar Das government. More than secretary C H Venkatachalam also said the 10.30am in a residential building in Raj Nagar others were cleared. The party said the 200 party supporters have been arrested. The union has called for a strike on June 7 and where commercial activities were being carried then Congress party-led government had shutdown hit life across the state with shops July 28 this year to press for the merger out by IndiaMART and two other companies. strengthened Pakistan’s theory of Hindu closed in Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Gumla and demand. He also hoped that the boards The fire broke out on the ground floor and terror by framing charges against Hindu other parts of the state. Long-distance buses of the five associate banks - State Bank of soon reached the first floor where IndiaMART leaders. “A conspiracy was hatched to frame are not running. The JMM supporters burnt Travancore (SBT), State Bank of Mysore executives were busy in their telemarketing Sadhvi Pragnya. It was Pakistan’s theory that tyres in Ranchi, Jamshedpur and other places. (SBM), State Bank of Hyderabad (SBH), State job. The executives were trapped on the first alleged Hindu radicals were behind terrorism On the Ranchi-Jamshedpur national highway, Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur (SBBJ) and State floor as the fire blocked the only passage to in India. The Congress leaders strengthened supporters threw petrol bombs on a truck in Shops are closed during a Jharkhand shutdown Bank of Patiala (SBP) - and also that of SBI the ground floor. In an attempt to escape, two this by coining Hindu terror word,” BJP which two people were injured. The protesters called by opposition parties to protest against the would consider the proposal. executives broke open a window and jumped. national secretary Srikant Sharma said. also hurled stones on a staff bus in Jamshedpur. government’s domicile policy in Ranchi yesterday.

EC offi cials probe Campaigning source of Rs5.7bn in trucks ends in TN,

IANS Chennai Kerala and wo days before the assem- bly elections in Tamil Nadu, Tthe Election Commission’s fl ying squad yesterday morning stopped three trucks carrying a total of Rs5.7bn cash in the state’s Tiruppur district, offi cials said. Puducherry The money purportedly be- longed to the State Bank of India All states witness multi- prises the Communist Party of Chandy (LDF), the incumbent, and was being taken from Coim- cornered contests this time India (Marxist - hammer, sickle and Jacob Abraham (UDF). batore, around 500km from and star), the Communist Party “The wind is blowing in a dif- here, to Vishakapatnam in And- Agencies of India (ear of corn and sickle), ferent direction this time,” BJP hra Pradesh. Chennai VCK (ring), TMC (coconut trees) president Amit Shah told re- The election watchdog said and MDMK (top) under its fold. porters in Thiruvananthapuram that a separate committee of The Bharatiya Janata Party yesterday. offi cials would determine the ampaigning in Tamil leads another front with smaller “Kerala is facing stagnation in source of the money, but a bank Nadu, Kerala and Pu- outfi ts while Naam Thamizhar development. The state will see union leader said banks do Cducherry for tomor- Katchi is also contesting 234 what the development is when transport heavy cash by road/ row’s assembly elections ended seats under ‘two burning can- the BJP comes to power. It will train but faulted the SBI man- yesterday with rival fronts and dles’ symbol. not be the same after May 16.” agement for being careless in other political parties making a The PMK that started its Expecting to end its electoral doing so during election time. last-minute eff ort to woo voters. campaign much ahead of oth- drought, this time, the BJP had Speaking to reporters, Tamil While Tamil Nadu Chief Min- ers on the theme “change and fi elded all its star campaigners, in- Nadu chief electoral offi cer ister J Jayalalithaa fl ew to diff er- progress” projecting former cluding Prime Minister Narendra Rajesh Lakhoni said initial in- ent districts to address election union minister Anbumani Ra- Modi and close to a dozen minis- quiries reveal that the cash be- rallies, her main rival, Dravida madoss as the chief ministerial ters under him, virtually launch- longed to the SBI but the security Munnetra Kazhagam leader M candidate is also going it alone. ing a blitzkrieg across the state. guards in the vans were carrying Karunanidhi travelled by road/ In Kerala, the ruling Congress The campaigning also saw only copies of the documents train to appeal to the voters for Party-led United Democratic Modi sniping at Congress presi- and not originals, raising sus- their party candidates as well as Front (UDF) and the Left Dem- dent Sonia Gandhi’s Italian ori- picion. They were also in plain that of their allies. ocratic Front (LDF) led by the gin and comparing Kerala’s in- clothes and not in their uniform. Electioneering began more CPM is pitted against each other fant mortality rate among tribals All India Bank Employees’ As- than a month back in Tamil in what is seen as a close fi ght. to Somalia. sociation (AIBEA) general sec- Nadu that is witnessing a multi- The emergence of the BJP and The Somalia remarks also in- retary C H Venkatachalam said cornered contest this time. its allies, especially Bharat Dhar- vited trolls on the social media that “nowadays such transport In the fray are 3,785 candidates ma Jana Sena (BDJS) of predomi- and the LDF and UDF joining of heavy cash by banks by road/ that include 3,453 men, 320 nantly the Hindu Ezhava com- hands to attack Modi for ques- train is common.” women and two of the third gen- munity, as a strong third force, tioning pride of the state, which “Hard cash will be transport- der. The total number of polling however, makes the outcome boasts of the quality of life indi- ed from locations where there is stations is over 65,600. unpredictable. ces comparable to developed na- surplus to locations where there Jayalalithaa’s All India Anna Some even forecast a hung as- tions despite low income. is a need,” he said, adding wire Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is sembly with the rival fronts fail- “The principal contest is be- transfers are not possible where going to the polls aligning with a ing to cross the 70 mark in the tween the UDF and the LDF in hard currency is needed. couple of smaller outfi ts, fi elding 140-member legislature with Kerala,” Chief Minister Oommen Earlier banks used to deposit its candidates in 227 seats while the BJP-led National Demo- Chandy told reporters in Kot- the surplus currency with the the balance have been given to cratic Alliance (NDA), which tayam. “In some constituencies, Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The its allies. pocketed 13.21% votes in the last it’s between the UDF and the RBI has shifted that responsibil- This is the fi rst time in the par- year’s civic polls, winning two to BJP. But the real fi ght is between ity to individual banks. ty’s history that the AIADMK is fi ve seats. us and the LDF.” However, Venkatachalam said contesting in more than 200 seats. The BJP had come fi rst in at Chandy, 72, is contesting that transporting millions of ru- Though the allies have been least four assembly segments from his home constituency of pees poses a big risk for the se- given only seven seats, they will (Thiruvananthapuram, Ka- Puthuppally, where he had not curity guards and other offi cials contest under AIADMK’s “two zhakkoottam, Vattiyoorkavu lost any election since 1970. accompanying the money. leaves” symbol. Thus, for the fi rst and Nemam) and second in two In Puducherry though there “Curiously the banks insure time, the AIADMK symbol will be (Manjeshwar and Kasaragod) in are several parties in the fray, only the cash and not the people seen in all the 234 constituencies. the 2014 parliamentary elections the main contest is between the who accompany the cash. We have The DMK has aligned with the in a close fi ght with the UDF. Congress-DMK combine and been demanding that the people - Congress, two Muslim parties Besides these six, they expect the ruling AINRC. security guards, drivers and other and some smaller outfi ts. to win Kuttanad where BDJS’s In 2011, AINRC teamed up with offi cials - who accompany huge The third front led by the Subhash Vasu is engaged in a AIADMK. But after the elections, cash transports should also be ad- Congress spokeswoman Kushboo greets supporters during an election campaign in Chennai. Tamil Nadu, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Ka- three-cornered fi ght with Ku- AINRC ditched AIADMK and did equately insured,” he said. Kerala and Puducherry go to polls tomorrow. zhagam (symbol drum) com- wait-based expatriate Thomas not share power with it. NCP leaders in Goa join BJP candidates defend Modi Congress With elections in Goa less than a year away, top over Somalia comparison leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), including a former state IANS mounted against Modi for his So- Rajasekheran said. Kerala BJP president joined the Thiruvananthapuram malia remark. The African nation general secretary Sobha Suren- Congress yesterday. The has been in the news for some dran, a candidate in the Palakkad NCP politicians who joined years now for its political insta- constituency, also slammed the Congress at an event here may be a lot of anger bility and chronic civil unrest. Chandy for taking on Modi. in Panaji include former against Prime Minister “This is not at all an electoral “This will turn out to be Chan- state president Nilkanth TNarendra Modi’s compari- issue,” Pillai added. dy’s Waterloo. Why has this be- Halarnkar, senior vice son of Kerala with Somalia, but At an election rally in Kerala, come an issue? Because Modi presidents Trajano D’Mello, Bharatiya Janata Party candidates Modi said the situation in Kerala spoke the truth? Did not (Marxist vice presidents Salim Sayed, are solidly backing their leader. for the tribals was scarier than leader and former chief minister Prakash Kalangutkar and Not just the candidates, but what prevailed in troubled So- V S) Achuthanandan also say the seven other members of even the party leaders and ac- malia. The comment triggered a same thing a few months ago when the party’s state executive tivists insist that Modi did no storm, with critics, not just the around 300 infant deaths were committee. “This is Goa’s wrong by highlighting the pa- ruling Congress and the opposi- reported from tribal areas in Pal- ‘gatbandhan’ (alliance) thetic state of tribals in Kerala. tion Left, pouncing on it to at- akkad and Wayand?” she asked. against the BJP,” state “Did not Modi speak the tack the prime minister. Surendran said the CPM was Congress president Luizinho truth?” P S Sreedharan Pillai, Kerala BJP president Kum- also attacking Modi because Faleiro told reporters when a former state BJP president, manem Rajasekheran said Modi in most backward areas of the asked about the reason for asked. “Everyone knows about only spoke the bitter truth. state, the Marxists controlled the induction of the top NCP the impoverished lives of the tri- “The truth is that the rival the local bodies and they wanted leadership into his party. bals in our state.” fronts that have been ruling to cover up their shortcomings. The NCP, which has allied Pillai, his aides say, is giving Kerala for decades have failed to Rakesh Chand, a close aide with the Congress in Goa sleepless nights to outgoing Con- uplift the tribal community. The of BJP candidate V V Rajesh in over the last decade, was gress legislator P C Vishnunath in PM only spoke the facts,” he said. Nedumangad, in the suburbs of routed by Bharatiya Janata the Chenganur constituency. Chief Minister Oommen Chan- Thiruvananthapuram, said that Party-led alliance in the At the same time, Pillai said dy has asked Modi to apologise. unlike the UDF and LDF, the vot- 2012 state assembly poll, he and his party had decided to “It is Chandy who should apol- ers were not bothered by Modi’s Communist Party of India (Marxist) supporters take out a motorcycle rally on the last day of campaign with the party unable to win ignore the avalanche of criticism ogise for raising baseless issues,” Somalia comparison. in Thiruvananthapuram yesterday. a single seat. Gulf Times Sunday, May 15, 2016 25 INDIA Modi govt not interested in ULFA talks: Assam CM

IANS talks with the moderate fac- is resolved, the better it is for the brokering peace talks with the for a sovereign Assam. achievements during his 15-year by Harper Collins, chronicling his New Delhi tion of the United Liberation state,” Gogoi said in an interview. ULFA faction led by Arabindo Gogoi said that any negotia- rule. journey through his three consec- Front of Assam (ULFA) were on Gogoi, 81, has been heading a Rajkhowa. The then ULFA chair- tion with the Baruah-led faction “Peace has returned to Assam. utive terms - from 2001 to 2016 “it appears that the (central) Congress government in Assam man was earlier arrested with was impossible till it “gives up Without peace no development can - and how the Assam story has ssam is at peace now but government is not making as for the last 15 years. It was at the the help of the Bangladesh gov- the path of violence and demand take place. A sense of security has changed from “headlines about more needs to be done to much eff orts” to bring a desired start of his third term as chief ernment in November 2009. for a separate state.” also arrived. When there is security, brutal killing to a state that is Abring investments, Chief conclusion to the process in the minister that a faction of the However, little has been He said with Baruah “there people will invest. And when in- building smart villages and invit- Minister Tarun Gogoi has said, larger interest of the state as ULFA militant group signed an achieved in a series of peace talks is no chance. I have my doubts. vestments come, the economy will ing investments for industrial and alleging that the Bharatiya Jana- well as the country. The eff ort, agreement in September 2011 to with the ULFA that began in Feb- Even if he comes for talks, he is pick up. Restoration of peace has social development.” ta Party-led central government he added, was required for the suspend its violent activities and ruary 2011. The hardline ULFA most welcome. Defi nitely, we been the most signifi cant event that Assam went to polls on April had failed to bring logical end to overall peace and development start peace negotiations with the faction led by Paresh Baruah, an want to (talk to him). But, he has has happened in Assam.” 4 and 11 to elect a new govern- the ongoing talks with separatist of the border state ravaged by state and central governments. elusive rebel commander, has to shun violence fi rst.” Gogoi has also penned an auto- ment. The results will be out on militants in the state. decades of violence. P C Haldar, a former Intel- been opposing the talks and is Gogoi counted “peace” in biography, Turnaround - Leading May 19. Gogoi is expecting to re- Gogoi said while the peace “Sooner it (the Assam issue) ligence Bureau chief, has been reluctant to give up its demand Assam as one of his biggest Assam from the Front, published turn to power for a fourth term. Expansionist styles not solution to problems: PM

