Local Farm Products Meet 65% of Demand

BUSINESSBUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 England avoid innings defeat as Buttler, Bess Qatar ‘well-suited’ to take 5G advantage fi ght back published in QATAR since 1978

SUNDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 10831 May 27, 2018 Ramadan 11, 1439 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Real win Champions League Local farm In brief products QATAR | Offi cial Amir congratulates Georgian president His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah meet 65% bin Hamad al-Thani sent yesterday cables of congratulations to Georgian President Margvelashvili on his country’s Independence Day. HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani sent a similar cable to Prime Real Madrid’s Spanish defender Sergio Ramos (centre) holds the trophy after winning the UEFA Champions League final football of demand Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili. match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine, yesterday. Real Madrid defeated Liverpool 3-1. Page 28 ocal agricultural products meet tion and prolong the season for various REGION | Cyclone around 65% of the local con- varieties of vegetables. Lsumer market’s requirements, Businessman Abdulaziz al-Emadi Oman to re-open Arabic daily Arrayah has reported cit- estimated that local agricultural prod- Salalah airport today ing a number of Qatari businessmen ucts currently meets around 60-70% Oman’s Public Authority for Civil and investors. of the local needs and could cover up to Aviation announced yesterday that Home-based business made easier Qatar could attain self-suffi ciency in the 100% within two years. they will reopen Salalah International production of certain types of vegetables While supporting the idea of local Airport to air traff ic today, which was within two years, they told the daily. farms selling their products directly closed earlier due to Cyclone Mekunu. E the Minister of Economy celled the condition regarding the need Commerce’s incentives to owners of They stressed that the unjust block- to selling points and shopping malls Oman News Agency reported that the and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed to place an identifi cation board at the small businesses and to ease the proce- ade imposed on the country since June to bring down the costs, he called on cyclone had retreated enough to allow Hbin Jassim bin Mohamed al- entrance of the house where such a dures for those applying for such com- 5 last year has underlined the impor- the concerned entities to pay further air traff ic to resume. Page 12 Thani has issued Decision No 163 for commercial activity is licensed to op- mercial licences. tance of local farm products and the attention to unproductive farms and 2018 amending some of the stipula- erate. However, these places should In addition, it has been noted that need to boost production of such goods encourage them to be active producers. PAKISTAN | Politics tions of Decision No 242 for 2016 re- not place any promotional or adver- placing an identifi cation board indicat- to achieve food security. Businessman Khalid al-Kuwari garding the conditions, regulations, tising announcements on the walls of ing the commercial activities practised Many businesspersons and investors stressed the need for regulations that General election to and the procedures to grant a tempo- the house, and the same applies to re- in the house or part of it could cause have started making investments in ag- would make shopping malls buy directly be held on July 25 rary licence for some places or parts lated promotional material and display some embarrassments to the other riculture as they consider it a promising from local farms to decrease costs and, in Pakistan will hold a general election of them to practise commercial, in- screens. residents there. This in turn could be sector. Also, it is believed that greater use turn, lower the fi nal selling price for con- on July 25 and President Mamnoon dustrial, or similar general commer- The decision came as a response to a reason for discouraging many to ap- of innovations in the fi eld, state-of-the- sumers. He praised the initiatives taken Hussain has approved the date, cial activities from homes. the public demand in this regard and ply in the fi rst place for this type of li- art technology and climate-controlled by the government in the recent past to electoral off icials said yesterday, as The new ministerial decision can- as part of the Ministry of Economy and cences. greenhouses will help increase produc- encourage productive farms. To Page 11 the government enters its final week in off ice. Pakistan’s government and parliament is due to be dissolved on May 31. Page 23 ‘Gulf crisis threatens EAST ASIA | Diplomacy Korean leaders meet to salvage summit E Africa peace eff orts’ North and South Korea’s leaders held surprise talks yesterday to get a historic summit between Kim Jong-un AFP In particular, tensions have escalated and US President Donald Trump back Entebbe steadily between Somalia and the Unit- on track after a head-spinning series of ed Arab Emirates, which has sought to twists and turns. Page 17 extend its infl uence there as the war in iplomatic tensions between Yemen rages on. RAMADAN THOUGHT countries in the Gulf are threat- Although the two countries have Allah accepts only the repentance Dening peace eff orts in East Af- been traditionally close, Mogadishu’s of those who do evil in ignorance rica, particularly in the Horn of Africa, attempts to remain neutral over the and foolishness and repent soon the EU’s special envoy has warned. Gulf divisions have not gone down well. afterwards; it is they whom Allah will The crisis, which erupted nearly a One of the EU’s “most important forgive and Allah is Ever All-Knower, year ago, has pitted Saudi Arabia, the objectives” is to make sure that East All-Wise. UAE, Egypt and Bahrain against Qa- Africa “is as well protected as it can be (Qur’an 4: 17) tar, with Riyadh and its allies accusing from what is a rapidly shifting geopo- Prayer times Doha of fostering close ties with Iran litical environment” in the Gulf, he said and backing Islamic extremists. Qatar on Friday following a two-day seminar Fajr....3.18 Zuhr....11.31 Asr....2.56 has denied all the allegations and the of EU envoys to the region. Maghrib.....6.20 Isha.....7.50 accusers have failed to submit any evi- Political strife between Gulf states dence to support their claims. and their alliances with east African Fasting times But the fallout has had direct repercus- players was “the biggest strategic is- sions in the Horn of Africa where it has sue because it could easily undermine Iftar today ...... 6.20pm exacerbated already-existing tensions, no- all of the eff orts to overcome East Afri- Imsak tomorrow...... 3.07am tably in Somalia, said Alexander Rondos, ca’s own particular crises, whether it’s Europe’s special envoy to the region. South Sudan or Somalia,” Rondos said.

Barshim wins at Eugene Diamond League

atar’s Mutaz Barshim easily won the high jump at the IAAF QDiamond League meeting in Eugene, USA with a best leap of 2.36m yesterday. Russian Danil Lysenko, taking part as an Authorised Neutral Athlete (ANA), was second with a jump of 2.32m, while Yu Wang of China was third, also with 2.32m. Yesterday’s success was the world champion Qatari’s second straight win in the prestigious Diamond League series this season, following his victory in Doha earlier in May where he had jumped 2.40m. Barshim went unbeaten in the Dia- mond League last year and will be aim- ing to repeat the feat this year too. Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim clears the bar during the men’s high jump event at the The Qatari is also widely tipped IAAF Diamond League Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, yesterday. Barshim, to break Cuban Xavier Sotomayor’s who had won in the Doha leg of the IAAF Diamond League series earlier this month, record of 2.45m set 25 years ago. won with a 2.36m eff ort. (Twitter/Diamond_League) Gulf Times 2 Sunday, May 27, 2018 QATAR Draft law to boost foreign investment across all sectors

QNA in all economic and commercial Doha activities, achieve economic di- versifi cation in line with Qatar National Vision 2030, facilitate he draft law regulat- foreign investors’ entry and in- ing the investment of crease confi dence and invest- Tnon-Qatari capital in the ment safety in the country. country’s economic activity will The most important fea- open the fi eld for foreign inves- tures of the bill are that it pro- tors to have 100% ownership vides many guarantees which in all sectors and support their contribute to the creation of entry into the Qatari market healthy investment environ- through the provision of several ment, allows investment in the incentives, most notably the fields of banks and insurance allocation of land to establish companies by a cabinet deci- their projects, in addition to the sion, provides for an increase in possibility of exemption from the State’s monetary revenues, taxes and customs duties and it is based on the strength of the free transfer of investments government spending in the within and outside the country, localisation of foreign invest- Qatargas ‘Learning Expo’ HE the Minister of Economy HE the Minister of Economy and ments and that it provides at- and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin tractive investment incentives bin Jassim bin Mohamed al- Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani. and protects foreign and do- Thani has said. mestic investors from the risks In a statement issued on importance of completing the of side agreements. Friday, the minister said the legislation and decrees neces- The law also provides incen- Qatargas holds ‘Learning Expo’ for staff Cabinet agreed to take the sary to facilitate investment. tives to the foreign investor, such necessary measures to issue The Minister of Economy and as allocation of land for the es- a draft law on the regulation Commerce added that Qatar has tablishment of the project, the atargas’ Learning and ticipated in fun-fi lled learning with Qatargas. Management division, ‘Guess of investment of non-Qatari become very attractive to for- possibility of exemption from Development (L&D) activities, learning games, and Moreover, several interactive the behavioural competence’, capital in economic activity, eign investment thanks to the income tax, exemption from QDepartment recently bite-size learning sessions. learning games were held to of- ‘Inside out: a personality ques- after having been informed of well-studied economic policies, customs duties, foreign invest- hosted a fun-fi lled, interactive There were three in-house fer fun-fi lled learning. tionnaire’ that included ques- the recommendation of the which contributed to creating a ments are not subject to expro- learning exhibition, which of- training sessions for employees tions on individual styles and Advisory Council on the draft promising investment environ- priation, transfer of ownership fered employees valuable learn- who were interested in learn- During the event, the preferences and ‘Brain teaser’, law, and in accordance with ment. of investment from one inves- ing opportunities and famil- ing more about the Individual participants got the a paper-based activity with six the directives of His High- The aim of the draft law is to tor to another, and freedom of iarised them with various L&D Development Plan (IDP) System opportunity to meet the diff erent characters each repre- ness the Amir Sheikh Tamim accelerate economic develop- remittances on investment re- services. for National Graduates and their L&D team and participated senting a separate puzzle relat- bin Hamad al-Thani, on the ment, attract foreign investment turns. The event, titled “Learning Coaches, Gas Value Chain Fun- in fun-fi lled learning ed to Learning & Development EXPO 2018 – Commitment to damentals and special aware- activities, learning games, department ‘PRIDE Values’. On Excellence,” was held at Qatar- ness sessions based on the book and bite-size learning the sidelines of the event, Qa- Lebanon parliament speaker meets Qatari ambassador gas’ headquarters in Doha and “7 Habits of Highly eff ective sessions targas’ Medical Department its North and South plants in people” by Stephen R Covey. hosted a “Health check booth” Lebanon Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri met Speaker Berri upon his re-election. Ras Laff an earlier this month. A special booth titled “My For example, a crossword that where general health tests for yesterday the ambassador of Qatar to Lebanon, Ali The meeting also dealt with bilateral relations and During the event, the par- career path” provided Na- contained questions related to employees were held and que- bin Hamad al-Marri. means to develop them in addition to a number of ticipants got the opportunity tional Graduates an oppor- the services of the Competence ries related to their health an- During the meeting, the ambassador congratulated topics of mutual interest. to meet the L&D team and par- tunity to imagine their future Development & Performance swered. Gulf Times Sunday, May 27, 2018 3 QATAR

Minister launches new population Qatar reaffi rms its support committee website to organ donation eff orts

QNA mission of the Committee and QNA Doha the principles and objectives Geneva of population policy, as well as provide information about E the Minister of De- important events, news, bulle- atar reaffi rmed yesterday velopment Planning tins, reports, programmes and its support for concerted Hand Statistics Dr Saleh future projects. Qinternational eff orts to de- Mohamed Salem al-Nabit, It also seeks to publish data velop ethical programmes for the the Chairman of the Perma- on the progress made in the donation and cultivation of hu- nent Population Committee implementation of the popu- man organs throughout the world. (PPC), yesterday launched the lation policy, and to provide HE the Minister of Public new website of the Permanent observers with access to the Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al- Population Committee. objectives of the population Kuwari made the remarks during The launch of the new policy and its connection to a meeting discussing the estab- website comes as part of the the National Development lishment of organ transplant transformation and moderni- Strategy 2018-2022 and Qatar programmes around the world, sation projects carried out by National Vision 2030. as part of the ongoing meetings the PPC. The new website The Minister stressed that of the World Health Assembly in aims at achieving community updating and developing the Geneva since Monday. partnership, as well as updat- new website would contrib- The Minister explained that ing and developing media dis- ute to the provision of infor- Qatar has established an ef- semination mechanisms that mation and publishing the fective record of organ donors contribute to enhancing the reports related to population after death, and the number of societys’ knowledge about the policy in the country, point- those registered reached about population policy of the State ing out that this move will 300,000 within fi ve years, which and engagement in the joint benefit decision makers in represents about 15% of the work system and activities of ministries, government in- adult population. the PPC to achieve the goals stitutions, business sector, She noted that the record is and objectives of Qatar Na- universities, research centres unique in the Middle East and tional Vision 2030. and civil society organisa- demonstrates the eff ectiveness of The new website aims to at- tions as part of the unified awareness campaigns organised tract and invite diff erent sec- quest for sustainable popula- by Hamad Medical Corporation. tions of society to view the tion development. She stressed that one of the most important features of the Doha model of organ donation HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari attending the meeting on organ transplant programmes in Geneva. is its respect for human dignity, autonomy and equality, indicat- rate of donation from the de- Minister meets WHO director tional co-operation to support ing that Qatar respects the dig- ceased remains one of the biggest the needy countries and enhance nity of everyone who lives and challenges the Qatari health sec- HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari met confi dence among members of works on its land and that all tor faces. The challenge mainly the Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Tedros the multinational communities. have the same just rights to ac- stems from the rejection of fami- Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on the sidelines of the meetings of the World The fi rst transplant was carried cess organ transplant services lies to donate those organs. Health Assembly, which concluded in Geneva yesterday. During the out in Qatar in 1986. The Doha and have full right to benefi t of a She added that Qatar will host meeting, they discussed enhancing co-operation between the Ministry Agreement on Organ Transplan- joint organ donation programme an international meeting in No- of Public Health and the World Health Organisation, as well as joint tation was launched in 2009 in co- regardless of their nationality, vember organised by the Doha health programmes and projects between the Ministry and WHO. operation with the International physical status, religion or race. International Academy of Or- Association for Organ Transplan- The Minister said that 89 pa- gan Donation, bringing together tation and the Istanbul Declara- tients from 12 nationalities living specialists from developed and combat human organ traffi cking programmes for living donors, tion Group. The principles and in Qatar received organs from 53 developing countries to work on and enable each country to es- stressing that self-suffi ciency strategies of the Doha Agreement donors from 10 diff erent nation- plans and strategies to increase tablish donation programmes of in organ transplantation can be are in line with the Istanbul Dec- The new website of the Permanent Population Committee. alities. She noted that raising the awareness of organ donation, deceased and ethical evaluation achieved only through interna- laration and the WHO guidelines. Gulf Times 4 Sunday, May 27, 2018 QATAR

Qatar highlights achievements in corruption control Minister discusses Qatari education institutions’ civil role at Paris conference

Qatar, represented in the Against Corruption. Corruption and a number HE the Minister of Educa- mental and economic 24-25 in Paris, focusing this responsibility, in order to ties and institutions. Administrative Control and The meeting, held recently in of concerned international tion and Higher Education development, in a manner year on the civil role of insti- educate students respon- The Minister of Educa- Transparency Authority, in in New York, was organised organisations. During the Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed that ensures sustainable tutions of higher education. sibility in various fields of tion and Higher Education co-operation with Perma- jointly by the United Nations meeting, the delegation Ali al-Hammadi, affirmed development. The minister expressed his volunteer work. The Uni- explained the pioneering nent Mission of Qatar to General Assembly and the of Qatar highlighted the yesterday that the social The minister’s remarks delight with the civil role versity also launched the and eff ective role played New York, has participated United Nations Off ice on country’s achievements in responsibility in Qatar lies came during his par- played by higher educa- sixth edition of the Social by Qatar Foundation for in a high-level meeting Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the prevention and control in Qatar National Vision ticipation in a round table tion institutions in Qatar, Responsibility Report enti- Education, Science and to mark the 15th anniver- with the participation of of corruption, which enabled 2030, which is based on discussion at the European especially Qatar University, tled Citizenship, a national Community Development in sary of the adoption of the States parties to the United it to rank high on the related four interdependent pillars: Ministerial Higher Education which established a centre platform reflecting the gen- the field of sustainable and United Nations Convention Nations Convention against international indicators. human, social, environ- Conference, held on May for volunteering and civil eral citizenship of universi- community development.

Scholars call for reforming Islamic religious education

QNA However, Rafoush warned of Doha the dubious invitations that seek to destroy the origins of Islam and questioning the group of scholars constants on the grounds and thinkers from of reform. He pointed out Athe Arab and Muslim that these calls are based on worlds called for reforming “the reform of religion, not Islamic religious education religious education, which and developing an educa- threatens the nation’s exist- tional model that would re- ence.” store the nation’s glory and In turn, Islamic thinker its civilised role, warning at from Morocco Dr Essam the same time of the dubious al-Bashir al-Marrakshi ex- calls that seek to strip the plained a number of prob- nation of its religion. lems between the exact They pointed out during scientifi c specialisation and the third session of the an- the sciences of religion. He nual Ramadan Forum or- pointed out that religious ganised by the Ministry of education has returned to Awqaf and Islamic Aff airs its natural path of connect- that the nation provided a ing it to modern scientifi c pioneering model during disciplines such as engi- the early Islamic times when neering, medicine and oth- it established a world civi- ers. lization based on sciences Academic at Institute of of religion and life sciences Da’wa and Islamic Sciences without separation between in the State of Qatar Dr Ab- them. dul Salam Muqbel al-Majidi Dr Adel Rafoush, who is said that religious education the general supervisor and is the basis of national secu- scientifi c director of Foun- rity in all Islamic countries. dation Ibn Tachafi n for Con- He added that the calls to temporary Studies, Research prevent it threaten the secu- and Intellectual Creation in rity of the nation, stressing Morocco, stressed that the the need to develop this kind reform of religious educa- of education for people who tion is a legitimate require- truly love their religion of ment and a necessity for life. love and peace.

Gulf Times 6 Sunday, May 27, 2018 QATAR

Qatar Academy Al Khor celebrates graduation of Class 2018

atar Academy Al Khor, member of Qatar Foun- Qdation, has celebrated the graduation of Class 2018 on its campus in Al Khor, in the presence of senior offi cials, dignitaries and the parents of the graduat- ing students. Aisha al-Megbali, director of the Academy, congratulated the graduates on their excellent results and asked them to continue the good work throughout their university life. “Today, we are here to witness the graduation of our second batch from Qatar Academy Al Khor, a member of Qatar Foundation, which was born prestigious and will remain prestigious and unique despite all the challenges. Students who are small in number but A view of the guests, officials and parents attending the graduation ceremony. grand in having many skills and The graduates are seen with Al-Megbali and Esposito. PICTURES: Anas al-Samaraee talents, they are able to adapt and respond to change, rely on many of you might have a great bin Hamad al-Thani. All you graduates, the school and the ing a graduate from the school Sheikha Moza has been sponsor- high expectations of the country. themselves and the support deal of anxiety and worry about have to do is to increase your parents. She said they are living is a blessing, as around 60mn ing a considerable number of ed- Frank Esposito, Senior School of their esteemed families and what the future holds for you. I effort to achieve what you de- a historic moment in their life, children around the world are ucational projects. “Such great Principal at the Academy, also from their second home Qatar just want to let you know that serve and what this country reaping the outcomes of hard deprived of their right to edu- progress has also been taken to congratulated the students and Academy,” she said. your future is full of opportu- deserves.” work. However, she urged them cation. She said Qatar has seen higher levels by His Highness briefed them on the ‘new diff er- She addressed the eight dis- nities and adventures because Lulwa al-Khater, Offi cial to take life seriously and con- comprehensive development the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- ent’ world awaiting them at the tinguished graduates compris- we are fortunate that we live in Spokesperson of the Foreign tinue the hard work and grab the and progress during the reign mad al-Thani.” Accordingly, she university. ing five young men and three a distinguished golden age in Ministry, who attended the opportunity of having a choice of His Highness the Father advised the graduates to adopt As the ceremony concluded, young women and congratulat- our country, led by His High- programme as a distinguished in life. Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Kha- hard work and make proper the graduates were presented ed them saying: “I am sure that ness the Amir Sheikh Tamim guest, warmly congratulated the She pointed out that be- lifa al-Thani, and Her Highness choices to be able to be up to the with awards and certiﬁ cates.

Sidra Medicine appoints new chief research offi cer

idra Medicine, a member of Qatar Founda- Stion, has appointed Prof Christof von Kalle as its new chief research offi cer (CRO). In his capacity as CRO, Prof Kalle will oversee all aspects of research conducted at the institution. Working with a team of international and local experts, his goal will be to align the activities of the clinical and research branches towards break- throughs in patient care. Professor Christof von Kalle Under Prof Kalle’s leadership, the research team sition of director. At the NCT, at Sidra Medicine “will be- Prof Kalle facilitated transla- come a beacon of excellence tional and clinical research in healthcare research, new by working with colleagues therapeutic developments to build internationally re- and world-class education nowned research groups for with the ultimate goal of stem cell research, applied making signifi cant contribu- functional genomics, lym- tions to Qatar’s healthcare phoma research, molecular and education system”, ac- diagnostics and gene thera- cording to a press statement. py. He is the co-founder of Peter Morris, CEO of Sidra two biotech companies, Li- Medicine, said: “The re- fecodexx and GeneWerk. search conducted at Sidra Prof. Kalle has been the Medicine is one of the key recipient of several pres- foundations that will ad- tigious awards over the vance precision medicine years, including the Pioneer and personalised care for Series Award for Human women, children and young Gene Therapy in 2011, the people in Qatar and beyond. Eva Luise Köhler Award for We are pleased to welcome Rare Diseases in 2005, and Prof Kalle to Sidra Medicine the Langen Research Award and are certain that his ex- from Paul-Ehrlich-Institute tensive experience will con- in Langen, Germany in 2004. tribute to the acceleration of “With a state-of-the-art our research goals.” facility and an ambitious vi- As a physician scientist sion to become one of the top with a clinical background in academic medical centres in cancer research, Prof Kalle is the world, Sidra Medicine is an internationally renowned well-equipped to foster im- scientifi c leader in stem cell pactful scientifi c and clini- research and the treatment cal research both in Qatar of rare genetic diseases. He and beyond,” said Prof Kalle. has published over 150 high- “Through our collaboration impact publications and is with Qatar Biobank and its an elected member of the Qatar Genome Programme European Academy of Can- as well as other healthcare cer Sciences. organisations in the country, Prof Kalle joined Sidra Sidra Medicine will provide Medicine from the National unique and valuable research Centre for Tumour Diseases results for the benefi t of (NCT) where he held the po- women and children.”

Entries open for Katara Ramadan short story contest

atara Publishing said in a statement yesterday. House has launched The Organising Commit- Kthe Ramadan short tee of the contest said that the story contest. participant has the freedom The competition comes to choose the subject of the within the framework of the story, the number of words eff orts of the House in sup- should not be less than 4,000 porting outstanding crea- and not more than 7,000. tive abilities in literature and June 15 will be the last date culture and enriching the lit- for submission of the texts to erary scene. the website: prizekataraph.com “The participation is open Katara Publishing House has to all Qataris and residents three awards for the winners. of Qatar from all age groups. The winner of the ﬁ rst The text of this competition place will receive a prize of must be written in a proper QR7,000, while the second- Arabic language, taking into place winner will get a prize account the linguistic rules of QR5,000. The third place avoiding the local dialects,” winner will receive a prize of Dar Katara Publishing House QR3,000. - QNA

Gulf Times Sunday, May 27, 2018 9 QATAR Unity key to Qatar’s Indian school students shine in success against Class 12 exams

By Joseph Varghese second position with 93.2% while the Staff Reporter third position was bagged by Rabwa with 92%. At MES Indian School, Glitta Rosalia blockade: al-Kuwari tudents of Indian schools in Qatar Cheeran emerged the school topper with have fared well in this year’s Class 96.8% in the Science stream followed by By Peter Alagos S12 examinations conducted by the Keerthi Srijith with 96.6% in the second Business Reporter Central Board of Secondary Education position. Jiss Maria Jaihar and Rayes Anna (CBSE). Benson shared the third position with The results of the examinations were 96.4%. united Qatar has played a signifi cant role in the country’s victory over announced yesterday. In Commerce, Faeba Persis secured first an almost year-long economic blockade, which was imposed by four About 1,400 students from Indian position with 91.2% followed by Sneha AArab countries against the country on June 5, 2017, according to HE schools in Doha had appeared for the ex- Maria Shaji in the second position with the Minister of State Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kuwari. amination this year. 91% and Fathima Ummer with 90.4% in “Every citizen, from the fi rst day of the economic blockade, realised that S Nikil Roashan and Prithviraj Ray – third. they have a role to play,” al-Kuwari told Gulf Times on the sidelines of a both from DPS-MIS, and Akanksha Jain In Humanities, Amna Basheer topped launching event. from Birla Public Cchool scored 97% each the school with 92.6% marks. Aisha In June last year, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, and Egypt severed dip- to top in the Science stream. Mustafa secured the second position and lomatic and economic ties with Qatar. But in just a few days, the government In the Commerce stream, Athul Roshal Reem Rashid Hashel al-Saeedi was third. was able to mobilise various initiatives to secure the needs of the country. Kumar P and Sheen Sara Symon from At Shantiniketan Indian School, Ash- Al-Kuwari added: “The government, every citizen, and everyone living in Birla Public School topped with 94.60 win Suresh with 94.6% is the school top- Qatar worked very hard and they succeeded in proving the unity of Qatar in % while Samar Gafoor from Ideal Indian per in the Science stream. Meera Antony facing the blockade, and that has made Qatar successful.” School topped the Humanities stream with 93.4% and Prabhat Shahi with 93.2% Aside from its role in addressing the challenges of the blockade, al-Kuwari with 96%. were second and third in the same stream, also lauded the private sector’s part in promoting Qatar’s culture and herit- Archan Gandhi with 96.8% and Amish respectively. age to the international community. Madhu Nair with 96.4% came second and Amina Karim (94%) topped in Com- “Qatar has been well known for its cultural activities, and since 2010, HE the Minister of State Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kuwari. third, respectively, in the Science stream merce in the school followed by Abdur Doha has also been known as a cultural capital. Now, it is good to see that at DPS-MIS and Naznin Anwar with Rahman (93.6%) and Maryam Shafique this initiative came from the private sector, which means it is no longer the people to interact with stories of exchange, tolerance, inspiration, innova- 90% topped the Commerce stream in the (92%). Qatari government but also the private sector that gives culture its merit,” tion, and understanding that are concealed in the objects highlighted in the school. At Doha Modern Indian School, Nick the minister said, referring to the launching of the ‘Cultures in Dialogue’ in- exhibition. “That is why this initiative is very important. The majlis and Arab Linda Lukose with 96.6% came sec- Shaju is the Science Stream topper with ternational exhibition. coff ee has been part of the international heritage under Unesco…this initia- ond in the Science stream at Birla Pub- 95.8% followed by Aman Sultan Haris in The exhibition will be held in collaboration with Qatar Museums Author- tive is not only exhibiting what we have but also opening dialogue between lic School while Merlin Sarah Abraham second position and Arya Appukkuttan ity, Unesco, and Qatar Shell to showcase a wide variety of historical pieces cultures. and Shourja Mukherjee with 95.8% came and Ateeqe Mohamed Ali in third. from the Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum collection over the next two “And especially during these times, we need to show Qatar as a country third. In Commerce, Avik Bhattacharya Sameia Rahmath with 92.6% is the years in select cities in Europe from September 2018. of dialogue between cultures, countries, and other intellectuals…this is an and Jeswin Kurien Abraham came second Commerce stream topper followed by The exhibition aims to stimulate dialogue between cultures, religions, and example of the government working in parallel with the private sector, which and third, respectively. Nabeel Nowshad and Gayathri Simhan in countries on the relevance of cultural heritage. It will be an opportunity for is very important and very signifi cant,” al-Kuwari said. At Ideal Indian School, Aiman Qurai- second and third, respectively. shi topped with 96.6% in the Science At Bhavan’s Public School, Meghana stream, followed by Shreyesh with 96.2% Pannikkote is the school topper with 95% and Anjana Satheeshkumar with 96%. In in the Science stream followed by Mezyu- Commerce, Farhana Syed secured the top na with 94% and Master Arjun with 90%. position with 92.2% followed by Rawan In Commerce, Amal Xavier topped with QIB hosts annual staff with 91.6% in second. Riza Ashraf and 86%. Mansi Manoj with 90.8 % each came The exams this year were marred by a third. paper leak controversy and a subsequent Ramadan gathering In Humanities, Sahar Gafoor secured retest.

atar Islamic Bank (QIB) has spirit of the holy month. Gamal organised a Ramadan gath- said, “We are glad to have host- Qering for its employees. ed, yet again, a successful em- It was attended by QIB Group ployee gathering. QIB’s annual CEO Bassel Gamal and the event is our way to celebrate bank’s executive management Ramadan with our employ- team, as well as staff members ees and it allows us to connect and their families. with each other and continue QIB Group CEO Bassel Gamal delivers a speech during the event. The event, a regular feature enhancing communication be- on QIB’s calendar, aims to cel- tween us.” including a raffle draw and generous enjoying the great Ramadan atmos- ebrate Ramadan traditions, The evening was highlighted prizes. The event was a great oppor- phere. The Ramadan gathering is one strengthen relations between by a range of activities held in tunity for employees and their fami- of the many initiatives held by QIB to employees, and bring to life the an interactive environment, lies to network and socialise, while strengthen employee relations.