IANS disobeyed her husband. This Ujjain only shows that people here know how to handle confl icts,” Modi said. rime Minister Narendra However, he hastened to Modi yesterday made a underline that a right balance Pveiled attack on Western ought to be struck between countries and their “expan- traditions and modernity and sionist” designs and said their use the traditional knowledge “holier than thou” attitude and human values in a more is primarily responsible for scientifi c manner. challenges like terrorism and “It is also important that global warming. in the name of tradition, we Members of a journalists’ organisation stage a demonstration over the killing of Bihar journalist Rajdev Ranjan, in Patna yesterday. “Tere raaste se mera raasta should not promote unsci- zyada sahi hai (My way is bet- entifi c matters and supersti- ter than yours). This holier tions. We have to draw les- than thou approach is drag- sons from the past values, but ging the world towards con- refl ect on them in the context fl icts,” the prime minister of modern social values,” the said, addressing the Interna- prime minister said and added tional Convention on Univer- that earlier going overseas was sal Message of Simhasthon on considered a taboo, but it is no Murder of journalists the sidelines of the Simhasth longer relevant. Kumbh here. “There was a time when “Vistar-vad (expansion- crossing the seas was con- ist design) - is also leading us sidered unholy but that has towards confl ict. Time has changed. Likewise, some tra- changed. Expansionist style ditions can also change with is not a solution to problems. time,” he underlined. sparks media outrage We should not go horizontal. At the same time, he said ef- It is not a solution. We need to forts should be made to tell the Two reporters shot dead in “I strongly condemn murder gle raj” has returned with the else works by eliminating them nalists’ Forum Assam (JFA) go vertical and raise ourselves world “in the language they less than 24 hours in Bihar of journalists Rajdeo Ranjan in Mahagathbandhan (Grand Al- as has happened in these two expressed shock over the mur- from within,” Modi said in the understand” the sanctity and and Jharkhand Siwan and Akhilesh Pratap Singh liance) coming to power in the cases,” he said. ders. presence of Sri Lankan Presi- prowess of Indian values. in Chatra district. Independent state. Nadeem Ahmad Kazmi, sec- Tripura Working Journalists dent Maithripala Sirisena and Simhastha Kumbh Mela IANS investigation may be instituted “Before the Bihar election we retary general of the Press Club Association (TWJA) and Tripu- other dignitaries. is one of the world’s largest New Delhi and guilty be punished,” Jaitley were saying jungle raj will return of India, demanded that central ra Journalists Union (TJU) also Paying rich tributes to spiritual gatherings held once posted on Twitter. to Bihar if the Mahagathband- and state governments come urged the authorities in Bihar India’s pluralism and its in 12 years when devotees, in- Rajdeo Ranjan, the Siwan bu- han comes to power, but we were down heavily on the culprits and Jharkhand to take stringent “inherent conflict manage- cluding saints, take a dip in ondemnation poured in reau chief of Hindi newspaper wrong. Ab to maha jungle raj aa and “also create an atmosphere action against the killers. ment” traditions, Modi said the Kshipra river at Ujjain in from across the country Hindustan, which is part of the gaya hai (Now, there is big jungle conducive to the free and fair Meanwhile, the last rites of often an outsider feels that the central state of Madhya Cover murder of two jour- HT Media, was shot dead at a raj),” BJP spokesman Shahnawaz functioning of the media in the the Bihar journalist were held in India is a society always in Pradesh. nalists in Bihar and Jharkhand. busy market near Station Road Hussain said. country.” Siwan. conflict. “But the conflict Modi said the world over While the Press Club of In- in the district on Friday night. Minister of State for Informa- The Indian Women’s Press Journalists wearing black management the world is people often call Indians “un- dia, the Indian Women’s Press Four suspects have been de- tion and Broadcasting Rajyavar- Corps urged the government to badges held a protest in the dis- trying to evolve in big semi- organised” but such a grand Corps and media organisations tained. dhan Rathore expressed condo- take immediate steps to fi nd the trict and demanded the arrest of nars is actually present as an gathering could take place at from diff erent parts of the coun- In the other incident, In- lences. culprits. those responsible. inherent virtue in us. Other- Ujjain without any invitation try termed the murders a “direct dradeo Yadav, also known as Press Club of India president It said the “deliberate tar- Ranjan, 46, was planning to wise, we would not have been to participants or even with- attack on the freedom of the Akhilesh Pratap, was gunned Rahul Jalali in a statement said geting” of the two journalists celebrate his 18th marriage an- following and paying abey- out making any accommoda- press,” Bharatiya Janata Party down in Jharkhand’s Chatra both murders “were targeted “is clearly an attempt to pre- niversary yesterday. ance to two extreme think- tion arrangements for partici- leaders used the Bihar murder district on Thursday night. He killings and form a part of at- vent the functioning of a free His family said he had no en- ing,” he said. pants. to target Chief Minister Nitish worked as a correspondent for a tempts by the mafi a to muzzle and independent media in the mity with anyone and was busy “We Indians worship Lord Trying to lay emphasis on Kumar over the state’s law and local TV channel. the independent voice of the country.” preparing for the last few days to Rama for his obedience to his such mammoth gatherings like order situation. BJP leaders attacked Nitish media.” It also said “the IWPC also celebrate the event. father and in the same breath Kumbh every 12 years, Modi Information and Broadcasting Kumar over the law and order “It is with increasing dis- views with deep concern the His killing comes close on the we glorify Prahlad who diso- said these occasions provide Minister Arun Jaitley tweeted his situation in the state follow- may we also note the increase eff orts to smear the reputation heels of the murder of teenager beyed his father. Similarly, an opportunity to analyse the condemnation and sought an in- ing the murder of the journalist in attempts to target the press of media professionals in many Aditya Sachdeva allegedly by the we hail Sita, who obeyed her recent past as well as create a dependent investigation to pun- and the killing of a teenager in throughout the country, by parts of the country.” son of a ruling Janata Dal-United husband, and also Meera, who roadmap for the future. ish the guilty. Gaya and said that “maha jun- denigrating them and if nothing The Guwahati-based Jour- lawmaker in Gaya district. Pachauri to stand trial in Mallika Sherawat at Cannes Plane blocks runway sexual harassment case after four tyres burst Agencies bai to Munich, scheduled for Mumbai yesterday, had been cancelled, Agencies Police fi led charges against The allegations caused and Lufthansa was trying to New Delhi Pachauri, 75, earlier this year public uproar in India, where rebook its passengers on other after a female colleague fi led a women face cultural taboos he main runway of fl ights, the statement said. complaint. against discussing issues such Mumbai’s international The incident has hit fl ight New Delhi court yes- “There are several allegations as sexual harassment in the Tairport remained shut operations with a Cathay Pa- terday ruled there was that he made sexually coloured workplace. yesterday after four tyres on cifi c cargo service being di- Aenough evidence for remarks upon the complain- Apart from the police inves- a Lufthansa passenger plane verted to Hyderabad. Some former UN climate chief Rajen- ant on several occasions. He tigation, TERI’s internal com- burst while landing, an airport other fl ights were compelled dra Pachauri to stand trial in a touched the complainant inap- plaints committee examined offi cial said. to offl oad cargo to operate stalking and sexual harassment propriately on several occasions, the evidence presented by the Four of the ten tyres on the from the secondary runway case. despite a clear indication of dis- woman and questioned nearly 50 Airways Airbus A330 aircraft which does not enable a longer Metropolitan Magistrate interest and opposition from her other employees, and concluded burst as it was landing at 10.5 take-off run. Shivani Chauhan considered side. He also sent inappropriate that the allegations of sexual pm on Friday in Mumbai from Another three services were the charge-sheet and said there SMSs, WhatsApp messages and harassment were valid. Munich, Veena Chiplunker, delayed including an Air In- was sufficient material to pro- e-mails to the complainant,” the Pachauri headed the four- spokeswoman for Mumbai’s dia fl ight and a United Air- ceed against the former chief of court said. decade-old think tank for 34 Chhatrapati Shivaji Interna- lines Mumbai-Newark fl ight. The Energy and Resources In- “Let the accused be sum- years, helping it emerge as a tional Airport, said. Emirates Airlines operated stitute (TERI) under the Indian moned for next date.” global centre for research in “The aircraft is still block- a B-777 instead of an A-380 Penal Code’s sections 354A The court fi xed July 11 for fur- efficient utilisation of energy ing the runway,” Chiplunker while the Mumbai-Singapore (advances involving unwel- ther hearing. and sustainable use of natural said. The 177 passengers and fl ight SQ423 of Singapore Air- come and explicit sexual over- Pachauri worked with the resources. It has affiliate insti- crew on the aircraft had exited lines with 427 passengers and tures), 354B (using criminal woman at TERI, a New Delhi en- tutes in London and Washing- from a stairway positioned 25 crew on board was also af- force against a woman), 354D vironmental think tank he had ton. on the runway within several fected. (stalking), 509 (word, gesture headed for more than three dec- Pachauri had chaired the UN hours of landing, and none of Singapore Airlines said pas- or act intended to insult the ades. climate panel - considered the the passengers were hurt, the sengers of the Airbus A-380 modesty of a woman) and 341 He has denied the allegations, world’s authority on climate airport spokeswoman said. aircraft were provided with (wrongful restraint). but resigned last year from both science -since 2002, and had Lufthansa said in a state- hotel accommodation and the The court, however, dropped the UN’s Intergovernmental accepted the 2007 Nobel Peace Bolywood actress Mallika Sherawat arrives for the screening ment that four new tyres were revised departure plans of the charges under section 506 Panel on Climate Change and Prize on its behalf. The panel of the film The BFG at the 69th Cannes Film Festival in being mounted in order move fl ight would be determined (criminal intimidation) of the TERI after the woman’s allega- shared the award with former US Cannes, southern France, yesterday. aircraft from the runway. after the main runway was IPC. tions were made public. vice president Al Gore. Flight LH765 from Mum- opened for operations. Gulf Times 26 Sunday, May 15, 2016 LATIN AMERICA