Ooredoo off ers special discounts for retired customers

oredoo will be off ering special discounts and tailor-made value packages to retired customers in Qatar on a range of products, including the data packs, OOoredoo tv and Shahry lines in partnership with the General Retirement and Social Insurance Authority. “The off er is Ooredoo’s way of thanking Qatari retired customers for their hard work and lifetime service to this country,” the company has said in a release. The company has also launched a “special off er” for its retired customers available during the holy month of Ramadan, giving them the opportunity to beneﬁ t from the retirees’ off er on up to four Ooredoo lines registered under the retiree’s name. To qualify for the discount, retirees simply need to take their valid retiree ID card to an Ooredoo Shop. New and existing Ooredoo customers can enjoy the discount, which will off er an “amazing” 50% off on monthly communications packs, Fibre Internet and more. Retirees will be able to “enjoy great discounts” on Ooredoo’s Shahry and Qatarna Packs, with the Shahry 250 pack for QR125 (usually QR250), Al-Malki and al-Muraikhi at the agreement signing under which Qatarna 350 pack for QR175 (QR350), and Qatarna 850 pack for QR425 (QR850). Ooredoo will be offering special discounts and tailor-made value Retirees wanting to enjoy access to Ooredoo’s ‘Endless Internet Packs’ can packages to retired customers in Qatar on a range of products, do so starting at just QR10 for 250 MB (usually QR20), QR45 for an 8GB pack including data packs, Ooredoo tv and Shahry lines in partnership (QR90) and just QR250 for an ‘Endless pack’ (QR500). For Retirees looking with the General Retirement and Social Insurance Authority. to enjoy Internet at home, alongside “world-class” entertainment, a 50% discount on the new Fi- bre Home Entertain- ment plans is also available, meaning they can connect their home to 30Mbps Fibre speeds, enjoy Ooredoo tv, STARZ PLAY and beIN SPORTS access all for QR200 per month (usually QR400). On the permanent discount, Manar Khalifa al- Muraikhi, Ooredoo Qatar director (PR and Corporate Communications) said, “We are happy to off er our retired customers access to our Supernet and award-winning Ooredoo tv service at an aff ordable rate. These customers have been working their whole lives for our beloved country and it’s only right that we as a company give back and reward them.” Mohamed al-Malki, General Retirement and Social Insurance Author- ity director (Public Rela- tions and Communication) thanked Ooredoo for its continued co-operation and support for the retirees, which aims to fulﬁ l the needs of their in terms of communication and In- ternet solutions at the best prices. Gulf Times 10 Sunday, May 27, 2018 QATAR QIIB supports Qatar Academy students’ initiative

team of Qatar Academy’s During part one, a team of and support of their initiative He also provided a brief about “outstanding” students Qatar Academy students and and said: “With QIIB spon- QIIB and the evolution of Islamic Awill be fl ying to Addis faculty will fl y to Addis Ababa, sorship and support, we now banking in Qatar. Ababa, Ethiopia, in October Ethiopia in October this year and have the ability to bring the ex- The QIIB chief executive of- to prepare select students of prepare the Lebawi Academy ceptional students of Lebawi fi cer said Qatar enjoyed good Lebawi Academy (International students for the Model United Academy to Doha and help and brotherly relationship with Leadership Academy of Ethiopia Nations (MUN) conference and prepare them for the important Ethiopia and hoped that the Qa- - ILAE) for the ‘THIMUN Qatar help the MUN Club at the Leba- THIMUN Qatar Conference. We tar Academy - Lebawi Academy Conference’ in Doha in January, wi Academy launch and organise are very grateful to QIIB for the partnership will further enhance 2019, with the support of QIIB. conferences in future. Bank’s support of our project.” it. QIIB sponsorship of the Qa- This is the fi rst time that Ethi- Complimenting the students Dr al-Shaibei noted that he tar Academy students’ initia- opian students will be getting for their initiative, Dr al-Shaibei keenly looked forward to wel- tive will help fl y some 23 student such tools and resources to pre- said: “QIIB strongly believes in coming the Qatar Academy - members of the MUN Club of the pare and develop programs and the community and understands Lebawi Academy students on Lebawi Academy to Doha for the events for young people to seek its key role in nation building. the sidelines of the THIMUN ‘THIMUN Qatar Conference’ through discussion, negotiation, Supporting your project is a ges- Qatar Conference in Doha in from January 22-25 next year. debate, and personal action, so- Dr Abdulbasit Ahmad al-Shaibei listens to Qatar Academy students who will be preparing select students ture of our goodwill towards our January, 2019. The theme of THIMUN Qatar lutions to the various problems of Ethiopia’s Lebawi Academy for the ‘THIMUN Qatar Conference’ in Doha in January next year. community. We hope many oth- The Qatar Academy students 2019 is Sustainable Develop- of the world. ers will also do the same thing.” also visited diff erent QIIB de- ment Goal 16-Peace, Justice and And during part two, the Leb- students together from around include Ahmad al-Naimi, Shoug opportunity to meet QIIB chief Dr al-Shaibei highlighted the partments, where senior execu- Strong Institutions. All commit- awi Academy students will reach the world to learn and share ideal-Tamimi, Aisha al-Mansouri, executive offi cer, Dr Abdulba- importance of value-based educa- tives briefed them about vari- tees have one issue that ties to Doha in January 2019 to attend as from a diverse set of experi- Sama Ayoub and Prkriti Tandon. sit Ahmad al-Shaibei and other tion and took the students through ous Islamic banking operations, the conference theme. the ‘THIMUN Qatar Confer- ences and backgrounds. They recently visited the senior executives. Shariah-based, value-driven Is- customer service, information Qatar Academy - Lebawi School ence’ in Doha in January, 2019. The Qatar Academy students QIIB head offi ce at Grand Ha- Ahmad al-Naimi thanked lamic banking, and how it diff ered systems and types of banking tie-up will be initiated in two parts. The MUN conferences bring who will be visiting Addis Ababa mad Street, where they had the QIIB for the bank’s sponsorship from conventional banking. services and accounts. Gulf Times Sunday, May 27, 2018 11 QATAR

Toyota Camry hybrid electric vehicles launched

bdullah Abdulghani & Bros Co (AAB), exclusive distributor of Toy- Aota in Qatar, recently launched the new Toyota Camry Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) in Qatar at a ceremony that also featured an Iftar for loyal customers. AAB acting CEO R K Murugan handed over the symbolic key to Hamad Sharif al- Emadi, CEO of Alijarah Holding, in recognition of the company being the fi rst fi rm to own the model with the purchase of 20 new hybrid Camry vehicles for its taxi fl eet. By announcing the launch of the all-new Camry HEV in Qatar, AAB “exemplifi ed its continuous commitment to providing environment-friendly vehicles in the country Officials and dignitaries at the launch event. The new Toyota Camry HEV. while off ering customers the opportunity to experience the power and pleasure of sus- which represents an entirely new strategy tric drivetrain are automatically charged by on the all-new Toyota Camry HEV produces tainable mobility through cutting-edge to the way the company designs, engineers either the petrol engine or when braking and 176hp and 118hp and delivers 22.5kg-m and technology and an engaging driving experi- and packages its vehicles. decelerating, eliminating the need to plug in 20.6kg-m of torque, respectively. The com- ence”, it said in a statement. The TNGA retains all of Toyota’s tradi- a power cord. bined power of the two power sources (petrol Further, the statement noted that the tional values of superlative build quality Further, the all-new Camry HEV does not engine and two electric motors) is 215hp. introduction of an electric version of the and safety while injecting a fun driving ex- require a special fuel yet drives like any other The advanced features off ered inside the Camry “cements Toyota’s continued eff orts perience that plays on all the senses. conventional car. In addition, thanks to its cabin include a wireless charging system for in creating ever-better cars and further re- The class-leading model can be driven top-class fuel effi ciency, visits to petrol sta- smartphones, dual-zone automatic aircon- iterates Toyota’s commitment to environ- entirely by either electrical power with tions will be signifi cantly reduced. ditioning system and the latest in-vehicle mental sustainability”. zero-fuel consumption and carbon emis- Yugo Miyamoto, chief representative, information technology displays. The all-new Camry HEV provides a com- sions, or with a combination of a petrol en- Middle East and North Africa Representa- As with any other Toyota model, safety re- fortable and stable ride with superior han- gine and two electric motors depending on tive Offi ce, Toyota Motor Corporation, said: mains a top priority for the Camry HEV and dling characteristics, thanks to Toyota’s the vehicle speed and customer’s driving “With its stirring driving performance and employs the latest safety technologies, in- New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, behaviour. The batteries in the hybrid elec- state-of-the-art technology, the all-new cluding the brand’s innovative Toyota Safety Camry HEV creates a whole new value prop- Sense safety package. The car also includes osition, while ensuring seamless fun and six SRS airbags, vehicle stability control, excitement for driver and passengers alike anti-lock braking system, electronic brake- without compromising on its environmental force distribution, brake assist, hill-start credentials.” Combining two power sources assist control as well as an enhanced body consisting of a petrol engine and two elec- structure and platform structure, among tric motors, the hybrid electric drivetrain others.

Northumbria University begins accepting admission applications

he recently launched an important opportunity Fall session will be the ﬁ rst Northumbria Uni- for high school graduates academic session for this Tversity, UK in Qatar who are looking for a univer- university in Qatar and I has started accepting ad- sity degree from a UK-based am sure we will be receiving mission applications for its university located in Qatar,” quite a number of applica- Fall’18 session. a press statement noted. tions for admissions from The move is in line with The last date for submis- our future talents.” the recent announcement of sion of applications is August Professor John Wilson, Qatar Finance and Business 31, 2018 as the academic ses- pro vice-chancellor for the Academy (QFBA) on tying sion starts from September. Faculty of Business and Law up with Northumbria Uni- Dr Mohamed Abdul- at Northumbria Univer- versity, UK to off er degrees lah al-Emadi, acting CEO sity, said: “Our partnership in Accounting, Finance & In- of QFBA, said: “Our part- with QFBA will provide the vestments and International nership with Northumbria academy’s undergraduate Banking & Finance, which University is a sign of the students as well as gradu- have been approved by Qa- changing education land- ates with excellent courses tar’s Ministry of Education scape in Qatar and off ers that will help them develop and Higher Education. Qatar’s next generation a their knowledge and enable The university is located world-class global institu- them to compete in the glo- at QFBA, West Bay. “This is tion to learn and grow. The bal labour market.”

Local farm products meet 65% of demand From Page 1 man of the QC committee for food security and environment, stressed that the avail- Saad al-Hajiri, another businessman, ability of locally produced vegetables has noted that the ongoing blockade has en- been steadily on the rise in the local mar- couraged local farmers to produce fruits and ket since the blockade was imposed in June vegetables locally and now many of the in- 2017. digenously produced vegetables excel over He pointed out that QC was working to the imported ones in quality. maintain a balance between supply and de- Qatar Chamber (QC) board member Mo- mand to keep investment in the sector re- hamed bin Ahmed al-Obaidly, also chair- warding for both investors and consumers. Gulf Times 12 Sunday, May 27, 2018 RAMADAN/QATAR/REGION

Concern of deed’s acceptance

e owe our ability to perform our deeds, like showing off , arrogance cerned whether their deeds were ac- righteous deeds to the Favour and pride. We must always remember cepted or not than the deed itself. Some Wof Allah, The Most Exalted. that if it was not for the help of Allah, we of them said: “Be more concerned about Had Allah left us alone to depend on would never have acted nor been guided the deed’s acceptance than performing ourselves, we would have been inevita- to the Straight Path. Allah says (what the deed itself”. bly doomed, because Satan is always at- means): “And if it was not for the favour Allah says (what means): “Indeed, tacking us hoping to misguide us. of Allah upon you and His mercy, you they who are apprehensive from fear of Allah says (what means): “(Satan) would have followed Satan except for a their Lord. And they who believe in the said (to Allah Almighty), do You see few.” [Qur’an 4:83]. signs of their Lord. And they who do not this one (Aadam) whom You honoured associate anything with their Lord. And above me, If You delay me until the day As we are approaching the end they who give what they give while their of Resurrection, I will surely destroy his of Ramadan, we have to be hearts are fearful because they will be descendants, except for a few.” [Qur’an so be grateful that Allah, The returning to their Lord.” [Qur’an 23:57- 17:62] Most Exalted, made us live long 60]. “(Satan) said, because You have put enough to reach it, enabled us to They (the Salaf), may Allah have me in error, I will surely sit in wait for fast it, pray the night prayers and mercy upon them, performed the right- them, on your straight path. Then I will recite the Qur’an during it eous deeds and feared that it might not come to them from before them, and be accepted from them, which refl ects from behind them, and on their right The more a believer is sincere in strength in their faith and their knowl- and on their left and You will not fi nd deeds, the better and more righteous edge regarding their Lord. They feared most of them grateful.” [Qur’an 7: 16-17] they are. A believer is never arrogant, they would fall into hypocrisy. One of But Allah protected His sincere and he fears that something might oc- them said: “Only a believer would fear slaves, as He says (what means): “In- cur to put his deed to waste and make it hypocrisy on himself, and only a hypo- deed, My slaves- no authority will you useless. Allah says (what means): “O you crite feels secured”. have over them…” [Qur’an 15: 42] who have believed, obey Allah and obey As we are approaching the end of General view after Cyclone Mekunu in Salalah, yesterday. Allah is The One Who facilitated the the Messenger and do not invalidate Ramadan, we have to be so be grateful means to do good and helped us utilise your deeds.” [Qur’an 47: 33] He, The that Allah, The Most Exalted, made us them. He says (what means): “As for he Most Exalted, also says (what means): live long enough to reach it, enabled us who gives (in charity) and fears Allah, “And do not be like she who untwisted to fast it, pray the night prayers and re- and believes in the best (reward), We her spun thread after it was strong [by] cite the Qur’an during it. We also need will ease him toward Virtue. But as for taking your oaths as [means of] deceit to be grateful that we went through he who withholds and considers him- between you because one community Ramadan with good health, peace and Two dead, three missing self free of need, and denies the best (re- is more plentiful [in number or wealth] security. We have to ask our Lord that ward), We will ease him toward Misery.” than another community. Allah only we end Ramadan in a good situation, [Qur’an 92: 5-10] tries you thereby. And He will surely and that He accept our deeds, because If one utilises all means of good, seek- make clear to you on the Day of Resur- this is the objective and this is what we in Oman after cyclone ing the help from Allah, trusting Him rection that over which you used to dif- hope for. and knowing that there is no refuge ex- fer.” [Qur’an 16: 92] Article source: http://www.is- cept in Him, only then can he hope for A believer’s concern is to protect his lamweb.net/emainpage/ Reuters good to result. deeds just as our Salaf (righteous pred- Dubai We must beware of committing ecessors), may Allah have mercy upon things which might result in wasting them, used to be, they were more con- wo people, including a child, were killed and three oth- Ters went missing in the Omani province of Dhofar after Cyclone Me- kunu hit the southern region of the Gulf country, Omani police and state news media said yesterday. The three missing were Asian na- tionals, state news agency ONA reported. Mekunu started to weaken to a tropical storm in Oman and authorities began clearing operations yesterday after the heavy rain but warned residents to stay in their homes, with run-off from river valleys fl ooding most main roads in Dhofar. The cyclone also killed at least seven people in the Yemeni island of Socotra, a Yemeni offi cial said yesterday. At least 40 people were miss- Another view after Cyclone Mekunu in Salalah. ing. Yemen declared a state of emer- control of the internationally recog- nications. Authorities in Oman have gency on Thursday for Socotra, which nised government whose president, said they expected the cyclone to pass lies between southern Yemen and the Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, is in exile over the city of Salalah on Friday night. Horn of Africa and is renowned for its in Saudi Arabia. As wind and rain began to pummel unique animal and plant life. The storm fl ooded Socotra’s villages southern Oman during the day, they Largely untouched by Yemen’s and capsized boats, leaving much of extended the closure of the city’s air- three-year-old war, it is under the the island without access to commu- port until yesterday. MEC closes maintenance centre of a car company

QNA Doha

he Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) has announced Tthe closure of a maintenance centre in the Industrial Area, belonging to an automobile company, for a week. The closure order comes after the failure of the company to notify the relevant authorities at the ministry about recalling a certain model due to a manufacturing defect, which may pose a risk to consumer safety. In a statement yesterday, the MEC said a violation was registered against the company for fl outing Article 14 of Law No 8 of 2008 on Consumer Protec- tion, which states: “Upon the discovery of a defect in the commodity or service that is likely to harm the consumer, the supplier shall immediately inform both An MEC inspector putting up the closure notice. the competent department in the ministry and the consumer about the po- the violating company. fi rmly deal with all those who are neg- tential damage and relevant protective The MEC is continuously monitoring ligent in carrying out their obligations measures. The supplier shall immedi- the extent of commitment and com- under the Consumer Protection Law ately withdraw the defective commod- pliance by car dealers to follow up on and its executive regulations. It will ity from the market and announce such vehicle defects and fi x them to protect intensify its inspection campaigns to withdrawal in accordance with the ex- the rights of consumers and, in co-or- regulate such practices. Any violation ecutive bylaw hereof.” dination with the agent of the company, of laws and ministerial decisions will be According to the Consumer Pro- to follow up on the maintenance and re- referred to the competent authorities tection Law, the administrative clo- pair works as well as communicate with for appropriate action against them. sure announcement will be posted customers to ensure that the necessary The ministry has urged all consum- on the ministry’s website and in two repairs are carried out. ers to report any irregularities through daily newspapers at the expense of The ministry has stressed that it will its communication channels.

Doha Bank announces Ramadan car loan off er

oha Bank is off ering a car loan this proval service with their loan, customers every Ramadan countless off ers to Ramadan that is fully loaded with will receive complimentary 24x7 road- our customers. We believe the new Dfree comprehensive car insur- side assistance and pre-approved per- car loan promotion will make it easy ance, and comes with the most competi- sonal loan. on the pocket of our customers to get tive interest rate of 2.49% fl at pa. Customers will also benefi t from a their favorite car with free car insur- Doha Bank’s car loan promotion is preapproved credit card with free fl ights ance, an easy loan application and quick off ered for a limited time making it pos- off ered through Doha Miles, Doha Bank’s processing times.” sible for Doha Bank customers to avail new credit card loyalty programme. For more information on Doha Bank’s fi nancing for both new and pre-owned Doha Bank Group CEO Dr R Seethar- Ramadan car loan promotion, call cars. In addition to the one-hour ap- aman said, “We are pleased to bring 44456000 or SMS ‘CAR’ to 92610. Gulf Times Sunday, May 27, 2018 13 REGION/ARAB WORLD

Abbas on road to recovery but no date set for discharge

AFP attempt to calm rumours that Ramallah his condition was worse than officially reported. Official media said he had alestinian president spoken to a number of re- Mahmoud Abbas, hos- gional politicians to reassure Ppitalised since May 20 them of his health. with pneumonia, is in excel- Yesterday he was visited lent health but no date has by Gong Xiaosheng, China’s been set for his discharge, a special envoy to the Mid- hospital offi cial said yesterday. dle East, official Palestinian “His state of health is ex- news agency WAFA said. cellent but the doctors have Abbas was admitted last not yet decided the date of his Sunday with complications release,” said Saed Sarahna, following an ear operation, the head of the Istishari Arab while also complaining of Hospital where Abbas is being chest pains. treated. Abbas’ health is the sub- Palestinian officials have ject of regular speculation, said the 83-year-old could go with no clear successor iden- home tomorrow or Tuesday tified. In February, he under- but doctors at the hospital, went what were described as near Ramallah in the oc- routine medical tests in the cupied West Bank, have not United States. Abbas won a confirmed that timeframe. four-year term as president One official said, however, in 2005, but he has since re- that doctors would not agree mained in office without fur- a discharge date before his ther elections. complete recovery. Abbas argues the split be- Pictures of Abbas walking tween his Fatah party and the around the wards and reading Hamas, which controls the A man carries a wounded child out of a building following a car bomb explosion in the northern Syrian city of Idlib, yesterday. a newspaper were published Gaza Strip, has made elec- last Monday, in an apparent tions politically impossible.

Arab League panel Masked attackers ‘kill calls for ICC probe into Israeli crimes

fi ve Syria rescuers’ QNA hand and to stop the American Cairo actions in violation of inter- AFP Hader incident from the assas- national law and against the Beirut US warns of ‘firm’ measures for ceasefire violations sinations and other killings that rights of the Palestinian peo- have been happening more and he Arab League’s Per- ple and international peace The United States warned Syria on Friday it would US ground and air forces repelled the more than more in recent weeks in areas manent Committee and security. ive Syrian rescue workers take “firm and appropriate measures” in response four-hour attack, killing perhaps as many as 300 under HTS control,” said Ob- Ton Human Rights has He underlined the need for were killed in an attack by to ceasefire violations, saying it was concerned pro-Assad militia members, many of them Russian servatory head Rami Abdel Rah- called on the International taking appropriate legal meas- Fmasked assailants yester- about reports of an impending military operation mercenaries. man. The population of Idlib Criminal Court (ICC) to in- ures to counter this American day on one of their centres in the in a de-escalation zone in the country’s southwest. Backed by Russian warplanes, ground forces from province has swelled to more vestigate the crimes of the aggression represented by the northern province of Aleppo, the Washington also cautioned Syrian President allied militia, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah, have than 2mn people as a result of Israeli occupation against Pal- relocation of the US Embassy White Helmets said. Bashar al-Assad against broadening the conflict. helped Assad drive rebels from Syria’s biggest cit- massive transfers of rebels and estinian people, the latest of to the Palestinian city of Jeru- The rescue force said armed “As a guarantor of this de-escalation area with Rus- ies, putting him in an unassailable military position. civilians from onetime oppo- which was, Friday, targeting salem, stressing that the rights men stormed its Al-Hader cen- sia and Jordan, the United States will take firm and They have recaptured all remaining insurgent sition zones elsewhere in the unarmed Palestinian civilians, are inalienable from anyone. tre in a pre-dawn attack and appropriate measures in response to Assad regime areas near Damascus in recent weeks, including country. including children, women Earlier, the Palestinian fi red on the fi rst responders in- violations,” State Department spokeswoman the densely populated eastern Ghouta area, as well Yesterday, fi ve people were and ambulance workers. Ministry of Health announced side. Heather Nauert said in a statement late on Friday. as big enclaves in central Syria. killed in a blast in the urban cap- Chairman of the Committee the death of Yasser Sami Ha- Four volunteers were killed on A war monitor, the Britain-based Syrian Observa- The government is now in its strongest position ital of the province, also called Amjad Shamout said that the bib, 24, due to the wounds he the spot and a fi fth died later in tory for Human Rights, reported on Wednesday since the early months of the war in 2011, although Idlib, according to the Britain- Israeli occupation is a usurp- sustained by the Israeli oc- hospital, it wrote on Twitter. that Syrian government forces fresh from their still a long way from achieving Assad’s aim of reas- based Observatory. ing and killing entity, adding cupation forces’ gunfi re a Founded in 2013, the White victory this week against an Islamic State pocket serting sway over all of Syria. “Two were civilians, includ- that its politicians and offi cers few days ago east of the Gaza Helmets are a network of fi rst in south Damascus were moving into the southern Anti-Assad rebels still control two large contiguous ing a child. There was also one must be brought to the ICC. Strip, bringing the number of responders who rescue wounded province of Deraa. areas of territory in the northwest and southwest. Uzbek fi ghter and two unidenti- Shamout also called on martyrs since the beginning in the aftermath of air strikes, Syrian state-run media have reported that govern- Kurdish and allied militia backed by the United fi ed people,” said Abdel Rahman. the Secretary-General of the of the clashes in March to 115 shelling or blasts in rebel-held ment aircraft have dropped leaflets on rebel-held States hold the quarter of Syria east of the Euphra- The explosion hit a wide street United Nations to take le- martyrs, in addition to 13,190 territory. areas in Deraa urging fighters to disarm. tes. in Idlib lined by tall cement gal action to stop the crimes injured, including 330 with The Al-Hader centre lies in an The US warning comes weeks after a similar attack The government’s gains have brought it to a point apartment blocks. of the occupation on the one serious injuries. area controlled by Hayat Tahrir on a de-escalation zone in northeastern Syria held where any new military campaign risks putting it Several cars parked outside al-Sham (HTS), a militant or- by US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces. in conflict with foreign powers. had been burned by the explo- ganisation whose main compo- sion. White Helmets rescuers CONFLICT nent was once Al Qaeda’s affi li- could be seen carrying several Palestinian injured in violence dies ate in Syria. fl ee. The attackers were masked Syria’s seven-year war, usually HTS, as well as a part of Aleppo wounded out of the building, “At around 2:00am, an armed and escaped after stealing some in bombing raids or shelling on and the adjacent province of including a crying infant and a A Palestinian man shot by Israeli forces in recent clashes along the group stormed the Al-Hader equipment and generators,” he their centres. While attacks like Hama. Tensions are on the rise wounded man on a stretcher, to Gaza border died yesterday, the health ministry in the Hamas-run centre, blindfolded the staff said. It was unclear whether the one yesterday are rare, they there, with a wave of intra- ambulances parked nearby. enclave announced. Hussein Abu Oweida, 41, was wounded east of members who were on the night the attack was a robbery-gone- have happened before. opposition assassinations and The killings come as the White Gaza City, the ministry said in a statement on its Facebook page. shift, and killed fi ve of them,” wrong or if the centre and its In August, seven White Hel- clashes leaving at least 20 rebels Helmets are facing a “freeze” on It did not say exactly when he was shot, but low-level demonstra- said Ahmad al-Hamish, who crew had been specifi cally tar- mets members were killed in a dead in 48 hours, according to funding from the United States, tions along the border have continued since protests peaked on heads the centre. geted. similar assault in the town of the Syrian Observatory for Hu- which is still reviewing over May 14. At least 116 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in “Two others were wounded More than 200 White Hel- Sarmin, in neighbouring Idlib man Rights. $200mn earmarked for stabili- the Gaza Strip since mass protests broke out on March 30, accord- and another two were able to mets rescuers have been killed in province. Most of Idlib is held by “You cannot separate the Al- sation in Syria. ing to newly-released figures from the ministry.