World’s smallest porpoise close Kirchner charged with to extinction

AFP Mexico City fraud, assets frozen nvironmentalists warned Friday that Mexico’s vaquita marina, the world’s AFP the Central Bank at the end of 2015, legal proceedings over irregularities Esmallest porpoise, was close to extinction Buenos Aires just before the election of centre- in family real-estate activities. as the government reported that only 60 were right President Mauricio Macri. Several former Kirchner admin- now left. According to the current govern- istration offi cials have been tainted The population has dramatically dropped de- ssets belonging to former ment, which opposed Kirchner, the by allegations of corruption, but spite the arrival of navy reinforcements in the Argentine president Cristina operation caused a loss of hundreds the Macri administration also faces upper Gulf of California in April 2015 to enforce AKirchner were frozen on Fri- of millions of dollars to Latin Ameri- problems. a ban on fi shing gillnets blamed for the vaquita’s day after she was charged with dam- ca’s third-largest economy. Former planning minister Julio death. aging national fi nances by manipu- Kirchner’s defenders say that the De Vido faces criminal negligence The porpoise’s population had already fallen lating the Central Bank’s exchange issue cannot be taken to court as it charges for his poor administration to fewer than 100 in 2014, down from 200 in operations during her last months in concerns disagreements over mon- of the railroad system, which result- 2012, according to the International Committee offi ce. etary policy aimed at maintaining ed in a 2012 train crash that killed 51 for the Recovery of the Vaquita (CIRVA), a global Federal Judge Claudio Bonadio the value of the peso. people and injured 700. group of scientists. said it was “evident that the then On December 16, just six days In April two former transporta- Mexico’s environment ministry said in a president gave instructions - which after taking offi ce, Macri ordered tion secretaries, Ricardo Jaime and statement that a joint census conduct with CIR- without a doubt were developed measures that led to a 34% devalua- Juan Pablo Schiavi, were indicted on VA, undertaken with acoustic and visual stud- jointly - to her economy minister to tion of the Argentine peso, resulting bribery and fraud charges relating to ies, between September and December estimat- carry out the fi nancial operation,” in an exchange rate of one dollar per the purchase of used train stock from ed the latest population at “around 60.” according to a statement released on 15 pesos. Spain and Portugal. “The vaquita is at the edge of extinction,” the the Supreme Court’s website. Kirchner, 63, left offi ce in Decem- Lazaro Baez, a wealthy entre- World Wildlife Fund said in a statement, warn- Bonadio ordered assets worth ber after two consecutive terms and preneur close to the Kirchners who ing that 20% more have probably died in nets 15mn pesos’ ($1mn) held by Kirchner is no longer protected by political obtained lucrative public works since January. to be frozen. immunity. contracts, is in prison while he is The vaquita’s fate has been linked to another He delivered the same charge and The leftist former leader ap- investigated on money laundering critically endangered sea creature, the totoaba, asset freeze against Axel Kicillof, peared in court in mid-April, where charges. a fi sh that has been illegally caught for its swim Kirchner’s minister of the econo- she refused to answer questions and President Macri himself is being bladder, which is dried and sold on the black my from 2013 to 2015, and against instead presented a document de- investigated for alleged links to off - market in China. former Central Bank president Ale- manding Judge Bonadio’s dismissal. shore companies named in the Pan- Poachers use illegal gillnets to catch the to- jandro Vanoli and 12 other former Bonadio is an open critic of Kirch- ama Papers tax evasion revelations. toaba and the vaquita, a shy 1.5m long cetacean members of its board. ner, who in the past tried to have him Nestor Grindetti, a mayor and with dark rings are the eyes, is believed to be the Kirchner, who held offi ce from dismissed from his post. Macri confi dant, is being probed for victims of bycatch. 2007 to 2015, is accused of having Kirchner has also been implicated links to off shore tax havens and was President Enrique Pena Nieto imposed a two- Former Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner speaks during a caused a loss in monetary authority in an embezzlement case, and along earlier linked to a case of tax evasion year ban on gillnets in April 2015 and increased rally outside the Federal Justice building in Buenos Aires on Friday. through speculative dollar sales by with her son, has been swept up in in Brazil. the vaquita protection area tenfold to 13,000 sq km. He deployed a navy patrol ship with a helipad, a dozen high-speed boats and two planes to en- force the prohibition. Environment Minister Rafael Pacchiano said three vaquitas had been found dead and that Brazil’s new government pledges its protective measures needed to be reinforced, but federal authorities are convinced that the vaquita can still be saved. He urged the local population to report illegal activities. support for corruption investigation The Mexican government agreed to compen- sate local fi shermen in a $30mn a year program to give up gillnet fi shing while they look for safer AFP alternative nets. Sao Paulo But navy sailors told AFP last month that they were catching gillnets every day - three to 10 times the length of a football fi eld, often ensnar- razil’s new justice minister has ing totoabas, dolphins and turtles. pledged his “full support” for Captain Oona Isabelle Layolle, of the Sea Ban explosive corruption inves- Shepherd Conservation Society, said fi shermen tigation that has a host of top politi- are still sneaking out at night to cast their nets. cians in its sights, including several Sea Shepherd, which has sent two boats to the of his colleagues. region to help authorities catch gillnets, pro- Opponents of the new government posed to offi cials on Friday that the gillnet ban installed by acting President Michel become permanent, Layolle told AFP. Temer have accused it of seeking to Increasing the population is challenging be- smother the anti-graft probe known cause a mature female vaquita only gives birth as “Operation Car Wash,” which has once every two years, she said. uncovered a multi-billion dollar em- “There’s still hope,” she said. bezzlement and bribery scheme cen- The environment ministry said 600 nets were tred on state oil company Petrobras. seized in the past year, while 77 people were de- But Justice Minister Alexandre de tained. Moraes said he would protect the Offi cials say fi shermen sell the totoaba’s probe’s independence and even in- swim bladders to smugglers who store them in crease its funding if necessary. border towns before sending them to the US or “There isn’t the slightest possi- shipping them directly to Asia in suitcases or bility of interference,” said Moraes, through parcel services. who was previously security secre- Each bladder fetches around $1,500-$1,800 tary for the state of Sao Paulo. in Mexico, rising to $5,000 in the US and “Fighting corruption is the most $10,000 to $20,000 apiece in Asia, according to important thing in the country, now US authorities. and always,” he told TV network Globo Consumed in soup, maw is believed to cure in an interview broadcast on Friday. a host of ailments, from arthritis to discomfort Temer, the former vice president, in pregnancy, and plump up skin due to its high took power Thursday from his sus- collagen content. pended boss-turned-nemesis, Dil- WWF urged the governments of Mexico, the ma Rousseff , pending her impeach- US and China to take urgent measures and co- ment trial on unrelated charges of ordinate to stop the smuggling to totoaba blad- cooking the government’s books. ders. He promptly sacked the leftist “In the end, if the vaquita goes extinct, the leader’s ministers and installed his three countries will share the responsibility,” own business-friendly cabinet - in- the environmentalist group said. cluding three ministers under inves- The group said Mexico should ban all fi shing tigation in the Petrobras probe and in the vaquita habitat, compensate fi shermen several others whom witnesses ac- Activists protest against Brazil’s acting President Michel Temer in Rio de Janeiro on Friday night. and deploy a newly created environmental po- cuse of involvement. lice to the region. Temer is not under investigation Moraes promised that would make Moraes is one of several contro- as a throwback to another era be- force accused of frequent human “At WWF we are convinced that it is still pos- himself, but some key allies are, in- no diff erence. “The law must apply versial fi gures in Temer’s cabinet, cause its members are all conserva- rights abuses in Sao Paulo, including sible to save the vaquita, but this is clearly its cluding top leaders in his party, the equally to everyone, regardless of which supporters of Rousseff , Bra- tive white males. Dubbed “Temer’s the use of death squads to confront last chance,” said WWF’s Mexico director, Omar center-right PMDB. name or party affi liation,” he said. zil’s fi rst female president, attacked pit bull,” Moraes oversaw a police suspected criminal groups. Vidal. Maduro extends state of emergency in Venezuela

AFP broadens the scope of an eco- to guarantee the supply of basic Maduro regularly blames US ing to pollsters Venebarometro. cially disappointed by the undis- Opposition leaders have until Caracas nomic emergency decree in eff ect household products to the pub- and local business interests for Senior US intelligence offi cials ciplined, divided opposition to the end of 2016 to hold the recall since January that was set to ex- lic. what his administration sees as believe that Venezuela’s leftist Maduro, the Post said. vote if they want new presiden- pire yesterday. Maduro’s political opposition a conspiracy against Venezuela government could be overthrown Two senior Venezuelan of- tial elections - but according to mbattled Venezuelan Pres- The new decree, he said, is “a says this opens the door to new amid low oil prices. in a popular uprising this year, fi cials, lawmaker Diosdado Ca- the constitution, after January ident Nicolas Maduro de- fuller, more comprehensive pro- expropriations. Washington has had a rocky the Washington Post reported bello and Foreign Minister Delcy 2017 a successful recall would Eclared a three-month state tection for our people,” which The president is widely blamed relationship with the leftist gov- yesterday. Rodriguez, expressed support for transfer power to Maduro’s vice of emergency late Friday to face “guarantees peace, guarantees for a crisis in which Venezuelans ernment in Caracas for years, “You can hear the ice crack- Maduro on Twitter. president rather than trigger new “threats from abroad,” as his em- stability, that will allow us ... to are having to queue for hours for and the two countries have not ing,” an intelligence offi cial said. Opposition lawmaker Tomas elections. boldened foes geared for a vote to recover the country’s productive rations of basic food and other exchanged ambassadors since “You know there’s a crisis com- Guanipa meanwhile said the state In early May the opposition oust him. capacity.” goods. 2010. ing.” of emergency is aimed at “desta- delivered 1.8mn signatures pe- In an address to the nation, It will be extended “constitu- Maduro has also imposed daily Despite the acrimony the US is The US offi cials spoke on bilizing the country to prevent titioning for a vote to recall the Maduro said he had signed a new tionally” and last for the rest of electricity blackouts and has Venezuela’s main trading partner condition of anonymity about the recall vote.” president. state of emergency decree “to the year “and likely throughout public employees working just and the biggest customer for oil, Venezuela to a small group of re- Maduro announced the decree Under electoral rules, of- neutralise and defeat foreign ag- the year 2017,” he said. two days a week due to power the South American country’s porters, including one from The hours after Venezuelan opposi- ficials were supposed to have gression,” which he says is clos- Maduro fi rst issued a 60-day shortages. main export. Post. tion leaders met with Luis Alma- already authenticated the sig- ing in on the country. decree for emergency powers on In 2015 Venezuela’s economy Caracas depends overwhelm- US policymakers believe they gro, the head of the Organization natures and move to the next Maduro said the measures will January 14, which was extended contracted 5.7% and its offi cial ingly on oil revenue, and has suf- can do little to infl uence quickly of American States. step towards holding a referen- likely last through 2017, but he in March, to deal with Venezuela’s infl ation rate topped 180% - one fered mightily since the plunge in changing events in Venezuela, It would be “the worst act of dum. did not specify if they will limit out of control economic crisis. of the highest in the world. Non- world oil prices. and their main concern is that political corruption,” if a recall The opposition accuses the civil rights. The economic decree author- government economists estimate Maduro, blamed for Venezue- the country does not collapse, vote is not held this year, said government of controlling the The announcement, made ized the president to take over the real infl ation rate is several la’s deep economic crisis, has a the Post said. Almagro, speaking at a forum in elections board and seeking to with his full cabinet at his side, private business assets in order times higher. 68% disapproval rating accord- US offi cials have been espe- Miami. delay the recall vote. Gulf Times Sunday, May 15, 2016 27 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN

Taliban bomber Imran admits using attacks police training centre

AFP The attack comes after a off -shore company Kabul period of relative calm in Hel- mand, a Taliban hotbed, for Khan led campaign to oust esp ill-gotten wealth, or to evade more than a month when many PM over off -shore wealth; tax or both.” Taliban suicide bomber militants left the frontlines to Khan set up company to Umar Cheema, a Pakistani detonated an explo- assist in harvesting poppies avoid paying British taxes; reporter who collaborated with A sive-laden car at a po- for opium—the group’s main Media, opponents blast Khan the International Committee of lice training centre in the opi- source of revenue. on Twitter Journalists (ICIJ) on the Panama um-rich southern province of Taliban spokesman Qari Papers leak, said Khan’s use of Helmand yesterday, killing at Yousuf Ahmadi said the mili- Reuters an off -shore company in 1983 least three people and wound- tants were behind the bomb- Islamabad pre-dates anything found in the ing nine others, offi cials said. ing and claimed that dozens Panama Papers about other Pa- The attack in Nad Ali dis- of policemen were killed in the kistanis. trict comes in the midst of the attack. akistani opposition leader Khan “is pioneer in off shore Taliban’s annual spring of- The militant group is known Imran Khan, who tried to company formation, among Pa- fensive launched last month, to exaggerate death toll fi gures Poust Prime Minister Na- kistanis. Not only the oldest, his in what is expected to be the in attacks on government or waz Sharif in a row over off shore company remained operational worst fi ghting season in 15 Western targets. wealth, has acknowledged using for the longest period,” Cheema years of war. The insurgents have fre- an off -shore company to avoid said on Twitter. “Three policemen were quently used roadside bombs, paying British tax on a London Mohamed Zubair, the pri- killed in a suicide car bombing ambushes and suicide assaults property sale. vatisation minister, said Khan in Nad Ali,” Helmand police in nearly 15 years of war. Analysts say the admission should prepare to face a par- chief Abdul Rahman Sarjang The Taliban have vowed is likely to ease the pressure liamentary grilling. He added told AFP. “large-scale attacks” across on Sharif’s government from a Sharif does not own any off - “Seven police and two civil- Afghanistan in this year’s Panama Papers data leak that shore companies. ians were among the wound- spring off ensive — dubbed showed Sharif’s children had Sharif’s daughter Maryam, ed,” he added. Operation Omari in honour of used off -shore companies to who is alleged to have owned an Eyewitnesses said the pow- its late founder Mullah Omar, buy London properties. Last off -shore company used to buy a erful bombing left a huge cra- whose death was announced month the government bowed Imran Khan, cricketer-turned-politician and chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) political party, fl at in London, also waded in. ter outside the training centre. last year. to opposition demands for a addresses his supporters during a by-election campaign rally in Lahore, on October 9, 2015. “The ‘PIONEER’ of off shore review by an independent com- companies ..... The TRAIL- mission. company to legally avoid paying “There is nothing illegal in it.” off -shore companies to dodge BLAZER award goes to Mr. Khan. Khan’s PTI party initially British taxes. PTI and Khan did not respond tax. #Hypocrisy,” she said on Twit- denied media claims that he “Because I was not a Brit- to requests for comment. Media commentators and ter. bought a property in London ish citizen, an off shore fl at was Khan, long revered as a Nawaz supporters quoted back One political analyst said the Pakistan, China agree through an off -shore company bought. When I sold that fl at in cricketing hero, had relent- at him his Twitter comment opposition was likely to keep in 1983, when he was playing 2003, I did not have to pay the lessly needled Sharif over the from last month: “Only reason using the Panama Papers to pil- cricket in England. But late on taxes in UK,” Khan told reporters Panama Papers revelations and ppl open off shore accts through lor Sharif but Khan’s revelations to build gas pipeline Friday, Khan said he set up the at London’s Heathrow Airport. railed against people who use Panama is to either hide wealth, will help blunt those attacks.

Internews “We are now in the process Islamabad of making summary for ECC approval and once the approv- Relations with al is accorded, the ISGS and AQ Khan’s family fi gures in Panama Papers n a major breakthrough, CNPC would formally sign the Pakistan are Pakistan and China have agreement and after which the Iinitialed an agreement to construction work would kick Internews are always up to their tricks and mend that Dina Khan be elimi- important: US build 700 kilometres gas pipe- off . Karachi hanky panky,” he said without nated from the list [of people line to be laid down from Gwa- The pipeline will be con- mincing words. whose accounts have to be fro- dar to Nawabshah at the cost structed and commissioned by “My wife and daughters never zen due to links with WMD pro- IANS of $1.35bn after Price Negotia- December 2017.” To a question, he family of Abdul Qa- signed any documents to create liferation] because there is not Washington tion Committee (PNC) has fi - the minister said that since the deer Khan, the father of this company. The signatures enough evidence to justify con- nalised the cost of the project. GIDC amount would be in- TPakistan’s nuclear pro- (on the incorporation paper- tinuing the freeze”. And to this eff ect Inter- volved in the project therefore, gramme, has been named in the work) are surely false. My broth- The request was denied. The he US enjoys an im- State Gas System (ISGS) on the Ministry of Petroleum and Panama Papers. Abdul Quyuim er never discussed it with me and last cable in the leaks is dated portant relationship behalf of Pakistan and China Natural Resources had sent the Khan, the brother of AQ Khan, my family only heard about this Jan 2010; the accounts remained Twith Pakistan, state National Petroleum Corpora- PC-1 of the project to Planning and Hendrina, his wife, as well company after the Panama Pa- frozen till then. department spokesperson tion (CNPC) on behalf of Chi- Commission for approval. as Dina and Ayesha Khan, his pers release.” “I have never even heard Abdul Qadeer Khan was at the John Kirby has said, dispel- na on Thursday initialised the However, the sources said two daughters, are all shown as The company has been shown the name of this company” centre of a massive global nucle- ling the notion that relations agreement. that the project was to be built owners of Wahdat Ltd, a com- as an intermediary of ILS Fidu- ar proliferation scandal in 2004. between the two countries The project will be con- by CNPC that would arrange pany registered in the Bahamas. ciaries IOM (Ltd), registered in According to at least one In a series of dramatic develop- had reached a stalemate. structed with 85 per cent fi - the commercial loan for the Although the names are not the Isle of Man and still active. person who has examined the ments, he was accused by then Kirby on Friday said ties nancing from Chinese compa- project. The CNPC would be part of the data released online That company has links to 611 documents but declined to share army chief and President Pervez between the two countries ny and 15% from government given the contract on EPCF by the International Consor- other entities from various ju- them, there is neither any evi- Musharraf of running a rogue were complicated at times of Pakistan, and the price at (engineering, procurement, tium of Investigative Journalists risdictions like Panama and Niue dence of movement of funds nor proliferation network for nuclear but it is an important rela- which the gas line will be laid construction and fi nancing) (ICIJ), Wahdat Ltd does appear in the database, dating back to any information regarding bank material. Shortly after Mushar- tionship that “we continue to down is much below the es- basis. on the website. 1993, most of which are either accounts owned by the com- raf’s announcement, a recorded work at very, very seriously, timated cost, top sources of The impression that the However, it has been named “inactive” or “defaulted”. pany. confession by Khan was aired in and we are going to remain the Ministry of Petroleum and project would be completed in the larger database obtained The ICIJ defi nes an interme- Further public disclosure of which he took sole responsibility committed to”. Natural Resources said. under CPEC umbrella was not by the group. The company was diary as “[a] go-between for these documents will clarify for all the nuclear proliferation When asked to comment The government of Pakistan correct, rather the said project registered in January of 1998, someone seeking an off shore this. In 2004, Dina Khan’s bank that had been revealed. on the closure of Torkham will arrange the fi nancing of would materialise out of the months before the nuclear tests corporation and an off shore accounts in the UAE were frozen Dr Khan has been under house border between Afghanistan Rs15-12bn for the project from CEPC initiative and it would of May that year, and deregis- service provider-usually a law on the request of the US govern- arrest ever since 2004, although and Pakistan, he said the US the head of GIDC (Gas Infra- be completed as a commercial tered on Dec 31, 1999, shortly af- fi rm or a middleman that asks an ment. US government cables he continues to move around, wants to see the crossing structure Development Cess). transaction. ter the Oct 12 coup. “I have nev- off shore service provider to cre- leaked through Wikileaks de- make phone calls, receive visi- stay open. The major border When contacted, Minister Sources said under the er even heard the name of this ate an off shore fi rm for a client”. scribed three conversations be- tors and write a regular column crossing between the two for Petroleum and Natural Re- agreement basically the pipe- company,” AQ Khan said over It is not clear what the docu- tween the governor of the UAE’s in a newspaper. countries was closed after sources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi line of 700km would be built phone. “Neither did my wife and ments in the larger ICIJ database central bank and an offi cial from He said that his daughter had Afghanistan objected to the confi rmed the development and another 12km portion of daughters. My brother, who died reveal about the activities of the the US Treasury Department, in returned to Pakistan from the fencing of the border that Pa- saying both the sides initial- pipeline would also be con- a few years ago, was with Habib company since ICIJ has not re- which the governor was quoted UAE following the appearance of kistan intends to carry out in ised the agreement for build- structed from LNG terminal to Bank and, as you know, bankers leased them publicly. as saying: “I personally recom- her name in the Panama Papers. order to stop infi ltration. ing the pipeline. main pipeline. Edhi, the obstinately humble hero to Pakistan’s masses