Iran’s ﬁ rst female manufacturer, a victim of Trump’s policy Migrants

AFP look complicated. I’m a me- our product. With or without fl ee from Tehran chanical engineer — I can do it.’” Trump, we still have a business,” The breakthrough for the she said. company, called KTMA and But whether or not the busi- traffi cking he fought through a male- selling under the brand “Lord”, ness can survive the Trump ad- dominated world to became in early 2016, just after ministration’s vow to “crush” Scome perhaps Iran’s fi rst Iran’s nuclear deal with world the Iranian economy with sanc- camp female manufacturing boss, and powers came into force, lifting tions, it is already clear that in- was on the cusp of major suc- international sanctions. vestors like Anna are no longer cess with the help of a European Within a couple of months, a coming to Iran. AFP investor. Swedish investor, Anna Russ- The dream of the nuclear Tripoli Until Donald Trump brought berg, had agreed to buy 25% of deal — that hundreds of small her crashing back to earth. the company, bringing much- businesses would blossom with When Leila Daneshvar was a needed business acumen and European support, creating an ore than 100 east Af- little girl, she used to sit on the capital. important constituency sup- rican migrants es- fl oor of her father’s workshop, “Leila had a reputation for porting good relations with the Mcaped from a camp in asking for small jobs. quality production, which was West — was dead long before the Libyan town of Bani Walid “He was a mechanic, and I practically unknown here. But Trump fi nally yanked the US out where they were being held always had the most fun when I I needed to turn the business of the agreement. hostage and tortured, interna- was in the garage with him,” she upside-down,” said Anna. “It’s a real pity. Being an in- tional agencies and local sourc- said “It worked. People could tell Iranian Leila Daneshvar (second right), managing director at KTMA (Kian Tajhiz Mehr Afarin), works vestor in Iran is a rollercoaster — es said yesterday. “But in those days, there were we were a good mix. We respect with engineers at the company’s factory in Tehran’s Shahriar neighbourhood. you take one step forward, three The migrants from Eritrea, no mechanical careers in Iran, each other’s knowledge. She’s steps back. But it’s an amazing Ethiopia and Somalia fled on so I went to college in India. the engineer, I’m the business- foreign fi rms and they were getting raw materials...and now the side of the Iranian people country with great opportuni- Wednesday night to a mosque Even there, I was the only girl in woman.” doubling sales each year, fi nally it’s impossible. Either I have to against their government. ties,” Anna said. in the town where they were my year of 139 students. I had a Being women in Iran’s patri- landing a major contract with close the factory, or have to con- “That made me so angry. Leila stays positive by re- taken in by local associations hard time.” archal business world could be hospitals in the Gulf. tinue with much higher prices,” These sanctions are not on the membering her father, who and residents. But she persevered. tricky, but also an advantage. But then Trump happened. said Leila. government, it’s on the people. passed away last month. The hospital in Bani Walid Now 37, she runs her own “But being a woman has its Even before he pulled the “We had to let four or fi ve I can’t give less to disabled peo- “When I become weak and said around 20 of them were company in Iran, making mobil- advantages. Everyone remem- US out of the nuclear deal, the workers go last month because ple, to the elderly. Our saying tired...I remember his strength,” being treated for injuries from ity equipment for hospitals and bers you,” said Leila. American president’s constant we couldn’t pay their salaries, was that we are providing Eu- she said. torture. According to Doctors the elderly. Anna added: “People don’t threats to reimpose sanctions and it breaks my heart.” ropean quality with aff ordable “There is no going back. Iran Without Borders (MSF), in a “I went to Europe and saw know how to treat us exactly, had a chilling eff ect on trade. She watched Trump deliver prices. Can I do that anymore? I faces so many problems, but statement quoting witnesses, how disabled people live happy, which is useful in negotiations.” It soon became hard to import his speech on May 8, reimpos- don’t know.” I learned from him that the 15 migrants were killed and 25 independent lives. I wished my Things were looking up: low crucial raw materials, particu- ing sanctions on Iran, with a Anna remains defi antly posi- strength is inside me, and my injured during the escape, but own people had this equipment, production costs meant they larly stainless steel. mix of horror and fury, particu- tive. “Iran has 10mn older or partner. When we believe we there was no immediate confir- and I thought: ‘This doesn’t could charge fi ve times less than “We already had problems in larly when he claimed to be on injured people who can use can do it, we will do it.” mation from local sources. Gulf Times 14 Sunday, May 27, 2018 AFRICA Madagascar ruling Celebrating diversity party says ‘open to’ talks to end crisis

AFP Since April 21, hundreds of majority,” said party leader Rivo Antananarivo opposition supporters have Rakotovao. regularly occupied a square in The crisis has triggered in- the heart of the capital Antan- ternational concern, with the adagascar’s ruling party anarivo, demanding Rajaonar- African Union, the UN and re- said yesterday it is “open imampianina resign. gional bloc Southern African De- Mto” holding negotiations The row centres on new elec- velopment Community (SADC) with the opposition, the day after toral legislation that critics say is all dispatching envoys. a court ordered a coalition gov- loaded in the president’s favour. Madagascar has seen a series ernment to be formed to end the Friday’s court ruling ordered of popular protest movements island’s political crisis. him to dissolve the present gov- since gaining independence from The country has been rocked ernment and for a consensus France in 1960, often resulting in by violent protests against Presi- prime minister to be chosen. bloodshed. dent Hery Rajaonarimampianina It also said that the coalition Elected in 2013, Rajaonar- over electoral laws that the op- government should organise imampianina has not yet an- position says bar their candidates early elections, and gave the gov- nounced whether he will stand from participating in elections ernment and opposition ten days for re-election. expected this year. to reach an agreement between But two former heads of state “The High Constitutional themselves. have already mooted runs: Marc Court calls us to enter negotia- Speakers from the HVM party Ravalomanana, who was presi- tions, so we are open to negotia- at yesterday’s rally stressed that dent from 2002 to 2009, and An- tions,” HVM party lawmaker they believed they still had pop- dry Rajoelina, who removed Rav- Women dressed in traditional attire sing and chant in Durban yesterday as they take part in a street carnival festival celebrating Philobert Milavonjy Andriasy ular support in the country. alomanana during a coup. Africa Month, a month that sees Africans on the continent showcasing the diaspora of cultural activities, film, music and food told a crowd of more than 2,000 “Today is just the beginning, The two former rivals have and celebrating a united Africa by forging a common identity throughout the month of May. Africa Day held on May 25 is an supporters at a stadium in the but we are going to tour Mada- joined forces in the protests annual commemoration that intends to uphold greater unity and solidarity between African countries, and also strives for capital Antananarivo. gascar to show that we are in the against the government. accelerated political and socio-economic integration of the continent. Dozens feared killed in Anglophone Cameroon

Reuters yesterday said she saw a total of 29 bodies, against perceived marginalisation of English Younde including three outside a school, riddled speakers. with gunshot wounds. Cameroon’s linguistic divide harks back Some were women and others boys as to the end of World War I, when the League ore than two dozen people have young as 13, she said. of Nations divided the former German col- been killed in one of Cameroon’s The bodies “are rotting already and reek,” ony of Kamerun between the allied French MAnglophone regions, local sources she said. and British victors. said yesterday, although the exact circum- Army spokesman Colonel Didier Badjeck Dozens of people have been killed since stances of their deaths were not immedi- said in a statement to local media that gov- late last year — including more than 20 sol- ately clear. ernment troops surrounded a hotel in Men- diers and police ambushed by the separatists The incident in the town of Menka in ka on Friday morning after they were tipped — and tens of thousands of refugees have Cameroon’s Northwest Region is one of the off to the presence of separatist rebels. fl ed to neighbouring Nigeria. deadliest since armed secessionists from A long fi refi ght ensued and “several ter- The United States and rights groups have the English-speaking minority launched an rorists were neutralised”, Badjeck said, accused the Yaounde government of burn- insurrection last year against the predomi- without providing further details. ing down villages and carrying out targeted nantly Francophone central government. A representative for the separatists did killings in the Anglophone regions, charges Agbor Balla Nkongho, a local human not immediately respond to a request for the government has angrily denied. rights lawyer and activist, told Reuters that comment. The latest violence comes just months at least 34 bodies were found on Friday in Armed confl ict erupted last year in Cam- ahead of an election in which President Paul Menka. eroon’s Anglophone Northwest and South- Biya, who has ruled the Central African oil He declined to say who had killed them. west Regions after the government violently producer for the last 35 years, is expected to Another local source who visited Menka repressed peaceful protests begun in 2016 stand for a fresh term. Opposition MPs and their supporters gather on the May 13 Square on Antananarivo yesterday to demand the resignation of Madagascar’s President Hery Rajaonarimampianina. Pretoria mayor ‘carjacked’ by armed gang Ethiopia pardons rebel leader The mayor of South African capital Pretoria was ‘carjacked’ outside a Somali leader urges calm after restaurant in the early yesterday by AFP en for extraditing Andargachew in defi ance an armed gang that stole his silver Addis Ababa of international law and urged Ethiopia to Mercedes-Benz. clashes in disputed north ensure his safety. Solly Msimanga, 37, has been Ethiopia, which considers Ginbot 7 a ter- mayor of Tshwane, the off icial thiopia yesterday ordered the release rorist group, had accused Andargachew of name of Pretoria city and surround- AFP in Tukaraq town: I call for an ur- The clashes erupted after a of a top member of an armed opposi- plotting attacks and training opposition ing districts, since the opposition Mogadishu gent cessation of fi re and an end major storm brought strong Etion group whose 2014 arrest in Yem- groups in its neighbour and arch-foe Erit- Democratic Alliance party won local to the bloodshed,” said the presi- winds and fl ash fl ooding to Punt- en was internationally condemned. rea. elections in 2016. dent at a mosque late on Friday. land and Somaliland as well as Attorney general Birhanu Tsegaye said Shortly after his arrest, Andargachew “I was coming out of the restaurant omali President Mohamed Both sides blamed the other other areas of the Horn of Africa Andargachew Tsige of the outlawed Gin- appeared on state television, proclaiming after dinner when two guys ap- Abdullahi Mohamed has for starting the violence with- nation, killing at least 21 people, bot 7 group would be among 756 people re- “peace” with Ethiopia and vowing to “calm proached me. As I was about to get Surged troops from two ri- out confi rming any casualties, fi gures provided by the UN’s leased in a “special” round of pardons, the down.” into my car, one takes out a gun,” he val provinces to halt their fi re although one local elder said OCHA humanitarian arm show. state-affi liated Fana Broadcast Corporate Rights groups have criticised Ethiopia for told local media, admitting he was after heavy clashes in a disputed troops from both camps had been Fighting had also broken out reported. using association with the group as a reason shaken by the incident. northern border region left sev- killed. just before the storm, on May 15, “The decision was made as the individu- to prosecute politicians and journalists op- “As I was standing there, they eral dead. “More than 20 soldiers from in what local elders said were the als have demonstrated remorse, the attor- posed to the one-party rule of the Ethiopian came pointed at me with the gun. I Tensions in the unrecognised the two sides died in the clashes heaviest clashes in months, say- ney general said, adding it is also aimed at People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front. thought they actually wanted to take breakaway northern state of So- and many more were wounded,” ing unconfi rmed reports put the broadening the political space,” Fana re- Since the start of the year, Ethiopia has me.” maliland and the semi-autono- Mohamed Haji Jama told AFP death toll at nearly 30 dead. ported. released thousands of prisoners in mass He said the car’s tracker had traced mous Somali state of Puntland on Friday. “There is still military According to OCHA, the UN’s Andargachew was arrested in June 2014 amnesties that began under former prime the vehicle for a short time before it erupted into violence Thursday tension.” humanitarian arm, the blood- at Yemen’s Sanaa airport en route to Eritrea minister Hailemariam Desalegn and were stopped working. around the border town of Tu- “The situation is calm now and shed forced around 10,000 peo- and transferred to Ethiopia the same day, continued by his successor Abiy Ahmed. Violent crime is notoriously com- karaq in Sool, a disputed desert both forces from the two regions ple out of their homes, most of sparking criticism from Britain. Africa’s second most-populous country mon in South Africa, with armed rob- region claimed by both sides. are in their original positions,” them women and children, and Andargachew also holds British citizen- remains under a nationwide state of emer- bery, rape, carjacking and muggings “I want to send a plea to the said Abdirahman Osman, an “further (complicated) an already ship. gency after Hailemariam’s February resig- among the biggest threats. Somalis who are shedding blood elder in another nearby village. complex humanitarian picture.” The British Foreign Offi ce slammed Yem- nation.

Political crisis deepens in Comoros over controversial president

By Aboubacar Mchangama, Ahmed Abdallah Sambi, has been im Soulaimana, president of the after ousting acting president to meet, to express ourselves, to mosque on Friday to demand that plied), people are saying it’s a AFP placed under house arrest. Federation of Civil Society Or- Tadjidine Ben Said Massonde in a move.” he be freed from house arrest, an dictatorship.” Moroni, Comoros A referendum on a package ganisations (Fecosc), expressed military coup. The aim of the move was “to AFP journalist reported. Sambi’s party, Juwa, also com- of so-far unconfirmed consti- alarm. He won the election three years provoke,” Sambi continued. “It’s In addition to Sambi’s plains that it was barred from tutional changes is due on July “We are bidding farewell to the later, stepping down in 2006 to as if they want to lead us into cri- house arrest, the authori- holding its congress at a large he Comoros islands boasts 29. republic and becoming a monar- democratically hand over power sis.” ties have ordered that anyone venue in Morono, and accuses po- dramatic volcanic land- Azali has also indicated he will chy in all but name,” he said. to Sambi. The move appears to be linked seeking to preach “obtain lice of using teargas to break up a Tscapes, ylang-ylang es- call elections next year, which The Comoros — an archipelago But in May 2016, he returned to an incident a day before when the consent of the rally on his home island, Anjouan. sential oils and picture-perfect could enable him to remain in of- of three islands between Mozam- again as president after an elec- Azali and Sambi both attended ulemas,” a body of religious In April, Azali suspended beaches, but beneath this idyllic ﬁ ce beyond 2021, when his cur- bique and Madagascar and one of tion marred by violence and al- Friday prayers, and as they left scholars, in Moroni — an appar- the Constitutional Court — his image, a complex political crisis rently non-renewable term ex- the world’s poorest countries — legations of voting irregularities. Moroni’s main mosque, Sambi’s ent jab at Sambi, who frequently spokesman, Mohamed Ismailla, is worsening. pires. has had a long history of political On May 19, Sambi, president supporters jeered Azali. makes sermons. said the institution had become At its heart is President Azali “It’s a constitutional coup turmoil, including intervention from 2006-11, was placed under The interior ministry said the Accusations that the govern- “useless, superﬂ uous and in- Assoumani, facing a mounting d’etat,” said Youssouf Boina, by mercenaries, since it gained house arrest at his home near move was imposed to “preserve ment is cracking down on free- competent” because the eight- chorus from critics who describe head of the opposition Union for independence from France in the capital of Moroni, just days public order and security,” ac- dom of expression raise offi cial seat panel only had three judges him as bent on enshrining him- the Development of the Comoros 1975. after he had returned to the Co- cusing Sambi of behaviour that hackles. and thus could not constitute a self in power and destroying de- (UPDC) party. A fourth island in the group, moros from a six-month absence fomented “stone-throwing at “We are only applying the meas- quorum. mocracy. “Azali has set in place a war Mayotte, remains part of abroad. the police, violent demonstra- ures that were approved during the “All that was needed was to The Constitutional Court has machine to carry out his personal France. “Acts like these put our de- tions and disruption to religious Sambi presidency but which were appoint judges” to achieve a quo- been suspended, demonstra- ambitions,” said the head of the Azali, a 59-year-old former mocracy under threat,” Sambi ceremonies.” never used,” Interior Minister Mo- rum and make it operational, one tions outlawed and one of Azali’s Juwa party, Ahmed el-Barwane. colonel, was president between retorted. Several hundred Sambi sup- hamed Daoudou told AFP. of the court’s members, Soidri leading critics, former president Among grassroots groups, Sal- 1999 and 2002, coming to power “We no longer have the right porters demonstrated outside the “Now that they are (being ap- Salim Madi, said. Gulf Times Sunday, May 27, 2018 15 AMERICAS Texas school shooting survivors step up calls for US gun reform

AFP Suspect wounds teacher, fellow student in school shooting Santa Fe Indiana authorities yesterday were yet the 23rd in the United States this year to charge and identify the student who and comes just a week after a high urvivors of a recent gun ram- they say was responsible for wound- school student in Santa Fe, Texas, shot page at a Texas school inten- ing a teacher and student at a middle and killed eight classmates and two Ssifi ed their calls for reforms school in what media is reporting as teachers. including tougher gun restrictions the 23rd shooting on a United States The shootings have fueled debate Friday, as several of their classmates campus in 2018. about how to keep campuses safe. were laid to rest. The student, who was being held by “Here we go again... I wish I had an Community members watch as a home is destroyed by lava from the Kilauea volcano fissure in Leilani Estates, on Hawaii’s Eight children and two adults were police, was armed with two handguns answer,” Indiana State Police Superin- Big Island, on Friday. killed one week ago when Santa Fe High when he shot a science teacher and tendent Doug Carter said to reporters. School student Dimitrios Pagourtzis another student in a science classroom “It’s another sad day.” fi red multiple shots with a shotgun at a Noblesville West Middle School on The suspect in Friday’s shooting and handgun inside his school in rural Friday morning, police in the communi- had excused himself from class and southeast Texas, also injuring 13. ty 42km northeast of Indianapolis said. came back armed with the pistols and Pakistani exchange student Sabikah Police said on Friday they were opened fire in a science class, authori- Sheikh, 17, was buried Wednesday in investigating the shooter’s motive and ties said. Police apprehended him in Karachi. how he obtained the guns. the classroom. In Texas, the fi rst three funerals They did not detail how he was A police guard at the school Street swallowed were held Friday for substitute teach- stopped, but witnesses told local me- responded to the shooting, and other er Cynthia Tisdale, 64, and students dia that the teacher knocked the guns law enforcement off icers arrived within Christian Riley Garcia, 15, and Chris- away and wrestled the suspect to the minutes, police said in a statement. topher Stone, 17. floor despite being wounded. The wounded teacher was identified As Santa Fe worked to heal in the As of yesterday morning, authorities as Jason Seaman, 29. wake of the May 18 tragedy, a group of had not identified the student or filed The unidentified girl was in critical students there publicly called for gun charges against him. condition at an Indianapolis hospital, by ‘lava tide’ as restrictions, among other reforms, The shooting, by CNN’s count, was police said. to combat the mass shootings that plague life in the United States. “The simple reality is that if we Their push contrasted much of the this,” said Bree Butler, a Santa Fe High do not do something, another town public reaction to the shooting in the School senior. will be ripped apart, like mine,” said conservative state, where gun owner- The students promised an unspeci- Santa Fe High School student Megan ship rights are fi ercely protected and fi ed series of public actions over the more Hawaii McGuire. Governor Greg Abbott’s re-election summer. She spoke at a news conference or- campaign organised the raffl ing off of Meanwhile, memorials were ganised by the Houston contingent of a shotgun before changing course af- planned in Santa Fe and surrounding “March for Our Lives” — the grass- ter the tragedy. communities through Tuesday as the roots gun control movement started by Abbott held three days of discus- dead are buried. teenagers after another school shoot- sions this week over how to better At the funeral of Christian Riley ing in February in Parkland, Florida. prevent school shootings. Garcia, the teenager was hailed as a homes burn The Texas students said they want Among those invited were students hero for holding a door shut to keep mental health and school safety re- and educators, and advocates on both the gunman out. Reuters in a Facebook video as he stood on Kau- Magma is draining underground from forms, as well as “common sense” gun sides of the fraught gun control de- “He showed bravery far beyond his Pahoa puli street and showed a black, glass- a sinking lava lake at Kilauea’s 4,091ft restrictions, such as legal mandates bate. years. He took it upon himself to get like lava fi eld where his cousin’s house summit before fl owing around 40km for secure gun storage inside homes “We are not backing down...This everyone out fi rst, making himself previously stood. east and bursting from giant cracks, and tougher background checks for is not a one-week thing. We are not last,” said his obituary, read aloud tide of molten rock turned a Ha- Magma spewed from 30m high cin- with two fl ows reaching the ocean just gun purchases. going to let anybody move on from during the service. waii street into a volcanic waste- der cones and formed elevated ponds of over 5km distant. Aland on Friday as the number molten rock that were expected to soon Stovall declined to comment on lava of homes destroyed by the erupting overfl ow and stream into the next rows volume being emitted. Kilauea volcano soared and authori- of homes — Kahukai Street and Mohala Marzo said he was told by a USGS ge- ties told residents to fl ee a surge of lava Street. ologist there was much more to come heading towards them. Firefi ghters went door to door evacu- from Kilauea. “What has been coming ‘Not animals’: Guatemala family mourns The destructive fury of the erupting ating residents before the lava arrived. out is just a small fraction of what was Kilauea volcano was unleashed on the “It’s this tide of lava that rises up in the volcano,” he said. Big Island’s Leilani Estates housing de- and overfl ows itself on the edges and Though lava destruction from the niece killed by US Border Patrol velopment, with the number of homes keeps rising and progressing forward,” volcano is confi ned to a roughly 26sq and other structures destroyed leaping US Geological Survey geologist Wendy km area, the eruption is hurting the to 82 from a previous count of 50, ac- Stovall told journalists on a conference island’s tourist-driven economy as po- By Sofia Menchu, Reuters The young woman from the cording to the Federal Emergency Man- call. tential visitors fear ashfall or volcanic Guatemala City Guatemalan highlands had left agement Agency. Around 37 structures are already smog belching from Kilauea’s summit. her home in search of work and Some 2,200 acres of land have been “lava locked,” meaning homes are inac- Visitor numbers to the Connecticut- education opportunities, Vicente torched by lava since May 3, in what is cessible, and people who do not evacu- sized island so far in 2018 are “trend- he family of a 19-year-old said. likely to be the most destructive erup- ate may be trapped by lava fl ows. ing a little bit lower” than 2017, with Guatemalan woman killed On Thursday, the Guatemala for- tion of Kilauea in more than a century, “Any residents remaining in the cur- the cancellation of some port visits by Tby a US Border Patrol of- eign ministry said the rights of mi- according to the County of Hawaii. rent aff ected areas should evacuate cruise ships expected to have a $3mn fi cer called on Friday for the United grants must be respected. “There were eight houses taken on now,” Hawaii County Civil Defense said impact, Ross Birch, head of the island’s States to dial-back its rhetoric on “Guatemala laments any act of this road in 12 hours,” Ikaika Marzo said in an alert. tourism board said on a conference call. migrants, after President Donald violence and excessive use of force Trump described gang members by the border patrol,” the foreign entering the country as “animals.” ministry said in a statement. The woman, identifi ed by her A seven-minute video posted family as Claudia Gomez, was shot online and viewed thousands of on Wednesday in south Texas by an times appears to show the after- Florida declares emergency as Alberto approaches offi cer who opened fi re after several math of the incident on a residen- people “rushed him,” the Border tial street. Patrol said in a statement on Friday. In the video, a woman calls out Reuters “As we continue to monitor Subtropi- Alberto, the fi rst named storm of the The agency, alternately describ- in Spanish, “Why did you shoot the Miami cal Storm Alberto’s northward path to- 2018 Hurricane season, was yesterday ing them as “illegal aliens” and “a girl? You killed her!” ward Florida, it is critically important moving north near 18kph with maxi- group of suspected illegal aliens,” Trump said last week that he was that all Florida counties have every avail- mum sustained winds near 65kph with said Gomez was among them. referring to criminal gangs when lorida Governor Rick Scott yes- able resource to keep families safe and higher gusts, the NWS said. The Border Patrol said in an earlier he called some illegal immigrants terday declared a state of emer- prepare for the torrential rain and severe Gradual strengthening is forecast statement that the people attacked “animals.” Fgency as subtropical storm Al- fl ooding this storm will bring,” Scott said. until the system reaches the northern the agent with blunt objects, and that He defended his statement on berto moves north toward the US Gulf The storm is expected to approach Gulf Coast by tomorrow night. Gomez was among the assailants. Wednesday, adding that he was Coast, threatening to bring heavy rain- the US northern Gulf Coast on the Heavy rains from the slow-moving “To the government of the Unit- working on a plan to reduce aid to fall and fl ooding by Monday, according Memorial Day holiday tomorrow, ac- storm were expected between 14cm to ed States, (I ask) that you do not countries that he said do nothing Dominga Vicente shows a picture of to offi cials. cording to the latest National Weather 28cm, with up to 35cm possible along treat us like this — like animals — to stop MS-13 gang members from her niece Claudia Gomez, a Guatemalan All 67 Florida counties were issued Service (NWS) advisory. from eastern Louisiana, across much of just because you are a powerful and crossing into the United States. immigrant killed by a US Border Patrol the notice to give state and local gov- A tropical storm watch is in place Mississippi, Alabama, western Tennes- developed country,” Dominga Vi- The notorious criminal group off icer on Wednesday while entering ernments enough time and resources to from the New Orleans area to the Auci- see and the western Florida panhandle, cente, Gomez’s aunt, told reporters has a presence across El Salvador, Texas illegally, during a news conference prepare, Scott said in a statement. lla River in the Florida panhandle. the NWS said. in Guatemala City. Honduras and Guatemala. in Guatemala City on Friday. Learning to nap in New York, city that never sleeps

By Laura Bonilla, AFP minutes in a wooden sleep cabin, Thirty-fi ve minutes later, that cultural attitudes in America there’s much more awareness of New York day or night. she’ll be woken by “a simulated are changing. the importance of sleep and the “We wanted to accommodate sunrise,” explains Maya Daska- “Resetting you for the rest benefi t,” Lindholst says. all the exhausted New Yorkers,” lova, YeloSpa manager. of the day is much better than But in a city with the longest ew York is the city that explains Stacy Veloric, the com- The price? A dollar a minute, crashing in your desk in the mid- working day in the States, travel never sleeps, but arduous pany’s marketing director. with a minimum of 20 and a dle of work,” she says. time included, he thinks it will Ncommutes, hellish hours “It’s really hard to fi nd peace maximum of 40. Who escapes to take a nap? take a full generation to erase old and ultra-competitive jobs mean and quiet within New York City.” “I come here specially on days Those who work long hours or stigmas about laziness. even the most wired of party The business opened with sev- where I have a lot of work — just live miles away and want time “We use the argument all the animals or dedicated employees en cabins, but demand quickly to get more energy for the rest of out before a night out. Pregnant time that we are talking about a have to recharge their batteries. exceeded supply and they added the afternoon,” says Li. women who are exhausted. Par- very short period of time, 10 to But instead of knocking back 22 more. “I don’t drink coff ee so if I feel ents of babies suff ering sleepless 20 minutes, essentially the same a coff ee or quaffi ng an energy Soon there will also be ham- tired there’s nothing I can really nights and party-goers who need (as) a coff ee break or in New York drink, a growing number of New mocks on the roof, where half an do, other than sleeping.” a breather. a smoke break,” he explained. Yorkers are opting for a quick nap hour’s kick-back will cost $15. She may not have told col- In 2004, Christopher Lind- One MetroNaps capsule lives during offi ce hours. The US sleep defi cit is real. Laura Li prepares to take a nap in YeloSpa in New York. leagues that she naps dur- holst created MetroNaps, a com- in the SoHo offi ces of Thrive Glo- With affl uent Americans in- According to the US Centers ing lunch, but has confessed to pany that designs super-modern bal, a wellness startup founded creasingly health conscious — for Disease Control and Preven- It also costs the US economy YeloSpa, a luxurious, spa-style friends, who are baffl ed by the “energy pods” for quick naps. by Arianna Huffi ngton, author of indulging in fads such as green tion, a third of Americans sleep up to $411bn and the equivalent Fifth Avenue fi xture opposite concept of paying to sleep. He installed several in the Empire bestselling 2016 tome The Sleep juice, hot-house yoga and matcha less than they should. of 1.23mn working days a year, Trump Tower. “They might think this is a State Building until security re- Revolution and a founder of The tea — a few pay-for-sleep busi- Only 24% of New Yorkers get according to a Rand Corp study Li steps into a hexagonal cock- waste of time or a waste of mon- quirements kicked them out, then Huffi ngton Post. Her book calls nesses are now off ering customers eight or more hours of sleep — near- in 2016. pit that looks straight out of a ey,” she admitted. “As long as I focused sales on companies, uni- for an end to “the delusion that a little shut-eye on the QT. ly half get six or less, according to a Laura Li, a 28-year-old science fi ction movie and lies on can aff ord it, then it’s worth it. I versities, hospitals and airports. we need to burn out to succeed.” Nap York is one. state-wide survey for Siena College. copy editor for a travel com- a bed suspended in a position of just feel better afterward, that’s Google and Nasa are among “We’re in the middle of a cul- Opening three months ago in Lack of sleep causes moodi- pany, is someone who prefers a zero gravity, knees bent and feet enough.” those who have bought his pods. tural shift, one in which more and a three-story building near Penn ness, low productivity and poor 35-minute kip to a coff ee. elevated to lower the heart rate Daskalova has seen her clien- “People’s attitudes changed more of us are taking steps to re- Station, $12 buys patrons 30 concentration. Each week she pops along to and induce sleep. tele grow gradually and believes dramatically in the last 15 years, claim sleep,” she writes. Gulf Times 16 Sunday, May 27, 2018 ASIA

Death Publicity stunt on Everest toll in Lanka monsoon linked to Sherpa’s death rains AFP “We are now aware that one thusiasts” to climb the world’s had seen him at the summit. Sherpas regard Everest as a Kathmandu of the Sherpas who assisted our highest peak carrying two smart “He was behind us when sacred peak, and believe that group amongst others, went cards loaded with 1mn tokens coming back. I don’t know what a powerful goddess called rises to 19 missing during the descent,” the of the company’s yet-to-be happened with him,” Pozdnii Miyolangsangma lives at the promotional stunt by an company said in a statement. released cryptocurrency. said by phone. mountain’s summit. Irish tech company to Lama Babu Sherpa has not Three of the sponsored The team was hit by strong Reports of climbers - includ- IANS Abury $100,000 worth of been seen since May 14 and is climbers reached the sum- winds during their descent, ing Sherpas - pulling headline- Colombo a new cryptocurrency at Ever- presumed dead, Nepal-based mit of the 8,848m (29,029ft) with Pozdnii suff ering frost- grabbing stunts on Everest have est’s summit has been linked to Seven Summit Treks, who or- mountain and buried one of the bite on his hands and feet and in the past prompted com- the death of a Sherpa guide, the ganised the logistics for the smart cards. eventually being airlifted to the plaints they were defi ling the he death toll in Sri Lanka company said yesterday. expedition, said. “You can come and take them capital Kathmandu. peak. monsoon rains reached Social networking startup One of the guide’s cram- if you can,” climber Taras Pozd- Ask.fm said the tokens in the Over 400 people have T19 yesterday while over Ask.fm has become embroiled pons and his backpack were nii said in a video purportedly two ledger wallets were worth reached Everest’s summit this 128,000 people have been af- in controversy after a Sherpa found but his body has not been shot at the summit and posted $100,000, though this estimate month during the busy spring fected, the country’s Disaster who guided four climbers spon- located. on Youtube by the company. is not based on actual market climbing season when warmer Management Centre (DMC) sored by the company went The startup - which is based Pozdnii said that the miss- data since the company has not temperatures and calmer winds said. missing near the peak’s summit in Latvia and Ukraine - backed ing guide was not always yet made its initial coin off ering typically open the route to the DMC spokesperson Pra- in mid-May. four Ukrainian “crypto en- part of their team, but he (ICO). top of the world. Lama Babu Sherpa ... victim deep Kodippili said two people were reported missing in the south while over 55,000 people had been evacuated to safer areas, Xinhua news agency reported. Myanmar’s fi nance With the threat of more rains in the coming days, Kodippili said those living in minister resigns low areas, close to rivers and lakes were advised to evacu- Reuters ACC responded to requests for ate and the police along with Yangon comment late on Friday. tri forces had been deployed Spokesmen from ACC and in the aff ected districts for the president’s offi ce have relief assistance. yanmar’s Finance previously refused to confi rm Till date, over 4,000 houses, Minister Kyaw Win or deny reports of the raid, ac- mainly in the south and north Mhas resigned, Presi- cording to Frontier. Details of central Sri Lanka have been fully dent Win Myint said, weeks the alleged investigation were or partially damaged. after local media fi rst reported not available but it would be Kodippili also warned the he was under investigation for Myanmar’s highest-level cor- naval and fi shing communities alleged corruption. ruption probe since de facto to be vigilant as the wind speed Kyaw Win was “allowed to leader Aung San Suu Kyi came could increase up to 60 to 70km resign,” the president said in to power in 2016. per hour. a short statement posted on The fi nance minister’s res- President Maithripala Sirise- the presidency’s offi cial Face- ignation comes amid grow- na and Prime Minister Ranil book page late on Friday. The ing frustration with Suu Kyi’s Wickremesinghe earlier this presidential offi ce did not give management of the economy. week instructed relevant au- a reason for the resignation in Myanmar replaced its key fi - thorities to immediately provide its statement. nance and energy offi cials relief to the people aff ected by Earlier this month local me- last year to address concerns fl oods and landslides. dia reported that Myanmar’s over slower economic growth. The meteorological de- Anti-Corruption Commis- Suu Kyi also faces mount- partment said that “heavy sion (ACC) had searched Kyaw ing international condemna- falls above 100mm can be Win’s residence, and this tion for a military operation expected at some places in week the Yangon-based Eng- that has sent nearly 700,000 Sabaragamuwa, Western, lish-language news magazine Rohingya Muslims fl eeing to Central and North-Western Frontier cited the ACC’s head neighbouring Bangladesh. provinces and in Galle and as saying it was in the fi nal Nearly fi ve decades of mili- Matara districts”. stage of an investigation into tary rule has left Myanmar More than 200 people corruption allegations against mired in poverty and plagued were killed and 78 peo- him. Reuters was not able to by corruption. A quasi-ci- ple went missing when the Vice Chancellor of the Kazi Nazrul University Sadhan Chakrabarti, right, hands over the honorary Doctorate of Literature degree to reach Kyaw Win for comment vilian government in 2014 monsoons caused severe Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as she look on in the city of Asansol, around 240km west of Kolkata, yesterday. and neither the Myanmar gov- appointed the anti-graft fl oods and landslides across ernment spokesman nor the commission. Sri Lanka in 2017.