AFP and worn karakul – a triangular esteem of Pakistan’s masses moting extra-marital sex in the Islamabad cap – are known throughout the that armed groups and bandits conservative Muslim country. country and beyond. were known to spare his ambu- But Bilquis proudly displays Edhi has been nominated sev- lances. photos of now-grown women e created a charitable eral times for the Nobel Peace The annual budget of Rs1.5bn, who are now graduates of pres- empire out of nothing, Prize, and appears on the list mainly from donations by mid- tigious universities. Hmasterminding Paki- again this year – put there by dle- and working-class Pakista- Several thousand children – stan’s largest welfare organisa- Malala Yousafzai, Pakistan’s nis, continues to grow, according the vast majority of them girls tion. Today, Abdul Sattar Edhi teenage Nobel laureate. to Faisal, despite criticism from –left in the cradles over the last is revered by many as a national Edhi, born to a family of Mus- fundamentalist groups eager to four decades have been housed hero. lim traders in Gujarat in British snatch such support for them- by Edhi centres and adopted, she Content with just two sets of India, arrived in Pakistan after selves. says. clothes, he sleeps in a window- its bloody creation in 1947. Abandoned children and the Without Edhi, “I would have less room of white tiles adjoin- “He thought that this new elderly, battered women, the had no life,” says Seher, 16, who ing the offi ce of his charitable Muslim nation would be a social disabled, drug addicts; Edhi’s grew up in the foundation’s de- foundation. Sparsely equipped: welfare state,” says his son Faisal. foundation now houses some crepit headquarters. it has just one bed, a sink and a But, when they got to Paki- 5,700 people in 17 shelters across “Bilquis and Edhi are there for hotplate. stan, he found “it was the exact the country. us round the clock,” smiles the “He never established a home opposite”. It employs around 3,000 peo- girl. for his own children,” says his The state’s failure to help his ple, many of whom were former She cares for younger children wife Bilquis, who manages the struggling family care for his residents. – including the small daugh- foundation’s homes for women mother – paralysed and suff er- The project Bilquis Edhi is ter of a thief jailed for the bur- and children. ing from mental health issues most proud of is the baby cradles glary of the foundation in 2014, What he has established is – was his painful and decisive adoption service. a crime which caused uproar in something of a safety net for Pa- turning point towards philan- In the early days of his work, Pakistan. kistan’s poor and destitute, mo- thropy. as Edhi cruised the streets in his Now frail and weak, Edhi says bilising the nation to donate and In the sticky streets in the ambulance, he was made des- he is unable to manage his king- help take action – fi lling a gap heart of Karachi, Edhi, full of perate by the number of infant dom. He appointed his son Faisal left by a lack of welfare state. idealism and hope, opened his Abdul Sattar Edhi, the head of Edhi Foundation, waves as he journeys to his off ice in Karachi. corpses he came across, many as managing trustee in early “Mr Edhi sits here, waiting fi rst clinic in 1951. believed abandoned. 2016. for your donations,” sputters the “Social welfare was my voca- ages, shelters, and homes for the of terrorist attacks that tear campaigns. Hardliners have Now the foundation has be- “I have done a lot of work. I am speaker of an Edhi ambulance tion, I had to free it,” he says in elderly – all aimed at helping through Pakistan with devastat- branded him an infi del and his fore each centre a large cradle satisfi ed with my life,” the patri- parked in an affl uent neighbour- his autobiography, A Mirror To those in society who cannot help ing regularity. work un-Islamic. bearing the inscription: “Do not arch sighs. hood of Karachi, the port mega- The Blind. themselves. But its ethos of humanitarian- Edhi’s response has been hard kill innocent babies, leave them “He is my hero,” says Faisal, lopolis of glaring inequalities. Motivated by a spiritual quest The most prominent symbols ism transcending religious and work and an obstinate asceti- in our cradle”. adding that stepping into his fa- Passers-by deposit alms or for justice, over the years Edhi of the foundation – its 1,500 ethnic lines while empower- cism, a bid to leave his enemies The initiative has earned Edhi ther’s humble but mighty shoes pay their respects to the frail and his team have created ma- ambulances – are deployed with ing the masses, has made it the with no ammunition. further attacks by Islamist ex- is a “great responsibility”. old man, whose white beard ternity wards, morgues, orphan- unusual effi ciency to the scene target of many ferocious smear His work so conquered the tremists who accuse him of pro- “We still have so much to do.” Gulf Times 28 Sunday, May 15, 2016 PHILIPPINES Watchdog wants VP Catholic group rules polls declared invalid out counting By Jaime Pilapil Manila Times anomaly poll watchdog said yes- terday that it will ask the ASupreme Court to invali- By Nelson S Badilla she asserted. Singson pointed date the result of the vice presi- Manila Times out that the anomaly tests were dential race, saying the credibil- conducted in order to prove ity of the polls was put in doubt that there was no anomaly in with the admission of the Com- mid suspicions of rig- the group’s count. She stressed mission on Elections (Comelec) ging, the Parish Pastoral that the PPCRV is standing by that Smartmatic used a new ACounting for Responsible the correctness and validity of script midway through the can- Voting (PPRCV) yesterday in- its performance of the job given vassing of votes. sisted that no cheating occurred to them by the Commission on Election advocate Glenn during the unoffi cial and partial Elections (Comelec). Chong, a member of AES counting of votes conducted by The PPCRV is a Catholic Watch, said that his group will the group since Monday. church-based election watch- have no other choice but to fi le a PPCRV communications di- dog. petition at the High Court. rector Ana de Villa-Singson said On Wednesday, Marcos’ law- “I think only the vice presi- no anomaly took place as proven yer Francesca Huang said a new dential race was compromised. in the “anomaly tests” conduct- “script” or computer command The results of the presidential ed by PPRCV’s information and was placed on the PPRCV trans- race is okay,” Chong told Manila technology (IT) experts. parency server at around 7.30pm Times. Singson said their experts on Monday that changed the He said his group will include made sure that the data trans- hash codes of the packet data. as respondents in the soon to be mitted by the vote counting ma- The replacement of hash code fi led case offi cials of Smartmat- chines were untouched, thus the led the Marcos camp to suspect ic and the Comelec. votes that went to Camarines that the results of the elections, “The Smartmatic for not Sur representative Leni Robredo, particularly in the vice presiden- following the protocol and the Liberal Party candidate for vice tial race, were rigged. Comelec for negligence in en- president, were not padded. The Comelec had claimed that suring that the procedures Singson said the PPCRV was it was not informed about the are followed strictly. How can not an instrument to cheat changing of the script by Smart- they miss this simple problem Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” matic. The National Citizens’ of missing ‘ñ’ character?” said Marcos Jr. Movement for Free Elections Chong, who described the ir- “We ran several anomaly tests (NAMFREL) earlier said a hash regularity as electronic vote- to demonstrate the credibility code serves as a digital fi nger- padding and vote-shaving. of the partial unoffi cial results. print, which is unique for every Comelec Commissioner Ro- No single anomaly was found,” fi le document. wena Guanzon on Friday said A soldier acting as special board of election inspector, applies ink to a voter after she cast her ballot during a special election due to threat of Smartmatic should be inves- violence in Binidayan town, Lanao del Sur province, in the southern island of Mindanao yesterday, days after the presidential elections were held. tigated by the commission en Govt seeks ‘sensitive’ area tag for Tubbataha banc. If found guilty of violating “With a considerable number as we can certainly confi rm it As of yesterday morning, Ca- Aika, will lead the praying of the laws, Smartmatic may be fi ned of votes that have yet to be from local reports that we get marines Sur representative Leni rosary ahead of the mass. The Philippines has implemented for the study of marine ecological and be banned for making busi- transmitted, we have to remain from the diff erent precincts,” Robredo was still leading in the On Friday, Robredo’s camp all measures to protect the world- processes and climate change ad- ness with the poll body. vigilant, yet calm and sober, to the senator said. vice presidential race. called on their supporters and renowned Tubbataha Reefs Natu- aptation. It lies at the heart of the The camp of Senator Ferdi- ensure that the true will of the Although the offi cial can- The unoffi cial canvassing the public to trust the Commis- ral Park to keep the biodiversity Coral Triangle, the richest marine nand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr had people will be refl ected in the vassing of the presidential and of votes by the Parish Pastoral sion on Elections and its part- and ecological sensitivity of the biodiversity region in the world. also called on the Comelec to results of the elections,” he said. vice presidential votes will start Council on Responsible Voting ners instead of falling for doubt area from the threats of interna- The park has a 97,030 hectare conduct an audit of of the sys- Also, 555 VCMs from polling on May 25, Marcos has tapped (PPCRV) showed Robredo en- peddlers. Georgina Hernandez, tional shipping, Manila Times re- “Core Zone” and a 350,000 tem and platform of the servers precincts in the Middle East and a battery of lawyers to be led joying a wide lead over Marcos. spokesperson of Robredo, said ported. The country recently filed hectare “Buff er Zone” surround- used during the elections. Africa still have to transmit re- by former Comelec chairman With about 96.05% of pre- that claims of poll rigging were an application to the International ing it. In 1993, it was inscribed as The senator’s camp said that sults, 310 from North and Latin Sixto Brillantes. The lawmaker cincts counted, Robredo had never substantiated. Maritime Organisation’s Marine a Unesco World Heritage Site, the changing of the hash tag by America, 339 from Asia and thanked his volunteers and 14,014,517 votes and Marcos got “We call on the public to be- Environment Protection Com- and was also included in 1999 in Smartmatic may have altered 152 from Europe. These VCMs supporters for accompanying 13,798,213 votes as of 11.45am. lieve and trust the authorities mittee (IMO-MEPC) to designate the Ramsar List of Wetlands of the vote results. supposedly account for around him in his unity campaign. He However, the tabulation and the democratic exercise Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park and International Importance. Insiders told this newspaper 980,000 registered voters. said they deserve commenda- showed that only 1,304 votes that our country is undergoing World Heritage Site as a Particular The area is significant in terms that Marcos prefers a vote re- Marcos said that 333 VCMs tion for helping him in the cam- were added to the lead of Ro- right now. The Comelec itself Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA). The of its unique ecological, socio- count but this can only be done from Lanao del Sur have yet paign and keeping the faith as bredo since 8:45 p.m. on Friday. said that the changing of hash application was submitted by economic, scientific and cultural if the May 9 election is invali- to transmit election results, as he fi ghts for the integrity of the The camp of Robredo will code would not aff ect the elec- Permanent Representative to the characteristics. Its extensive coral dated. well as 207 from Surigao del elections. hold a thanksgiving mass at tion results. Yes, issues like this IMO Gilberto GB Asuque at the reefs and associated ecosystems Meanwhile, Marcos appealed Sur, 158 from Maguindanao and “I want to profusely thank 3pm today at the Church of the could aff ect the minds of the plenary meeting of the 69th ses- are vulnerable to damage from for continued vigilance as he 160 from Sulu. our volunteers and our sup- Gesu at the Ateneo de Manila public, but we are to clarify and sion of the MEPC held at the IMO international shipping activity, cited reports that as of Friday, “I will rest when I am satis- porters for their selfl ess act of University for a successful and emphasise that such changes headquarters in London in April particularly pollution arising from over 3,800 Vote Counting Ma- fi ed that the results that are be- giving their time and eff ort in peaceful elections. won’t have any bearing on the this year. Tubbataha, located in operational discharges and mari- chines (VCMs) still could not ing counted, that are offi cial, are helping ensure free, honest and The event is open to the public. fi nal results of the elections,” the Sulu Sea, is a living laboratory time incidents. transmit election results. actually validated by the results credible elections,” he said. Robredo’s eldest daughter, Hernandez said. Three years since typhoon, Duterte plans two-pronged rebuilding still continues strategy against illegal drugs By Edwin Camaya the needs of children, who are funded the education of chil- Manila Times the most vulnerable during dren who lost their parents in disasters and more at risk to the the typhoon through the Kin- Manila Times aftereffects,” he added. ship Care Programme. “Educa- Manila t has been three years since SOS Children’s Villages is a tion is a vital part of a child’s Typhoon Yolanda heavily non-profit organisation whose growth. We are currently pro- Idevastated Samar and Leyte goal is to provide long-term viding care to 150 parentless resumptive President but long-term care remains a family care to orphaned, aban- children and paying for their Rodrigo Duterte plans to continuing activity for rebuild- doned or neglected children. At education,” added Garol. Plaunch a two-pronged ing and rehabilitation efforts, the heart of its model are the SOS Children’s Villages also strategy against illegal drugs for those who have lost their SOS mothers, single women provided livelihood support nationwide, according to his homes and livelihood. who are employed to provide such as 18 fi bre boats with en- ally, former Justice undersecre- SOS Children’s Villages is motherly care throughout a gines and fi shing nets; 290 small tary Jose Calida. one such organisation provid- child’s growth to early adult- businesses or sari-sari stores; Such a strategy, Calida said, ing long-term care to affected hood. It is present in Davao del 164 livestock animals and 66 will reduce demand and supply communities. Sur, Cebu, Leyte, Iloilo, Cal- pedicabs to almost 600 families. of illegal drugs in the country. Oscar Garol, village direc- bayog, Bataan, Batangas, and To date, it has built 236 houses “Illegal drug’s permeation is tor of SOS Children’s Village Manila. in Tacloban City and 320 houses already horrible – it’s almost in Tacloban, said they have ac- Since 2013, SOS Children’s in Tanauan. Schools were also 100 percent,” he noted, adding complished a lot like providing Villages has set up 11 Child Care constructed including 15 class- that through this tack, crimi- homes in the areas of Leyte but Space Centres in Tacloban and rooms, school canteen, covered nality will also be reduced. the work is not yet done. Tanauan, Leyte. These centres basketball court and an admin- Calida noted that illegal “But more are to be done to have playgrounds that are also istrative building. drugs and poverty are the root ensure that basic needs and used for trauma management Adults who grew up with the causes of crime. services are readily available, interventions to treat children care of SOS Children’s Villages Duterte has vowed to stamp such as water systems and ac- still struggling to cope with the Tacloban have also been receiv- out crime in just six months of cessible healthcare. Most im- typhoon’s negative impacts. ing trainings on how to set up his presidency. portantly, we need to address The organisation has also and manage their own business. He campaigned on a plat- form prioritising action against corruption, lawlessness and PLEDGE proliferation of illegal drugs. New mayor vows to check violence in Marawi “I’ll clean up this country,” he assured during his ‘Miting Newly- elected mayor, Majul Usman Gandamra has determining if it was election-related violence. De Avance’ last week in Metro vowed to clean up the violence-hit city of illegal activi- The attacks included the killing of Gandamra’s support- Manila. ties and atrocities, Manila Times reported. Gandamra ers such as brothers, Hapidh Usman and Jalalloden Last week, the Davao may- was proclaimed by city Board of Canvassers (BoC) Usman. Gandamra said he aims to “stop all forms of or’s camp bared the economic led by lawyer Michael Ignes on Friday after defeating violence” including the rampant illegal drugs and other agenda of his government. former mayor Omar Ali Solitario in a close mayoral criminal activities while enabling the city’s progress Calida said a Duterte gov- race here, coupled by sporadic firings from unknown and economic development. He also promised to ernment will pursue an edu- locations. The mayor-elect was a former assembly- deliver all basic services to his constituents and ensure cation campaign aimed at in- man of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao peace and order in the city. forming people – particularly Rodrigo Duterte: drugs crackdown (ARMM) and ran under the Liberal Party (LP). He said he will draft a comprehensive plan for waste the youth – about the dangers He garnered 21,684 votes, with only 270 votes over management and address the traff ic woes facing the of illegal drugs. tionwide crackdown against other hardened criminals will the national penitentiary’s Solitario’s 21,414. Marawi has 49,114 total registered vot- residents daily. The only Islamic city in the Philippines, “Knowledge of such dan- suppliers of illegal drugs, hunt be incarcerated in a high-se- general population will curb ers but some 4,334 did not go to the polling precinct Marawi is also gripped by other criminal activities such gers will help reduce demand down and arrest drug lords, curity island-fortress like the their influence on prison- citing security and other unknown reasons. as kidnapping, carnapping, killing and other atrocities for illegal drugs,” Calida said. and dismantle illicit drug lab- US’ Alcatraz Federal Peniten- ers and involvement in illegal Several attacks have been recorded in the city dur- hindering the peace and development in the city and He added that Duterte’s oratories. tiary. drug-related activities inside ing and after Election Day, which authorities are still the province of Lanao del Sur as a whole. government will mount a na- Calida said drug lords and Separating drug lords from prison, he noted. Gulf Times Sunday, May 15, 2016 29 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL

Rescue under way Buddhist monk hacked for trapped climbers

DPA to death in Bangladesh Kathmandu AFP the South Asian nation has now the compound,” he added. received death threats, but no- lims, Hindus, Christians and on homegrown militants. Dhaka seen seven murders since the He said U Chak was living body took it seriously,” lawyer foreigners in recent years. Clashes broke out in Bangla- ineteen climbers, in- start of last month alone. alone in the hillside temple after Jyotirmoy Barua said. Yesterday’s murder adds to a desh last week after the main Is- cluding two critically “Villagers found Bhante having recently left farming to Bandarban is largely Bud- grim toll in past weeks, with an lamist party called a nationwide Ninjured, were being res- n elderly Buddhist monk (monk) Maung Shue U Chak’s become a full-time monk. dhist, home to indigenous peo- atheist student, two gay rights strike to protest against its lead- cued after they were stranded in was found hacked to dead body in a pool of blood ples who adopted the religion activists, a liberal professor, a er’s execution for war crimes. the central mountains of Nepal Adeath yesterday in Bang- inside the Buddhist temple this Monk U Chak, 75, centuries ago. Hindu tailor and a Sufi Muslim Jamaat-e-Islami party presi- in bad weather, a tour company ladesh, police said, the latest in morning. He was hacked to appeared to have been Police district sub-inspector leader hacked to death since last dent Motiur Rahman Nizami said yesterday. a spate of murders of religious death,” Jashim Uddin, deputy attacked by at least four Anisur Rahman, who was at the month. was hanged late Tuesday fol- “All of our team’s equipment minorities and secular activists police chief of Bandarban, said. people at the Buddhist scene, said that offi cers had not The Islamic State group and a lowing his conviction for the was destroyed in a blizzard,” in the Muslim-majority nation. Uddin said the monk, 75, ap- temple in Baishari yet established a motive for the Bangladeshi branch of Al Qaeda massacre of intellectuals during managing director of Friends No group has yet claimed re- peared to have been attacked by killing but that “it appeared the have said that they carried out Bangladesh’s 1971 war of inde- Adventure Team, Rajendra Ba- sponsibility, although the kill- at least four people at the Bud- A top Bangladeshi human monk did not have any personal several of the killings. pendence from Pakistan. hadur Lama, said. ing in the remote southeastern dhist temple in Baishari, some rights lawyer who is close to the enemies”. But the secular govern- Bangladesh is predominant- “We have two German clients district of Bandarban appeared 350kms (220 miles) southeast of country’s Buddhist community The killing comes as suspect- ment in Dhaka denies that IS ly Sunni Muslim, with small who were headed to the Sar- to bear a resemblance to several Dhaka early yesterday morning. said that U Chak had received ed Islamists have been blamed and Al Qaeda are behind the Christian and Hindu minorities. ibung peak in Manang district. recent murders by suspected “We saw human footprints anonymous death threats. for or claimed responsibility in attacks, saying they have no Buddhists make up less than But they were caught in a bliz- Islamist militants. in the temple and found that “He became a monk just one dozens of murders of minor- known presence in Bangla- 1% of Bangladesh’s 160mn zard so we are airlifting them as A troubling rise in violence in four to fi ve people entered and a half years ago. He had ity Sufi , Shia and Ahmadi Mus- desh, and blames the killings population. well as all our Nepali crew mem- bers to Kathmandu.” The blizzard destroyed the tents and the supplies of the group according to Lama. Two Nepali guides in team were critically injured in the Madhesis on storm at an elevation of 5,940m. warpath again Protest

IANS ernment. Kathmandu The alliance this time has against changed its form of protest. During the last protest, the fter their six-month- protesters blocked the key Ne- new tax long agitation in the Terai pal-India border for almost six Aover Nepal’s new consti- month, that made public life tution during which 59 people very diffi cult and public anger IANS were killed, all eyes are now on grew against them. Colombo an indefi nite stir by Madhesi This time, the alliance is all parties in capital Kathmandu. set to hold a Kathmandu-cen- For the protest, Madhes- tric protest that will see them ri Lanka’s opposition Peo- based parties have brought on picket the main administrative ple’s Liberation Front said board other dissident groups, building, Singha Durbar, where Syesterday that it has decid- mostly from indigenous and key government ministries, in- ed to stage mass protests against ethnic communities who are cluding the Prime Minister’s a new Value Added Tax (VAT) equally unhappy over the con- Offi ce, are located. introduced by the government. stitution, which they say dis- Keeping in mind that the Party leader Anura Kumara criminates against them. upcoming protest could turn Dissanayake told reporters that They have formed an alli- violent, the government has the protests will be staged in Co- ance, Sanghiya Gathabandhan made preparations to not let the lombo while public awareness or Federal Alliance. protest get out of hand. campaigns will also be staged. The alliance has warned the A team of security agencies The People’s Liberation Front, government that if the govern- has already organised a demo which backed President Maithri- ment tries to suppress their agi- around Singha Durbar on how pala Sirisena at the presidential tation, it will be the “beginning to control the riot in case it election last year, said the VAT of a civil war”. The earlier agi- turns violent. Supporters of Federal Alliance, a coalition of Madhes-based parties and other ethnic political parties and organisations, protesting against was a burden on the public. tation, of blockading the trade The alliance is determined to the constitution in Kathmandu yesterday. The new 15% VAT was in place entry points with India on the make the K P Oli-led govern- from this month but the govern- border, ended in mid-February ment address their demands the alliance, said: “We held 36 “Our agitation will be peace- ment should take the entire The alliance will picket the ment insisted that several items this year. to make the constitution more rounds of talks with the gov- ful and non-violent. We have responsibility in case such a Singha Durbar every day from would be exempted. With 36 rounds of talks with inclusive, and revisit the issue ernment, but the government also cautioned the govern- situation ensues,” the statement today. It has demanded that the The tax was increased from the government since promul- over demarcation of the seven didn’t seem sensitive.” ment that it should not give a adds. government take action against 11% to 15% and among the items gation of the new constitution federal units. “That’s why we are forced violent turn to the protest as in Yadav said: “We have heard black marketeers, make diesel, exempted are petrol, diesel and since last September making no The alliance comprises of to resort to agitation,” he said, the past,” says a joint statement that the government is prepar- petrol and cooking gas easily aviation fuel as well as wheat, headway, the level of frustration 27 political parties, including adding: “Now it’s not dialogue signed by the Samajbadi Forum ing to mobilize the army to tame available, rehabilitate survivors rice, milk powder, mobile phones and unhappiness has mounted the seven parties of Madhesi but only agitation that will fi nd chairman Yadav on behalf of the our agitation. It is the people’s of the earthquake and imple- and healthcare services and in the Terai region, bordering Morcha. a way out.” alliance. army and people will respond if ment the past pacts signed with education. India, where the Madhesis and Addressing a press con- The government and alliance “The country could plunge the army is being mobilised.” the agitating Madhesi parties. However water, telephone other indigenous communities ference on Friday, chairman had recently exchanged let- into a long-term struggle and The alliance has decided to Key leaders of the alliance, charges and other key items have reside. of the Madhesi Janadhikar ters on holding formal talks but civil war if the government tries start its demonstration from including Rajendra Mahato and been included in the new VAT, The alliance is now in a mood Forum-Nepal (MJF-N) Up- no headway was made in the to suppress the people’s agita- Shantibatika in Ratnapark from Hridyesh Tripathi, addressed which have resulted in strong not to bow down before the gov- endra Yadav, a key leader of negotiations. tion. We warn that the govern- yesterday. the press conference. outcry in the country. NY Fed defends Lanka shares cordial ties with India: Sirisena IANS regard to religion, spiritualism Ujjain, India and culture both countries have great understanding towards fund transfer after each other. isiting Sri Lankan At the meet, besides Indian President Maithripala Prime Minister Narendra Modi, VSirisena yesterday said Sri Lankan opposition leader R his country shares cordial and Sampanthan was also present. Bangladesh heist deep relations with India and The symposium was presid- more closer ties will be ensured ed over by Lok Sabha Speaker in the future. Sumitra Mahajan. Reuters fl ag transfers to people and ju- Authorities in Bangladesh Addressing the “Interna- Sirisena is on a two-day vis- Chicago risdictions subject to sanctions and elsewhere are still trying to tional relations Kumbh” on it. He held bilateral talks with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi looking on as Sri Lanka’s President but not to block a transfer if it fi gure out how hackers carried the sidelines of the Simhastha Modi in New Delhi on Friday Maithripala Sirisena, left, was seen adjusting his earphones during a had passed the authentication out the attack and what hap- Kumbh Mela, Sirisena said with evening. seminar at the Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Ujjain city of India yesterday. fter an $81mn cyber he- process on the SWIFT messag- pened to the money, which was ist at the Bangladesh ing network. routed from the Bangladesh Acentral bank, the Fed- Bank’s account at the New York eral Reserve Bank of New York “The correct procedures Fed to banks in the Philippines. said there was no problem with were followed in Cyber security fi rm BAE its procedures for approving approving fi ve transfers Systems connected the heist Aid to Nepal not reduced, says India fund transfers, according to a of money and in on Friday to the hack at Sony letter released on Friday by a blocking 30” Corp’s fi lm studio in 2014, a US lawmaker who had ques- day after SWIFT disclosed a IANS from India’s ministry of external cludes nearly 3,000 scholarships and rail links, depending upon tioned those methods. That comment was an ac- second attack similar to the Kathmandu aff air’s Aid-to-Nepal budget in to Nepalese students annually at project progress, accounting for US Representative Carolyn knowledgement that the New Bangladesh incident, this time 2014-15 was (Indian) Rs3bn, or a cost of IRs500mn; bilaterally the rest.” “Every year, Government Maloney had called for a probe York Fed, much like other hitting a commercial bank. over $50mn. While a good part committed free electricity sup- of India spends approx. IRs466mn of the fund transfers triggered banks, in most cases relies The attacks have put a spot- he Indian embassy in Kath- of this aid is routed through the ply and trainings for over 400 for construction, maintenance and by the February cyber attack on solely on SWIFT verifi cation to light on the global fi nancial mes- mandu has said there has Nepali fi nance ministry, a lot of Nepalese persons from security, repair of embankments,” it said. the central Bangladesh Bank. prevent fraud and does not take saging system run by SWIFT, Tbeen no aid cut to Nepal. such aid is given directly to the economic and other organisations Giving details of the Indian aid In the April 14 letter Tho- additional steps. a Belgian based co-operative India is the largest bilateral benefi ciaries. Such assistance in- accounting for IRs500mn; about to Nepal, the embassy further said mas Baxter, general counsel “Unlike the SWIFT authen- owned by member banks. donor to Nepal for long, Nepali cludes granting of scholarships, 20 Small Development Projects, that four Lines of Credit totalling and executive vice president tication protocols, these steps Maloney said in a statement offi cials said. and creating medical infrastruc- gifting of buses/ambulances (over $1.65bn are available for utilisation, at the New York Fed, said the are not designed to protect our on Friday that while Baxter’s Responding to media reports ture, among others, it said. 600 have been gifted so far), over of which only $150mn has been correct procedures were fol- customers from an unauthor- letter provided key informa- that India has cut aid to Nepal, Though some media reports 1,000 shallow tube wells and sup- disbursed since 2010. Its interest lowed in approving fi ve trans- ised transfer,” Baxter wrote in tion about the incident, she re- the embassy clarifi ed: “It may claimed that China is ahead of ply of iodized salt for IRs500mn.” equalisation is borne by MEA. fers of money and in blocking the letter. mained “concerned that there further be reiterated that there is India in terms of foreign aid, Besides, the Indian aid also “Apart from this, pension is 30. Blocking the 30 requests “The vast majority of au- are critical security gaps in the no aid cut in the case of Nepal.” Nepali offi cials said that India is contributed to “construction of paid to former Gorkha soldiers prevented the attackers from thenticated instructions re- international payment system.” According to data provided by the largest bilateral donor to Ne- river training embankments for totalling to about IRs1,800 crore reaching their goal of stealing a ceived from foreign offi cial ac- Maloney said she would urge the embassy, the Indian aid fl ow pal since long. IRs400mn; with payments for on- per year, or $300mn. In addition, total of $951mn. count holders are not fl agged the New York Fed to review its to Nepal is routed through many According to the Indian embas- going projects such as ICPs (Inte- our ‘Operation Maitri’ after the Baxter said the New York for manual review by the auto- security protocols to make sure channels and is in many forms. sy statement: “Our aid in 2014-15, grated Check-Posts), Terai Roads Nepalese earthquake last year, Fed’s systems were designed to mated systems.” such a heist does not recur. The actual fund fl ow to Nepal and in other years, normally in- (of which 90km has been built) cost IRs4bn, or $70mn.” Gulf Times 30 Sunday, May 15, 2016 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Editor-in-Chief : Darwish S Ahmed Production Editor: C P Ravindran

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar [email protected] Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) Fax 44350474 GULF TIMES The next Fed rate hike — not if, but when?