Kazi Nazrul sowed seeds for US raises concerns about Vietnam’s proposed cybersecurity law our independence: Hasina services for the future develop- duce Vietnam’s GDP by 1.7% and Reuters Hanoi ment and growth of Vietnam’s wipe off 3.1% of foreign invest- Asansol, India cherished by the people of not only against the British rule ladesh prime minister told a economy,” the US embassy in Ha- ment if it comes into eff ect. IANS Bangladesh. but also against Pakistan in the gathering at the newly-inau- noi said in a statement. The VCDA said that particular The convocation also as- pre-Liberation War era be- gurated Bangladesh Bhavan in he United States has Facebook, Google and other requirement should be removed, sumes signifi cance since it tween the 1950s and 1960s. Santiniketan saying that India raised concerns with Vi- global companies are pushing back citing similar rules in Indonesia angladesh Prime Minister marks the occasion of 119th The Bangladesh prime min- should play an important role in Tetnam about its proposed hard against provisions outlined by it said were “hard to implement Sheikh Hasina yesterday birth anniversary of Kazi ister was not short on her prais- ensuring the safe repatriation cybersecurity law, the US em- the proposed law that would re- in reality”. Bsaid that national poet Nazrul, who was also born in es for Kazi Nazrul and Rabind- of the Rohingya refugees back bassy said, amid activists’ fears quire them to store personal data It also said the regulation Kazi Nazrul Islam’s composi- Asansol. While the West Bengal ranath Tagore, saying, “The to Myanmar. the new legislation will cause locally on users in Vietnam and would increase cost to both tions laid the foundation for government celebrates it yes- Bengalis are blessed to have two Recalling the Liberation War economic harm and crackdown open offi ces in the country. foreign and Vietnamese fi rms, achieving the country’s inde- terday, Bangladesh celebrated great poets. Not only they have of 1971, Hasina invoked former on online dissent in the commu- But they have not taken the hamper Vietnam’s attractive- pendence. the aff air on Friday. contributed to our language, prime minister Indira Gandhi, nist-ruled country. same tough stance on parts of the ness among foreign investors, She was speaking at the Kazi Prime Minister Hasina said, our literature and our culture, who was instrumental in secur- The concerns were conveyed proposed law that would bolster and potentially violate Vietnam’s Nazrul University, where she “Right from the Language they have also had a positive ing the complete independence by Deputy US Trade Representa- the government’s crackdown on international commitments. was conferred the honorary Movement to the Liberation impact on our value and life- of Bangladesh (then called East tive Jeff rey Gerrish in a meeting online political activism. If passed, the law would re- Doctor of Literature (DLitt) at a War, Kazi Nazrul’s songs and style.” Pakistan) from then West Paki- with Vietnam’s Deputy Prime The latest draft of the cyberse- quire social media companies special convocation. poems acted as both inspiration Prime Minister Hasina con- stan (present-day Pakistan). Minister Vuong Dinh Hue. curity law, also released on Thurs- in Vietnam to remove off ending On receiving the degree, and arms and ultimately sowed tinued to speak on Kazi Nazrul’s Prime Minister Hasina, who Gerrish “raised US concerns day, retained the requirement to content from their platforms Prime Minister Hasina the seeds of our independence.” literary works being carried out is on a two-day visit to India, on about Vietnam’s proposed cyber- store personal data locally. within one day of receiving a said that she dedicated it She also added that Kazi by the Bangla Academy in vari- the invitation of Indian Prime security law, including the im- The Vietnam Digital Commu- request from the government to the Bengalis, adding that Nazrul’s compositions inspired ous universities in Bangladesh. Minister Modi, was received by pact of localisation requirements nication Association (VCDA) said bodies tasked with oppressing her honour was also being the people to fi ght for justice, Earlier on Friday, the Bang- Banerjee. and restrictions on cross-border of the latest draft that it could re- dissent in the country. In Cambodia’s capital, Chinese buyers pump luxury property bubble

Reuters tate investment by Chinese buy- everyone’s asking in terms of The Chinese began arriving those marketed by Singaporean He said he was not worried about Diamond Island renter Guo. Phnom Penh ers in Phnom Penh has stoked sustainability. With Chinese around the time President Xi and South Korean developers, being able to rent them out, say- The worry is that resale de- concerns that they are pumping investors buying these units, Jinping visited Cambodia in 2016 now staff their receptions with ing that it was comparable to mand will be weak with only a up a market already unaff ord- are they actually going to be in a visit that yielded a series of Mandarin-speaking sales agents. being in Beijing or Shanghai’s small pool of tenants able to af- uo Qirui, 30, says it’s a able for most Cambodians. The occupied?” bilateral deals and a pledge to Sales agents said many buyers business districts. ford rents that can cost about lonely journey when he surge echoes fast growth seen in Warming political ties be- strengthen ties, Hodge and other came via property purchasing China’s Belt and Road ini- $1,000 per month for a one- Ggoes home to his rented China’s own metropolitan hubs. tween the countries and the industry executives said. tour groups organised by agen- tiative was key to his decision, bedroom fl at - out of reach for luxury condominium in Phnom The Cambodian capital will promotion of Beijing’s Belt and Among the Chinese develop- cies and developers, but the hype he said. “Phnom Penh is the most locals in Phnom Penh who Penh, the capital of Cambodia, have 22,828 luxury apartments Road initiative has attracted a ers active in Phnom Penh are is such that some like Beijing na- initiative’s starting point so Knight Frank estimates have the country where the Chinese by the end of this year, more than surge of Chinese investment into Guangzhou Yuetai Group and tive Jiang Zheming bought a unit development here is booming.” an average monthly household retail executive has lived for double the current number of the country, fuelling construc- Prince Real Estate, which are sell- last month despite having never Developer Jiayuan, which income of $600-$700. nearly half a decade. 8,942 units, according to Ross tion activity and a fl urry of new ing schemes of over 1,000 units, visited Cambodia before. announced that it had paid CBRE and Knight Frank said Guo now lives on Diamond Is- Wheble, Cambodia country hotels and casinos especially in larger than that of their foreign The 47-year-old engineer said $35.6mn for a site in Phnom Penh there were already signs the land, also known as Koh Pich, a head at property consultancy cities like Sihanoukville. peers. Jiayuan International he was attracted by the use of the this month, said the deal was market was softening. The fre- neighbourhood in the city where Knight Frank. Developers from countries Group and Guangzhou R&F Prop- US dollar in Cambodia, which he part of its plan to develop qual- quency of new launches has fall- fi ve condominium projects are He added this number, which including South Korea, Taiwan erties have also bought land in felt was more stable than China’s ity projects in regions involved in en while landlords were reducing underway or have been built. includes condominiums that sell and Singapore began expanding the city, with the latter’s project yuan, as well as the 6% annual the Belt and Road initiative and their asking rents, they said. The majority of the homes, sales for an average of $3,500 a square into Phnom Penh’s condomin- slated to have around 5,000 units, rental return guaranteed by the expand in Southeast Asia. Chrek Soknim, chief executive agents and residents say, are sold metre, will swell to roughly ium sector about four years ago property agents said. Taiwanese developer build- Guangzhou R&F said in an of Cambodian property agency to absent Chinese landlords. 30,000 units by 2020. Many may in response to a shortage of such “As a group, the Chinese ing his 80sq m fl at in central email that its Phnom Penh Century21 Mekong, said he did “Probably half of the com- soon face a struggle to fi nd rent- units and a relaxation of property certainly are the most active,” Phnom Penh. project represented its attempt not think a market slowdown pleted units have been handed ers or local buyers who can aff ord laws, said James Hodge, associ- Hodge said. Another Chinese buyer who to enter the local market and it would be bad for locals given over but every night it’s all dark. the price-tag. ate director at real estate services These developers have turned asked to only identifi ed as Alex, would aim to sell units to both that these apartment owners Not one light is switched on,” “In terms of the high-end fi rm CBRE Cambodia, adding to Chinese buyers. Five prop- said he bought more than 100 local and overseas buyers. were mostly Chinese. Guo said. segment there is oversupply,” that the city had just 1,500 such erty showrooms Reuters visited fl ats over 12 stories in one con- But some residents in the “If they can’t sell, it’s not a A boom in high-end real es- he said. “This is a question that apartments fi ve years ago. in Phnom Penh, which included dominium in the city’s centre. city are sceptical, including problem for us.” Gulf Times Sunday, May 27, 2018 17 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA Korean leaders meet to salvage US talks

AFP the Panmunjom Declaration agreeing to hold direct talks with Korean War in 1953 was signed. Seoul and to ensure a successful US Pyongyang. Only last month the two lead- North Korea summit,” Seoul’s Moon, a longtime advocate ers met in the same village, with presidential Blue House said in of engagement with the North, Kim famously inviting Moon to orth and South Korea’s a statement, adding Moon would won election last year partly by step briefl y into the North before leaders held surprise make a personal statement this vowing to be open to dialogue they both held talks in a building Ntalks yesterday to get a morning. with Pyongyang and fi nding a on the South’s side. historic summit between Kim The leaders held talks for two solution to a Cold War-era sore Koh Yu-hwan, an expert Jong-un and US President Don- hours in the same Panmunjom that continues to blight the on Korean relations at Dong- ald Trump back on track after a truce village where they had met region. guk University, said yesterday’s head-spinning series of twists last month, making a declaration But the fl urry of diplomatic meeting between Moon and Kim and turns. vowing to improve ties. backslapping and bonhomie dis- increased the likelihood of the The meeting is the latest re- Pictures showed them shak- appeared in recent weeks as the Singapore summit taking place markable diplomatic chapter in ing hands and embracing on the summit was thrown into doubt as originally intended. a roller coaster of developments North Korean side of the Demili- by increasingly bellicose rhetoric “Today’s summit is aimed at on the Korean peninsula. tarised Zone separating the two from both top US administration resolving the misunderstand- Trump had rattled the region nations. offi cials and Pyongyang. ing caused by communication on Thursday by cancelling his Trump’s original decision to Trump eventually pulled the glitches between Washing- meeting with Kim which had abandon the historic summit plug on talks in a personal letter ton and Pyongyang and lay the been due to take place in Sin- blindsided South Korea which to Kim on Thursday. groundwork for the US-North gapore on June 12 citing “open had been brokering a remarkable But he left the door open to Korea summit,” he said. hostility” from Pyongyang. detente between Washington future meetings and Pyongyang Adam Mount, a nuclear pol- But within 24 hours he re- and Pyongyang. responded by saying it was will- icy expert at the Federation of versed course saying it could still Last year Trump and Kim were ing to sit down “at any time”, American Scientists, said it South Korean President Moon Jae-in bids farewell to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as he leaves after go ahead after productive talks threatening war after Pyongyang prompting Trump to reply that was a “bold but risky” move by their summit at the truce village of Panmunjom, North Korea, in this handout picture provided by the were held with North Korean tested its most powerful nuclear the Singapore summit could still Moon, describing the sudden Presidential Blue House yesterday. offi cials. bomb to date and launched test take place. summit as “a clear demonstra- South Korean President missiles it said were capable of Yesterday’s meeting be- tion of how dangerous Trump’s people safe from war,” he wrote the face to face had taken place. public role in recent talks with Moon Jae-in met with Kim reaching the United States. tween Moon and Kim took temper tantrum was”. on Twitter. Footage released by the Blue the South, including leading a yesterday in an eff ort to ensure Tensions were calmed after place in a grand building on Moon, he said, had little Unlike last month’s summit, House on Twitter, accompa- delegation across the border dur- the landmark meeting between Kim extended an olive branch to the North Korean side of Pan- choice but to pursue any policy which was held in front of live nied by a dramatic orchestral ing February’s Winter Olympics. Trump and the North Korean Seoul by off ering to send a del- munjom, a heavily fortifi ed vil- that avoids full-scale confl ict. TV cameras, yesterday’s meeting score, showed Moon arriving in Yesterday’s talks are only the leader goes ahead. egation to the Winter Olympics lage that lies between the two “Trump says ‘everybody plays was much more low-key, taking a convoy of cars and fi rst shak- fourth time serving leaders of “They exchanged views and in South Korea, sparking a sud- countries and marks the spot games’. Moon Jae-in is not play- place in utmost secrecy, with re- ing hands with Kim’s sister Kim the two Koreas, who remain discussed ways to implement den detente that led to Trump where the armistice ending the ing a game: he must keep his porters only being told later that Yo-jong, who has played a major technically at war, have ever met. Artist to be buried alive to Chinese fi ghter jets complete highlight colonial violence night landings on carrier Reuters it ramps up its presence in the ed to serve more as a training Shanghai disputed South China Sea and vessel, was bought second-hand DPA around self-ruled Taiwan, an is- from Ukraine in 1998. Sydney land China considers its own. Its navy has also been tak- hinese fi ghter pilots have The offi cial newspaper of the ing an increasingly prominent carried out night land- People’s Liberation army also said role in recent months, with the An Australian performance Cings on the country’s fi rst yesterday that Chinese fi ghter jets Liaoning sailing around Taiwan artist will be buried alive aircraft carrier, the offi cial China had recently carried out live-fi re and new Chinese warships pop- in a container under a city Daily reported yesterday, the lat- drills in the South China Sea. ping up in far-fl ung places. street for three days next est demonstration of military China has been ramping up State media has quoted ex- month to make a statement muscle as Beijing’s pushes to naval military exercises amid perts as saying China needs at about Tasmania’s “genocidal” modernise its armed forces. growing tensions with Taiwan. least six carriers. The United colonial past under the British Pilots fl ying J-15 jets landed at Last month, President Xi Jinping States operates 10 and plans to while an art festival goes on night on the Liaoning, the offi cial presided over the navy’s largest- build two more. above his head. paper said, citing a video posted ever military display, with 76 Many experts agree that de- Mike Parr will stay in the by China’s navy. It said this was a fi ghter jets and a fl otilla of 48 veloping such a force would be a container under Tasmania’s complex manoeuvre that marked warships and submarines. decades-long endeavour but that capital city, Hobart, for the a “huge leap towards gaining full China’s fi rst domestically de- the drive to bolster its forces at sea annual Dark Mofo festival, combat capability”. veloped aircraft carrier set off on will be crucial in the longer term as organisers wrote in a China has ambitious plans sea trials earlier this month. The China looks to erode US military statement. to overhaul its armed forces as older Liaoning, which is expect- prominence in the region. Parr will be lowered into the container below Macquarie Street on June 14 with a sketchpad, pencils, water, bedding and a meditation stool. Malaysia renegotiating terms of Press materials did not say if he would have illumination or how he would get air. major Belt-and-Road rail project The 4.5m-long container will be buried just a few inches under the surface, and the Reuters country and a major part of Bei- It is not going to serve any pur- road will then be returned to Kuala Lumpur jing’s Belt and Road infrastruc- pose, it is not going to give us any normal use for the period of ture push - started last year. returns,” said Mahathir. the installation, Dark Mofo The project was planned to Addressing the need to reduce said. alaysia is haggling over stretch 688km (430 miles) con- the national debt and liabilities Signs at the site will let people the terms of a $14bn rail necting the South China Sea at - which the government puts know Parr is just below their Mdeal with its Chinese the Thai border in the east with at around one trillion ringgit feet. partners and can reduce its bal- the strategic shipping routes of ($251.32bn) or 80% of its GDP “The anxiety of the artist’s looning national debts by $50bn the Straits of Malacca in the west. - Mahathir said “at one go we disappearance is the point by doing away with mega projects, “We are renegotiating the can reduce it by 200bn ringgit of the piece,” according to An image from Mike Parr’s Asylum [Entry by Mirror Only] from Dark Mofo, 2016. its prime minister said in an inter- terms,” Mahathir told the fi nancial ($50.26bn) by doing away with organisers. view published yesterday. newspaper The Edge. “The terms all these huge projects”. The 73-year-old wants to of 20th century totalitarian asks to be buried under the After Parr emerges from the Mahathir Mohamad, the are very damaging to our economy.” Mahathir said Malaysia is also acknowledge violence in the violence in all of its ideological streets of Hobart, it’s hard to container, concrete will be 92-year-old who triumphed over The project is being built by going to look into how it can re- 19th century, particularly forms, including the shadow say no,” Dark Mofo’s creative poured into the vessel to scandal-plagued Najib Razak in China Communications Con- duce the cost of any potential exit the near-total destruction cast by the genocidal violence director Leigh Carmichael said. preserve it as a time capsule elections earlier this month, has struction Co, and is being main- from a deal with Singapore for a of Tasmania’s Aboriginal of 19th century British “The fact that [his] work will for the future. made it a priority to cut the na- ly fi nanced by a loan from China high-speed rail (HSR) to link its population after the arrival colonialism in Australia,” happen underground, just Dark Mofo is produced by tional debt and pledged to review Exim Bank. Mahathir also ques- capital Kuala Lumpur with the of 75,000 British and Irish according to a statement on out of sight, as everyday life Hobart’s Museum of Old major projects agreed by the pre- tioned the need for the project in city-state, said Mahathir. convicts. the festival website. continues above it, is clearly and New Art, and is no vious government. the fi rst place. The project, valued by ana- “This work was conceived “We try to present new artists no coincidence,” Carmichael stranger to headline-making Work on the 55b ringgit “He (Najib) knew very well lysts at about $17bn, is currently to memorialise the victims each year, but when Mike Parr added. performances. ($13.82bn) East Coast Rail Link that the ECRL, for example, is out for tender and is scheduled - the largest such project in the not something we could aff ord. to be completed by 2026. Panda cub makes fi rst public appearance at Malaysia zoo

AFP The family of three were in cess of having two baby pan- said he was pleased to see the cub Kuala Lumpur good health, said Mat Naim das born in Malaysia to having was “comfortable and happy”. Ramli, director of the nation- a healthy pair that “are able to “We will have an online com- al zoo’s panda centre outside accept each other”. petition to name the baby,” four-month-old panda Kuala Lumpur. Inside a glass pen, the baby he said. cub made her fi rst public “The cub weighs 9kg (20 panda crawled slowly towards Liang Liang and the male, Aappearance yesterday at pounds). She is so cute. Her photographers but for most of Xing Xing, came to Malaysia are the Malaysian zoo where she was growth is quite fast and she is the time was content to lie on on a 10-year loan. born, to the delight of visitors. already able to move slowly,” he her belly. It costs zoo authorities some The fl uff y little cub was the told reporters. “I love pandas. They are so 56,000 ringgit ($14,000) a second born to Liang Liang, who The cub’s sister Nuan Nuan adorable. I want to cuddle the month to maintain the panda has been on loan to Malaysia since was born in August 2015 and sent baby because it is so fl uff y,” visi- centre. 2014, along with a male panda, a to China in November last year tor Karene Lee, 25, a business The International Union for rare success story for natural reas part of Beijing’s agreement consultant, said. Conservation of Nature classi- production among giant pandas with Malaysia that cubs born in Mat Daim said the only diet at fi es the giant panda as “vulner- which are notoriously clumsy at captivity must go back at the age the moment for the baby panda able”. There are an estimated A zoo attendant pats a four-month-old female giant panda cub, the second off spring of parents Liang Liang mating on the rare occasions they of two. was its mother’s milk. 2,000 left in the wild, in central and Xing Xing who are on loan from China, during the cub’s unveiling inside the panda enclosure at the are actually in the mood. Mat Naim attributed the suc- Chinese ambassador Bai Tian China. National Zoo in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Gulf Times 18 Sunday, May 27, 2018 BRITAIN/IRELAND End ‘hide and seek’ Brexit approach, Barnier tells UK

Reuters and other issues after Brexit. progress on a treaty before Prime jection of a customs union. on governance, there will be no Citing British demands to be Brussels In the text of a speech in Por- Minister Theresa May meets the Barnier said: “If the United withdrawal agreement and so no allowed to stay inside the EU’s tugal to experts in EU law, he ac- other 27 EU national leaders in a Kingdom would like to change transition period”. data protection system in the cused British leaders of failing to month in Brussels. its own red lines, it must tell us. Many businesses are counting interests of EU business, Barnier he EU’s Brexit negotiator understand that it is the unique They aim to agree a treaty by The sooner the better ... A nego- on a broad status quo between said that this is to miss the im- has urged the British gov- legal structures of the EU, to October. tiation cannot be a game of hide Britain and the EU after Brexit, portance of the EU’s internal Ternment to stop playing which Britain had contributed Barnier said that he is ready and seek.” agreed until the end of 2020. rules. “hide and seek” over its aims for for 45 years, which underpinned to have “political level” talks to On the issue of the govern- Barnier also criticised Brit- “Let’s be clear: Brexit is not trade ties and warned that delays trust among member states. try to advance in three key ar- ance of a withdrawal treaty, he ish offi cials for accusing the EU and never will be in the interests in agreeing on judicial oversight These, he said, could not be eas where uncertainty remains, repeated the EU’s insistence of infl exibility that would leave of EU businesses,” he said. risk wrecking any Brexit deal. extended to a non-member. 10 months before Britain is due that primacy of the European gaps in co-operation on secu- “It would not be in those busi- In pointed remarks after an The former French minister’s to leave in March 2019 – how to Court of Justice inside the Un- rity and other areas which would nesses’ interests to abandon our ill-tempered week of talks in comments come two days af- rule on future disputes over the ion be maintained in regulating hurt both sides. autonomy of decisions,” the Brussels, Michel Barnier insisted ter an EU offi cial dismissed as withdrawal treaty, a “backstop” any dispute that could not be “I see the temptation of a Brexit negotiator added. “The that he would not be intimidat- “fantasy” London’s ideas for a solution for the Irish border and resolved by a joint committee ‘blame game’ by which the Eu- United Kingdom must face up to Barnier: If the United Kingdom ed by what he called a “blame customs deal, the border with a framework for future ties. appointed by the political lead- ropean Union is responsible for the reality of the Union. It must would like to change its own red game” from London of accusing Ireland and other issues. May’s government, which is ership of both sides. the negative consequences of also face the reality of Brexit ... lines, it must tell us. The sooner the the EU of infl exibility in reject- British ministers said those deeply divided over how to stick The role of British judges Brexit,” he said. “But that will It is one thing to be inside the better ... A negotiation cannot be a ing British demands for close remarks were not “helpful”. close to the European Union, is would be respected, he added. not sway us. That will not sway Union and another to be on the game of hide and seek. co-operation on security, trade Both sides are hoping to make debating whether to drop its re- But “without an agreement me.” outside.” Irish vote to end ban on abortion Reuters/AFP Voters in the once deeply Cath- said Mary Higgins, obstetrician Dublin olic nation backed the change by and Together For Yes campaign- two-to-one, a far higher margin er. than any opinion poll in the run Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, reland has voted by a land- up to the vote had predicted, and who campaigned to repeal the slide to liberalise its highly allows the government to bring in laws, had called the vote a once- Prime Minister Varadkar (second Irestrictive abortion laws in a legislation by the end of the year. in-a-generation chance and vot- right), with some members of referendum that its prime min- “It’s incredible. For all the ers responded by turning out in his government, speaks with the ister called the culmination of a years and years and years we’ve droves. media on the stage at Dublin “quiet revolution” in what was been trying to look after women A turnout of 64% was one of Castle as campaigners wait for one of Europe’s most socially and not been able to look after the highest for a referendum. the off icial result of the Irish conservative countries. women, this means everything,” All but one of Ireland’s 40 con- abortion referendum. stituencies voted “Yes” and con- In Northern Ireland, abortion rights groups tributed to the 66% that carried ferent Ireland that we’re mov- clamour for change to ‘Victorian-era ban’ the proposal, almost an exact re- ing onto. It’s an Ireland that is versal of the 1983 referendum re- more tolerant, more inclusive Abortion rights activists in Northern Ireland called on the British govern- sult that inserted the ban into the and where he can be whatever he ment to end what one group described as the province’s “Victorian-era constitution. wants without fear of recrimi- abortion ban” after neighbouring Ireland voted by a landslide to liberalise “What we see is the culmina- nation,” said Colm O’Riain, a its laws. tion of a quiet revolution that 44-year-old teacher with his son Voters in the once deeply Catholic Irish republic were estimated to has been taking place in Ireland Ruarai, who was born 14 weeks have backed a referendum by more than two-to-one, according to two over the last couple of decades,” premature in November. exit polls, prompting campaigners across the border to step up their Varadkar, who became Ireland’s Anti-abortion activists con- demands for change. fi rst openly gay prime minister ceded defeat early yesterday as A socially conservative province where the Catholic and Protestant faiths last year, told journalists in Dub- their opponents expressed as- exert strong influence, Northern Ireland allows abortion only when a lin Castle, where the referendum tonishment at the scale of their mother’s life is in danger. result was declared. victory. The penalty for undergoing or performing an unlawful abortion is life “We as a people have spoken. Lawmakers who campaigned imprisonment. And we say that we trust women for a “No” vote said they would “It must not be forgotten that us women in Northern Ireland are still and we respect women and their not seek to block the govern- persecuted by a Victorian-era abortion ban,” Grainne Teggart, Northern decisions. ment’s legislation. Ireland campaign manager for Amnesty International said in a statement “No more doctors telling their “What Irish voters did yester- yesterday. patients there is nothing that can day is a tragedy of historic pro- “It’s hypocritical, degrading and insulting to Northern Irish women that be done for them in their own portions,” the Save The 8th group we are forced to travel for vital healthcare services but cannot access country. No more lonely journeys said. “However, a wrong does not People hold up a picture of Savita Halappanavar, the Indian dentist who died in Galway because of them at home. We cannot be left behind in a corner of the UK and on the across the Irish Sea. become a right simply because a complications of a miscarriage, at Dublin Castle. island of Ireland as second-class citizens.” “No more stigma. The veil of majority support it.” Dublin plans to bring in legislation this year to allow abortions with no secrecy is lifted. No more iso- Voters were asked to scrap gued that with more than 3,000 Campaigners left fl owers and paper, the “No” camp sought to restriction up to 12 weeks into a pregnancy, raising the prospect that lation. The burden of shame is the constitutional amendment, women travelling to Britain each candles at a large mural of the seize on the government’s plans women in Northern Ireland may start travelling south of the border for gone.” which gives an unborn child and year for terminations – a right woman, Savita Halappanavar, in to allow abortions with no re- terminations. Varadkar, 39, was given a rock its mother equal rights to life. enshrined in a 1992 referendum – central Dublin. striction up to 12 weeks into a The Supreme Court in London is expected to make a ruling in the next star welcome by cheering crowds The consequent prohibition on and others ordering pills illegally Her parents in India were pregnancy if the referendum is few months on a case considering whether Northern Ireland abortion packed into the castle forecourt abortion was partly lifted in 2013 online, abortion was already a re- quoted by the Irish Times news- carried, calling it a step too far for law breaches women’s rights. to hear the fi nal result of the ref- for cases where the mother’s life ality in Ireland. paper as thanking their “broth- most voters. Northern Ireland’s elected assembly has the right to bring its abortion erendum. was in danger. Reform in Ireland also raised ers and sisters” in Ireland and Save The 8th spokesman laws in line with the rest of the United Kingdom, but voted against doing He said that Ireland would now The largest newspaper, the the prospect that women in requesting the new law be called McGuirk appealed for tolerance so in February 2016 and the assembly has not sat since the devolved provide compassion and medical Irish Independent, described the Northern Ireland, where abor- “Savita’s law”. and respect from “those who fi nd government collapsed in January 2017. care for women in crisis preg- result as “a massive moment in tion is still illegal, may start trav- Deputy Prime Minister Simon themselves in the majority now”. Calls yesterday, including an appeal by the British Pregnancy Advisory nancies instead of turning a blind Ireland’s social history”. elling south of the border. Coveney said he believed a mid- Jim Wells, a member of North- Service (Bpas), were instead directed at Prime Minister’s Theresa May’s eye. Campaigners for change, The leaders of Sinn Fein, the dle ground of around 40% of vot- ern Ireland’s socially conserva- government in London. He told “No” voters feeling cut wearing “Repeal” jumpers and province’s largest Irish nation- ers had decided en masse to allow tive Democratic Unionist Party, The British government’s Northern Ireland Off ice did not immediately adrift that Ireland was the same “Yes” badges, gathered at count alist party that also has a large women and doctors rather than said that after the vote Northern respond to a request for comment. country they knew, “just a little centres, many in tears and hug- presence in the Irish republic, lawmakers and lawyers to decide Ireland and Malta were the only A demonstration for change was due to take place at Belfast City Hall more tolerant, open and respect- ging each other. held up a sign on stage saying whether a termination was justi- parts of Europe where the unborn tomorrow, the Solidarity with Repeal group said. ful”. Others sang songs in the sun- “The North is next.” fi ed. child was properly protected. Jim Wells, a member of the socially conservative Democratic Unionist The outcome is the latest mile- shine outside the main Dublin No social issue has divided Ire- The vote divided political par- “It is inevitable that the abor- Party that props up May’s minority government, said the outcome in the stone on a path of change for a results centre as they awaited the land’s 4.8mn people as sharply as ties, saw the once-mighty Cath- tion industry based in Great Brit- south was “an extremely worrying development for the protection of the country which only legalised di- offi cial result. abortion, which was pushed up olic Church take a back seat, with ain will set up clinics in border unborn child in Northern Ireland”. vorce by a razor thin majority in The large crowd cheered Var- the political agenda by the death the campaign defi ned by women towns,” he said. “The outcome of “Whilst deeply disappointed by yesterday’s vote the Pro Life movement 1995 before becoming the fi rst in adkar as he took to the stage to in 2012 of a 31-year-old Indian on both sides publicly describing the referendum is an extremely must now redouble its eff orts to prevent any change in law in Northern the world to adopt gay marriage thank them for “trusting women immigrant from a septic miscar- their personal experiences of ter- worrying development for the Ireland,” he said in a statement. by popular vote three years ago. and respecting their choices”. riage after she was refused a terminations. protection of the unborn child in “For him (his son), it’s a dif- “Yes” campaigners had ar- mination. Although not on the ballot Northern Ireland.”