With the US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) scheduling its next meeting in mid-June, economists worldwide are pondering the timing of the next rate hike. An Iraqi policeman comforting a man at a cafe, that was popular with local fans of Spain’s Real Madrid football club, in the Balad area, north of the capital Baghdad, yesterday, following a deadly raid claimed by the Islamic State group. At least 16 people were killed and 30 wounded, including several members of the security forces, When it comes to the Fed and the next rate hike, the in the attack in the town of Balad and the ensuing chase, off icials said. question obviously isn’t will they or won’t they - but it’s more about when. Economists seem to be split about the timing of the Federal Reserve’s next interest-rate increase, mirroring uncertainties in the current economic and fi nancial environment. Counter bigotry through This is compounded by a potentially disruptive vote in the UK next month, or Brexit as it is well known, over its place in the European Union. About 31% of economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal recently said the Fed will raise short-term knowledge and wisdom interest rates at its June 14-15 meeting, while another 31% expected it to wait until September. A further 21% In sum, the real problem the as Shia-Sunni disputes actually It should not be forgotten that on-Muslim confl icts, nearly 200,000 thought the Fed will move next at its July meeting. world is faced with is the trap stemmed from economic or ethnic having most of the Islamic world people have lost their lives. reasons. under its infl uence, the ideology of If we count Somalia, Nigeria, The sudden drop-off in expectations of a June move of violence and the When Hafez al-Assad perpetrated bigotry poses the greatest obstacle Sudan, and Pakistan among these followed a bumpy few weeks for the US economy. In ideologies that give rise to it the Hama massacre and when Saddam for prosperity, progress and welfare to countries, nine of the 11 ongoing April, the Department of Commerce reported that Hussain slaughtered Kurdish Muslims blossom, and of course, it gives rise to full-scale civil wars across the globe output rose in the fi rst quarter at a seasonally adjusted in Halabja with chemical weapons, the most ruthless radicalism. are within Islamic countries and their sole purpose was to strengthen If sincere and rational Muslims when these civil wars will come to annual rate of 0.5%, the weakest in two years. Employers By Harun Yahya Istanbul their rule. want to develop a solution to the an end is a matter of considerable also reportedly pulled back in April, adding 160,000 jobs, None of the wars in the Middle East issue of radicalism, they must uncertainty. down from 208,000 in March and 233,000 in February. were waged on religious grounds, yet absolutely realise the danger it poses It appears that with every passing A recent Reuters poll found the Federal Reserve will here have been 68 great during these wars, religious motives and tackle it through knowledge and year, more and more Muslims die at massacres around the world were cynically exploited as leverage wisdom. the hands of other Muslims. Both likely wait until September before raising interest rates since the end of the Second and many elements that served to This is a vital struggle because the murderers and the murdered are again, stretching to nine TWorld War and about 85mn whip up war fever came into play. being a religion of peace, Islam is prayer-performing, God-worshiping, A recent Reuters months the time since people have lost their lives in these These elements mostly consisted of wrongfully and constantly associated mosque-going Muslims. its fi rst hike in nearly a massacres. religious fanatics. with violence, and although Islam Abolishing the current atmosphere poll found the Out of the 85mn people who lost condemns it, transnational terrorism of discord is the fi rst and foremost decade. their lives, 11mn were Muslims. Muslims are obliged is continuously correlated with the duty of Muslims around the world. Federal Reserve But the Fed offi cials Furthermore, nine out of 10 Muslims religion of Islam. Muslims are seeking refuge in the have not given any hint who died in these confl icts were killed to unite through So much so that, in 2015, 2,863 West in an attempt to avoid being will likely wait on rates as yet. Their by other Muslims. attacks were carried out by so-called killed by other Muslims. The majority of the Muslim Islam, peace and love radical groups in 53 countries: 27,618 The gates, borders and harbours of until September most recent policy massacres occurred during confl icts people lost their lives in these attacks, Turkey - and the EU countries – are statement, released that reached civil war proportions. It was the US that occupied Iraq; while 26,143 people were injured. overfl owing with innocent Muslim before raising following their April The second signifi cant cause of there is no doubt that the Iraqi people The death toll was 32,658 in 2014 men, women and children who are meeting, said the central these massacres is regional power suff ered enormously because of this and 18,111 in 2013. A total of 80% desperately trying to escape the interest rates struggles between neighbouring occupation. However, during the civil of these deaths occurred in fi ve horrifi c violence being perpetrated by bank “continues to countries. war that followed the occupation, countries alone. They are Iraq, Syria, certain Muslim groups. again closely monitor infl ation In the Chinese civil wars, 40mn; the suicide bombers who detonated Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan, the In order to survive, millions of indicators and global in the Stalin Era and the post-Stalin themselves inside the mosques were populations of which consist almost Muslim immigrants have resigned Soviet Union, 10mn; in the Ethiopian Muslims. entirely of Muslims. themselves to a life away from their economic and fi nancial developments”. Civil War, 8mn; in the Zaire-Congo The Afghan civil War erupted According to a report by the US homes and countries. As for those who This clearly indicates the Fed chairwoman Janet Yellen Wars, 4mn; in the Korean War, 2.5mn; years before the USA’s invasion and government organisation, National lost their lives on the road to safety, and her colleagues are not in a hurry to raise rates again. in the Sudanese Civil Wars, 2mn; occupation. It was none other than Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), it is impossible to give a tally of the According to Qatar’s QNB, although the US economic in the Khmer Rouge Cambodian Muslims who fi red upon each other 97% of the victims of terrorism were casualties. Genocide, 1.8mn; in the Vietnam in the Syrian, Yemeni, Sudanese, Muslims. Today, those who claim to work recovery is anything but impressive, further rate hikes War, 1.8mn; in the Afghan Civil Algerian and Libyan civil wars. The number of those martyred in for the benefi t of Islam and defend are still warranted. Wars – both during and after the Because the ideology of bigotry the Iraqi and Afghani civil Wars is the rights of Muslims have become The US economy grew by only 0.5% on an annualised Soviet occupation, 1.8mn; and in the cultivated violence it paved the way well over 1mn. To date, this number responsible for the Muslim bloodshed basis in the fi rst quarter of 2016, according to offi cial Pakistani civil war and the Bangladesh for confl icts to fl ourish. Holding has reached 500,000 in Syrian Civil in a relatively short period of less than liberation war, 1.7mn people lost their sway over the majority of the Islamic War. a decade. estimates released a few weeks ago. This, QNB said lives. countries, the ideology of bigotry Of this number, 400,000 died However, Islam is based on represents a continuation of the slowdown witnessed Religion was certainly not the has had a hold on certain masses for directly due to acts of violence, while solidarity among Muslims. Muslims in the last quarter of 2015, when the economy grew by reason behind Iraq’s invasion of quite some time and estranged many 100,000 lost their lives as a result are obliged to unite through Islam, 1.4% compared to an average of 3% in the previous two Kuwait and its going to war against Muslims from fundamental human of the lack of health care services or peace and love. Likewise, in his last Iran. The Libyan-Egyptian Wars broke values such as compassion, mercy, epidemics caused by the war. sermon - which in a way was his last quarters. out in an attempt to seize the control love and respect. More than 20,000 Muslims will and testament to all Muslims - our But QNB expects growth to pick up, with the economy of the oil fi elds in the region and the The groups in question have always perished in the Libyan Civil war and Prophet (Saas) reminded the whole expanding by 2.1% over the whole of 2016. Suez Canal. regarded the requirements of modern over the last 50 years, Yemen has Islamic community that all Muslims The Afghan, Sudanese and Algerian society such as democracy, human witnessed more than 10 rebellions and are brethren. The projected pick-up, expected to be driven by higher civil wars were waged over who would rights and freedom of speech as utterly civil wars of varying intensity. “O believers! Listen to what I private consumption, is far from impressive, but it is hold power. Many confl icts purported insignifi cant. In the currently ongoing Muslim- am saying to you very carefully. suffi ciently robust to bring the unemployment rate Every Muslim is a brother to every further down and sustain the strong recovery in the Muslim and the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be labour market. legitimate to a Muslim which belongs This might convince the Fed to raise interest rates to a fellow Muslim unless it was given again, especially given the fi rming of infl ation, which is freely and willingly.” edging closer to the 2% target, it noted. This is the path all Muslims should follow. The timing may not be clear as yet, but the general In sum, the real problem the consensus is that a tighter labour market and higher world is faced with is the trap of infl ation might convince the Fed to continue its rate violence and the ideologies that increases in the second half of this year. give rise to it. Having emerged as a grave consequence of certain Muslims straying from the way of the Qur’an, bigotry is a fallacious belief system To Advertise that stems from a grave misconception of Islam, and it is nurtured by [email protected] superstitions. Display This grave misconception is causing Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 the death of millions of Muslims, and it is growing at an alarming rate. The Classified only possible cure lies in a rationalistic Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 education based on the Qur’an. This should be the path followed by Subscription every person, be they a Muslim or not, [email protected] who wants to strive against radicalism. None of the methods that do not aim The site of a suicide car bombing, near a police training base in the Nad Ali district of Helmand province in Afghanistan, to change the mentality of bigotry will 2016 Gulf Times. All rights reserved yesterday. A suicide car bomber detonated his explosive-laden vehicle near the training base, killing three policemen and be able to put an end to this ongoing wounding nine others. calamity. Gulf Times Sunday, May 15, 2016 31 COMMENT Germany can turn crisis into success

If Germany can integrate the that frustration embolden right-wing Both the new arrivals and German refugees, it will send a populists and could lead to violence residents will need to balance respect from both sides. for diversity in lifestyles with the powerful message to nihilists If, in the worst case, a terrorist understanding that, in a secular and extremists everywhere attack were to occur – especially democracy, the same laws apply to one that could, in some way, be everyone. linked to refugees – the nationalist- Those laws must protect private By Kemal Dervis populist reaction would be powerful, religious and cultural space for all, Berlin potentially weakening the very without allowing that space to be used fabric of German society. Anti- as an excuse for infringing on the basic Muslim elements of that reaction human and democratic rights of every ccording to an early May would become fodder for religious individual. opinion poll by ARD extremists in the Middle East, by The large existing community of DeutschlandTREND, the seeming to confirm their narrative of former immigrants could be helpful Afar-right Alternative for inevitable religious and civilisational in articulating and implementing that Germany (AfD) party’s popular conflict. delicate balance, imperfect as it may support now stands at 15%, up from The second scenario turns the have been at times. around 5% a year ago. Can this refugee challenge into another The successful integration of the dangerous trend be reversed? success. Integration of the refugees refugees will also depend on economic The AfD’s rise since last summer proceeds reasonably quickly, growth. Indeed, this amounts to one has been the direct result of the surge and Germany resumes its path of more argument for Germany to use in the number of refugees – close to moderate politics, social solidarity its fi scal space to increase investment 1mn in 2015 – entering Germany. After and economic growth. In the long and implement growth-enhancing all, the party has made opposition to term, the refugees could actually policies. admitting refugees the centrepiece make a strong contribution to German While the demographic infl ow of its platform, which also includes prosperity. could become a large net benefi t for antagonism toward the European Despite the AfD’s rise, there is Germany in the long run, it remains a Union and a very conservative social plenty of reason to remain optimistic. burden in the short term. That is why programme, to which an openly Late last year, thousands of Germans there is also a need for some burden- sectarian religious component was gathered at train stations and on sharing by European countries, as added at a May 3 party convention in the streets to welcome the fi rst well as eff orts to achieve a marked Stuttgart. groups of refugees as they arrived. slowdown in the refugee fl ow, while Yet Germany’s broad political centre Throughout much of the country, upholding the human rights of those continues to hold. The centre-right In the long term, the refugees could actually make a strong contribution to German prosperity. local communities have mobilised to fl eeing confl ict and death. Christian Democrats and their allies provide housing, language training If Germany can integrate the still have the support of about 33% of a more moderate “eastern” wing and a currency, on a trade-weighted basis, contentment – a sense that is absent and social guidance for refugees, who refugees, it will send a powerful the electorate; the centre-left Social more radical “western” wing. in the wake of the global economic in much of the world nowadays. have never experienced anything like a message to nihilists and extremists Democrats have 20% support; and the The enduring strength of Germany’s crisis. Now, however, as the refugee wealthy democratic society. everywhere. It would show that, with Green Party is backed by some 13%. political centre probably refl ects More fundamentally, Germany crisis fuels populism and political Tens of thousands of teenage a strong economy, active civil society, Even the Free Democrats have clawed the country’s remarkable economic has benefi ted from the extraordinary polarisation, the foundations of students are acting as “facilitating and the rule of secular law, religious their way back from hard times, and success, which it has sustained for culture of consensus that it developed Germany’s success appear to be under partners” to their refugee classmates diff erences, cultural tensions and now have about 6% support. more than a decade, even as most of in the post-World War II period, with threat. Indeed, Germany’s future who don’t speak German, many of labour-market challenges can be In short, moderate political forces the rest of Europe has faced serious social partners and political parties could play out in two ways. The world whom arrived in the country without overcome. This is a message that the still enjoy the support of more than challenges. It owes this outcome showing a remarkable ability to has a large stake in which scenario their parents. world needs now more than ever.- 70% of Germans – in contrast with, partly to the euro, which has benefi ted compromise. prevails. Whether this approach will Project Syndicate, say, Austria, where the far right was German exports and growth far more A fairly wide territorial The fi rst scenario is bleak: Germany endure and bring about successful able to gain 36% in the fi rst round of than most of its citizens realise. distribution of economic activity, fails to integrate the refugees socially integration, will depend on both zKemal Dervis, former minister of presidential elections. If Germany still had – or had together with strong local and economically, political discontent the Germans and the refugees. The economic aff airs of Turkey and former Even Germany’s Left Party, reverted to – the Deutschmark, governments and civil-society surges and the newcomers become refugees will have to accept the rule administrator for the UN Development which has 8% support and is not employment and growth would have organisations, has contributed increasingly frustrated with their of German law, even if in some cases Programme (UNDP), is a vice president traditionally defi ned as moderate, has been hampered by a much stronger further to a general sense of plight. Any steps they take to vent it does not make sense to them. of the Brookings Institution. Letters Weather report Three-day forecast