Bad weather warning for parts of UK

Thunderstorms and heavy showers could hit southern parts of Bachelor Hugh Grant marries at 57 95-year-old held on England and Wales, as a split in bank holiday weather conditions will see Scotland and Northern Ireland basking in sunshine. Yellow warnings for rain are in place for most of the day yesterday, Reuters Eberstein is the mother of Grant, one of Britain’s best- suspicion of murder with the Met Off ice saying homes and businesses could quickly London three of Grant’s young children. known comic actors, is also fa- become flooded. The Love, Actually star has mous for his own reluctance to Strong gusts, hail and thunder are expected to develop over the two other children with former marry. DPA in Holloway [in north London] weekend and into tomorrow. ugh Grant, best known partner Tinglan Hong. He split up in 2000 with his London where she was working as a car- Parts of Wales and the Midlands are expected to experience the for playing bumbling The photos showed Grant and actress girlfriend Elizabeth er,” the police said. most severe conditions. HBritons in romantic Eberstein leaving the Chelsea Hurley after 13 years together. They said the 95-year-old The warmest weather will be felt across southern parts of England comedies like Four Weddings register offi ce in London on Fri- “I’m not really a believer in olice in the British capital suspect had been “taken to hos- and Wales, as temperatures will escalate from about 25° Celsius and a Funeral, has married for day and posing for pictures on marriage,” the actor told Peo- have arrested a 95-year- pital as a precaution due to a pre- yesterday, and could reach 30°C tomorrow. the ﬁ rst time, British media re- the steps outside with a small ple magazine in 2015. “I’ve seen Pold on suspicion of murder existing condition”. ported on Friday. group of family members. very few good examples, maybe after his 61-year-old carer was He was given police bail pend- Grant, 57, who has played a Grant wore a dark blue suit, ﬁ ve, in my life, but I think oth- found dead with head injuries. ing the murder enquiry and Boy, 11, accused of raping 7-year-old string of commitment-phobic while Eberstein was dressed in erwise it’s a recipe for mutual The woman was taken to hos- would remain in hospital until characters, married Swedish a blue shirt and white miniskirt misery.” pital on Thursday but died the he could be transferred to “a lo- An 11-year-old boy has been arrested and questioned by police in television producer Anna Eber- and wearing a simple gold wed- Grant, the star of two Bridg- following day, London’s Metro- cation where his complex health Dorset after he was accused of raping a seven-year-old boy who stein, 39, at a low-key civil cer- ding band. et Jones comedies, also made politan Police said late on Friday. and care needs can be managed”. was playing outside. emony in London’s Chelsea dis- Grant’s publicist did not re- headlines when he was arrested “At this early stage it is be- The BBC and other media said The attack is alleged to have taken place in Wool, a large village trict, photos of the pair printed turn a Reuters request for com- in Los Angeles in 1995 with a lieved that her injuries were sus- the man was believed to be suf- in the district of Purbeck, on the evening of May 14, close to the in British newspapers showed. ment. prostitute. tained at a residential address fering from dementia. alleged victim’s home. Gulf Times Sunday, May 27, 2018 19 EUROPE

Baby Miracle born on Mediterranean rescue vessel A baby boy was born on board a ship in the Mediterranean after his migrant mother was rescued trying to make the crossing from France’s far-left rallies Libya, the NGO SOS Mediterranee said yesterday. The baby who has been named Miracle weighed 2.8kg (6.1 pounds), and was born on the Aquarius, a rescue ship chartered by the group. “Happy news from the #Aquarius against Macron reforms this afternoon with the birth of a healthy baby boy!” the NGO AFP a visit to Russia that the protests ities want to limit the activity of tweeted. Paris “won’t stop” his progress. the ultra left-wing blocs who at- “Baby Miracle was born at “I won’t preside in light of tacked police and property dur- 3.45pm, weighing 2.8kg, bringing the polls or demonstrations, being clashes on May 1. the total number of rescued ens of thousands of peo- cause we have done too much of “I hope that this parade will be people to 70,” it added. ple took to the streets that” (in the past) he said. a calm parade, where people can Both the baby and his mother, Tacross France yesterday to Yesterday’s marches follow express their opinion. We are in whose nationality is not known, demonstrate against Emmanuel strikes on Tuesday when public- a republican state and those who were doing well and were due to Macron’s policies, but the turn- sector employees from street want to break, loot, even attack reach the port of Catania in Sicily out fell short of expectations and sweepers to teachers joined rail the police force, are arrested in a today. the president said nothing would workers in walking out over preventive way,” he added. The child is the 36th baby to be stop his economic reforms. what they called an “attack” In the southern city of Mar- born on board one of the ships Organisers had called for a against public services. seille, left-wing leader Jean-Luc that patrol the Mediterranean “popular tide” of protest for the It was the third day of stop- Melenchon urged protesters to rescuing migrants attempting marches, which were organised pages and demonstrations by form a “popular front, which the to reach Europe in search of a by 60 unions, political parties public workers since last year’s people need”. better life. and associations angry at Ma- sweeping election win by Ma- “The hard head of Emmanuel The Italian coastguard said that cron’s policies perceived to fa- cron, who has pledged to reduce Macron must hear this message nearly 1,500 migrants had been vour the rich. spending, trim jobs and overhaul of the people,” the France Insou- rescued on Thursday and Friday However, the turnout was well large parts of the vast French mis (Unbowed) party chief said. alone. below previous similar marches state. “The country is rich, the The latest rescues were in and Interior Minister Gerard PCF communist party sec- country has to share. We’ve had addition to the 10,800 new Collomb said it was “a bit thin”. retary general Pierre Laurent enough of the same people al- arrivals already registered in The ministry estimated that addressed the crowds, saying: ways having everything. Italy since the start of the year, just over 93,000 demonstrated “When we have power so ar- “In the name of the poor, hu- according to figures reported by in 142 places throughout the rogant, so authoritarian in his miliated, homeless, abandoned the International Organisation for country, while the left-wing methods, if the country does miners, we tell you ‘Enough!’” Migration (IOM). CGT union put the number at not show its strength and unity, he said. 250,000. we will not be able to push the France has one of the biggest In Paris, police reported just boundaries.” public sectors in Europe relative Two shot dead in 21,000 protesters, while the Forty-three people were ar- to the size of its economy. CGT claimed 80,000. rested in Paris, most at the start The country has not balanced Marseille hours Occurrence, an independent of the demonstration at the its budget since the 1970s, lead- after minister visit monitoring group working for Place de la Bastille. ing to a public debt equivalent to media outlets including AFP, Police said some carried nearly 100% of GDP. Two more violent deaths said 31,700 demonstrated in the weapons, while others were held The unions accuse Macron, occurred overnight in the capital. for violent acts. a former investment banker, of southern French city of Marseille, That compared with a police Several dozen hooded demon- wanting to destroy public serv- known for its turf wars for control count of 40,000 and the CGT’s strators pelted police with bot- ices – a vital source of employ- of the drug trade, off icials said count of 100,000 for the last tles and other projectiles. ment and a pillar of communal yesterday. such protest in the French capi- The authorities used teargas life in many parts of the country. A masked gunman armed with an tal on May 5. after seven offi cers were hurt, While the CGT took part in assault rifle stormed into a sports The CGT had claimed a na- but the clashes were limited, yesterday’s protests, the two club around 1am yesterday in the tional turnout of 323,000 on AFP journalists reported. other main unions, the CFDT northern district of Estaque and March 22. Interior Minister Collomb and FO, did not, saying that they Macron is depicted as a monarch during a demonstration in Paris called by political organisations, shot dead a man in his thirties Macron said on Friday during earlier told AFP that the author- were too politicised. associations, and unions to protest against the French president. with a police record for dealing in drugs, Marseille prosecutor Xavier Tarabeux told AFP. A 28-year-old bus driver who was in the line of fire was also killed. He was playing cards in the building and had no police Leading Le Pen abandons record. The deaths came 24 hours after Interior Minister Gerard Collomb visited the sprawling port city. A total of 18 cartridges were famous far-right surname found in the building, Tarabeux said. A total of 11 people this year AFP out of fashion one of the leading into a formidable political force. demonstrate my transition to have been killed in Marseille in Paris members of the country’s far- First, his daughter Marine led civilian life. I have never and will shootings related to criminal right family has abandoned it. a campaign to “detoxify” the FN never feel ashamed of my name”, gangs. The move has further dis- after taking over as leader in 2011 she told the right-wing Boul- Last year, 14 people were killed he name Le Pen, for dec- mayed Jean-Marie Le Pen, the – in the process disavowing Le evard Voltaire website. in similar attacks in the Bouches- ades associated with an- nationalist patriarch who co- Pen senior’s history of incendi- Marion, a photogenic du-Rhone department, where Tti-immigration and often founded France’s National Front ary rhetoric. 28-year-old former MP and de- Marseille is located. racist politics in France, is so (FN) party in 1972 and built it up During last year’s presidential vout Catholic, added her mother election, Marine used only her Yann Le Pen’s name to her sur- fi rst name on campaign mate- name in 2012 as she launched Kyiv stations shut rial in a bid to widen her appeal her successful bid to enter par- and she plans to confi rm a name liament, she explained. Marine Le Pen: led a campaign over bomb threat change for the party on June 1 as Following reported tensions to ‘detoxify’ the FN after taking part of a re-branding exercise. with her aunt Marine, she an- over as leader in 2011. Kiev closed five subway stations, Now granddaughter Marion nounced last May that she would mostly in the central part of the Marechal-Le Pen, often tipped not seek to defend her seat in the study programme in the south- Ukrainian capital, after a bomb as a future leader of the far right FN’s southern heartland in the eastern city of Lyon called the warning, the subway operator despite stepping back from pub- Vaucluse area in order to spend Institute of Social Science, Eco- said in a statement. lic life last year, has dropped one more time with her daughter and nomics and Politics (ISSEP). “The stations are closed to of the most famous – and infa- work in the private sector. The school, which will of- passengers and checks are being mous – names in French politics. Some observers suspect she fer Masters qualifi cations with carried out,” it said on Facebook. “Marion perhaps thinks that intends to return to politics, no formal recognition, will of- Later in the day the stations were it is too much of weight to carry,” perhaps to succeed Marine, and fer highly conservative courses reopened after a bomb warning Jean-Marie Le Pen grumbled a widely publicised appearance with an emphasis on “cultural proved to be a false alarm, the last week. at a conservative political meet- identity”. subway operator said, just hours On her social media accounts, ing in Washington in March fed Its directors and teaching staff before the city hosts the UEFA Marion has changed her profi le speculation about her inten- are mostly drawn from far-right Champions League final. names from “Marion Le Pen” tions. and hard-right political circles, “The stations are checked and to simply Marion Marechal and “Just like you, we want our with conservative views on im- open for passengers. Explosive she announced Thursday she country back,” she told her migration, gay rights and French Jean-Marie Le Pen: Marion items were not found,” the Marion Marechal: added her mother Yann Le Pen’s name to her intends to be known by the latter American audience. culture. perhaps thinks that (the subway operator said on surname in 2012 as she launched her successful bid to enter from now on. Her fi rst act since leaving It will open its doors to stu- surname) is too much of weight Facebook. parliament. The change “was a way to politics has been to launch a new dents in September. to carry. Albanian minister urged to resign

AFP After rallying in front of the govern- involved in “reform of the justice system Tirana ment headquarters, where they also with international partners, the US and called for the resignation of socialist the European Union”. Prime Minister Edi Rama, the protesters Speaking at the rally, opposition leader housands of Albanian opposition moved on to the interior ministry. Lulzim Basha accused the prime minister supporters rallied in the capital Ti- There, they threw smoke bombs, as of “collusion with organised crime” and Trana yesterday, calling for the res- well as eggs and stones, AFP witnessed. of “plunging the country into misery”. ignation of interior minister Fatmir Xha- The opposition has accused Agron Albanian lawmakers in February passed faj, whose brother has been convicted of Xhafaj, who in 2012 received a seven-year a law to screen police offi cers in a bid to drug traffi cking. jail sentence in absentia in Italy, of con- clamp down on corruption and links to The centre-right opposition accuses tinued involvement in drug traffi cking. organised crime, an important part of the minister of protecting his brother It recently published a recording in EU-required judiciary reform. Agron Xhafaj, whom it alleges is still in- which a man presented as Agron Xhafaj A candidate nation since 2014, Albania volved in the drug trade. appears to talk to traffi ckers. hopes to begin accession talks this year, Eleven police offi cers were injured The prosecutor’s offi ce said on Thurs- but the EU has made the fi ght against cor- when they were hit by stones during the day that it had opened an investigation ruption and organised crime a require- demonstration, Albanian police chief and had sent the recording to a specialist ment for all the countries in the region. Ardi Veliu told reporters, adding that the for verifi cation. Last year 128 police offi cers received injuries had been slight. Interior Minister Xhafaj tweeted that either administrative sanctions or fi nes, A journalist, Blendi Kasmi, also suf- if “scientifi c analysis proves that the ac- notably over their involvement in the fered a head injury. cusations of the Democratic party are smuggling of cannabis, a plague in the After leaving hospital Kasmi said he justifi ed, then I will of course submit my poor Balkan country. had been hit by a police offi cer using a resignation”. A former interior minister, Saimir Ta- baton, although other media said he had The government dismissed the opposi- hiri, politically allied with Prime Minister Albanian opposition supporters clash with riot police during a rally in Tirana, demanding the resignation of the been hit by an object thrown by demon- tion’s tactics as “mafi a blackmail against Rama, is currently under investigation for Albanian interior minister, whose brother is suspected of drug smuggling. strators. the interior minister” who it said was his alleged links with cannabis smugglers. Gulf Times 20 Sunday, May 27, 2018 EUROPE

Less snow leaves Mattarella ‘pressured’ to weasels exposed: accept anti-euro minister scientists

Reuters mation of a government, which Formally, prime minister- and German economic policy AFP Rome would end more than 80 days designate Giuseppe Conte has further spooked markets Paris of political deadlock, over con- presents his cabinet to the presi- already concerned about the fu- cern about the far-right League dent, who must endorse it. ture government’s willingness to taly’s would-be coalition and anti-establishment 5-Star Conte, a little-known law reign in the massive debt, worth luff y white weasels that parties turned up the pres- Movement (M5S)’s desire to professor with no political ex- 1.3 times its annual output. once frolicked in snowy Isure on President Sergio make the 81-year-old economist periences, met the president The League and M5S have Ffi elds unnoticed now have Mattarella yesterday to endorse Paolo Savona economy minister. on Friday without resolving the said that Savona should not be a target on their back thanks to their eurosceptic pick as econ- Savona has been a vocal critic deadlock. judged on his opinions, but on global warming, scientists said omy minister, saying that the of the euro and the EU, but he “I hope no one has already de- his credentials. on Thursday. only other option may be a new has distinguished credentials, cided ‘no’,” League leader Matteo Savona has had high-level ex- It’s a question of “camoufl age election. including in a former role as an Salvini shouted to supporters perience at the Bank of Italy, in mismatch”. Mattarella has held up for- industry minister. in northern Italy. “Either the government as industry minister The population of white- government gets off the ground in 1993-94, and with employers’ coated Mustela nivalis nivalis and starts working in the com- lobby Confi ndustria. in Poland’s Bialowieza Forest, ing hours, or we might as well go On his new Facebook page, they found, has declined sharply back to elections.” Conte said he had received best as climate change reduced the Later M5S leader Luigi Di wishes for his government in a number of snow-covered days Maio said he expected there to be phone call with French President by half in 50 years. a decision on whether the presi- Emmanuel Macron. Compared to the 1960s, snows dent would back the government European Commissioner for in the forest’s high-altitude re- within 24 hours. Economic Aff airs Pierre Mosco- gions disappear each year nearly M5S also defended Savona’s vici was not hostile when asked a month earlier, and well before nomination. about Savona in an interview Mattarella: has made it clear that he does not want an anti-euro the nimble mammal’s fur molts “It is a political choice ... with France’s Europe1 radio, economy minister. into earth-coloured tones. blocking a ministerial choice is saying that he would work with This exposes the weasel to beyond (the president’s) role,” whoever Italy named. welfare benefi ts roiled markets sion reform prompted Moody’s foxes, wolves, raptors and other Alessandro Di Battista, a top “Italians decide their own last week. to say – after markets had closed predators, the researchers re- M5S politician, said. government,” Moscovici said, On Friday, the closely watched on Friday – that it may down- ported in the journal Scientifi c Mattarella has not spoken adding: “Italy is and should re- gap between the Italian and Ger- grade the country’s sovereign Reports. publicly about Savona, but main a country at the heart of man 10-year bond yields, seen debt rating. “Climate change will strongly through his aides he has made the eurozone ... what worries me as a measure of political risk for Moody’s has a ‘Baa2’ long- infl uence the mortality of the it clear that he does not want is the debt, which must be con- the eurozone, was at its widest term rating with a negative out- M.n.nivalis weasel due to pro- an anti-euro economy minister tained.” in four years at 215 basis points. look on Italy. longed camoufl age mismatch,” Savona: has had high-level experience at the Bank of Italy, in and that he would not accept the The prospect of Italy’s gov- The chance that the new gov- A downgrade to ‘Baa3’ would Kamal Atmey from the Univer- government as industry minister in 1993-94, and with employers’ “diktat” of the parties. ernment going on a spending ernment will weaken public fi - take the country’s debt to just sity of Bordeaux and two col- lobby Confindustria. Savona’s criticism of the euro spree on promised tax cuts and nances and roll back a 2011 pen- one notch above junk. leagues in Poland concluded. Wearing a winter coat after the spring thaw “may lead to local extinction”. The common weasel is native to Canada and Eurasia, and has Turkey slams German decision on pro-Kurdish party rally been introduced in many other regions of the world, acciden- tally or for pest control. Reuters Erdogan asks Turks to help prop up plunging lira The election will see the city’s Kurds to protest against tries that refused to let him cam- The slight, furtive animals live Istanbul switch to a powerful executive Turkey’s involvement in the paign on their territory. on a diet of small rodents, espe- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has urged compatriots to presidential system that was Syrian confl ict. Ahead of the 2017 referen- cially mice, and sometime larger change their foreign currency to the lira to help prop up the embattled narrowly approved in a referen- Austrian Chancellor Sebas- dum, ministers travelled to prey, such as young rabbits. he Turkish foreign min- currency. dum last year. tian Kurz, who heads a right- countries with big Turkish com- Only the M.n.nivalis subspe- istry has condemned as a “My brothers, could those of you who have euros and dollars under their Police in Cologne banned two wing coalition opposed to Tur- munities – including Germany cies in snowy regions has evolved T“double standard” a deci- pillows invest their money in liras?” he said in Erzurum. Turkish opposition politicians key joining the European Union, and the Netherlands – to urge the capacity to don a luxuriant sion by Germany to allow a rally The lira has lost 16% of its value against the greenback in a month as from speaking at a demonstra- also said last month that Erdog- support for the change, but were white coat for the winter, losing by the pro-Kurdish opposition markets became jittery after Erdogan indicated he wanted a greater say tion of Kurds in the city yester- an would be barred from “try- stopped from campaigning by it gradually as cold weather gives HDP party in Cologne, having in monetary policy if he won legislative and presidential elections on June day out of fear that the politi- ing to exploit” Europe’s Turkish authorities citing security fears. way. previously prevented ruling par- 24. cians might use the opportunity communities. The most popular – and divi- However, this evolutionary ty politicians from campaigning This then raised concerns over economic policy becoming more unpre- to campaign in the Turkish elec- Thousands of expatriate sive – politician in recent Turk- process took thousands – per- there. dictable. tions, the Rheinische Post news- Turks from Germany, the Neth- ish history, Erdogan has ruled haps hundreds of thousands – of “This two-faced approach, paper reported. erlands and Austria and across for 15 years, overseeing a period years, and cannot be reversed in which we condemn strongly, The paper reported that Ah- the Balkans attended a rally held of rapid economic growth. a few decades, the researchers cannot be reconciled with de- man relations,” the ministry not allow foreign politicians to met Yildirim and Tugba Hezer, by President Recep Tayyip Er- But a crackdown against his said. mocracy, the fi ght against ter- statement said. campaign on its territory ahead lawmakers from the HDP party, dogan in Bosnia last week. opponents has led rights groups That could be bad news for the rorism and expectations of a Germany, home to 3mn people of Turkey’s June 24 presidential had hoped to speak at the dem- During his speech, Erdogan and Western allies of the Nato weasel. normalisation in Turkish-Ger- of Turkish origin, has said it will and parliamentary elections. onstration, being held by the took a swipe at European coun- member to voice concerns. “If M.n.nivalis is not capable of responding to climate change by shifting its moulting time, it will either disappear locally or Space ... the virtual frontier shift its range,” they wrote. A brown-hued cousin weasel, Putin calls on new Mustela nivalis vulgaris, would likely fi ll its niche. To verify their hunch that the Russian cabinet to white-as-snow subspecies was getting picked off by raptors and foxes more easily in early spring, bring about change the scientists placed mock weasels in diff erent settings. The results were unmistaka- AFP tory on March 18 after 18 years ble, the researchers said: “Cam- Moscow in power and has stuck with his oufl age was the most signifi cant close ally Medvedev. factor aff ecting detection by a Key cabinet posts have re- predator.” ussian President mained unchanged with veter- Many animals are having Vladimir Putin has called an Sergei Lavrov holding on to trouble adapting to climate- Ron his new government the foreign ministry and Sergei driven changes in their environ- to work to bring about “change Shoigu defence. ment. in all areas of life”. Despite Putin’s call for Polar bears risk starving be- “You must take the initiative change his fourth term in the cause the fl oating ice they use as ... have a modern management Kremlin had not been expected mobile hunting platforms have style,” Putin told ministers at to see of a switch of direction. melted, forcing them to swim the fi rst cabinet meeting in the Recent years have been par- past their comfort zone in search Kremlin since they were ap- ticularly turbulent for Mos- of seals. pointed on May 18. cow’s ties with the West and Extreme heat in the tropics “The engine of change in all seen economic austerity along- has forced some hummingbirds areas of life must be found here side conservative social values. to seek shade instead of foraging and the whole country has to The most signifi cant move in for food, cutting down the time feel its rhythm,” he said. the new cabinet was the pro- they have to seek nourishment. “Serve as an example of con- motion of Finance Minister The freezing rain that of- structive co-operation” with Anton Siluanov, who kept the ten falls now instead of snow in civil society, Putin told the fi nance portfolio, to fi rst dep- northern Finland makes it harder gathering which included Pre- uty prime minister – the sec- for reindeer when the lichen and mier Dmitri Medvedev. ond most important position in A girl tests a virtual reality (VR) system on the Thales stand yesterday, during the VivaTec (Viva Technology) trade fair in Paris. moss they eat becomes trapped Putin swept to election vic- government. under a layer of frozen rain. Socialists vow election in months if Rajoy loses no-confi dence vote

AFP No date has been set for the close to the Popular Party, said need to convince Catalan separa- Analysts said that Ciudadanos to deal with the crisis and his The court sentenced 29 peo- Madrid vote, but the bid is being taken yesterday. tists and Basque nationalists – or has no reason to support a no- lieutenants counter-attacked in ple to jail for a total of 351 years seriously in Madrid where a leg- The Socialists also clarifi ed the liberal Ciudadanos party – to confi dence motion that could the media. for corruption, embezzlement islative election is not due for an- their strategy yesterday. ensure a majority. lead to an alternative left-wing “Pedro Sanchez will go down and money laundering in the so- pain’s Socialist Party has other two years. If Sanchez can get the absolute Rajoy’s allies Ciudadanos, who government headed by the So- in history like the Judas of Span- called Gurtel trial. pledged to hold new elec- The surprise move came a day majority required in parliament have overtaken the PP in some cialists. ish politics,” said PP’s Fernando The PP itself was not on trial Stions within months if its after Rajoy’s Popular Party (PP) and replace Rajoy, the party in- recent polls thanks to a hard line The Basque Nationalist Party Martinez-Maillo, accusing the for direct involvement in the attempt to unseat Prime Min- was found guilty of benefi ting tends “to govern for the amount on Catalan separatism, imme- has promised to “study the pro- Socialist leader of seeking power scheme but was found to have ister Mariano Rajoy with a par- from illegal funds in a massive of time it considers appropriate diately said it would oppose the posal”, its president Andoni Or- on the back of “separatists who benefi ted from funds obtained liamentary no-confi dence vote graft trial. (and) then call an election” after no-confi dence motion and in- tuzar said yesterday, questioning want to destroy Spain”. illegally through “an authentic succeeds. “The PP leadership is con- “some months”, said one of his stead called for snap polls. if the no-confi dence move was Spain’s National Court said on and effi cient system of institu- The country’s biggest opposi- cerned and does not totally rule spokespeople, the former culture Ciudadanos number two Jose “serious and viable” or just elec- Thursday that it had uncovered tional corruption” including a tion party, led by Pedro Sanchez, out that the number of votes minister Carmen Calvo. Manuel Villegas said yesterday tioneering. a vast system of bribes given to slush fund. fi led the motion seeking Rajoy’s needed to overturn the govern- The Socialists can already that he was ready to talk to the Rajoy, a devoted Real Madrid former PP offi cials in exchange The party was also by the court ouster in the 350-seat lower ment could be found,” the La count on the support of anti-es- Socialists about “another way of fan, cancelled his trip to the for lucrative public contracts be- ordered to pay back €245,000 house of parliament on Friday. Razon newspaper, considered tablishment Podemos but would calling elections immediately”. Champions League fi nal in Kyiv tween 1999 and 2005. ($290,000) Gulf Times Sunday, May 27, 2018 21 INDIA Nipah fears Mass protest push many states to issue alerts IANS vised people not to panic about the “People have been advised to New Delhi Nipah virus and said that all medi- keep distance from bats and pigs. Protesters hold placards and shout slogans in Chennai yesterday during a demonstration against the killings of protesters in cal colleges in the state are prepared They have been asked not to con- Tuticorin. to deal with the situation, if it oc- sume fruits without washing he Nipah virus may not have curs. them.” spread beyond Kerala but its Similarly, in Telangana, two per- Madhya Pradesh issued its advi- Tscare has spread across the sons, including one who visited sory on Friday. While saying there country with several states investi- Kerala recently, were admitted to was no reason to worry as the vi- gating suspicious cases and issuing hospitals on Friday with suspected rus is generally limited to a place, advisories on precautions and travel Nipah virus infection. The state Health Services Director B N Chou- to Kerala. health authorities, without taking han advised against eating fruits that are fallen on the ground or ap- 10 killed in multi-vehicle With another death in Kerala yes- any chances, have sent their sam- terday, the total number of deaths ples to Pune for investigation. pear to have animal teeth or claw due to Nipah virus has reached 13. K Shankar, Director, Institute of marks. The majority of the deaths have Preventive Medicine (IPM), Hy- Those living in areas with a bat been reported from Kozhikode dis- derabad said that people should population or where travellers from Kerala are staying should contact collision in Telangana trict with some from the nearby postpone their plans to visit Kerala Malappuram district in Kerala. in view of the situation. the nearest government hospital if Even as incidence of fresh cases in The authorities are conducting any symptoms of Nipah are found, IANS to Mancherial from Hyderabad lost con- They were shifted to government-run Kerala has come down, state health awareness campaigns and are also Chouhan said and added the symp- Hyderabad trol and collided head-on with a truck Gandhi Hospital in Secunderabad and authorities claim things are under screening people at airport, railway toms are headaches, fever, body- coming from opposite direction on Rajiv the condition of four them is stated to be control and the federal Health Min- and bus stations. ache, cough, problems in breathing, Rahadari, as the highway is known. critical. istry maintains virus outbreak is a Telangana Director of Medical vomiting, diarrhoea, laziness and en people were killed and 26 others The truck hit the road divider and col- Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao localised occurrence and there is no Education K Ramesh Reddy, how- others. injured in a multi-vehicle collision lided with a Qualis and a container lorry. expressed shock over the accident. need to panic, fear runs high across ever, said there was no need for The Nipah virus is transmitted Tin Telangana’s Siddipet district The Qualis was crushed between the He directed offi cials to provide better the country. panic as the state had not recorded to humans through infected fruit yesterday evening, police said. truck and container lorry. medical treatment to the injured. Panic gripped Himachal Pradesh any confi rmed case of Nipah virus. bats, pigs or other Nipah-infected The accident involving a bus of the Four women and two children were He conveyed his condolences to the when several bats were found dead The Bihar government yesterday persons. state-owned Telangana State Road among 10 killed in the accident. members of the bereaved families. at Government Senior Secondary issued a Nipah alert, asking people With test results showing that a Transport Corp (TSRTC), two trucks While seven of those killed belong to Transport Minister Mahender Reddy School in Barmapapri in Sirmaur to take precautions. particular variety of bats, found in and an SUV occurred on Hyderabad- same family and were travelling in Qualis, ordered a probe into the accident. district last week. An advisory has also been issued and around Kozhikode and mostly Ramagundam highway at Pragnapur the remaining three deceased were bus Irrigation Minister Harish Rao, who However, tests at the National In- to people with the dos and don’ts as at the worst-aff ected Perambara in Siddipet district, about 60km from passengers. hails from Siddipet, said Rs500,000 stitute of Virology in Pune ruled out preventive measures. town, is not carrying the virus, a here. As many as 26 passengers of the bus compensation each would be paid to the that the bats were carrying Nipah “The government has issued an special team from Pune will see how According to police, a bus proceeding were also injured. families of the deceased. virus. alert of Nipah virus in view of its best they can take samples from Himachal Pradesh additional outbreak in Kerala,” said health de- other varieties of bats also found in chief secretary B K Agarwal has ad- partment offi cial R D Ranjan. the district. Mayawati names new chief for UP unit

IANS tive, where the rejig in the organisational state assembly polls, the once UP major CBSE Class 12 results out; Lucknow structure was mulled and announced. party had lost much of its steam until A senior BSP leader told IANS that the two months back when, in an sudden and four-time UP chief minister also moti- unexpected move, Mayawati announced ahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief vated the party leaders and the cadres support for SP candidates in the Gora- Mayawati yesterday eff ected a ma- with some pep talk of ‘achhe din’ (good khpur and Phulpur parliamentary by- girls fare better than boys Bjor shake up in the party organisa- times) for the party in times to come. polls. tion, naming R S Kushwaha as the new She is also learned to have explained to The results were defi ning and the BJP president of the Uttar Pradesh unit and them the need to join forces with bitter was humbled in its pocket boroughs, IANS Ram Achal Rajbhar as the party’s national archrivals, the Samajwadi Party (SP) as leading to a more closer ties with the SP. New Delhi general secretary. the time had come to root out the Naren- The reshuffl e in her party is also being The decision was taken after a mara- dra Modi-led Central government. seen in political circles as her attempt thon meeting here of the BSP top brass, After a series of defeats — fi rst draw- to build momentum for the 2019 gen- he Central Board of Second- including zonal co-ordinators and mem- ing a zero in the parliamentary elections eral elections, which are less than a year ary Education’s (CBSE) Class bers of the national and the state execu- of 2014 and then a near rout in the 2017 away. T12 result was declared yesterday, with girls faring better than boys and also bagging the fi rst six spots. Abu Salem convicted In the overall results, girls per- in 2002 extortion case formed better than boys by 9.32%, as the pass percentage for girls was All arrangements made for A court here yesterday con- 88.31%, while it was 78.99% of victed extradited gangster Abu boys, an offi cial statement said. Salem in a 2002 extortion case. The overall pass percentage has Punjab by-poll: election panel Additional Sessions Judge increased by about one per cent Tarun Sahrawat convicted him to 83.01%, and all-India topper, Students celebrate their results from the Central Board of Secondary IANS where 172,676 voters will de- between 7am and 6pm. under Section 387 (putting Meghna Srivastava of Noida’s Step Education Class 12 examinations in Amritsar yesterday. Chandigarh cide the fate of 12 candidates The seat fell vacant fol- person in fear of death or of By Step School, scored 499 of 500. in this constituency. lowing the death of sitting grievous hurt, in order to com- Also, 72,599 students scored succeeded and I also want to con- government schools is improving While the main contest is Akali Dal legislator Ajit Singh mit extortion) and Section 506 more than 90%and 12,737 students gratulate those who could not suc- and it is good news.” Of the 11,06,772 ith campaigning between the ruling Congress Kohar in February this year. (criminal intimidation) of Indian got more than 95%. ceed. They should not lose their students who had appeared for the coming to an end, and opposition Shiromani Kohar, a former minister, Penal Code, but acquitted him Among diff erent types of schools, heart, this is a temporary setback. Class 12 examination held between Wall arrangement are Akali Dal, the Aam Aadmi was elected fi ve times from of charges of the stringent Ma- Kendriya Vidyalayas fared better They should do more eff orts and March 5 and April 27, 9,18,763 stu- in place for the smooth con- Party has made it a three- this seat. harashtra Control of Organised than others with a pass per cent of succeed. This is my advice.” dents passed the examination. duct of tomorrow’s by-poll cornered contest by fi elding Congress candidate H S Crime Act. 97.78, closely followed by Jawahar “I’m very happy about Kendriya Students of Thiruvananthapuram to the Shahkot assembly seat, its candidate. Laddi had lost to Kohar by The court has acquitted Navodaya Vidyalayas with a pass Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyala- region topped with a pass per cent Punjab Chief Electoral Offi cer Over 1,000 security per- nearly 5,000 votes in the as- co-accused Pawan Kumar Mit- per cent of 97.07. yas, they have got 98%result. Even of 97.32, followed by Chennai with S Karuna Raju said yesterday. sonnel, including Punjab sembly elections in February tal alias Raja Bhai, Mohamed Speaking to the media, Union government schools, and govern- 93.87% and Delhi 89%. The pass He told media that the Police and Border Security last year. The Congress came Ashraf alias Bablu, Majid Khan Human Resource Development ment-aided schools have scored percentage of students in CBSE Election Commission have Force, will stand guard on back to power in the state in alias Raju Bhai and Chanchal Minister Prakash Javadekar said: more than the average results — schools in other countries has in- been completed all the ar- polling day. March last year after a gap of Mehta. “I congratulate all those who have 85%. It shows that the quality of creased to 94.94% from 92.02%. rangements in Shahkot, The polling will be allowed a decade. Chandy contests LDF ad blitz ahead of crucial by-poll

By Ashraf Padanna aggressive multimedia cam- He asked Vijayan to release de- ing to keep prices static for fi ve “I decided to quit taking up the the seat vacated by its legislator tian and Muslim voters, who Thiruvanathapuram paign last week highlighting its tails of 1.4mn built-up space he years, but essentials commodi- responsibility for the defeat in KK Ramachandran Nair who died constitute 30% of the electorate “achievements”. claimed to have created for the ties cost much deader now,” the the (2016) elections. I hold that on January 26. and traditionally back the Con- They contained many projects software industry in two years, senior Congress leader said. view,” he said reacting to reports The Congress left no stone un- gress would consolidate in its fa- ormer Kerala chief minis- like Kochi Metro Chandy had al- and 65 new fi rms started func- “They have even increased pric- that he was under tremendous turned to wrest the constituency vour this time. ter Oommen Chandy has most completed or inaugurated tioning there. es of ration rice for the poor and pressure from the Congress high it held for long and hopes to win Kumar is the vice-president of Fslammed his successor Pi- during his term that ended in He said the sector was making cut down individual quota by one- command to take up the reins of back its votes lost to mainly BJP the group that assists pilgrims to narayi Vijayan for “appropriat- May 2016. consistent progress at 20% over fi fth. They also reduced the free the party. last time. the Sabarimala hill shrine where ing” his achievements. “The full-page ad released the years, but the state still ac- rice quota of 35kg a family to 4kg.” Meanwhile, the campaign- Congress candidate D Vijaya people from all faiths are allowed. His scathing attack came as in the newspapers lists its 72 counts for just 1% of India’s total Listing a series of failures, the ing in Chengannur ended in the Kumar is also pitted against BJP’s The CPM identifi es the group, the high-pitch campaigning for achievements in two years. The software exports. two-time chief minister who was evening at a high note, with the PS Sreedharan Pillai, a lawyer Ayyappa Seva Sangham, with the the crucial in the crucial Chen- fact is that they cannot take He said the public sector fi rms camping in the nearby Thiruvalla rain-drenched town turning into like him, who came a close third Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, gannur by-election ended yes- credit for even a dozen of them,” were making Rs44.6bn losses town overseeing the campaign, a sea of people. last time. the ideological mentor of the BJP. terday. he said in Kottayam. in 2016-17 after the Left Demo- described the ad as a bundle of lies. The Congress, CPM and The CPM launched a high- Congress hopes it would back- The voting takes places to- “The government owes an an- cratic Front (LDF) came to power Chandy, 74, who is active both Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s voltage campaign, led from the fi re as Kumar is a local boy and morrow. swer to the people why the Kannur compared to Rs25.68bn the pre- as a legislator and mass leader Bharatiya Janata Party are locked front by Vijayan and party chief people know him very well. The state government led by airport construction is lagging. We vious year. But it claims to have travelling with people in buses and in a tight fi ght. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, branding The candidates will now en- the Communist Party of India had completed 90% of its runway made a profi t of Rs 1.04bn. second class trains, said he was not The CPM and its candidate Saji Kumar as a Hindu communalist. gage in a silent campaign before (Marxist) or CPM launched an and 55% of the terminal.” “They came to power promis- interested in holding any post. Cherian want to retain at any cost It hopes the minority Chris- the ballot tomorrow. Gulf Times 22 Sunday, May 27, 2018 INDIA Karnataka Cooling off allies mull cabinet expansion

IANS posts and before their swearing-in,” said Bengaluru the offi cial. Kumaraswamy’s elder brother and lawmaker from Holenarsipur in Has- arnataka’s ruling alliance part- san district H D Revanna and two senior ners — the JD-S and Congress — JD-S leaders attended the meeting, in Kheld talks yesterday on cabinet which former Congress chief minister expansion a day after Chief Minister H D Siddaramaiah, party’s state in-charge K Kumaraswamy won the trust vote in the C Venugopal and senior party leader D K Assembly. Shivakumar participated. “Leaders of both alliance partners met The Congress leaders later left for at a hotel here and discussed the cabinet Delhi to discuss the cabinet expansion expansion and portfolios to be allocated issue with party president Rahul Gan- to their legislators. dhi, party’s leader in the Lok Sabha Mal- The talks will resume on Monday after likarjun Kharge and senior party leader A white tigress sits in a pond in her enclosure during a hot day at the Kamla Nehru Zoological Park in Ahmedabad yesterday. the Congress state unit leaders return Ghulam Nabi Azad. from Delhi,” a Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) “Legislators to be made ministers offi cial told IANS here. have been selected for approval by the As agreed by the partners, the Con- high command. Allocation of portfo- gress, which won 78 seats, will have 22 lios earmarked for our party will also cabinet ministers, including Deputy be decided in consultation with the Chief Minister G Parameshwara, while high command,” a Congress offi cial told the JD-S, which has 36 members in the IANS. ‘I said it’: Fadnavis admits to house, will have 12 ministers, including The JD-S will also fi nalise its list of the chief minister. members for the cabinet posts in con- “The state Congress leaders told Ku- sultation with its supremo H D Deve maraswamy that they would submit him Gowda by tomorrow. a list of names to be made ministers after As election to the Raja Rajeshwari Na- controversial audio-clip their high command clears them in Delhi gar assembly seat in Bengaluru is tomor- by tomorrow,” the offi cial said yesterday. row and vote count on May 31, the date IANS Only Kumaraswamy and Parmeshwara of cabinet expansion will be decided on Mumbai/Palghar were sworn-in on Wednesday before the Tuesday. fl oor test on Friday. Polling in the RR Nagar seat was post- “Portfolios to be shared by the alli- poned due to alleged electoral malprac- aharashtra Chief Minister ance partners will be decided after the tice by Congress contestant Munirath- Devendra Fadnavis yester- selection of legislators for the cabinet na, who was the sitting legislator. Mday admitted to his voice and content in a audio-clip in which he exhorted his activists “to win Pal- ghar elections” at any cost, which kicked up a massive political row in the poll-bound Maharashtra district. Never shared users’ data However, he hit back by alleg- ing that the original audio-clip was “selectively edited and doctored” to with third parties: Paytm remove the context of his statement on “saam, daam, dand and bhed” to party activists. IANS one: any company/ any government To prove his point, he played the New Delhi or any country. At Paytm, your data is entire 14-minute audio-clip before yours. Not ours, or of a third party, or of the media and accused the Shiv Sena the government.” of “resorting to such low-level tactics igital wallet payment company Paytm reiterated that their policy as defeat stares at it in Palghar”. Paytm yesterday refuted media allows only legally compliant data re- “I said it...and that is my voice. But Dreports that it has shared user quests from the “law of the land” to get the following sentence has been de- data to third parties, saying that the data access to data for necessary investiga- liberately knocked off to twist it com- of its 300mn registered users is safe in tions. pletely out of context. I am sending India. “You can be sure that no data is shared it to the Election Commission with a “There is a video going around on with anyone whom you would not have request that if I am found guilty, they Fadnavis ... aggressive stance social media and it falsely claims that given us permission to share it with. can take action against me,” Fadnavis we shared some data with 3rd parties. Any person claiming otherwise is not declared. “We have a huge challenge before dio tape in his public rally on Friday tivists caught some alleged BJP work- Nothing can be further from the truth,” aware of the policy and is not authorised In the same breath, he demanded us...Some people are challenging our evening. ers with a large amount of cash which the company wrote in a blog post. to speak on behalf of the company,” the that if the Shiv Sena were found guilty very existence. They are behaving like Thackeray, along with state Con- was reportedly intended for distribu- “We never share your data with any- company said. of “editing and doctoring” the audio- friends but backstabbing us and we gress President Ashok Chavan, Bahu- tion among the voters. tape, then they should also face action must hit back. If anybody is bullying jan Vikas Aghadi President Hitendra The Palghar seat has become a for playing it in public to misguide the us, we must attack them. They must Thakur and other political leaders matter of prestige for the two war- voters on the eve of the Palghar Lok know that I am a bigger bully. I am demanded that the Election Commis- ring allies after the BJP accused the Sabha by-election. fi rmly standing behind you,” Fadnavis sion should take note of the “threat- Shiv Sena of “hijacking” its prospec- Fuel price hike protest The audio clip controversy erupted said in Marathi, in the purported tape ening” content in the audio-clip and tive candidate, Shriniwas Vanga, son on a day when the National Demo- aired by the Shiv Sena. initiate suitable action against Fad- of the late BJP MP Chintaman Vanga Demonstrators react cratic Alliance (NDA) government On May 8, Fadnavis had thrown the navis. this month. as they are stopped headed by Prime Minister Narendra gauntlet at the Shiv Sena, the Con- Pouncing on Fadnavis, Palghar Shiv Stunned by the Sena move, the BJP by the police during a Modi completes four years, and just gress, the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi and Sena leaders said yesterday that the was compelled to nominate Rajendra protest organised by the two days before the high-stakes Pal- the CPI-M by saying: “Come what Election Commission should conduct Gavit, a Congress leader who walked Congress party against ghar Lok Sabha by-election tomorrow. may, we shall win Palghar seat. This a forensic probe into the audio-tape into the party at the last minute be- the rise in fuel prices in In the tape played by the Shiv Sena was a BJP seat. What the Shiv Sena and if the chief minister was guilty fore fi ling nominations. Chandigarh yesterday. — which went viral on social media has done is wrong. Winning it would “he should resign by this evening”. The Congress fi elded its veteran and television networks — Fadnavis be a fi tting tribute to the late Chinta- This was the second jolt for the BJP Damodar Shingada, besides the BVA’s is heard directing Bharatiya Janata man Vanga.” in two days as the curtains fell yes- Baliram Jadhav and CPI-M’s Kiran Party activists to use “saam, daam, Ruling ally and Shiv Sena President terday on Palghar by-election cam- Gahala in the fi ve-cornered main dand and bhed” and win Palghar at Uddhav Thackeray raised the hackles paigning. contest, with the BJP leaving no stone any cost. of the partner BJP by playing the au- A couple of days ago, Shiv Sena ac- unturned to retain the seat. Opposition leaders coming together to save themselves: Modi

IANS to the Gandhis taking bail in the commitment against corruption, the corruption cases four years Janmat (people’s mandate).” “It was the commitment of Modi said: “Since coming to power Cuttack National Herald case and opposi- even enemies have become good ago, Modi said: “People need to The prime minister also the government that led to the in 2014, we have moved from in- tion leaders coming together in friends,” he said, adding that the remember the situation of the stressed that President Ram passage of Benami Properties completeness to completeness. Bengaluru during the Karnataka people of the country are watch- country four years ago. This is Nath Kovind, Vice President M Bill, unlike the confused govern- “Now the electricity has rime Minister Narendra Chief Minister H D Kumaras- ing them all. important to remember what a Venkaiah Naidu and the ‘Pradhan ment which delayed it for over 30 reached every village of the Modi yesterday attacked wamy’s swearing-in ceremony. “These leaders have not come family did for the country that Sewak’ (Prime Servant) of the years,” he said. country. Now about 80% of the Pthe opposition unity, say- “As we promised four years ago together for the country, they remained in power for 48 years.” country come from very humble Modi said about half of the population resides in clean sur- ing the corrupt leaders are com- about zero tolerance towards cor- have come together to save “How people can forget the and poor background. country’s population is deprived rounding as compared to 39% in ing together “not to save the ruption, four former chief minis- themselves and their families.” cases of corruption in the previ- “We have seen the days of of basic needs and that most of 2014. We have built over 70mn country but to save themselves”, ters are behind bars,” Modi said. Modi said that in the last four ous government due to which the poverty...we were not born with the schemes were only meant for toilets in the last four years, making an apparent attack on The prime minister also said years, the Bharatiya Janata Party image of the country was ma- silver spoons. In fact, we did not the upper layer of the society. which was earlier only 60mn Congress president Rahul Gan- that his is a “committed govern- (BJP) has become the party from ligned across the globe?” he said. see the spoon in our initial days,” “Over 50% of the popula- across the country,” Modi said. dhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi. ment” instead of being a “con- Panchayat (village council) to Attacking the Gandhis for guid- Modi said, in an apparent jibe at tion does not have the gas con- The prime minister pointed “Due to the commitment of fused government”. Parliament. ing former prime minister Man- Rahul Gandhi. nection, electricity connection out that the government has this government against black “With a clear commitment to He alleged that the opposition mohan Singh on every key deci- The prime minister also said and bank accounts. More than abolished over 1,400 such laws money and corruption, people work, we have shown how this leaders want to destabilise the sions, Modi said: “They believed that in last four years, the inves- 50% of the villages did not have which were not useful. who are out on bail in the Rs50bn government along with its ally current government, “but people in the development of their party tigating agencies have carried out road connectivity and half of the He also highlighted several corruption case and many oth- parties is capable of taking harsh know everything”. as against the development of the searches at over 3,000 locations population did not have toilets in schemes which his government ers involved in other corruption decisions and strict measures,” Taking a dig at the opposition, nation. They remote-controlled and unearthed over Rs 53,000 their homes,” he said. launched for the people, includ- cases have come together on the he said. the prime minister said: “The the prime minister and issued di- crore of the undisclosed money. “Who were the people coming the Jan-Dhan Yojana, Mudra same platform,” Modi said ad- “When a committed govern- people who try to confuse the rections to several ministers on Modi claimed that the govern- prising this deprived half? They Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, agricul- dressing a rally here on the occa- ment works, then decisions like people for power can’t bring back e-mail. ment seized properties worth were the poor, the Dalits, tribals ture insurance scheme and sev- sion of completion of four years surgical strike and much-delayed black money, neither they can “But now the government does over Rs 35tn after the Benami and others,” he said. eral others that have changed the of his government. One Rank-One Pension are taken.” ﬁ ght against corruption.” not run from Janpath (the offi cial Properties Bill was passed by the Highlighting the works of his life of poor and farmers across He was apparently referring “On seeing this government’s Reminding the gathering of address of Gandhis), it runs from government. government in the last four years, the country. Gulf Times Sunday, May 27, 2018 23 PAKISTAN