TODAY Safety risks for kids tensioner tightens the seatbelt across very young, the risk run is that of being a top-class cricket broadcaster, High: 39 C the chest and sternum of an adult as malformation as the fracture heals. writer and historian. Low : 31 C in the front seat of car it restrains the occupant while the Furthermore, in the case of He had the great privilege to cover Strong wind and high seas frontal airbags deploy. In practical younger children, their relative almost all West Indies cricketing Dear Sir, terms, the airbags, infl ated by shortness positions the seatbelt series since 1962 and is pyrotechnic devices, “tear through” across the collar bone or even the regarded as one of the most MONDAY A business visitor to Qatar, I write the dashboard and horn pad. neck, technically “out-of-position”. respected cricket broadcasters ever High: 36 C this letter as one who has worked in The pre-tensioned seatbelt then In such instances, the risk of injury from Caribbean cricketing nations. Low: 27 C automotive safety systems. “relaxes”, allowing the body to be from the pre-tensioning function is Sunny While on the road in Doha, I often cushioned by the airbag as it begins its high. Ramesh G Jethwani notice children being seated in the “ride-down” or gradual defl ation. All It is also important to note that (Address supplied) front passenger seats of cars. This is a of this occurs within a tiny fraction of the seatbelt is the primary restraint TUESDAY dangerous practice. a second. and the airbags, secondary. It is thus High: 37 C Research shows that bone growth The danger to under-developed paramount that the occupants are Low: 28 C in humans occurs until the age of 17 or bone structures is that severe injury always restrained in position. Sunny so, with peak bone mass being reached can occur from the forces exerted by Hence, I would enjoin your readers sometimes up to a full year later. seatbelts. In the event of a fracture, to ensure that young children (and In the event of a crash, a pre- which is quite possible with the people with fragile bones such as the Fishermen’s forecast elderly) are properly restrained in the OFFSHORE DOHA second or third row seats. Wind: NW 05-15 KT Waves: 2-4 Feet Please send us Rajan Iyer INSHORE DOHA [email protected] Wind: NW 10-22/30 KT your letters Waves: 1-3 Feet

By e-mail Around the region A legendary Weather [email protected] Weather cricket broadcaster today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Fax 44350474 Abu Dhabi Sunny 36/24 Sunny 40/26 Or Post Baghdad Sunny 40/27 M Sunny 42/27 Letters to the Editor Dear Sir, Dubai Sunny 36/27 Sunny 36/28 Kuwait City Cloudy 43/29 Cloudy 44/30 Gulf Times Manama Cloudy 36/30 Sunny 34/28 P O Box 2888 An era in cricketing Muscat Sunny 37/29 Sunny 37/31 Doha, Qatar commentary has come to an end Riyadh Sunny 40/26 Sunny 41/27 with the death of Tony Cozier. Tehran M Sunny 33/21 Sunny 36/21 All letters, which are subject to editing, should have the name of the Cozier was a familiar voice to cricket audiences the world writer, address and phone number. The writer’s name and address over as well as at home in the West may be withheld by request. Indies. His was a multi-faceted personality, Tony Cozier Live issues Honestly, why is honesty so diffi cult?

By Barton Goldsmith become a way of life for a number of family? I am seeing more discord, showed that medical professionals Tribune News Service evildoers. And for those who have because people are struggling with the who apologise for mistakes get sued been through a lawsuit, even a simple fallout of how our world has changed. far less often than those who do not. Around the world We are being terrorised not only by There are no boundaries - people divorce, you know it can literally be Weather Weather hings have hell on earth. ISIS but by ourselves, as we project steal other people’s spouses; others today Max/min tomorrow Max/min changed, and Dishonesty is pervasive in the our fears onto each other, and the steal money from their loved ones and Athens Sunny 28/18 Sunny 27/17 the world is business world. A new chain of idea of telling the whole truth, even to even abuse (or neglect) their elderly Beirut P Cloudy 33/25 M Sunny 32/23 much more supermarkets took over a number of those you love, comes into question. If relatives. Quite frankly, it makes my Bangkok S T Storms 36/29 T Storms 33/26 T Berlin Rain 14/06 P Cloudy 17/05 diffi cult to navigate stores in Southern California. After we can’t be totally honest with those stomach turn. Maybe it’s because I Cairo Sunny 44/27 Sunny 42/23 - I get that. But why has the world promising to keep the staff and not closest to us, then we should all move see it more than most, but I fear the Cape Town P Cloudy 23/13 P Cloudy 25/15 become full of people who will lie, raise prices, the store in my area is to little cabins in the woods. direction in which our society is going. Colombo T Storms 29/25 T Storms 29/26 cheat, or steal to get what they want or always empty because they fi red But I know an easy way to stop all Dhaka S T Storms 34/27 P Cloudy 36/28 think they are entitled to? the people we came to trust, and, of of it - just be honest from the start. Hong Kong P Cloudy 29/21 M Sunny 29/23 Dishonesty is Istanbul Sunny 25/16 Sunny 24/15 Some people will lie for revenge, course, the store is more expensive It solves many of life’s problems, and Jakarta S T Storms 33/26 T Storms 32/26 for money, and just to make another with poorer service than the old store pervasive in the you will enjoy your experience more, Karachi P Cloudy 36/28 P Cloudy 37/28 person feel bad, sometimes to the (although it does look nicer - I guess whatever your goals are. London P Cloudy 17/07 P Cloudy 18/08 breaking point. All of these reasons are someone had to pay for the remodel). business world Manila S T Storms 34/26 S T Storms 33/26 Moscow M Cloudy 19/09 Showers 14/09 sadistic and greed-driven, pure and My bank has removed their “drop zDr Barton Goldsmith, a New Delhi M Sunny 44/27 M Sunny 44/28 simple. Some individuals for no reason your deposit here” box. It was bolted What happened to saying, “I’m psychotherapist in Westlake Village, New York Cloudy 16/07 P Cloudy 19/11 get a kick out of trying to ruin another to the fl oor, but I guess someone found sorry. What can I do to make it California, is the author of The Happy Paris M Cloudy 16/08 Showers 17/07 person’s life. a way to steal the deposits, and the right?” Does anyone want to take Couple: How to Make Happiness a Habit Sao Paulo M Sunny 27/19 T Storms 25/17 Rain 22/08 I guess everyone lies. I admit that bank was obligated to remove the box responsibility for anything anymore? One Little Loving Thing at a Time. Seoul 25/12 P Cloudy Singapore T Storms 32/27 T Storms 33/27 I have. These days, trying to get and other services. It seems like everyone has to be in Follow his daily insights on Twitter at Sydney M Sunny 25/13 Sunny 23/13 someone else in trouble and attacking But forget about big business. What the right all the time, and folks, that @BartonGoldsmith, or em-ail him at Tokyo Rain 22/15 Clear 25/14 them with threats of a lawsuit has about dishonesty among friends and just isn’t possible. A Harvard study [email protected] Gulf Times 32 Sunday, May 15, 2016 QATAR DFI grant winners get honour of Cannes festival premiere oha Film Institute (DFI) has session. Co-directors Jasmina Met- announced the recipients of waly and Philip Rizk are return grant- Dthe Spring 2016 session of its ees with their new project On Trials Grants programme. after being previously granted in 2013 Two of these new grantees, along for their project Out on the Streets, with four recipients of funding from and Kasem Khasra is also a second previous sessions, will have their time grantee for I Dreamt of Empire, world premieres at this year’s Festival after his previous grant for the project de Cannes. Shelter in 2013. Twenty-six projects from 14 coun- Lebanese projects that have re- tries – comprising 13 feature-length ceived backing include The Presi- narrative fi lms, six feature documen- dent’s Visit, Cyril Aris (Lebanon/ taries, three feature experimental or Qatar), To the One Who Didn’t Give essay fi lms and four short fi lms – will Me Life, Wassim Geagea (Lebanon/ receive funding for development, Qatar), Summer of 2015, Angie Obeid production or post-production. (Lebanon/Qatar) and The Insomnia The Spring session marks the 12th of a Serial Dreamer, Mohamad Soueid session of the grants programme, (Lebanon/Qatar). which is dedicated to supporting new The three Palestinian projects that cinematic talent, with a focus on fi rst are grantee recipients in this round and second-time fi lmmakers. are A House in Jerusalem, Muayad Two of the Spring 2016 grantees Alayan (Palestine/Qatar), Screwdriv- are also screening in key sections at er, Bassam Jarbawi (Palestine/Qa- this year’s Cannes Film Festival – tar) and The Forgotten, Ghada Terawi Dogs in Un Certain Regard, directed (Palestine/Qatar). A still from Dogs. A visual from Apprentice. by Bogdan Mirica (Romania/France/ Highlights from this session’s Bulgaria, Qatar), and Diamond Island grants include the strong presence of in Critics’ Week, directed by Davy projects from established fi lmmakers Chou (Cambodia/France/Germany/ in the Mena region with four projects Qatar). as grantees this session – Headbang Four other previous grantees se- Lullaby from Hicham Lasri (Moroc- lected for screening in offi cial sec- co, France, Qatar), The Journey from tions at Cannes this year are Divines Mohamed al-Daradji’ (Iraq, Qatar), (Directors’ Fortnight), Apprentice Whispering Sands from Nacer Khemir (Un Certain Regard), Mimosas (Crit- (Tunisia, France, Qatar) and The ics’ Week) and Tramontane (Critics’ Insomnia of a Serial Dreamer from Week). Mohamed Soueid (Lebanon, Qatar). Twenty of the projects are from Fatma al-Remaihi, CEO of DFI, the Mena region, while six are from said: “Our grantees represent the core the rest of the world. Three projects of DFI’s mandate to support emerg- from Qatari directors are among the ing fi lmmakers and contribute to the 26 projects selected for funding, four development of the regional fi lm in- from Lebanon, three from Palestine dustry.” and two returning grantees. Submissions for the next funding Qatar-based directors Mohamed round open on July 14 and close on al-Ibrahim’s Bull Shark, Sara al- July 27. Obaidly’s Coming of Age feature nar- For more information, one can visit rative project and Abdulla al-Mulla’s http://www.dohafi lminstitute.com/ short Green Eyes received grants this fi nancing/grants/guidelines A scene from Tramontane. A still from Divines.