KP leaves key law to last day Pakistan elections to be

Internews Peshawar

he Provincial Assembly held on July 25: offi cial in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa T(KP) province, led by Im- AFP its fi nal week in offi ce. over the premiership. former cricket star Imran Khan. courts, claiming that they are the arm in a suspected assassi- ran Khan’s ruling Pakistan Te- Islamabad It is expected to hand over Pakistan completed its fi rst The PTI is vowing to clean victims of a conspiracy to reduce nation attempt in early May by hrik-e-Insaf (PTI), has left the power to a caretaker administra- democratic transfer of power up the country’s rampant cor- the power of their party. an Islamist gunman. act of tabling and passing the tion in the coming days. following elections in 2013, ruption, while investing in edu- Despite the numerous court Sharif also sparked a fi restorm most important legislation of its akistan will hold gen- Turmoil continues to rock the when the government headed by cation and healthcare as Khan rulings against the PML-N, the earlier this month after suggest- term to the very last day. eral elections on July 25, country after former prime min- the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) inches closer to his years-long party has won a string of recent ing that Pakistani militants were An extraordinary session of Pa presidential spokes- ister Nawaz Sharif was ousted handed over to the PML-N, fol- dream of leading the country as by-elections proving it will like- behind the 2008 Mumbai at- the legislature will be held today, man said yesterday, off ering the by the Supreme Court last July lowing a landslide victory. prime minister. ly remain a powerful force. tacks, approaching what is seen the last working day of the cur- prospect of what would be only on corruption charges and later “This is the second consecu- With Sharif out, the PML-N The PML-N continues to en- as a red line in the country by rent assembly, to pass the Con- the second democratic transfer barred from politics for life. tive parliament to complete its continues to boast of its invest- joy large swathes of support in touching on criticism of Paki- stitution (Thirty-First Amend- of power in the nuclear-armed Sharif was the 15th premier in tenure and we are now looking ment in the country’s rickety the country’s most populous stan’s armed forces. ment) Bill, also known as the country. Pakistan’s seven-decade history forward to go to the people to get infrastructure and courting bil- Punjab province, but will enter There have been increas- Federally Administered Tribal “The president has approved – roughly half of it under mili- their verdict on our perform- lions of dollars in Chinese in- the election under increasing ing fears that media outlets are Areas (Fata) Reforms Bill 2018, July 25 as the date for holding tary rule – to be removed before ance,” Finance Minister Miftah vestment. pressure. under heavy pressure from the amid threats by the opposition general elections in the country,” completing a full term. Ismail told AFP. Since he was ousted, Sharif In April, a Pakistan court dis- security establishment head- Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI) of Fa- a spokesman from Mamnoon After Sharif was ousted from The general elections are ex- and the PML-N have become qualifi ed Foreign Minister Kha- ing into the elections, spurring zlur Rehman to stop the session. Hussain’s offi ce told AFP. power, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi of pected to pit the PML-N against increasingly vocal in their con- waja Asif for violating the coun- accusations of self-censorship Offi cials said yesterday that The announcement comes as Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League its main rival, the Pakistan Te- frontation with the country’s try’s election laws, while Interior by Pakistan’s leading television the provincial government sent a the current government enters – Nawaz (PML-N) party took hreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party led by military establishment and Minister Ahsan Iqbal was shot in news broadcasters. summary to the governor on Fri- day to summon a session of the assembly at 2pm today. The assembly is expected to give its approval to the historic Welcome distraction bill that will erase the colonial- PPP not hopeful era division between KP and Fata and merge the two. After the assembly’s approval, the landmark bill will bring of consensus on Fata, comprising seven agencies and six frontier regions, into the mainstream, and merge with KP. The tribals will be represented interim premier in the KP Assembly through the constitutional amendment. An offi cial in the assembly Internews the time, the matter will be secretariat said the decision had Islamabad referred to the Election Com- been taken at the top level to call mission of Pakistan (ECP) for a session today to pass the bill. appointing the caretaker prime “The House is likely to take ilawal Bhutto’s Pakistan minister. single item on its agenda, that is Peoples Party (PPP), The same procedure applies the Fata Reforms Bill 2018,” said Bwhich holds the offi ce for selecting caretaker chief the offi cial. of leader of opposition in both ministers in the case of Paki- After the passage of the bill, houses of parliament, is not stan’s four provinces. the assembly will complete its hopeful of reaching any con- Given the composition of the constitutional term of fi ve years sensus on name of the caretak- committee and current politi- on May 28 and will stand dis- er prime minister during talks cal situation, there are hardly solved automatically. with Prime Minister Shahid any chances that a panel will Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar Khaqan Abbasi of the ruling be able to decide a consensus chaired a meeting of the par- Pakistan Muslim League – Na- candidate for interim premier. liamentary leaders in Peshawar waz (PML-N). It is most likely that matter yesterday to discuss the agenda However, it will wait till to- will again go in the ECP like it for the session and facilitate its morrow before Leader of Op- did in 2013. legislators and other parties. position in National Assembly Though diff erent names are Bilawal Bhutto’s Pakistan Khursheed Shah sends the op- circulating in media as prob- Peoples Party (PPP) parliamen- position nominees to National able choice of government, tary leader Ali Bacha confi rmed Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq Prime Minister Abbasi has not that he had received the invita- with request forming a par- disclosed any publicly. tion to the meeting. liamentary panel to decide a He told journalists last week He said his party had sup- name for caretaker premier, as that besides the names already ported the bill in the National stipulated under the law. discussed with Shah, there Assembly and Senate, and will Commuters are sprayed with water yesterday by members of a welfare organisation in Karachi, to help them cope with the heatwave. “There are hardly any can be other names should the do so in the KP Assembly as well. chances [of an agreement on matter be referred to the par- caretaker prime minister] but liamentary committee or to the still we have decided to wait till ECP. Monday,” said a PPP leader. The PPP has blamed the The PPP has decided that government over the failure to Shah will send names of former reach an agreement. Outgoing govt clears Rs30bn gift for civil servants Pakistan Cricket Board chair- Sherry Rehman, who holds man Zaka Ashraf and former the offi ce of leader of opposi- diplomat Jalil Abbas Jilani to tion in Senate, said that the Internews forces personnel, offi cials say. The prime minister decided to Supreme Court of Pakistan re- governments could go well be- Sadiq as his nominees for the government kept putting up Islamabad The notifi cation issued by the set a precedent for future gov- stricted the powers of the prime yond Rs150bn in that case, he offi ce of caretaker premier as new names every time. prime minister’s offi ce did not ernments to allow such amounts minister and members of the warned. he is not hopeful of reaching “They bring new names out mention employees of the armed to be doled out from the public cabinet in fi nancial matters, un- The prime minister’s move consensus on a name with Ab- of nowhere. We don’t know utgoing Prime Minister forces. kitty but expressed hope that it less collectively approved by the comes at a time when the fi s- basi. … are these their nominees or Shahid Khaqan Abbasi It said that the prime minister, would be based on some princi- federal cabinet, two years ago. cal defi cit has already been esti- Sources in the PPP said that these names are coming from Ohas approved a special who is also chairperson of the ples. A senior government offi cial mated by the fi nance ministry to Shah is likely to send letter to somewhere else,” Rehman said parting gift, equivalent to three Economic Co-ordination Com- He further “desired that for said that armed forces personnel exceed 5.5% of the GDP for the the speaker over the weekend. in a statement. months of salary, for federal gov- mittee (ECC) of the cabinet, was the fi nancial year 2018-19 on- and employees of provincial gov- current fi scal year, compared to The opposition leader is Imran Khan’s Pakistan ernment employees at the public “pleased to order that all em- wards a policy may be formulated ernments, public sector organi- 4.1% set in the budget last year. scheduled to be back in Islam- Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) has no expense. ployees of the federal govern- by the new elected government sations and fi nancial institutions Federal Minister for Finance Dr abad tomorrow. constitutional role in choosing The special “honorarium” will ment shall be given honorarium after Elections 2018”, said a no- would likely also harbour expec- Miftah Ismail was unavailable for “Since we have time, we caretaker set-up in the Centre cost an estimated Rs30bn, pro- equivalent to three basic pays for tifi cation issued by Secretary to tation of the fi nancial benefi t al- comment, but a senior govern- want to avail every opportunity but being the second largest vided it remains limited to federal fi nancial year 2017-18. No excep- the PM Fawad Hasan Fawad. lowed to federal government em- ment offi cial said this was the if it arises during this time,” the opposition party, it has some government employees. tion shall be allowed for payment This is the fi rst time such a ployees. fi rst time a government had al- PPP leader said. say in the matter. The amount could rise to Rs- in excess of the ceiling in any major decision has been taken by The combined fi nancial im- lowed a special fi nancial benefi t In case stalemate persists, It diff ers with the PPP over 75bn if it is extended to armed case”. a prime minister, ever since the pact on federal and provincial to all government employees. Shah will send a letter to the its nominees. speaker along with his nomi- It has already rejected Ashraf nees for the prime minister’s and Jilani. New poll code of conduct for political parties slot, with the request to form The PTI proposes former the eight-member committee chief justice Tassaduq Hus- The Election Commission of Pakistan has summoned a key meeting on having equal representation sain, former State Bank of Army summons former spy May 31 for consultations with political parties on the code of conduct for from treasury and opposition Pakistan governor Ishrat Hus- the upcoming general election. benches. sain, and former minister Raz- Sources at the Election Commission say that letters had been dispatched The proposed committee zaq Daud. to heads of all political parties, having representation in the Parliament will be tasked with selecting Neither the premier nor chief over book controversy along with the draft of the code, enabling them to have a better under- one of the four nominees –two leader of opposition is bound standing of the matter prior to the proposed meeting. names sent by leader of the op- to consider PTI nominees. Under sub-clause (1) of the clause 233 of the Elections Act, 2017, the Elec- position and two by the prime However, the PTI will have AFP The book is based on a series by Pakistan’s National Security tion Commission will be holding consultations with political parties so minister within three days of representation in the eight- Islamabad of discussions between Durrani Council. that the code be thrashed out for political parties, contesting candidates, its notifi cation. member parliamentary com- and Dulat with Indian journalist The former prime minister election agents and polling agents. If this committee also fails mittee from the opposition Aditya Sinha on various topics, had approached what is seen to evolve consensus within side. akistan’s army has sum- including Afghanistan, Kash- as a red line by touching on moned the former head mir and the tense relations be- criticism of Pakistan’s powerful Pof the intelligence agency, tween Pakistan and India. armed forces, especially their 95,000 new graduates accusing him of violating the Military spokesman Major alleged use of proxies in In- get youth internship military code of conduct over a General Asif Ghafoor said that dia, in his interview with Dawn book he co-authored with the Durrani had been summoned newspaper published last week. Change to Hindu marriage law More than 95,000 fresh bach- former spy chief of arch rival to the general headquarters on “Militant organisations are elor’s and master’s graduates India. May 28 – and “will be asked to active. Call them non-state of universities of the country Retired Lieutenant General explain his position on views actors, should we allow them Internews to pass the law, assembly sourc- Sindh province, and thus the have been off ered internship Asad Durrani, who headed the attributed to him in book Spy to cross the border and kill 150 Karachi es said yesterday. provincial government should in reputable public and private Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Chronicles”. people in Mumbai? Explain it The legislators, however, will be keen in developing Hindu sector organisation/depart- from 1990 to 1992, also came Durrani was summoned af- to me. Why can’t we complete meet tomorrow for farewell marriage law. ments across Pakistan. under fi re from former prime ter Sharif criticised him on Fri- the trial?” Sharif told Pakistan’s he Sindh Assembly has rituals. Senior Minister for Parlia- Off icial sources say that the minister Nawaz Sharif for alleg- day for disclosing secrets in the leading English daily, referring amended the Sindh Hin- The Sindh Hindu Marriage mentary Aff airs Nisar Khuhro internships have been provided edly disclosing national secrets book. to stalled court cases against Tdu Marriage Act 2016, (Amendment) Bill 2018 was and Leader of the Opposition under Phase-I and Phase-II of in the book. Sharif apparently tried to several suspects. awarding the right of separation presented by Pakistan Muslim Izharul Hasan backed the bill. the Prime Minister’s Youth Train- In a surprise move, Durrani draw a parallel between Dur- The Mumbai attacks left 166 to both husband and wife in ad- League – Functional parlia- The law says: “Either party to ing Scheme. co-authored The Spy Chroni- rani’s revelations and his own people dead and brought India dition to ensuring fi nancial se- mentary leader Anand Kumar, Hindu marriage, whether sol- “It is encouraging to note that cles: RAW, ISI and the Illusion statement suggesting that Paki- and Pakistan to the brink of war. curity of wife and children. who said after its passage that emnised before or after com- majority of the successful of peace with A S Dulat, the stani militants were behind the Media reports said that Dur- This was the last working day the Hindu community will ben- mencement of this Act, may interns have either got jobs or former chief of India’s Research 2008 Mumbai attacks, which rani had admitted Pakistan’s of the Provincial Assembly’s efi t. present a petition to the court have started their own start- and Analysis Wing intelligence sparked a fi restorm at home and role in the unrest in Indian-ad- 5-year tenure and the deadline He said that a majority of praying for decree of judicial ups,” a Scheme off icial said. agency. in India, and was later slammed ministered Kashmir in the book. helped galvanise the legislators Hindus in Pakistan lived in separation.” Gulf Times 24 Sunday, May 27, 2018 PHILIPPINES Govt begins runway repair in Spratlys

By Dempsey Reyes the smaller barge to the west, The think-tank also noted that eastern side of the island and one away, leaving only a submerged Manila Times while the other carries a back- the coral reef surrounding near the western end next to the reef and a small, shifting sand hoe,” the AMTI said in its report. Pagasa gave a hard time to ap- island’s basketball court. bar,” it said. In April last year, Defence proaching large ships. Last year, Lorenzana men- “If there was ever a Filipino he repair of the crumbling Secretary Delfi n Lorenzana, This was evidenced by the tioned that a beach ramp would facility there, it was moved to runway on Pagasa (Thitu) then Armed Forces chief Eduar- “rusting hulk” of the Philip- have to be constructed fi rst to Loaita Cay and took the name TIsland has fi nally begun do Ano, then Western Command pine Navy’s BRP Lanao del Norte assist the supplier of the materi- ‘Panata Island’ on it,” it added. more than a year after it was an- chief Raul del Rosario and other (LT-504), which approached the als for the reconstruction. The Philippines also has out- nounced. high-ranking military offi cials northwest edge of the coral reef Satellite images released by posts on Kota (Loaita) Island, In a double-feature study re- went to Pagasa Island. in 2004 and is still there. the AMTI did not show any ramp Parola (Northeast Cay) Island, leased yesterday, the Washing- Lorenzana announced that The repair of Pagasa’s run- because of a cloud cover, “and no Parola (West York) Island, Patag ton-based Asia Maritime Trans- the Philippines would be initiat- way was proposed in 2014, with new ramp was visible as recently (Flat) Island and Ayungin (Sec- parency Initiative (AMTI) of the ing the repair of the runway on several offi cials of the military as February.” ond Thomas) Shoal. Patricia Fox: reprieve from deportation Centre for Strategic and Inter- Pagasa Island. saying that a channel needed to The AMTI also showed be- Ayungin Shoal is where the national Studies said the Philip- Their visit alarmed Chinese be dredged to allow larger ships fore-and-after satellite images “purposely grounded” BRP Si- pines had commenced the repair offi cials. to deliver heavy machinery and of several islands of the Philip- erra Madre serves as a perma- of the runway in the largest of The airstrip in Pagasa was construction materials to the pines in Spratlys, including the nent facility, where members of its nine outposts in the Spratly constructed during the 1970s island. Rizal (Commodore) Reef, Lawak the Philippine Marine Corps are Australian nun facing Islands (Kalayaan Island Group). and was the fi rst runway built “It is likely that dredging such (Nanshan) Island and Panata stationed. Pagasa Island is 12 nautical within the Kalayaan Island a channel is still part of the plan (Loaita) Island. The Philippines also claims miles from the air and naval base Group. this time around,” the AMTI An image dated May 1 showed Balagtas (Irving) Reef. expulsion gets reprieve built by China on Subi (Zamora) The runway is offi cially 1,300 said. that a new round-roofed shelter For Jay Batongbacal, director Reef, close to Palawan island. metres long, but the real length Because of the condition of was constructed on the eastern for the University of the Phil- The island, home to more than is closer to 1,200 because of the the runway surface on the west- side of the outpost on Rizal Reef. ippines Institute of Maritime DPA April after President Rodrigo 100 civilians, was the site of a collapsed portion. ern portion, it was diffi cult for An empty fi eld in Lawak Island Aff airs and Law of the Sea, the Manila Duterte ordered an investiga- standoff with a Chinese fl otilla According to AMTI, the resto- Philippine Air Force aircraft to was seen converted into a heli- reconstruction on the damaged tion into her activities. in August last year. ration of the runway made by the land and take off . pad based on the satellite image runway was “overdue.” The immigration bureau It is also considered the larg- Philippines was using a method One example was the C-130 dated February 20 this year. “The repairs are overdue ac- 71-year-old Australian later ruled that Fox was “found est island occupied by the Phil- “similar” to Vietnam’s in claim- plane that carried then Armed On Panata Island, an addi- tions on existing facilities, and missionary ordered ex- to have engaged in activities ippines within the disputed ing an island within the Spratly Forces chief Gregorio Catapang tional hexagonal shelter has ac- do not signifi cantly change the Apelled from the Philip- that are not allowed under the Spratlys. archipelago. Jr to the island in May 2015. companied the outpost estab- situation between the claimants pines for allegedly engaging in terms and conditions of her The AMTI showed satellite “While (the method) is still Aside from the long-delayed lished there, which was visible in in the (Spratly) area,” Batongba- political activities has received visa,” particularly participat- images dated May 17 this year, harmful to the environment, it project to reconstruct the run- the image dated May 17. cal told The Manila Times. a reprieve from deportation, ing in protests. revealing that two barges were aff ects surrounding reefs at a way, the AMTI also noted “other The AMTI noted that Panata Earlier this month, the AMTI her lawyer said yesterday. Fox has said that she only anchored off the western portion smaller scale and is far less envi- upgrades” visible around the Pa- Island was “often misreported” reported that Beijing had land- The Department of Justice participated in protests ad- of Pagasa Island runway, which ronmentally destructive than the gasa Island. as being on Lankiam Cay, to the ed H-6K aircraft bombers on stayed an order by the Bureau vocating for human rights collapsed into the sea years ago. suction cutter dredging under- It showed satellite images of at east of Panata. Woody Island in the Paracels, of Immigration for nun Pa- and denied joining anti-gov- “It appears that a grab dredg- taken by China, which destroyed least seven new buildings con- “While reports suggest Lan- within striking distance of the tricia Fox to leave the country ernment rallies. er, consisting of a crane with a thousands of acres of reef from structed last year, four located kiam was once a small sandy cay, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia after her missionary visa was Philippine officials have clamshell bucket, is installed on late 2013 to early 2017,” it noted. near the residential area on the it appears to have been washed and Indonesia, among others. cancelled on April 23, attorney stressed that foreigners are Jobert Pahilga said. expected to follow the limi- The justice department’s tations of their visas and ex- action “removes the anxiety ercising political rights is not and concern that she will be one of the privileges when arrested anytime by the agents visiting the country. Bacolod’s of the bureau” while the de- In April, immigration au- Sotto wants death penalty for portation is being appealed, thorities deported European Pahilga added. politician Giacomo Filibeck leading Before she was ordered ex- when he was barred from pelled, Fox, from the Congre- entering the Philippines as gation of Our Lady of Sion, the guest of a local socialist drug lord ‘high-level’ drug traffi ckers was detained for 24 hours in party. shot dead By Jeff erson Antiporda of the capital punishment, say- the senators to come up with a Manila Times ing it does not deter crimes. bill legalising divorce because Sotto said he agrees with no less than President Rodrigo By Eugene Y Adiong those who oppose the death Duterte had expressed his op- Palace backs dropping Manila Times/Bacolod City enate President Vicente penalty that there has been position to the proposal. Sotto has recommended no proof that it would prevent “The president is not in fa- Sthe death penalty for crimes, adding that putting vour, so even if the Senate pass- of Napoles as witness he long arm of the law fi - “high-level” drug traffi ckers. criminals in jail is a correct way es a divorce law the president nally caught up with Ba- Sotto said limiting the cov- to stop them from committing might veto it and most probably Tcolod’s top drug person- erage of capital punishment crimes. he will…” he pointed out. By Catherine S Valente gramme since February 27, ality when he was killed along to those engaged in high-level But the Senate president Sotto said someone would Manila Times when Vitaliano Aguirre 2nd with a relative after a 15-hour drug traffi cking would increase added that the same could not surely bring the matter to the still headed the department. police operation in a coastal vil- chances of a proposal in the be applied to drug traffi ckers Supreme Court and ask that it Such coverage was set to lage on Thursday afternoon. Senate getting more support Sotto: call for tougher punishment because it has been proven that be declared unconstitutional. alacanang supported lapse on May 26. Killed was Ramy Poja, 36, al- from members of the chamber. they will continue their illegal He added that the Senate has the decision made Guevarra on Friday dis- leged leader of the Poja Drug Thirteen senators voting for added. The Volunteers Against activities behind bars. an alternative to divorce and Mby the Department closed that a formal letter has Group and identifi ed by authori- the bill would ensure passage, Crime and Corruption (VACC) “They can do everything that is the proposal that seeks of Justice (DoJ) to terminate been sent to Napoles, through ties as a high value target, No 1 he added. on Thursday reiterated its call they want even in jail because of to expand grounds for annul- businesswoman Janet Lim- her counsel, stating that her Most Wanted Person in the area of “The way I discussed it (death for the government to come up money,” he explained. ment and to make it easier and Napoles’ provisional admis- provisional coverage under the Police Station 3 and one of the top penalty) with them (senators), I with drastic measures to stop Death penalty for drug traf- aff ordable.Sotto said there are sion to its Witness Protection WPP is terminated eff ective drug lords in Western Visayas. sensed that that only way we killings allegedly being perpe- fi ckers will not be anti-poor, two bills pending in the Senate Programme (WPP). May 25. Police offi cers cornered Poja in could convince most of them trated by gun-for-hire syndi- according to Sotto, because seeking additional grounds for In a text message on the Napoles had requested to be a house in Sitio Sibucao, Purok or at least 13 of them would be cates. there are no poor drug traffi ck- annulment one of which was same day, Palace spokesman admitted to the programme, Rosas Pandan, Barangay Banago, (to impose it in cases involv- Anti-crime advocates be- ers and they can aff ord good introduced by Senator Loren Harry Roque Jr agreed with citing alleged threats to her Bacolod City after a hot pursuit ing) high-level drug traffi cking lieved that reimposition of the lawyers to defend them. Lagarda. Justice Secretary Menardo personal security and specifi - operation “to get him at all cost,” only,” Sotto noted in a television death penalty in the country is Meanwhile, Sotto said he Under Legarda’s Senate Bill Guevarra that Napoles cannot cally requested protection by was ordered by Senior Supt. interview aired over ANC. one eff ective way of stopping does not see the divorce bill 410, which was fi led on July claim to be the least guilty in way of transfer from her place Franciso Ebreo, acting Bacolod When asked if he would ac- heinous crimes. getting support from senators 2016, a marriage involving par- a multibillion-peso scam that of detention at Camp Bagong city police director. Police found tively push for the death-pen- “The VACC believes and em- even if the House of Represent- ties who have been separated in used lawmakers’ pork barrel Diwa in Taguig City. Poja and two companions – Rob- alty bill, the Senate president braces the sanctity of life. We atives already passed on third fact for at least fi ve years may be funds. Guevarra explained that erto Lim and Rusty Constantino said he is willing to help Sena- believe in due process but only and fi nal reading a bill legalising annulled. “We support the DoJ secre- Napoles’ application for full –holed up in the house of Salva- tor Emmanuel Pacquiao, the for law-abiding citizens. Death absolute divorce and dissolu- Both parties shall be required tary’s decision and agree that WPP coverage has been ren- dor Poja at around 4:20pm. primary author of the measure, penalty is for the criminals, not tion of marriage in the country. to present affi davits or certifi - (Napoles) is not (the) least dered moot and academic af- The operation was an off shoot sponsor the proposal and allow law-abiding citizens,” accord- But the Senate, he added, cations from parents, children guilty (and) whose testimony ter all three divisions of the of the encounter between his it to be debated on the fl oor. ing to the group’s vice chairman could come up with a measure of legal age and other relatives is not indispensable and can Sandiganbayan rejected her group and personnel from Police “They have my vote (when it and spokesman Arsenio Evan- that seeks to make the annul- attesting to the fact of the sepa- be testifi ed upon by other wit- motions for transfer to a DoJ Station 3 led by Senior Insp. Vic- comes to high-level drug traf- gelista. ment process cheaper and eas- ration period “without preju- nesses,” Roque said. safehouse from Camp Bagong tor Paulino who chanced upon fi cking) but other than that I Several lawmakers and other ier instead of legalising divorce. dice to whatever documents the Napoles has been “provi- Diwa, where she is held on the group during an operation. would probably not agree,” he groups have rejected the revival Sotto said it is impractical for court may further require.” sionally covered” by the pro- plunder charges. Duterte takes steps to ease eff ect of surging oil price

By Catherine S Valente Department of Trade and In- should meet. They will see if possibility if we can get even just Filipino nation: Do not take ad- Manila Times dustry (DTI) to activate all its there is a need to increase the diesel because we can get that vantage. The prices will really surveillance teams to strictly minimum wage because if the from Russia,” he said. increase, do not overprice just to monitor the prices of commod- prices of commodities are high, Malacanang earlier called on get more profi t,” he added. alacanang yesterday ities and arrest those who go the salary needs to meet that,” traders and retailers not to take Roque said the government assured the public that far beyond the suggested retail he said. advantage of the oil price in- can also suspend the implemen- MPresident Rodrigo Du- price. “But there is a process. This creases triggered by movement tation of higher excise tax from terte was on top of the situation “The fi rst order was for the cannot be on a national scale of prices in the world market. the Train Law if the oil prices in amid the surging oil price in- DTI to monitor and arrest busi- because there is a law limiting to This came after reports that the world market will hit $80 per creases in the world market. nessmen who violate the sug- the regions,” Roque added. the infl ation rate continued to barrel. In a radio interview, Palace gested retail price because there The Palace offi cial said Du- increase because of the oil price “Only the higher excise tax spokesman Harry Roque Jr said are many who take advantage of terte ordered the Department of hikes and new excise taxes from will not be collected if it will Duterte knew the situation at the situation,” Roque added. Energy (DoE) to look for other the implementation of the Tax reach $80. There is still excise present and issued three march- “The prices are already high countries where the Philippines Reform for Acceleration and In- tax, the lower excise tax,” he ing orders to his Cabinet offi cials but I think 70% of businessmen can get cheaper oil. clusion (Train) Law. clarifi ed.This prompted local oil in an attempt to ease the eff ects are taking advantage. There is a “The DoE is now looking for “You know, unfortunately, companies to implement price of the oil price hikes on the pub- fi ne for that and their business cheaper oil from non-OPEC some of our countrymen are tak- increase on gasoline by at least lic. may be closed,” he said. (Organisation of Petroleum Ex- ing advantage of this Train Law P1.60, kerosene by P1.00 and “The president is not numb. Roque added that Duterte porting Countries) members, and oil price hikes to increase diesel by P1.15 per litre on Tues- Nobody wants the prices of oil also directed the Department of including Russia. We will do also the prices of basic com- day. to increase like this. So he gave Labour and Employment to see everything so we can get cheap- modities,” Roque said in a news Currently, the prices of gaso- three marching orders to his if there is a need to increase the er oil because not all oil produc- briefi ng in Marawi City. line range from P49.25 to P59.26 Cabinet secretaries,” Roque told minimum wage. ers are OPEC members,” Roque “Our appeal to our retailers, and diesel from P40.25 to 46.33 dzMM radio. “Secretary (Silvestre) Bello added. while the prices of oil contin- per litre, according to data from Duterte: measures to ease eff ect of oil price rise Duterte, he said, ordered the 3rd said the regional wage boards “We will also look into the ued to increase, let’s unite the the Department of Energy. Gulf Times Sunday, May 27, 2018 25 COMMENT The German rules trap

By Zaki Laidi is proposing that – but a sovereign always rejected. They see the national recent study by Guntram B Wolff , that Paris EU capable of resisting the pressure economy as the sum of microeconomic Germany’s current-account surplus of fi gures like US President Donald decisions, and a supranational is the result not of ageing households’ Trump, Russia’s Vladimir Putin and economy as the sum of national frenzied desire to save more, but urope has a new German China’s Xi Jinping. economies. For them, solidarity is of underinvestment by businesses problem. Unlike in the Unfortunately, Germany is once founded on consistent management. seeking to resist wage pressure. past, it stems neither from more resisting French proposals. This reasoning leads to three lines of This presents France with a serious Ehegemonic ambitions nor Though Chancellor Angela Merkel argument that preclude basic strategic challenge. One option for overcoming from the sort of weakness that might often lavishes Macron with praise analysis. German obstinacy would be to pursue tempt aggression. Instead, it is rooted for his courage and policy goals, she First, Germany embraces the a series of small compromises. But, in Germany’s abdication of any sense seems reluctant to agree to any action self-serving fi ction that it owes as some critical German observers, of shared responsibility for Europe, to strengthen the EU. German leaders nothing to others for its prosperity. such as the Financial Times’ Wolfgang despite boasting as robust an economy concede that French reforms are Yet we know very well how much Munchau, have pointed out, this could as it has had since 1945. The result good for France, but now argue that Germany’s economy depends on lead to minimal and even illusory of Germany’s approach – “do as we eurozone reform is a separate issue. European demand, and how much concessions. do, or leave us alone” – is inertia, at Although disappointing, this stance is it benefi ts from the undervaluation The alternative would be a a moment when Europe desperately not unexpected. Merkel is politically of the “German euro” (whereas the showdown that brings the debate needs momentum. weakened, and German public opinion “Italian euro,” for example, suff ers to the European public. Perhaps For a long time, Europe was at the remains deeply infl uenced by the false from overvaluation). Germany also this is what Macron was trying to centre of German concerns. In 1994, narrative that the country is Europe’s gains the most from European Central initiate at Aix-la-Chapelle earlier for example, Wolfgang Schauble – then paymaster. Bank policy. As the German economist this month, as he collected from parliamentary leader of the Christian Schauble, a former euro federalist, Marcel Fratzscher recently tweeted, Merkel the Charlemagne Prize for Democratic Union, and now President has scaled back his ambitions “The unbearable cynicism of some his pro-European efforts. Such of the Bundestag – and his CDU dramatically. While he still dreams of German politicians and economists: a confrontation need not block colleague Karl Lamers wrote a paper a European Monetary Fund, it would they attack ECB policy, yet Germany’s progress on other issues, such as calling for the EU’s “core” countries, only resemble a solidarity mechanism. government is its biggest benefi ciary – border security, investments in including France, to move swiftly Its main purpose would be to monitor €294bn in interest savings since 2007. industries of the future, taxation of toward closer integration, including and punish fi scally lax states for Compare that to risks assumed in the US tech giants, and the defence of political union. the purpose of reducing further the crisis, and it is an excellent deal for multilateralism. France resisted German pressure European Commission’s budgetary Germany.” European integration owes much because it was extremely suspicious of oversight responsibilities. Second, Germany insists that any to France’s Robert Schuman and political federalism. Then-president The truth is that Germany aspires slowdown should be met with greater Germany’s Helmut Kohl, both of Francois Mitterrand did not want to live in a minimalist Europe that File photo of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel discipline and tighter austerity, not whom prioritised strategic European to move beyond the Maastricht lacks any political union, but is tied Macron shaking hands after a news conference at the Chancellery in Berlin. countercyclical policies. According interests (through the European framework. After the 2010 eurozone to intergovernmental disciplinary Though Chancellor Angela Merkel often lavishes Macron with praise for to German leaders, no matter how Steel and Coal Community and crisis, the debate shifted toward mechanisms designed by its most his courage and policy goals, she seems reluctant to agree to any action to severe the eff ects of that approach the eurozone, respectively) over structural reforms. France advocated prosperous countries. In other words, strengthen the EU. may be, they are simply the price of the pursuit of immediate national for more economic integration, but Germany wants to eliminate from the redemption after committing the sin of advantage. Today, Macron is prepared Germany conditioned any discussion EU all traces of community spirit, opposing any substantial eurozone refuses to examine properly the accumulating excessive debt. to establish himself as a similar of the eurozone’s future on French and the politics that go with it, and reform. eurozone’s systemic problems. Eight Finally, Germany is convinced leader, but he needs a reliable German structural reforms. President Francois replace them with an austere idyll But this stance also reflects the years later, Europeans still embrace that, in a market economy, the state’s partner willing to challenge ordoliberal Hollande agreed in principle to that of rigid rules. And current events in so-called ordoliberal principles that divergent narratives about the crisis. responsibility is to set rules, not to rigour in the name of Europe-wide trade-off , but lacked the time and Italy are reinforcing the position of underpin German thought and that How can we expect them to move steer the choices of economic actors. prosperity. Unfortunately, it is not at political support to implement it. German hardliners. It is probably shape Germany’s understanding toward the future if they strongly In fact, a recent report from the Kiel all clear that he has such a partner in Today, however, France is fi nally no coincidence that three days of the eurozone crisis. Along with disagree on the past? Institute for the World Economy Merkel. – Project Syndicate undertaking Germany’s long-expected after the new Italian government the Netherlands and the Baltic To acknowledge that the eurozone portrays Germany’s enormous domestic reforms – and pressing revealed its economic plan – which, states, Germany blames that crisis can function only on a foundation of current-account surplus as a reality zZaki Laidi, professor of International for change at the EU level. French if implemented, will blow up the on some member states’ budgetary solidarity and interdependence would that policymakers cannot change, and Relations at Sciences Po, was an adviser President Emmanuel Macron wants to eurozone – 154 German economists imprudence and insufficient be to engage in precisely the kind of that thus must be accommodated. to former French prime minister Manuel create not a federal Europe – nobody published a manifesto strongly monitoring of private debt, and thus thinking that German ordoliberals have This ignores the fact, highlighted by a Valls.

Protecting climate-change refugees Three-day forecast TODAY for Migration, climate change could change is among the “adverse drivers serve as a basis for planning how to Maximum Temperature : 380c By Kumi Naidoo Minimum Temperature : 290c Johannesburg displace as many as 1bn people by and structural factors that compel manage the coming climate-induced 2050. And yet no international treaty people to leave their country of origin.” migrations. With scientifi c modelling MONDAY covers climate-induced migration – a This type of regulatory language to guide decision-making, states could Maximum Temperature : 380c overnments around the gap that must be addressed now. reaffi rms what at-risk populations draft orderly, dignifi ed, and equitable Minimum Temperature : 300c world are engaged in a Not since 1951 have international around the world already know: relocation strategies. This is certainly TUESDAY series of talks that could standards for refugee protection droughts, natural disasters, a smarter approach than the ad hoc Maximum Temperature : 390c Gfundamentally alter how the received so much attention. That desertifi cation, crop failure, and many responses to date. Minimum Temperature : 300c year, with more than 80mn people other environmental changes are But history tells us that movement of people across borders is Fisherman's forecast managed. One dialogue is focused on displaced after World War II, upending livelihoods and rendering governments are reluctant to seek the protection of refugees; the other UN member countries ratifi ed entire communities uninhabitable. out collective solutions to forced WARNING on migration. a comprehensive framework to In my country, South Africa, a record migration. This failure is visible today Inshore : Nil These discussions, which are standardise their treatment of drought is forcing major cities to in the haunting and inexcusable plight Offshore : Nil being led by the United Nations, refugees. The Global Compact on consider water rationing. If water of refugees around the world. will not result in legally binding Refugees that is currently under shortages persist, migration is certain As we enter the fi nal months of WEATHER Inshore : Hot daytime with slight agreements. But the talks themselves discussion builds on this framework to follow. the Compact talks, what should we dust to blowing dust at are a rare chance to forge consensus on with strategies to empower refugees Resource scarcity is particularly expect of those negotiating the global places & sctd clouds to contemporary migration challenges. and assist host governments. Most dangerous in politically unstable plan for managing unprecedented p cloudy with weak c of light rain And, most importantly, they will signifi cantly, it would commit states, where climate change has movements of people? The causes WIND off er the international community signatories to protecting “those already been linked to violent confl ict and consequences of climate change Inshore : Northeasterly-North- an opportunity to plan for the displaced by natural disasters and and communal upheaval. For example, demand close attention. Displaced easterly 5-15/18 KT Offshrore : Northwesterly-South- impact of climate change, which will climate change.” disputes over fertile land and fresh people must be able to get on with westerly 3-12/18 KT soon become a key driver of global The second agreement is even more water fuelled the war in Darfur, and their lives in dignity. The test of displacement and migration. consequential for the management even the current crisis in Syria – one world leaders will be whether the Visibility : 4-8 KM At last count, there were some of climate-induced displacement. of the greatest sources of human global compacts on refugees and Offshore : 1-3 FT, Rises to 5 FT at 258mn migrants worldwide, with There has never been a global treaty displacement today – began after migrants can achieve this. – Project places at times. 22.5mn people registered as refugees governing migration, and past bilateral successive droughts pushed Syrians Syndicate by the UN Refugee Agency. These eff orts have focused almost exclusively from rural areas into cities. It is not a zKumi Naidoo, Secretary General- numbers will be dwarfed if even on violence and confl ict as root causes stretch to predict that climate change Around the region the most modest climate-related of displacement. The proposed Global will produce more bloodshed in the designate of Amnesty International, Weather predictions are borne out. According Compact for Migration goes beyond coming years. is a former executive director of Weather tomorrow Max/min to the International Organisation these factors, and notes that climate The two UN frameworks could Greenpeace International. today Max/min Baghdad Sunny 42/27 M Sunny 44/30 Kuwait City Sunny 42/29 Sunny 43/30 Manama P Cloudy 38/28 M Sunny 38/29 Muscat M Sunny 36/32 Sunny 36/33 Live issues Tehran Sunny 32/19 Sunny 31/21 Potassium helps lower blood pressure

By Barbara Quinn of fruit, vegetables and legumes The Monterey County Herald (beans and peas) as well as meat, milk, poultry, fi sh and nuts are good sources of this nutrient. ost people I talk to about One-half cup of dried apricots, for high blood pressure say, example, contains more than double “I know, I know. I need the amount of potassium in a medium Mto cut back on salt.” banana. And whole grain foods such Around the world That’s correct. Few, however, are as brown rice and whole wheat fl our Weather Weather aware that potassium also plays a key contain more potassium than their today Max/min tomorrow Max/min role in the fight against high blood refi ned counterparts, white rice and Athens Sunny 29/18 Sunny 29/18 pressure. white fl our. Beirut Sunny 27/22 P Cloudy 28/23 Who cares? We should, says the It is interesting, too, that a Bangkok P Cloudy 32/27 S T Storms 32/26 American Heart Association (AHA). potassium-rich diet does even more Berlin S Showers 26/13 M Sunny 27/17 High blood pressure is a major than just reduce our risk for having Cairo Sunny 35/22 Sunny 34/22 risk factor for stroke — sometimes a stroke. Potassium also plays a key Cape Town Sunny 18/12 M Sunny 19/13 called a heart attack in the brain — role in strengthening bones and Colombo T Storm 29/27 T Storm 29/27 that can lead to serious disabilities decreasing our risk for certain types of Dhaka S T Storms 31/26 P Cloudy 32/26 or death. kidney stones. I’d say that’s worthy of Hong Kong S T Storms 30/27 P Cloudy 30/26 We could prevent 80% of strokes, attention. Istanbul P Cloudy 24/18 S T Storms 22/17 says the AHA, primarily by keeping A word of caution: High intakes Jakarta T Storm 33/25 T Storm 33/25 our blood pressure in check. A normal of potassium-rich foods pose no Karachi Sunny 39/28 Sunny 38/28 blood pressure (now defi ned as less problem for healthy people because London S Showers 27/16 S T Storms 26/15 than 120/80) can also help ward Bananas are a good source of potassium. our kidneys get rid of any excess, Manila S T Storms 36/28 P Cloudy 36/27 off heart attacks, aneurysms and says the NIH. People with kidney Moscow Sunny 21/10 M Sunny 23/10 dementia as well as certain kidney and Potassium also helps our bodies Hypertension). This eating pattern disease, however, may need to limit New Delhi Sunny 45/30 Sunny 45/29 eye diseases. eliminate excess sodium. One of the – rich in potassium from fruits, their intake of high potassium foods. New York S T Storms 31/19 S Showers 20/14 Potassium works to lower blood best dietary strategies to lower blood vegetables and low-fat dairy foods – And if you take certain medications Paris P Cloudy 29/18 S T Storms 28/17 pressure in several ways, according pressure, therefore, is to eat a diet has been shown to signifi cantly lower such as ACE inhibitors and Sao Paulo P Cloudy 21/13 M Sunny 23/13 to a fact sheet on this nutrient from that is high in potassium and low in blood pressure. potassium-sparing diuretics, talk to Seoul Sunny 29/14 Cloudy 26/15 the National Institutes of Health sodium. Fortunately, bananas are not the your doctor. He or she may want you Singapore T Storm 31/26 T Storm 31/26 (NIH). It helps keep our blood vessels What does that diet look like? only food that contain potassium. It to see a registered dietitian about Sydney Sunny 19/09 M Sunny 19/11 fl exible and open so the pressure of A good example is the DASH is found in a variety of plant as well your potassium intake. – Tribune Tokyo Clear 26/19 Cloudy 26/18 blood pumping through is reduced. diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop as animal-based foods. Several types New Service Gulf Times 26 Sunday, May 27, 2018 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Hopes still alive for peace in the Korean peninsula

Hopes for a lasting peace in the Korean peninsula are not entirely dashed following President Trump’s tweet late Friday that the next month’s talks with North Korea in Singapore could be back on after “productive talks” between the two countries. The announcement comes just days after the US president cancelled the meeting in Singapore with Kim Jong-un that was scheduled for June 12. Trump had blamed the Pyongyang regime’s “tremendous anger and open hostility” as he pulled out of A new keeper of the talks, saying the world had “lost a great opportunity for lasting peace”. But late on Friday, Trump tweeted: “We are having very productive talks with North Korea about reinstating the summit which, if it does happen, will likely remain in Putin’s secrets Singapore on the same date, June 12th, and, if necessary, will be extended beyond that date.” Apparently, the president’s comments came after North By Nina L Khrushcheva 2011, Kudrin resigned as fi nance parades that were discontinued under Shoigu looks like a man in charge. But Korea said it was still willing to engage in direct talks, Moscow minister after publicly suggesting that Yeltsin. The events now grow more that poses a problem for Putin’s own Medvedev was an incompetent fool. breathtaking and grandiose with each claim to be the protector of the Russian calling the planned summit between Trump and Kim Kudrin’s nomination as Russia’s chief passing year. nation. There can be only one brave “desperately necessary”. ince the fall of the Soviet Union, accountant matters because it will But recent reports suggest that leader who saves people from Siberian “We express our willingness to sit down face-to- political power within the give him – and thereby Putin – more Russia’s military readiness is more tigers and hang-glides with endangered face with the US and resolve issues anytime and in Kremlin has followed the logic knowledge of corruption. And with fi ction than fact. The “invincible” Siberian white cranes. any format,” North Korea’s vice foreign minister Kim Sof musical chairs. Factotums that, Putin will be able to manipulate missiles that Putin has touted have As with Ivanov, Putin fears that surface and then disappear, only to anyone who may have future designs on apparently crashed during tests, and are another silovik may someday vie for Kye-gwan said in a resurface at a later date – all according the presidency, perhaps with the goal of thus little more than militaristic props. his job. Though Shoigu’s Siberian- “We express our statement. to the whims of the man in charge. And reinstalling Medvedev as a placeholder One conclusion to draw from these Mongolian ancestry effectively “Our commitment for most of this century, that man has after 2024. failures is that someone in the Ministry disqualifies him from being elected willingness to sit to doing our best been Vladimir Putin. Indeed, the job of the Accounts of Defence is stealing. There is no other by the country’s vast majority of for the sake of peace The latest example is Putin’s Chamber is to keep tabs on pretty plausible excuse for failing to deliver the ethnic Russians, Putin is not one to down face-to-face nomination of former fi nance minister much everything – Kudrin has already weapons Putin ordered. take chances. As if to drive the point and stability for the Alexei Kudrin to chair the Accounts stated that he will be reporting on As it happens, a new study fi nds home, Kudrin’s nomination was with the US” world and the Korean Chamber of the Russian Federation. the performance of ministers and that Russia’s defence and intelligence accompanied by an announcement peninsula remains The selection of Kudrin for this role ministries – but particularly the ministries are among the state’s most that Yevgeny Zinichev, the new unchanged, and we are open-minded in giving time and calls to mind former president Boris military, upon which Putin has staked corrupt institutions. In 2017, they were minister of emergency situations, will opportunity to the US.” Yeltsin’s own search for a successor who his bid for great-power status. He involved in 1,300 of a total of 12,000 now report directly to Putin, further would preserve his legacy and protect dedicated a third of his State of the corruption cases – one in nine. Against diminishing a potential power base for Trump now says he remains open to holding a summit his family and fortune. Nation address in March to the military, this backdrop, Kudrin has clearly been Shoigu. and noted “the lines of communication had opened Yeltsin had amassed around $15mn showcasing a variety of weapons, rocket installed to ensure that the “trusted” If a rival from the security between the two countries.” while in office, and he ultimately put systems, and nuclear-powered missiles security apparatus can actually be establishment were to assume the After the earlier news the summit was called off , his trust in Putin – a former KGB with “unlimited” range. trusted. presidency, he could choose to build his Democrats had criticised Trump for the decision. man – to protect his children and his Putin has always been a great fan of Moreover, the current Defence own legacy, rather than honour Putin’s. money, and to keep him out of prison. the siloviki – former Soviet military Minister, Sergei Shoigu, is probably It is up to Medvedev and Kudrin, the House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said in Capitol Hill Of course, Yeltsin’s boodle now seems and intelligence offi cers – who make up now in the Kremlin’s crosshairs. Shoigu rare civilians in Putin’s inner circle, at the weekend that the cancelled summit was “a good rather quaint compared to Putin’s the bulk of his cabinet and account for gained national popularity a decade to make sure that doesn’t happen. – thing for Kim Jong-un.” alleged $70bn in personal wealth, the Kremlin’s unchecked power over ago while running the Ministry of Project Syndicate Pelosi said the meeting “takes preparation, this takes which he has somehow accumulated Russian political life. By championing Emergency Situations, and he has since knowledge, this takes judgment, and clearly it takes on an annual Kremlin salary of just Russia’s military-industrial complex, been prominently featured as a saviour zNina L Khrushcheva is professor of $137,000. Putin can keep the siloviki occupied in military garb, looking dapper at the International Aff airs at The New School preparation, which the president didn’t make.” After 18 years as either president or and on his side. To that end, he has front of victory parades. and a senior fellow at the World Policy Earlier, the US allies in Asia were blindsided by Trump’s prime minister, it is now Putin who reinstated the World War II victory Unlike the widely mocked Medvedev, Institute. cancellation. The South Korean president, Moon Jae-in, needs his legacy and fortune protected. called an emergency meeting saying: “I am very perplexed Beyond personal riches, Putin hopes to and it is very regrettable that the North Korea-US summit preserve the paternalistic ruling system and top-down power structure that he will not be held. has built up over the past two decades. “Denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and the In 2008, Putin circumvented establishment of permanent peace are historic tasks that constitutional consecutive-term limits can neither be abandoned nor delayed,” Moon said. by having his diminutive, obedient, Meanwhile, Trump welcomed the North’s conciliatory and easily forgettable deputy prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, keep his response to his Thursday letter withdrawing from the seat warm until he could return to Singapore summit with Kim Jong-un. He even said it was the presidency in 2012. A far more possible the meeting could take place on the originally competent placeholder would have planned June 12 date. been Sergei Ivanov, a former KGB “They very much want to do it; we’d like to do it,” he said. general. But Ivanov is much taller North Korea’s vice foreign minister said his country than Putin, who, at any rate, had only achieved the rank of colonel. An remained open to resolving issues with Washington obvious potential threat to Putin’s “regardless of ways, at any time, any format”. power, Ivanov was passed over, and Lasting peace in the Korean peninsula is critical not has since been relegated to the role of only for the region but also for the entire world. Russia’s “chief botanist,” overseeing the The highly anticipated summit between President environment and transportation. Earlier this month, Putin was re- Trump and Chairman Kim Jong-un in June will have inaugurated – or, rather, crowned – in been a golden opportunity to avert nuclear standoff and spectacular fashion, with Medvedev provide the much-needed peace and stability in a highly once again assuming the role of pliant vulnerable region of the world. prime minister. Despite his years in offi ce, Medvedev is still known more for his fancy ties and expensive watches than for his executive actions. To Advertise Still, Medvedev’s own corruption clearly irks many Russians. After the [email protected] opposition leader Alexei Navalny made Display him the subject of recent YouTube videos, tens of thousands of protesters 44466621 44418811 took to the streets in cities across the country. Having proved utterly Classified incompetent in meeting Russia’s 44466609 44418811 economic and social needs, Medvedev’s only job now is to preserve Putin’s Subscription legacy. Kudrin, who replaces the former [email protected] Accounts Chamber chair Tatyana Golikova (who was obedient but lacking in stature), provides a curious © 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved counterbalance to Medvedev. In President Putin has nominated former finance minister Alexei Kudrin to chair the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation. Gulf Times Sunday, May 27, 2018 27 QATAR EAA Foundation’s moving exhibition opens at W Hotel ducation Above All (EAA) their lives for the better”, ac- dedicated to EAA’s achievement Foundation recently held cording to a press statement. of reaching 10mn out-of-school Ea reception at the open- During the exhibition, visi- children around the world. ing of its ‘Reaching 10 Million tors were chaperoned through In the Tree Zone, visitors Out of School Children’ exhi- a visual representation of the were introduced to some of the bition at W Hotel Doha, in the eff orts EAA has made over the challenges refugees face, and presence of a number of am- years to overcome barriers to were given the opportunity to bassadors, to mark a “major education around the world. present their own solutions to Participants of the first Alice event held under the umbrella of the Hamad Bin Jassim Centre for K-12 Computer Science Education. milestone in its work to em- The exhibition demonstrates educating hard to reach chil- power 10mn marginalised and its work in the form of drawings dren who face barriers to edu- vulnerable children”. and paintings, and through in- cation. In the School Zone, After the moving exhibition’s teractive zones: Confl ict Zone, EAA demonstrated the dif- initial success at Qatar Acade- Zone of Peace, Tree Zone and ference between a school in a my, EAA relocated its showcase School Zone. In the Confl ict well-developed country and a of the challenges millions of Zone, visitors were able to ex- school in a poor country. children around the world face, perience a war zone through Leena al-Derham, senior edu- and EAA’s work to overcome visuals and sound eff ects. cation specialist of Educate A Students showcase them, to W Hotel on May 17. The visitors moved to the Child programme, said: “EAA The exhibition is open to the dark room where a neon light has been reaching out to as many public until May 30, and with installation of the word ‘edu- people as possible through vari- its hashtag #Togetherfor10mil- cation’ in Arabic glowed, to ous events, avenues and exhi- lion and #Itispossible, has been emphasise how education is bitions not only in Qatar, but “successful in creating aware- the light in the darkness. globally as well, with the aim ness about the barriers to edu- For EAA, ‘Knowledge is Light’, to spread awareness about the programming skills cation that 63mn primary-level and last month it lit up major challenges 63mn primary-level children around the world face, landmarks in Doha and New children around the world face, iddle and high school Alice software was developed at Academy, Mesaieed Interna- time supporter of Alice Middle such as poverty, confl ict and York to celebrate its achieve- and how education can empower students from around Carnegie Mellon University and tional School and American East, noted: “The Alice Middle natural disasters, and the power ment. The light installation was them to overcome those chal- Mthe country showcased adapted for Qatar by CMU-Q, School of Doha. East programme is helping create education gives them to change followed by a display of painting, lenges and improve their lives.” their programming skills during with support from a National Saquib Razak, associate teach- the technical know-how that will the Alice Middle East computer Priorities Research Programme ing professor of computer sci- enable the country to address its science competition at Carn- grant from QNRF. ence and director of Alice Middle needs across all aspects of life.” egie Mellon University in Qatar With the support of the East, conducted a workshop to Aysha Fakhroo, regional busi- (CMU-Q). Ministry of Education and demonstrate to the students how ness development manager at This was the fi rst Alice Higher Education, Alice Mid- computer science is important ExxonMobil and a 2008 CMU-Q event under the umbrella of dle East is now part of the cur- across many industries. graduate in computer science, the Hamad Bin Jassim Centre riculum in all Qatar government “All of the teams here today spoke to the students: “By par- for K-12 Computer Science schools that teach information demonstrated great work on their ticipating in this competition, Education. communication technology. projects, and I’m really optimis- you learn how to solve problems, Jassim and Hamad Bin Jassim A total of 132 students from tic for the future of computer work in teams and present your Charitable Foundation, Exx- 13 schools created animations in science in Qatar,” he said. projects. Sometimes we fail, but onMobil Qatar and Qatar Na- the categories of space explora- Saeed Mathkar AlHajri, board in return we learn more than we tional Research Fund (QNRF) tion, global warming, the 2022 member and CEO of Jassim and expected.” partnered with CMU-Q for the FIFA World Cup, health, social Hamad Bin Jassim Charitable The judges’ panel included event. responsibility or video games. Foundation, said: “Based on the representatives from Alobaib The competition was the cul- They were judged for program- quality of the projects shown by Primary Independent Girls mination of weeks of preparation ming skills, creativity, oral pres- students, there is great poten- School, CMU-Q, College of the by the teams, who used the Alice entations and teamwork. tial for the next generation of North Atlantic – Qatar, Educa- Middle East educational soft- The winning teams repre- computer scientists.” tion Above All, Qatar Comput- ware to create interactive games sented Doha College, Al Khor Dr Abdul Sattar al-Taie, ex- ing Research Institute, QNRF and animations. The original International School, Al-Arqam ecutive director of QNRF, a long- and Teach for Qatar. The exhibition is open to the public until May 30. Ezdan malls hold events for families, children

zdan Mall Company rate their homes and their has launched an as- private rooms. Esortment of events In addition, a colour- throughout the course of painting workshop will be Ramadan that targets fami- held to enable children to lies and children at Ezdan express themselves on pa- Mall Al Gharaff a and Al per using colours to trans- Wakrah to reinforce the late their thoughts about the youth’s connection and holy month of Ramadan. pride with their Qatari herit- Ezdan Mall runs an array age and identity amid an at- of cultural, sports, and en- mosphere of entertainment trainment events through- and merriment. out the year as part of the The events are scheduled Children enjoy a colouring book event at Ezdan Mall. malls’ strategy to attract all on Thursdays, Fridays, and segments of society seeking Saturdays during Ramadan Among the key events to enlighten the children to enjoy fun and cultural ac- from 9pm to 12 midnight, that will be held is the Ma- about their history and tivities while shopping. allowing families and their jlis Ramadan ‘Ramadan As- ancestors. Ezdan Mall also earmarks kids to partake in the activi- sembly’, which is held at the The event also includes several Islamic and cultural ties. This conforms to Ezdan main gates of Ezdan Mall Al some entertainment and activities, whether in co- Mall Company’s strategy in Gharaff a and Ezdan Mall Al educational activities, such operation with the state or maximising recreation and Wakrah. as the children’s Ramadan independently, during Ra- creating a family ambience, The event aims to attract lantern making workshop, madan, which is the most as well as attracting broader children to a storytelling the use of simple house- important Islamic occasion segments of the public to session led by Qatari grand- hold tools, and a Ramadan celebrated by Qatari society, Ezdan malls and to ben- mothers who will narrate dangler creation workshop and a special occasion to re- eﬁ t from the various unique tales on Qatari heritage and that will teach children how joice and uplift the morale services being off ered. how Qataris lived before to prepare ﬂ ags to deco- of guests visiting the mall. Doha Festival City team provides 2,000 Iftar boxes

elebrating its sec- tival City team and Qatar ond Ramadan with Charity in bringing gener- Cthe community this osity to others during this year, Doha Festival City holy month of Ramadan.” took the initiative with Qa- May Marzooq, senior mar- tar Charity to distribute keting manager of Doha Fes- 2,000 Iftar boxes from the tival City Mall, added: “With Ikea Restaurant. the holy month of Ramadan The Iftar boxes included upon us, Doha Festival City water, dates, laban, sand- is honoured to come together wich and a fruit, and were with Qatar Charity and Ikea. distributed to taxi drivers On behalf of myself and the and labourers on May 23. management team, we would Aimed at helping those The Doha Festival City team ready with Iftar boxes for distribution. like to thank Qatar Charity, who are fasting break their Ikea and the Ministry of In- fast as they are still working assist with the distribution ing people to make room terior’s Traffi c Department during the Maghrib prayer, by Al Shamal Road. for change. We want to help for their support. At Doha the initiative took place at Alexey Sitkin, store man- drive awareness to social Festival City, we are invested the West Court 1 Entrance ager at Ikea Qatar, said, responsibility, and it starts in the community and are al- of the mall, with support “This is an incredibly im- by supporting the people in ways looking for more ways to from the Ministry of Inte- portant initiative that we need. We are excited to join promote social responsibility rior’s Traffi c Department to look forward to encourag- hands with the Doha Fes- among each other.” Gulf Times 28 Sunday, May 27, 2018 QATAR/SPORT Bale breaks Liverpool QFC launches ‘One hearts as Real Madrid Family’ workshops to win Champions League AFP Kyiv, Ukraine

areth Bale came off the bench to score twice, empower community Gincluding one of the all-time great goals in a Cham- he Qatar Financial Cen- Centre to its ethical, social, and pions League fi nal, as Real Ma- tre (QFC) is hosting a environmental responsibilities drid beat Liverpool 3-1 in Kiev Tseries of workshops dur- within the framework of its ‘CSR yesterday to take the trophy for ing the holy month of Ramadan & Social Investment’ strategy – the third year running. aimed at engaging and empow- ‘United for Good’. Bale’s jaw-dropping over- ering members of the Qatar “Dreama and QFC have al- head kick in the 64th minute Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring their second community. ready collaborated on a number put Real 2-1 up moments after goal during the UEFA Champions League final against Liverpool The workshops come as part of initiatives. The event repre- his introduction, following a at the NSC Olympic Stadium in Kyiv, Ukraine, yesterday. of the ‘One Family’ initiative sents the beginning of a series of dramatic start to the second and the QFC’s ‘Road to Human- future initiatives aimed at em- half in which Karim Benzema in the fi nal win over Juventus last but the Frenchman had come ity’ Ramadan campaign, which powering orphans and off ering gave Real the lead as a result of year — before making an em- from a fraction ahead of the last aim to enhance skills within the them the opportunity to engage a Loris Karius howler. phatic impact as a substitute. defender and the fl ag came up. community, while empowering in various programmes. These Sadio Mane had briefl y re- For Liverpool, this game will If that was a let-off for Liv- and uplifting the community’s programmes will enable orphans stored parity, but Bale put Real in be remembered for the disaster erpool, they were their own spirit. to acquire new skills that bring front again and then made it 3-1 that befell goalkeeper Karius in worst enemies at the start of During the fi rst week of Ra- added value and a morale boost late on with a long-range strike the second half, and for Salah’s the second half. madan, one of QFC’s talented on the psychological and social that the unfortunate Karius tears as he departed the pitch at Isco struck the bar after La- comic illustrators delivered a level.” could only punch into the net. the NSC Olympiyskyi. llana diverted the ball into his workshop to a number of enthu- A young boy listens to an instructor during a workshop. Dreama is a leading centre for Jurgen Klopp’s and Liver- The Egyptian hurt his left path, before Benzema opened siastic children from Dreama. orphan care and integration. In pool’s own evening was marred shoulder as he went down in a the scoring in the 51st minute. The event provided children line with Qatar Foundation’s so- by the loss of a distraught Mo- challenge with Sergio Ramos in It was a moment of unbeliev- with a unique opportunity to cial development mission, Drea- hamed Salah to injury in the the 25th minute. Five minutes able carelessness from Karius, learn a new set of skills and pro- ma contributes to providing the fi rst half, the Egyptian coming later he made way for Adam who attempted to roll the ball duce artwork within a fun-fi lled necessary care for target groups off half an hour in having dam- Lallana. out to the nearest red shirt only interactive environment. in Qatar, seeking to integrate aged his shoulder. His presence at the World for Benzema to stick out a leg Sarah al-Dorani, acting chief orphans into foster families and This was not to be Salah’s Cup could now be in doubt, as and send it trickling into the net. marketing and corporate com- society. The centre is commit- night, with Real allowing Zine- could that of Dani Carvajal -- Klopp’s side really could munications offi cer, QFC Au- ted to promoting the values of dine Zidane to become the fi rst the Real right-back came off have let their heads drop, and thority, said: “The QFC’s ‘One responsibility, privacy, equality, coach ever to win the Champi- with a hamstring injury before yet they were soon back level, Family’ initiative recognises that and participation. ons League three years in a row. the interval. Mane turning the ball in af- together we are all one commu- The QFC CSR & Social Invest- Madrid are the fi rst team to Those injuries temporarily ter Dejan Lovren headed down nity, and it is our responsibility ment strategy, ‘United for Good’, achieve that feat since Bayern took the sting out of the game James Milner’s corner. to help others and share our tal- underscores its commitment to Munich in 1976. This is their after an enthralling start, with But their renewed hope was ents for a stronger, enlightened its ethical, social and environ- fourth title in fi ve years, and Liverpool on top. crushed upon the introduction society. Initiatives like this are mental responsibilities. One of their 13th overall. It had been uncomfortable for of Bale. essential in enhancing commu- the CSR’s main pillars at QFC is Cristiano Ronaldo has now Real, but after Salah departed, The Welshman had been on nity members’ access to oppor- community development that won fi ve in his great career, but they sensed their chance. They the fi eld barely two minutes tunities and empowering them Young girls put their sketching skills to test. entails focusing on the inclusion even he could not argue that even had the ball in the net in when he met Marcelo’s cross over the long term. of all members of society. QFC’s this was Bale’s evening. the 43rd minute, only to be de- from the left with an improb- “The fi rst ‘One Family’ work- helped lift the children’s spirits Noor al-Muhanadi, director CSR & Social Investment strat- The Welshman had been nied by a marginal off side call. able leap, back to goal, 15 yards shop with Dreama children was as they used their imagination of communications, Dreama, egy also focuses on youth and tipped to feature in the Real start- Ronaldo’s header from Isco’s out, to send an overhead kick an emotionally enriching ex- and creative expression in a fun said: “The initiative refl ects the education to help build a new ing line-up but in the end was left cross was parried by Karius, and on his left foot arcing over Ka- perience for our staff that also supportive environment.” commitment of Qatar Financial generation of leaders. out for Isco — just as he had been Benzema turned in the loose ball, rius and in.